Lyra: Caught In Crystal Part 6

At last they descended the stairs. Glyndon was hunched over one of the tables, a heavy bowl sitting almost unnoticed in front of him. Kayl led the children over and sat down. Glyndon raised a hand, signaling, as the children took their places. aI would have had them bring something for you earlier, but I didnat know how long youad be,a he said. aI was afraid it would get cold.a aYouad do as well to get a fresh bowl for yourself,a Kayl said. aThe fatas already hardening around the edges.a The innkeeper arrived, and Glyndon asked for four bowls of the stew. As the man left, Mark sighed in satisfaction. aThe best part of traveling is having other people bring you supper,a he said.

aNo, it isnat!a Dara contradicted. aItas seeing all kinds of new things and meeting new people anda and everything!a aAnd what kinds of new things have you been seeing today?a Glyndon asked.

Mark and Dara needed no further encouragement to launch into a highly colored description of their visit to the Star Hall. Kayl let their voices wash over her unheeded as her thoughts returned again to the puzzle of the Sisterhood. Something was very wrong in the Star Halls, but what?

aa"and then she said she wouldnat want to call anyone the wrong name, and I said Iad think about it,a Mark said. aMother, why did she think it was so important?a aWho?a aThat Serenity person we met at the Star Hall, the one in the silver robe.a aYou mean Elder Mother Dalessi?a Kayl asked.

Mark nodded. aWhy did she think my name was so important?a aIt has to do with the way the Sisterhood of Stars uses magic,a Kayl said. aDo you want the whole explanation right now?a Mark and Dara nodded as one; Daraas eyes were wide.

aAll right, then. There are foura specialties within the Sisterhood. I was a warrior, a sword-bearer; the other three are sorceress, demon-friend, and healer, and each of those uses magic.a aWhatas a demon-friend?a Mark asked.

aA friend of the Changed Ones, the sklathranasy,a Kayl replied with a smile. aMost people outside the Sisterhood refer to them as demons.a aWhy?a aBecause itas easier to say,a Dara said.

aPartly,a Kayl said. aBut youare getting ahead of things. Now, magic works best if it is focused somehow. Thatas what spells and chants do for magicians; they focus the power on what the magician wants to do. But it also helps if there is a channel for the power to flow through, and that can be almost anythinga"a ring, a clasp, a circlet, anything.a aLike Glyndonas staff!a Dara said.

Glyndon looked startled, but answered readily enough, aYes. Most Varnan wizards use a staff or a rod as a channel; I suppose Iave never gotten out of the habit.a aWhat does the Sisterhood use?a Mark asked.

aNames,a Kayl said, and smiled at his expression. aIt takes a great deal of training, and some very special spells. And even then, if the stars donat aid the effort, it fails. But if the spells succeed, a sorceressa power is tied to her name, forever.a aIt sounds dangerous,a Dara said with a s.h.i.+ver. aI mean, couldnat someone who knew your name be able to use it somehow?a aThey could, if they knew it,a Kayl acknowledged. She was surprised by the sharpness of Daraas insight; the girl had put her finger exactly on the main problem the Sisterhood had faced for so long.

aThen why do they do it?a Dara asked.

aMagic can be used more easily and quickly if it is channeled through a name. Itas the closest humans can come to the kind of instinctive power the Shee or the Neira have,a Glyndon said. He smiled. aThe Sisters claim they have more power as a result; I would not know. There are other advantages, too. No one can steal a name.a aAnd placing power in a name strengthens the bond of friends.h.i.+p between the Sisterhood and the Changed Ones,a Kayl said. aSklathranasy are even more vulnerable through their names than Sisters.a aSome think that the founders of the Sisterhood learned their magic from demons,a Glyndon put in. aIt would explain the friends.h.i.+p between the two groups, as well as the reason the Sisterhood uses such a dangerous channel for its magic.a aI still wouldnat do it,a Dara said emphatically. aThink of all the people who know your name!a aThe sorceresses donat tie their power to the name they use,a Kayl said. aThey choose a new one during the ceremony, and it becomes their true name, to which their power is linked. They keep it secret from everyone except, possibly, their closest friends.a aOh.a Dara considered. aI still donat like the idea. It feels funny somehow.a Kayl was surprised by Daraas reaction, but not altogether unpleased. The magical specialties of the Sisterhood would, apparently, have little appeal for her daughter. She turned to Mark. aDo you understand now why the Sisters think names are important?a Mark nodded. He was very quiet for some time, mulling over what Kayl had said, while Dara told Glyndon the story of their visit with the Shee drillmaster.

aAnd I donat think I did very well,a Dara finished in a discouraged tone.

aDo you want to be a sword-wielder?a Kayl asked.

aNnnnoo, I donat think so,a Dara said.

aThen you neednat worry about it. Eshora told me you were competent; if you donat plan to earn your bread with a sword, youare not likely to need more skill than that.a aI suppose so.a Dara did not look convinced.

aWhat did she say about me?a Mark demanded.

