by Leslie Chase
I swallowed, shivering at how close I'd apparently come to being mutilated.
"Don't be ridiculous," the old man said. The cold anger in his voice didn't reassure me, and nor did his next words. "We aren't paying you for damaged goods, and there's a time factor."
"Yes, time," the gray chittered back. "Takes time for finding right human, going to class five planet, bring her to you. Difficult work, even with the bioscan to work from. You pay for our time. You pay extra for unhurt?"
It would have been a great time to keep quiet. So, of course, I didn't. "I'm not just a sack of potatoes for you to haggle over! What the hell's going on here?"
They both looked at me for a moment. Then the old man sighed dramatically and waved off the gray.
"Fine, fine. Ten percent extra for your trouble, Keshiir." He looked at me and smiled an insincere smile. If my legs hadn't been trapped by the cuffs I'd have been tempted to kick him. As it was I just glared.
"Do not worry, all will be well," he told me. His voice had the oily sweetness of a used car dealer. "My name is Lord Rofain, and I am your friend."
The chittering laughter of the grays told me that they didn't buy that any more than I did.
2
Xendar
Hyperspace pulsed through the colors of a rainbow outside the Darkfang and then snapped back to the endless darkness of the void. I'd arrived. Disengaging the stardrive, I powered up the sensors as quickly as I could, trying to fix my position in realspace.
The computer checked the stars and told me I was right where I'd expected to be. Damn it.
Only one jump in a hundred went wrong, at least in the hands of a competent pilot. Hoping that this would be one of them was foolish, but this was a mission that I didn't relish. It was important, yes. War with the humans' empire would be a foolish risk for my people — the Silent Empire covered almost half the galaxy and was by far the most powerful single entity out there. If they ever stopped bickering about their internal politics, there would be a real danger of them conquering anything they turned their mind to.
Fortunately, that seemed unlikely to happen before the stars burned out. The greatest enemy of the Silent Empire was, and had always been, another faction of the Silent Empire. That gave the rest of us room to breathe.
We Acherans were the greatest warriors in the galaxy, and might well be able to give the Empire a bloody nose if it came to it. Their recent provocations in the neutral worlds between our nations certainly deserved an answer. But the death toll of a full-scale war would be awful, win or lose. I had never feared a battle, but condemning millions to death in an avoidable war would be a terrible thing to have on my conscience.
With border tensions as high as they'd gotten, something had to be done. I just wished it wasn't this. Or that someone else could carry out the mission in my place.
I growled through my fangs. There was no helping it, this mission had to go to me. Someone my father could trust, and someone of high enough station that it wouldn't be an insult or an invitation to war. At least this showed that he trusted me enough to send me on what was, admittedly, a delicate matter. Just not one suited to a warrior such as myself.
Admittedly, I had brought this on myself. My father's words were clear — this was as much a punishment for my part in the border incidents as it was an honor. Sighing, I turned myself to the work of activating the ship's systems.
My ship came to life around me, the dangerous moment at the end of the jump where all systems were down passing. No enemies challenged me, no weapons targeted my ship. There was nothing hostile in this lifeless system, and the only thing my sensors could find was the ship I was dreading. The ship that belonged to my bride-to-be.
Orbiting a gas giant hung the Imperial Household Ship Shadow of a Forgotten Love, an overly-gaudy palace in space. I snarled at it in disgust as I set my course for it, sending my identification codes ahead. It wouldn't do to get shot now, just as I was arriving, though I half-hoped for an incident that would give me an excuse to pull away.
Not that I feared the Shadow. It was, technically, a warship, but the Silent Empire built for style and comfort rather than practical concerns. My Darkfang was easily capable of disengaging from a fight, though a vessel that size would be hard to kill on my own. But that wasn't the mission, I reminded myself again. I was here as a peace offering.
