Fall of shadows, p.28
Fall of Shadows, page 28
part #7 of Steven Gordon Series
‘The Durac insulted a young woman, they were trying to get him to apologise.’
‘Is that what Charlie told you?’
‘No, he told me he was playing swings and the soldier was playing at being an aeroplane. It was the young woman who had been insulted who told me.’
It took a moment but the laughter eventually burst forth full force.
‘Aeroplanes and swings… Father will think that funny. I am more interested in how you two came to blows.’
‘I didn’t know who he was.’
‘So you challenged him.’
‘Yes, did you hear it?’
‘Some of it. You must realise he was right. Father would have him released immediately, and would most likely force you to marry him by way of an apology. Neither could he refuse. He may well do so anyway in an attempt to form an alliance with the strongest race in the Federation.’
‘Why him?’
‘Because he is adopted and obviously the only member of their race that is capable of marrying you. The Modloch are huge, far bigger than any of us. They are herbivores and only mate twice a year. By the sounds of it his Emperor had a female in mind for him to marry, but they weren’t compatible. All Emperors look for ways to secure their Empires. Marriages to strong Empires, important families, are the easiest. In fact I will suggest it to Father.’
‘You wouldn’t!’
‘Of course I will. It is my job to.’ He stepped forward, ‘You don’t really think that Father would let you marry for love, do you? Wake up Florina. You will marry who you are told to and do whatever the hell it is your husband wants. I heard what you said back there. If you really feel like that, then you have until tomorrow morning to take your own life.’
He walked away, leaving her stunned.
Taylana appeared a few minutes later with a hot drink. She took it with a simple nod.
‘Are you okay?’
‘I am sitting here contemplating the weakness of my own sex.’
‘What happened?’
She would not normally have opened up to Taylana, but at that moment she had no one else.
‘I just made a mistake,’ her eyes were huge.
‘What happened?’
She quickly filled her in on the details.
Taylana nodded thoughtfully, ‘That was the Ambassador’s fault.’
‘Sorry?’
‘You came across Charlie and the Ambassador from Earth. The one swinging the Druac by the tail was no doubt Charlie. The Ambassador told him to intervene on behalf of the young woman. He just told his companion the female Ambassador, who gave him hell for it.’
‘The one I talked to isn’t the Ambassador?’
‘No, just his aide. It would seem he has just retired from the army and the Ambassador is his life-long friend.’
‘Isn’t he the adopted brother of an Emperor?’
‘He is, but that has nothing to do with why they are here.’
‘My father did explain something of the circumstances.’
‘Was he really swinging the Druac by the tail?’
‘With one hand.’
Taylana stood, ‘I have to see that.’ She retrieved an electronic pad and talked to mall security. They uploaded the security footage for her. The two watched the incident unfold. Florina began to experience the same emotions as she had before. Her fur began to rise and her breathing became quick and shallow. Taylana noticed, and her hand flew to her mouth when Florian’s pupils expanded.
She reached out, ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes of course.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes why?’
‘You are showing symptoms of the quisling.’
Florina’s mouth dropped open, ‘I am not. Do not be ridiculous.’
‘Florina, I have been there. I know the symptoms. Have you never felt it before?’
‘Yes of course, I think so.’
‘Right now, how do you feel? You fur is standing up, your breaths are short, your pupils are blown.’
‘No! It isn’t possible…’
‘There is a strong possibility that you are attracted to this Human. For a woman like yourself, it is very hard to find a male that would impress you. You are surrounded by powerful men. Every male you have ever met apart from those of your own family have always bended their knee. Now you have met one who not only has no inclination to bend his knee, but one that you can’t force to bend his knee. On top of that his physical strength defies belief. This is a man your brother considers an equal, and whose family is far more powerful than your own. Don’t worry. You haven’t fallen head over heels in love with the Human, your body has just reacted in a normal manner to a male who is extremely powerful.’
‘My body has betrayed me.’
‘No it hasn’t. Look at it another way. If you were forced to marry the Human, even if you never fell in love with him, the sex would be good.’
‘Taylana!’
Taylana laughed, ‘Now you are showing your innocence Florina. If I was you, I would hang on to it dearly. It may be required to cement an alliance.’
‘Don’t you start saying that!’
‘Has Merro already mentioned this?’
‘He says he is going to recommend it to Father as a way of building bridges between families.’
‘Merro is smart. It would come to his mind. However, you already have a rival.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘The Lady Aurora Malinci was positively purring all through a banquet we held for them.’
‘She was with Merro, she dragged the Human away…’ a strange sensation began to course through her body. ‘Does he like her?’
‘At the banquet, they spent most of the night talking like old friends. I think she is far too young for his tastes though. He seems to treat her like a younger sister. If I was you I would go and find them. Apologise.’
‘I would rather kill myself. Let us get off this subject. What was that garment the Human female was wearing?’
‘Ah! The kimono. A traditional dress from one part of their world. Aren’t they beautiful?’
‘Wonderful.’
‘You know, they have given us permission to try them on, and I think they would fit you. Would you like to be the first to try one?’
