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TAXILA'S CHILDREN<br />
"To hell with the rest of the family - if they're mind peeping as usual, they might learn<br />
something!"<br />
The Bole interjected dispassionately.<br />
"Sensory observation detects personnel beyond the entrance to this chamber."<br />
Maia sat up and whispered.<br />
"What does that mean?"<br />
"It means, someone is coming. Bole. Stand guard!"<br />
The Bole delicately poised itself on its six mandibles and prepared to frighten hell out<br />
of the new arrivals. Maia eyed the Bole and had the look of a newlywed who had just<br />
discovered one of her husband's bad habits. There was a discrete knock on the wood<br />
panelling to the side of the opening.<br />
"Enter - but very carefully!"<br />
The curtain moved across slowly and Danyk confronted the spectacle of a militant Bole.<br />
He was not along, Krin hovered behind him.<br />
"Isn't this nice! Our first visit from the in-laws!"<br />
Danyk didn't answer, he led the way past the Bole to a point as far away as possible and<br />
near to the window. He and Krin stood uncomfortably.<br />
"Don't worry about the Bole, it won't bite unless I tell it to. To what do we owe the pleasure<br />
of this visit?"<br />
"We wish to talk to our sister - alone."<br />
"I'm sure you can manage that - just switch me out!"<br />
"If they do, I'll switch you in!"<br />
"Now, Maia! Don't be difficult, the boys want to hold a family conference."<br />
"And you're family!"<br />
"A blue-eyed Scarn can't be family! Didn't you know that I'm supposed to be the product of<br />
a roll in the hay between a Scarn and a Lynxe - I'm inferior!"<br />
"Shut up, Steve! What do you want Danyk?"<br />
Danyk glanced at Krin and shrugged.<br />
"We want to ask you - on behalf of our father and mother - to leave this."<br />
"Blue-eyed Scarn?"<br />
"To resume your rightful place as the daughter of the Thane!"<br />
"So that we can present a united front to the amused view of the High Thane, I suppose?<br />
Do you seriously imagine that he isn't aware of everything that's happened between Steve and<br />
me? The whole Council knows by now - and probably find it very funny!"<br />
"We don't find it amusing! Your father and mother don't find it amusing! Your family<br />
doesn't find it funny! Your Clan doesn't find it funny! You have behaved irresponsibly and not<br />
in a way befitting the daughter of a Thane!"<br />
Maia stood with arms folded and looked more militant that the Bole.<br />
"Because I've chosen to unite with someone you don't understand - and because you don't<br />
understand - you fear? Danyk, I'm ashamed of you! I thought you, out of all the others, would<br />
understand! You were the one with the open mind. The one the Adepts wanted to discipline.<br />
Now, you hide behind your fears and prejudices. You're worse than Laoni - and you can't get<br />
much worse than her!"<br />
Danyk's face was white with suppressed emotion.<br />
"What you don't understand, Maia, is that this man is unproved. He could be anything. He<br />
could be some trick of the All Wise and his Adepts. This could be some devious plan to<br />
undermine our father in the Council. There are any number of reasons why Steve Holt isn't<br />
what he claims to be. We want you to think about it and reconsider. Our father would like you<br />
to stand with the rest of the family tomorrow, when we welcome the High Thane."<br />
"I will do so - if Steve Holt stands with me!"<br />
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