“The disruptor is on its way back to Sunflower. The rep was delighted with the swiftness of the retrieval. And most impressed.” He turned another page. “I begin to think Ginny Seyirshi was right when he called you a catalyst. By the time you were through with them, the Ptak world was thoroughly chewed up, their commerce disrupted, one war winding itself down through attrition and, a new one fruiting. The place is probably going to be chaotic for years.”

He dropped that last sheet, fitted his hands palm against palm, and contemplated her. “You managed with admirable discretion to keep any mention of-Excavations Ltd. from notice. However, in other areas, discretion was… hmmm… noticeably lacking. The peripheral effects of your activities are… hm disconcerting. Added to your tumultuous romp through the assorted worlds:during the Dyslaera affair, there’s a pattern that… hm… shall we say, limits your usefulness.”

“So I’m fired?” Shadith slid forward in the chair, irritated, prepared to get to her feet. She was getting rritated and saw no need to listen to a bunch of painted light scolding her…

“Jump jump, hat Stop acting like a startled flea, Shadow. No. Of course you’re not fired. It just means I have to be careful to use you in places that I wouldn’t mind seeing trashed in your inimitable fashion. As long, of course, as we are not visibly engaged in that trashing. The areas in which I can use you are limited but they do continue to exist.” He leaned back, laced his non-fingers across his non-belly.

She watched his careful mimicry of the gestures of the flesh and wondered about it a little. Is he trying to be sure that he doesn’t lose that self which comes so pungently through his poses? Odd how that chimed-with what she’d written to Aleytys. Maybe it’s because he is like me, like Swardheld and Harskari, that I don’t trust him.