"Hello?" Denni called."Hello?" Denni called. "Hi! I'm Conrad. And you must be Dennielle!" "Um, yes. This is my fiance, David Elohim." The Centaur, who had finally managed to round up the Satryl infant that had tried to walk away from him, stepped carefully around the other children and walked over. With his free arm he reached out and shook David's. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. I assume you're here to see Ken and Aaden?" "Dad's home?" Denni asked. "Yeah, they're up on the roof." "Thanks. Are you one of Carroll's?" "Yep," Conrad replied. "I think you might want to go up as soon as possible. You never know how long they'll sit still in one place." "Not long enough," Denni grumbled, smiling. She led David over to an open hole in the floor, mirrored by another in the ceiling. "Ever use a G-tube, lover?" "A few times," David said. "Usually at refined metals operations." He followed her into the tube and up to the ceiling, where they dismounted from the tube and walked the short hallway to a set of stairs. Denni led him up the stairs into the sunlight. David blinked, feeling nervous. It was hard for him to believe that at the end of this walkway Kennet Shardik sat, waiting for them. "Like a spider?" he wondered. Denni led him down the catwalk. To his left a small pool of water circulated lazily; despite its small size, it seemed to be in something of a constant state of agitation. To his right, a small grove of trees seemed to occupy the entire length of the Castle roof, from where he stood to what appeared to be the opposite edge. Looking around, David was stunned by the surroundings. A moment ago he had been on a starship and a few steps later he was standing on the roof of the most powerful house in Pendor, possibly much of the galaxy. |