As I flew into the docking bay, I marveled at the size, expense, and useless frivolity of the ship I was approaching. For the same cost they could have had five more functional warships, but showing off the wealth of the Empire was a higher priority, it seemed. The docking platform was flanked by twin statues that looked down at my more practical assault ship as though they were judging it.
If the statues were judging me and my ship, I judged them right back — massive wastes of time and energy. I recognized the woman they were modeled on from my briefings. That was Imperial Princess Immorata, the ruler of this ship and the woman I was here to meet. I wondered at the vanity of someone who would have such a thing built. As though anyone coming in to visit wouldn't already know what she looked like.
This is the vain brat that I'm to take as my mate. Someone who'll have twin statues of herself, cast in gold, greet any visitor to her ship.
I ground my teeth at the thought. At least I wasn't going to have to spend much time here. Unfortunately, I would have to spend the rest of my life with her.
The Darkfang spoke with the Shadow's guidance computer and the forcefield opened before me, letting me in to land. Waiting on the deck were a half-dozen guards, in uniforms as fancy as the ship itself. Like the ship, they were dangerous despite the over-done decorations they wore. Rokja warriors, bulky and lizard-like hirelings of the imperial family, well-trained mercenaries. One of them would be more challenge than a human, perhaps, but I was confident they'd be no match for me. I checked my sword as I made my way through the Darkfang to the exit ramp at the rear, passing through the living area.
For the first time I wondered how a human princess might see it. The space was large enough, surely — the Darkfang was an assault ship, capable of transporting thirty warriors into a boarding action. But it wasn't built with comfort in mind, not even for my species. For the dainty, delicate humans, it might not be very suitable. It certainly wouldn't be what Princess Immorata was used to. I couldn't help smiling at the thought.
Lowering the entry ramp, I stepped out onto the deck of the human ship. All around me, more statues of the princess watched. I managed to resist the urge to snarl at them. Instead I focused my gaze and my anger on the approaching dignitary. She was human, wearing a black uniform and a sneer that made it clear she didn't like my presence aboard any more than I did.
"Welcome, illustrious prince, to the Shadow of a Forgotten Love," she said, her voice smooth and cold as ice. "I am Proctor Heriam. If you will come with me, a chamber has been prepared for you. You will doubtless be tired after your trip, and in need of a place to rest."
There was no hint of a question in her voice.
"There's no need," I told her, prickling at the suggestion that my ship wasn't comfortable. It might not be a decadent den of luxury, but I was well-rested and ready. "I am prepared to depart as soon as Princess Immorata is aboard."
That was rude, and I knew it. But I wasn't in the mood for the human's idea of comfort, and I just wanted to get on with my mission. Heriam ignored the insult and smiled, an expression so cold it could have frozen carbon dioxide. I felt a burst of kinship with her at that — she was clearly just as unhappy with the arrangements as I was.
Around us the Rokja soldiers tensed, and I felt my claws extend as my body readied itself for a fight. Six of them would be dangerous, and I welcomed that. Better a fight to the death than an hour of politics. The Rokja might be pawns of the humans, but their leathery hides were hard to pierce, and their sharp teeth were dangerous even to an Acheran warrior like me.
But Heriam gestured sharply and they stepped back.
"My mos
t humble regrets, Prince Xendar," she said, sounding entirely unapologetic. "Her Highness is not yet ready to travel. If you do not want our hospitality, however, you are welcome to wait aboard your vessel. She will be with you as soon as is possible."
Is my bride trying to get out of this too? I wondered. If so it will be the only thing that we have in common.
There was no purpose served by being rude, though. Not when I was on a diplomatic mission. I reminded myself again of the stakes and my father's orders, and nodded. "Imperial hospitality is famous throughout the galaxy. I will gladly see some of it before I depart with Princess Immorata."
Heriam's smile seemed slightly more sincere at that, and her bow held perhaps the tiniest amount of respect. Perhaps we had something of an understanding. Or perhaps I was reading too much into it.
