Mikal looked at her coldly. I am not applying.

Then what are you doing here?

Mikal said no more. Merely stood, waiting. The young woman tried to argue with him, but he didn't answer. She tried to ignore him and go on with her work, but he waited for more than an hour, until she could stand no more. She got up and left without a word.

What is he like? sang Nniv, his voice low and comforting.

Impatient, she said.

Yet he waited for you. Correction did not give way to criticism in Nniv's voice. Ah, he is a kind master, the girl thought but did not say.

He is stern, she said. He is a ruler, and he will not believe there is anything he cannot get, anyone he cannot rule, anywhere he cannot fill with his presence.

No man can travel through space, Nniv answered gently, and not know there are places he cannot fill.

She bowed. What do I tell him?

Tell him that I will see him.

She was startled. She was confused. She abandoned words, and sang her confusion. The song was meek and uncontrolled, for she would never be a master, not even a teacher, but wordlessly she asked Nniv why he would

even listen to such a man, why he would risk having the rest of mankind think, The Songhouse treats all men alike, judging only on merit, not on power-except for Mikal.

I will not be corrupted, Nniv sang gently.

Send him away, she pleaded.

Bring him to me.

She broke Control and wept, then, and declared she could not do such a thing.

Nniv sighed. Then send me Esste. Send me Esste, and be relieved of duty until Mikal leaves.

Mikal still stood in the gateroom an hour later, when the door opened again. This time it was not the gatekeeper. It was another woman, more mature, with darkness under her eyes and power in her bearing. Mikal? she asked.