Kayl laughed, remembering. aShe said you needed more work on the fourth figure. Remember?a aMother! Thatas not what I meant.a aItas what you said. Eat your stew; then both of you are going to bed. Itas been a long day, and I donat want to have to listen to you quarrelling all day tomorrow.a There was an immediate outcry from both the children. The argument lasted through the remainder of the meal; Kayl ended it by summarily ordering them off. They went, still grumbling in low voices, and Kayl rose to follow. As she left, she said to Glyndon, aIall be back as soon as theyare settled. Will you wait for me? I want to talk to you.a aIall wait.a Kayl looked at him sharply, disturbed by the gloomy tone of his voice, but Glyndon was staring down at the remains of his stew and did not see her. She hesitated, then turned and went after the children. The sooner they were asleep, the sooner she could come back and settle whatever was disturbing Glyndon.

CHAPTER.

FOURTEEN.

Mark and Dara were still too excited to settle easily into sleep. Kayl was forced to remain upstairs for some time while the two children used as many delaying tactics as their fertile minds could create.

Eventually Kayl got them into bed. She glanced at the door, sighed, and shook her head. She was not about to leave Mark and Dara until she was certain they would not get up and into mischief the moment she was out of the room. That could mean a long wait, the way they were s.h.i.+fting about. The strange noises of the city outside the window wouldnat help any, either. With the patience learned through thirteen years of mothering, Kayl set herself to wait.

Her first act was to adjust the wick of the small oil lamp until it was a mere nubbin, barely enough to see by. Then she began methodically going through the contents of her pack. It was a task she had been avoiding for weeks, and the last of her excuses was gone, now that she had time and room enough for sorting and straightening.

She was surprised at the number of things she had picked up on the journey; no wonder the pack had seemed heavier these last weeks! Slowly, she worked her way through the acc.u.mulated layers. As always, some of the aessentialsa she had packed in Copeham had sunk to the very bottom and never surfaced again. There was a flint shead forgotten; theyad used Glyndonas throughout the trip. And a square of wool, and a small bronze knife. Anda Abruptly, Kayl sat up very straight as she realized what was in the long, narrow bundle at the very bottom of her pack. It wasnat exactly that she had forgotten Kevranas rod; she had simply set the thought of it aside when she realized that she could not safely discuss it with Glyndon as long as Corrana traveled with them. And after so many months on the road, Kayl had become accustomed to the stiff presence of the rod in the bottom of the pack.

But Corrana was at the Star Hall now. And Glyndon was downstairs. Kayl smiled and drew the bundle out of the pack. As she did, the wrapping slipped and her fingers touched the wood.

Varevice was waiting in the hall just inside the door to the courtyard. Kayl took one look at the tiny crease between her brows and said, aWhatas wrong?a aThe Varnans have arrived. Theyare waiting out there.a Varevice nodded toward the courtyard.

aAnd?a aBarthelmy is going to have real trouble dealing with them.a Kayl raised an eyebrow. When Varevice did not expand on her statement, Kayl went to one of the window-slits and peered out. The three wizards were easy to pick out; they stood in front, and their robes were richly embroidered. The first was a tall, brown-haired man with a kind of angular good looks, the second a dark-haired, ordinary-looking man on the short side of average. The third was a willowy blonde, whose head was tilted at an aristocratic angle that proclaimed her contempt for the Star Hall and everything in it.

Behind the wizards stood their slaves, five men in coa.r.s.e brown robes, each with several bundles at his feet. No, not five men; the last one was completely hairless, and his skin was the same gray color as Kaylas robe.

aSweet stars above,a Kayl whispered. aTheyave brought a sklathranasy.a The rod slid from Kaylas fingers, and the memory ended. Kayl sat staring at the gleam of wood that showed through the oiled wrapping. After a while, she realized that her hands were shaking.

