Lanzecki might swear that the Ballybran spore did not confer any psychic enhancement but Killashandra was entertaining severe doubts on that score。 She had definitely caught conflicting emotional emanations from Mirbethan； from the other worthies； and now； from this young man … a curious flash of green； annoyance； interest； and anticipation far too strong to be the casual reaction to a visitor。 And flash was all it could be； for Thyrol and Pirinio bore down on her； all apologies for their discourtesies real and imaginary。 Mirbethan firmly took her place at Killashandra's right； edging the three men out of position and motioning their guest down the hall。 When Killashandra was able to glance back to the young man； he was striding down a side corridor； head down； shoulders sagging as if weighed down by some burden。 Guilt？
Then she was swept into the lift； down to the guest level； and into the most sumptuous quarters which had ever been allotted to her。 Having agreed to descend to the reception as soon as she had changed gave her time for only the most cursory examination of the apartment。 She'd been guided through a large； elegant reception room suitable for formal affairs。 A smaller room was evidently to be used as a studio or office。 They hurried past two bedchambers； one of them quite modern； before she was ushered into a main room so vast that she had to stifle a chuckle。 Mirbethan indicated the toilet and the slightly open closet panel where her clothes had been hung。 Then the woman withdrew。
Stripping off the torn garment； Killashandra flicked open one of the Beluga spider…silk kaftans which ought to be suitable for any reception： certainly a foil against the predominantly white or pale colors which the Optherians seemed to prefer。 Except for that brooding young man。
Killashandra dwelt briefly on him as she washed hastily。 Then she couldn't resist a peek into the other hygiene rooms。 One contained a variety of tubs； massage table； and exercise equipment while the third boasted a radiant…fluid tub and several curious devices which Killashandra had never before encountered but which left an impression of obscenity。
Back in the bedchamber； she heard a soft rapping at the door。
〃I'm ready； I'm ready；〃 she cried； masking irritation with a lilt in her voice。
Chapter 5
That protocol had bee an art form on Optheria told Killashandra quite clearly that if there were no rebellious spirits then the entire population had stagnated。 At the reception； every faculty member； their subordinates； then every student； all in order of their rank and scholastic standing； filed past her。 Mercifully； handshaking was no longer a part of the ritual。 A nod； a smile； a mumbled repetition of the name sufficed。 After fifty nods； Killashandra felt her smile fixed in her cheeks and her face stiffened into that mode。 With her everfaithful quartette； she stood at the top of a massive double staircase； whose white marble nights curved down into a marbled hall below。 The ceiling of the vast reception chamber was so high that the murmuring of the assembled crowd was absorbed。
Killashandra had had a glimpse of tables； laden with patterns of plates whose contents were as precisely placed as the plates were； and with beakers of colored liquids。 The assembled scrupulously kept their eyes from the direction of the refreshments。 Killashandra guessed that they all knew too well the taste and texture of the reception repast。
There were curious patterns； too； in the reception。 Five people would take the right…hand staircase； the next five would descend on the left。 Killashandra wondered if a steward in some distant anteroom ticked the people off for left and right。 There were never more than ten people waiting to be introduced； yet the flow down the hallway was steady despite its apparent randomness。
Abruptly no more people were making their way to the reception line and Killashandra let her cheeks relax； rotating her head on her neck； wriggling her lips and nose in a very undignified manner in order to ease the muscles。 One never knows when one's early training as a singer is going to prove useful； she thought； just as she heard a concerted intake of breath from her quartette。 Reorganizing her expression； she glanced up the hall in time to observe the ceremonial approach of dignitaries。
The seven figures who processed … and that was the correct verb to describe their advance … were not differently garbed from the other highly placed Optherians； but they wore their pale robes with an unmistakable air of authority。 Four men and three women； each wearing the same slight smile upon their serene faces。 Faces； Killashandra would shortly note； that had been carefully adjusted by surgery and artifice to enhance that serenity； for only one of the smiles reached the weary； bored； aged eyes。
Elder Ampris； Killashandra was immensely relieved to discover； was the only one of the Optherian rulers with whom she would have much contact。 He was currently responsible for the Music plex。 If there should ever be a Stellarity Award given for Best Character Actor among Planetary Rulers； surely Ampris would win it。 But for the disparity of expression between eye and face； Killashandra might have missed that gleam of humor and possibly ignored that spontaneous lifting of the heart that occur when one encounters a kindred spirit。 The others； whose names Killashandra promptly forgot； gave her hand one firm shake in wele； a few words of gratitude for making 〃so arduous a journey in this moment of planetary crisis；〃 and passed on by； having acquitted their duty。 They all waited； without appearing to wait； at the top of the right…hand stair。 Then Killashandra felt the almost electric touch of Ampris's hand； looked into his bright and knowing eyes and returned the first genuine smile of the long afternoon。
〃We will have time to talk later on； Guildmember。 In the meantime； let us gild their afternoon with the gold and scarlet of our presence's。〃 His negligent wave took in the whole room； not just the high dignities patiently awaiting the dissolution of the reception line。
Thyrol glanced at Killashandra； her hand on Ampris's arm； then he turned to the nearest Elder woman and offered his arm。 No fuss； no confusion； no dithering about altered escorts or who would be left to descend alone： everything was already worked out； planned down to the last detail； including the unexpected。 For； obviously； no one could have expected Ampris to confer such an honor as his personal escort on Killashandra。
Killashandra wondered if the foodstuffs had been minutely measured； for two bites disposed of each of the four small tidbits； five mouthfuls emptied the wine glass。 But she was among the lucky minority who had their glasses refilled and were offered additional canapies。
〃This will be over soon；〃 Ampris murmured to her； his lips barely moving。 〃A proper meal will be served us when the lesser orders have dutifully taken their sip and sup and toddled back to the fort of their routines。〃
He spoke with neither scorn nor malice： Ampris was stating a fact about the majority of the assembled。
〃Having had their rare treats of standing in the same room with a real live breathing Crystal Singer？〃
〃You are that！〃 Ampris's gaze returned hers with no trace of guile or evasion but he had a definite twinkle in his eye。 〃Three minutes after you reached the infirmary； the news of your regenerative powers had seeped to the basements。〃
〃Surely you are not housed in a basement？〃
Ampris's bright brown eyes twinkled again。 〃The seat of all knowledge。。。〃
〃So you can get to the bottom of things？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃And a position of maximum security？〃 Killashandra taunted him。 Why shouldn't she start at the top with her covert inquiries？
〃Security is never a problem on such a well…ordered world as Optheria。〃 He inclined his head to acknowledge the passing of three of the dignitaries circulating the gathering。 〃Everyone is secure〃 … he paused … 〃on Optheria； each knowing his place and his duties。 Security is the foundation of the serenity of spirit which typifies this natural world。〃
Killashandra could find no mockery in his words nor any special inflection in his voice。