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Banquet Hall
Arvor Castel
Planet Tirano
I stared at the barrel-vaulted ceiling of the banquet hall and listened to the festive songs the KaNoa musicians played on their four-string guitars, wooden panpipes, and bombo drum. In accordance with Tiranoan tradition, the circular head table where the Tiranoan and Tamok leaders would sit was placed on the dais between two rectangular tables: one on the right for the Tiranoan guests and one on the left for the Tamok guests. Tradition also dictated that the Tiranoans arrive first, followed by the Tamok guests. I hoped the Tamok would arrive soon. With their typical arrogance, they'd kept everyone waiting for fifteen centi.
I walked to place at the head table where Sini and I would sit, and for at least the fifth time in five centi, I wrapped my hand around the bottle of wine to see if it remained at the proper temperature. After I left Sini's palestra, I'd selected a special wine to accompany my betrothal toast: the spicy varietal called zinfandel derived from the rootstock and cuttings Mom had brought back from Earth. Mom allocated three rows of her Rwohn vineyard as mine to tend. Two loops ago I'd harvested enough crop to vinify two barrels for personal use. Earlier this evening in an attempt to establish a cordial relationship with Fiotr, I had a Vhirko deliver one bottle to Fiotr as a gift. More bottles would be served with the betrothal toast.
"You fidget just like your father. Always worrying that something will happen to spoil the zinfandel," Mom said from behind me. "But don't worry. Your father would love your zinfandel even if it's not the perfect temperature."
I turned and smiled at Mom. She looked exquisite with her ivory skin and long, glossy black hair set off by her single-shouldered, scarlet trumpet dress. No wonder my father had fallen in love with her.
"This zinfandel may be the only thing that helps Sini make it through tonight." I glanced at the circular table on the dais where Zhun'Mar and Mirae sat. "I'm afraid though it won't help Mirae's mood. She's refused to speak since she arrived. Not even the music has softened her expression. She just sits there with that stone-faced Vhirko glare."
"You don't have to be a Sibyl to divine that her mood's as black as the black gown she's wearing," Mom responded. "I hope at some point she can forgive Zhun'Mar."
I followed Mom's eyes as they fixed on Admiral Kiptani sitting on Mirae's left. Kiptani sat stiffly in his dress whites. "I don't know which is making Admiral Kiptani more uncomfortable," she said. "Sitting next to Mirae's black cloud or the unwanted prospect of spending an evening with the Tamok."
I flicked my head at Count Rohfek who sat to the right of Zhun'Mar. Rohfek popped a small piece of fried meat in his mouth and chewed in tiny bites. I chuckled. "The thought of spending a night with the Tamok must be bothering Lord Chancellor Rohfek too. The more nervous he is the more he eats, and that's at least the tenth qhal gizzard he's eaten." Rohfek licked the grease off his fat fingers and reached for another gizzard.
Lydmila stood two steps behind Zhun'Mar, the traditional post of the Commandant of the Vhirko Brigade during a state ceremony. She too looked uncomfortable at the prospect of spending an evening with the Tamok. She had been Tarnlot's personal Vhirko guard during Colonel Nhoth's insurrection. She couldn't look forward to enduring the presence of the families of Tarnlot's murderers. But no matter how distasteful, as a Vhirko she would honor her duty to insure that no harm came to the Tamok while they were under the flag of parley.
The mood of the head table must have been contagious because the musicians began playing a somber song about a maiden whose lover died fighting the Radani at the Battle of Phargon. "Unless you and Vision figured a way out of this mess, this may be the most strained betrothal banquet in the history of Tirano. Not one person at our table can disguise their dislike at being here."
"Mirae and I had a long discussion after the Council meeting about matters we should have faced long ago," she said. "We agreed she should meet with Fiotr. It may have been difficult for her, but I'm sure he will heed what she told him and decline to proceed with the betrothal."
Mom looked toward Mirae and grimaced. "If not, I fear the result of what Mirae will feel compelled to do tonight. It might not be possible to stop the harm that will result."
"Don't be so dramatic, Mother. What harm could Mirae possibly inflict? Commandant Lydmila's standing at her back and two squads of Vhirko will be between her and the Tamok."
"For the well-being of all, pray to Ghaeah that we never have to find out."
I wondered what Mom meant. Did she really think Mirae would single-handedly attack the Tamok? Before I could ask, Lydmila leaned and whispered into Zhun'Mar's ear. Zhun'Mar stood and pulled on the sleeve of his ivory gown with the Golden Vines embroidered on the left shoulder. "Commandant Lydmila has informed me that Overlady Petrella will arrive momentarily. Please take your assigned seats."
"Open the door on my command," Lydmila's alto voice barked. The Vhirko squads on each side of her snapped to attention and placed their hands on the laser knives on each side of their belts. The guard on the flank of each squad marched across the marble floor and stood next to the wooden doors. Before they were ordered to open the doors, the doors flew open and a squad of muscled, gray-clad, black-booted Tamok warriors burst into the hall. Each held a drawn laser broadsword in his hands. A second squad with even larger and more muscled bodies entered, followed by Petrella in a tight sapphire gown with her star stone pendant hanging above her cleavage. Her long brunette hair bounced on her bare shoulders as she strode into the hall. She halted in front of the dais and the second squad formed a protective circle around her.
