by S. H. Jucha
Harbour had to calm herself and eliminate the fear that had arisen from Roknick’s outburst. When she was ready, she started again with less power than she’d used the first time. As before, Rictook’s jaw fell open, but instead of slumping, the ruler stretched out on his pallet and slowly closed his eyes.
Harbour carefully monitored Rictook’s emotional return. Earlier, she’d felt his pain. Now, she adjusted her sending to encompass elements of calm and serenity. She sensed the ruler’s emotional return. He was keenly sensitive to her power and relished the sending.
Harbour glanced at Tacticnok, who sat cross-legged on her pallet. The royal daughter was swaying gently in the throes of the sensations. Harbour waited until she felt she’d given Rictook a generous amount of relief, and then she eased off on her power, allowing Rictook to be weaned off her emanations.
When Harbour finished, she stood waiting. Rictook was slow to come around, but it wasn’t due to any disorientation. Rather, he was basking in the relief from pain and noticing that it didn’t immediately return.
“Impressive and delightful,” Rictook finally said. “Will these feelings last for any length of time?”
“Periods of mental well-being can be elongated with continual support from an empath, Your Excellency,” Harbour replied. “But physical pain can’t be kept at bay for too long.”
“That’s regrettable,” Rictook replied. “Ah, well, Envoy. Now I would experience a negative emotion, something dark.”
“I’m sorry, Your Excellency. I won’t do that,” Harbour stated firmly.
“Even if your refusal endangers our negotiations?” Rictook asked.
“Sharing negative emotions is not something that empaths choose to do,” Harbour explained.
“Has it ever been done?” Tacticnok asked.
“Mistakes have been made by the untrained,” Harbour said. She was thinking of Aurelia’s fight to protect herself, and her childhood manipulations of parents and friends.
“I’ll allow you time to reconsider,” Rictook said, sitting upright and feeling better than he had in a long while.
“My answer will remain the same, Your Excellency. It’ll be no,” Harbour stated emphatically.
“A diplomatically clever answer and one that might be thought to conceal the truth,” Rictook challenged.
“As with most things, Your Excellency, the truths of an individual’s words are borne out over time and shown in their efforts and accomplishments,” Harbour replied. She waited. When Rictook failed to answer her, she asked, “Should I be requesting a shuttle to Rissness?”
“That won’t be necessary, Envoy. However, I’ve a final question and a stricture,” Rictook replied.
“Yes?” Harbour queried.
“What portion of your power did I receive?” the ruler asked.
Harbour considered a means of expressing the minor amount of sending that Rictook received. Then she said, “It was less than I shared with your daughter aboard my ship, and that was less than what is used with humans during their healing.”
Rictook’s eyes narrowed, having spotted the omission in the explanation. “And what portion of your power is given to humans?” he asked.
Harbour felt cornered. She’d tried to give Rictook an honest answer, even if it was incomplete. Forthrightness had served her well, and she chose to hold true to that habit. “Understand, Your Excellency, an empath’s power hasn’t ever been measured by human instrumentation,” Harbour offered. She paused, and Rictook drew breath to speak, but Harbour raised her hand to still his question.
Tacticnok hid the flash of her teeth at Harbour’s inconsiderate display. She noted with interest that her father took no umbrage with the gesture.
“Power varies from empath to empath, as does the skill,” Harbour continued. “I’m considered to be the most powerful empath. I can tell you that, during my sessions with humans, I employ only a small amount of my abilities. Since I’ve attained adulthood, I’ve never used all of it, at any one time.”
Harbour waited for Rictook’s response, but the ruler sat quietly with his thoughts. She glanced at Tacticnok, who signaled patience and to be seated. She’d seen her father ruminate on questions or concerns for long periods of time, while his audiences were forced to wait quietly.
It was nearly a quarter hour by Pyrean time before Rictook spoke. He said, “My one stricture, Envoy, is that you never use your power on any Jatouche until your race is admitted to the alliance. At that point, we’ll set the conditions for your empaths’ use of their powers. Agreed?”
