Now twenty years old, Caissa knew that she should seriously consider supplying herself with an heir and, by custom, be guided by her sires recommendations. Dutiful though she was to Baythans few requests, Caissa could not in conscience consider any sort of alliance with the new Cavernus. Baythan had, however, invoked the recollection of a conversation and a subsequent painful incident with the High Lady Cinna six years ago, the day before Caissas fourteenth birthday celebration, the day that Caissa had ventured to raise the matter of the private clause.
So that I may know how to set out the most advantageous contracts and alliances for myself, Lady Cinna, Caissa had hastily explained as the Lady gave her an unexpectedly sharp appraisal.
You must ask your noble sire about that clause. A slight, sly smile curled the Lady Cinnas delicately tinted lips. He is in default and I have no wish to embarrass him.
Since the High Lady Cinna took an outrageous pleasure in doing just that as frequently as she could, Caissa maintained a bland look of inquiry.
Be certain, my pet, to ask for the attainable in any negotiations. The Lady Cinna took up her hand mirror, checking her elaborate hair style—golden at this season of the year. I unwisely erred, one of my few misjudgments. I took the promise for the deed, based on past accomplishments. Oh, Im positive that your sire meant well and I thought coelura well worth waiting for… .
Coelura?
Yes, coelura, said Lady Cinna brusquely, adjusting a drape of the gossamer fabric that garbed her. What else do you think distinguished this wretched little planet with its senescent troglodytes? Surely youve been told of coelura? Ah! and the Lady Cinna exclaimed in arch comprehension. No one at all then has mentioned coelura in your presence? Her brittle laugh had made Caissa quiver. I could well appreciate that certain data had been expunged from public information but, as your sires body-heir, you ought to have been told.
Immediately after Caissa had been dismissed from Lady Cinnas presence, she had tried to remedy her ignorance. Data retrieval would give her no assistance until she obtained official clearance. That meant that there was information locked in the Blue Citys memory banks. However, as she was also preparing for her fourteenth birthday celebration at which she achieved certain privileges and responsibilities, the urgency of acquiring forbidden knowledge was over-shadowed. The day after that fabulous occasion, the Lady Cinna requested the presence of Baythan and Caissa and announced that she would leave Demeathorn within the hour.
I have had more than sufficient of the company in your two pitiful Triadic Cities, and certainly more than enough of the hunting and fishing which is evidently all this trivial planet can now boast, she told Baythan with trenchant scorn. Until you can fulfill your part of your contract, I shall return to my duties and obligations on other, better endowed worlds.
She had held that scornful smile, subtly goading Baythan to protest her accusation of failure but he had remained silent, grimly pale at her insult.
And I suppose, failing all else, you will bequeath your quest to your heir, and the High Lady turned indolently to smile with arch sympathy on her offspring, who will undoubtedly make a competent minister in your place, knowing the planet as well as she does and so sensibly conditioned for the existence here.
With a final scathing glance at her mute listeners, she swept from the room in a froth of fragrant fabric. Her denunciation of Baythan made it impossible for Caissa, unwilling to remind her sire of that distressing scene, to raise the questions of the unmentioned clause or coelura.
Caissa could, and had, invoked her new rights as a fourteen year old body-heir to the classified section of Blue Citys Memorax.
Coelura, and the display printed reluctantly word by word instead of paragraphic speed, a passive ovoid aerial life form once indigenous to the northeastern group of islands known as the Oriolis group.
Questioning Oriolis, a name Caissa had not previously heard though she knew Demeathorn quite well, provided more perplexity and less information. The Oriolii were interdicted by the Triadic Council. For the first time in her carefully tutored life, Caissa recognized that triad meant three and she knew only two cities on Demeathorn, the Blue and the Red. Blue and red are primary colors.