“Very much so.”
“Good. It seems to me that the best course of action then would be to attempt to enlist her aid. I trust you to be tactful and do this in the least distressing manner possible, of course—”
“Naturally—” I began.
“-because of her recent illness,” she went on. “All we need to do now is give the second daughter a heart attack.”
“Illness?” I inquired. “She hadn't mentioned anything about that.”
“I'd imagine the memory is still distressing. She was apparently quite close to death until very recently, then rallied suddenly and insisted on accompanying her father on this mission. He's the one who told me about it.”
“She seemed fine at dinner,” I said lamely.
“Well, try to keep her that way. I want you to go to her immediately, tell her what happened as diplomatically as possible, and try to get her to cover for her sister while you search for her. There is, of course, the risk that she will not believe you and that she will go directly to Orkuz. Perhaps you might employ a spell to prevent this. But we have no other choice that I can see. Tell me whether I'm wrong.”
“You're not wrong,” I said.
“Then I suggest you be about it... and report back to me immediately if there are any problems, or any progress, no matter what the hour.”
“I'm on my way,” I said.
I departed the room in a hum but shortly came to a halt. It occurred to me that while I knew the general area of the palace in which the Begman party was quartered, I did not really know where Nayda's rooms were located. I did not want to go back and ask Vialle because it would make me look stupid for not having found out during dinner.
It took me the better part of ten minutes to turn up a member of the palace staff able to give me directions – along with a smirk – and then to follow them at a jog until I stood before Nayda's door.
I ran my hand through my hair, brushed off my trousers and jacket, wiped my boots on the backs of my pants legs, took a deep breath, smiled, exhaled, and knocked.
The door opened a few moments later. It was Nayda. She returned my smile and stepped aside.
“Come in “ she said.
“I was expecting the maid,” I told her as I entered. “You surprised me.”
“Since I was expecting you, I sent her off to bed early,” she replied.
She had changed into an outfit that looked like a gray sweat suit with a black sash. She also had on a pair of black slipper, and she had removed most of her makeup. Her hair was now drawn back severely and tied with a black ribbon. She gestured toward a couch, but I did not move to seat myself.
I clasped her shoulder lightly and stared into her eyes. She moved nearer.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Find out,” she said softly.
I could not even permit myself a sigh. Duty called. I slipped my arms around her, drew her to me, and kissed her. I held the pose for several seconds, then drew away, smiled again, and said, “You feel fine to me. Listen, there are some things I did not tell you—”
“Shall we sit down?” she said, taking my hand and leading me toward the couch.
Vialle had told me to be diplomatic, so I followed her.
Immediately, she continued our embrace and began to add refinements. Danm! And me constrained to rush her out to cover for Coral. If she would, I'd be happy to cover her afterward. Or any other interesting position Begmans might go in for. I'd better ask quickly, though, I decided. A couple of minutes more and it would be very undiplomatic to begin talking about her sister. Today was just a bad day when it came to timing.
“Before we get too involved here,” I said, “I've got to ask a favor of you.”
“Ask me anything,” she said.
“I think there's going to be a delay in turning up your sister,” I explained, “and I'd hate to worry your father. Do you know whether he's sent to her rooms yet, or been by them, to check on her?”
“I don't believe so. He strolled off with Gerard and Mr. Roth after dinner. I don't think he's returned to his apartment yet.”
“Could you possibly find a way of giving him the impression that she hasn't strayed? Buy me some time to find out where she's off to?”
She looked amused.
“And those things you haven't told me..?”
“I'll give you the whole story if you'll do this for me.”
She traced my jawline with her index finger.
“All right,” she said then. “We have a deal. Don't go away.”
She rose, crossed the room, and passed out into the hall, leaving the door a few inches ajar. Why hadn't I had a nice normal affair since Julia? The last woman I'd made love to had actually been under the control of that strange body-shifting entity. Now... Now there was the faintest of shadows across the couch, as I realized that I'd rather be holding Coral than her sister. That was ridiculous. I'd only known her for half a day...
There had simply been too much activity since my return. I was getting punchy. That had to be it.
When she returned she seated herself on the couch again, but this time with a couple of feet separating us. She seemed cheerful enough, though she made no move to resume our earlier occupation.
“It's taken care of,” she said. “He will be misled, if he asks.”
“Thanks,” I told her.
“Now it's your turn,” she stated. “Tell me things.”
“All right,” I began, and I launched into the story of Coral and the Pattern.
“No,” she interrupted. “Start at the beginning, would you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Give me your whole day, from the time you left the palace togethet until you parted.”
“That's silly,” I protested.
“Humor me,” she said. “You owe me one, remember?”
“Very well,” I agreed, and I started again. I was able to skip over the bit about blasting the table in the cafj, but when I glossed over the business in the sea caves by saying that we'd looked around in them and found them pretty, she interrupted me.
“Stop,” she said. “You're leaving something out. What occurred in the caves?”
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“That is a secret I do not care to share just now.” she explained. “Suffice it to say I have a means of spotchecking your veracity.”
“It's not relevant,” I said. “It will just confuse the issue. That's why I omitted it.”
“You said you'd give me the whole afternoon.”
“All right, lady,” I agreed, and I did.
She bit her lip while I told her about Jurt and the zombies, and she licked idly at the beads of blood that appeared thereafter.
“What are you going to do about him?” she asked suddenly.
“That's my problem,” I said then. “I promised you the afternoon, not my memoirs and survival plans.”
“It's just that... Remember, I offered to try to help you?”
“What do you mean? Do you think you can nail Jurt for me? I've got news for you: He's practically a candidate for godhood at the moment.”
“What do you mean by `godhood'?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“It would take most of the night to tell you this story properly, and we don't have the time, not if I'm going to start looking for Coral soon. Just let me finish with the business about the Pattern, will you?”
“Go ahead.”
I did, and she showed no surprise whatsoever at the matter of her sister's paternity. I was going to question her as to her lack of reaction. Then I said, the hell with it. She's done what I wanted, and I did what I promised. She hasn't had a heart attack. And now it's time to go.
“That's it,” I said, and I added, “Thanks.”
I began to rise, and she moved quickly and was hugging me again.
I returned her embrace for a moment, then said, “I'd really better be going.,Coral could be in danger.”
“The hell with her,” she said. “Stay with me. We have more important things to talk about.”
I was surprised by her callousness, but I tried not to show it.