“Where is this fabled Harry?” She turned to scan the crowd and found herself face-to-face with Lord Cardinal Amo.
“Miss Gray,” said the Lord Cardinal. “It’s good to see you again. May I present Hierophant Bell, of our delegation?”
Keylinn’s face had gone utterly blank. “I’m honored, Hierophant.”
“Miss Gray,” murmured Bell, who looked pleasant but confused.
“And Officer Diamond I believe I have already met,” said the Lord Cardinal.
“Yes,” said Tal, “at the ceremonies marking the end of Separation. I do recall it.” He bowed, the proper bow for a high-rank to a higher.
Amo’s face was courteous, but the hands clenching the front of his robe gave Keylinn to think that murder was not far from his thoughts even now. Tal might really have made a mistake in letting his cadet strike Amo down; but it was history now, and they’d have to deal with it.
“May I get you a drink, Miss Gray?” Amo inquired.
Keylinn gestured to the glass in her hand. “Thank you anyway.”
“Water, I see. How unusual.”
“I had to ask for it.”
“Then, may I have the honor of this next dance with you?”
Good heavens! Did Lord Cardinals dance? Apparently they did. For one unprofessional moment her head swirled with panic. Then she put one hand out blindly, found Tal’s arm, and said, “I’m flattered, my lord, but Officer Diamond has already requested this dance.”
Tal’s ability to pick up social cues was unpredictable, at least to humans. But this time he simply smiled and said, “If you will forgive us, Lord Cardinal, Hierophant,” and led her out onto the floor.
“I hope you can dance,” she whispered.
“I hope you can teach me quickly,” he replied.
They finished more or less in one piece, near the musicians’ stand where Adrian was still trapped by the three lords.
“Was that all right?” asked Tal.
“I think we passed, from a distance.” Actually he had learned the steps as soon as she’d explained them, and performed them without error. It was a far cry, however, from her earlier dance in Tal’s office. “Your reflexes and memory can’t be criticized, but if you ever want to really learn, you might ask Spider to teach you. He knows how to let go.”
“I thought I was supposed to hold on to you in this particular dance.”
“That’s not what I—never mind, it’s not important.” Adrian had caught sight of them, she saw, and was approaching with a desperate look in his eye.
“Tal! —You must excuse me, gentlemen, I promised Officer Diamond I would speak with him earlier. So good of you to wait, Tal.”
For the second time that evening Tal patiently accepted his role in the general deceit of humans. Lord Muir and his companions broke with reluctance and disappeared in the crowd.
“Thank God,” said Adrian. “Hello, Miss Gray. Thank you for coming.”
“Congratulations,” said Keylinn.
“Thank you. Are they gone? Don’t look over my shoulder too obviously.
“They’re gone,” she said.
“Blessings on you both. I suppose Iolanthe is fuming—no, she seems cheerful, she’s laughing with Prudence Taylor.”
Tal said, “Maybe she’s hiding it well.”
Adrian focused a sharp look at him, but with Tal it was hard to tell the difference between a dig and simple factual reporting. Possibly he didn’t even make that discrimination. Adrian said, “I hope you’re enjoying the ball, Miss Gray, and that there are no … hard feelings?”
She smiled. “You acted as your position required. I had no expectations or claims on you. Tal has told me, however, that you provided background support, and for that I thank you.”
She seemed sincere, and Adrian relaxed. She reminded him of his panthers a little; apparently tame, but one knew quite well they were not. He said, “Tal seems to have pulled off a miracle there. I don’t know quite where he dug up the mercenaries he used—he hasn’t been very forthcoming on that subject, except to say they weren’t station personnel.”
Keylinn chose some words rapidly. “I spoke with them myself on the way back.” She played with her green bracelet. “They seemed a mixed lot, in their way. I believe they’re from out-system.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” he agreed. “Tal did say that you dispatched Ennis yourself.” There was no condemnation in his tone, only respect. He turned to Tal. “I’m glad she’s on our side.”
Keylinn glowed at the compliment. Tal saw the look on her face and pondered it; it was so easy for Adrian.
A young Diamond bravo approached them and asked for Keylinn to honor him with a dance. Her glow intensified. “I don’t think—”
“Go ahead,” said Adrian. “Please don’t let me stop you.”
She was drawn away, and Adrian turned to Tal. “Three things,” he said. “First, a combined trade team has been officially invited downhill to the Baret Two capital. Second, you will accompany our team members as an adviser. Third—”
It was like Adrian to wait and then drop a series of facts like a series of heavy books on one’s feet. “Hold on a minute,” said Tal. “Nobody is going to want to take advice from a demon. Especially not in a combined team— the Opal members will throw a fit.”
“Doesn’t it make sense that an Outsider should have the best advice for dealing with Outsiders?”
“When was Opal ever rational in its decisions? For that matter, when was the Diamond?”
Adrian just grinned. “Tal, notice that I’ve gotten everything I wanted. I have a combined team instead of two rival groups, and I’ve gotten an actual invitation from the Duke to come. That will give us points before we even go in. The final thing I want is for you to go down with the team and keep them out of trouble. Trust me, I can put this one through just like the others.”
“Is there enough time in your lifespan to put this one through?” inquired Tal rhetorically.
Keylinn and her partner whirled past. “Clever of that bravo to choose to ask her for a couples-dance,”
