Yes, the gown would die with you, my lady, but I wouldnt want things to get that far, cried Trin.
How long have you known about coelura, Trin? Caissa suddenly thought to ask.
Oh, dressers like me, weve always known about coelura. I never thought to see it in my lifetime. Trin shook her head slowly in wonder. Tomorrow, when your sire signs that contract, youll outshine everyone else! That prospect seemed to offer Trin tremendous satisfaction.
Caissa could not admit to sharing a similar anticipation. Since the occasion was her sires, her attitude was unworthy.
Tonight you sleep in the coelura, Lady Caissa, Trin repeated. Tomorrow no one will know its coelura unless you let em.
Tomorrow, reflected Caissa, everyone will know about coelura. And someone will think to inform the High Lady Cinna. The irony that she should possess coelura before her womb-mother was doubled by the fact that a person like Lady Cinna was the greatest danger to coelura. Her robe gently compressed about Caissas body, as if in sympathy as well as understanding.
Murell had said, Caissa reminded herself firmly, that coelura would be protected. He had emphasized that. She only hoped that he knew what he was talking about. Did he, could he, appreciate how dangerous Baythan could be so close to a long-awaited fulfillment?
The exhaustion of the days emotional stress overcame her. Despite her anxieties, or perhaps because she was enveloped in coelura, Caissa slept.
She woke, unexpectedly refreshed, her coelura a gentle green, a shade that illuminated her lovely complexion and complemented her black hair. Trin arrived with a tray of food and exclaimed with approval at her mistresss subtly enhanced beauty.
Youd better eat well my lady. Its going to be a long day and with everything, you cant risk coming over faint from lack of food. Nourishment was an answer-all for Trin. Coelura would give you away for certain if you arent feeling well.
The food did quiet the roiling in her stomach and Caissa ate more than she intended. She did not like surrendering the gown even for bathing and it clung lovingly to her hand until she, following Murells example, told it to behave. She kept its dulled green length in sight as she submitted to Trins ministrations. She sighed with relief when she could settle the coelura back about her shoulders.
Now set it in your colors, Lady Caissa.
She did and Trin could find no fault in shade, shape or drape.
Youll never want for the perfect gown again, my lady, said Trin. Its only just too bad as you arent the important contractee today in that robe. Youd have all eyes. No one would outshine you.
Outshining has never been my ambition, Trin, as well you know.
I know, and Trins deep sigh bordered insolent regret, but not for my want of trying. You shine now! Ill watch it all. She activated the wall screen and tuned it to the Great Hall, now a lucent white as befitted the occasion.
Trins excitement was nothing to the aura exuded by the invited and chosen as they moved towards the Great Hall in the slow grav stream, decorously, so as not to disarrange their finery. The entry ways from all grav channels were lined with mirrors to permit last minute adjustments before entering. Caissas robe remained in immaculate folds about her as she stepped onto the platform. She moved politely forward in the press and pretended to touch up her hair as she glanced at the throng pausing or passing her. Everyone was, as usual, far too occupied in their own appearance to notice anything unusual about hers. She waited in the anteroom as long as she could, hoping to locate Murell. He might have chosen to dress in lower caste neutrals to deliver her coelura yesterday but he did have an heir-tattoo. Surely he possessed rank enough to enter the Great Hall for the contracting of his Caverna.
The Great Hall was filling: the hour for the ceremony and the Triads announcement near. Already the upper tiers were occupied by the ranking Cavernii and their body-heirs. Ambassadors and ministers from other planetary systems occupied booths and tanks or the balcony for oxygen breathers. Caissa thought wryly that her sire was certainly going to achieve maximum dissemination of his new contract as well as his missions success.