For anything, she cried fervently, clinging to his hands.
We must part. Anyone could see us. Till tomorrow!
He had pushed off, into the fast down lane before she noticed the difference about him. His right forearm and leg were no longer bent in ill-set lines. She was relieved for his sake, but she would have been content to see him in any condition.
She continued on to her apartment, her body and heart alive with the joy of having seen Murell and delivered her warning. She refused to consider the niggling doubt that Baythan was a far more accomplished tactician than a Caverna who had been sheltered from galactic-scale contingencies. It was only as she entered her reception room that she realized Murell had said enough to reassure her but left much unexplained, especially his presence in Blue City.
Part of that was answered when Trin, with obsequious excitement, presented her with a shallow rectangular box of highly polished and unusually ornamented bluewood. As soon as Caissa took it, she knew what it must contain. Glancing at Trins expectant face, she believed that Trin did, too.
You did well to recall me, Trin.
The Lady Caissa will open the bluewood box? Trins question quavered with expectation.
Caissa would have preferred privacy to savor the thrill of coelura but to deny Trin who had served her so long would have been ungracious, and uncharacteristic behavior in herself.
As her fingers fumbled with the intricately carved fastening of the box, they triggered the locks message.
With this I discharge all debt.
Caissa almost dropped the gift at the implacable tone of Murells voice. Had she not chanced to see and speak with him, that message, piercing her heart as it did despite their meeting, would have compelled her in honor never to open the box.
Now she could and did. Within the bluewood lay coelura fabric, palely quiescent until she touched the folds
You must put it on immediately, Lady Caissa, Trin said in an awed whisper. Only then will the spin live! She stepped back to indicate that only Caissa could touch the length.
Caissa experienced ambivalent feelings of reluctance and desire for an acquisition that she had never anticipated. With shaking hands, she put the box down and lifted out the delicate length of coelura spin. She glanced questioningly at the old dresser.
Wrap it about your body. It will fit itself, said Trin.
Caissa obeyed and suddenly the fabric was alive with shimmering color, smoothly creeping across her breasts and shoulders, snugging into her waist and down her hips to lap about her legs.
Be ceremonial, Lady Caissa, whispered Trin, her hands clasped tightly under her chin, her eyes enormous with delight in her grey face.
Regally, Caissa lifted her chin, squared her shoulders and pulled in her diaphragm, realizing for a fleeting miserable second that she copied that movement from her sire. Red spilled through the fabric and it ceased to cling to her legs but fell in graceful drapes to the floor. Then the color settled to echo the pattern of her heir-tattoo Caissa, with an arrogant expression, moved across the floor in the haughty gliding pace that she had been trained to assume for the greater ceremonials. So she would walk tomorrow. And in this robe!
She could not maintain that cold imperiousness for long, not with the exultation she felt. Laughing uninhibitedly, she started to twirl in gladness, revelling in the comfort of the coelura against her bare skin. The fabric responded to her mood in pulsing reds and purples, shot with cerulean blues, breaking into spontaneous patterns as her steps fell into different dance modes. She exercised a hundred while Trin laughed and applauded until, exhausted by her excess, Caissa collapsed on her bed. Now the gown sobered and lovingly warmed her.
Youd best sleep in it tonight, Lady Caissa, so that it knows you, or tomorrow … Trins expression was solemn. If the Triads should learn that youve received a coelura robe…. Oh, I dont know what I should do, my lady! Trins hands pressed against her mouth in fear.
No one will know, Trin. And they couldnt take it from me if they did know, replied Caissa staunchly. She hugged herself and coelura lapped protectingly over her forearms. They can never take it from me!