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other three (unless Turpyn walked alone) in the other group. He commented on this.
    The Salariki replaced the lid on his mug, having drained the last drop of its contents with relish.
    â€œOf Naul I know something,” he said. “It is close to the Nebula, a collection of three systems, ten planets. We have trading stations on three. One exports the Tear Drops of Lur—”
    He must have noticed Elys’s baffled expression, for he explained.
    â€œPerfume, my lady, and a very rare one. It is distilled from an exudation that gathers on certain stones set like pillars among native vegetation—but it is not traders’ information you seek now. It remains that I have heard of Naul, and if this Tsiwon is who he says he is, then in him you see one of equal power perhaps with your emperor, Prince. Incidentally, where lies this empire?”
    â€œFrom here—who knows? We of Inyanga hold the five planets of the system of Dingange—Terran rooted. Our First Ships came with the Afro outspread,” he said proudly, and then knew that this history meant nothing to these aliens and hurriedly added, “That was a very first outspread.”
    But since that appeared to mean nothing either, he elaborated no further. Instead, he waited for Elys to add her bit to their pooled information.
    â€œI am Demizonda of Islewaith. We have spread to no other planet, since our sun has but three, and two are near waterless. But I have heard of Thrisk where this Grasty must rule. They control the Metallic Weed Combine.”
    â€œNaul, Inyanga, Thrisk, Posedonia, Sargol—” Andas began when the Salariki corrected him.
    â€œNot Sargol—if you mean from where I was snatched. As I have said, I was on Framware then. I wonder how the trade treaty advanced after my disappearance.” He flexed his claws, eying that display absently.
    â€œTime!” Andas got swiftly to his feet, for the first time sharply aware of what might have been for him a disastrous passage of planet days—even weeks. “What day—month can it be now? How long have we been here?”
    Elys gave a little cry. Her hands, with the delicate webbing halfway up the fingers, flew to her mouth. “Time!” she repeated. “The full tide of Qinguam! If that is past—”
    â€œSo.” That word in Basic became the hiss of a feline in Yolyos’s mouth. “May I guess that each of you also were faced with a situation in which time had importance?”
    Andas caught the significance of that at once. “You think that is why we are here?” And he followed that question quickly with an answer to Yolyos. “Yes, time has importance for me. I am not in direct line to the throne. Among my people it is not as on some worlds; the crown does not pass from father to son. Rather, since my ancestors had a number of wives—officially one from each of certain noble families—the Emperor designates his choice from among those of the royal clan houses who are of suitable age. Though such multiple marriages are no longer common, yet the choice still lies among all the males of the royal line.
    â€œIt is my grandfather who rules the Triple Towers now, and he had three possible heirs of my generation—four if one counts Anakue. But when he summoned me to his presence, it was thought he had chosen. Only to make it final, I must appear on the day of Chaka and be crowned by his own hands in the presence of all the houses of a Hundred Names. If I am not there—”
    â€œYou lose the throne?” Yolyos prompted as Andas’s voice trailed away. For the first time he realized just how deeply disaster might have struck.
    â€œYes.” He sat down on the edge of Elys’s bed.
    â€œNow I have a treaty instead of a throne to protect. But if I am not at Framware to argue it through, then it is not only that I shall have my name and clan blackened, but also Sargol loses.” Once more the