T-47 Book II (Saxon Saga 6)

by Frederick Gerty

  The human hosts left them alone for over an hour, far longer than planned, with more refreshments. V’ming checked with Lori, and confirmed that they might depart soon, to Angara’s distress. But he agreed, and the royal parties journeyed slowly down to the landing bay, and on to the lighter, chatting together about the many features of the starship as they passed.

  Princess Tarija took Lori aside, and asked, “Will you not visit again with us, and stay for longer than a few hours? I know of your need to rest, in the dark, and can assist in arranging suitable rooms. We would be honored, both families. They will make a formal request tomorrow, when conveying their thanks for the honor of this visit today.”

  Lori took a breath, the schedule shot to pieces anyway, and said, “Why not? If invited, I will be pleased to visit your home for a time. But please, pass the word–I cannot do so for every province in the world. Yours will be the only one.”

  Tarija took her hand, and bowed to her, and said, “I will do so. Farewell, Sky Lady.” She looked at Lori for a long moment, turned and hurried into the lighter, the last to go, waving back at her, and the doors closed.

  Lori watched it lift and slowly move along, the outer doors open, and it flew off into near-space.

  Chapter 28 - Overnight at Natuna Palace

  “So this is for an overnight?” Hunter said, holding up the elaborate, printed paper invitation, the lettering in gold, the page trimmed in velvet-like material, the edges finely frayed.

  “Yeah,” Lori said, looking up at him.

  “Thought you said you didn’t want to spend a night on the planet, would come back here every time.”

  “Yeah, I did.”

  “So this, ball, or whatever?” Hunter said, waving the invitation at her.

  “It goes on for hours and hours, I’m told,” Morales said. “For us, it’d be like an all nighter, not unheard of for such official royal events, though their highnesses rarely stay that long, and their departure usually ends the festivities. Not so here. Not only do the king and queen stay up all night–or should I say, dim–everyone else is expected to remain, too, until the official morning meal concludes the ball.”

  “Man, that’d be one hell of a long night for us,” Hunter said.

  “Too long. For me, for Eric,” Lori said.

  “Send regrets?” Hunter said.

  “The invitation is from the princess?”

  “Yes, the ball is in her honor, and,” Morales tilted his head toward her, “yours, as well, I gather.” He said no more.

  “So we’re expected to attend?” Hunter said.

  Lori sighed. “Appears that way. I really like Princess Tarija. And her in-law parents. And the kits. All of them, actually,” she said, waving a hand. She looked away, out the porthole, down to Magadana, passing below, though clouds obscured everything in the restricted view. Turning to the major, she said, “OK, do this for me please. Explain that we–or I at least–cannot attend the full event, must stop at, say midnight, our time, to rest and attend to my baby. I can remain, and participate in the morning meal, if that is desired, only if some accommodations are made for me, and my party–namely a separate area, or room, that can be darkened–now that will freak them out–so we can sleep. And be quiet, away from the noise. Princess Tarija knows of our need for sleep, do others?”

  “Yes, but they find it difficult to understand,” Morales said.

  “So you will stay down there then?” Hunter asked.

  “If they can provide something suitable, I guess...”

  “Oh, they will, all right,” he said.

  “Well, we’ll see. Major, give them a call on my behalf–our behalf, discuss security, also, see what can be arranged. You must be there, too. When’s this ball?”

  “Three days, their time, a week ours.”

  “Plenty of time then.”

  “We’re gonna be here for a while,” Hunter said, smiling. But Lori didn’t smile back.

  The upcoming ball dominated the news from Cerskogo, and trickled out and into all the nearby provinces, and many further away. When the presence of the Sky Lady was announced, requests avalanched into the kingdom, and the royal secretary became overwhelmed with decisions on protocol, loyalty, alliances, and family obligations. Lori listened to the princess as she described the incredible rush for invitations, from people from the two principal provinces and many others, and the numbers involved, amazed once again at her popularity. Or maybe just curiosity on the part of the natives.

