Read Online Triplet by Timothy Zahn - Free Book Online

that it wasn’t black sorcery,” he continued. “There was some question about whether I’d attacked first—the official hadn’t gotten there in time for his half-scepter to record how things started—but they apparently knew the three carhrats well enough to believe my story.”
    â€œThe woman wouldn’t testify for you?”
    Ravagin glanced over at Danae, noting the lines of barely concealed anger still in evidence on her face. “The woman apparently cut out on her own sometime after Danae and I took the center of attention away from her.”
    Essen shrugged. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”
    â€œI’m not, either, but it could have made things damned awkward. But as I said, the city seems to have tangled with those idiots before. Anyway, they dithered around for awhile trying to find her and probably consulting the town’s crystal eye for anything other cities or protectorates might have on us. Finally decided they wouldn’t lay any punishment against us if we would agree to leave the city.
    â€œSo you came here instead?” Essen’s eyebrows went up politely. “Wonderful.”
    â€œRelax—I talked them into letting us spend the night since it was getting so late. We’re to meet one of the officials at a sky-plane landing area a few streets north of here tomorrow and he’ll watch us leave. Until then, we’re your guests.”
    â€œAnd honored am I to have you, too,” the other replied, the sarcasm of the words blunted by the twinkle in his eye. “This assignment is certainly turning out to be a caseload of thrills—just last week we had a traveler come through with a case of ymaricc fever and had to petition to use the Dreya’s Womb.”
    â€œI thought Dreya’s Wombs were supposed to be accessible to anyone,” Danae spoke up from deep in her chair.
    â€œAnyone who’s a citizen, yes,” Essen told her. “But outlanders don’t have any such automatic rights. Fortunately, Kelaine is fairly relaxed about such things and we basically just had to go through the motions to get permission.”
    Ravagin nodded. Outside, it was becoming dark enough for the first faint stars to appear; in a few minutes the globe atop the Giantsword to the southeast would begin to glow, supplementing the pale moonlight overhead.
    Essen had apparently followed his gaze. “Could I interest either of you in sampling Kelaine’s night life?” he asked.
    â€œNot me,” Danae said before Ravagin could reply. “I’ve had my fill of Kelaine for one day, thank you. I’d rather just go to bed early and get started for Karyx as soon as possible in the morning.”
    â€œAh.” Essen shrugged. “To each their own, I suppose. Personally, I find Shamsheer a much more fascinating and potentially useful world than Karyx. However … Ravagin, if you’d be interested in accompanying me there’ll be others here to look after Ms. Panya.”
    â€œThanks, but I’ll pass, too,” Ravagin shook his head. Shamsheer’s entertainment facilities showed the same sharp contrast as everything else on the world, and while it could be interesting and sometimes even fun, it had a tendency to depress him. “As Ms. Panya said, we want to get an early start tomorrow. I think we’ll just get some dinner and settle in.”
    â€œUp to you,” Essen said, levering himself out of his chair. “If you’ll excuse me, then, I need to go get ready for the evening’s festivities. I’ll leave instructions about dinner, and I’ll try to get up in time to see you off in the morning.” Nodding at each of them in turn, he strode from the room.
    For a moment Ravagin and Danae sat in silence. Out the window, the Giantsword light was beginning to glow; a city’s traditional demarcation between the work of day and the relaxation of