Crystal Singer

“Then you do escape from the storms,” she said with intense relief.

“As I wanted you to escape them, but you're back here days early.” He swept an angry gesture with one arm as if he wanted to strike her.

“Why not?” Killashandra had to stand her ground before him. “I'd finished the wretched installations. Were the storms as bad as predicted? I've heard nothing.”

“You were scheduled to return on a comfortable passenger frigate seven days from now.” He scrutinized her closely. “The damage could have been worse,” he added grudgingly. She wasn't sure whether he referred to her or the storms.

“I took the Selkite freighter.”

“I'm aware of that.” His nostrils flared with distaste.

“I've tried to decontaminate. It was awful. Why wasn't I told about Selkites? No, I was, but I wouldn't listen because I couldn't stay one more moment on that fardling Trundie cruiser.” The towel was coming loose as she remembered Francu. “Why didn't you at least warn me about the Trundies?”

Lanzecki shrugged. “We didn't have much on them, but you at least had no preconceptions or the residue of partial memories of other isolated systems to prejudice your actions.”

“They may never deal with another Crystal Singer.”

“They'll deal with the Guild.” Lanzecki was smiling, his body relaxing, his eyes warming.

«More important, Lanzecki» – and she tried to step back, away from him until she'd aired her grievances. «Why didn't you tell me about link-shock? I sang the king crystal, link and all, and they brought me to my knees.»

“Link-shock's about the only thing that would.” He put his warm hands on her shoulders and held her firmly, his eyes examining her face. “No one can describe link-shock. It's experienced on different levels by different personalities. To warn is to inhibit.”

“I can certainly appreciate that!”

He chuckled at her sarcastic comment and began to draw her to him, his embrace as much of an apology as he was ever likely to give her.

“Some people feel nothing at all.”

“I'm sorry for them.” She was not sarcastic now.

“For you, Killashandra, to link a set of crystals you yourself cut binds you closer to black crystal.” He spoke slowly, again with the hidden pain that she had once before heard in his voice. She let herself be drawn against his strong body, realizing how keenly she had missed him even as she had damned him, grateful now to give and receive comfort. “The Guild needs black-crystal Singers.”

“Is that why you've personally guided my career, Lanzecki?” She reached her hand to his lips, feeling them curve in amusement.

“My professional life is dedicated to the Guild, Killashandra. Never forget that. My personal life is another matter, entirely private.” His lips moved sensuously across her fingers as he spoke.

«I like you, Lanzecki – damn your mouth.» She bubbled with laughter and the joy of being with him again.

He took her hand and kissed the palm, the contact sending chills through her body.

“In the decades ahead of us, Killashandra, try to keep that in mind?”