Renz leaned back, watching the steam escape his cup. Lady Ravda Soza presided silently from the head of the table, glowering into her eggs. She stabbed them but did not eat. Ximena kept her face down and ate in a fury, as if breakfast could be snatched from her in a second.

Joe sauntered in, swinging off his newly acquired feather hat. He bowed deeply. “Lady, Sir, everyone. Good morning.” He perched the hat on the bust of a serious-looking Soza ancestor and eased himself onto the ornate bench.

Lady Soza looked up and nodded briefly. “Good day, Joe Xicon. I take it engineers work up quite an appetite.”

A young man leaned in and slid a plate piled with meat and fruit in front of Joe.
Renz glanced down at his two eggs and five grapes. Did he have to earn his breakfast?

Joe chuckled. “You are too kind, Lady Soza, but I appreciate a good meal.” When the lady returned to her egg torture, Joe slipped a slice of pork onto Renz’s plate. “I was looking over the plans for the new rail line last night with Master Roivi. Quite an endeavor.”

Lady Soza glanced up again. “Indeed. Master Roivi was impressed with the younger Xicon. You are welcome to assist our efforts with the rail project.”

Joe grinned. “Happy to help.”

“Well, that is what we like to hear.” Lady Soza patted her spotless face with her napkin and stood. Everyone around the table stood, but the lady waved them back down.

“Please take your time. I have business this morning.”

~      ~      ~

Suvira was waiting at the door when Renz and Joe returned to Renz’s suite. Zusa leaned on the door, barring Suvira’s way.

Renz cleared his throat. “What’s this?”

Zusa grumbled. “You have an unannounced guest, Doctor.”

Renz nodded. “Good morning, Suvira. Did you sleep well?”

She tilted her head. “Should I not?” She stepped sideways to the wall, making room for Zusa to leave her self-assigned post, though Zusa had no intention of complying.

Joe chuckled. “We just hope you slept better than we did.”

Renz smiled at Zusa, guessing there had been a silent stand-off for some time. “Thank you for keeping watch. Suvira is a friend and an ally. She’ll be meeting with us now.”

Zusa sighed and opened the door, holding it as the three entered. She asked, “Do you need Ximena or Marko to sit in?”

Renz shook his head. “Not just now, but I will need Ximena’s expertise when convenient. Suvira may come as go as she needs. She is the only Frey family member I will see in private. Please make sure all others make audience requests in writing.”
Zusa stood taller and set her jaw. The new assignment would give her authority to bar the door to any other surprise visitors. “I will see it done.”

Survira carried the message basket to the desk. The tubes stacked higher than the day before. “You may have an unpleasant message from my aunt this morning. Best not to ignore Lady Frey.”

Renz rubbed his temple. Wasn’t her mother the Lady Frey? “How many Lady Freys are there?”

Suvira snorted. “Sixteen at present. Only one to worry about today.”

Joe said, “That must make for some interesting family reunions.”

Renz began sorting the messages onto the desk, showing Joe the different seals. Lady Frey’s message with a green seal resembling a tree of life. The imprinted tree had more roots than branches.

Renz cringed as he read. “She would like me to show more gentle care to her offspring and kin. If I do not agree, she may like to see my bare flesh whipped in a public display. If I agree, in exchange for this promise, she will release Suvira into my care.”

Suvira shifted, took a step forward. “How exactly did she say?”

Renz raised an eyebrow and passed the letter to her. “You tell me.”

“Ah.” Suvira’s tense stance ebbed. She leaned on the table. “I will be released into your charge. You will be responsible for me until my quest is complete. Like a child mentored to a relative.”

Renz eased down onto the bench and pulled out paper. “What was the other option?”

“She could have released me into your personal care… as your bride.”

Renz eyes widened and he froze. Illegal and dangerous idea.

Joe snorted and giggled. “Harding would have kittens! You’d be the first human with two wives on Eydan. We’d be breaking down all kinds of barriers.”

Renz glare at Joe and took a swipe at him with his pencil. “Or my wife could kill me when I get home.”

