'Yes. I know how you must feel about this, but I hope you appreciate I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important to me.'

'I can't,' Flick said. 'I've done many things because others have wanted me to, but I can't do this.'

'Will you not at least think about it?'

'About what? Destroying Thiede? That's what this is really about, isn't it?'

Opalexian went back to her seat. 'Cal knows you. He will trust you. It will help him become all he should be if you could be with him now.'

'No,' Flick said. 'The answer is no and it always will be. I've played my part in various political games, and it will never happen again.'

'I know what you're thinking,' Opalexian said. 'You're thinking about going home and sending a message to Pellaz to warn him. Remember that Pell wanted this. He asked me to help him.'

'He didn't ask for this,' Flick said. 'What you're offering him is a choice between Thiede and Cal, only he doesn't know he has to make it. At the very least, he should be made aware of the consequences.'

'He doesn't have a choice,' Opalexian said. 'I can be just as ruthless as Thiede has ever been. For this reason, as a precaution, I have had your communication equipment, and your sedu sedu temporarily impounded. They will be returned to you in due course.' temporarily impounded. They will be returned to you in due course.'

Flick stood up. 'I suppose I should be angry, but I can't be bothered. You think you know everything, but I guarantee there will be unexpected results from this. If Cal is involved, I doubt the outcome will be wholly to your liking.'

'It will will happen,' Opalexian said. 'I'm saddened you won't be part of it, but I won't stoop to forcing you. I hope you realise that Thiede wanted to keep you from me. He understands your significance, which is why he attempted to intercept your journey here.' happen,' Opalexian said. 'I'm saddened you won't be part of it, but I won't stoop to forcing you. I hope you realise that Thiede wanted to keep you from me. He understands your significance, which is why he attempted to intercept your journey here.'

'I won't be part of your schemes yours or Thiede's.'

'Very soon, Flick, you're going to have to accept Cal and let go of the past.'

'He's no innocent,' Flick said. 'He has been abused and manipulated, but part of him has never been touched. In my opinion, the worst part. In some ways, I want him to enjoy power, because then you're really going to have trouble on your hands, but in other ways I hope he doesn't, because of what it could mean for hara and parazha everywhere.'

'It means he will be your Tigron,' Opalexian said. 'Go home and get used to the idea. I don't want us to fight, Flick. You have done many good things, and I respect you greatly. Once this is over, I will send word. I will tell you the outcome myself.'

'You and Thiede are so alike. It's obvious why you could never be friends. The world isn't big enough for both of you, is it?'

Opalexian laughed. 'In some ways, you are right, but I won't be like him. I won't be holding the strings of power and tweaking them on a whim. If I wanted that, Thiede would have been dead years ago.'

'Will he die now?'

'Go home, Flick. You have made your feelings clear and I have nothing else to say to you.'

Flick left Kalalim in a daze. He wanted to speak to Seel about this. He should should speak to Seel, but Opalexian had made sure that was impossible. None of them had the power to make a difference. It was already done. 'Aru help you, Pellaz,' Flick murmured aloud. 'Aru help us all.' speak to Seel, but Opalexian had made sure that was impossible. None of them had the power to make a difference. It was already done. 'Aru help you, Pellaz,' Flick murmured aloud. 'Aru help us all.'

When he reached the market quarter, he almost didn't notice the two hara talking to a Roselane har at one of the stalls. But their unusual attire and the fact that they were obviously outsiders commanded his attention. He noticed first the bright gold hair and came to a standstill.

Cal was already here.

Flick felt faint and had to reach out for support to the wall beside him. There could be no mistake. He knew that face, that hair, that being being. Flick ran into a side street. If he ran fast enough, he might escape the present and leap into the past, the day before yesterday, some time last year. Any time but this. No more No more, he prayed to whichever dehar might be listening, I beg you. No more. I beg you. No more.

He kept on running all the way home.