Golden Torc - 2 by Julian May Read Free Book Online Page A

a black cape that sparkled like carbonado and a tall bunch of black feathers fastened behind the cockade of his broad brimmed hat.
    "The festivities may now commence!" the jester declared.
    "Maybe we'd better wait for the King and Queen," Elizabeth suggested.
    Raimo was indignant.
    "Would you believe it, Aik? They took my flask!"
    "The fewkin' fiends! I'd bring it running to you on little bitty feet, Chopper, if I wasn't confused by the layout of this place."
    "You could really bring it here?" the ex-woodsman exclaimed.
    "Why not? You know what whisky means? And akvavit and all those other boozy words we know and love? They all translate as 'water of life!' All those old folks who put a name to strong drink thought that it put the life back into you. So why shouldn't I put a little life into the booze? Make it sprout legs.. .easy!"
    "I thought they programmed a curb on your metafunctions," Elizabeth said. She probed gently and met a well-constructed defense.
    Aiken winked. He hooked a finger around his silver torc and pulled. The metal necklet seemed to stretch, then snap back to solidity. "I've been working on that, sweets. Plus a few other things. Want to bet this is going to be one mother of a party?"
    "Attaway, buddy!" Raimo cackled.
    "I must say," the shining youth observed, "that the rest of you are really looking up, sartorially speaking. You're almost as gorgeous as me!" He studied Stein and Sukey in silence for a moment, then said, "And let me offer my largest felicitations on your union."
    The Viking and his lady stared at Aiken with mingled fear and resolution.
    Damn you Aiken, Elizabeth sent. I'll snap your synapses if you-
    But the trickster swept on, black eyes alight. "The Tanu aren't going to like it, because they had plans of their own for you two. But I'm a sentimentalist. Romance must triumph!"
    "Do you know what you're talking about?" Stein's voice was quiet. One ham-sized fist closed over the pommel of his bronze sword.
    Aiken skipped close to him. Scandinavian blue eyes bridged a fifty cent gap as they met those of the mischief-maker. Elizabeth was aware of an electric surge of mindspeech, welldirected along the intimate mode. She could not decipher it; but Sukey must have understood it, as well as her gigantic consort.
    The background music ceased. A squad of trumpeters, their glass carnices hung with banners featuring the male-head motif, appeared in the arch of the feasting hall and sounded a fanfare. The butterfly swarm of guests paired off and a fuller orchestra began to play alla marcia.
    Bryan caught the eye of a human courtier who was opening the gate of their enclosure. "Wagner?"
    The gray-torc nodded. "Indubitably, Worthy Doctor. Our gracious Lady Eadone wished to make you feel more at home, insofar as that's possible. The Tanu are very fond of human music. The feasters will also use your own speech-vocal in consideration of your torcless status. If you please, your scholarly analysis of our society may begin this very night." It began when I came through the damn time-gate, Bryan thought. But he only nodded to the man.
    Aiken was asking the gray, "What do we do now, cockie?
    We don't want to commit any fox paws in front of the biggies." The courtier said, "The Most Exalted Personages are enthroned at their own banqueting table. You'll be presented to them briefly, and then the supper will begin. Court etiquette is very informal in this society. Just carry on with reasonable courtesy."
    They waited until the last of the privileged citizens of Muriah had entered the hall, marching two by two. Then it was time for their own entrance.
    Aiken swept off his golden hat and made a mocking bow to Raimo. "Shall we, dear?"
    "Why the hell not?" laughed the forester. "If this party is anything like the last one, the ladies'll be joining us inside!"
    "This party," Aiken said, "is not going to be anything like the last one. But you'll have a great time, Ray. I guarantee it."
    "How about the rest of us?" Stein