Suvira shook her head. “That’s not usually allowed. I could stop her.”

Joe shook his head. “He didn’t mean literally kill. It’s an expression of big trouble.”

“Good.  But it isn’t an issue.” Suvira strode away from the desk. She spread some pillows on the floor and sat down. “Anything else of note?”

Renz pulled a letter from Lady Ravda Soza out of the tube. “This one has me worried.”

He spread it out on the table and read it twice all the way through. “Soza cordially requests a meeting two months from now to discuss the business of the observatory.”

Suvira ran her hand through pillow tassels. “Why so long? How did you anger her in a day?”

Renz stared at the letter to avoid looking into angry eyes. “It was breakfast, actually. I raised my voice and made demands. Joe was in servant’s quarters and I was riled.”

Suvira snorted. “Well, that will make you both the topic of gossip for quite a while.”

Renz was afraid that might be the tabloid type of gossip. He could see the headline: Diplomat Rescues Lover. He was a blind man in a social minefield. “That and my show at the dinner party the night before…”

Suvira put a pillow to her face. Her voice was muffled. “Lady Soza will wait to see if you grow up. You’re being punished for temper.”

Renz stood and paced. “We came all this way and she won’t even speak to me. I have to wait two months in the capital for an audience with a woman I take breakfast with every morning!” He punched the curtain and hit the wall behind, scraping knuckles. “Blast it!”

Suvira shook her head. “I don’t think you quite understand. Anger is a measure of character. How you control it. You’re being tested.”

“Baited,” Joe added. He grabbed a pillow and paced the room, flipping the pillow into the air.

Suvira blinked. “Baited like a fish? Well, yes. They are trying to make you fight back, so they can measure your strength of character.”

Renz clutched his scratched knuckles with the other hand. “Then I’ve just blown my cool, and that’s what they’re hoping for.”

Suvira nodded. “Joe, get some supple tan gloves. A little large, so they will fit Renz comfortably while that heals. The fancier, the better.”

Joe tossed the pillow back by the edge of the wall, tumbling others out of place. “What you should do is be the Lady’s best friend and benefactor. Don’t let her make a move without lending a hand… in the most annoying way possible.”

Suvira laughed. “Fight her venom with kindness? Find out what she wants and get it first? Help her publicly and repeatedly, showing you are the more affluent and generous? That is expensive and obnoxious, but as soon as she realizes what you are doing, she will beat down barriers to get you out of here.”

~     ~     ~

After Joe returned with the gloves, Renz leisurely strolled through the halls and into the kitchen.  Myra was on a stool grinding herbs in a mortar. She glanced at Renz and bobbed in place.

“Bright day, Myra. Helping Zusa today?” Renz asked.

Myra nodded and continued grinding the herbs with the pestle. “Zusa called for Hojon but he hates working in the kitchen. I made it sound like it would be sooo inconvenient if I had to do it instead of my computations. He couldn’t help but order me to do this instead.”

Renz grinned. “And you don’t feel like doing computations today at all, do you.”

“Nope. And if Zusa asks, it’s all Hojon’s fault.”

Renz sat on the stool across from hers. “Now you’ve got the idea. Just don’t overuse that power.”

Myra nodded. “I’ll try. But it was so easy. What are you doing here?”

“Looking for Zusa,” Renz replied. “I have a few questions about the household.”

“What questions?”

“What foods does Lady Ravda Soza enjoy? Is there anything she wants that she can’t get easily in the capital?”

“She complains that the meat is bland, the milk is too thick and the Sonnor cheeses are odorless.” Myra confided.

“She’s missing food from home? Goat’s milk and pungent cheese?” Renz nodded. “I’ll have to see if I can have Brew ship some over from Market Town.”

Myra stopped her grinding and added a few drops of oil, making a paste. “She already has two husbands, you know. I think you could do better than a third. You’re a first all on your own.”

Renz held his breath for a moment. He wasn’t remotely interested in the woman romantically and only interested in her politically because the Soza Provence controlled the land he needed. “I don’t want to woo her. I want to be generous.”

