Chapter 19
Separate Excursions
Much to the Doctor's surprise and delight, Tegan and Shadra took to one another immediately and he selfishly wondered how he could make it last. He had not heard a single complaint from his usually argumentative, ofttimes lamenting companion since their arrival. Even the restless Turlough seemed more at ease. As for himself, however, being in one place for too long always made him uneasy. They had spent nearly a month at the Institute, and would be on Tel-Shye even longer. While this was not unpleasant unto itself, for the Doctor it was…well, boring.
After going through most of the Palace's extensive library, the Doctor felt he needed a change and started to explore, after all he'd only been through a small portion of the massive building since his arrival. With no particular direction in mind, he wandered aimlessly through the halls, examining architecture, artwork and anything else that struck his fancy. He reflected abstractly on how unusual it was for him to able to move around a building of this type completely unaccosted.
Jason swept around a corner and stopped dead in his tracks, startled to find the Doctor so far from the library where he had been spending his mornings. An amused smile came to his face when the Time Lord looked up at him, his half-frame glasses perched on the end of his nose. They were the only hint to the true chronological age of the youthful face.
"Good morning, Doctor," the Prince said brightly.
Catching the amused look the Doctor returned the smile. "For small detail," he explained, quickly pocketing the glasses. His friend found it impossible to keep a straight face to give the impression of believing him.
"You seem to be bearing up well," the Doctor observed suddenly.
Jason was thrown by this sudden non sequitur. "Bearing up well?"
"Yes. As I recall, you weren't too thrilled with the prospect of your father—How did you put it?—fixing you up to get married? From what I understand, the 'oath' he referred to is the Alterran equivalent to carving one's initials on a tree."
"Oh, that!" Jason coughed, a little embarrassed. "That was Shadra's doing actually. She mentioned it to Father when he approached her about all this and, well…"
"I see. A private joke?"
The Prince gave him a wry smile. "You might say the joke was on me. She thought I didn't love her anymore, and I thought the same thing about her." Shaking his head, he said, "You know she's turned down some pretty influential people to stay on as Father's social secretary. I could never figure out why she'd want to stay on Tel-Shye instead of advancing her career on Alterrous. Now I find it's because of me! The silly female. Why would she settle for me?"
The Doctor looked thoughtfully at his young friend. Like the King, he had been certain Jason would ask to rejoin him in his travels, and try as he might, the Doctor could not come up with a convincing argument for the Prince to stay. He kept coming back to the conclusion that it would be a case of the pot calling the kettle black, since he himself had fled Gallifrey to avoid having to serve as Lord President. Fortunately, with Shadra now in the picture, it appeared his friend was more than content to remain on his home world, which was probably for the best.
"Why would she settle for me?" Jason asked again. "I've always been nothing but trouble for her. It seems like all we do is fight with one another."
"Not unlike ourselves," the Doctor observed mildly, bringing another smile to his friend's face. "Don't sell yourself short, Jason. The lady had excellent judgment. And, I'm told, more years of experience in handling you than I have."
The Prince nodded. That she did.
"From what I've seen so far," the Doctor went on, "the two of you compliment each other. You have all that driving energy, and she's so reservedly diplomatic."
Jason responded with an amused grunt. "You mean she'll be able to smooth things over when I start making trouble." The Doctor gave him a disapproving look. "Well, it can get pretty dull here, Doctor! All that peace and tranquility. Why do you think I left with you in the first place?"
Lady Tostine had refused to allow anyone else to make the arrangements for her engagement party. She had planned dozens of such events and insisted on doing it herself. It was not until she actually started that she realized how nervous she was about planning a major event in which she was the central of attention.
Tegan was amazed at the size of the staff Shadra had called in to assist her in just the initial preparations for this august event. She was doubly amazed when asked if would she help as well, having as sumed she would just be in the way.
After days of sorting through lists, menus, floral designs, and invitations, Shadra announced that they needed a break and abruptly dismissed her staff for the day. She and Tegan were just on their way out when Turlough came across them in the main entry hall.
"Where are you two off to?" he asked.
"We decided to take the day off and do a little shopping on our own," Tegan replied happily.
"Again? You've been out every day this week." Turlough could not understand this compulsion for, what he considered, frivolous purchases. He and Jason had gone along on one of these little jaunts and had been bored to tears, although the Doctor seemed to enjoy himself. Jason had remarked that this was only because the Time Lord was in Never-Never land most of the time anyway, too curious about everything to ever possibly get bored. Turlough had found the description amusingly accurate.
"D'you know where the Doctor is?" he asked. "I haven't seen him all morning."
"In the library. Where else?" Tegan replied. "I think he's trying to read every book in there."
"I've already tried there. No luck."
"Well, you know the Doctor. He's probably off exploring or something. We'll be back after lunch," Tegan called as she and Shadra breezed out the door.
A dejected Turlough watched them go. Tegan was probably right. The Doctor was off indulging his insatiable curiosity while he was stuck as odd man out. "I might as well go to the beach," he muttered. "Everyone else is off doing something."
The Doctor wandered into a room and stopped short, looking around in bewilderment. A courtroom? Why would they need a courtroom in a building where no official business is ever conducted? he wondered.
He looked up just in time to see Turlough walk by outside on his way to the beach. "A stroll in the sea air might not be a bad idea," he said to the empty room.
"Turlough!"
Turning, Turlough was delighted to see the Doctor heading his way.
"D'you mind if I join you?" the Time Lord asked as soon as he was in speaking distance.
"No, not at all," his companion replied, trying not to sound as overjoyed as he felt. "I'm glad of the company, actually. Tegan and Shadra have gone off on another excursion, and Jason—" With a sigh, he said, "He's gone, too."
"I thought you two were going sailing today."
"We were. But he got called into the city at the last minute. It seems his report about what happened at the Institute didn't go over too well when it was submitted officially."
"I can't imagine why," the Doctor grinned.
His companion ignored the remark, being too depressed to be amused. "I offered to go along. Y'know, as sort of, backup."
"No go, eh?"
Shaking his head, the young man heaved a heavy sigh and turned his gaze mournfully out to sea. It was such a perfect day for sailing.
Following his gaze, the Doctor asked gently, "Feeling a little left out?" In spite of Turlough's independent bluster, the Doctor suspected he desperately wanted to belong somewhere. It was a feeling he could appreciate only too well.
"Oh, come on, Turlough," the Time Lord enthused. "There's supposed to be an interesting cave somewhere along here, and I never did get the chance to look for it the last time I was hereabouts." The Doctor indicated the cliff rising from the beach ahead of them and blithely led the way, his companion trudging silently behind.
Among the rocks at the base of the cliff, a figure quickly ducked out of sight, watching from the security of the shadows as the Doctor and his companion entered a cave. Pausing a moment to make certain they would not reemerge, the watcher slowly crept towards the entrance.