“There’s Taury,” said the alien, pointing to a small group clustered on one of the terraces. “We may as well land right there.” His wide mouth opened in an alarming smile. “And forgive me for not introducing myself before. I’m Hunda of Haamigur, general of the Imperial armies, and this is Vargor Alfri, prince of the Empire.”

“Yuh crazy?” blurted Belgotai. “What Empire ?”

Hunda shrugged. “It’s a harmless game, isn’t it? At that, you know, we are the Empire—legally. Taury is a direct descendant of Maurco the Doomer, last Emperor to be anointed according to the proper forms. Of course, that was five thousand years ago, and Maurco had only three systems left then, but the law is clear. These hundred or more barbarian pretenders, human and otherwise, haven’t the shadow of a real claim to the title.”

The vessel grounded and they stepped out. The others waited for them to come up. There were half a dozen old men, their long beards blowing wildly in the gale, there was a being with the face of a long-beaked bird and one that had the shape of a centauroid.

“The Court of the Empress Taury,” said Bunda.

“Welcome.” The answer was low and gracious.

Saunders and Belgotai stared dumbly at her. She was tall, tall as a man, but under her tunic of silver links and her furred cloak she was such a woman as they had dreamed of without ever knowing in life. Her proudly lifted head had something of Vargor’s looks, the same clean-lined, high-cheeked face, but it was the countenance of a woman, from the broad clear brow to the wide, wondrously chiseled mouth and the strong chin. The cold had flushed the lovely pale planes of her cheeks. Her heavy bronze-red hair was braided about her helmet, with one rebellious lock tumbling softly toward the level, dark brows. Her eyes, huge and oblique and gray as northern seas, were serene on them.

Saunders found tongue. “Thank you, your majesty,” he said in a firm voice.

“If it please you, I am Martin Saunders of America, some forty-eight thousand years in the past, and my companion is Belgotai, free companion from Syrtis about a thousand years later. We are at your service for what little we may be able to do.”

She inclined her stately head, and her sudden smile was warm and human. “It is a rare pleasure,” she said. “Come inside, please. And forget the formality. Tonight let us simply be alive.”

* * *

They sat in what had been a small council chamber. The great hall was too huge and empty, a cavern of darkness and rustling relics of greatness, hollow with too many memories. But the lesser room had been made livable, hung with tapestries and carpeted with skins. Fluorotubes cast a white light over it, and a fire crackled cheerfully in the hearth. Had it not been for the wind against the windows, they might have forgotten where they were.

“—and you can never go back?” Taury’s voice was sober. “You can never get home again?”