Was or was not Petra `porting half the time Rhodri was flinging her about? Damia asked, mopping her perspiring face with one hand while she worked a fan with the other.
I doubt it. She’s as agile as a slither anyhow. Afra sank to one of the chairs pulled to the side of the large room and `ported himself a long cool drink of water.
There were all kinds of wines, beers and assorted spirits set out on the refreshment table. While a medium strong, cold Aurigaean beer would have been appropriate, Afra was already charged with the heady ambience in which young, high spirits devoted themselves to fine dancing.
Asia was not allowed to sit by herself. Either Rojer or Xexo, who had suddenly presented himself for the family evening – he was more often involved with ailing mechanical objects – sat or danced with her.
Apparently she didn’t like the more exuberant dances and that preference was catered to. But, if she sat a dance out, Rojer, Xexo and one of the coonies – to keep the slithers away, so Petra had informed him – were with her.
Afra would have been delighted to dance with her for he, too, deplored her lack of self-esteem and confidence. He also had the thought that the rambunctiousness of his family might be too overpowering for her, being similar to what she contended with in her own home. He would have danced with her, as he had with Flavia, Damia and each of his daughters, but she reacted so negatively to his approach that he pretended to be winded and sat down beside her, emanating as much reassurance and kindliness as he could without her awareness. But she was closed down too tightly even for his gentle persuasions.
The next morning, he and Damia attended to their Tower duties, though Keylarion moved carefully and admitted to aching muscles from so much dancing.
Xexo was all businesslike, announcing that Rojer and Asia were with him, learning more about Tower requirements. Teleportations and telepathic messages were both light so that the Tower could be put `on call’ and its resident Talents returned to the house to find a sleepy Clancy being fed by Morag and her `Dinis.
Roddie had `asked’ for a bucket of coffee which Petra had insisted she was able to bring him with her `Dinis carrying cup, sweetener and milk. Denebians were known to drink quantities of milk even in their mature years.
Clancy, Damia began on a tight line to the T-2, are you awake enough to talk about Asia?
Clancy gave his hostess a quick and not at all sleepy look before resuming that pose. There have been times when I’ve suspected that our Asia puts on an act . .
That’s no act, Clancy No, it’s been borne in on me that it’s for real. And how could I let such a thing happen to my sweetest cousin?
Clancy sighed, took another sip of coffee and smiled gratefully at Morag who presented him with a cooked breakfast of gargantuan proportions. It just happened. You know what Roddie `5 like – well, there were thirteen others in the house, too, and I suspect Aunt Alicia was relieved to have even one who was quiet and content to do things on her own, and responsible enough not to need much supervision. Asia’s always been responsible, and quiet, and self effidng. It’s only after not seeing her for a while – and hearing how Roj has been going on about `negligence’ and `deprivation’ – that I realized that she was deprived and neglected. Only what’s to do now? She’s smart as she can be, got enough Talent to get along most places. She used to repair all the machinery at our place as well as Aunt Alicia’s. We kids used to tease her that she’d rather play with machinery than play with us.
He grimaced.
`Doesn’t it taste good, Clancy?’ Morag asked anxiously.
`Breakfast tastes real good, Morag m’darling. It’s my feet are killing me from all the dancing last night.’ His grin reassured Morag.
`Are you really my cousin?’ she demanded, half of him and half of her parents.
`Second or third cousin, I believe,’ Clancy said, ploughing his way through the eggs, potatoes, beans, grilled tomatoes and flingi on his plate.