elbows。 His face looked bleached of tan； lines of anxiety and fear aging him。 〃Trag and my father have bined their wits … and I'm to he arrested by the warrant Trag has。 Don't worry；〃 and he patted her hands as she reacted apprehensively； remembering Trag's remarks about using the warrant。 〃Carefully worded； the warrant will charge me with a lot of heinous crimes that weren't actually mitted by me； but which will keep Ampris and Torkes happy in anticipation of the dire punishment which the Federated Courts dispense for crimes of such magnitude。〃
Killashandra grabbed tightly at his hands； ignoring the spasm of pain across her chest in her fear for him。 〃I don't like the idea； Lars； not one little bit。〃
〃Neither my father nor Trag are likely to put me in jeopardy； Killa。 We've managed a lot while you were sleeping it off。 When we're sure that the scout ship is about to arrive； Trag will confer with Ampris and Torkes； confronting them with his suspicions about me … in your delirium you inadvertently blew the gaff。 Trag is not about to let such a desperate person as me escape unpunished。 He has held his counsel to prevent my escaping justice。〃
〃There's something about this plan that alarms me。〃
〃I'd be more alarmed if I had to stay behind；〃 Lars said with a droll grin。 〃Trag won't give the Elders time to interfere； and they'll be unable to protest a Federal Warrant when a Federation scout ship is collecting me and you and Trag。 The beauty part is that the scout's the wrong shape to use the shuttle port facility。 Its security arrangements require open…space landing anyhow。 That way my father has a chance of boarding her。〃
〃I see。〃 The scheme did sound well…planned； and yet some maggot of doubt niggled at Killashandra … but her unease could well arise from her poor state of health。 〃How did Olav get invited here？〃
〃He'd been called in by the Elders on an administrative detail。 Why so few islanders attend concerts〃 Lars had regained considerable equilibrium and he rose from his knees； still holding her hand； to sit beside her on the bed。
〃Who did attack me； Lars？〃
〃Some desperate people whose families and friends had been scooped up by that search and seize。 If only I'd been free to get into the marketplace； Olver would have warned me of the climate of the City。 We'd have known not to let you walk about。〃
〃As Corish and I left the Facility； a woman who gave me such a look of hatred … 〃
〃You were spotted long before she saw you； Sunny； driving down from the Conservatory。 If only I'd been with you。。。〃
〃Don't fret about ifs； Lars Dahl！ A few aches and pains achieved what the best laid plans might have failed to do。〃
Lars's face was a study in shocked indignation。
〃Do you know how badly you were hurt？ Hauness wasn't kidding when he said you could have died from any one of those wounds； let alone all of them together。〃 He held her hand in a crushing grip。 〃I thought you were dead when Corish brought you back。 I。。。〃 A sudden look of embarrassment rippled across his stern face。 〃The one time you really needed a bodyguard； I wasn't there！〃
〃As you can see； it takes a lot to kill a crystal singer。〃
〃I noticed； and don't wish to ever again。〃
Unwittingly he had reminded them both of the inescapable fact that their idyll was nearly over。 Killashandra couldn't bear to think of it and quickly evaded further discussion of that。
〃Lars；〃 she said plaintively； 〃at the risk of appearing depressingly basic； I'm hungry！〃
Lars stared at her in consternation for a moment but he accepted her evasion and his understanding smile began to replace the sadness in his eyes。
〃So am I。〃 Lars leaned forward to kiss her； gently at first and then with an urgency that showed Killashandra the depths of his apprehension for her。 Then； with a spring in his step and a jaunty set to his shoulders； he went in search of food。
Killashandra did have to endure the official apologies and insincere protestations of the Elders； all nine of them。 She made the obligatory responses； consoling herself with the thought that their days were numbered； and she would shorten that number as much as possible。 She pretended to be far weaker than she actually was； for once the symbiont began its work； her recovery was markedly swift。 But； for official visits； she managed to assume the appearance of debility so that her convalescence had to be supervised by Nahia and Hauness； skilled medical practitioners that they were。 This gave the conspirators ample time to plan an orderly and discreet exodus of people in jeopardy from Elderly tyrannies。
Olav had smuggled his miniature detector unremarked into the Conservatory as a piece of Hauness's diagnostic equipment。 At first they had been bitterly disappointed when it responded to Lar's proximity； despite his pockets being full of white crystal shards。 If Trag approached with Lars； the device remained silent； so Killashandra's theory that crystal resonance confused the detector was correct。 But her resonance was gone and； with the imminent arrival of the scout ship； there would be no chance for Trag to usher a few refugees past the security curtain at the shuttleport arch。
Fortunately Lars also remembered that Killashandra had disrupted the monitors by singing the crystal fragments。 These； resonating discordantly as the wearer hummed； fooled the detector。 It was then only a matter of experimentation to discover just what quantity of crystal provided adequate shielding。 Perfect pitch was actually a handicap； the more out…of…tune the note； the more the white crystal reacted； and deluded the detector。
A week after the attack； Olav had no further excuse to stay at the Conservatory； and left； it was said； for the islands。 He had been able to convince the Elders of his determination to send more islanders to the public concerts。 Actually； he stayed in the City and made a few minor but important alterations to his appearance。 The next day； he reported to Hauness and Nahia in Killashandra's suite； bearing documents that proved him to be the qualified empath whom Hauness and Nahia had drafted from their clinic to attend Killashandra。 Now that Killashandra was recovering； they wished to return to their other patients in Ironwood。
〃Nahia's the one who ought to be leaving；〃 Lars had bitterly objected。 〃She's the most vulnerable of us all。〃 〃No； Lars；〃 Trag had said。 〃She is needed here； and she needs to be here for reasons which you might not understand but for which I esteem her。〃
Trag's unstinted approval of the woman did much to placate Lars but he told Killashandra that； in leaving； he keenly felt himself the traitor。
〃Then e back with the Revision Force；〃 she said； more than a little irritated by Lars's self…reproach on this and other issues。 She immediately regretted the suggestion at the look of relief in Lars's face。 But it was a solution which could resolve many of Lars's doubts； especially when she knew he loved his home world and would be happy enough sailing the Pearl Fisher around the islands。 She was somewhat relieved that Lars would be happy on Optheria once the government had been changed。 〃The Federation will need people with leadership potential。 Trag says it usually takes a full decade before a new provisional government is appointed； much less ratified by the Federation。 You might even end up a bureaucrat。〃
Lars snorted derisively。 〃That's the most unlikely notion you've had。 Not that I wouldn't like to get back here unprejudiced。 I'd like to make sure the change is going to be beneficial。〃
〃And ensure that you had official permission to sail about in your beloved islands。〃 She managed to keep the bitterness out of her voice for she could think of many things that a man with Lars's abilities and talents could do； once free to move about the galaxy。 It rankled that her body was not sufficiently mended to add that argument to verbal ones。 Lars was treating her as if she were fragile。 He was gentle and affectionate。 His caresses； though frequent； were undemanding； leaving her frustrated。 He was so solicitous of her fort that she was frequently tempted to wreak a bit of violence on him。 Although her jagged； red scars looked more painful than they were； a lover as considera