‘I think I would.’
She realised it may save her a little face if she got involved with the Humans, and it would also please Merro.
Chapter 62
‘Don’t you think you are going a bit overboard with this “I am the Emperor’s brother” stuff?’
Steven and Charlie were in Steven’s quarters. They were sitting drinking coffee, taking in the splendid sight of the planet below.
Charlie took a sip before replying, ‘You know, I wish to God I had never rescued that bloody diplomat. I would be back on Earth right now, contemplating my retirement, looking for a croft not far from home, looking for a decent metal detector to play with, that kind of thing.
‘Instead I’m on the other side of the galaxy, pretending to be something I’m bloody not. Playing silly games with silly alien females. Having to uphold the Royal Modloch family name and act like a bloody alien in front of other bloody aliens. To seek out new things to buy from new civilisations, to boldly buy where no Human buyer has bought before.’
He took another sip, ‘Aye, and on top of all that, have my best friend from childhood gripe at me like an old mother hen.’ He looked Steven straight in the eye, ‘What the hell am I supposed to do? If Darrick thought for one second that I bended my knee to any of these people, he would probably have me dissected for the rare metals I’m made up from. It doesn’t seem to matter what the hell I do, I just get dragged deeper and deeper into the shit. You on the other hand, you just seem to fall into it in a natural manner.’
Steven suddenly burst out laughing. ‘To boldly buy huh… I saw what you were doing there.’ He took a deep breath, ‘Sorry Charlie. I couldn’t just let you die.’
‘You didn’t start this. I am grateful.’
‘Did you buy all the history books we wanted?’
‘Got everything we needed and a little extra. I have a variety of novels from the bestseller list and what passes for DVDs, and a player. Babes is translating all of the books now and sending it home. They will have printed copies before the end of the week. You know, this could destroy our monopoly on paper.’
‘Only if news gets out. I will advise the President of this development,’ Steven put his cup down. ‘Komoru had a go at me over the lizard man incident.’
‘Ream you out did she?’
‘Oh yes. I took the blame.’
‘You were to blame.’
‘I didn’t hang him over the balcony.’
‘How else do you suggest I could have handled it?’
Steven thought it over, ‘Maybe an arm lock of some kind.’
‘Idiot.’
‘Why!’
‘He could have killed me with that bloody tail of his, arm lock or not.’
‘Right! I am stupid. We aren’t used to fighting people with tails are we?’
‘Nope.’
‘Still, he seemed a bit out of place. A common soldier in a fancy mall like that.’
‘His brother works there. He was going to pick him up.’
‘Ah! Why did you drag him away?’
‘Two pissed off Royals, and he was to blame because of his bad behaviour. It would have gotten him executed. They were both thinking about it. They are quite big on that here you know.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Deadly serious. He even thanked me for saving his life.’
‘He was quite funny though.’
Charlie laughed, ‘Aye, he was that. We used to do that shit when we were kids, remember.’
‘In our space shuttle, you used to stick your arms out and make the noises of us taking off.’
‘Aye, and when we left the atmosphere, I had to shut up, cos you can’t hear nothing in space.’
They settled down to their coffees with a smile on their faces. It was rudely interrupted by the appearance of Komoru. She scowled at Charlie.
‘You have been avoiding me.’
‘No, I have been running around like a blue arsed fly, fulfilling your requests; using a shy giggling sixteen year old girl as a shield for your intelligence gathering strategy.’
‘She does seem to like you.’
‘She is already fantasising about our wedding, wedding night, and the groom she will take to her bed when I am finally too old to satisfy her future needs.’
Komoru’s mouth dropped open for a second, ‘You could have kept that to yourself.’
‘She likes me too much. You are going to hurt her.’
Komoru flushed, ‘I don’t mean to hurt her.’
Charlie sighed, ‘I know. You could have just as easily stolen all these books.’
‘It’s not the way we want to do business, is it Charlie?’
‘Maybe not, but hurting an innocent isn’t my idea of fun either.’
‘You like her!’
‘She is cute and funny, very bright. I like her a lot, but I don’t fancy her. Is that what you want to hear?’
Komoru cringed a little inside, ‘I was told that having sex with someone here, especially a lady of her stature, has consequences. If you did do it, you would most likely have to marry her.’
‘Well aware of that. Have no intentions of trying to take advantage, my hormones are still turned down.’
‘That is a relief.’
‘They are always turned down,’ there was an edge to Charlie’s voice.
She held up a hand, ‘Not having a go, as you Scots like to say.’
Komoru grabbed herself a green tea and sat down beside Steven.
‘Anyway, the Emperor of this lovely little ball of fur wants to know how to get in touch with the Modloch Emperor. Have you any suggestions?’
‘No.’
‘You must have contact information.’
‘Sure do, they ain’t getting them.’
Komoru’s eyes narrowed, ‘Why?’
‘Because they want to marry me off to the little princess.’
‘Florina?’
‘Is there any other kicking about?’
‘No…’ she took a sip of tea. ‘The poor girl.’
‘She is up for it. Can’t wait. Really excited about it.’
