Barin flushed. "I do not really have nineteen wives-"

"No, but do you think the media cares? It's a great story."

"Esmay-"

"I wouldn't tease him," Brun said. "After all, you could be a sensation yourself-"

"Not me, I'm the plain one."

"I don't think so. Landbride Suiza in love with a man encumbered by nineteen fanatic cultists, and having gone from villainess of my abduction to hero of the rescue force? We might as well face it-we're all condemned to a spot on the evening news."

"So . . . what's your advice, O experienced target of the press?"

"Relax and enjoy it," Brun said. "In fact-let's give them a real show. After all, it's ours. We're heroes of the hour-let's do it right."

"I hesitate to ask," Barin said, with a glance at Esmay. "Do you know what she means?"

"No," Esmay said, "and I don't want to, but we will."

"Link arms and I'll show you," Brun said.

"We can't do that; we're sober, serious professionals, Fleet officers-" But Brun had already

grabbed her arm, and they came out of the gate like a trio of chorus dancers, into the lights and

hubbub.

"All we have to worry about," Brun was saying brightly, eyes sparkling, golden curls tossing, "is pirates, thieves, traitors, smugglers, assassins, and the occasional nutcase."

Esmay looked past Brun to Barin. "Do you want to duck her in the fountain, or shall I?"

"Let's do it together," Barin said, suggestively.

"Always," Esmay said.