“Then you better not put your personal name on the thing. Get enough to share and have it delivered to the kitchens for everyone.” Myra explained. She carried the mortar to the oven and spread the herb paste over the massive roast waiting there.

“And I take it you also would like a few flavors from home.”

“Naturally.”

“Thank you, Myra.” Renz said. “Always a pleasure.”

She giggled and bobbed, tail swishing. “Anytime. I like our talks.”

Renz returned to his suite to find Ximena awaiting his approval of the morning’s replies.  “I have one more letter to write. I’ll need to send it overland to Market Town.”

Ximena pulled out more paper and stood, giving over the desk. “If you are ordering supplies, we could use some fresh brushes and cleaner.” She said.

“That should be easy enough. I think I’ll add a case of Cessix Zinfande’ as well. Something I can sip in polite company without losing my head.”

Ximena cocked her head to the side.

Renz smiled at her. “Without getting drunk and making a fool of myself.”

Ximena nodded. “Ah.  That makes sense.”

Renz could tell she was choosing not to say something else as she hurried out. He knew he couldn’t blame his mistakes in Nodae Eya on drink. He’d make a right fool of himself already.  That’s what he was trying to patch.

~          ~          ~

Renz jerked awake, finding himself at the massive desk he had hoped was part of a bizarre dream. He had drooled on a blank sheet of paper, and he crumpled it and tossed it across the room.

Marko cleared his throat and moved forward with a steaming tray of food. “You missed dinner. You must be hungry.”

Renz set his pencils back in their bowl, clinking the delicate glass. “Starved. Did the messages go out?”

“Yes, sir. If fact, you have two replies already.”

Renz craned his neck to see the message basket, but Marko filled his vision.

Marko set down a dish of steaming rice with shriveled fruit and a stein. “You must eat first. It is too late to write, but you can read if you eat first.”

Renz shook his head and took a long drink of spicy milk. “Thank you, Marko. Could you read them to me while I eat?”

Marko nodded. “It might not be good for digestion, but if that is what you wish.” He traded his empty food tray for the messages. “Lady Soza is pleased you are backing the rail line project and the education outreach foundation, both Soza projects. She also enjoyed the wine sample and would like to acquire a couple of cases. If your manners catch up with your good taste, there might be hope for you yet.”

Renz chuckled around his rice and held up a hand. “Okay, condescension and acknowledgment that I’m trying. I can live with that. And I’ve got three cases of the Cessix Zinfande’ on the way. The other letter?”

Marko unrolled the thick paper and studied it for a moment. “Lady Frey will send Suvira to Xicon by tea time tomorrow. Lady Frey thanks the good sir for his care. She trusts he will protect her niece with the same gusto he has already demonstrated.”

Renz nodded. “That I will.” He took another bite, then rubbed his neck.

Marko returned the letters to their tubes. “If you are sore, I can help.” He moved around to Renz back and began massaging. 

Gentle hands worked at Renz tired back, learning where human muscles stretched and connected. For a moment Renz remembered the Eyan girl leaping like a cat, then Suvira’s teeth on his ear. He felt vulnerable, small. His eyes drifted shut against his efforts. He heard a soft humming as the world slipped away.

~          ~          ~

The next morning, Renz arrived at breakfast late, finding only Ximena at the table.

She passed him a page with rail drawings. “Today’s the vote. Since you slept in, Lady Soza took Joe in your place. I think he was afraid to tell her no.”

Renz poured tea, hoping it was well caffeinated. “More likely he was excited to be involved. He would love to be a part of the rail line. Still, someone could have let me know.”

“You have to leave orders to be roused. Otherwise, you must get up on your own. Privacy is extremely important. If someone rouses you without your permission, it’s an emergency. Or an attack.”

“Good to know.”

~     ~     ~

After breakfast, Renz chewed on his pencil more than he wrote. All he had were two messages from out-landers. Ximena wasn’t available to help him reply, probably at the assembly with everyone else.

Renz had stayed behind, not to make a scene of displacing Joe from the vote.

