"Let's find out." Riker nodded to the transporter operator. "Energize."

Their sudden materialization on the planet attracted little attention, because it occurred directly behind a stage where a magician was mesmerizing a crowd of several hundred Lorcans. Hearing the awed reactions of the crowd, they peeked through the colorfully striped awnings and saw a figure shrouded in a sheet floating several meters above the wooden stage. Only his head and feet were visible.

"How is that possible?" asked an amazed Data.

"I hate to spoil it for you," whispered Will, "but he is probably holding a pair of false legs up in front of him. And he's standing under that sheet, not floating."

"Oh," said Data, clearly disappointed.

"Gentlemen," snapped a disapproving voice. They turned around to see a bent old man wearing the distinctive mask of a bearded human face.

"Trim Hands!" exclaimed Riker. "Don't you recognize us? We were in your village."

"Of course." The old maskmaker nodded. "But where are your masks? Where is the Forest Mask?"

"The masks are safe," Will a.s.sured him. "We decided not to wear them this trip. We didn't want to be mistaken for Lorcans."

"That is no problem," the maskmaker said, taking their arms. "That's why the queen sent for me-to design a special mask for sky people. Now you can wear masks and also be yourselves."

Will Riker glanced at Data and smiled.

"Come," said Trim Hands, leading them away. "My booth isn't far. If you walk around without masks, you'll be a bigger attraction than that faker out front."

They walked behind the colorful booths and awnings, so as not to attract the attention of the fair-goers. They could hear good-natured haggling, hammers beating aluminum, and potters' wheels spinning. They could smell meat and fish cooking on spits over open fires and the scent of perfume oils and burning incense. They also heard children squeal as they watched the tumblers and the acrobats.

"You mentioned the queen," said Data. "Has Piercing Blade been accepted as ruler?"

"For the most part, yes," said Trim Hands. "People are still pouring in from all over-there has never been such a gathering-but they are met at the gate immediately and informed of the new wearer of the Wisdom Mask. In due course, she holds audience with them, and she has proved to be a very persuasive young woman. All day and all night long, she has been meeting with people of all masks."

"Has anyone challenged her?" asked Riker.

The maskmaker shrugged his stooped shoulders. "A handful of stubborn n.o.blemen, yes, but that was inevitable. She has postponed all duels until her wound heals, and we are hoping her challengers will have reconsidered by then."

He gestured to a tent. "Ah, here we are, my little booth." He untied the fishgut rope and let them in the back flap. His booth was far from little, and Riker knew that the queen must have sent a wagon to fetch him. Extraordinary masks, adorned with gems and feathers and other exotic materials in dazzling hues, covered the walls. Hanging from a fishhook was the startling Thunder Mask.

The kindly face painted on Trim Hands's mask almost winked. "You undoubtedly see many masks here that I did not make. I, er, supplemented my normal inventory with the help of my new partner."

From the dusty path outside, the Amba.s.sador's Mask poked through the front tent flap. "It's about time you returned," a voice said. Then the ma.s.sive mask reared back in surprise. "Riker, Data, what a welcome sight!"

Almighty Slayer limped into the tent and clasped their arms, and there were hearty greetings all around.

"We must show them their new masks," crowed the old warrior, but Trim Hands had antic.i.p.ated that command and was already standing behind them with two identical aluminum masks painted the fairest salmon color imaginable and shot with jagged ruby streaks over the eyes. The masks clearly suggested the Lorcan sky in all its frightful unpredictability. Black jewels bordered the neutral eye, nose, and mouth holes. In many respects, thought Will, the design was a variation on the Amba.s.sador's Mask.

"We call it the Federation Mask," said the maskmaker proudly.

Respectfully, Riker and Data accepted the matching works of art. "What an honor," said Will. "We will keep these aboard our ship forever in the hope of returning to Lorca."

"This mask will be registered with our computer," added Data, "so that all Federation visitors will have masks of the correct design."

The ex-king clapped his hands. "Let's go see the queen. She must have the pleasure of viewing you in your new masks." Then he stopped to reconsider. "Of course, we have to get some food first. I've been waiting a long time for this lazy roustabout to get back." He pointed to Trim Hands, who did not look the least bit chagrined.

"Excuse me, sir," said Data with concern.

"Yes, my brave friend?"

"Where is Reba? Is she well?"

The old peddler's eyes looked slightly older inside the shimmering mask. "She has returned to her own kind. I guess she knew I was king no longer. But I feel I have fulfilled my pact with the werjuns. I treated them fairly while I ruled, and I think the new queen will do the same."

Data added, "Perhaps someday we'll find out how intelligent they really are."

"Yes, but first let's see how much food we can eat."

