Part 14 (1/2)
”Pleased,” was Xexo's comment, and his touch was oily*black*pungent. Exactly what one would expect of an engineer.
”We've four trainees but you can meet them later, Vagrian,” Damia said. ”You didn't bring much with you,” she added as Xexo casually slung the heaviest of the duffels out of the personnel carrier.
”Always travel light,” Vagrian said, keeping his smile pleasant and his manner quiet, struggling to restore his composure and a public show of confident ease. He hauled out the other two.
”I'll just 'port them to your room,” Damia said, and all three disappeared.
”I should have done that,” Vagrian said.
”I know where the room is,” she said with an engaging grin. Then she gestured toward the well-worn path to the house he could see sitting on its height. ”Bit of a walk.”
”Not in this marvelous air.” He breathed deeply, catching himself before he had expanded his chest ostentatiously. ”It's like a fine wine.”
”One of the fringe benefits,” Afra remarked as they set out.
Aware that neither Xexo nor Keylarion were following, Beliakin looked around.
”Xexo isn't happy with the B generator,” Damia said, grinning at the vagaries of her engineer, ”and Keylarion's checking the coordinates for tomorrow's cargo. Did anyone warn you that you'll be put to work tomorrow and that we lift them straight from the mine yards?”
”Gollee Gren did mention big daddies,” Vagrian said, ”not that we lifted them from sites.”
In his mind with alarming ease came a picture of the immense drone that he was to help s.h.i.+ft the next day.
”Well, there'd be few cradles that size.” While he responded as surprised as he was supposed to be by the size and tonnage of a drone full of ore, he felt no qualms at all about managing such weights. That had been his specialty ever since he'd diverted that mud slide on Altair. ”Did I understand Gren correctly that your children have been helping you s.h.i.+ft those things?”
Damia chuckled. ”Only when they are old enough. In a merge with Afra and myself, we could add their strength without stressing them. I've seen your testings, Vagrian, and I must say that I'm impressed by your solo s.h.i.+fts.”
”I'm not good at much else, though, in any other Talent range,” he said, with what he thought was exactly the right note of modesty.
”You wouldn't need to be,” Afra said with a chuckle.
By then they had reached the steps up to the house, and Beliakin emitted a startled cry when Darbuls, slithers and c.o.o.nies charged out of wherever they had hidden themselves.
”Forgot to warn you, Vagrian,” Damia said as she ”ordered” the ma.s.s of striped, mottled, tabbied and plain-colored creatures to clear away. ”Don't tell me Gollee forgot to warn you about the menagerie.”
”He mentioned horses.” Beliakin was looking all around him, not wanting to step on someone's favorite beast. . . unless one of Laria's was identified to him.
Suddenly all of the beasts were sitting quietly, watching him; even the slithers had coiled their supple bodies into compact circles.
”Each of our children and their 'Dinis have favorites, which of course are prohibited from going with them, so we inherited the whole zoo,” Afra said, picking up one of the c.o.o.ns and stroking its creamy orange fur. ”You don't have an allergy to any of these, do you ?” He gestured to the herd.
”Oh, no, no. In fact, the only ones I recognize are the felines. I thought they didn't like snakes.” Vagrian had been able to stifle the brief panic he'd felt surrounded by so many strange beasts.
”Slithers are not precisely reptilian,” Damia said, allowing one to twine itself about her forearm. ”But they are the favored pets of our 'Dinis. If you don't care for them, just gently disengage any that try to cling to you. They take hints quickly.”
”Yes, that's good to know.”
”They also stay outside,” Afra said, ”unless their 'Dinis are here.”
”I see.”
”This way, Vagrian,” Damia said, gesturing up the broad stone steps to the wide sheltering porch of the house. Three c.o.o.ns and two Darbuls followed her; none of the slithers did. ”Our 'Dinis are currently in their hibernatory, though you'll meet the pairs my two remaining youngsters have. They're out hunting. I gather you enjoy the sport?”
”Yes, I do,” Vagrian said.
”And you ride?” Damia gave him a measuring look. ”I suspect we can mount you adequately.”
Ann Uthlhef I.
”Yes, I originate from Altair . . .”
”Yes, you'd ride, all right,” Afra remarked approvingly.
”Your room is just up these stairs,” Damia said. ”If you'll do the honors, Afra, I'll get us something to snack on.”
The room was certainly an improvement on his quarters in Blundell Tower, Vagrian thought, and Damia had neatly 'ported the two smaller sacks to the wide bed and the large duffel to a luggage stand. The door to the right was ajar and showed the usual bathroom fixtures. It was, however, the view from the double windows of the room which got his full attention, showing a breathtaking panoramic view of the distant city and the sh.o.r.e it bordered.
”Never seen anything like it,” Vagrian said quite truthfully, going to the nearest window and opening it. He took another deep breath of the exhilarating air. ”Blundell never smelled this good.”
Afra smiled. 'Til leave you to get settled in.”
Well? Damia asked pointedly when Afra joined her in the kitchen.
Interesting personality.
Dangerous personality with all that masculine charm. Damia gave a shudder. * had this awful sensation that he was Sodan come bac to haunt me.
Did you? Afra looked surprised.
Damia flushed. Well, he has a similar dynamic charisma and you can't deny he's decidedly attractive.
Not at all my type.
It's not a laughing matter, Afra. Young Naja Numto's just the age to be bowled over and ready for an infatuation.
He'll be an equal shoc*{ to our three Aurigaean lads, Afra said with a teasing glance. He's not a threat we can warn them about.
He's so much on his best behavior, Damia said thoughtfully. Maybe it'll last. I can't imagine why Father thought he'd do for us. When Laria . . . Damia paused and turned wide eyes on Afra, who grinned knowingly back at her. He did? And she sent him packing? My father sometimes exhibits very poor judgment for a Prime. Did Mother know?
If she did, she was perhaps too hopeful and not as astute in her reading of Vagrian's character as I would have thought.
Damia regarded her husband with a measure of dismay. He is absolutely the wrong sort for Laria, especially after all she's been through with the wayward Vanteer. How could Father have been so stupid?
Don't thinly he was stupid, m'dear. I thinly he was so glad he'd found a strong T-2 inetic to ease the load at Clarfthat he sent the man ahead without preparing Laria at all. Afra poured cold Aurigaean wine for them both. Damia absently accepted the gla.s.s and took a slow sip of the dry vintage. I'd venture to say Vagrian blew it. Probably too^ the trouble to charm Lionasha, ignored Vanteer and then made a fool of himself trying to impress Laria. He's only just discovered his Talent, and you know how wit-less that can make someone.
It hasn't made Numto, Clunen or Deferson witless.
They're younger by a few years, whereas I'd be very surprised ifYoshu^'s big younger brother hasn't been having his way with any girl he chose on Altair. If-and we can always confirm this with Gollee, Afra went on, holding up one hand, Vagrian made a b.a.l.l.s of meeting Laria, and they've sent him to us to ... ah ... adjust. . .
Of course they have. Damia scowled into her winegla.s.s.