He got up and walked about, peaking in glass jars and examining silver trinkets. He chewed his lip and paced. He’d trudged roads, bounced in carts, rattled his teeth on trains and he didn’t feel an inch closer to sealing a deal with Soza. Now he’d botched his chances again, missing a vote because he didn’t ask for a wake-up call. This whole trip was ludicrous.

There was a light tap at the door. Then another. Ready for any distraction from his brooding, Renz swung the door open.

A girl with a tea tray carefully curtsied. “Tea time and this is a gift from Suvira who is pleased to be joining your contingent today.”

“Well, thank you. Set it on the desk, on the left please.”

“Sugar?” she asked, holding up a bowl of dark brown granules.

Renz remembered the dark sugar tasted of molasses. “Not today. Thank you.”

She replaced the bowl and waited until Renz sat so she could pour his cup.

The tea was hot and spicy, but a touch sour. It was like nothing Renz had before. Potent. His heart beat faster. He felt the warmth spread and sweat beaded the back of his neck.

“Hey, this is some strong stuff.” Renz looked around for the server, but she was gone.  He stood and swayed on his feet. “Wait. This isn’t right.” He blinked at the undulating patterns on the curtained walls.

“Help?” Renz looked around, but his vision doubled then blurred. He was alone and this was wrong. He stumbled toward the hidden door, fumbled for the bell pull. He couldn’t get a hold.

Renz leaned on the door and found the grooved handle. He stumbled into a curving corridor. Renz slid along the wall in blurry blackness until he found another door and fell against it. It gave way and he tripped into a tiny office.

Marko gasped and leapt backward from his desk, toppling papers. “Who? What?”

Renz fell to his knees and the tea crawled back up his throat. He wanted to cry for help, but he didn’t have any air. He heaved acidic liquid and gasped, throat and lungs burning.

Marko hunched next to Renz and brushed back hair, his hand frigid against Renz’s feverish skin. “Poison.”

Marko put an arm around Renz’s shoulder and one under his legs, lifting him. Renz tried to shake his head but the room spun as Marko stood. Everything tilted. Black crept in from the edges of his vision.

Renz found himself shivering in a tiled tub, surrounded by furry bodies. Marko, Hojon, and Uncle Max had him surrounded. Renz leaned back against Marko’s chest as Uncle Max spoon-fed him a slimy, bitter concoction.

“Uck.” Renz swallowed some, then pushed the spoon away.

Hojon bobbed in the water. “Is he going to die?”

Water shifted as Marko swung his tail to lash Hojon’s ankle. “Not likely.”

Max leaned closer, peering into Renz’s burning eyes. “It was a good try though. Wasn’t it?”

Renz growled. “I’d like to return the favor.”

Hojon bounced higher. “But the tea was from Suvira.”

“No.” Renz pushed free and waded to the edge where he could lean on smooth tile, away from the cluster of unfamiliar bodies and the smell of damp fur. “It came from Frey with Suvira’s name, so I would trust it. Thought they could hit two birds with one stone.”

Marko nodded. “Suvira was settling in with Ximena. Someone else sent the tea.”

Uncle Max heaved himself up narrow steps and grabbed a sheet-sized towel. “I’ll see what I can find out.” Hojon ran after him.

Renz watched them exit and then turned to find Marko glaring at him, ears laid flat.  Renz shifted his eyes to the settling water. “I’ve botched everything completely.”

“You’ve been making enemies as well as friends, but that is what happens to great people.  You defended Suvira and Joe fiercely, equally, as if they were your children.”

“It was the only thing to do.”

“Then you have botched nothing.” Marko moved uncomfortably close. “You did right.  They did wrong. They will pay.”

~          ~          ~

Renz hunched over the bowl of hot broth, breathing in the steam between sips. He was chilled after his cold bath rescue, even piled over with towels. Joe balanced on the edge of the desk, bouncing a leg. Survira prowled the room, pacing and whipping her tail.

Joe broke the silence first. “What will you do if we catch them?”

Renz glanced up. “I expect we will have to make an example of them.”

Suvira growled low in her throat. “We know who it is. You humiliated my cousin Ava.”

