City of Diamond, стр. 14
“You hear me, demon?” said the blond-haired man.
On the other hand, the high walls of the bridge meant they were out of line-of-sight of nearly everybody. If he killed them, who would ever know?
“I believe you’re mistaken,” he said politely. He tried to brush past, but the aristo stood his ground. Tal heard footsteps behind him.
“I’m mistaken, am I? Who are you, then? What’s your name and rank?”
The owner of the footsteps came into his peripheral vision; Spider, the idiot, no doubt feeling that a witness might keep violence to a minimum. And probably thinking, much as Tal did about Adrian, that his meal ticket was in need of protection.
“Special Officer Diamond,” said Tal, “of the Sixteenth Rank, which would seem to put me ahead of anybody here. So stand aside.”
“I don’t want your ship-name—how stupid do you think I am? I want your family name.”
“You want?” repeated Spider. “Who are you, the bloody Inboard Revenue?”
“I didn’t ask you, Corporal—”
A voice rang out. “Can I assist you gentlemen?”
Adrian stood at the back end of the bridge. Tal’s identity might be in doubt, but Adrian’s face had been plastered up and down Mercati Boulevard ever since the wedding was announced. The five aristos stared at him, then at each other.
“No, thank you, sir,” said the blond. “We were just crossing.”
Tal positioned his hand beside his holster, nudging the Diamond Protector with his elbow. “They’re armed!” he said under his breath. He didn’t want them strolling past Adrian.
“I know. It’ll be all right.”
Tal, adrift, searched for some other verbal fact to offer, but there was nothing beyond the unanswerable logic he’d already given. Adrian’s lips curved. “It’ll be all right,” he repeated gently. “It’ll be all right.”
Neither of them realized, but it was the very tone Adrian had heard the Diamond kennelmaster use with his beloved dogs for all of his court life. Tal slowly let his hand drift away from the pistol bulge near his thigh, but the shifting of his eyes showed he was far from reassured. At least, it showed it to Adrian. Not being Tal-scholars, the others would only see a brief movement in an impassive face.
Adrian turned his attention to them now, favoring them with one of his best smiles, and forcing himself with the discipline of habit to ignore the rush of pure, chemical pleasure this sudden drop into danger brought. Brandon Fischer had long ago impressed on him that discipline in that area was necessary if he was going to be the Protector; and that if he ever stopped being the Protector, he’d be dead.
Warily, the aristos filed past. Adrian told himself to stop enjoying the situation. As the blond brought up the rear, Adrian addressed him: “In future, you’d be wise not to wander around a strange place without an escort. Just some friendly advice; I hope you don’t take offense.”
“No, sir,” said the blond unhappily.
They left the bridge. Tal said, “ ‘A strange place?’ ”
“They were Opalline,” said Adrian. “Didn’t you recognize their accents?”
“As far as I’m concerned, you all have accents.”
Adrian grinned. “It would’ve been a major political blow if you’d killed them.”
“Where do you get these ideas about me?”
The grin widened. “I could see you from the walkway, and I ordered the squad to wait down by the river, path; I said I wanted to be alone for a minute, and I’d yell if anybody came. It would’ve considerably complicated things, you know, if they’d been witnesses.”
“I wasn’t going to kill anybody.” Adrian continued to look at him. “At least, I was working to avoid it.” Adrian’s grin faded. He said seriously, “I can’t refuse to give them the run of the city. We need the same privilege on Opal.”
“You’re telling me to watch my back.”
“Good advice at any time.” Adrian turned toward Spider, who’d been trying to blend magically in with the stonework, and said heartily, “Corporal Hastings, isn’t it?”
Spider started. “Yes-yes, sir.” How in the name of all the powers of heaven did Adrian know his name? The main purpose of Spider’s life was the avoidance of notice, particularly by people with power. A demon was bad enough—
“I’ve heard fine things about you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Oh, God. I want to go home now. I want to go home now. I want to—
Adrian turned to Tal. “I’ll have to get back, or in three minutes the squad will be all over the bridge. Don’t be late for the reception tonight—”
“Adrian, I need a station pass.”
The Protector looked at Tal, who was expressionless. Adrian said, “There’s a Republic ship in port there, my friend.”
“Yes, I know.”
Adrian studied his boots for a moment. “You wouldn’t care to give me your reasons?”
“Private.”
“As usual.” He sighed. “As usual, I’m going to tell you to be very careful.”
“I’m always careful,” Tal said, in a faintly injured tone. “It’s just that sometimes my priorities are somewhat exigent.”
Adrian’s eyes sparkled as he controlled a grin. “I’ll look that word up when I get home. All right, pick up your pass in Transport. I’ll tell them to have it ready for you. How long will you need?”
“Probably a few hours. But give me a full-day one, just in case.”
Adrian spread his hands as though to disassociate himself from the whole risky enterprise. Personal physical danger was one thing, but this was chancy on quite a different level, and he took no pleasure from it. “If you’re arrested, please tell them we had no idea who you were.” Tal’s lips quirked. “Of course, Adrian.”
“And don’t leave till after the reception dinner.”
“Whatever you say, Adrian.”
Adrian rolled his eyes, turned, and strode off the bridge. Spider’s heartrate started to return to normal. “Oh, lord,” he said. “The fucking Protector.” He turned at once to Tal. “What did you