Shield's Lady

crystal ships?”
    Gryph shrugged. “No one knows. They were here on Windarra when the First Generation arrived.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Sariana scoffed. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
    “Only because your people didn’t run into any of the ships on the eastern continent.”
    “And there haven’t been any such ships discovered on the western continent since the descendants of The Serendipity and The Rendezvous rediscovered each other,” Sariana concluded knowingly. “How very convenient. The legend lives on and no one has to provide any proof. Sounds like a typical western fairy tale to me.”
    “You don’t believe in legends?” Gryph sounded more amused than surprised.
    “I prefer to put my belief in balance sheets, checking accounts and taxes. Legends and ballads are for children.”
    “Maybe the right legend could make you change your mind,” Gryph suggested softly.
    “I doubt it,” she answered firmly. “But I can see that the legend of the crystal ships might serve a useful purpose for your social class. The tales undoubtedly help ensure that the other classes show you some respect. The Avylyns tell me there aren’t many of you Shields. Apparently your limited numbers enable you to keep your prices high. I always admire that sort of sound business planning.”
    Gryph swung his head around to stare at her and Sariana wondered if she’d gone too far. Normally her quick tongue was an asset, but there were times around this man when she got the impression it could get her into trouble. She sat very still for a long moment, waiting for the glitter in his eyes to cool. The tension in the room was breathtaking.
    When Gryph spoke Sariana remembered to breathe again.
    “You have no idea of the risks you’re running around me, do you?” he asked in a voice that was terrifyingly casual.
    The fury was fading rapidly from his eyes. Sariana recovered herself quickly and put the awkward moment behind her. She could handle this man. She could handle anyone from the west if she just put her mind to it. Cool intelligence always had the edge over extravagant emotional indulgence. She just had to concentrate on keeping calm and staying in charge. And talking fast.
    “I wasn’t aware that I was taking any particular risks. I was simply making a business observation. And as for your legend about prisma crystal ships—”
    “You don’t believe it.”
    “I’m afraid not.” Sariana tapped one silvered nail on the desk top. “Have you, yourself, ever seen one?”
    “No.”
    “I rest my case.”
    “If the ships don’t exist, how do you account for the existence of prisma?” Gryph asked softly.
    “I’m sure it’s simply a natural, rather rare substance found here on the western continent,” she told him loftily.
    “And the prisma cutters?”
    “Probably a piece of technology left over from the days of the First Generation. A certain amount was salvaged from The Serendipity after the crash, just as some things were rescued from The Rendezvous. Both groups were fortunate. Without that minimal amount of technology and knowledge, especially medical knowledge, those first colonists would probably not have survived at all. Things were hard enough as it was from all accounts.”
    “You think you’ve got an answer for everything, don’t you?” Gryph asked.
    “Not for everything. Not yet. But just give me a little time,” she tossed back smoothly.
    “Time? Why should I give you time?”
    Without any warning Gryph got to his feet and crossed the white marble floor with long, sure strides until he was standing on the opposite side of the desk. He planted both hands, palms flat, on top of the polished surface and leaned forward to confront her.
    “I don’t owe you time or anything else, Lady Sariana Dayne. Just the opposite. Because of that trick you played last night, you owe me. I’ll give you a word of warning because I know for a fact you won’t listen.”
    “What word of warning is that?” she retorted tightly.
    “I always collect what’s owed to me.”
    Adrenalin and awareness coursed through Sariana’s system. She shot to her feet and opened her mouth to tell Gryph Chassyn what he could do with his warnings.
    But her words were never vocalized. Instead Sariana felt herself trapped as Gryph caught her face between two surprisingly rough, strong palms. An instant later his mouth covered hers in a kiss that shocked her to the toes of her soft leather slippers.
    Sariana had