Joe hopped down from the desk. “How could she be madder than Mardon. We’ve got him up on charges.”

Renz took a sip and stared into the bowl. “She stole Suvira’s dress, wore it to the dinner party, and then asked me to admit publicly that I owe Frey tribe a favor.”

Suvira barked out a laugh. “Renz told her she could return the dress to me or disrobe and return it to him.”

Renz choked and dropped his spoon. “Well, I didn’t mean right there at the party.”

Suvira leaned over the desk, towering over Renz. “You didn’t say otherwise. Everyone assumed that was your meaning.”

Joe clutched at his middle, “Ha! And you said I’m not allowed to talk to women. Thanks a lot, fearless leader.”

Renz pushed the bowl away and rested his face on the cool, polished desk. “If I’m the best man for this job, humanity is in some serious trouble.”

Joe walked around the table and patted Renz’s shoulder. “You’re not Captain Harding.”

Renz pulled the towels tighter. “At least Harding would have punched Mardon in the throat.”

Joe nodded.  “Yah.  But he couldn’t negotiate his way out of a paper bag.”

“He has fire. The bag would be toast.”

~          ~          ~

Suvira leaned against the slanted door frame outside her cousins’ room. Her tail twitched, but otherwise she was still. She listened to the muffled voices of the three girls, only catching occasional words: tonight, proposal, secret. She heard the voices move closer and she straightened.

Ava opened the door and screamed, diving behind Kori. Reva jumped backward, toppling the message table. Metal clattered across tile.

Suvira grinned. “Bright day, cousin. You are well?” She strode into the room, looking around. “What is the latest gossip?”

Ava kicked at an orange message tube. “That my disgrace of a cousin cannot keep her ears to herself.”

“Really?” Suvira asked. She looked from Kori to Reva. “Which cousin is that?”

Ava’s head lowered and she growled. “If you’re here for a fight…”

Suvira shook her head and raised a hand. “No, no. I am not interested in fighting Kori today, though it’s always a pleasure. I just want to make sure that you hear first.”

Ava glared. “First of what?”

Suvira looked down at the floor. “There was an assassination attempt on the Xicon First yesterday.” 

Kori and Reva reacted, ears flat, gasping and whispering together. Ava didn’t even twitch an ear. “What business is that of ours?”

Suvira looked up into Ava’s pale eyes. “Just that you might be interested in the reward Soza will be offering for the assailant. Preferably alive.”

Ava swallowed. “Is it a large reward, then?”

Suvira took three steps toward Ava and grabbed her chin. “A ransom.”

Kori grabbed Suvira’s arms from behind. Ava pulled a knife from her belt, slashing Suvira’s chest. “Not one you’ll be collecting.”

~          ~          ~

Renz awoke in distress. His heart was pounding. He was blind in the darkness and a large mass pressed down on his chest. He tried to scream, but furry fingers shoved into his mouth, making him gag.

Renz jerked around, dislodging his pillow, but not the intruder on top of him.

A smooth voice whispered into his ear. “Be still. Listen. Do you want to live?”

Renz froze in place, not sure whether to be still or nod agreement.

“You have no claim against Kannar. It was a silly misunderstanding.”

 Renz tried to lash out and scream, but he was pinned. He sucked in shallow breaths through his nose. His eyes strained against the dark. The shadows were curvy. The voice feminine.

“An offer will cross your desk. Take it. Drop the complaint. Then we can all live. This was all just a misunderstanding. A difficulty in translation. Right, Doctor?”

The hand eased off Renz mouth and the weight moved from his chest. He glared into the darkness. “I can certainly pretend that was the case.”

The door creaked.

~          ~          ~

Renz was up half the night, pacing and ranting to the empty room. “I can’t last another week in this crazy place, much less two months. Since when is an insult a capital offense. It’s just absurd.” He drafted a note apologizing that he had taken ill and would not be available for a couple of days. He personalized it to each of the tribe leaders.

He rang for breakfast in his suite and ordered Zusa to refuse all visitors until tea time… in a week. “If there is anything more immediate, please use your best judgement or refer the issue to Joe.”