Harbour let out a sigh, resigned to failing as an emissary for her people, “No, Your Excellency,” she replied quietly.
“No? You refuse my request?” Rictook demanded.
Tacticnok was fascinated by the interplay. She’d witnessed her father’s bargaining processes many times. They were often used not to reach a desired conclusion but to test the nature of the individual in front of him.
“I must, Your Excellency,” Harbour replied sadly. “It’s not a choice I would make as envoy. It’s one I would make as an empath, which is what I am. If I were to see one of your citizens in distress and know that I could help, I would do so. I won’t let individuals suffer needlessly.”
Rictook examined Harbour for a moment. Then he said, “That’s an adequate explanation, Envoy. I rescind my stricture. However, I depend on your good sense to keep your sharing and that of your companion, Aurelia, sparse and only when absolutely necessary.”
“You have my word, Your Excellency,” Harbour replied, grateful for the reprieve.
“If you will excuse us, Envoy,” Rictook said. “Please wait in the outer chamber. Tacticnok will join you shortly.”
After Harbour was escorted from the royal chamber, Tacticnok waited for her father to speak. It was their custom. More important, her father approved of her demonstration of patience.
“I must admit that I had misgivings about this entire adventure, Tacticnok,” Rictook said. “After the calamitous history with the Gasnarians, many of our senior citizenry thought it unwise to revisit their dome. Most of these individuals were appalled that I sent you.”
“What tipped your decision?” Tacticnok asked.
“Two of my preferred advisors were in favor of the exploration and, thereafter, meeting with the humans,” the ruler explained. “As to why I allowed you to go, it was your siblings. They have great confidence in you.”
Tacticnok nodded gratefully and kept quiet. Her father would signal with a finger or two when he was done.
“I wait to see what develops with these humans,” Rictook continued, “but let me say now that I’m extremely proud of you, my daughter. I’m intrigued by the possibilities of negotiations with these humans. And, despite the envoy’s nearly hairless appearance, I find her absolutely delightful. Now, go. Rescue her from her worries.”
Tacticnok leapt off her pallet, ran to her father, rubbed her cheek alongside his, and then hurried to join Harbour.
In the antechamber, Tacticnok found Harbour pacing and frowning. “Enough of that,” the royal daughter admonished. “We’ve overcome the first obstacle. Now, let us attack the next.”
-16-
Negotiations
The next obstacle, as Tacticnok referred to these events, was more contentious than the first. It involved a planning meeting between the master advisors, the envoy party, Tacticnok, and Jaktook.
“I would know why each delegate is here,” Roknick demanded.
“Why are you asking?” Harbour replied.
“We’ve heard reports that there is great division among Pyreans,” Roknick replied. “We’re His Excellency’s master advisors, and it’s important for us to know and understand the motivations of the envoy’s party members, with whom we must communicate.”
“Ask,” Harbour said, gesturing toward the delegates.
Immediately, Roknick focused on Aurelia. “Are you a delegate?” he asked.
“No. I’m here to watch over the safety
of the delegates,” Aurelia replied.
“Why?” Roknick inquired.
“The envoy was unaware of the circumstances under which the delegates would be traveling and thought it prudent to include me. I’m qualified as a vac suit safety team member,” Aurelia replied.
“And you’re like the envoy,” Roknick persisted.
“If you’re asking if I’m an empath, the answer is yes,” Aurelia replied.
Harbour was proud of Aurelia’s mature responses.
“How does your capability compare to the envoy’s?” Roknick demanded.
“You asked to understand the motivations of each member of the envoy’s party,” Pickcit, the master economist, interrupted. “You have Aurelia’s answer.”
Roknick’s eyes smoldered, but the stares of Tacticnok and the other masters were hard and resolute.
“And you, Advisor Cinders?” Roknick asked, moving on.
“I was invited to this meeting by the royal daughter. Can you say the same thing?” Jessie asked.