Carefully, she set the bundle down on top of the nearest pile. She leaned back, trying to put her thoughts in order. Kevranas rod could not, simply could not be the cause of her sudden remembrance. The rod was the channel he had used, nothing more; in and of itself, it was not magical. With Kevranas death, the rod should have become simply a piece of oiled wood.

Should havea but this was not the first time her memories had risen at the touch of Kevranas rod. Something similar had happened in Copeham, when she had picked it up in Jirodas kitchen, but she had seen no significance in it then.

Kayl shook her head, denying the connection, but her eyes were drawn again to the sliver of wood that gleamed through the gap in the wrappings. There was one obvious way of finding out whether this was real or a product of her imagination. Slowly, Kayl laid back the cloth that covered the rod. Then she bent forward and picked it up in both hands.

Barthelmy sat hunched under her cloak, staring into the fire. Her black hair was even more wildly disordered than usual, and she kept casting dark looks in the direction of Beshara al Allard and the gray-skinned sklathranasy who was waiting on her. Beshara pretended not to notice, though she seemed to find more tasks than usual for her servant to perform. Kevran and Glyndon sat nearby, playing some sort of game with carved twigs thrown into a circle they had drawn on the ground. Kevranas dark hair was falling into his eyes, as it usually did when he was concentrating on something.

Kayl stood in the flickering shadows just outside the ring of firelight, watching Barthelmy and Beshara. She frowned, wondering whether it would be better to try distracting Barthelmy or to leave her alone. They were only a few days from their goal; surely Barthelmy could keep her feelings under control that long!

aBeshara should not bait Barthelmy so.a Evlaas voice came out of the darkness behind Kayl, echoing her own thoughts.

Kayl turned. aNo, but what can we do about it? Iave tried to tell her, but she only smiles and behaves worse than ever.a aI donat think thatas the righta"a Evla stopped as Beshara rose.

aIs the tent ready, Odevan?a the woman asked lazily.

aYes, Mistress,a the sklathranasy replied. Kayl could see Barthelmy squirming at his submissive tone.

aCome, then,a Beshara said. She started off, then paused beside Barthelmy. She smiled slightly and said, aYou seem to have an interest in my demon.a aSklathranasy,a Barthelmy corrected coldly. aAnd yes, I do.a aI suppose it is only natural; they are a rare and dying race. But do, please, be careful. I have no wish for Odevan to get above himself.a Barthelmy leaped to her feet in indignation, but Beshara had already turned away. Odevan gave Barthelmy a wide grin, showing a great many dark, pointed teeth, then followed his mistress. Barthelmy stared after them, her fists clenched.

Kayl shook off her paralysis and went over. aBarthelmya"a aWhat did she mean?a Barthelmy said. aAbout sklathranasy being a dying race?a aI donat know,a Kayl said. aI think she was just trying to irritate you.a Impatiently, Barthelmy shook off Kaylas hand. aNo! At least, thatas not the only thing she was doing. You!a She gestured at the two Varnan wizards studiously concentrating on their game. aWhat did Beshara mean?a aWhen?a Glyndon said cautiously.

aJust now, when she said sklathranasy were a dying race! You must have heard her.a aIa"a Glyndon hesitated and looked at his companion.

aShe meant what she said,a Kevran said quietly. aTheyare dying out. In another two hundred years, there wonat be any demons left.a aSklathranasy!a Barthelmy corrected furiously. aAnd itas not true!a aIam afraid it is. A lot of them are sterile, and those that arenat donat breed true. And whenever aa sklathranasy breeds with one of the Four Races, the child is Wyrd or Neira or Shee or human, never a demon.a aBreeds witha"Youare lying! No Varnan would everaa aOh, but they do. Quite frequently, Iam told.a Kevranas smile was slightly crooked, as though he were laughing at himself.

aEven if they do, the children of such a union couldnat possibly be normal!a Barthelmyas voice was hard.

The twist in Kevranas smile grew stronger. aNo? But Iam normal enough, wouldnat you say?a aYou mean youa"a aThereas demon blood in my family. A couple of generations back, but still recent enough to make the point.a aOh!a Barthelmy whirled and ran out into the night. Kayl started to follow, but a hand on her arm held her back. She turned and saw Evla.

aLet her be,a the Shee healer said. aShe needs to think.a aShe should have done her thinking a little sooner, and spared us a scene!a Kayl growled, torn between irritation and sympathy.

