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by nine, if that is acceptable,” Olaf said, much to Aisling’s relief.
    “That would be fine,” Elder Vulpiran replied with a short bow.  A few minutes later they were back in the ground car, Rand flying overhead once again. 

 
     
    Chapter 4
     
    As Rudy drove through a set of ornate security gates set into a high rock wall, Olaf pointed toward a house at the top of a broad hill.  The narrow lane that curved up and around the hill toward the top was lined with flowering trees and bushes that were alive with birds, squirrels, bees and butterflies.  The blue grass and lavender skies in the background made Aisling feel as though she had stepped into one of the exquisitely detailed paintings from a fantasy book her father had read to her when she was a little girl.  It was breathtakingly beautiful, and at the same time, surreal.
    The house was circular, set on top of the hill like a crown, with the center open to the sky.  A huge garden filled the open area, complete with a fish pond, waterfall, pavilion, and a tinted glass ceiling that could be slid open or closed at the touch of a button, depending on the weather.  The circular design of the house allowed nearly every room to open onto the garden.
    Aisling was as amazed by the interior of the house as she was by the exterior.  It was neither overtly masculine, nor fussy.  The furniture was large and comfortable looking, the hardwood floors gleamed softly in the late afternoon sunlight, and each room had its own stone fireplace.  The overall feel was airy, warm and inviting. 
    After giving the women a brief tour of the house, Olaf showed them to a pair of guestrooms situated next to each other.  Each guest room had a fireplace, double doors onto the garden, a private sitting area, and its own luxurious bathroom.  After Rand deposited Aisling’s small bag on a bench at the foot of the bed, they left her alone, closing the door behind them. 
    As soon as she was alone Aisling raised her arms over her head and stretched her shoulders until the muscles popped.  Then she rolled her head from side to side, stretching her neck.  Walking around hunched over like a shrinking violet all of the time was a lot harder than she’d imagined possible.  She’d been doing it long enough that it was easier than it had once been, but it was still difficult.  Especially when she got angry. 
    She opened her bag and carried her few toiletries into the bathroom, wishing she had purchased more when she’d been in town last.  She’d thought she’d be relocating with the Bearens to the Dracons’ ranch, so she’d decided to hold off on making purchases that would just have to be moved anyway. 
    At least she now had access to her own money.  Some of it, anyway.  She had set up a secret account for herself back on Earth long ago so that she could gain access to funds without giving away her location, just in case.  In her line of work, such a precaution was practically a requirement.
    Clark Bearen had taken her and Karma into Berria a few days earlier so that she could visit the bank and arrange for a new pay-card.  She had memorized all of the necessary account numbers and access codes, so there had been no difficulty in accessing the account. 
    The first item she had purchased, and the most important to her, was a hand terminal.  Thinking of it reminded her to check it.  She set the toiletries down on the long counter in the bathroom and pulled the hand terminal from her pocket.  She switched it on and scrolled through the menus, looking for incoming messages.  After a moment she switched it off and returned it to her pocket.  Perhaps tomorrow, she thought.
    She went back into the bedroom and unpacked the few clothes she had, then put the bag in the closet.  She smiled to herself at how quickly she’d been able to unpack.  Less than three minutes from start to finish.  Her mother would never have believed such a thing possible.
    A painful lump rose in her