Zusa shook her head. “You should be in bed then.  I will send Marko with soup and medicine.”  She pointed a finger at his chest. “And you will follow his orders and stay in bed.  Understand?”

“Yes, Zusa. Can you spare someone to guard the door?” He hadn’t told Zusa about his midnight visitor.

“Of course. Both doors. And don’t trust gifts until Marko or I check them.”

Renz nodded, stepping toward the message table. “Sounds like a plan. Bright day, Zusa.”

She slapped the first tube he touched out of his hand. “Straight back to bed. No excuses.”

~     ~     ~

Marko brought egg soup, pungent cheese, and a pitcher of lemon water. He pulled a cloth out of his vest and unwrapped a couple of cherry bacon cookies he’d snuck from the kitchen.

Renz smiled, pushing himself up in bed. “Mmm. You’ve captured the smell of grandma’s farm.” Memories from another arm of the galaxy.

Marko arranged the dishes on the side table and then stood back. “I am glad you approve.”

Renz sighed.  Why was Marko always examining the wall behind him? “Approve? Try appreciate. You have five or six charges at a time, yet you spend half your day with me.”

“They know their business and they are brisk with their requests. It is not an inconvenience to assist you. Especially when you took ill on my watch.”

 “You mean I was poisoned. That was in no way your fault and you saved my life.” Renz took a bite of cookie, delighting in the bizarre combination of salt and sweet. “I owe you.”

Marko closed his eyes, ears laying back. “Please don’t say that. That phrase. To anyone.”

“Why? Have I offended you again?”

Marko shook his head. “No. But if someone overheard, they could make you pay my debts.”

Renz pointed at the edge of the bed. “Please sit. I don’t understand. Explain it to me.”

Marko’s weight sunk the edge of the bed a few inches. “Debts are transferable. I am working in the capital for another six years because I owed my sister, and she owed Soza.”

“Are you saying that you are an indentured servant because of your sister’s debts?”

“Through my debt to her. She is too frail and ill to work, so I do.”

“Hmm. Well, I suppose it’s not that much different than a lot of human relations. We take care of our own.”

“I have noticed. But here it is not a choice. You are the first Xicon delegate. You owe no one anything. Ever.” Marko looked down at his hand. “Especially me.”

“I’ll just have to silently disagree.”

~          ~          ~

Suvira woke to stinging pain. Marko dabbed medicine on her cuts. Suvira cringed, looked around to find herself tied to Ava’s bed. She strained at cords.

Marko shook his head. “Be still. Reva is getting a knife to set you free.”

Suvira narrowed her eyes. “How did you find me here?”

Marko waved a hand in the direction of the door. “Ximena said you never came to your room. Your cousin Reva sent for Ximena, but I came instead. She wouldn’t explain why you’re here or how you got hurt. I’ll take you to my room as soon as you can move.”

She reddened. “Are you sure that’s right?”

Marko dabbed on more salve. “I’m not sure, but we obviously don’t want to stay here.  And I figured it wouldn’t help anyone to bleed in Zusa’s kitchen.”

“Understandable. Do Renz and Joe know?”

Marko shook his head. “I didn’t want them running into Frey compound starting a fight. The doctor is barely out of bed, brooding over letters he won’t share.”

Suvira turned her head and chewed at the cord on her wrist. It was too tough. “Hmm. Do the letters have anything to do with Frey or Kannar?”

“Both. How would you know that?” Marko asked.

Suvira closed her eyes. She remembered Ava kicking the orange message tube. They must be in contact with Lord Mardon. “I only suspect. What are they threatening?”

Marko sat down on the edge of the bed, fidgeting with pillow tassels. “Marriage.”

“Pardon?” Suvira looked up, rolling her head from side to side. The arched ceiling flowers blurred into streaks. “What do you mean marriage?”

Reva eased open the door just enough to squeeze in and locked it behind her. “This should do.”

Marko intercepted Reva, taking the kitchen carver from her. He said, “The rumors say Kannar and Frey are planning a wedding. Would you know anything about it?”

