Free A World Too Near by Kay Kenyon Page B

because the sled’s course swerved to meet them. The creature was easily lured. Bloated in form and self-regard, he couldn’t imagine that she found him loathsome.
    Propelled by silent means, the floating conveyance lumbered under its weight of Gond, attendants, and equipage. It stopped in front of her, swaying slightly as Ysli and Chalin attendants jumped down, bowing to Johanna.
    “Master Morhab,” she said, bowing low. When she rose again, her smile was fixed and convincing, she trusted.
    Morhab’s profound bass voice came to her, clotted, as though he needed to cough. “Now then, Mistress Johanna. Too hot for strolling,” he said, “unless you came to see me.” He tucked his wings closer to his body, as though aware they were not his best feature.
    She was already feeling nauseous, but took a cleansing breath, determined to be at least as courageous as Gao.
    “Master Morhab, I saw you from the ramparts, and hoped for diversion from a day already long.” She added, “Although I’m sure you have great matters in hand. No time for idle women.”
    The Gond’s mouth was too large to be fully expressive, so Johanna could never judge whether a Gond smiled. But she thought he was pleased. His nostrils expanded, drinking in her scent. Morhab glanced at his stonewell computers built into the half-walls of his sled, monitoring his numbers and perhaps judging whether he did have time for her. But his curiosity won out.
    “You will join me here.” He waved his thin arms at his attendants, one of whom bent down to form a step with his laced hands.
    Johanna looked to the stone embrasures of the centrum, wondering if anyone watched her. Lord Inweer might well look down and wonder why she would seek out a creature that he knew she disliked. Her ready answer: For the sake of Gao, my lord. That the engineer treat him well. She pretended to take a kindly interest in Gao and his family, but it was more than that. It was the first layer of lies that had by now grown deep.
    Johanna allowed herself to be helped into the sled, where she sat opposite Morhab on a seat littered with scrolls. He leaned forward to push them aside, coming so near that her gorge rose from his breath. His carnivore diet mulched in his huge stomach and vented abominably.
    He turned his prodigious head toward SuMing and Pai. “Yes, board, sharing with my retainers.” They climbed next to Morhab’s servants, sitting with feet hanging over the edge of the sled.
    Johanna smiled at Morhab. “I would take it as an extreme indulgence if you would continue your inspections of the gathering yard, Master Morhab.
    We will ride for a time and observe your important work.” She knew very well he wasn’t inspecting the yard or its surrounding walls today, but hoped he would change his plans.
    A Ysli servant came around the perimeter of the sled. “Mistress,” the Ysli said, extending a hirsute hand and handing up her sunshade. Taking it, she popped it open, it being her custom to block her view of the relentless bright.
    Observing the parasol, Morhab remarked, “Delicate.” The word sounded strange coming from such a mouth. In close approximation to him, Johanna was acutely aware of his massive and useless body, its lower half hidden by a moist blanket that served to condition his skin. Morhab turned to adjust his pillows, using his short arms and exposing his glistening wings, like a beetle’s.
    The sled moved out again, loaded with its
riders and stonewell computers. The engineer drove the sled faster than she’d hoped, and worse, instead of following the wall of the watch, he was still heading to the centrum.
    Johanna tossed her hair back from her face, capturing Morhab’s eye. In what she hoped was an even tone, she said, “Too busy then, to indulge bored ladies?” The engineer’s nostrils flared. Gonds could smell strong emotions; this one had mistaken her scent for a strong attraction to his person.
    “Today, too busy.” He waved at his stone