Chapter 6
Xeracried, moped and had a nap. Afterward she felt good enough to sit upand scan the e-book. What she read made her cringe.
Sheshould have been addressing Ryven as “my lord,” or “commander”at the very least, though she did not recall ever using his name ortitle to his face. The next time she saw him she would have toacknowledge his rank. Rank was very important to his people. A manmight not be looked down on if he didn’t have it, but he’d betteracknowledge those who did. Toosun also ranked as a lord.
Theirsociety was governed by twelve lord governors, each of whom ruled anequal portion of their home planet, Rsik. While the title washereditary, any governor who was found unfit to rule could be castout, the title passed on their sons. Those who served in lesserpositions were elected by the voters in their precinct.
Therewas a list of some of the Scorpio society’s laws, and she saw thattheir code of conduct basically mirrored her own, but they had veryharsh laws for offenders. It was a very bad idea to commit a crimeagainst them; they didn’t take it well.
Therewas some entertainment media in the e-book, and she watched a fewshows to get a feel for how men and women interacted. The women werevery respectful to the men, but not subservient. There was somehumor, but always a line that wasn’t crossed. Heroes treated womenwell, sometimes even tenderly. Villains often ended up dead.
Womenwere definitely not warriors, and they didn’t serve on warships inany capacity. Xera also saw with a wince that they tended to havelong, often elaborately coifed hair. That didn’t bode well for her;she’d never had long hair and didn’t want it. She hoped Ryvendidn’t plan on giving her extensions to please his father. Therobes she saw the women wearing would be challenging enough. Theywere colorful, feminine and looked somewhat oriental in design. Theretended to be a lot of feathered headdresses. On the bright side, manyof the long tunics had pants under them, and she could handle that.
Shedeclined Brirax’s invitation to escort her to dinner. She justwasn’t hungry enough to face a crowd. A little later he brought hera tray and set it silently on the bedside table. She knew he waitedjust outside the door, probably taking on the nightshift. Shewondered if he and Delfane would remain her bodyguards for long, orif she’d be assigned new ones on the planet. Which reminded her:she’d been so busy that she’d forgotten to look up anything aboutany planets to which they could be going. Of course, they might beheading for a moon or even a space station.
Suddenlyshe couldn’t sit still one more moment. She could study when shehad to, but right now she needed to move. It had been days since shecould do more than hobble, and she was in the mood to sweat. It wouldbe good for her to work off some of her anxieties, and she could doit better in a bigger space.
Shewent to the door and opened it. Brirax looked at her, alert.
“Isthere somewhere I could go to exercise? I’ve been inactive for along while, and it would be nice to do something.”
Hestudied her then spoke into his headset. He was quiet for a moment,probably listening, then nodded. “Follow me.”
Theywent down two decks and walked what seemed like half a mile throughcorridors until they reached a large gym. There was a lot ofunfamiliar equipment and only a few men using it. Brirax led her to atreadmill and showed her how to turn it on. Xera started out at abrisk walk, careful not to re-injure her foot.
“Whattime are we docking tomorrow; early or late?” she asked.
“Early,”he answered. He still looked unusually alert, as if she might trysomething desperate.
Shecouldn’t imagine what she could do in a ship full of aliens in themiddle of nowhere, so she ignored it. Maybe he had a betterimagination than she did. “Are we going to a planet or a moon?”
“Aplanet.”
“Whatis it called?” she asked, though she already knew. It would get himtalking.
“Rsik.”
Boy,he’s talkative, she thought wryly as her machine inclined. “Is itwinter or summer there?”
“Itis winter where we are going.”
Shesighed. She hated winter. “Are they long, the winters?”
“Theylast three months.”
“Iguess that’s not bad, then.” She could handle a little snow. “Dothe summers get hot?”
“Attimes.”
“Arewomen allowed to own property? Do they live alone sometimes?”
Helooked at her curiously. “Of course. It is more common for a singlewoman to live with her parents, though. It is more economical.”
“Isit very expensive to own a home or property?”