Evla sighed. aKayl, it isnat that simple. You know how Barthelmy feels about sklathranasy. And if they are a dying race, what will become of the demon-friends? And what will the Sisterhood do, when one of the points of the Star is no longer needed?a Kayl stared. She had been so wrapped up in the concerns of their mission that the larger implications had escaped her. Slowly, she nodded.

Evla turned to the two Varnans. aI think you should try to keep out of Barthelmyas way as much as you can. Sheall probably blame you for making her believe what Beshara said. It isnat reasonable, but it happens.a aI understand,a Kevran said, and Glyndon nodded.

aWead better go tell Varevice,a Evla said, touching Kaylas shoulder. Kayl nodded, and they went in search of her while the Varnan wizards returned to their game.

Kayl heard a soft thunk as Kevranas rod fell out of her hands onto the wrapping. She blinked stupidly at it, then reached out and folded the oiled cloth carefully over and around it. She sat back, feeling numb.

The memories were the rodas doing, somehow; it brought them back as real and vivid as if she were living through them again. Another thought struck her: all of them were memories of that last journey with her Star Cl.u.s.ter. Was that because of her current preoccupation with the Sisterhood, or was it something in the rod itself?

Kayl looked speculatively at the covered rod. If she took it up again, this time concentrating on a different memorya She started to reach out, then stopped. What was she thinking of? She knew better than to take chances with unknown spells! Experimentation could wait until she had talked to Glyndon.

She picked up rod and wrappings together and dug among the little piles of belongings until she found a length of yarn. She tied the wrappings tightly around the rod, then put it back in the bottom of her pack. The rest of her belongings went in on top of it. It would be a nuisance to get it out again to show Glyndon, but that was better than having one of the children unwrap it out of curiosity.

Satisfied at last, she rose. Mark and Dara were sleeping soundly; unpacking and the interlude with the rod must have taken more time than she had thought. She picked up the lamp, adjusted the wick so that it burned more brightly, and left the room.

The serving room below was half-full when Kayl came down the stairs. Most of the patrons sat at the tables closest to the fire that burned on the raised hearth in the center of the room. The few hardy souls at the farthest tables kept their cloaks wrapped loosely about them against the drafts that leaked around the edges of the shutters.

Kayl scanned the room again. Finally, she located Glyndon. He was still hunched over the table in the shadows by the far wall, staring at a plate and mug in front of him. Kayl smiled in relief; she had been half-afraid that he had grown tired of waiting and had left in search of companions.h.i.+p.

Glyndon looked up at her as she sat down. He blinked, owllike; then suddenly he gave her a disconcertingly charming smile. aDid you know that itas easier to be overlooked if you sit in the middle of the wall? People always check the corners when theyare looking for suspicious characters, but their eyes slide right by the middle of the wall.a His speech was too precise, too careful. Kayl sighed in exasperation. aGlyndon, youare drunk.a aNot at all,a Glyndon replied. aYou asked me to wait; Iave waited.a aAnd you just had a mug or two to pa.s.s the time.a aOr two, or three,a Glyndon agreed. aI had to do something, you know.a aOf course.a Kayl shook her head. aAre you sober enough to hold a sensible conversation?a aAlways. For you, I will be sober as the High Mageas Chamberlain and sensible as the Keeper of the Keys to the Queenas Treasury.a aGlyndon!a He gave an exaggerated sigh. aOh, very well. But let me guessa"youare going back to those bigoted women in the gray and silver robes, and youare wondering how to break it to me.a aNo,a Kayl said quietly. aItas nothing like that.a Glyndon looked up, his face suddenly serious, searching her expression. aItas not?a he said at last.

aI donat know yet what Iam going to do about the Sisterhood,a Kayl said, holding his eyes with her own. aBut when I do decide, Iall tell you first; I promise. Thatas not what I wanted to talk to you about.a aOh.a Glyndon looked pensively down at his mug. aThen I have used up a good deal of winter wine by mistake. Pity.a He raised his mug again.

Kayl caught at his arm. aGlyndon! Youare drunk enough already.a aEnough for what?a aNever mind. I think this had better wait until morning; youare in no state to be discussing Kevranas rod now.a aKevran.a Glyndon took a long drink from his mug. aYes, itas always been either Kevran or the Sisterhood, hasnat it? One or the other. I could neveraa Kayl waited, but Glyndon did not finish the sentence. aI think youad better come upstairs,a she said at last. aWhile you can still walk relatively straight.a Glyndon muttered something and shoved himself to his feet. He swayed, then started around the end of the table. Kayl rose hastily; Glyndonas coordination had obviously been far more affected by the drink than had his speech. She helped him across the room and up the stairs, holding the tiny oil lamp with one hand and Glyndon with the other.

