steps.
Lady Nimag appeared a little annoyed at the interruption. Bekion sympathized with the woman but Vieve was a force that couldn’t be denied or made to wait.
Vieve said, holding out a thin chain, “As you requested, My King.”
Bekion took the chain from her. When she released it, Starling’s piece of emerald encased in amber dangled at the end. Both stones were faceted and polished. The emerald glistened bright green even through its amber shell. A feat made possible because of nanotechnology.
He nodded in appreciation. “Ah, very good, Vieve. It looks much better.” He held it for Starling to see. “Don’t you agree, pretty pet?”
Starling sat up and reached for the necklace. He released it to her and watched her reaction. She cupped the jewel in both hands as a sad smile curved her lips.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He started to pet her head then stopped himself. Instead, he rubbed her back. She looked at him and he nodded.
From Bekion’s left shoulder, Rois cleared his throat. The man had appointed himself Bekion’s advisor on all things proper whilst before the court even though Bekion knew the rules better than his friend. Still, he heeded the reminders on the few occasions Rois gave them.
Bekion resumed his earlier relaxed position and faced forward. “Thank you, Vieve.”
The woman bowed then descended two steps below the throne—her designated spot.
“Proceed, Lady Nimag.” Bekion lifted the chain of Starling’s pendant, gently pulling it from her. Her look of instant upset made him smile though he tried to hold it back.
Lady Nimag said, “Your human is lovely, King Bekion. The rumors of her origin must be true—that she’s from Earth.” A hint of annoyance colored her voice though she kept the emotion off her face. Fortunate for her because Bekion might have decided to take offense and dismiss her.
He wouldn’t though. If the scenario didn’t play out with Lady Nimag, another would start it. Bekion needed to deal with the matter and put it to rest for good.
“She is.” He undid the clasp on the chain, wrapped it around Starling’s neck then redid the clasp. Her anger faded and she looked grateful once more.
Lady Nimag said, “I wasn’t aware Supreme Emperor Udo had repealed the law concerning harvesting humans from Earth.”
“He hasn’t.” Bekion met Lady Nimag’s gaze and with his eyes dared her to voice her true question. He wouldn’t volunteer anything.
“And what will Your Majesty do once Supreme Emperor Udo is made aware of your new pet and her origins? Such a transgression will not be overlooked.”
The thinly veiled threat almost made Bekion laugh. The nobility were so predictable. Of course the woman would try to turn the situation to her advantage. She was doomed to disappointment though.
Bekion said, “If I had committed a crime against the Gorov Empire, I’m sure the supreme emperor would punish me accordingly. He may yet show me his displeasure since my attempt to capture the poachers met with failure.”
“Capture the poachers?”
As he suspected, Lady Nimag took the bait. He feigned an annoyed expression. “My agents didn’t allow for how quickly the poachers could absent themselves from the scene of their crime. In the time it took to bring my pretty pet back to the palace and confirm her true origins, the poachers had already fled. Thankfully, we have descriptions of three crewmembers, which we have shared with the other kingdoms. I’m confident we shall hear news of the poachers’ capture before too long. I am sad it will not be I who did it.”
“I see.”
“My efforts to gain proof of a crime have resulted in owning an Earth-origin human. I may be unfamiliar with methods of pet care but she could have no better owner than me.”
Starling mumbled something in her mother language and rolled her eyes. She watched him as she said it. Even if he had understood her, he wouldn’t have reacted. He smiled at her and patted her thigh
Lady Nimag appeared a little annoyed at the interruption. Bekion sympathized with the woman but Vieve was a force that couldn’t be denied or made to wait.
Vieve said, holding out a thin chain, “As you requested, My King.”
Bekion took the chain from her. When she released it, Starling’s piece of emerald encased in amber dangled at the end. Both stones were faceted and polished. The emerald glistened bright green even through its amber shell. A feat made possible because of nanotechnology.
He nodded in appreciation. “Ah, very good, Vieve. It looks much better.” He held it for Starling to see. “Don’t you agree, pretty pet?”
Starling sat up and reached for the necklace. He released it to her and watched her reaction. She cupped the jewel in both hands as a sad smile curved her lips.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He started to pet her head then stopped himself. Instead, he rubbed her back. She looked at him and he nodded.
From Bekion’s left shoulder, Rois cleared his throat. The man had appointed himself Bekion’s advisor on all things proper whilst before the court even though Bekion knew the rules better than his friend. Still, he heeded the reminders on the few occasions Rois gave them.
Bekion resumed his earlier relaxed position and faced forward. “Thank you, Vieve.”
The woman bowed then descended two steps below the throne—her designated spot.
“Proceed, Lady Nimag.” Bekion lifted the chain of Starling’s pendant, gently pulling it from her. Her look of instant upset made him smile though he tried to hold it back.
Lady Nimag said, “Your human is lovely, King Bekion. The rumors of her origin must be true—that she’s from Earth.” A hint of annoyance colored her voice though she kept the emotion off her face. Fortunate for her because Bekion might have decided to take offense and dismiss her.
He wouldn’t though. If the scenario didn’t play out with Lady Nimag, another would start it. Bekion needed to deal with the matter and put it to rest for good.
“She is.” He undid the clasp on the chain, wrapped it around Starling’s neck then redid the clasp. Her anger faded and she looked grateful once more.
Lady Nimag said, “I wasn’t aware Supreme Emperor Udo had repealed the law concerning harvesting humans from Earth.”
“He hasn’t.” Bekion met Lady Nimag’s gaze and with his eyes dared her to voice her true question. He wouldn’t volunteer anything.
“And what will Your Majesty do once Supreme Emperor Udo is made aware of your new pet and her origins? Such a transgression will not be overlooked.”
The thinly veiled threat almost made Bekion laugh. The nobility were so predictable. Of course the woman would try to turn the situation to her advantage. She was doomed to disappointment though.
Bekion said, “If I had committed a crime against the Gorov Empire, I’m sure the supreme emperor would punish me accordingly. He may yet show me his displeasure since my attempt to capture the poachers met with failure.”
“Capture the poachers?”
As he suspected, Lady Nimag took the bait. He feigned an annoyed expression. “My agents didn’t allow for how quickly the poachers could absent themselves from the scene of their crime. In the time it took to bring my pretty pet back to the palace and confirm her true origins, the poachers had already fled. Thankfully, we have descriptions of three crewmembers, which we have shared with the other kingdoms. I’m confident we shall hear news of the poachers’ capture before too long. I am sad it will not be I who did it.”
“I see.”
“My efforts to gain proof of a crime have resulted in owning an Earth-origin human. I may be unfamiliar with methods of pet care but she could have no better owner than me.”
Starling mumbled something in her mother language and rolled her eyes. She watched him as she said it. Even if he had understood her, he wouldn’t have reacted. He smiled at her and patted her thigh
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