Behind me the Darkfang sealed up as I followed the proctor into the Shadow of a Forgotten Love.
The inside of the ship was as ridiculously over decorated as the outside, though at least everything was crafted with great skill. The Silent Empire's royalty might have more wealth than they knew what to do with, but they didn't waste it on buying less than the best, and that showed. Scarcely an inch of the walls wasn't engraved or covered in art, but whoever had designed the place knew their business and somehow had managed to get it to all hang together. It was, I had to admit, impressive. And it did serve to intimidate, in its own way. Anyone who could afford this could afford a lot of warships, should it come to that.
The art all had one subject, the Imperial Princess Immorata. Her face was everywhere, and the only other that appeared was the Silent Empress herself, the titular ruler of the Empire in her frozen stasis-coffin. She'd been frozen for centuries, and a good thing too. If she woke and united the factions of her court, there was little that could stand in her way.
I shook off that maudlin thought. More likely she'd never emerge from stasis, or she'd die like anyone else. But the shadow her descendants cast over the galaxy was huge, and it was difficult not to think of her as a supernatural threat. At least where she was, her Empire was torn between the factions of her courtiers and the princes and princesses that spoke in the Empress's name.
There was little sign of the crew as I followed Heriam through the ship, and those I did see stayed well back. A few looked fascinated, others looked afraid — apparently, we Acherans had a fearsome reputation here. Good.
"If my lord Xendar would care to wait in here, I will inform you as soon as Her Highness is ready to meet with you," the proctor said, opening a door and gesturing for me to enter. Two guards stood to attention outside it, humans this time. Their powered armor made them threats, but if they'd been intended to harm me it would have been Rokja warriors instead. This was an honor guard, nothing more.
"I hope it won't be long," I growled, and then sighed and tried to make that diplomatic. "I am anxious to meet my bride, and to show her to her new home."
The sharp look Heriam gave me held a hint of amusement and she nodded silently, withdrawing before I could make a further blunder and leaving me to look at the chambers they'd set aside for me.
It was more garden than room, plants from a dozen planets mingling in an exquisitely cultivated space around furnishings built to an Acheran's size. The room blazed with the heat of my homeworld, and the lights were tuned to the red of Achera's sun. The walls were clad in stone the color of the royal palace. The chairs even had space for my tail.
The room was like a courtyard at my father's court. The humans had spared no expense in getting this place ready for me, and I would only be here a short while.
They had a subtle way of intimidating their foes, I thought, but it was effective. The sheer cost and work at providing me this place at such short notice displayed a wealth and power that might make them formidable foes.
I grinned at that, baring my teeth for the inevitable spy cameras to see. If it came to a war, the Empire had the strength to be formidable. But I was Acheran, and a warrior prince at that. I knew my people would give the humans a fight such as they'd never seen, and for all their shiny technology I doubted they had the stomach for that war. We would win if it came to it.
Doubtless the imperial admirals felt as sure of victory as I did, and finding out who was right would cost more innocent lives than either the imperial court or my father were willing to sacrifice. That was why I was here, after all, and why Immorata was to come with me. With the two royal houses bound by our mating, war would be impossible or at least a lot harder to start.
I'd rather have given my life in battle, but this was a worthy sacrifice nonetheless. I would just have to hope that my new bride wasn't quite as hopelessly vain and arrogant as her ship suggested.
3
Hope
Floating along behind Rofain was a strange and humiliating experience. The bands around my arms and legs had simply lifted and carried me despite my protests that I could walk just fine. On the plus side, at least I was away from Keshiir and his murderous crew of slavers.
That I was with the man who'd bought me wasn't a great improvement, but I had to hope it was something. At least he seemed to think I had more value uninjured than with my face carved open. And he was human, or at least looked human. Maybe that counted for something.
"What's happening?" I demanded for the third time as Rofain strode hurriedly towards an exit. The view as we exited drove all questions from my mind for a moment.
