"Any would be too many!"
"You haven't changed, Alys, except that you...."
"Have grown so? Spare me that!" She glared at him, eyes flaming in the
shadows. Then suddenly she was laughing again, a silvery laugh that
hung like a bright thread in the soft tapestry of night sounds. "Oh,
Kieron, it is good to see you again!"
"I thought to hear from you, Alys, when we reached Earth--but there was
nothing. No word of any kind. I was told you were in seclusion still
mourning Gilmer."
* * * * *
Alys bowed her head. "I will never stop mourning him." She looked up,
her eyes suddenly bright with unshed tears. "Nor will you. I saw you
kneeling inside. I thought then that it might be you. No one kneels
to Gilmer now but the old comrades." She walked to the balustrade and
stood looking out over the lights of the Imperial City. Kieron watched
the play of emotions over her face, caught suddenly by her beauty.
"I tried to reach you, Kieron--tried hard. But my servants have been
taken from me since I was caught spying on Ivane. And I'm kept under
cover now, permitted out only after dark--and then only on the Palace
grounds. Ivane has convinced Toran that I'm dangerous. The people like
me because I was father's favorite. My poor stupid little brother! How
that woman rules him...!"