Colemenoport
Transient Dock
The pilots had checked shuttle systems, verified their equations, and notified the ship of their intention to arrive.
That done, they opened the picnic basket.
“I wonder,” Shan said, after the tea had been poured and the nut-butter sandwiches unwrapped, “if you have anything to tell me regarding Padi’s situation.”
Priscilla raised her eyebrows.
“Padi is perfectly apt and capable,” she said.
Shan sighed and shook his head. “I’ll tell you what it is, Priscilla, you’ve been spoilt by keeping company with persons of questionable character.”
“I don’t think there’s any question about your character,” Priscilla commented, wide-eyed. “Do you?”
“Utterly ruined,” Shan said mournfully. “What will I tell our daughter?”
“I look forward to learning that.”
Priscilla took a bite of her sandwich, washed it down with tea, and smiled at him.
“I did Look, as you asked me to do,” she said. “I confirm a heart-link, but I can’t confirm a lifemating. Padi allows me to know that she and Tekelia agreed to dance together, and shared ribbons. It being, as I was told, a Ribbon Dance.”
“Of course,” Shan said politely.
“Speaking of Looking,” Priscilla continued. “I saw no sign of a new strike against her shields.”
“Which either means that it wasn’t there, when I thought I Saw it, but was an artifact of the ambient. Or, I suppose Tekelia might have repaired them.”
“Or Padi might have repaired them,” Priscilla added.
“True. She is coming to good terms with her Gift, which must be counted as profit.” He sighed. “I suppose that Padi will eventually allow us to know if Line or clan has obligations toward Tekelia, or Tekelia to us.”
“I did get the impression that she was going to speak with Tekelia,” Priscilla agreed. “Local custom . . . ”
“Indeed,” Shan said. “Local custom.”
He finished his sandwich and drained his glass of tea.
“Are you wishing anything more from the basket, Pilot, or shall we file our intention to lift with the Port?”
“I believe I’m done for the moment,” Priscilla said, extending a hand to touch his wrist. “It will be pleasant to be home again.”
He smiled.
“So it will.”