“This is my right as a master advisor,” Roknick fired back.
“Understood, but were you invited?” Jessie said. He wasn’t bothered by Roknick’s angry stare. He’d encountered spacer captains who presented much greater challenges during business negotiations.
“You’ve not answered my question,” Roknick persisted.
“That’s true,” Jessie replied easily. “And I don’t intend to reply. I believe your line of questioning isn’t pertinent to our negotiations.”
Tacticnok could have nuzzled the captain’s face in celebration, despite the fact that she found its pale hairlessness slightly repugnant.
“Envoy, I demand you order your advisor to respond,” Roknick stated hotly.
“My advisor did reply, Master Roknick, and he, like all Pyreans, is free to speak his mind,” Harbour replied. She was of a similar opinion as Tacticnok. She could have kissed Jessie, and unlike the royal daughter, she would have enjoyed it.
Roknick wasn’t to be put off. He switched his attack to the delegates, but Jessie had set the model for truncating the master strategist’s interrogations. In short order, Roknick received responses in the same vein as Jessie’s.
“I’m completely dissatisfied with these answers, Your Highness,” Roknick declared, jumping up from his seat. “I’m tempted to register a complaint with His Excellency.”
“I invite you to do just that, Master Roknick,” Tacticnok returned. She was working hard to control her temper. It was a test she knew she mustn’t fail.
When Roknick hesitated, Tacticnok added, “You’ve asked questions and aren’t satisfied with the delegates’ and an associate’s answers. You’ve every right to communicate your ire to His Excellency. I suggest you do that now.”
Roknick’s indecision was apparent. He’d hoped to sway Tacticnok to force the delegates to reveal the schisms among the Pyreans, which he could use to create dissension among them. But the envoy’s members had closed ranks against him, and Tacticnok was now calling him on his threat.
“Now,” Tacticnok repeated. “Consider this a royal request.”
In a huff, Roknick exited the meeting room.
“Well, that was pleasant,” Tiknock, the master scientist, said. “My congratulations on the patience that all of you exhibited. I believe Master Roknick was hoping to tempt you into displaying some kind of emotional outburst or perhaps provoking you, Envoy, to use your powers.”
“He’d have to try harder than that, Master Tiknock,” Harbour replied. “Apparently, he’s never dealt with Pyrean spacers.”
Harbour’s comment elicited chuckles from Jessie and Aurelia.
The small company launched into discussions about technology, economics, financial systems, and a variety of other subjects. Jessie, Dottie, and Idrian fielded most of the questions and replied with their own. Unfortunately, before the morning passed, the conversations came to a close.
“This was as we feared,” Pickcit said. “The early reports from Her Highness, Jaktook, Drigtik, and Gatnack indicated that there might not be an opportunity for trade between our species.”
“I’m loath to end our conversation here,” Tiknock said. “Might we have missed a subject that interests you, Envoy, which hasn’t been explored?”
Harbour was reminded of the discussions she had with the engineers before they returned to Rissness with the injured. “Tell us about the protected gate?” Harbour requested.
The question caught most of the Jatouche off guard. It was the last subject they expected the envoy to bring up.
Jaktook wasn’t put off by the question. Instead, he began detailing the contact history with the Colony.
The envoy party hadn’t expected to hear Harbour delve into this subject so soon. As Jaktook talked, Jessie and Aurelia became extremely interested, as evidenced by their body postures, which showed them sitting forward on the chairs and leaning toward Jaktook.
“Have you ever investigated the Colony side of the gate?” Jessie asked at one point.
“Your engineers asked the same question,” Jaktook replied. “How is it that Pyreans hear of the Colony’s insidiousness and deadly capabilities and yet wonder if we’ve journeyed there?”
“You’re speaking to spacers,” Jessie replied. “Curiosity enables our success, despite the dangers.”
Henry and Aurelia nodded their agreement to Jessie’s point.
