Read Online Stardancer (Tellaran Series) by Ariel MacArran - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ariel MacArran
Ads: Link
Aidar looked away. “And she does not understand her life can be demanded at any time if she gives offense.”
“You care so much for her life?”
Aidar gave a short nod.
“Then, foster-brother, you must find a way to secure her obedience.”
Kinara rested her leg with as much of her body close to the holo-fire’s warmth as she could manage without falling off the couch. She was not used to the cold or lying around not doing anything.
She couldn’t hope to overpower him. After she realized he’d locked her in she’d searched the rooms but couldn’t find anything she was sure both heavy enough to knock him out and small enough for her to wield easily. He didn’t wear a blaster either, only that stupid sword.
With a sigh she relinquished her place by the holo-fire and wandered through Aidar’s quarters. They were decorated in almost painfully elaborate style. She studied a tapestry hung on the wall near the bed showing the violent battle scenes that, from what she’d seen on this ship, seemed to be a constant theme in their artwork.
She opened a trunk near the wall again.
It was filled with opaque white cubes the use for which she couldn’t fathom. She didn’t see how she could use them as a weapon so she’d left them be during her earlier search. Curious now, she picked one up, turning it this way and that, then carried it to the fireplace to get a better look. There was nothing in it that she could see. There was no catch or device to open it, only a dark funnel-like opening at the top. Peering down, she could see nothing but a tiny little hole.
“Well, this is exciting,” she muttered. “No wonder he has a whole box of them.”
She crossed the room, intending to fetch another to see if the little cubes fit together in any way when the thing slipped from her fingers.
She jumped as the chamber was filled with the deep baritone of Az-kye song. It rumbled on deep and full and, eyes wide, she watched the knee high holographic projection of a man in wild costume singing his heart out.
Just what he was singing she didn’t know. For all her fluency she could only catch a word here and there. The image of a woman joined the man’s and she began to sing with him, her voice high and lilting and it finally dawned on Kinara she was hearing an Az-kye opera.
The realization hit her hard. The Az-kye she’d studied knew nothing of beauty or order. They were violent, uncivilized brutes, not music lovers.
She couldn’t understand the words but there was a common thread of human emotion in the music. It was the sound of love, loss, and suffering. She sat on the floor to listen, so enthralled it was several moments before she realized she was no longer alone.
The song faded softly away as the recording ended.
“I did not know you cared for our music,” Aidar said quietly.
“I didn’t know your people had music.” She stood, bending to retrieve the cube. She cradled the cube in her hand. “It was beautiful.”
“ Shade of Quen’dalla .”
She looked up and he gave a faint smile.
“It is the name of the opera. A favorite of mine.”
“Oh.” Kinara fiddled with the cube for a moment. “I couldn’t understand much of it.”
“It is in the ancient language.”
“What’s it about?”
“A warrior cursed with immortality for honoring pride before all else. He is driven by it to a battle while his bound mate dies. He wanders after her shade, forever seeking to join her in death.”
“That’s awful.”
“Great pride carries a price.”
“It doesn’t seem like a theme the Az-kye would appreciate.”
His smile was rueful. “Think you, Cy’atta , my people have no fools? I did not believe you thought so highly of us.”
“Well,” Kinara replied. “You got me there. I guess even Az-kye are human.”
He inclined his head. “I am pleased you find us so.”
“Mostly human anyway.”
He sighed. “You are still angry.”
“Do you care?”
“Yes,” he
“You care so much for her life?”
Aidar gave a short nod.
“Then, foster-brother, you must find a way to secure her obedience.”
Kinara rested her leg with as much of her body close to the holo-fire’s warmth as she could manage without falling off the couch. She was not used to the cold or lying around not doing anything.
She couldn’t hope to overpower him. After she realized he’d locked her in she’d searched the rooms but couldn’t find anything she was sure both heavy enough to knock him out and small enough for her to wield easily. He didn’t wear a blaster either, only that stupid sword.
With a sigh she relinquished her place by the holo-fire and wandered through Aidar’s quarters. They were decorated in almost painfully elaborate style. She studied a tapestry hung on the wall near the bed showing the violent battle scenes that, from what she’d seen on this ship, seemed to be a constant theme in their artwork.
She opened a trunk near the wall again.
It was filled with opaque white cubes the use for which she couldn’t fathom. She didn’t see how she could use them as a weapon so she’d left them be during her earlier search. Curious now, she picked one up, turning it this way and that, then carried it to the fireplace to get a better look. There was nothing in it that she could see. There was no catch or device to open it, only a dark funnel-like opening at the top. Peering down, she could see nothing but a tiny little hole.
“Well, this is exciting,” she muttered. “No wonder he has a whole box of them.”
She crossed the room, intending to fetch another to see if the little cubes fit together in any way when the thing slipped from her fingers.
She jumped as the chamber was filled with the deep baritone of Az-kye song. It rumbled on deep and full and, eyes wide, she watched the knee high holographic projection of a man in wild costume singing his heart out.
Just what he was singing she didn’t know. For all her fluency she could only catch a word here and there. The image of a woman joined the man’s and she began to sing with him, her voice high and lilting and it finally dawned on Kinara she was hearing an Az-kye opera.
The realization hit her hard. The Az-kye she’d studied knew nothing of beauty or order. They were violent, uncivilized brutes, not music lovers.
She couldn’t understand the words but there was a common thread of human emotion in the music. It was the sound of love, loss, and suffering. She sat on the floor to listen, so enthralled it was several moments before she realized she was no longer alone.
The song faded softly away as the recording ended.
“I did not know you cared for our music,” Aidar said quietly.
“I didn’t know your people had music.” She stood, bending to retrieve the cube. She cradled the cube in her hand. “It was beautiful.”
“ Shade of Quen’dalla .”
She looked up and he gave a faint smile.
“It is the name of the opera. A favorite of mine.”
“Oh.” Kinara fiddled with the cube for a moment. “I couldn’t understand much of it.”
“It is in the ancient language.”
“What’s it about?”
“A warrior cursed with immortality for honoring pride before all else. He is driven by it to a battle while his bound mate dies. He wanders after her shade, forever seeking to join her in death.”
“That’s awful.”
“Great pride carries a price.”
“It doesn’t seem like a theme the Az-kye would appreciate.”
His smile was rueful. “Think you, Cy’atta , my people have no fools? I did not believe you thought so highly of us.”
“Well,” Kinara replied. “You got me there. I guess even Az-kye are human.”
He inclined his head. “I am pleased you find us so.”
“Mostly human anyway.”
He sighed. “You are still angry.”
“Do you care?”
“Yes,” he
Similar Books