Heconsidered. “Why would a single woman wish to? It would be verylonely without family.”
“Forthe same reason a single man would live alone,” she said somewhattersely. “Sometimes family drives you crazy.”
Hedidn’t look convinced. “Many single men live with their parents.A household might contain three generations. Often the houses arejust built onto as the family grows.”
Shefrowned. “Is land scarce, then?”
“That’ssimply how it’s done.”
Shesaved her breath for a couple of miles, then finally slowed thetreadmill to a slow walk as her foot twinged. She was getting sweaty,so she reached for the top button of her uniform jacket, prepared toremove it.
“Don’tdo that here,” Brirax snapped, with a quick look around.
Shefrowned at him. “I’m hot.”
“It’snot seemly,” he said sternly. “Women do not remove clothing inpublic.”
“Ihave other layers underneath.”
“Youwill not do it.”
Shefrowned, knowing she’d have to figure this culture out quick. Itwas good that she’d encountered this now, though this prudishattitude rankled. On the bright side, Brirax was treating her like awoman of his culture, and that might be a sign of acceptance.
“Letme see if I understand. If I had left my room in my short-sleevedshirt, would that have been okay?”
“Yes.”
“Soit’s the undressing, not the showing of skin that’s the problem.”
“Youshould not show too much skin. It’s...not good.” He lookeduncomfortable with the subject.
Shesighed, prepared to sweat. “Can I roll up my sleeves, then?”
Hehesitated. “That might be permitted.” He still looked away as shedid it, though. That didn’t bode too well for bikini season. “I’mguessing men and women don’t swim together, then? What with skinbeing an issue and all.” She studied the workout area and headedfor an empty space at the side of the room.
“Swimmingis different.”
“Isee.” She dropped and counted out thirty push-ups in her head, thenrolled over and did v-splits. She alternated pushups with otherexercises until she’d done one hundred of them. Her foot wasthrobbing by the time she was done, just enough to make her quit. Nosense pushing it.
Briraxlooked faintly impressed. “I watched when you attacked yourcaptain. You trained for war, then? Our women do not.”
“Don’tyou allow them to defend themselves?” She didn’t want to answerany questions about her own martial training; she never knew when hisignorance might be to her advantage, because while she liked him, hewas still her keeper.
“Mosthave men to protect them.”
“Thereis not always a man around to do that. Sometimes, a man may not thinkit’s necessary to protect a woman from another man.” Ryven, forinstance. She had a feeling he could do quite a lot and get away withit.
Briraxwas silent, and she suddenly felt tired. “I’m done. Let’s goback.”
LordRyven himself came to fetch her in the morning. She was told they hadlanded at their destination.
“Goodmorning, Lieutenant Harris-d,” he said in her language.
“LordRyven,” she greeted him, noting the use of her rank, and the wayhis eyes warmed when she used his own title. It seemed they had bothbeen studying, for she had never taught him a morning salutation. TheScorpio never used time references in their greetings.
“Wehave landed on Rsik. It is cold out this morning. You will want toput this on.” He handed her a coat.
Shestudied the dull gray material. It was at least two sizes too big,and she wondered whom he’d borrowed it from. Was it his? Shenoticed he wasn’t wearing one. “Am I supposed to go to my room toput this on, or is putting on clothes different from taking themoff?”
Heactually grinned. “You may do whichever you like in my presence,but no one objects when a woman protects herself from the cold.”
Washe flirting? Confused, she shot him a suspicious look, but shecouldn’t tell. Alien humor was hard to fathom. She put on thejacket and wrapped it closed over her middle to accommodate some ofthe extra fabric. The sleeves swamped her hands, but she didn’tpush them back, knowing it would protect them from the chill.
Hesized her up, amusement still lurking in his manner. “Come. Let ushave you out and done with the cold before the coat swallows you. Wehave transportation waiting to take us to my father.”
Shewondered at his good mood. Was he just happy to be home, back withhis people and safe?
