Project Boussh: Epilogue: Looking for You
by Durandir

The party had barely begun when Becki found herself surrounded. That 
was, in itself, such an alien sensation that for the first several 
minutes she didn't hear a word the five young men were saying. She 
had to ask them, as tactfully as she knew how, to repeat their names.

"Anaugi," said the one who seemed to be their spokesperson. He went 
on to introduce his fellows (once again, of course; Becki smiled and 
tried to look more at ease than she felt): Kwah, Niugnep, Esiotrot 
and Eltrut. She despaired of ever becoming accustomed to Mendellian 
names; it was worse than trying to pronounce the names of ancient 
Celtic deities or Greek heroes. Why couldn't they all have nice, 
simple names like Thayer and Kirret?

So thinking, she missed most of what Anaugi was saying after this 
*second* round of introductions. Then she heard a familiar name, and 
that pulled her back into the conversation.

"Lord Thayer was magnificent," Anaugi was enthusing. "Leading the 
troops into battle. Lord Eugor, he'd never have done such a thing - 
he was one to send the men out to die for him without a second 
thought. Not Thayer! He's the first one into the battle! Why, we were 
honored to fight alongside him, weren't we?" Anaugi's four companions 
all nodded enthusiastically.

Oh, that explained it: they were pilots. "You're . . . um . . . the 
Graces?" Becki guessed.

"Yes, milady! Grace Seven at your service!" Anaugi said with a quick 
bow. Were all Mendellians so formal? she wondered. At least he wasn't 
inclined to kiss her hand. "Actually, Esi and Elt here are Finches."

"Though the General says perhaps we'll move up to fill some of the 
vacancies in Grace Squadron," Esiotrot put in eagerly. Becki glanced 
at him in gratitude for the sound of a different voice, but he 
blushed and ducked under her gaze. 

"Aye," Anaugi picked up where his friend left off, "after the two of 
you shot that TIE fighter off General Nivag's tail, he could hardly 
do otherwise! Now, Kwah here, milady - it's a wonder he's still with 
us, it is. Why, he didn't even last till we engaged the enemy 
fighters; it was one of the Admonitor's guns that got him. Disabled 
his ship, but not him, you see!" Becki smiled uncertainly, while Kwah 
glowered at Anaugi.

"Now as for me - " Anaugi began, but to Becki's great relief, his 
words were interrupted by a cheerful, familiar voice.

"You boys aren't giving the lady any trouble, now, are you?" said 
Reth, coming up behind Anaugi and laying a hand on his shoulder. Arm 
in arm with him was Kirret, who favored Becki with a wink and half-
smile when the pilots weren't looking.

"General!" Anaugi said, his eyes widening. "No, we were just - "

"Doesn't matter," Reth said, dismissing the situation with one of his 
brightest grins. "There's someone looking for you fellows."

"Noreh," Kirret nodded. "And she did not look pleased. I wouldn't 
keep her waiting, were I you."

The Mendellian pilots scattered, like kittens spooked by a loud 
noise, and Becki sighed with relief. Then Reth also took his leave, 
with a quick kiss for Kirret, and suddenly the two women were alone.

"Thank you," Becki said. "Who's Noreh?"

"A pilot. The only girl in Grace Squadron. In fact, after Drazil died 
in the attack on the Admonitor, Noreh's the only female pilot in the 
whole of the Mendellian Air Force. They're all trying to woo her, you 
know, even those two Finches. Of course she plays it for all it's 
worth."

"Was she really looking for them?"

"After I hinted to her that to do so would be a kindness to you."

"Me? What's that supposed to mean? She doesn't even know me. Does 
she?"

Kirret didn't reply, but there was something suspicious about her 
smile. Beginning to feel alarmed, Becki tried again. "And why were 
those five so eager to talk to me, anyway? Shouldn't they have been 
following this Noreh around?"

Kirret's chuckle in response to that was no less suspicious than the 
smile. "They're not fools; they have eyes to see. And they love their 
Dictator very much."

"Well, I gathered that. But I don't see - "

Kirret sighed and met Becki's gaze. "What it has to do with you? 
Well, in Mendellia everything depends on the royal family. You curry 
favor with the Dictator, or you curry favor with the King and Queen. 
I suppose the Graces hoped to get an early start." With that, she 
turned and started walking away, but not before Becki saw that the 
odd smile had returned.

Then the import of Kirret's words hit her, and she hurried to catch 
up. "Hold on, Kir. Do you mean . . . ?"

Kirret stopped and turned to frown at her. "Don't you know?" The look 
on Becki's face must have answered her question. "Perhaps not. He 
hasn't asked you yet?"

"He?" But there was really no doubt now what Kirret meant. "Thayer?"

"Of course Thayer. Unless you've been falling in love with someone 
else in the time you've been here."

"No, I . . ." She looked away, unable to shake the feeling that she'd 
missed something somewhere along the way. "You think he's going to 
ask . . ."

"Really, I'm surprised he didn't ask you after the first kiss. You'll 
make a wonderful Queen, my dear."

The genuine warmth of Kirret's smile, in a face normally so cool and 
aloof, was somewhat disorienting. Becki walked silently beside the 
Mendellian woman for a while. Then suddenly Kirret spoke again: "By 
the by, someone was looking for you, too. Really looking for you - 
without any hints from me."

Becki looked up at Kirret, and only now saw where her friend had led 
her: They were in the very middle of the area set off for dancing, 
and there was Thayer beaming at her. His bow was to Anaugi's as the 
eagle's flight is to - well, to that crazy, fluttering dove that her 
parents kept as a pet. And he did take her hand to kiss it, and she 
smiled despite herself.

"Hi," he smiled.

"Hi." She felt foolish, and she felt perfect.

"I'd have sought you out sooner, but I've had trouble getting away. 
Next time let's have the party elsewhere, so I needn't play the host."

Next time sounded ominous, at the moment. "That's all right," she 
smiled carefully. "Your Graces have been keeping me entertained."

"Ah! They're good men, you know. Also brave and lucky, to have 
survived the past few days. But now that you're here - " he bowed 
again - "Might I have this dance?"

"Um . . ." She looked around uncertainly at the couples already 
dancing; the song wasn't one she knew, but it was fast, energetic, 
with a strong, heavy beat, and not much suited to any kind of dancing 
she cared for. "I don't know if I . . ."

"Kirret tells me you can waltz . . ."

"Waltz? Yes, certainly, but the music - "

But he only grinned, and moments later she found herself in a most 
improbable closed position, waltzing obliviously.

It was too much: she laughed for delight. "You know, generally 
waltzes work best with three beats."

"Just follow my lead," he grinned.

"Sure, but if I trip trying to keep up, you'd better catch me."

"Always," he promised, his eyes more bright than was their custom. 
And for a time, she relaxed, followed his lead, did not trip, and was 
at peace, while the irrelevant music blared in fours all around them 
as they whirled in threes about the floor.