House of Shards Read Online Free

said. “I hope you haven’t been inconvenienced.”
    “Only slightly. Still, I thought they were more officious than necessary. I shall speak to Baron Silverside when I see him.”
    A Cygnus robot passed them on its silent repellers. Its carapace gleamed in the subdued light.
    “I understand you're racing tomorrow. I hope to watch, if circumstances permit.”
    Roberta gave him a sidelong look. “You don’t want to take advantage of my being busy?”
    He seemed off ended. “Your grace,” he said. “I wouldn’t dream of interfering with your debut.”
    “Thank you.” Surprised. “That's a kind thought.”
    “Just because I steal,” said Fu George stiffly, “doesn’t mean I’m a cad.”
    *
    “Robot,” said Gregor Norman. “I wonder if you could direct me to the Casino.”
    “Certainly, sir. Follow this corridor to the main lounge. Take the third arch on the right. It’s marked with the ideogram for ‘luck’.”
    “Thank you. Excuse me, but I think you have something on your carapace.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Only too.” Meaning, only too happy.
    *
    Gregor deftly inserted the programming needle, gave the carapace a pat, then slipped the needle out. He and the robot parted company. At the first turning, he met a man in a loud jacket. The man was holding a notebook and looking at something therein with apparent delight.
    “Mr. Dolfuss,” Gregor said, and nodded.
    “Mr. Norman.” Nodding back.
    Both went on their way, smiling.
    *
    Zoot paced back and forth in his room, then stopped and looked at himself in the mirror. His ears twitched uncomfortably. His diaphragm throbbed in resignation, and he resumed his pacing.
    What the hell should he wear? That was the difficulty.
    All the Diadem's advance people were humans, that was the problem. They didn’t understand.
    The advance people wanted him to wear his exploring togs. In the lounge! Before dinner!
    His conservative Khosali soul was appalled by the idea. Wearing the environment suit seemed like an insult to Silverside and all it stood for: restraint, elegance, High Custom. But yet the Diadem people had seemed so certain that the suit was what his public expected from him.
    A leaden distress settled in his soul. He looked at himself in the mirror again, seeing the trademark dark-grey environment suit with its pockets, its analyzers, its force-field repellers. His nostrils flared; his ears turned back.
    “Room,” he said. “What time is it?”
    “Twenty-five thirteen Imperial Standard,” said the room.
    Zoot growled happily. Dinner would begin in just over an hour: there wasn’t time to be seen in the lounge before he'd have to come back to the room to change. His hesitation had saved him.
    “Room,” he said. “Send a robot to help me dress.”
    He could have asked for one of the Diadem people, but they'd do nothing but set his nerves on edge.
    *
    The Casino featured the cool, respectful sound of money being lost. Not much money yet: the night was young and many guests had not yet arrived.
    “Your grace,” said Geoff Fu George, “may I present Pearl Woman and Mr. Drake Maijstral. Sir and madam, the Duchess of Benn.”
    “Your very obedient, your grace,” said Maijstral. Roberta thought she could see a gleam of interest in Maijstral’s hooded eyes before he sniffed her ears.
    “Another man I’ve always expected to meet. My pleasure, sir.”
    “Your grace.” Another set of sniffs. “May I present my companion, Advert.”
    “Miss Advert.”
    “Your very obedient, your grace.”
    Pearl Woman gave Roberta a calculated look. “I understand you will be racing tomorrow.”
    “Yes. A small amateur field.”
    “Perhaps I will enter.”
    Roberta smiled inwardly. A Diadem member would attract more attention to the race, hence to herself. The whole point of being here, after all, was to be noticed.
    “I hope you shall. The company will be all the more distinguished by your presence.”
    “Perhaps you might be interested in a small side