not include a flirtation with Commander Stone.” Sirena rose. “You may go.”
The girl scurried out of the office. Sirena gazed after her for a moment, her eyes narrowed. She hoped the girl was not going to be a problem.
Then she shook her head, dictated a quick message to Yvene into her com-link about the girl and forgot about her.
“Commander Stone,” she said. “What quadrant of the ship are you searching?”
“The cargo bays,” his deep voice said immediately. She could hear the sound of heavy containers being moved in the background. “There’s nothing here and we’re due on the starboard docking bay.”
Sirena sighed, knowing it was true. The guard always made themselves highly visible at the beginning of every voyage, patrolling all the passageways and public areas, stopping to chat with the passengers, assist them with directions and unfamiliar protocols and help the interpreters quiet any unrest between planetary beings unused to occupying common space with others very different from themselves.
She and Slyde were also expected to flank Captain Craig as he greeted important passengers, such as the prince of Aquarius.
A short time later, the captain and crew commanders of the Orion stood in a receiving line just outside the main docking bay, watching with interest as the royal Aquarian party boarded. They were a magnificent lot, with skin pale as an ice field. Their crystal eyes and flowing silver hair completed the illusion that they were ice sculptures come to life. In dress they favored silver robes and large jewels that glittered with every movement.
The prince strode on first. After looking down his blade of a nose at them all, he stopped before Captain Craig. His retinue paused behind him.
“Prince Azuran,” said Craig. “Welcome to the Orion .”
“Captain, well met,” the prince replied. “Stark’s new ship is quite something.”
He spoke perfect Galactic, but his accent made clear it was not his first language. Behind him, his followers murmured quietly among themselves, their native tongue like liquid chimes.
Craig nodded politely. “Thank you, Your Highness. We hope your voyage will be very pleasant. Allow me to introduce my crew commanders.” He began with Navos and worked his way along the short line. The prince said nothing, merely bowing very slightly to each of them, until he came to Sirena.
His eyes held the lazy interest of a connoisseur as he held out his bejeweled hand to her.
“A warrior queen,” he murmured.
Sirena laid her hand lightly in his, discovering that, despite its icy hue, his flesh was very warm indeed. So was the look in his crystal eyes.
She smiled back, pleased and amused. The prince was clearly something of a rogue, but despite his funning, his admiration was clear.
“Your Highness,” she replied. “Welcome to the Orion .”
“Indeed,” he replied, his tone as sultry as hers.
Behind her, Slyde moved, his big body brushing hers. She heard a dangerous rumble behind her ear, so soft only she could hear it, but chilling in its menace. The hair stood on the back of her neck, And then fury shot through her. How dare he? She was no subservient female from a remote desert tribe, to be kept in her place.
Still smiling, she pulled her hand casually from the prince’s grasp. The last thing they needed now was a diplomatic incident.
Casting one last smoldering look at her, the prince turned to Slyde, looming at her shoulder. The two males exchanged a measuring look. After a tense moment, Slyde bowed slightly and, to her surprise, Prince Azuran returned the courtly gesture before moving on.
Sirena blinked. The prince evidently considered Slyde Stone to be his equal.
If she weren’t so annoyed with the big fang-lizard for asserting his claim in the middle of a state greeting ceremony, she would question him. There was indeed something different about Slyde. Not only his great size and physical beauty set him apart, but also the way he carried
The girl scurried out of the office. Sirena gazed after her for a moment, her eyes narrowed. She hoped the girl was not going to be a problem.
Then she shook her head, dictated a quick message to Yvene into her com-link about the girl and forgot about her.
“Commander Stone,” she said. “What quadrant of the ship are you searching?”
“The cargo bays,” his deep voice said immediately. She could hear the sound of heavy containers being moved in the background. “There’s nothing here and we’re due on the starboard docking bay.”
Sirena sighed, knowing it was true. The guard always made themselves highly visible at the beginning of every voyage, patrolling all the passageways and public areas, stopping to chat with the passengers, assist them with directions and unfamiliar protocols and help the interpreters quiet any unrest between planetary beings unused to occupying common space with others very different from themselves.
She and Slyde were also expected to flank Captain Craig as he greeted important passengers, such as the prince of Aquarius.
A short time later, the captain and crew commanders of the Orion stood in a receiving line just outside the main docking bay, watching with interest as the royal Aquarian party boarded. They were a magnificent lot, with skin pale as an ice field. Their crystal eyes and flowing silver hair completed the illusion that they were ice sculptures come to life. In dress they favored silver robes and large jewels that glittered with every movement.
The prince strode on first. After looking down his blade of a nose at them all, he stopped before Captain Craig. His retinue paused behind him.
“Prince Azuran,” said Craig. “Welcome to the Orion .”
“Captain, well met,” the prince replied. “Stark’s new ship is quite something.”
He spoke perfect Galactic, but his accent made clear it was not his first language. Behind him, his followers murmured quietly among themselves, their native tongue like liquid chimes.
Craig nodded politely. “Thank you, Your Highness. We hope your voyage will be very pleasant. Allow me to introduce my crew commanders.” He began with Navos and worked his way along the short line. The prince said nothing, merely bowing very slightly to each of them, until he came to Sirena.
His eyes held the lazy interest of a connoisseur as he held out his bejeweled hand to her.
“A warrior queen,” he murmured.
Sirena laid her hand lightly in his, discovering that, despite its icy hue, his flesh was very warm indeed. So was the look in his crystal eyes.
She smiled back, pleased and amused. The prince was clearly something of a rogue, but despite his funning, his admiration was clear.
“Your Highness,” she replied. “Welcome to the Orion .”
“Indeed,” he replied, his tone as sultry as hers.
Behind her, Slyde moved, his big body brushing hers. She heard a dangerous rumble behind her ear, so soft only she could hear it, but chilling in its menace. The hair stood on the back of her neck, And then fury shot through her. How dare he? She was no subservient female from a remote desert tribe, to be kept in her place.
Still smiling, she pulled her hand casually from the prince’s grasp. The last thing they needed now was a diplomatic incident.
Casting one last smoldering look at her, the prince turned to Slyde, looming at her shoulder. The two males exchanged a measuring look. After a tense moment, Slyde bowed slightly and, to her surprise, Prince Azuran returned the courtly gesture before moving on.
Sirena blinked. The prince evidently considered Slyde Stone to be his equal.
If she weren’t so annoyed with the big fang-lizard for asserting his claim in the middle of a state greeting ceremony, she would question him. There was indeed something different about Slyde. Not only his great size and physical beauty set him apart, but also the way he carried
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