CaptainShiza and Toosun appeared, as well as a handful of others. She kepther eyes open as they walked, never knowing when observations mightserve her later. There wasn’t much to see along the route otherthan long hallways and a lift. In no time they were at the ramp. Ablast of cold air from outside made her shiver.
Xerawalked down the ramp and then froze in surprise. It was snowing, withbanks surrounding the landing area and gently mounded on rooftops.That wasn’t the surprise, though. The snow was pale lavender.
Ryvenhad stopped by her side. “What is it?”
“Thesnow is purple!” she blurted, unfamiliar with the word for theprecipitation’s exact hue.
Heexhaled in amusement and gave her a slight nudge in her back. “Takea closer look.”There were ranks of soldiers on each side, but itwas hard for Xera to care about that when she was busy looking atsnow swirling around her feet. She held out a hand and caught a fewflakes on her coat, but they quickly melted into nothing. “Weird,”she said under her breath. Weird but wonderful. She wondered if thesnow stained things when it melted. Maybe that’s why these peoplewore so much gray.
Thenagain, she was on a military base; or assumed she was. There were nocivilians to be seen on the tarmac, only buildings like fat siloswith decks and mushroom roofs. A transport was waiting for her partyat the tarmac edge, and she stooped to grab a handful of snow beforeshe climbed in. As it melted in her hand, a lavender cloud of gas wasreleased.
“Igive you a coat to ward off the chill and you choose to bring it withyou,” Ryven remarked, but he sounded amused.
Aglance at him confirmed it. “It melts clear! What is this cloudthat comes from it? It’s not contaminated, is it?” She droppedthe snow to the floor in sudden consternation.
Helaughed. “It won’t hurt you. The gas is a natural part of ourplanet and often colors our snow.”
“No,it won’t hurt you; unless you get lost in it,” Toosun added,after he finished chuckling. “Or it gets under your collar whenthrown at you.” He and Shiza grinned at each other, probablyrecalling childhood exploits. It was odd to think of these soldiersas carefree youths.
“Isit always this color?” Xera asked. A glance out the window of thetransport showed loads of freshly fallen snow, with more continuingto fall, making the world a lavender blur.
“Sometimesit’s pale blue or even white,” Ryven said. “I have seen it pinkonce or twice.”
Pinksnow. Xera shook her head and stared out the window.
Itwas only another moment before they pulled to a stop. They got out atthe entrance to a steel and glass building. She didn’t get a goodlook at the busy city around them before she was ushered inside.
Adelegation was waiting for them in the lobby. A man of middle yearsand middle height bowed to their group.
“Kenji,”Ryven acknowledged him. “How is my father?”
“Mylords. Lord Governor Atarus is eager to see you. He bids you to cometo him directly. He has refreshments waiting.”
Ryvennodded. They all walked to the side of the room and rode an elevatorto the top floor. As they stepped out, he told Kenji, “Toosun andShiza will go with you. I will be there shortly.”
“Ofcourse, my lord.”
Whilethe rest of them headed for the set of golden doors directly in frontof the elevator, Ryven took Xera two doors down. Three women waitedfor them inside. He nodded to them, then looked at Xera. “This isyour aide and two of her assistants. They will help you to make afavorable impression on my father. Listen well and do whatever theytell you. You have one hour.”
Xerawatched the door close behind him, then turned and looked at thefemales. Awkward. Guessing she was supposed to be the senior memberof the group, she said warily, “Hello.”
Agraceful young woman in a burnt orange robe stepped forward. “Myname is Namae. We have little time. If you would come with me?”
Sinceshe had no desire to upset the Lord Governor and blow her chances tobe something other than “spoils of war,” Xera nodded and followedalong. Though she had recently showered, she took a bath to “getthe smell of space off her.” Namae had a toiletries kit and gaveXera a crash course, then dressed Xera’s hair, murmuring about itslack of length as Xera sat wrapped in a sheet of fabric. “Still, itis thick and wavy. It will grow,” she said consolingly. The aideswere dismayed by the condition of her hands and nails, and murmuredover her poor feet as they gave her the world’s quickest pedicure.Xera wasn’t sure what they’d been told about her, but the womenexuded sympathy. Maybe they thought she’d had a rough life.
