Nomad by William Alexander

blundering and ignorant?”
    Shame spread inside Gabe. Anger followed, and they fed on each other. He didn’t try to ignore or suppress either feeling, and he probably couldn’t have if he did try. Instead he held them close, held them still, and tried to stay calm.
    Say something , he demanded of himself. Talk your way out of this. Words are your weapons, the only ones you’ve got—except for the sword. Start talking.
    The Envoy spoke up before Gabe could.
    â€œYou cannot kill me .” It kept its voice low, though furious shades of purple rioted across its skin. “I can scatter my own molecules at will. I can escape and subsequently regrow. I can steal one of your ships. I can build my own. I can launch myself through the vacuum of space without any ship at all, and still survive. You cannot kill me, or prevent me from returning to the planet that is my responsibility. If you harm this ambassador I will select another, and I will teach them that the Kaen are our enemies. I will teach them that the Kaen betray their own laws of hospitality and welcome, that the Kaen cannot now or ever be trusted. The new Terran ambassador will spread this knowledge throughout the Embassy, and throughout the galaxy. Kaen will become pariah, forever shunned, forever unwelcome in every sun, every system, every world. I will do this, and you will be powerless to prevent it, if you harm Ambassador Gabriel Fuentes.”
    Silence.
    The Great Speaker smiled a tight-lipped smile.
    Mumwat’s suit creaked as he crossed metal arms. “Imove to honor the treaty negotiated by our own ambassador,” he said.
    â€œAgreement,” said Seiba the floating guru-tree.
    â€œConditional agreement,” Tlatoani said. “If his ignorance endangers us, then we should address that ignorance. During his time with us he should take housing in our own academy, and accept tutelage there.”
    I need to get home , Gabe thought, but did not say. The thought was a lump in his throat. He swallowed it. But I also need to survive long enough to get home.
    Everyone in the room turned to look at Qonne’s glowing projection.
    â€œThree captains are agreed,” he said. “This makes the decision. My voice is not required.”
    â€œI remain curious to know if you agree,” Tlatoani said.
    Qonne’s projection disappeared.
    â€œThat answers that,” Gabe said quietly.
    Kaen gave a hum of agreement. “His people don’t teach language at all until adulthood. It’s what marks adulthood for them. So they never send children to the academy, and never become ambassadors. They don’t respect ambassadors much.”
    Gabe knelt on the floor to be closer to his Envoy, whose skin still flowed in furious shades of purple. It clearly hadn’t calmed down yet.
    â€œThanks,” said Gabe.
    â€œYou are most welcome,” it told him in his mother’s voice.
    The remaining three captains spoke among themselves.
    â€œI go to stretch leaves in a window bubble and taste the outside light,” said Seiba.
    â€œWe all hide inside an ice cave,” Tlatoani pointed out. “You will have very little light to taste.”
    â€œA little always trickles in,” Seiba said, and disappeared.
    Speaker Tlatoani turned to Mumwat. “Will you stay aboard?” she asked. “You are welcome to swim in the irrigation lakes of Day.”
    â€œFor now,” he answered, and then addressed Gabe. “Welcome to the fleet. Pleased we are that we will not kill you, or damage your brain with deliberate intent.”
    â€œThank you,” Gabe said. “Likewise.”
    Mumwat crouched through the doorway and left.
    Gabe stood to face the last remaining captain.
    â€œThank you for your hospitality, Great Speaker.” He sharpened those words to very fine points.
    Tlatoani smiled again. “Thank you for your own, and for henceforth avoiding the dangers of Outlast attention. I trust