singing open the great gates

[middlingalong]

The following day, very little happens, except for Vorreedi mentioning that Yenaro has been arrested (by the civil police, for theft, on charges from a ghem-lord Miles has never heard of, as opposed to by Cetagandan security for treason).

Also, Ivan gets bored - with all the bodyguards Vorreedi now requires for them after the incident at the bioestheties exhibition, the possible spontaneity of going out with his ghem girlfriends is much reduced.

But the next day they get to attend the Singing Open of the Great Gates.

And oh, is there ever singing.

Comments

[middlingalong]

- which causes Ivan to startle in his chair, as though he has just witnessed someone turn into a frog or a piece of furniture deliver stirring oratory.

[thisvorlunatic]

"...What?" says Miles, somewhat crossly.

[middlingalong]

"If I answer that are you going to bite my head off?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"That depends. Is the answer 'I knew you were married but I never in my wildest dreams imagined she might kiss you'?"

[middlingalong]

"...Not exactly."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Spill, then. I promise no decapitation will ensue."

[middlingalong]

"It keeps being bizarre that she acts like a person and not a - a - rosewater-drinking elf."

[thisvorlunatic]

...Miles snorts.

[middlingalong]

"It is! Haut-ladies look like they ought to be standing very still on top of shrines watching people lay gifts at their feet and occasionally striking people with lightning, and she keeps - coming with you to the cafeteria and eating more than I do and having facial expressions. Is that why they kicked her out?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"She's unusual but not that unusual. Hell, their empress laughed like a normal person right in front of you, don't you remember?"

[middlingalong]

"I was pretty distracted by vividly imagining Uncle Aral taking me to task for letting you go on excessive adventures when Aunt Cordelia expressly told me to keep you out of trouble."

[thisvorlunatic]

Snort. "I'm sure it won't be that bad."

[middlingalong]

"Oh, I agree, I think I will probably get off a lot easier than you will for this one."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I averted one or more wars, isn't that going to count for something?"

[middlingalong]

"It counts for the Order of Merit and a haut-wife. I don't know what to expect from Barrayaran people-who-determine-what-things-count-for-how-much."

[thisvorlunatic]

"It had better at least count for letting me keep the haut-wife."

[middlingalong]

"What if it doesn't, coz?"

[thisvorlunatic]

He sighs.

"In the competition between my planet and my wife... whoever is determined to make me choose will come out the losing side, I think."

[middlingalong]

"Hell of a thing."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yeah. But I'm going to hope it doesn't come to that. It shouldn't come to that."

[middlingalong]

"And if it looks like it's going to you'll improvise, I imagine."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Naturally."

[middlingalong]

"Am I likely to be dragged into it?" sighs Ivan.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I have no idea."

[middlingalong]

"You could warn a fellow, you know, it'd make me a little less resentful about it."