Page 6 of Lhora
“Same here,” Pra growled. “I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.”
“The Beinights have been ruled by women for more than three thousand years,” Sov stated, reminding his generals of the obvious. “They’ve managed to do quite well, despite their flaws and weaknesses. Don’t count them out. And, by the goddesses, never underestimate them.” He tilted his head to peer down at his son. “You have that look on your face. What’s bothering you?”
Duren looked up at him. “Don’t you find it odd that the Esstika’s captain is so young?”
“Are you equating young with inexperience?” his father challenged.
“Given that her commander is a man well into his years, yes, I find it…odd.”
“Surely the Esstika has more than one captain,” Vadris Plur suggested.
“I have no doubt she does,” Sov agreed. “I’m thinking the young woman is part of her personal security detail, and the others, the more seasoned ones, are out fighting the Tra’Mell. It’s what I would have done.”
Duren touched his sword at his hip. “Why did they allow us to keep our weapons?”
Vadris Plur barked with laughter. “Why not? We’re surrounded by armed Beinights. What do you think will happen the first time we reach for our arms?”
Duren nodded.
A soft chiming sound alerted them, letting them know someone was at the door. Vadris Plur started toward it when the portal de-solidified. A woman bearing the banner of her office stepped inside.
“The Esstika sends this repast for your enjoyment. She also requests your presence tonight at an informal dinner to discuss your proposal. Afterwards, you are welcome to stay the night.”
“Tell the Esstika we accept her dinner invitation, but we prefer to spend the night on our ship,” Sov replied.
The woman smiled, giving Duren the impression she’d expected the Sarpi to say as much. She waved to the people waiting outside the door. Three servants entered and set up a single table to place a jug, a tray of mugs, and two platters of assorted small foods. They exited as silently as they’d worked, leaving the woman to face their guests. Before leaving, she walked over to the table, picked up one of the tiny sweet buns, and popped it into her mouth. A few chews, and she swallowed it. “Enjoy your visit, kind sirs,” she murmured, then exited the room.
After the door solidified, Vadris Pra snorted in amusement.
“What was that all about?” Duren questioned, turning to the general.
“To reassure us the food isn’t tainted, like we’d assumed earlier in the audience chamber,” Pra said, chuckling.
“She didn’t drink any of what’s in the jug,” Duren pointed out.
“She didn’t need to,” Sov answered.
“Why not?”
He shot his son a dark look. “Before there can be any trust between our people, it first has to be proven to flow both ways.”
“If that’s the case, why aren’t we staying the night here in the manse?”
Amazingly, Sov smiled. “It takes a while before anyone earns my full trust. Haven’t you learned that by now?”
4
Proposal
Lhora glanced across the room at where her father was standing guard, the same as she was on this side of the dining hall. The smell of food was thick in the room, and she felt her stomach tighten. Despite the fact that she and the commander would not be eating at this time, she actually didn’t mind these kinds of gatherings. Once all was said and done, and everyone disbursed to their rooms or wherever, she and Fallmin would rendezvous to the side room next to the kitchen, and indulge themselves of what the cooks had set aside for them. That’s when her father would tell her stories, treating her imagination to tales of heroism from Beinight’s past. Personally, the stories she loved the most were the ones about her parents—how they met, fell in love, and the difficulties they faced before being allowed to marry. After they’d eaten their fill, he’d retire to his bedchambers where Kai was waiting for him, and Lhora would go to hers.
Thinking of her parents, her eyes fell on the young man seated next to the Sarpi. More than once she caught the Coltrosstian staring at her. Sizing her up. Judging her.
Fine. Let him. She could hold this stoic pose for hours if need be. Yet, she got the impression he wanted to talk to her. Why, she couldn’t begin to guess. If he did approach her, would she let him? What would he want to talk about with her?
“—did you wait until you crossed our border before contacting us?”
Lhora jerked out of her reverie. Her mother was asking the questions she’d said she would.
