I met him, my sire, and rejected him as well as his casket of badly cut bluestones! Caissa allowed contempt to seep into her formal words.
Too bad, said Baythan insincerely. Look about you, my dear heir. The best and the worst are gathered. Including some you may not have previously encountered.
Caissa inclined her head. Was your hunt productive? she asked, feigning indifference to the answer.
My hunting gave me great satisfaction. The quiet note in his voice, the slight raising of his chest, the tiniest suspicion of a glint in his eyes told Caissa more than she wanted to know.
Oh?
Yes, my heir. Look for a Cavernus to please you—just long enough to supply your need.
He smoothly glided past her towards an important Caverna and her escort. Caissa knew that Baythan had told her all he intended her to know.
And she desperately needed to know more. She must discover with whom he had hunted that previous day, where he had been hunting lately. She questioned his usual companions discreetly but each thought Baythan had hunted with someone else.
He does hunt solitary sometimes, Caissa, one frequent comrade told her. Says its more sporting for the prey if hes got no back-up. Reckless of him, but thats Baythan!
She left the Function Room then and returned to her own quarters. With the basest and best of motives, she used her sires code to check on his speedster. All flights were entered in the Blue Towers air traffic control but the log of Baythans craft told her nothing. Distance travelled, mechanical servicing required, fuel used but all his flights were entered for the hunting preserves. Which, as Caissa knew, did not indicate his actual destinations.
She wished she could ease her terrible fear that her sire had been hunting coelura. Though how he could, she didnt understand. Murell had seemed to think that there had been no illegal visitations to the interdicted Oriolis. But then, he had been wrecked on that island for weeks. Caissa reviewed her sires interests during that period. She checked his daily log and appointments and he had, as usual, been hunting. Unless he had to attend either the Blue or Red Ruler, Baythan had hunted some part of every day for years.
The next week was one of dreadful suspense for Caissa. Though Baythan did not permit her any private conversation, he watched her so intently that she had to affect interest in the various Cavernii to whom he introduced her and appear to be enjoying the festivities. Then it was announced that the privy negotiations of the two Rulers had been concluded. No more than that but the atmosphere turned electric, a current of jubilation rather than apprehension. Caissas fear for the coelura mounted in direct proportion to the lack of more explicit detail.
On the eighth morning after her return to Blue City, Baythan presented himself at her quarters, dressed in the skin-fitting attire he customarily wore daytimes when not hunting.
I am entering a contract with a Caverna, he told her casually. Then smiled as he glanced down at the resolution of the labyrinth game. Well done, my dear Caissa. As my body-heir, you will favor me by being present at the ceremonial signing. Rather a choice, if unexpected, contract for me, he said, glancing at his reflection in the mirrors.
Caissa knew that she was expected to believe that his contract was spontaneous but she did not. Too many ploys had been cast at her sire on Demeathorn for him to acquiesce so amiably during this past week. Her anxiety for the coelura intensified.
An heir-contract is being entered, he went on, more concerned about the small pucker across his lower back than his body-heirs opinion. Shes young and needs guidance for her heir, and Baythan favored Caissa with a doting smile. I shall expect you to make allowances for that. Shes never resided in either city. Rather a good move on my part. Good hunting in her area. Brilliant, you might say. Youll know the whole of it soon enough, Caissa. Meanwhile, deny any rumors.
Of course, sire, she managed to say through taut lips.
You never disappoint me, Caissa. You are as discreet as stone.