〃It got us in； didn't it？〃
〃But here it might set off alarms。 And I want our arrival to be as quiet as possible。 I've arranged things with a friend。 We should have no problems。〃
I frowned。 〃And who are we going to be beholden to for this favor？〃 I asked。 〃I don't like owing anyone anything if I can help it。 This will be dicey enough。 You know what the politics are like here。 They make the Borgias look like a close and friendly family。〃
〃I'm the one with the favor owed； not you；〃 he said。 He sounded a bit exasperated。 〃I had forgotten how difficult you can be on a trip。 At least you've learned to pack a little lighter。〃
〃And just what is that supposed to mean？〃 I said。 But it came out more like； 〃And。。。 just （gasp） what 。。。 isthatsupposedtomean？〃
〃Nothing；〃 he said。 〃Do you have your Visitor's Authorization Visa ready？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃And don't change the subject。 I don't recall you ever plaining about my luggage before。 Have you been nursing this grudge for long？ As I recall； the last time we traveled together for any length of time was back in eighteen ninety…eight。 Vienna。 And everyone had trunks； not just me。 You had two of them。 Plus a rather large leather portmanteau that never would have fit on any horse。。。〃
〃We're here；〃 he said。
I slid to a stop。 The sleek silver； green； and white of the Cinanestial counter was in front of us。 A male elf stood at the counter with a datacord jacked into a silver slot in his left temple running to the puler hidden behind the top of the counter。 At the door to the plane stood another elf； who looked pleasant enough until you noticed that she had cyberware implants in both arms and a nasty…looking laser slipped into a tasteful sleeve on the side of her uniform。
Both elves were wearing the Cinanestial uniform：
skin…tight dark…green material with bold color blocks of silver and white。 Though I suspected they were both expert at being polite and serving the passengers； anyone who gave them any grief would likely be pulling pieces of his favorite anatomy part from his throat for a long time to e。
Before we even reached the counter； another uniformed elf appeared in front of us。 I didn't see where she came from； and the fact that she got the drop on me irritated me to no end。
〃I need to see your VAVs； please；〃 she said。 The please was a mere formality。 I had spent most of my time avoiding Tir Taimgire…and with good reason。 Now I was waltzing in chin…first。 Even with Caimbeui as my panion； I wondered if this wasn't a bigger mistake than facing Ysrthgrathe alone。
I passed my VAV across to Caimbeui； who put it with his and gave it to her。
〃Stay here；〃 she said。 She turned and walked over to the elf at the desk。 They talked together in low voices for a moment； then the counter…elf said something to the one with our passports。 The customs elf put a deliberately blank expression on her face； then walked back to us。
〃Go on through；〃 she said。 〃Have a good flight。〃
Caimbeui took our papers and walked past without saying a word to her。 I followed； trying hard not to give a smug grin。 I failed。 Oh； well。
Just as we reached the door to the loading ramp； I heard a motion behind us。 I looked over my shoulder in time to see the customs elf tossing a scared…looking troll to the floor as if he were a rag…doll。
All brawn； no brains。 Some things never change。
The flight to Portland was about two and a half hours。 I didn't make small talk with Caimbeui。 I was afraid I might blurt out that he'd been in my dream； and then I'd have to listen to him crow about that for the rest of the flight。
He was a conceited bastard under the best of situations…I didn't want to think about how obnoxious he would bee if I told him。
And what was going on with my dreams anyway？ I hadn't dreamed of Ysrthgrathe in several nights scared me because if he wasn't ing to me through that window； where was he going to e from？
Was he already here and waiting for me？ Waiting to rip my life apart again？ Or had I just dreamed him up？ Pulled him from my nightmare past as surely as I had pulled him to me all those millennia ago？ I wasn't sure now。 No； I had to be sure。 The fate of the world was riding on me。 There was no room for mistakes。
We sank into the gray clouds as we made our approach to Portland。 From up in the golden sky to down into the rain and muck。 I could barely make out the green land below as we popped in and out of the clouds。 Rain smeared the double…paned windows。
〃How are we going to get the Council to hear us？〃 I asked。
〃I'm going to petition the High Prince；〃 he replied。
〃Lugh Surehand？〃 I asked。 〃I didn't realize you were on such close terms。〃
Caimbeui looked away。
〃Don't tell me；〃 I said。 〃He has no idea that we're ing； does he？〃
〃I'm sure he knows we're ing。 There's very little that goes on in Tir Taimgire that he doesn't know。 But I haven't contacted him directly。 I thought it would be better to wait until we're actually in Portland。〃
〃Why？ And stop fidgeting。〃
〃I'm not fidgeting。 I don't fidget。 That's an awful word。 Fidget。 You make me sound like a three…year…old。〃
〃If the age fits。〃
He ran a hand through his hair； dislodging the band that held his ponytail。 Then he cursed when the band got tangled up in his hair。 The more he tugged at it； the worse the snarl became。 I slapped his hand away and gently began to work it loose。
〃It's Aithne； isn't it？〃 I asked。 〃You're worried that when Aithne knows I'm in Portland； he'll do everything he can to see that I'm not heard。〃
I was surprised to see him look so embarrassed。 The band came loose and I ran my fingers through Caimbeul's hair to make sure there weren't any more tangles。 It was as silky as I remembered； cool on top and warm near the nape of his neck。 It was an odd moment； filled with promise and regret。 Then I pulled my hands away and held out the band to him。 His fingers slid over mine as he took it； and lingered there for a moment。
〃It's been so long； and he still hasn't forgiven me；〃 I said。 〃I know I have no right to expect that he would； but all the same there's the hope in me that he might。〃
Caimbeui took my hand and gave it a little squeeze。 〃He attends his grudges like a jealous wife。 Age hasn't tempered him。 It's only made him more of what he is。 But isn't that the way it is with all of us？〃
〃I suppose。 But what about you and Ehran？ I know you engaged in the Game some time ago。 Did that resolve any of your differences？ Or did it merely let you keep them simmering for another hundred years or so？〃
〃Simmering； my sweet； simmering always。 I never like to bring things to a boil。〃
I held his hand tightly for a moment； then released it。
〃I seem to remember a time or two when that wasn't the case。〃
〃You are an evil woman； Aina。〃
I just smiled at him； then went back to looking out the window。
We passed through Tir customs easily。 Whatever mojo Caimbeui had worked with his friend； it breezed us through the usual tediousness of the bureaucracy。 I'd made it a point in the past to avoid Tir Taimgire at all costs。 Oh； I'd been here a few times； but always as quickly and discreetly as possible。 Though I knew Aithne would never act against me directly； I wasn't about to force the issue。 Tir Taimgire was； after all； his baby。 He'd cooked the idea up with Sean Laverty； Lugh Surehand； and Ehran。 They'd moved with a purpose and precision to establish the Tir that preempted anyone who might have stood in their way。 Not that I would have been foolish enough to try。 I like to think that I've developed some measure of sense in roy old age。
They tricked the Salish…Shidhe Council into giving over part of their land to the elves。 Oh； I had to admire their cunning。 Like all good mundane magic； it was done with clever distractions and sleight of hand。
It was Ehran who did the initial dirty work。 And how he must have enjoyed the charade…posing as an Amerindian…Walter Bright Water…newly released from the Pyramid Lake Re…Education Center。 He pretended that his wife and children had died there； then deceived the tribal e