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Scene One
The Gate
Enter Nelirikk and Jarome
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SOMETHING GLITTERED in the headlights. The cab crept forward, out of deep snow into what felt like naked road surface beneath the wheels. The glitter resolved itself into a gate – the gate, wrought metal with leaves and dragons woven along the bars and arches.
Vertu sighed; heard it echoed by every one of her passengers, save, perhaps, the kittens.
"Made it," said Yulie. "Wasn't never any doubt, not with Miss Vertu drivin'."
She felt laughter tighten her chest, rising, and deliberately swallowed. Perhaps it was wisest to not laugh yet, she thought.
For a long moment, they sat there, contemplating the gate, while the gate contemplated them.
Slowly, then, the sections separated, swinging back with a stately inevitability. Vertu nudged the cab forward, noting that the driveway beyond the gate was in fact clear of snow.
Carefully, she followed the drive, and when snow again appeared on the surface, she scrupulously kept the cab to the dry surface until the drive ended at a low wall, a lighted door beyond.
Standing between them and the door were three people in snow coats – two Liaden high, and one very tall – one of Korval's guards, she knew, but was uncertain as to which, with his face hidden in the shadow of his hood.
"There, now, driver," said Yulie, apparently to the wounded cabbie. "That big fella there, that's Nelirikk. He'll have you outta here and them legs looked at and fixed up before you can say snowflakes are fallin' on my head!"
"He a medic?" asked the cabbie, sounding nervous.
"He was a soldier, now security for the Road Bosses," Mary said surprisingly. "He is a field medic, and Anna has already done much of what was needful for you. I think you will find that you can drive, tomorrow."
"That'd be fine by me," said the cabbie. "S'long's I can get my cab out."
"You come on over to my place tomorrow, after we're all rested," Yulie said. "Get the snow tractor out and rustle up a couple o'my hands. Haver out in no time."
Vertu locked the wheel, opened the door, and got out of the cab.
The three walked forward, and Vertu recognized Korval Themselves.
She bowed, lesser to greater, and received bows of welcome to the guest in return.
"Boss," she said, in Terran so that all of her fares would understand what she asked for in their behalf. "The storm brought us to you. We ask shelter, and rest –"
"And Rascal wants his dinner!" Anna called out, opening the back door and coming to Vertu's side, dog at her heel.
"Good even, Miri. Good even, Val Con. Nelirikk, come and get Jarome out of the back. He's hurt, and needs to be looked at in good light."
"Good evening, Anna. Rascal," said Val Con yos'Phelium.
"Have you done first aid?" Nelirikk asked Anna.
"I'll show you, but first you need to get him out."
"Yes," he said, and walked around Vertu, heading for the back of the car.
"There's Yulie and Mary, too, we heard," said Miri Tiazan. "And someone with a cat and kittens."
"I am here, Korval."
The front passenger door opened, and Toragin stepped out. She advanced, and bowed as one who has been invited.
"Toragin del'Pemridj Clan Lazmeln, Chelada is with me, and her newborns. She was promised by the Tree itself that she would have her kittens safe beneath its branches."
"And so the Tree is forsworn," said Val Con yos'Phelium. "We may have you escorted directly to the Tree, with Chelada and the newborn, if that is your wish."
"Yes," said Toragin, and paused as a burst of cursing at the back of the cab told the progress of Cabbie Jarome's extraction.
"I will need a basket, or a box," Toragin said, turning back to Korval. "Right now, the kittens and Chelada are on the floor, in a blanket."
"Right," said Miri Tiazan, and tipped her head. "Jeeves, need us some kitten transport."
"Yes, Miri," a mellow voice spoke from the air. "I will bring it."
There came another burst of swearing, and a gasp. Rascal barked, once, and here came Nelirikk, Anna and the dog beside him, Jarome flung over one broad shoulder in a field carry.
The door opened as they approached, and they vanished within. A moment later, a man-high cylindrical object, with a bright orange ball where a man's head might have been exited by the same door, holding a basket in one gripper, and a blanket in the other.
It approached and extended the basket.
"Will these suffice?"
Toragin considered. The basket was deep and wide enough for all five cats. The blanket would make a soft nest.
"Thank you," she said. "I will be a moment."
She turned back to the cab.
From the back of the cab now came Yulie and Mary. They passed Toragin, and approached, Yulie with a grin on his face.
"Some kinda storm," he said affably. "Get 'em like that at the old home?"
"Nothing nearly so awe-inspiring," Val Con yos'Phelium said. "I see that you have come to no harm."
"Not the least bit," Yulie said. "We're a might peckish, though. I don't s'pose there's any of Mrs. ana'Tak's cookies 'round the kitchen?"
"In fact, there is an entire buffet in the breakfast room. Mrs. ana'Tak would have it no other way. I believe there are cookies, and also soup, and biscuits, wine and juice. If you will, let us show you the way."
He turned, sweeping an arm out toward the patio door, ushering the couple forward.
"Vertu?" Miri Tiazan gave her a grin. "That's you, too. Got rooms ready, too, 'cause if you don't mind my sayin' so, you're lookin' all done in."
Vertu managed a smile.
"It was a trying day," she murmured.
"All done now, though, right? This way –"
She turned, and Vertu followed, pausing just at the edge of the patio to look up – up into the now-cloudless dark sky, where a monumental shadow was silhouetted against the stars.