I wondered why the dramatic entrance and then noticed that Petrella carried an uncorked bottle of wine. I squinted at the bottle's insignia. It was a bottle of my zinfandel. How had Petrella obtained a bottle of my wine?
"What is the meaning of this affront?" Lydmila shouted. She nodded to the Vhirko squad on her right, then the squad on her left. The squads dashed to the front of the dais and formed a double line between the head table and the Tamok. The Vhirko drew their laser knives.
"Tamok sheath weapons," Lydmila commanded. "Does Tamok knowingly violate the flag of parley and wish to feel the wrath of the Vhirko?"
Petrella's hawk-like eyes slowly pierced every Tiranoan face in the room, including the musicians who cowered along the wall. She ended with me. My heart beat faster as her brown eyes lingered on me. "Do not speak to me of the flag of parley, Vhirko," she said in a harsh voice. "The duplicity of Tirano is well known. The whole galaxy knows the story of how Mirae and the father of the one called Kuinsi tricked the great Mhorg and my husband to their deaths on Earth. How they stole the treasure trove of vines that Bhradvin and Mhorg were transporting to Tamok. How Zhun'Mar used that wealth to seed the Encircling Belts.
"Nonetheless, we in good faith sold our sihlcon to you. Now we learn the results of our good faith."
Petrella lifted the bottle for all to see. "Tiranoan duplicity has murdered Fiotr. This bottle of poison wine was found in his chambers. The last to see him before he was found dead . . ." She paused and examined every face at the head table, lingering again on me.
Convinced that she would accuse me, my heart almost burst out of my chest. She raised her arm and pointed her index finger. "Mirae."
All eyes turned to Mirae. Her expression did not change. She shook her head once, slowly, her cobalt-blue eyes unblinking.
Petrella's eyes remained fixed on Mirae. "My son Loik went to Fiotr's chamber to accompany him here. When Loik entered, he found Fiotr collapsed and dying on the floor. Two glasses were on the table. One empty, one full." She raised the bottle of wine over her head. "The biotox in it corresponds to that my physician found present in Fiotr."
Petrella lowered the bottle, turned to Zhun'Mar. "Can there be any doubt? All know of Mirae's opposition to the marriage. She poisoned this bottle and then poured two glasses. Fiotr dr
ank his. She did not."
Zhun'Mar rose from his chair, raised his tall frame to its full height. He looked at each of us at the head table. I sensed reassuring certainty in his expression. Zhun'Mar then directed his gaze at Petrella and set his jaw. "We have no doubt," his deep voice boomed. He stared unblinking at Petrella.
No one spoke for what seemed like several centi. Only the heavy breathing of the Tamok warriors could be heard in the hall. Zhun'Mar broke the silence. "Mirae is Vhirko. If she wished to kill Fiotr, she would not have used a coward's method." He tilted his head toward Mirae, then back to Petrella. "She would have used her bare hands."
Zhun'Mar nodded at Lydmila. "Order your Vhirko to put down their weapons."
Lydmila clenched her fists at her side, hatred of the Tamok etched on her face. For a moment I thought she might not obey. I tightened my grip on my pendant. Its warmth indicated I'd made contact with Vision and began transmitting a record of what was happening in the Banquet Hall.
"Follow the command of your King," Lydmila ordered in a unenthusiastic monotone. In unison, the Vhirko squads replaced their knives in their belts, but each Vhirko kept a hand on the handle of each of her knives. The Tamok warriors did not move.
"Now," Zhun'Mar said, his voice lowered to a conciliatory tone, "will you tell your warriors to sheath their weapons? Before blood is shed."
Petrella formed a mocking grin and shook her head. "Do I look like a fool? Their weapons will be sheathed only when we have reached the safety of Tamok. We expect the Encircling Belts' masers to be deactivated so we may pass through safely. Any attempt to hinder our departure with the body of Fiotr will be dealt with in kind. If blood is to be shed, it will not be Tamok blood."
She turned to Count Rohfek. "Lord Chancellor," a small smile creased her face. "Please advise your King of the requirements of the Vharsa Protocols. Tirano has ten spins to deliver the murderer Mirae and any accomplices to Tamok for retribution or face the consequences."
She returned her gaze to Zhun'Mar and set the bottle of wine on the table that had been reserved for the Tamok. "I leave this. You may drink the rest if you wish." She whirled and strode out of the hall. A squad of Tamok warriors encircled her.
After she had passed through the doorway, the other squad of warriors backpedaled out of the hall before turning and marching down the hallway. The pounding of their heavy black boots on the marble floor resounded throughout the Castel.
Pandemonium broke out in the banquet hall. Everyone on the dais, except Mirae, spoke at the same time. Even though I was relieved that the confrontation had ended without bloodshed, my heart continued to pound against his chest. I released my pendant and leaned on a chair. My wine, poisoned, how? I crossed the room and picked up the bottle. I carefully lifted it to my nose, sniffed its contents. That can't be right. My nose must be affected by all the excitement. I sniffed again. Same result. This wasn't the wine I'd sent to Fiotr.
Outliers of Tirano Page 2
