Read Online Voices of Chaos by A. C. Crispin, Ru Emerson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: A. C. Crispin, Ru Emerson
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pale, watered jhuris-wine and tore a chunk of seed-bread into increasingly small bits.
He hadn't slept much the past two nights due to outside activities. And when he'd tried to relax, he couldn't--too much anticipation. The CLS ship had passed the new jump-point station and would dock late today. So much changed when I went out to StarBridge. And again when I returned. And now....
In just a few hours, she would step onto the Arekkhi station.... They both will, he reminded himself sternly.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't be the one meeting them; his father had just informed him of that fact. Disappointing, though hardly surprising. Still...
"Why?" he asked. The question would be expected.
Khezahn looked up from his fish, chewed meat, and spat tiny bones into the bone-bowl, then crossed his forks on the platter before replying. "It was my decision as much as the main Council's," he said finally. His voice was unexpectedly
46
high-pitched and reedy for a male of his size and station.
Khyriz flicked one ear, letting disappointment show. "I know you prefer to keep your offspring on-planet, but--"
"Accidents happen," the Emperor broke in. Both Khyriz's ears went flat: His father seldom interrupted him. "But it is a matter of appearance: The Council is displeased that you appear to care more for the Academy and your outside acquaintances than for your own kind. Particularly since these females wil soon live in the old palace." His gaze fixed on his son's right hand, and the small, bright bit of red enamel fixed to his freshly blunted thumbnail. Khyriz glanced at the tiny adornment--only he knew of the inner workings that made it a sophisticated spy-device locator.
The Prince spread his hands in a shrug. "It was a gift from the translator-she Magdalena," he said stiffly. "If another Arekkhi had given it to me, it would be a breach of manners not to wear it."
"I know Arekkhi customs," the Emperor said with a growl and Khyriz, startled, fell silent. The elder royal ate fish, sipped his jhuris, spat bones.
"Khyriz," he said finally, "I am not angry with you, though many of the Council are."
Khyriz gestured sharply to his right with one hand, the Arekkhi equivalent of a human nod. "I know. They believe I deliberately failed them, at StarBridge.
But Father, the Academy is nothing like they envisioned! Nor are the other beings who run the Academy as--as--"
"As stupid as some of the Council believe?" The elder Arekkhi's whiskers curved forward in a sharp, brief smile. "They don't really believe that, you know. They merely hoped. Few of them really thought you would provide us with the technology we need to be seen as their equals, Khyriz."
"Then why...?" He couldn't complete the thought; memory of that session in the closed Council chamber, all those hooded figures, still gave him nightmares, from time to time.
"Because it is hard to see something unacceptable, and not attempt to deal with it," Khezahn replied. Khyriz went very still, wondering if somehow his own deepest secret had somehow been found out. But the older male's next words reassured him. "Change is hard, especially on the elder of us. Many on
47
the Council fear the outsiders and their influence." A dark eye fixed once more on his youngest son.
Khyriz privately doubted the zhez Zhenu had ever feared anything in his life, but he kept that to himself. "I could not make myself steal and sneak as they ordered, Father; you should know that much. I did not want to. Furthermore, I have no skills for such spywork; I would surely have been caught at once.
And sent home in disgrace ... much sooner than I was recalled. But so much study was required of the students, there was no time to even think of how to begin such thievery, let alone carry it out." He stared down at his blunt-nailed, cream-furred hands; his father waited. "And yes," he added in quiet defiance, "I did like the outsiders. I do, still."
"I could tell as much from the first day you returned home, if not
He hadn't slept much the past two nights due to outside activities. And when he'd tried to relax, he couldn't--too much anticipation. The CLS ship had passed the new jump-point station and would dock late today. So much changed when I went out to StarBridge. And again when I returned. And now....
In just a few hours, she would step onto the Arekkhi station.... They both will, he reminded himself sternly.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't be the one meeting them; his father had just informed him of that fact. Disappointing, though hardly surprising. Still...
"Why?" he asked. The question would be expected.
Khezahn looked up from his fish, chewed meat, and spat tiny bones into the bone-bowl, then crossed his forks on the platter before replying. "It was my decision as much as the main Council's," he said finally. His voice was unexpectedly
46
high-pitched and reedy for a male of his size and station.
Khyriz flicked one ear, letting disappointment show. "I know you prefer to keep your offspring on-planet, but--"
"Accidents happen," the Emperor broke in. Both Khyriz's ears went flat: His father seldom interrupted him. "But it is a matter of appearance: The Council is displeased that you appear to care more for the Academy and your outside acquaintances than for your own kind. Particularly since these females wil soon live in the old palace." His gaze fixed on his son's right hand, and the small, bright bit of red enamel fixed to his freshly blunted thumbnail. Khyriz glanced at the tiny adornment--only he knew of the inner workings that made it a sophisticated spy-device locator.
The Prince spread his hands in a shrug. "It was a gift from the translator-she Magdalena," he said stiffly. "If another Arekkhi had given it to me, it would be a breach of manners not to wear it."
"I know Arekkhi customs," the Emperor said with a growl and Khyriz, startled, fell silent. The elder royal ate fish, sipped his jhuris, spat bones.
"Khyriz," he said finally, "I am not angry with you, though many of the Council are."
Khyriz gestured sharply to his right with one hand, the Arekkhi equivalent of a human nod. "I know. They believe I deliberately failed them, at StarBridge.
But Father, the Academy is nothing like they envisioned! Nor are the other beings who run the Academy as--as--"
"As stupid as some of the Council believe?" The elder Arekkhi's whiskers curved forward in a sharp, brief smile. "They don't really believe that, you know. They merely hoped. Few of them really thought you would provide us with the technology we need to be seen as their equals, Khyriz."
"Then why...?" He couldn't complete the thought; memory of that session in the closed Council chamber, all those hooded figures, still gave him nightmares, from time to time.
"Because it is hard to see something unacceptable, and not attempt to deal with it," Khezahn replied. Khyriz went very still, wondering if somehow his own deepest secret had somehow been found out. But the older male's next words reassured him. "Change is hard, especially on the elder of us. Many on
47
the Council fear the outsiders and their influence." A dark eye fixed once more on his youngest son.
Khyriz privately doubted the zhez Zhenu had ever feared anything in his life, but he kept that to himself. "I could not make myself steal and sneak as they ordered, Father; you should know that much. I did not want to. Furthermore, I have no skills for such spywork; I would surely have been caught at once.
And sent home in disgrace ... much sooner than I was recalled. But so much study was required of the students, there was no time to even think of how to begin such thievery, let alone carry it out." He stared down at his blunt-nailed, cream-furred hands; his father waited. "And yes," he added in quiet defiance, "I did like the outsiders. I do, still."
"I could tell as much from the first day you returned home, if not
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