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Starborn Shaula.”
    “May your progeny outnumber the stars, Starling Izar. You are welcome here in Alathfar, and may stay. Your servants will go and dwell with the mudlings.”
    Determined not to leave the negotiations to the starling, Rigel stepped around him and walked closer to Shaula, a deliberately provocative act. He stopped when she raised a hand in an elfin gesture that threatened magic.
    “With respect, my lady, that cannot be. I am charged by Her Majesty to guard her son at all times. I demand that you speedily provide us all with transportation to the royal domain.”
    “Demand?”
    “Yes. In the queen’s name, I demand.”
    “That cannot be.” Shaula smirked with worrisome confidence. Her arrogance filled the room like a bad smell. “There are no links to Alathfar, and it has no subdomains. I am a very solitary person. I live alone and tolerate no visitors. The starling will be safe here. I order you and that hairy monstrosity you brought with you to leave this house instantly. The mudlings will give you shelter. Go!”
    He was used to elfin contempt by now and did not raise his voice. But he didn’t cower, either. “Every domain must have a root portal, or it will cease to exist.”
    “Ours was sealed up centuries ago.”
    “I have the queen’s warrant to use any force I consider necessary.”
    “You dare threaten me, mongrel?”
    Saiph leaped into his hand, its point angled against Shaula’s throat. She screamed, and Izar squeaked in alarm.
    “Lady!” Rigel said. “Don’t even think about whatever you were starting to think about. This is Saiph, the king of swords, and I am armed with many other royal amulets besides. All I meant was that I have an amulet to identify magic, so I can find the portal. I can, and will, break the seal on it. Or, if you prefer, I shall continue burning your property, and I think my young friend and I can ignite faster than you can quench. You are already in the queen’s disfavor. You must know that you risk years in the Dark Cells if you hold her son here by force. I know that you’re lying about there being no way in or out, because you didn’t have to ask how we got here. Someone told you we were coming or had come. Perhaps you travel by means of an illegal reversion staff? I don’t care how you do it, but deliver us to the royal domain at once, and I will ask Her Majesty to be merciful.”
    He lowered his sword to dismiss it, but Shaula was trembling with suppressed fury, and he felt his bracelet shiver as a warning to stay within reach of her. Then she nodded grimly.
    “Very well. As you say, there is a root portal. Follow me.”
    She turned on her heel and headed for a door at the far side of the room. Rigel gestured his companions forward and all three of them followed the starborn. The interesting question was not why Shaula had changed her mind so rapidly, but why she had glanced over at the piano before surrendering—very much as if she were asking permission. There was nobody over in that corner that Rigel could see, although that did not mean that there was nobody over in that corner.

     
    The starborn led her unwelcome guests through to what was obviously the kitchen area, large enough for a dozen cooks to prepare a banquet. There she opened what appeared to be one of a set of drawers, wide and deep. It was a safe bet that anyone else opening it would find it full of pots or bowls, but for her the front of the drawer vanished completely, leaving a gap. Light shone through, and a cool breeze wafted out, carrying the scents and sounds of animals.
    “Camels!” Izar said, bending to peer out. The opening was about knee high to waist high, fitting him better than the halflings. In a trice he slipped a leg over and slithered out. “Looks like Canopus!” he shouted. “I can see the lighthouse. Harpy!”
    Detecting no warnings from Saiph, Rigel let Avior precede him. Then he nodded respectfully to Shaula. Anything more formal would have been