Part 28 (1/2)
”Let's sit down,” said Aibynn.
We did so.
He began to drum.
Lesson Seventeen.
DEALING WITH UPPER MANAGEMENT II.
1 STUDIED THE white hallway and said, ”Either the Imperial Palace or-”
”It's not the Imperial Palace,” said Aliera.
Aibynn was still sitting down. He seemed rather drained and tired. He stopped drumming and smiled wanly.
”How,” I said, ”did this happen?”
”Ask him,” said Aliera, indicating Aibynn.
”Well?” I said.
”Sometimes,” he said, ”when you drum, you . . . it's hard to describe.
You reach places. Didn't you feel it?”
”No,” I said quickly, just as Aliera was saying ”Yes.”
”Boss-”
”Well, okay, maybe,” I amended. ”But why this place?”
”It was what you two were both thinking about.” That was true; I'd been thinking how pleasant it would be to give Verra a piece of my mind, but why would Aliera have been thinking about it?
I said, ”Why you?” at just the same moment she said it to me. I shrugged, turned to Aibynn, and said, ”So all this time, you've really been nothing more than a drummer?”
For the first time, he seemed really surprised. ”you mean you didn't believe me?”
”Let's just say I wondered.”
Aliera stood up and said, ”Let's go.”
She seemed to know her way, so I followed her. It was only a short walk, this time, until we reached the doors which were standing open.
There was no cat this time I thought I saw something or someone disappear behind the throne, but I wasn't sure. In any case, the G.o.ddess was there.
She said, ”h.e.l.lo, Aliera, Vlad.”
”h.e.l.lo, Mother,” said Aliera.
Mother?
”Who is your friend, and what brings you here?”
”His name is Aibynn,” said Aliera. ”He brought us here to save our lives.”
Mother?
”I see. Shall I send you back, then, or is there something I can do for you?”
Mother?
”Send us back, Mother. We-”
”Excuse me,” I said. ”Do you mean that literally?”
”Mean what?” said Aliera.
”You're calling her 'Mother.' ”
”Oh, yes. Why? You didn't know?”
”You never told me.”
”You never asked.”
Vlad.”
”Of all the-never mind. G.o.ddess, if you'd be kind enough to send them back, I would have words with you that they don't need to hear.”
Aliera stared at me. ”I don't like your tone I started to snap at her, but the G.o.ddess said, ”It's all right, Aliera. He has some cause.”
She looked unhappy, but said, ”Very well.”
”We can't take long,” said the Demon G.o.ddess, ”or you'll be late for your appointment.”
”Appointment?”
”With the Empress.”
”I have an appointment with the Empress?”
”Yes. Morrolan has the message waiting for you, but I may as well tell you myself.”
I licked my lips. ”In that case,” I told Aibynn, ”I'll meet you outside the Imperial Wing of the Palace.”
”All right,” he said, still appearing exhausted.
The G.o.ddess said, ”You interest me, drummer. Perhaps, sometime, you'd care to play for me.”