I'm in space. It was the only thought I could form for a second. Hanging above me in the sky was a vast planet, filling half my view. Stars shone bright beyond it, and there was no sign of anything between me and the emptiness of space. The view was awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time and I could feel the panic rising in me, my heart racing, my breaths coming fast.
If I'd been free, I'd have ducked back inside to hide from the view. But carried by the cuffs, I couldn't stop.
Rofain didn't seem in the least bit phased by the view, or by my panic. He didn't even look back when I whimpered in fear, just kept walking quickly. I lowered my gaze from the sky, trying to get a grip on myself. If I was going to get out of this — whatever this might turn out to be — I needed to know where I was.
We were crossing an open deck on what had to be a spaceship of some kind. There were other small craft parked on it, so this had to be a landing field, like the top of an aircraft carrier or something. I didn't really know what to make of it, but that was the best comparison my mind had. No aircraft carrier would be so opulent, though.
The decking we crossed was mirror-bright gold, and beautiful statues lined the edge of the field. Most were abstract, but two drew my attention. Huge, intricate golden statues of a woman looked down on the landing field and smiled as though to welcome visitors. There was something about the woman's face that was familiar. Whoever she was, I couldn't quite recognize her in this setting.
Before I could think too much of it, we'd reached the edge of the field and a door slid open ahead of Rofain. Once inside, the sense of scale was less oppressive. The corridor was still huge and imposing, but it lacked the endless emptiness of space above or the impractical decadence of the gilded landing field.
Rofain ignored my questions and I gave up on asking them, staying silent until he brought me to a small room. Small by the standards of this ridiculous place, anyway. It was still twice the size of my apartment, furnished with chairs that looked like they'd cost as much as I made in a year. Just looking at one made me want to sink into it and relax. Beautiful pictures hung on the walls, mostly showing a single face. The same uncannily familiar face that the statues above had, I thought. Someone was pretty obsessed with her, whoever she was.
"There. Now we can talk." Rofain touched a holographic control and the cuffs lowered me to the ground. Tentatively I tried to raise my hand and found that I could move freely. For the moment, anyway: I didn't doubt that if I tried anything he didn't like, Rofain would hang me in the air again.
But I wasn't interested
in trying to run anyway. Where would I go? At best I'd be able to get back to Keshiir's ship, and that didn't seem like an improvement. Instead, I dropped into the nearest chair and blinked in surprise. It felt almost disturbingly good, as though the soft leather was shaped to my body perfectly. I could feel the tension drain out of me as I sank back into it, and as I lay back the chair began to massage me. God that was good.
At least one part of this experience wasn't unpleasant, even if it was unsettling. But I couldn't let that distract me from finding out why I was here — I doubted Rofain had bought me so that I could have a pleasant massage.
"What the hell is going on?" I demanded from Rofain as he sank into a chair across from me. Once I'd started the questions wouldn't stop pouring out. "Where am I? Who are you? What do you want?"
Rofain smiled a tight, unhappy smile. "Yes, yes. You're frightened, you're confused, and you have questions. I will answer some of them, but I'm afraid that we don't have much time. First: you are aboard the Imperial Household Ship Shadow of a Forgotten Love, the personal vessel of Imperial Princess Immorata. Second: I am her Highness's personal assistant and confidant. Third: you are here to assist in a delicate matter of diplomacy."
I laughed. I couldn't help myself. The idea that I could help with diplomacy was just too funny, especially since Rofain looked entirely serious about it. The wounded look in his eyes just made it funnier, though it faded into impatience as I struggled to get my giggles under control.
"Sorry," I said, waving a hand in a vaguely apologetic gesture. "I've been kidnapped, abducted by aliens, for... diplomacy?"
"Yes." His voice was hard now. "It should only take a little while. Then you can return to your horrible little mudball and whatever life you left behind with pay enough to take care of you for the rest of your life."
