"I would say, waiting for a taxi, but I expect it will be some time before they are commonplace."

Shan smiled. "Maybe not as long as you think," he said walking forward.

A second person emerged from the back seat, a slender woman also in pilot leather, golden hair glimmering in the dull daylight.

"Nova," Daav said stepping softly out of the embrace of his thorn bush; "I am pleased to see you, child. Do I understand that this car contains all of Korval which is come in from the port?"

"Only Natesa, Shan, and myself," she said composedly. "The rest will come later, by whichever route suits them best." She moved her shoulders. "Pat Rin's house is busy enough, and we were becoming objects of interest. It seemed prudent, to come ahead."

"This," Shan continued, putting his hand over the track of the driver's window, "is Natesa, Pat Rin's lifemate. Natesa, this is our Uncle Daav. He makes a habit of skulking in the shrubbery, I fear."

Resignation and amusement reflected each other subtly in the driver's face.

"Good-day to you, Daav yos'Phelium. May I say that your son resembles you?"

"I would have said that he resembles his mother, but that is doubtless my own bias. It pleases me to make your acquaintance, Natesa, and I thank you for staying your hand."

She smiled. "You were in no danger from me, sir. Not only have I seen pictures, but just yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking with your son and his lifemate."

"Did you, indeed? I trust that they displayed their manners prettily, and were not the least bit of trouble to you."

This time she laughed. "They were everything that was gracious."

"It gratifies me to hear you say so."

"Uncle Daav," Nova said, interrupting this pleasant exchange. "May we give you a ride in the rest of the way? There's quite a lot of room in the back of this car."