At the door to his room, they stopped. Glyndon pushed it open, then turned unsteadily and looked at Kayl. aIam sorry,a he said. aI didnat realize.a aHow far off you were getting? Donat start worrying about that now! Go on in and lie down before you fall down.a aIa"a Glyndon stared at her a moment, then sagged against the doorjamb. aNever mind. Iam not quite that drunk.a He lurched upright once more, gave Kayl a smile full of self-mockery, and went in.

Kayl stood and watched as the door closed behind him. Then she shook herself and, in a very disquieted frame of mind, crossed to the room she shared with Mark and Dara.

CHAPTER.

FIFTEEN.

The following morning Kayl awoke well before the children, and discovered that, once she had dressed, she had nothing to occupy her time until they awoke. The only thing that came to mind was mending the holes Mark had managed to get in his robe, and she had no more thread to do that with. Shead used the last of it in Thurl Wood, two weeks before, and hadnat gotten around to purchasing any more.

Perhaps she should simply buy him a new robe. Mark had grown on the trip from Copeham, and even with leggings below it his robe was beginning to look decidedly short. Kayl sighed. Having nothing to do made her feel cross; she was accustomed to being busy, usually with yet another task in mind to do as soon as she was finished with her present work.

That could be part of her problem, she thought, and grimaced. In Copeham, she had buried herself in the work of running the inn and raising the children, to avoid thinking. Corranaas arrival had shaken her out of that rut, but she realized with chagrin that she had fallen into the same pattern again. The needs of the journey had replaced running the inn: finding food and water and firewood, choosing a place to camp, practicing her swordcraft, teaching Mark and Dara, deciding how far to travel next day and whether to spend some of their dwindling store of cash on an inn.

And she had allowed them to occupy her mind, seldom thinking of the decisions that lay ahead at the end of the journey. Now she was faced with those decisions, and she felt almost as unprepared for them as she had been in Copeham.

Kayl rose and walked softly to the window, careful not to wake Mark or Dara. The wooden shutter and the oiled cloth nailed over the opening kept direct winds more or less at bay, but it was still a cold and drafty place to stand. Kayl peered out the cracks around the edges of the window, trying unsuccessfully to see what sort of day it was outside. Finally she abandoned the attempt and returned to the slightly warmer area beside the door.

What was she going to do about the Sisterhood? Part of her wanted desperately to be one of them again, to have Dalessias warm and friendly wisdom to lean on, to know other women who understood what she meant because they shared the same background and beliefs. To have a family again. Another part of her whispered persuasively of the more tangible benefits the Sisterhood could offer: food, clothes, shelter, an education for her children, work that suited her.

Yet she knew it was not so simple. Even if she could forget everything that had happened in the aftermath of her long-ago trip to the Twisted Tower, there would be Sisters who could not. And Kayl had spent fifteen years outside the Sisterhood, eight of them married to a Varnan wizard; she no longer shared the background of most of the Sisterhood. Nor did she share all their beliefs.

As for her children, Kayl doubted that Mark would ever be happy in the Childrenas Hall. Dara, on the other hand, would probably adjust fairly well. But Kayl knew from experience what such an upbringing meant. She did not want to become a stranger to her children, separated from them for six months or more every year when she traveled to other cities on the business of the Sisterhood. Nor did she want Dara pressured into joining the Sisterhood.

There was also the matter of the Sisterhoodas att.i.tude toward Varnans. Kayl sighed again. If Corrana were typical, the Sisterhood had changed little in that regard, and all for the worse. There seemed to be other changes, too, changes Kayl did not yet completely understand. And there was the mission to the Twisted Tower, and Glyndonas visions, and Kevranas rod. Somehow they were tied together, and Kayl could make no firm decisions about any of them until she understood how and why.

Mark stirred restlessly and sat up. Kayl rose to begin getting her children ready for the new day. She hoped Glyndon would be down in the serving room by the time they arrived. She had a great deal to discuss with him.

