hal, wore what was probably the standard costume of
Durendal, a fairly long jerkin with short sleeves, and knee-boots, and
his dress dagger looked as though it had been designed for use. Lord
Koreff looked as though he would be quite willing and able to use it; he
was fleshy and full-faced, with hard muscles under the flesh.

First Citizen Yaggo, People's Manager-in-Chief of and for the Planetary
Commonwealth of Aditya, wore a one-piece white garment like a mechanic's
coveralls, with the emblem of his government and the numeral 1 on his
breast. He carried no dagger; if he had worn a dress weapon, it would
probably have been a slide rule. His head was completely shaven, and he
had small, pale eyes and a rat-trap mouth. He was regarding the
Durendalians with a distaste that was all too evidently reciprocated.

King Ranulf appeared to have won the toss for first presentation. He
squeezed the Imperial hand in both of his and looked up adoringly as he
professed his deep honor and pleasure. Yaggo merely clasped both his
hands in front of the emblem on his chest and raised them quickly to the
level of his chin, saying: "At the service of the Imperial State," and
adding, as though it hurt him, "Your Imperial Majesty." Not being a
chief of state, Lord Koreff came third; he merely shook hands and said,
"A great honor, Your Imperial Majesty, and the thanks, both of myself
and my royal master, for a most gracious reception." The attempt to grab
first place having failed, he was more than willing to forget the whole
subject. There was a chance that finding a way to dispose of the grain
surplus might make the difference between his staying in power at home
or not.

Fortunately, the three guests had already met the Bench of Counselors.
Immediately after the presentation of Lord Koreff, they all started the
two hundred yards march to the luncheon pavilion, the King of Durendal
clinging to his left arm and First Citizen Yaggo stumping dourly on his
right, with Prince Ganzay beyond him and Lord Koreff on Ranulf's left.

"Do you plan to stay long on Odin?" he asked the king.

"Oh. I'd _love_ to stay for simply _months_! Everything is so
_wonderful_, here in Asgard; it makes our little capital of Roncevaux
seem so _utterly_ provincial. I'm going to tell Your Imperial Majesty a
secret. I'm going to see if I can lure some of your _wonderful_ ballet
dancers back to Durendal with me. Aren't I _naughty_, raiding Your
Imperial Majesty's thea