Revolution's Shore by Kate Elliott Page B

know I be,” Paisley declared in a ringing voice, as if daring anyone else at the table to state their intentions with as much loyalty or boldness.
    Lily smiled at her, looked next at Rainbow, a little questioning.
    â€œI said before,” said the Ridani woman. “And be I meant it then, too.”
    â€œPinto?” Lily asked, pausing at the frown on his face. For the first time she realized clearly that the inherent natural beauty of his face, and of Paisley’s as well, was cleverly and subtly enhanced by the patterns chosen for them at whatever early age such choices were made in the labyrinth of Ridani culture.
    â€œYou know I’ve got no choice,” he muttered. “You possess my kinnas. What else am I supposed to do?”
    At the sound of his voice, Finch looked up, first at him, then at Lily. “Swann and I both agree,” he began slowly, “that we and Mom would be best off with you, Lily. We’d just get lost in Jehane’s forces, and probably separated as well. But you aren’t really going to mix—”
    â€œDon’t want to dirty your hands with us filthy tattoos, do you?” asked Pinto, with a sneer. “Well, maybe you never considered that we don’t like mixing with your kind any better—”
    â€œYou can’t talk to me like—”
    â€œI can talk to you anyway I damn well please. You don’t deserve—”
    â€œSit down!”
    Since both men were sitting, the words had the desired effect of startling them into a brief silence. Brief enough: “Now listen. Keep your prejudices to yourself. And that goes for both of you. And all of you.” Lily swept a quick glance around the table. “Unlike Jehane, I don’t have any resources backing me up except my people and Bach. So you will show politeness and respect for each other. Or I will ask you to leave. Is that understood?”
    â€œMin Heredes.” Unexpectedly, it was Rainbow who spoke, tentative but with growing firmness. “Be it you know about ya one, or be it you don’t.” She looked at the Mule. “We all knew, in ya thirties, ’bout what it be, and some had their say as it were ya perverted—” She paused, and by the set of her mouth Lily could tell that in her own way she was attempting to be compassionate. “—ya monster. Some said it be buying ya one Ridani girl’s favors for ya unnatural fashions.”
    The Mule began, with stately contempt, to rise. Paisley stared at Rainbow with astonished disgust.
    â€œNo, no, min,” hastened Rainbow. “Be it you misunderstand me. If all know, then there’s none to whisper.”
    â€œI will thank you,” replied the Mule with fluid disdain, “to stay out of my affairs.”
    Lily saw Finch and Swann, and even Jenny and Pinto, staring at the Mule with dawning enlightenment, mingled with some revulsion and, in Lia’s case, pity.
    â€œDamn my eyes,” breathed Jenny. “I thought it was just one of those wild space tales, like the old ghost ship.”
    â€œAnd now everyone knows.” Lily tapped her hands impatiently on the table. “Which settles the question.”
    â€œSure, and that be ya lowest run, sneaky way to tell folk—” began Paisley hotly, glaring at Rainbow.
    â€œPaisley.”
    Paisley frowned, looking mulish, and clenched her hands in her lap.
    â€œAny other surprises? Or confessions?” asked Lily sardonically. “Thank the Void. Now maybe I can eat before I go to meet Jehane.”
    â€œWhat about the crazy—” began Pinto with his usual caustic undertone. Responding instantly, Finch jumped to his feet with a gasp, just as Pinto said, “doctor,” in a surprised voice at the sight of Finch losing all his color as he stared at the mess door in terror.
    Lily whirled. Across twenty meters, she saw Kyosti halt in the door, his whole being fixing like a programmed seeker onto the