Though Kayl and her family lingered over breakfast, Glyndon did not put in an appearance before they finished. He was presumably sleeping late; on reflection, Kayl found this quite reasonable. She was considering the advisability of going upstairs and awakening him, when she became aware of someone standing beside her.

Kayl looked up. A girl of about fifteen stood waiting patiently to be noticed. She was wrapped in a heavy wool cloak; the dark gray robe of a student at the Star Hall showed beneath it. She bobbed her head and said, aSister Kayl Larrinar? Your Justice?a aIam Kayl Larrinar,a Kayl said, ignoring the startled looks Mark and Dara gave her. aBut Iam no longer of the Sisterhood. Just call me Kayl.a aI bear a message for you from the Star Hall,a the girl said, and drew a folded parchment from inside her robe.

Kayl took it, broke the seal, and read it. It was a politely neutral request that she come to the Star Hall as soon as she could; her children would be welcome as well. There was no signature, only the stylized figure of the eight-pointed star of the Sisterhood.

aHow did the Sisters know to send you here to look for me?a Kayl asked the girl, frowning. aI didnat tell them where I would be staying.a aThis is the third inn Iave been to,a the girl said. aAnd I think they sent out other messengers besides me.a aThank you.a Kayl smiled slightly. The Sisters were more anxious to see her than the tone of the note implied, then. Kayl was tempted to refuse the summons, but she had no real reason to do so, and she was curious. She could wait a few more hours to talk to Glyndon.

aUh, Mistress?a the girl said uncertainly. aWill there be any reply?a aIall come,a Kayl said. aMark, Dara, run up and get your cloaks. And bring mine down with you, please.a While the children were gone, Kayl borrowed a charcoal stick from the innkeeper and wrote a brief note to Glyndon on the back of the one from the Sisterhood. She folded it with care and left it with the innkeeper. At least Glyndon would know where to find her if he needed to.

Mark came clattering down the stairs with Dara close behind. Kayl took her cloak from them and wrapped it around herself, then checked to make sure that both children were warmly wrapped as well. The messenger waited with growing impatience, then led the way.

The day was cold and gray. A low sheet of clouds hung in the sky, threatening more snow. Kaylas breath rose in a white column of mist, only to be s.n.a.t.c.hed away by a brief gust of wind.

aUgh,a Mark said. aI hate winter.a aYou didnat say that yesterday,a Dara pointed out.

aYesterday it was sunny and everybody was out doing things.a aIt will be warmer by the time weare on our way back,a Kayl said. aAnd if itas nice enough, weall take the long way around and Iall show you where the n.o.bles live.a aAnd the Queenas Palace?a Mark said. aWith the Shanhar guards, and the messengers waiting on horses all the time?a Kayl laughed. aIf the weatheras better.a Mark gave an excited skipping bound and almost b.u.mped into the messenger girl from behind. Kayl called him to order, and they walked a little way in silence.

aMother,a Dara said softly as they rounded a corner, awhy did that girl call you aYour Justicea?a aBecause thatas how warrior Sisters are addressed,a Kayl said. aHealers are aYour Mercy,a sorceresses are aYour Prudence,a and demon-friends are aYour Compa.s.sion.a a aThatas weird,a Mark said.

aYou never called Corrana any of those things,a Dara said.

aCorrana is an Elder Sister; they are all addressed as aYour Virtue,a no matter what their specialty, just as Mothers are all addressed as aYour Wisdoma and Elder Mothers as aYour Serenity.a a aLike that woman we saw yesterday,a Dara said.

aThatas right,a Kayl said.

aDo we have to remember all that stuff?a Mark asked with trepidation.

aIf weare going to have much to do with the Sisterhood, youall have to learn,a Kayl told him. aYou may as well start now.a Mark groaned and gave Dara a disgusted look. aYou had to ask, didnat you?a The remainder of the walk to the Star Hall was consumed by instructing Mark and Dara on the general points of etiquette among the Sisters of the Stars. Mark was determined to remember only the absolute minimum necessary to meet his motheras standards of politeness, but Dara was fascinated by the elaborate shadings of address that were possible. Kayl had to caution her not to attempt to use them herself. It would be all too easy for Dara to accidentally offend someone.

When they reached the Star Hall the messenger left them in the outer courtyard. The wait was brief; Markas restless prowling had taken him less than halfway around the boundary of the courtyard when a brown-haired young woman with a scar across one cheek arrived. She took charge of Mark and Dara with brisk firmness, and directed Kayl to one of the inner waiting chambers.