Whateverthe case, Namae was full of helpful tips about how to handle thegovernor. “Allow him to speak first, of course. He appreciatesfeminine grace and beauty like any man, so that will help you. Youare handsome in an exotic way. Lord Ryven also said you were to lookto him if you were unsure. He intends to guide you.” A current ofexcitement went through the ladies as she said that.
Xerawondered what was afoot. She decided to play the sympathy card. “Iknow little about your culture, and I admit to being nervous aboutLord Ryven. He won’t...hurt me, will he?”
Namaelooked horrified. “Of course not! Lord Ryven is known as a championof women. He is adored! You will be safe with him.” She blushed.“Well, as safe as you wish to be.”
“He’sa womanizer, then?” Xera made sure to sound tentative, unsure. Shedidn’t want to offend these ladies.
“Itis more often the women that pursue him,” Namae offered. “He isvery handsome, and rich, of course. He is known for his bravery inwar. Not only is he a lord, but a commander of a starship as well.Who wouldn’t want him?”
Xeraadded “spoiled” to the list of things she knew about Ryven.Clever, ruthless, a killer, a womanizer. The adjectives concernedher.
“Wehave clothes waiting for you,” Namae said as she completed applyingXera’s makeup. “The ship’s medics sent your measurements hereafter they completed their scans. I have never chosen colors for suchfair skin and unusual eyes, but it was an enjoyable exercise.Everything should be the right size and the colors flattering, but wewill know better when you try things on. Let’s attempt this onefirst.”
Shemoved to a rolling clothes rack filled with garments in dark pumpkin,russet, emerald, white with sky blue, indigo and pink. Xera seriouslydoubted she’d look good in anything on that rack. She hadn’t wornpink since she an infant, surely, and had unilaterally rejected itsince adulthood.
Namaeheld several garments up to Xera’s face and murmured to herself.She finally chose a sapphire blue tunic with slit sides and sleeves.It had a silky sky blue pajamas-type garment that went underneath andgently swirled around Xera’s legs and torso. After months ofwearing a serviceable uniform, the clothes felt indecently silky andlight. There was a wide gold sash for the waist and a wide collarmade of brilliant blue, gold, green and red beads, bracelets andrings. Even Xera’s slippers glittered with beads.
“Wheredid all this jewelry come from?” she asked, bewildered. “Thisseems extravagant.”
“Wewant the lord governor to see you as we wish you to be,” Namae saidas she fixed a headdress with long trailing beads in Xera’s hair.“Never underestimate the power of dazzling beauty.”
Xerawas allowed her first look in the full-length mirror. She gasped,hardly recognizing the image. She looked exotic, frighteninglyfeminine with her waist cinched with the sash and her irritatinglylarge breasts tamed by the wrapped top. Why hadn’t she tried harderto find clothes that made her look this good before? Maybe she’dtold herself that she was too busy, or maybe she didn’t haveNamae’s talent. “You’re good,” she said frankly.
Namaesmiled. “Our hour is up. There will be an escort to Lord Ryvennow.”
Xerawasn’t surprised to see Brirax outside the door, but she didn’trecognize the other three men. Brirax didn’t say anything, but hiseyes made a quick scan of her as he bowed slightly. “Come this way,Lieutenant Harrisdaughter.”
Shedidn’t feel like a lieutenant as she moved along in her slippers,trying to relax. The silky underclothes were terribly distracting onher bare skin. She prayed that didn’t show.
Thegolden door opened. Xera walked as gracefully as she could through afoyer and into an inviting living room. Three of the four men insiderose to their feet as she entered. She couldn’t tell from Ryven’seyes what he thought of her transformation, but he moved forward andtook her hand in a proprietary manner. “Dangerous woman,” hemurmured. “Come, meet my father.”