Read Online Palace by Katharine Kerr, Mark Kreighbaum - Free Book Online Page A

and wished I had your red hair.’
    Vida laughed. But after Lera left, she found it hard to concentrate on her work. If only she were Marked, she could have asked for Rico. But even if she had, he would only go away again afterwards, back to his life of freedom, and here she’d still be, trapped in Pleasure Sect forever. Loath. Just too utterly loath. Vida picked up a baking sheet and threw it hard against the wall.
    * * *
    Hivel Jons y Macconnel was not a man used to being kept waiting. With a frightened Lera muttering excuses at his side, he stalked through The Close and stepped out through double glass doors to the sheltered garden of the Pause. Hanging on poles among the tall ferns and frond-trees, coloured lanterns gleamed. Flowers, real ones this time, oozed perfume into the warm night air. Laughing and talking, clients stood round in groups or clustered near the buffet tables, although a small crowd had gathered in front of the vidscreen hanging from a garden wall. Hi edged through the crowd and got himself a skewer of spiced meat and a glass of wine so dark a red it seemed black in the lantern light. At least Aleen set a good table at these functions. But where,was the damned woman?
    ‘Se?’ Lera still hovered at his elbow. ‘Is there anything else I can give you?’
    He glanced at her face, as vacant as a flower if as pretty.
    ‘No thanks.’ He reached into a pocket of his robes and pulled out a couple of coins, then pressed them into her hand. ‘Run along.’
    She smiled, bowed, and darted away, as if she were afraid he’d change his mind. Hi took a long good look at his fellow guests, guildspeople mostly, since only the rich could afford The Close. He spotted plenty of clients with the sashes of masters slantwise over their robes, talking together and smiling like the best of friends - not that any of them believed it of the others. Off to one side stood a woman who towered over the Palace citizens around her. Slender as a stalk, with jet black hair wound round her head in braids - she had to be from Souk, whose low gravity grew humans tall.
    ‘The ambassador,’ Tia’s soft voice murmured at his elbow.
    ‘Ah,’ Hi said. ‘Is Rico okay?’
    ‘More than okay by now.’ She paused, smiling. ‘He took to Darla, shall we say.’
    Hi forced a grin and wondered why he disliked this woman so much.
    ‘Fine. Just let me know when Aleen gets back.’
    With a nod Tia walked away, pausing now and then to speak to a guest before she disappeared inside. It occurred to Hi that maybe he disliked Tia so much because she disliked him. Under her little smiles he saw an edge - not thiat he particularly cared. She knew her job, he supposed, and that was all that mattered. Just like Jevon did. He winced, remembering his factor’s pale face that morning, and the way she’d clamped her lower lip between her teeth, determined not to cry. He should never have taken his nerves out on her, never! She was due for a raise; he’d better make it a big one. In front of him a saccule servant, dressed in a lacy black apron, paused with a tray of used glasses and napkins. Hi dropped his empty skewer into the litter and made a little hissing noise out of the side of his mouth. The saccule released a good-humoured smell like candy and wandered on.
    Off by a wall covered with gold flowers, the round little Countess of Motta was standing draped in silver, and talking with two masters wearing the dark green robes of Power Sect. Hi strolled over, sipping his glass of wine, the only drink he’d allow himself this evening, and joined them. One of the Power men excused himself and wandered off, but the other stayed, though he moved back several steps in deference to the leader of the all-important Cyber-guild, who would expect to keep the attention of a countess all to himself.
    ‘Hivel, darling,’ the Countess said and extended a lazy hand.
    ‘Olletta, lovely to see you.’ Hi kissed her hand, which smelled of perfume and mushrooms in