ly suggested that they hook up to the land facilities and spare the cruiser's batteries。 Then it went； Torkes was quite upset； worrying about you； Guildmember； and thinking this was another attempt on your safety。 Of course。 the lift wouldn't operate； and an inspection party quickly discovered that this apartment cannot easily be scaled from the ground； so they posted guards on the waterfront。 That's why your sleep was undisturbed。〃 She lowered her eyes briefly。 〃Olav worked with the cruiser's engineers all night； to discover the trouble in our generators which； as you might suspect； had suffered previously undetected damage from the hurricane。 All is now restored； except； of course； the units which were overloaded！〃 She pointed out the several char marks where walls met the ceiling。 〃And； of course； the blown chip was discovered to be water damaged。 Your father has a genius in that area。 But I think you had both better put in appearances shortly。 There are suitable garments for you both in the dressingroom and I have been requested to deliver necessities for you to the cruiser； Killashandra。〃
Teradia rose in one lithe movement； hesitated； and then moved to Killashandra's side。 〃You can have no idea how I enjoyed seeing an Elder rendered speechless。 An excellent strategy on your part。 Keep them off balance and guessing。 They don't have any experience with that！〃 Then Teradia laid her soft； fragrant cheek against Killashandra's and before the crystal singer could react； had glided out of the room and closed the door。
〃You have made an impression；〃 Lars said。 〃I'll tell you about Teradia's experience with the Council and you'll understand what she meant。 I never would have thought of plaining about that sentry nonsense；〃 and Lars gave an exasperated sigh； 〃but then； I'm used to it。 It must be。。。〃 He searched for the appropriate word； shrugged when he couldn't find it。 〃How remarkable not to need weapons or guards。 Is it the case in Ballybran； or did that felicitous state exist on your Fuerte； too？〃
〃Both。 On Fuerte for lack of aggression； and on Ballybran because everyone's too busy in the Ranges cutting crystal。 We know our place and are secure in it；〃 she paraphrased； mimicking Ampris's voice。 〃Lars； how are we going to fuse the monitors at the Conservatory？ They'll have installed them； I know。〃
〃You could always throw another tantrum。〃
〃No thank you。 Fits of temper are exhausting。〃
〃Oh； is that truly why you're tired today？〃
〃Pleasure never tires me。 Now let's eat and dress。 I've just been attacked by a case of circumspection。〃
A few minutes later they emerged onto the reception floor with no further delays。 An officer immediately leaped to his feet at their arrival； stammering queries about Killashandra's rest； apologies for any inconvenience caused by the power failure； and obsequiously requesting Killashandra and Captain Dahl to join the Harbor Master and Elder Torkes in the munications room。
Olav Dahl looked tired but there was a merriment in his eyes as he asked if all her needs had been satisfied。 She reassured him； then turned to Torkes and affected surprise at his evident fatigue； fussing at him graciously。
〃If the Guildmember is agreeable； I should like to depart immediately；〃 Torkes replied； when the amenities were pleted。 He eyed her as if he expected her to demur。
〃I left unfinished … even unstarted； to be totally candid … 〃 she said； 〃the task which brought me to Optheria。 I am more eager than you can imagine to plete the organ's repair and depart。 I'm sure we will all feel relieved when I'm safely homebound。〃
Patently Elder Torkes could not be more in agreement； although he kept throwing skeptical glances at Killashandra as he made his farewells to Olav Dahl。 Lars kept in the background。 Meanwhile sailors in Council uniform had formed up into a guard of honor all the way from the Residence down to the pier where the cruiser's boat awaited its distinguished passengers。
Just as she reached the top of the steps； Killashandra looked up at the terraces； at the polly trees； the dwellings； at the old volcano on the Head； at the fishing skiffs serenely clearing the harbor； and she didn't want to leave Angel Island。 Someone touched her arm and there was Olav with two garlands in his hand。
〃Indulge me in an island custom； Guildmember。〃 He draped the fragrant blossoms about her neck。 Killashandra had just recognized the blooms as those with which Lars had handfasted her； when she saw Olav bestow one on his son。 〃Discharge your duties assiduously to the protection of the Guildmember's person； my son； and return to us only when you have seen her safely to the shuttle port！〃
Before Killashandra could say anything in acknowledgment； Olav had stepped back。 So； she could only smile her gratitude for his vote of confidence and proceed to the waiting boat。 Impatiently she brushed aside the tears in her eyes before anyone could notice； and took a seat under the awning amidships。 She was not surprised when Lars did not elect to join her for she could well imagine that he had been equally astonished by Olav's farewell。
She sat staring at the squat bulk of the cruiser； and liked it less the nearer she got to it。 Nor did her opinion change during the three…day voyage back to the City。 The Captain； a dour man named Festinel； was waiting at the top of the gangplank and escorted her himself to her cabin； explaining that her bodyguard would be quartered in the next cubicle； within hearing distance。 She did not groan but saw this trip would be a repetition of the Trundomoux voyage。 Well； she had survived that； too。 Lars came along the panionway at that point and was greeted almost effusively by Captain Festinel。
During the evening meal； it was apparent from Festinel's deference to Lars that the man had been impressed by the islander's seamanship； or rather； the false account of his rescue of Killashandra from the dangerously positioned islet of exile。 Killashandra added only her physical presence to the officers' mess。 She was tired。 She could feel muted crystal resonance in her body； though it was insufficient to raise the hair on those nearby。 She was pleasant when addressed but limited her answers； contenting herself with enigmatic smiles。 Elder Torkes kept shooting her wary； surreptitious glances but did not engage her in conversation。 Which satisfied her。 Keep him guessing about her； and off balance。 Only how were she and Lars to have any sort of normal relationship if her quarters in the Conservatory were monitored？
On the crowded cruiser there was no way for them to have a private word or even the chance of a caress。 Abstinence after the feast did nothing for her temper。 So； preoccupied； she didn't notice the subliminal whine until the second evening； when she twitched all through dinner； rubbing at her neck and ear。 Something was wrong。
〃You're very unsettled tonight； Guildmember；〃 Lars said finally； having endured her contortions throughout dinner。 He spoke quietly； for her ears only； but his voice carried。
〃Nerves … No； it's not nerves。 Does this cruiser use a crystal drive？〃 She spoke in a loud； accusing tone； looking to Captain Festinel for her answer。
〃It does； Guildmember； and I regret to inform you that we are experiencing some difficulty with it。〃
〃It urgently needs to be retuned。 As soon as you're in port。 The way it sounds right now； it'll be broad…casting secondary sonics by morning。〃
〃The engineer has been monitoring an uneven drive thrust but it should see us safely to the Mainland。〃
〃You have reduced speed？〃
〃Of course； Crystal Singer； the moment the instrumentation recorded resonance。〃
〃What is the matter with the cruiser？〃 Elder Torkes asked； only then aware of the nature of the discussion。
〃Nothing for you to worry about；〃 Killashandra said curtly； without glancing in his direction； for she was rubbing that side of her neck。 She felt Lars stiffen beside her； and heard the tiny intake of her left…hand partner's breath。 〃I hope。〃 She rose。 〃The whine is subsonic but highly irritating。 Good evening； gentlemen。〃
Lars followed her and for a miracle they were alone in the panionway as he escorted her to her cramped quarters。
〃Is it monitored？〃