After feasting on yamlike tubulars with green pulp and on blind fish that looked better skinned, they headed to Piercing Blade's tent. The fair threatened to divert them every step of the way, with tumblers, magicians, and performers of every stripe. One stage held a troupe of actors who performed mask quick-changes and lampooned the behavior of certain professions. Another featured dancers clad in nothing but masks and capes of translucent gauze. Artisans worked in every booth. Several of them were selling tent oilskin in bright colors to draw the eye. Others made masks and pottery, leggings and boots, swords and daggers. The smell of food came from everywhere at once.

The city was expanding haphazardly across the treeless meadow, which appeared to be a dry lake bed. Even with all the chaos, Piercing Blade's tent was easy to find, since a long line of well-wishers and curiosity-seekers waited outside. Their conversation indicated that most had come merely to see the Wisdom Mask and had no quarrel with Lorca's new queen. Several bowed reverently to Almighty Slayer as he pa.s.sed. They were greeted at the front flap by Piercing Blade's pages, now augmented to four, who went about the job of screening and admitting callers with efficiency and diligence. Almighty Slayer and his two celestial guests were admitted right away.

It was dark and cool inside the tent, and an obvious effort had been made to keep the atmosphere regal yet soothing. There was no display of weaponry. In fact, there was nothing to distract a visitor's attention from the tall queen. Piercing Blade was dressed in a simple purple tunic, brown leggings, and a brown sling. The hallowed Wisdom Mask seemed subordinate to the majesty of the person, and yet its swirling mosaic and ruby mane cast a glow of authority on the lamplit proceedings.

Blade nodded to the visitors as they entered but continued conversing with two scruffy boys who looked to be in their early teens. They could have been brothers. Crude clay masks hid their expressions, but their excited gestures showed how enraptured they were with their new queen.

"Let us serve you, please," insisted the smallest boy. "We're old enough to fight for you!"

"We've grown strong from working on the farm," claimed his brother, whose voice crackled nervously. "We like the look of those Page's Masks."

"I'm sure you do," said the queen. "But you have to serve an apprenticeship in a trade before I can take you. What good are you to me now with no skill or craft?"

The two boys looked at each other. "We are good farmers," squeaked the elder.

"Then return home and farm. Grow food for all these people you see here. If that doesn't suit you, then apprentice yourselves to one of the merchants or artisans. When you've learned a useful trade, come back and see me. But I don't need fighters, for I am not building an army."

One of the pages motioned to the boys, and they awkwardly bowed their way out. "Thank you, Your Highness. We'll be back soon!"

The excited boys backed into Riker and Data, who gently steered them toward the tent flap. Very informally, Piercing Blade walked over to her visitors and offered her hand. Weakly, Riker returned the greeting; he was still in awe at the changes that had come over Piercing Blade and all of Lorca in the past few days. It was as if both the woman and the society had matured at once as a result of a single event: the pa.s.sage of the Wisdom Mask to a new ruler.

"My father said you would come back," she said, gripping Riker's hand. "He has proved to be a very wise adviser."

Riker motioned around him. "We're impressed with your fair, and the way you have peacefully established your leadership. You must be very pleased."

"Yes, I'm the official ruler now," she agreed, self-consciously touching the mysterious nebula of the Wisdom Mask. "How do you like the Federation Masks?"

"They are exquisite," answered Riker. "These masks greatly honor us and the Federation."

The queen looked past him and out the door. "There are just the two of you? Jean-Luc Picard didn't come?"

"I'm afraid not," the commander replied. "Like you, he is a person of great responsibilities."

"He will come soon," Blade predicted emphatically. "We are going to make Lorca safe enough for all your people to visit. We have offered amnesty to all raiders who lay down their weapons, and we will trade no more with the Ferengi. I have talked to my father and Medicine Maker, and we see no reason not to accept the sky people as our brethren. The dragon once took you away from us, but now you've returned-and we have much to be thankful for."

The father hugged his daughter tightly."I have much to be thankful for," Almighty Slayer said, "a wise daughter and a little wisdom in my old age. But it pains me to think that our land is not a fit place for our ancestors to visit."

Riker touched his communicator badge. "Riker to the bridge."

"Picard here," answered the captain. "How is it going down there?"

Piercing Blade leaned forward with great interest, studying the small badge from which Jean-Luc spoke. "Captain," Riker continued, "you would not believe how wonderful-and peaceful-the Lorcan fair is. I am with the queen and her father, the n.o.ble amba.s.sador, and they a.s.sure us that the planet is safe for visitors. They have even created a mask especially for Federation personnel. I suggest we stay a few more days and give everyone sh.o.r.e leave. Yourself included."

"I am gratified to hear this," answered the captain. "Give the queen and her father my highest regards and tell them we have many people who are eager to visit Lorca."

Maybe Will Riker imagined it, but he thought he saw the Wisdom Mask smile.