Reva glanced past him to Suvira. “I might. But that’s for Lady Frey to say.”

Marko cut the cords and Survira sat up. She slid to the edge of the bed but cried out when she put weight on her ankle. Marko swung an arm around her back, and they limped to the service door.

~          ~          ~

Chi Ming-Banister paced the short space in front of the secretary’s desk at the Lexicon University dean’s office. The teenage student secretary darted nervous looks at Chi, who slapped a rolled newspaper in her hand as she passed.

The girl pressed an intercom button for the third time. Finally, there was an answer. The girl sighed, shoulders relaxing, and said, “Yes, Ma’am. Sorry, Ma’am. Doctor Ming is waiting for you. She says it’s urgent.”

The dean’s door swung open and Meredith waved Chi inside the more spacious room that smelled of leather and lilac. “Chi, dear. What can I do for you?”

Chi made sure the door was closed before she passed the Market Town Tribune to Meredith. “I’m going to the capital.”

Meredith began to say, “Well, I’m sure that’s not…” She almost said necessary, but as she unrolled the Tribune on her desk, she saw Doctor Banister’s face on the cover. The headline read, “Xicon First Diplomat Poisoned.” Meredith scanned the article, looking for tidbits. He was alive. Good. He’d been tricked into drinking bad tea. There was speculation as to the culprits, but the Tribune didn’t name any names. Hinted at a legal dispute.

Chi slapped her hand down on the desk. Meredith jumped.

The dean had sent Doctor Banister, Chi’s husband, to the capital on a mission for the university and the human colony as a whole. Meredith’s left eye began to hurt, throbbing in rhythm to her heartbeat, she was sure. “He’ll be okay.” Meredith passed the paper back to Chi. “but we’ll discuss it over lunch.”

Chi growled, “Over lunch? Someone’s trying to kill him. I’ll be gone before lunch. I’m not leaving him there alone.”

“Let’s just sit down and talk about it over a good meal. I’ll buy.” Meredith stepped over to the oak credenza and tapped on a music program that played Bach from the old Earth lexicon they’d salvaged from the ship.  As the music swelled, Meredith leaned in to whisper to Chi. “We’ll discuss it over lunch, in Market Town, while we arrange transport. I have no intention of letting you run around the continent alone.”

Chi nodded, eyes narrow. “You be there, or I will go alone. Today.”

Meredith smiled. “Just so long as Harding thinks I’m consoling a friend, we’ll get off in good order.” She gestured to Bach’s image on the screen. “But we don’t talk about leaving where he might have ears.”

Chi crumpled the paper, making a fist. “Captain Harding can’t keep a doctor from a patient.  He just can’t.”

“Probably not,” Meredith agreed. “But he can keep me here. Concern for the mother of his children, and all that.”

Chi flinched. She’d forgotten that connection. Shouldn’t have. She’d delivered the youngest. But Meredith kept her name and her independence.

“Noon,” Chi said. “At the Duas Estrellas Pub.”

~     ~     ~

Meredith glanced around the pub as she came through the door. Chi Ming-Banister sat near the center of the back wall.  She dipped vegetable chips in chili sauce, eyes tearing. Meredith didn’t see anyone else she knew. Maybe they could get off in good order.

Meredith eased into the seat across from Chi and waved for a server. “Sheco-raz.” The mead she ordered was honey and spices, of the kind Meredith would rather rub on a steak, but it was strong and she needed a little liquid courage. As the server swayed toward the bar, swinging her tail, Meredith smiled at Chi and grabbed a dried slice of purple carrot. “So, what’s the plan?”

Chi blew her nose on her napkin, folded it in half. “We’ll be catching a ride with a trader.  He says he’s game for a trip to the capital.” Chi gestured to a cart across the street, where Brew tied down the tarp over his mound of bottled goods.

“A cart.” Meredith reached for the arriving mug. “Thank you.” She took a long drink. It had been years, but she still missed her Lexus. Her annual flight to Paris. She was far and away from any star near Earth now, and no way back. “When in Rome.”