Rook

eye. She looked at her watch and realized how little time she had to get changed. Fortunately, the one thing she was not lacking was a whole bunch of appropriately businesslike suits. By the time Ingrid came to announce the Americans, she had pillaged the wardrobe, scurried back down to the office, and was looking sufficiently formal.

16
     
    R ook Myfanwy Thomas of the Checquy, I present Bishop Shantay Petoskey of the Croatoan,” announced Ingrid in ringing tones.
What did she do, take elocution lessons?
thought Myfanwy, blushing furiously. The echoes were still bouncing noisily around the room when Bishop Petoskey walked in and Myfanwy opened the eyes she’d closed tight in embarrassment. She looked at Petoskey and felt her eyes widen. Whatever she’d expected, Shantay Petoskey was not it.
    The woman was maybe five years older than her, and lovely. She was black, slim, and tall tall tall. She was dressed in something that might have been either horrendously expensive or distressingly cheap, and it looked absolutely glorious on her.
    Please let her have slept her way to the top,
thought Myfanwy.
No one deserves to be this beautiful and clever too.
    Petoskey had an expression on her face that implied she was trying not to burst into laughter.
    “Yes, thank you for that lovely introduction, Ingrid,” said Myfanwy.
    “It’s tradition,” said Ingrid calmly.
    “Yes, of course it is,” said Myfanwy. “Bishop Petoskey,” she said, nodding her head in a bizarre gesture that was intended to be formal and gracious but probably looked ridiculous.
    “Rook Thomas, it’s lovely to meet you,” said Petoskey. “And please, call me Shantay.”
    “And I’m Myfanwy,” she replied.
Oh, thank God, we’ve never met!
she thought. She looked carefully beyond Shantay, but all she saw was Ingrid going back to her desk. “I’m sorry, I thought Ingrid said both Bishops were coming.”
    “Bishop Morales wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed at the hotel.”
    “Oh, I hope it’s nothing serious,” said Myfanwy.
    “It’s the traveling. It exhausts her,” explained Shantay. “We knew she wouldn’t be coming to this meeting.”
    “Never mind. Three-quarters of an hour ago I didn’t know that there was going to be a meeting, so really it’s no big deal.”
    I can’t believe I just said that.
    “I can’t believe you just said that,” said Shantay. There was a brief moment of terrible tension, during which Myfanwy braced herself for a declaration of war. Then Shantay smiled broadly. “You’re much funnier than they led me to believe.” She winked, and Myfanwy smiled back, liking this woman very much.
    It dawned on her that they were both still standing. “I’m terribly sorry,” she said. “Let’s sit down. Not there!” She stopped Shantay from sitting in the deliberately uncomfortable chair. “Let’s sit on the couches. Would you like a steaming beverage of some sort?” Soon, they were ensconced in the depths of the couch and Ingrid had furnished them both with cups of coffee.
    “So, Shantay!” said Myfanwy, settling back comfortably and letting the cushions absorb her.
    “Yes, Myfanwy?” asked Shantay with equal comfort and amusement.
    “What brings you so abruptly to England? Not that we’re not ecstatic to see you.”
    “Oh, naturally. To begin with, our entire Court was very impressed with the report you penned,” said the Bishop, carefully arranging her dress around her. “And it proved remarkably timely.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yes. Four hours ago, a team of our Pawns acquired an individual who entered the country through LAX. She was examined thoroughly and proved to have some very specific implants.” Shantay paused meaningfully. “They weren’t silicone.”
    “Let me guess,” said Myfanwy dryly. “Grafter enhancements?” Shantay nodded grimly. “Crap,” she sighed. “Was it the dogs that brought her to your attention?”
    “No,” said Shantay. “We hadn’t set up the dog thing yet.”
    “Oh, really?”
    “Yeah, we followed her because she was from Belgium,” said Shantay bluntly.
    “Interesting,” said Myfanwy weakly. “I don’t know if that’s going to work here. And she just went nuts in the airport?”
    “Well, she
might
have been freaked out by the three albinos who were following her” came the answer. “But they were pretty discreet. Seriously, she just popped without any provocation.”
    “That’s alarming.”
    “Extremely. As soon as we were informed,