Chapter 8

Vaysh's hand hovered over the carved wooden door, knuckles poised to rap loudly any moment. They'd been waiting on the Tigrina ten minutes and he was running out of patience. Meanwhile, the Tigrons seemed determined to use the delay to try and pry out the identity of the mysterious palace visitors.

"Come now, Vaysh, it could be an hour before Rue finally come out -- just tell us!" Pell was saying, one elegant, painted hand poised on his hip, the other draped over Cal's shoulder.

"You know the more you hide it from us, the most we'll tease you," Cal added with a remarkable straight face. "Be practical."

Vaysh drew in his breath, exasperated, and pulled back his hand to deliver a knock.

Naturally, Pell had to interrupt. "No, Vaysh, just wait and--"

Too late. Vaysh was knocking on the door. "Caeru, please hurry! Our guests our waiting."

From the other side of the door came the sound of something, possibly shoes, hitting the floor with considerable force. "Well, they'll have to wait! I can't get this damned--"

Quickly and gracefully, Pell inserted himself between Vaysh and the door. "One moment, Vaysh. I'll go in and help him."

"You had better not d-"

"I won't delay him. I'll hurry him up." Pell gave Vaysh a beseeching look before turning the handle and squeezing through. For all of them to burst in would have caused a scene, but presumedly Pell could get away with it.

Once the door had closed, Cal leaned against the frame and studied Vaysh. "This is very unlike you, Vaysh. You tend to follow protocol. In the normal course of events, wouldn't a visitor simply be placed on our regular schedule? Why this after hours meeting? And why the secrecy?"

Vaysh was not about to relent with an answer. "I can't tell you that. I'm only asking you to trust me on this. When you meet the guests, you'll see."

Cal crossed his arms loosely across his chest. "I don't like surprises, as I think you'll understand."

Vaysh only had to maintain his silence for a few seconds before the door suddenly was flung open.

"Well, Pell says I'm ready, although I sincerely disagree!" Rue erupted. He'd just gotten out of daytime clothes when Vaysh had come along to summon him and although he could have simply slipped back into them, he'd chosen to put together a whole new outfit.

"He had trouble with the buttons in back," Pell muttered to Cal as they all began to follow Vaysh's lead.

"You didn't have to put on an entirely new outfit," Vaysh sighed. "I told you that but you wouldn't--"

"Oh, shut up, Vaysh, just take us to your surprise," Rue sulked. "I was just ready to relax. I was up all day fixing arrangements for the tribal talks. This had better be good!"

When neither Vaysh nor the Tigrons responded to this fit of pique, Rue dropped back from the group and began to trudge along slowly. As long as he kept moving forward, Vaysh didn't much care.

"I meant to tell you," Cal remarked casually, "I like what you've done to your hair, Vaysh, especially today with the spikes. Quite a change."

"Yes," Pell agreed, "no more looking like Thiede."

Vaysh reached up and self-consciously fingered his recent hair job, which he'd tousled up with his recently purchased pomade. Gone were the red-dyed locks of old, in their place a short, spiky medium blond. "Yes, no more looking like Thiede," he agreed, thinking that soon they would meet someone who looked to be his twin.

Just before they reached the door to his quarters, Vaysh turned and held up his hands. "Now, I know, you're eager to go in -- yes, Rue, I see you puffing impatiently -- but first I have something to say to you all. And quite rolling your eyes, Cal, this is serious."

"Apparently," Cal muttered. "It is you doing the speaking -- and you've never been much of a comedian!"

Vaysh would not dignify this comment and clasped his hands together before him. "The hara you're about to meet, a hostling and his son, have come a long way to meet you and have waited a long time. They came to me today and introduced themselves and I promised them an immediate audience. I think you'll see why when you meet them. But first-- and no, absolutely no questions," he said hurriedly, as Pell's mouth hung open, about to speak, "because I really must give you a warning. Pell in particular, I must warn you. This may be a shock."

"What kind of shock?" Pell blurted out, heedless of Vaysh's words.

"Remember the day Rue first arrived in the city, Pell?" Vaysh asked carefully, purposely stepping in front of the door, blocking it. "Remember in particular the way you stormed into his rooms and--"

"Of course I remember that, you idiot!" Pell exploded. "That is not one of my fondest memories!"

"I'm sure not," Vaysh agreed. "Nor Rue's. You agree?"

"Yes," the Tigrina replied curtly, taking a step forward. "That was a black day. Still, I don't understand. Who are we meeting?"

"This sounds ominous," Cal said. "I don't like surprises, Vaysh." Purposely he took two steps forward, forcing Vaysh to step back against the door.

"Especially not when you compare it to that day," Pell seethed before suddenly turning and muscling Vaysh aside to get hold of the door handle.

"All I'm asking is that you not repeat your actions that day, Pell!" Vaysh shouted as Pell twisted the handle and burst through the entrance. Vaysh, Cal and Rue fell in behind.

Pell, surprised to have made it through so easily, spun around to look over at the seating area. When he saw who was sitting on the sofa, he screamed.