  The ball would be held in Natuna Palace, a warm, southern area of the Cerskogo Kingdom, now well into spring, everything green and lush already, winter long past. The imposing building, grand in every sense, held the huge ballroom, and associated salons, meeting rooms, kitchens and such, necessary for the gathering. Best of all, according to the princess, a large enclosed pool on the eastern end included an adjacent “drying room,” she called it, with thin, tall windows, that could be easily blocked to restrict light, and which would be turned over to the humans, and their associates, for as long as they wished. Morales inspected it, found it suitable, room for their own mess area, security details, though few would be needed, he said, and a large bathroom between them and the pool.

  “You’ll like that pool, Lori,” he said. “Really big, warm, lots of flowers and greenery, even small trees growing here and there.”

  “Like palm trees, our tropics?” Tari asked.

  “No, not at all. So different, you’ll know you’re in a really freaky foreign place,” Morales said with a laugh. “But quite lovely, and nice.”

  “What’s the protocol–we supposed to bring gifts, or anything?” Hunter asked.

  “Princess Tarija said we are the guests of honor, we are to bring nothing but ourselves, though I gather a sampling of our wine or liquor would be much appreciated...”

  Hunter nodded, waved a hand, saying, “Please see to it.”

  “And,” Morales added, “You are to be sure to wear your crown, the one they gave you, Lori.”

  “Oh, gads,” she said.

  “Yes, you must,” Tari said. “You are a person of high importance, and honor, and you must look the part.”

  “And something of blue, no doubt?”

  “The Kobi are working on a gown now,” Tari said. “They tell me it will be ready in time.”

  “OK, let’s all be ready for the ball. Might even be fun, actually.”

  The ball would start in what would be late afternoon on the planet, maybe 4 p.m. Earth time. But daylight would linger for six hours more, then two or so hours of bright dimness, nearly four more of a glowing dim before and after mid-night, like a lingering summer twilight on Earth, two hours of returning brightness and sunrise four hours after that, a dim of 18 hours total. A long night for humans, and they no doubt would be up and about long before the ball began. In fact, the princess invited Lori and her group to meet them for lunch, a tour of the grounds, a swim, whatever she wanted. She accepted, and they arrived in a half a dozen air cars, and Morales’ war-lighter, well ahead of lunch.

  The grounds proved lovely, and they strolled through gardens filled with a kaleidoscopic array of flowers and blooming shrubs, avenues of tall trees, all strange and wonderful, and expansive lawns. Hunter heard of a shooting range, and they all visited there, everyone taking turns shooting the chemical firearms still in use in the province, Lori, the princess and some of her relatives and guests, enjoying the sound and scent and feel of powder and noise. The guns, shotguns they’d be called on Earth, and build for Damai anatomy, too short, really, for human arms, but Lori and her party managed to hold and shoot them. A variety of shatter-targets, aerial and ground, created amusement, and amazement, when Lori hit every one with the dozen or so shots she took. Morales and Hunter proved equally skilled, as did many of the native party. Then off for coffee and tea and sweet cakes beneath an expansive pavilion overlooking the lake. Small sailboats darted here and there on the water, piloted by the kits Lori was told, all in her honor.

&n
bsp; As the time of the ball approached, air cars began to appear in the sky, some from other provinces, and the king’s, rushing in and out ferrying princes and potentates from the distant reaches of his kingdom, while may others arrived via land vehicles, some ferried in from a nearby airport.

  Lori took her leave and inspected her quarters, and found them acceptable, really, luxurious.

  The room, fairly large, actually, hardly small, was paneled in a walnut colored grained wood. Thick carpets covered the floor. Various paintings of ancient royalty hung on the walls. Soft cushions clumped in clusters here and there, and hugged the walls. Servants stood by in two alcoves, ready to provide anything requested. To dispel the later dimness in the room, gilded lamps sat on low tables, or behind the cushions, with a massive chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. A servant demonstrated the drapes, deep blue and installed just for the occasion, sliding them across the windows, to shut out the bright sunlight.

  “But for the lights inside, we would be blind in such dimness,” she said.