Komoru put her cup down. ‘You aren’t kidding, are you?’
‘Nope.’
‘Oh dear!’
‘What’s wrong with that?’ Steven interjected on Charlie’s behalf.
Charlie shook his head, ‘Idiot.’
‘Don’t you say it,’ Steven warned Komoru as she opened her mouth to respond. ‘It creeps me out when you two gang up on me. It isn’t natural.’
Komoru put her cup down and smiled at him like he was a child. ‘It would mean Charlie coming through to this part of the galaxy to stay. Do you think a girl like that would stay in a cottage like Charlie’s?’
‘One I only see about four weeks in the year too.’
Komoru nodded, ‘Neither could she stay in the Modloch Empire. No food, no shops, no friends, no entertainment. The whole place is geared for herbivores. She could go to Earth, but Charlie doesn’t even have a home there, nor could he visit. Should she stay with his parents? Oh sorry! The sun would probably kill her before she reached it.’
Steven surrendered, shoving both hands up, ‘I get it, we lose Charlie.’
‘Yes, and the Modloch Emperor also loses him.’
‘He has gone to a lot of trouble to ensnare me. I doubt very much if he would let me go that easily.’
As Steven thought about that fact, Cookie appeared.
‘What’s up Cookie?’
‘I need to get down there, buy food, visit their kitchens, see what they eat, if you want to hold a small banquet at the end of the week for them.’
Steven looked to Charlie, ‘You know your way around. I will request some time for you in the Royal kitchens. Take him down to the local markets for now.’
‘I know a decent alley we can beam down to.’
‘You sure?’
‘Can’t be arsed with the palaver of a shuttle. We will be down and back in an hour.’ Charlie stood. ‘Catch you later.’
Chapter 63
It had been a hectic week for Cookie and Mya. There was a farmers market close to where Cookie and Charlie landed, so Cookie bought a load of fresh produce and took it back to the ship. He experimented with it all, looking for the flavours. Then he and Mya spent a couple of days with the palace chefs. He experimented on them. All seemed to enjoy the experience, so much so that the chefs asked to be a part of the banquet. They wanted to learn as well. It had been a long time since Cookie had enjoyed himself so much.
On the night of the banquet, he stood by the head of the table in his chefs’ whites. ‘Ladies and gentlemen. It has been many years since I have enjoyed myself so much. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to showcase some of Earth’s finer dishes, and also for the chance to experiment with your own foodstuffs and bring a little flavour from Earth into them. Instead of bringing the dishes to the table, we are going to set up what we call a buffet. The food will all be brought to the tables behind you.
‘Rather than try one starter, we implore you to try as many as you wish. They are in small portions. If you require assistance, there are members of the crew standing by to help. The meal will begin with a selection of starters. Then mains with various vegetables from both your own planet and ours. Everything has been tested and is safe for your consumption.
‘After the mains, there will be a selection of dishes we call sweets. Something you don’t seem to have much of here. Then we will serve a cross-section of Human and Behema cheeses, with various biscuits from both cultures, which will be served at the main tables. The Earth is made up from many different cultures. Tonight we have dishes from all over the world for you to try. Thank you for your time and this opportunity, and please enjoy the food.’
Florina looked up at the handsome Human by her side. ‘Lord Dunedin isn’t it?’
‘Yes Lady Florina, or do you prefer Princess?’
‘Lady shall suffice. Is it normal for a common chef to address Royalty on your world?’
‘It depends on the chef. Some like Cookie are celebrated chefs. His knowledge is second to none. He is also my personal chef.’
‘Oh, I see. You take your chef on campaign with you?’
‘Not quite. You see, Cookie and I are the same age. Lords in my world no longer have the power they once did, and still do on your world. Cookie and I spent a lot of time together when we were children. In reality, we had no one else to play with. His family have served mine for at least a couple of hundred years.
‘I went to a private school, and he went to a local one. When we left school we both went to a local university together. I studied geology; he studied the art of cooking. We finished at the same time. One day we decided to join the army. We joined the same regiment then Cookie asked me how I felt about joining the special services.’
‘Special services – is that some sort of specialist fighting group?’
‘Yes that’s right.’
‘We have something similar.’
‘I see. What I am trying to tell you is that not only is Cookie my best friend, he is the best chef I have ever met in my life, and a man I would always want at my side before any other in a fight.’
‘You Humans are strange in that way, aren’t you? Commoners as Lords, doctors as diplomats, Lords as geologists.’
‘I suppose we are. But the chains that once divided us have long since dissolved. Titles don’t mean much where we come from anymore. We marry whomever we wish, common or not. Our estates are now huge burdens, our stately homes fall into disrepair. The Royalty is little more than a figure head. Our world and Empire shrank, and with it our powers and money. I make a joke about dragging Cookie around with me as my personal chef, and he thinks it is a riot. Funny.’
‘I see. Who I don’t see is the one you call Charlie.’
‘He is on duty. The Royal Modloch household is represented by the Lady Mya tonight. The Modloch race has gone to war over her once, almost twice. So do not demean her in any way, nor let anyone else.’
