“Can it, Rubi,” says her brother. “Our guest is in mourning.”
“I’m aware of that.” Rubidum’s music grows darker, stormier, and her eyes seem to hollow out like a pair of deep caves. “Revenge is a tale that never ends. It goes round and round forever, and no one finds peace.” She plays a run of soft descending notes. “It’s very sad, what happened to your moons, but as the years go by, you’ll gain perspective on these ups and downs. No one escapes the vagaries of nature.”
“Nature had nothing to do with this.” I glance from one twin to the other. “Ophiuchus ravaged my world, and he’ll do the same to yours.”
Caaseum inches toward me. “Let’s consult your black opal. I’ve heard fascinating reports of its powers.”
“You should watch for abnormally high traces of Psynergy,” I press on. “Do you have a Psy shield?”
“Never heard of such a thing.” Caaseum tilts his head. “Interesting idea. A metaphysical shield.”
“How would it operate?” Rubidum asks brightly.
I steal a glance at Hysan, hoping he’ll speak, but he’s watching me with narrowed eyes. Suddenly he breaks into a genial smile and pulls me to my feet. “This has been a charming visit, but we really should be on our way,” he tells the Twins.
“Oh, don’t go yet.” Rubidum springs up. “You’ve only just arrived.”
“And I have much more to tell you about your enemy.” Caaseum hurdles over beside me. He’s amazingly fast. “Please stay.”
I hesitate. My intuition urges me to listen. Maybe he saw something that can help us. But we also need to warn Virgo as soon as possible, and we’ve already spent too much time here. Finally, I say, “We can spare a few more minutes.”
“Ah, the omen’s far too complex to cover in a few minutes.” Caaseum puts a finger to his chin. “I have an idea. Why don’t I come with you, and we’ll discuss things along the way?”
Rubidum purses her lips. “Really, Caasy? Another junket?”
“Mother Rho and I have much to contemplate, Rubi, dear.” Caaseum turns to me, and when his eyes meet mine, I don’t know what to make of this strange, elderly child. His face is smooth and untouched by time, yet his eyes are eerily ancient.
“Okay,” I say at last. “Come with us.”
Hysan and Mathias both snap their gazes to me in alarm, but Rubidum’s eyes sparkle. “In that case, enjoy your journey, brother. And try to keep your eccentricities in check.” While brother and sister embrace and peck air kisses at each other, Hysan and Mathias pull me aside.
I speak first, so they’re forced to listen. “I know what you’re going to say, but this is our best option. It gets us back in the air fastest, it gets me the information Caaseum saw in his Ephemeris, and it gets the people of Gemini a final chance. I can use the flight time to convince Caaseum to take my warning seriously. If he believes me, he can send a message to Rubidum when we get to Virgo.”
Both guys look like their resolve is crumbling in light of my reasoning. “It’s Gemini’s only chance,” I add unnecessarily. They’re not fighting me anymore.
When the siblings pull away, Rubidum takes my hands. “You’re a vivid storyteller, Mother Rho, very inventive. You’ve totally won me over. I hope we meet again.” With those words, she lifts her stringed instrument and plays a rollicking waltz. Apparently, this is how Twin Rubidum bids farewell.
We head into the corridor, now thronged by curious Geminin. Their russet heads fill the passage, and they bob up and down, trying to see us. As we weave through the crowd, Caaseum takes my elbow. “Where is your ship? I’ll have a food locker delivered.”
On my other side, Hysan puts his lips close to my ear. “There’s something devious about the way he watches you.”
When Mathias glances back and sees Hysan whispering to me, his face darkens.
The pretty little Geminin kids keep shoving against me, touching my skin with their soft searching fingers. They jam the passage, blocking our way, and the air is so thick with their cloying perfume of drugs, my head swims . . . until Mathias lifts me up in his muscular arms.
“Make way!” he booms, and the crowd parts in two halves. While the Geminin people stand back, murmuring and pointing, he carries me across the balcony, down the moving staircase, and all the way outside to the sunny Imaginarium. Even though he’s doing all the work, I’m the one feeling breathless.
Unfortunately, an even larger crowd is congregating on the plaza. Hysan comes up behind us and says, “We’ll have to activate the veils.”
Mathias sets me down. “Where’s Caaseum?” I turn to see him parading toward us, flanked by his adoring subjects. When he comes near enough, I seize his hand. “Whatever happens, hold on to me.”