  “We wouldn’t,” Hunter said, nodding in approval.

  Several small tents were set up inside on the floor, for additional privacy, for Lori and the few bigboys, Pokoniry, Kobi, and illi-illi who would also attend the event. Two raised rails provided roosts for the Anawoka translators and delegates invited to the affair. The UN reps were there, too, smiling and waving to Lori from across the room. A table toward the back would serve as a buffet, and a half dozen round tables nearby, some with human chairs, would provide a dining area, should that be needed. Lori and Hunter relaxed as more of her delegation arrived, she greeted them all, talking and mingling, the gathering a friendly one, everyone comparing successes and trading progress around the globe.

  As the scheduled time approached, the servants’ nervousness grew, Morales had already impressed on Lori the importance of arriving exactly on time, so she could make her grand entrance, in proper order.

  “Last, I gather?”

  “Well, last of the local royalty. But before any of the other guests, and they are numerous, they’ll take hours to announce them all.”

  “We have to stand by, and listen?”

  “No, you may proceed to the main room, and mingle with the king and everyone else,” Tari said, reviewing a schedule on her hand-held. “Your only other official function is a response to the toast in your honor, once the meal begins.”

  “You have that on the disk?”

  “Yes, ready and waiting,” she said, holding it up.

  “Guess we should get ready. You check out the bathroom yet?”

  “Yeah, it’s magnificent.”

  Indeed, a warm, spacious room with marble like floor and walls opened via a short hallway, a circular bank of showers to the left, which included a ledge where warm water poured in a thick cascade, and an adjacent enclosed toilet area, more holes in the floor, but each on a small raised, stone platform of deep gray, then another circular bank of sinks and mirrors, and everywhere flowers and greenery, growing in lushness. And servants.

  “Man, there must be dozen of them in there, what on earth for?” Hunter asked on his return. Lori shrugged. “Need any help with that gown?”

  “Tari will. After I take a shower. I’m bringing Eric in with me.”

  “Me too, might as well give the servants a full show.”

  They found the ledge shower incredible, the water forceful once turned on with a long lever, but gentle enough to easily stand in, the stream landing on their chests, they so much taller than the natives for whom it was designed. Eric laughed and splashed in the broad stream, running in and out of it. As soon as they stepped away, servants rushed to them, drying them with soft scrapers, then towels, rubbing them down vigorously. Lori watched to make sure Tari did the baby. She noticed the bigboys, Pokoniry, illi-illi, and Kobi, who had followed her into the shower, enjoyed the attention, they stood with heads raised, while their fur was dried and fluffed. Even the illi-illi received the same attention, though only with soft cloths, while they raised each of their six appendages to be dried.

  Back in the main salon, Tari helped Lori dress. Her gown would be an eye-pleaser on Earth, maybe here. Off the shoulders, the bodice emphasized her ample, lactating bosom, swept tightly in at her waist, and flared out again at her hips, to cascade in a series of wavy ripples nearly to the floor. A lacy, paler wrap could be flipped over her shoulders, or let lower, behind her back and onto her arms. Around her throat, she wore one of the diamond necklaces given to her by V’ming. And on her head, Tari placed the tiara–she refused to call it a crown–presented to her by King Agara.

  Checking her watch, she said, “OK, five minutes, let’s go, and be there early.” Hunter, in a magnificent, glittery suit of his own, offered an arm, and together, he and Lori marched out, followed by most of the rest of her delegation, into the main hallway, and followed a servant to the side entrance to the anteroom of the ballroom. There, they stood and mingled a moment with other nobility, until an Anawoka announced their names, and Lori and Hunter slowly walked into the gathered assembly, to be welcomed warmly, first by the princess, standing there with her father, and then the king and queen. She and Hunter waited with them for a while, while others were announced, and shortly followed everyone into the main ballroom itself, into a glowing array of gold-gilded columns, walls, trusses, polished floors, gleaming chandeliers, and royalty and nobility from one end to the other.

  Hunter said, “I didn’t know V’ming would be here. So that’s what the booming was before.”