Harbour had heard enough about the Colony. Now, she wanted to explore a different subject but for the same purpose. She cleared her throat to call attention to her.
“From many sources, I’ve gathered that the Jatouche aren’t comfortable with their position in the alliance,” Harbour said.
“There is little that we can do about it,” Tacticnok replied.
“I’d hear more details,” Harbour pressed.
“There is a certain order within the alliance. It’s not identified in the agreement, which must be ratified. Rather, it’s a subtle condition based on the perceived contributions of the individual races,” Tiknock explained.
When Harbour stared expectantly at him, Tiknock continued. “One of the greatest factors forming this perception is the number of species, which are introduced and accepted into the alliance, by a race.”
“We came late to the alliance,” Pickcit said. “Of our six gates, we found four were active with alliance members, and two led to species that hadn’t progressed far enough. Of these last two, the Gasnarians learned the dome’s functions first. While our liaison with them was growing, we encountered the Colony, much to our regret.”
“Were the Gasnarians submitted to the alliance for membership?” Dottie asked.
Harbour regarded Dottie out of the corner of her eye. It was an astute question.
“No,” Jaktook said. “Before they qualified, they attacked us, and we were locked in a war with them.”
“How did the alliance perceive that situation?” Idrian asked.
It amazed Harbour that her two troublesome delegates were pursuing the subject she had broached.
“Alliance members hold the senior party responsible for failure to develop a young sentient species properly,” Tiknock replied.
“Have other alliance members experienced the same situation as the Jatouche have with the Colony?” Devon asked.
“There are a number of gates that are blocked because of the aggressive nature of the sentients on the other end of the connection,” Jaktook said.
“I would imagine that alliance members can’t count the Colony’s invasion as a negative against the Jatouche,” Henry proposed.
“No, not for that reason,” Pickcit agreed.
* * * *
The meeting broke for a meal, and Harbour requested a private room for her team. The Jatouche had consulted Zystal about foods that could be served to humans and had received his recommendations.
“While I find the discussion about gates interesting, Harbour, it appears that we’re headed home soon,” Idrian said, tentatively t
esting a juice drink. “It’s evident that we’ve little to offer the Jatouche.”
“I agree with you, Idrian, if we’re only considering material things,” Harbour replied.
“What else is there?” Dottie asked.
“Elevation,” Jessie replied enigmatically. The stares of the delegates prompted him to explain, “The Jatouche feel they’re trapped in the lower echelons of the alliance through no fault of their own.”
“There is a means of helping them with that problem,” Harbour added.
“Explore the Colony dome,” Devon supplied. He’d reached the same conclusion.
“How do you expect us to do that based on what we’ve heard about these incredibly nasty creatures?” Idrian asked. “We don’t have a single shock stick among us.”
“I don’t have the answers, Idrian,” Harbour replied. “Whatever we do, it would have to be done in concert with the Jatouche.”
Harbour finished the last of her green and stood up from the table.
“Where are you going?” Dottie asked.
“To see Tacticnok,” Harbour replied over her shoulder, as she left the room.
Harbour’s conversation with Tacticnok was brief. It was Harbour speaking and the royal daughter staring open-mouthed at her.
“This request is far beyond the scope of what I could approve, Envoy,” Tacticnok said, when Harbour finished.
“How soon can we meet with your father?” Harbour asked.
“I will see,” Tacticnok replied. She stepped back into the room where Jaktook, Pickcit, Tiknock, and she had been enjoying a meal. On a desk comm unit, she contacted her father’s apartment, spoke to a senior servant, and requested an immediate appointment with His Excellency.
There was time for everyone to finish their meals before they met with Rictook. The formalities of the envoy’s presentation completed, the audience assembled in the royal apartment, except for Roknick, who hadn’t reappeared.
When everyone was either seated or stretched out on a pallet, as was the ruler, Rictook said, “The quickness of your deliberations either bodes poorly for your negotiations or I’m about to be taken by surprise.”
