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Lars regarded her with a genuine surprise。 〃You would？ What music training did you have？〃
〃I studied for ten years at the Fuerte Music Center。 Voice。〃
Lars nearly lost grip on the tiller and before he had altered the course； the Pearl yawed in the rough seas； throwing Killashandra against him 〃You were the soprano that night？〃
〃Yes。〃 She grinned。 〃I recognized your tenor at the barbecue。 Where did you learn Baleef's Voyagers？ And the Pearl Fishers duet？ Certainly not in the Conservatory。〃
〃My father。 He'd brought some of his microlibrary with him when he came to Optheria。〃
〃Your father is naturalized？〃
〃Oh； yes。 Like yourself； he didn't e to the islands by choice。 If we mention your true identity to no one else … and what is your true name？ Or don't crystal singers give them？〃
〃You mean to say you don't know the name of the woman you assaulted and then abducted？〃 Killashandra pretended outrage。
Lars shook his head； grinning at her with an almost boyish mischief。
〃Killashandra Ree。〃
He repeated the syllables slowly； then smiled。 〃I like that much better than Carrigana。 That was a rather harsh name to say endearingly。 The ells and the sh are sweeter。〃
〃Possibly the only sweet thing about me； I warn you； Lars。〃
He pointedly ignored that remark。 〃My father must know who you are； Killashandra。 It will give him new heart for I'll tell you frankly； he was far more discouraged about those arrested in the Elders' search than he let on to the others。 Nor〃 … he paused； only then aware of the water sloshing in the cockpit about their toes … 〃nor do I like deceiving Nahia。 She doesn't deserve it。〃
〃No； she doesn't。 Though I have the feeling she already has a good idea that I'm not the island maid I've been portraying。〃
〃Oh？ Was she at that reception in the Conservatory？〃
〃No； but she sensed the crystal resonance。〃 Killashandra stroked her arm explanatorily。 Lars caressed her then。
〃You mean； that's what I've been feeling whenever we touch？〃
Killashandra gave him a reassuring smile。 〃Not entirely； lover。 Some of it is a perfectly spontaneous bustion。〃
Lars guffawed at that； embracing her once again。
〃Shouldn't I bail or something？〃 she asked as the chill sea water splashed over her toes。 His arm restrained her。
〃Not just yet。〃 He frowned； glancing off to port； not really seeing the sprouts of islets as he corrected their course a few points easterly。 〃However； if we tell my father and Nahia who you are … 〃
〃Hauness； too？〃
〃What Nahia knows； Hauness does； and safe enough in both their hands。 But then what？ Hard copy on the suicide files is rapidly available。 But I should insist that you meet with other groups to prove unquestionably that the arbitrary restriction to Optheria is not popularly acceptable。〃
〃I'm glad you agree to that。〃
〃In doing that； you will also need to avoid the Elders。 It wouldn't do for them to discover you blithely treading the cobbles at Ironwood or the terraces of Maitland。〃
〃You never told them you'd kidnapped me； so why couldn't I visit other munities？〃
〃Because you've now been missing for five weeks。 How would you explain such an absence； much less why you haven't repaired their precious Festival organ？〃
〃I'd've done that if that wretched security officer hadn't been in his flatulent dotage！ My absence is easy to explain。 I just don't explain it。〃 She shrugged diffidently。
Lars sniggered。 〃You don't know how much our Elders dislike mysteries … 〃
〃You have seen me playing a humble island maid； Lars。 Try seeing me as a highly indignant and aristocratic member of the Heptite Guild。〃 As she spoke； her voice became strange； disdainful； and Killashandra pulled herself arrogantly erect。 Lars started to remove his arm from her shoulders in reaction to the transformation。 〃I'm more than a match for Ampris or Torkes。 And they need my services far too much to annoy me again。〃
〃I'm obliged to mention that they've sent for a replacement … 〃
〃I know that。〃
〃How could you？〃
Killashandra grinned at him。 〃Crystal singers have preternaturally acute hearing。 You and your little band of conspirators were only across the room from me。 I heard every word。〃
Lars momentarily let the tiller slip but Killashandra grabbed it and steadied the helm。
〃A second crystal singer might be all to the good； depending on who they send。 But we've time to spare … it'll take nearly ten weeks to get another singer here。 I happen to need the contract money so I'll repair their damned organ。 Maybe this time； I'll get the kind of help I need。〃 A thought suddenly struck Killashandra。 〃By all that's holy； I'll get you！〃 She prodded Lars's chest with her forefinger。
Lars snorted with derision。 〃I'm the last person wele in the Conservatory！〃
〃Ah； but you will be wele … as the man who rescued this poor abandoned crystal singer from durancevile！〃
〃What？〃
〃Well； that would answer why I've been absent。 But； of course； I never set eyes on my abductor so I can't say who it might be。〃 Killashandra fluttered her eyelashes in mock horror。 〃There I was； taking a stroll to pose myself after that horrible confrontation with an officious oaf and wham！ bung！ I'm coshed on the head and wake up； all alone； on a desert island； heavens know where！〃 Killashandra got into the part with a faked swoon。 〃I'm less of a ham with a properly respectful audience； I might add。 But there I am。 Lost！ Who knows who the dastards are … using a plural will suggest a whole group of conspirators； you see … And then you。。。〃 Killashandra laid a delicate hand on Lars's arm。 His eyes were bright with mirth and he had his lips pressed together against distracting laughter。 〃You … loyal despite your terrible disappointment〃 … and Killashandra put her hand to her breast and breathed hard 〃 … rescued me and insisted on returning me to the safety of the City； to install the crystal manual so that the priceless organ will be ready for the Summer Festival。 Thus currying favor with the powers that be … which； in view of your subversive activities； is a very good idea … and saving them the cost of another expensive crystal singer。 We are very expensive to hire； you see。 And I have the impression that the Elders are credit…crunchers。〃
Lars began to chuckle； rubbing his chin as if he was visualizing those moments of triumph。
〃If you can be trusted not to overact〃 … he ducked as she shook her fist at him … 〃you know； it might work。〃
〃Of course it will work！ I was able to gauge audience reactions to a pico。 And more than just give you a well…deserved return for their meanness and chicanery to you； I'll pretend that I'm so very nervous about a repetition of assault and battery that I'll need you by my side all the time。〃
〃I think；〃 Lars began； slowly； thoughtfully； 〃Father and the others will like this plan。〃
〃Oh？〃
Lars gave a rueful snort。 〃I got rather soundly told off for acting in a unilateral fashion when I abducted you； you know。 My father is a mild mannered man most of the time … 〃
〃Then let us by all means present this idea to him … them。 And by the way； speaking of mild…mannered men； what do you know about Corish von Mittelstern？〃
〃The man looking for his uncle？〃
〃That