  “Yeah, nearly freaked Eagle One out, those cannon salutes, but Tarija was nearby, so I could reassure it of that honorary custom. Fortunately, it remembered from our first visit.”

  Morales, resplendent in full formal military dress, arrived at her side, and never left it. He stood silently watching everyone and everything, occasionally speaking into the small mike to the side of his face, checking with other expedition security team members scattered here and there. Lori relaxed, Hunter never far, either, and an Anawoka nearby to translate all the while as well. She stayed with a small clump of her people, including them in all the introductions of the many natives who approached, even getting the hesitant Damai to shake the offered claw of the illi-illi in her group.

  Soft music had been playing for a while, when the tempo picked up. Kayla and Rodrigo announced entertainment from the visitors, and traditional dances from each race began. Humans were last, doing a flamenco, which brought cheers from the viewing audience. Now the natives took over, dancing, acrobats, magicians, and others appearing in a dizzying array, one after another, too many and too fast to really appreciate, Lori said to Hunter, though everyone seemed to enjoy them. They sat, or reclined, really, on extra thick cushions, while drinks and snacks were served by slick and polished servants.

  Eventually, low tables appeared, and Lori was guided to one near the king and queen, the princess, King V’ming, and the kits. Again, a short welcome speech, a few introductions, then several formal toasts–the first from the king to the princess, the second from her to the king and queen. Another followed for King V’ming, to great cheering. Then all four stood and faced Lori, and jointly offered one to her, and Hunter, and the visitors from the stars. She stood, and read her response from the viewscreen Tari held, unobtrusively, at her feet. She thanked all for the warm welcomes, praised the nobility, honor, and friendliness of the people of the kingdoms here represented, and encouraged hospitality and trade between the worlds.

  Thunderous applause erupted as she lifted her glass, how would anyone be able to drink to that? The noise went on, and faded, as people held glasses high, and called her name, many using the English version, having heard it, or learned it, on TV.

  The assembly settled down, and a luxurious meal began to appear, hoards of servants rushing in and out, overseers watching everything, Morales checking on things as they arrived at her table, while more music played, and the kits ran about nearby. The meal concluded with a huge ca
ke, illuminated with some kind of sparklers, wheeled into the room, and down the open center, to a point in front of the queen, who cut the first piece, and served it to the princess. She did the same for King V’ming.

  “See what you started, not so long ago,” Hunter whispered to her, leaning close.

  “Yes, maybe the best thing we’ve done here on this planet,” Lori said, smiling.

  Now dancing began again, the king and queen first, followed by V’ming dancing slowly with his daughter. After that an a number of slick males began vying to dance with the princess, who beckoned to Lori to join them. She and Hunter did, dancing arm in arm, watched closely by everyone else, as others joined in the dancing in the center of the room. Exuberant servants demonstrated several group dances, so everyone could join, aliens and natives, a swirl of color, shape and forms on the ballroom floor.

  The evening went on, small groups visiting with Lori and Hunter and her party, she mingling with others from time to time when the princess brought her to one group or another, more for formal introductions than anything else, though many a person inquired about air cars, or other off world devices. Lori and Hunter watched V’ming and Angara in discussion from time to time, seeming to get along well. They smiled at that.

  More entertainers appeared, too, at odd times, by Lori’s reckoning, now as the dim progressed, somewhat of a bawdy nature, too. They looked at the royalty, and they seemed to enjoy the drama and comedy as much as anyone there,

  Her breasts starting to ache, Lori checked her watch–she’d been here nearly eight hours, the time had flown by, and weariness settled in. She nodded to Morales, and he nodded back, spoke into his mike, and they began the slow process of departure. They took their leave of the princess and the royal family, a few others, and eased out a side door, into a hallway where various natives nodded and waved as they passed. The illi-illi were long gone, the Kobi not too far behind them. The bigboys and Pokoniry would stay the night, no doubt, enjoying every moment. Some of the humans, too, Lori hoped none would get drunk and vomit or act stupid, but who knew?