When I returned to her face I noticed her eyes giving me the same sort of assessment.When I returned to her face I noticed her eyes giving me the same sort of assessment. When she finally noticed, we laughed again, but this time it was more strained, more embarrassed. She held out her hand. "I believe you have a custom when meeting a lady, on Pendor." Did she expect me to... ? I guess so. I took her hand and bent over to kiss it gently. "You seem to know a lot about our customs. I know so little of yours." "I have studied Pendor for some time." "And me, I have been told." She shot a glance at Arraon, who was talking rather animatedly with two llerkindi, then returned to me. "Well... Yes. Terrans, of which you once were one, have an expression: 'Power perverts.' I have to agree. You, however, seem untouched." "There was also a Terran once who said 'It is not that power corrupts, but that power attracts the corruptible.' I don't believe that power was an issue in the making of Pendor. And before you ask, the answer to 'What was?' is 'I don't know.' Honestly. We can call it madness, desire, or love. But not power." She blinked. "Was that a prepared speech?" she asked, with a slight smile. "Not really. I came across that quote just a few days ago. But it should be a regular statement." She shook her head, just a slight shake, and I recognized it for a 'yes.' "You do not like to be call Vatare'," she said. "No." "Why not? You are the father of Pendor." "I just don't like it. It's become a title, and I try very hard not to assume any such mantle of leadership." "Then what shall I call you?" she asked. "How about, 'Kennet,' or just 'Ken?'" "If I am to use the short form of your name, you must call me Anni." "Very well... Anni." "Ken." She smiled again. A llerkindi walked in with a small bar chime and sounded a single note. "Please be seated." We went through the whole rigamorale, sitting, standing for the Queen, sitting again. Queen Stevves was an older, significantly overweight vision of Anni herself, but she seemed calm and self-assured as she sat down and proclaimed dinner fit. |