Page 9 (1/1)

soinal plans of the philosophers, but the basic outlines of the class and clan system still held on both continents

Sariana had learned, however, that those outlines had held much more firmly in the eastern provinces In the west the social structure had shifted and changed to a major extent The lines between clans and classes were becoeneral system was still in place

Sariana wrinkled her nose in disapproval as she reotten to the point where es across class lines were coht illicit affairs between people of different social classes were even more co social structure

It wasn't that her own people were so ood sense and the social awareness to keep their affairs, like their es in the social system on the western continent had coroups had finally rediscovered each other a few years before

It was ironic that it had been a western invention, the fast, sleek windrigger sailing ships, that had made that rediscovery possible Contact between the descendants of the original colonists was finally reestablished, but things had changed Each group had ed to survive without the other

That was a lesson that would not soon be forgotten by either contingent It was clear to the people of each continent that, contrary to the predictions of the social philosophers, they really didn't need each other Both groups tended to be equally arrogant and regard the other group as slightly less advanced and certainly less sophisticated than itself Trade had been established but socially there was still very littlefor a member of an eastern continent clan, to trade with someone froe into that clan One had to maintain one's social standards, even if one occasionally found the clever little gadgets devised by the westerners useful or intriguing

It was a how little easterners knew about westerners, Sariana thought Take this business of the west having created a whole new social class called Shields It was a typical piece of western inventiveness The original social philosophers would have been appalled

Sariana stared glooarden of vivid flowers, wondering how she had gotten herself into such a predica her fate when the door to her office swung open without any warning Sariana didn't swivel around in her chair to see as standing in the doorway Her instincts already told her A ripple of awareness went through her nerve endings and she gritted her teeth

"The luck of the day to you, Gryph Chassyn," she s and manners were useful to fall back on when one was faced with potential disaster, she decided Above all else, she must maintain control of this situation

"Luck to you, lady," Gryph said carelessly He ca absolutely no noise on the ht as well turn around and face me," he added dryly "I've come to talk business with you Business is your specialty, I'm told I believe we have a fewthe Avylyns' precious prisma cutter I decided it would be much easier if you and I talked about those rip on herself and bravely swung around to confront hi s did not alter the i the Shield appearedOf course, she re fro

"How are you feeling?" Sariana inquired politely Gryph's blue-green eyes flashed with an unreadable expression that was quickly veiled "Like I've spent the night refighting the fire on board The Serendipity" He sly

"Kind of you to ask, lady Especially considering the fact that you're the one responsible for ly got drunk all on your own and made an attempt to pick up the first attractive woman who happened to sit down at your table," Sariana said in clipped tones, telling herself sternly that she should not allow him to bait her this way "The Avylyns and I ht?" Gryph threw hi, cushioned bench in front of oneHe sat with his back to the light, his legs spread apart, and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees He regarded Sariana with an assessing gaze "How did you know I'd be in that particular tavern at that particular ti "I've had Bryer watching the ular basis for the past couple of weeks Once we learned there was a real live Shield in town it wasn't hard to find out where he was hanging out"

"I wasn't trying to hide Did it ever occur to you to try walking into that tavern yourself last night, sitting down across fro your offer in the normal fashion?"

"Of course not You had already turned down three polite invitations to do business There was no reason to think you wouldn't turn down the fourth," she said "I was forced to take desperate measures It wasn't as if there was a lot of choice You Shields seem to have a ave her a brief, predatory grin "No other social classes have shown any desire or ability to go into business against us"

"That I can believe Even ative assigne co her elbows on the polished desk "On the other hand, what respectable clan would want its sons growing up to be professional mercenaries? It wasn't just your price that traumatized the Avylyns They were actually afraid of you"

"A Shield's reputation is his stock in trade," Gryph said with patently false ot the i your hand at the intimidation and extortion business yourself Do they teach you things like that in those fancy business universities in Rendezvous?"

Sariana felt the heat rise in her cheeks For a few seconds she couldn't quitehere in Serendipity that one must occasionally s if one wants to get anything done"