Even in the darkened temple Centaurians could make out father with his tentacles held smartly in a dominating, no compromise position. All the youngsters drew in their tentacles nervously when they saw him and Blue drew tentacles in more than the others. The brothers and sisters settled on the floor while older ones helped the younger ones arrange their tentacles decoratively in ways they hoped would please the Sun God. Blue was sorry he had no mud to make his tentacles look attractive like the others and he hoped the Great Lord Sun wouldn’t mind. Even Blue’s robes looked unfitting for a Patrician as father wanted the boy to be convinced he was ugly and father didn’t want Blue to suppose he could get a better marriage partner than the old sadist who was negotiating to marry him. Blue tried