I wish you good work, and I hope you find Oenone useful to you and she find yours useful to herself.I wish you good work, and I hope you find Oenone useful to you and she find yours useful to herself. But if you harm her in any way, I will reach across the centuries and the stars to strangle the life out of you with my own hands." I gulped as the sun itself seemed to dim against her promise. Finally I nodded. "I understand." Her hand brushed my cheek, and my whole body lit up as if on fire. "Do not be afraid. You are a good man, Kennet Shardik." "I hope so, Reah." "Go, both of you." I clambered down into the Destiny, Oenone following behind me anxiously. "Close upper hatch," I said the moment she was clear. "Closing. That was truly Reah!" "Yes it was," I said. "Or at least, an amazing simulation. Let's get out of here." "I have full power." "Hold on," I said. "We'll strap in. Oenone, sit in that chair." The rather confused little nymph sat down in her chair timidly, looking surprisingly fetching in what seemed a fully-healed state, but her dress torn and tattered, exposing much of her body to my eyes. I reached over to her and helped her buckle in. "Safety first," I said. She smiled at me wanly. "Full power, Fawn." The ship lifted nose-first from the water, and then with a powerful kick we were skyborne. I looked over at Oenone. Her face was one of sheer terror. "Celebren!" she gasped. I grinned and paid attention to flying. "Transition in ten seconds," Fawn announced. |