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She laughed without malice. "I am myself! Witness, touch me and know. There is no alien in my body." She glanced at Herald. "Is there, Healer?" "There is no alien-yet you are possessed," Herald said. "I was wrong before; the Enemy Witness was right. I do not pretend to comprehend this." Now she showed gentle alarm. "How can I be possessed? I am so full, so complete; I am truly myself at this moment." Herald did not answer. All that she said was true-but so was all that the Witness said. This thing was completely new to his experience. "It has manifested," Whirl said. "Now you fulfill your mission, and all is well." "I cannot," Herald said. "But you must! You are aware of the alternative!" "Are you then going to deliver me to be burned?" Psyche asked, this time putting her hand on Herald. Again he felt her aura, ten times the strength it had by day, so fine and strong and wonderful that it wrought its deep joy within him too. He called himself a healer-how much more so was she, now! "No, never that," he said, humbly. Then, to Whirl: "I beg you, Witness, give me time to consider. I have no means to judge the merits of my alternatives." "Until morning," the Earl said. "Thank you." Herald turned again to Psyche. She seemed almost to glow with her own light, looking up at him, her face shadowed except for those golden eyes. "And what am I to do with you?" "Need it be spoken?" she asked, moving into his arms. He kissed her. This time it was no light extemporaneous effort, but a deep, thorough, enveloping experience. He was not embracing a mere girl; he was immersing himself in Aura. No, it had no need to be spoken! They went hand in hand to her bed, and they settled into their embrace with complete tenderness and naturalness, their two unique auras merging as their bodies merged. It was the most beautiful thing Herald had ever experienced a a T T n n s s F F f f o o D D r r P P m m Y Y e e Y Y r r B B 2 2 . . B B A A Click here to buy Click here to buy w w m m w w o o w w c c . . . . A A Y Y B B Y Y B B r r in any host or in his own Slash body, anywhere in the Cluster. He had never even imagined anything could be like this. In the morning, waking with her hair strewn caressingly across his shoulder, he became aware of three things: The fatigue and soreness of his human body had been healed by the superior aura he had encountered; Psyche's aura had returned to its former level of twenty-five... and he was in trouble. He got up and dressed, letting Psyche sleep. He suffered a flash of memory-image: Cupid departing from the bed of his bride before the light of dawn came, that she might not see him. But it was necessary, for there would be an irate parent to deal with. "Witness, I am ready," he announced. The Earl of Dollar accompanied him silently from the room. Downstairs the Duke was up, preparing for the morning repast. The odor of sweet syrup distilled from the sap of trees and of confections formed from the sour rinds of citric fruits drifted through the castle. Kastle Kade always ate in style! "I have difficult news," Herald said. The Duke's jaw muscles bunched. "I will have it now." "I have observed the manifestation of which the Enemy Witness spoke." Kade's face showed his shock. "You are-sure?" "I am sure it exists. But I am also sure it is not a Possession. At least, not in any sense that we have knowledge of. It is simply a remarkable fluctuation of aura, like none known before. Hitherto it has been believed that the intensity of the aura is fixed from the time of birth or even conception, changing only for the worse during illness or Transfer. But the Lady's aura changes for the better. It should not and cannot be exorcised, and I would not do it if I were able. But that is academic. I am unable, for at its height it is stronger than mine." Kade considered a moment, and Herald knew he was orienting on the hope he had extended, the rationale for the naturalness of Psyche's manifestation, an explanation that excluded the concept of Possession. The Duke turned to Whirl. "Witness, are you satisfied?" "No," Whirl said. "I can no longer accept the validity of the opinion of this expert." Herald had hoped it would not come to this, though he had been sure it would. The Enemy Witness was rigorously honest, and he had good reason for his doubt. "And why not," Kade demanded, "since you selected him?" "I can answer that," Herald said, deciding not to force the Earl into this unpleasant chore. "Last night the Lady Kade and I made love." The Duke's whole body stiffened. "Witness?" he demanded tightly, and in that instant it was evident that the prefix "enemy" had been shifted from Dollar to Healer. "True," the Earl said. "Voluntary by both parties, however. No force or coercion was involved." The Duke turned rigidly to Herald. "And what do you propose to do now?" Herald spread his hands. "I don't know. I am afraid the Witness is correct. I am no longer an objective party, and cannot exonerate your daughter of the charge against her. I will naturally waive my fee and depart..." But could be depart? He had met Aura, and he was in love, however complicated the circumstances. "Then accept this." And stepping forward, the Duke of Kade struck Herald across the face smartly with his pair of gloves. The material was soft, but it was a smarting impact. Herald stumbled back, perplexed. He was conversant with feudal customs, as heraldry derived from them, but this was confusing. "You challenge me to a duel, sir?" "To the death, sir. Choose weapons." "I am not certain I can accept such a challenge. May I inquire your reason?" "The honor of my daughter." Oh. Herald had thought the Duke would want to be rid of him as quickly as possible, by having him Transfer out. But that would not alleviate the political ramifications. Because any liaison between the Lady of Kade and the Scion of Skot would now be problematical; a creature from another Galaxy had preempted initial honors. "This I understand. But before I accept your challenge, there is something you should know-" "Choose!" a a T T n n s s F F f f o o D D r r P P m m Y Y e e Y Y r r B B 2 2 . . B B A A Click here to buy Click here to buy w w m m w w o o w w c c . . . . A A Y Y B B Y Y B B r r Herald shrugged. "Laser swords, of course." "Come this way," Kade said curtly, stalking from the room. Herald paused to address the Earl. "It seems the personal matter has preempted the business matter. In the event I am not available to testify, I hope you will bear in mind the qualifications of my observation when you report to your authorities. The Lady Kade suffers from no ordinary Possession, and there seems to be no relation to what befell her mother. I believe another expert will confirm my findings. The Lady deserves this chance." "I will so note," Whirl said. "Thank you." Herald turned and followed the Duke out. In the arms room the Duke opened a chest to reveal a fine pair of laser swords. Each was no more than a handle. "Do you wish to inspect?" "No need," Herald said. "I am certain they are uniform." Each man lifted a handle and walked to the open court that was adjacent. Here a shaft of sun came down, for this [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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