The harsh tones of the communicator sprang to speech around them: "The princess Ilse. The princess Ilse. The Emperor desires speech. The Emperor desires speech."
Kortha muttered something under his breath, but Ilse pretended not to hear him, saying, "It will only be a moment."
They found Hurlgut propped in cushions, flushed and worried. His eyes opened wide at sight of Kortha, and the worry fled.
"Kortha!" he cried, putting out both hands, lifting a little where he sat. "So Ilse did find you!"
Ilse stepped to one side, offering prayers to Zut.
Kortha looked at Hurlgut, saw him lying white and broken among the striped pillows. He wanted to rage at this liar, at this mongerer of scandal. He learned with a little surprise that he could not. If Hurlgut wanted to blame him, let him. Kortha had never fought cripples before. He would not begin now.
"—so good to see you, man. Give me your hand. Give it to me, man! There! Let me look at you. The same, the same. Big. Strong. Unbending. Mars' only hope. I need you, Kortha. Guantra has but now concluded speaking on the radio beams. He knows you fled from him, came here. He traced you in that cosmiclarifier of his."
Kortha remembered the black screen in the flagship stateroom.
"Guantra will be surprised when I broadcast. Eh, Ilse?"
"Yes," whispered Ilse.