Tharn telling me all about your new assignment. I'll see that you have an ample supply of message balls. You just report what is going on at the Foundry— No, I guess you don't know. You and all the other Study Team members are coming in as Zygrosi and Grefftscharrer foundry workers and support personnel. I believe your job will be as pattern maker."
"I had no idea."
"You'll be briefed shortly, once all your inoculations are finished and the background check is completed. Don't worry, purely administrative wheel turning. Your appointment has been approved at the top."
"How do I let you know about any Transtemporal Contamination?"
"By using the transtemporal message balls that will go to the target area on Fifth Level. These will be well disguised so there's nothing for you to worry about."
Sirna felt her heart thump. Tharn had all the answers; there was no way out of becoming his spy unless she excused herself from the Study Team, which would effectively end her University career—and she wasn't suited for anything else. Sirna didn't even want to consider the consequences of defying Hadron Tharn; her ex-husband had told her some hair-raising stories about his insane displays of temper.
Typical of the man's arrogance, Tharn took her compliance for granted.
"This is the last time we can meet until the end of your assignment on Kalvan Prime. I know you'll do a good job for us."
Sirna nodded numbly. What a terrible end to what had started as the best day of her life...
"What did you think of Scholar Danthor's little presentation?" Tharn asked.
Sirna shook off the black cloud descending around her. "Fascinating. He is the pre-eminent authority on Aryan-Transpacific."
"He certainly makes that claim. I need to talk with him."
Sirna shrugged. "I can't help you there. I'm an undergraduate. I don't even exist as far as a Scholar is concerned, much less a recognized authority such as Danthor Dras."
"He's been ignoring my calls, too," Tharn said with a pointed glare towards the lectern and speaker that promised future retribution.
After Dras left the podium, Tharn rose out of his seat, saying, "I'll be looking forward to your reports on Kalvan Prime. You know the drill. I'll expect a letter every ten-day. And a message ball every thirty days."
He turned and left, malevolence trailing behind.
Sirna shivered in spite of herself. She noticed how quickly even the most respected faculty members moved out of Tharn's way and the ingratiating greetings they made as he strode by, oblivious to one and all except Scholar Dras.
As Hadron approached the Scholar, even ten rows away she could sense the mutual antipathy. Hadron said something too softly for her to hear, but everyone heard Danthor's reply. "Tharn, I'll have no part of your business! I've said that before and I'll stand by it. And don't approach me again."
Again, Hadron Tharn said something too low for her to hear, but she could see the red blotches on Dras' face. "Stay away from me, or I'll have the University guard remove you."
Thank providence; Danthor hadn't noticed that Tharn had been sitting next to her, she thought . I wonder what I've gotten myself into...
WINTER
ONE
I
The howl of the wolf floated down from the wooded hills to the right of the trail. A moment later, several more howls replied from farther off.
"Your Majesty. That first one's on the scent of prey. He's calling the pack!"
Kalvan reined his horse to a halt and looked back at the bearded trapper riding behind him. He might be Great King of Hos-Hostigos, but when it came to hunting wolves he would defer to Hectides' forty years accumulation of knowledge.
"The forest's too thick for us to blaze a trail here, Sire," Hectides added. "We'd best ride on a bit."
"What about them scenting us?" Kalvan asked.
There was another howl, this one closer.
Hectides pulled off a fur glove and held a finger up in the icy winter air. "Not enough wind. With wolves this hungry, they'll eat anything.
"I had no idea."
"You'll be briefed shortly, once all your inoculations are finished and the background check is completed. Don't worry, purely administrative wheel turning. Your appointment has been approved at the top."
"How do I let you know about any Transtemporal Contamination?"
"By using the transtemporal message balls that will go to the target area on Fifth Level. These will be well disguised so there's nothing for you to worry about."
Sirna felt her heart thump. Tharn had all the answers; there was no way out of becoming his spy unless she excused herself from the Study Team, which would effectively end her University career—and she wasn't suited for anything else. Sirna didn't even want to consider the consequences of defying Hadron Tharn; her ex-husband had told her some hair-raising stories about his insane displays of temper.
Typical of the man's arrogance, Tharn took her compliance for granted.
"This is the last time we can meet until the end of your assignment on Kalvan Prime. I know you'll do a good job for us."
Sirna nodded numbly. What a terrible end to what had started as the best day of her life...
"What did you think of Scholar Danthor's little presentation?" Tharn asked.
Sirna shook off the black cloud descending around her. "Fascinating. He is the pre-eminent authority on Aryan-Transpacific."
"He certainly makes that claim. I need to talk with him."
Sirna shrugged. "I can't help you there. I'm an undergraduate. I don't even exist as far as a Scholar is concerned, much less a recognized authority such as Danthor Dras."
"He's been ignoring my calls, too," Tharn said with a pointed glare towards the lectern and speaker that promised future retribution.
After Dras left the podium, Tharn rose out of his seat, saying, "I'll be looking forward to your reports on Kalvan Prime. You know the drill. I'll expect a letter every ten-day. And a message ball every thirty days."
He turned and left, malevolence trailing behind.
Sirna shivered in spite of herself. She noticed how quickly even the most respected faculty members moved out of Tharn's way and the ingratiating greetings they made as he strode by, oblivious to one and all except Scholar Dras.
As Hadron approached the Scholar, even ten rows away she could sense the mutual antipathy. Hadron said something too softly for her to hear, but everyone heard Danthor's reply. "Tharn, I'll have no part of your business! I've said that before and I'll stand by it. And don't approach me again."
Again, Hadron Tharn said something too low for her to hear, but she could see the red blotches on Dras' face. "Stay away from me, or I'll have the University guard remove you."
Thank providence; Danthor hadn't noticed that Tharn had been sitting next to her, she thought . I wonder what I've gotten myself into...
WINTER
ONE
I
The howl of the wolf floated down from the wooded hills to the right of the trail. A moment later, several more howls replied from farther off.
"Your Majesty. That first one's on the scent of prey. He's calling the pack!"
Kalvan reined his horse to a halt and looked back at the bearded trapper riding behind him. He might be Great King of Hos-Hostigos, but when it came to hunting wolves he would defer to Hectides' forty years accumulation of knowledge.
"The forest's too thick for us to blaze a trail here, Sire," Hectides added. "We'd best ride on a bit."
"What about them scenting us?" Kalvan asked.
There was another howl, this one closer.
Hectides pulled off a fur glove and held a finger up in the icy winter air. "Not enough wind. With wolves this hungry, they'll eat anything.
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