"But what of the Prince?" Naughty asked.
"I can take him to space, an early recruit," Warp said. "If he agrees." Naughty shook her tentacles. "Give me one night with him, and I guarantee he will agree to anything I ask."
They all laughed, flashing colors. It seemed that the crisis had been solved.
Chapter 22 Nexus
Shee was out of sorts. She had to pretend that Ikon was Havoc, to conceal Havoc's absence; he was on a secret mission. That meant sharing the royal mistress suite with Ikon, having sex with him, and so on. Shee hated that. It wasn't that Ikon was a robot; she was one herself. It was that he wasn't Havoc. She could associate freely with others, but pretending to love him was a considerable turnoff.
The Red Glamor appeared. "Looking for mom, routine," she said.
"For Gale," Shee murmured, spreading a local aura of privacy. It was one of the Glamor talents she had gained.
This Glamor was Weft, the only one who referred to Gale as "mom."
"Expletive! I slipped. I'm distracted."
"Gale is busy with a mission. Monochrome is on Earth. I'm the mistress of the moment, Weft. May I help?"
Weft considered. "Maybe you can. Don't you hate it?"
Ah. "Bedding a pseudo Havoc? Yes."
"I finally come to terms with loving a robot, and then he has to make out with three other glamorous Glamors."
"Four. He has occasional business with Idyll."
Weft grimaced. "And you know, I don't much like dad getting it on with Red, when she's emulating me. She'll be exaggerating shamelessly, making me seem like a possessive sexpot."
"That is the point, isn't it? To turn him off you?"
"Agreement. But still it gripes me. If anyone is to turn him off me, it should be me personally."
Shee laughed, and Weft joined her, ruefully.
"Idea," Shee said. "Could you emulate me?"
"And be with Ikon? Delight! But you'd have to emulate Red."
"For long enough to conceal the exchange," Shee agreed. "Then I could relax. I'm still figuring out my powers."
"Let's do it."
They hugged, and turned as a couple, and separated—as each other. Shee now resembled the Red Glamor, and Weft resembled Shee. Impersonation was another Glamor art Shee was perfecting.
Ikon entered the room, as Havoc. "Routine public appearance, Shee," he said. Then paused. "Greeting, Red. Were you looking for me?"
"Looking for Gale," Shee said. "But she's not here."
"She will be back within hours," Ikon said. "Meanwhile the routine continues. Ready, Shee?"
"Not quite," Weft said. "I want a tryst first."
He looked pained. "This really isn't necessary at this time, Shee." He wasn't any more eager to be with Shee than she was with him.
Weft whispered in his ear. His eyes widened. He looked at Shee. Shee nodded: it was true that he now held Weft.
His manner changed. "If you will excuse us, Red." He bore Weft toward the bed. Their clothing was coming open or off, baring the essentials as they madly kissed and stroked each other.
"Excused," Shee said belatedly, and departed by foot.
Ennui looked up as Shee entered her office. "Red?"
"Shee," Shee murmured. "Weft swapped out with me."
Ennui smiled. "That is so much better for both of you. And just as well. Idyll wants to see you privately."
"On my way." She conjured herself to Counter Charm.
Idyll was fully formed and expecting her. Near or intermediate future seeing was outside Shee's ability, but she was becoming used to it in other Glamors. "Shee," she said.
"You are a nexus. It is intensifying. We must fathom its relevance within ten days, or suffer grievously."
Shee spread her hands. "I will help if I can. But I have no awareness of this aspect of me."
"Comprehension. Gale and I will join you on a trip to Earth to see Monochrome."
Shee was taken aback. She had never known of the ifrit Glamor leaving her planet physically. "I may be a nexus, but am I worth the diversion of three Glamors?"
"Affirmation. This is huge."
"Then I will cooperate in any manner I can."
"Assume the aspect of a mortal tourist." Idyll was already shifting her own appearance, becoming a black haired young woman in modest apparel.
Shee shifted to assume the likeness of a blond woman, similarly modest.
"We are not being observed," Idyll said. "But we may be watched, once we board the shuttle. Remain in character."
"Concurrence."
They took hands and conjured to the shuttle station near Pyramid City. There a brown haired young woman with a six legged dog joined them. Gale, she thought. And an imprint of Iolo Ifrit. The original's with Havoc. Shee was not yet telepathic, but could receive thought directed at her. I have tickets.
So Gale had completed her mission, but not reported to the royal office. She was keeping her identity private.
"How could you afford tickets?" Idyll asked.
"Deal," Gale said. "They are breaking in two new minstrels to abate space cafard aboard the chronically cruising ships. We will teach them a repertoire of familiar songs and plays."
"Question," Shee asked. "They did not hear those as children?"
"They are aliens the Glamor Warp recruited."
Oh.
"And?" Idyll asked for the benefit of anyone overhearing.
Gale affected slight embarrassment. "And we will, uh, lend our favors as necessary."
"You signed us up as whores?" Idyll demanded.
"No fault comfort companions," Gale said defensively. "Tickets are hard to come by."
"I understand the men do get lonely after months in space," Shee said, forcing a flush as if not at all comfortable with the situation. Idyll just shook her head, not completely mollified.
They boarded the shuttle in due course, along with other tourists, playing the roles of three anonymous women.
There was a fair tourist trade, as Earthers visited Charm and Charmers visited Earth. There was a war on, but appearances were maintained so that the populace was not unduly alarmed.
The shuttle docked at the ship, which was a huge Earth naval vessel, one of the type that cruised the vicinity. They boarded via the merged airlocks, in the line of tourists.
Idyll looked at her ticket. "I don't see our cabins listed," she said.
Gale looked abashed. "We have none. We must share with the men."
Idyll glared at her. "Indignation!"
Shee joined the act. "Had I known, I would not have been so ready to agree to this tour."
"Apology," Gale said, with a somewhat hangdog look. "When you spoke of abating space cafard, you really weren't fooling," Idyll said. "Only you didn't say that we are the entertainment."
"Mortification."
"Oh, let her be," Shee said. "She did what she had to do. It isn't as we haven't traveled no fault before." Idyll shrugged. "I suppose we might even have a little fun ourselves. Promise not to tell anyone back home."
"We promise," Gale and Shee said together.
No one would have known them for three Glamors. That was the point of such dialogue.
The ship's Mistress intercepted them. She was of course a lovely woman, reminiscent of Marionette by no coincidence. All the Mistresses had similar qualities and training. This one was the real governor of this ship, though Shee knew she never gave orders as such. "This way, please, ladies." If she knew their identities, she gave no sign. "I will see to your dog." Iolo obediently joined the Mistress.
Soon they were introduced to the two alien minstrels. One was a young man in costume name Ium, the other a young woman in a revealing dress, name la. There was a certain peripheral flashing of lights. "Greeting, ladies," the man's translation unit said. "Echo," the woman's unit said.