She made the mistake of scrolling through the list. Her thoughts of making good time disappeared. It was never-ending.
She sighed and went on to the next section—numbers. Again she had to write out each number and any possible variations. After entering numbers up to thirty, the tablet filled in the rest to one hundred and then asked if it was accurate. She confirmed it and continued to one hundred and five before the tablet caught the pattern and completed the rest.
Just for the heck of it, she tossed in Roman numerals. The tablet actually asked her which was proper for everyday usage or if the two were interchangeable. She hadn’t expected that question and ended up having to write out her answer in jehlvan, explaining that the Arabic numerals were the more commonplace. While simpler to speak to the tablet, she didn’t want to interrupt Bekion and bring everyone’s attention back to her.
Next came colors. That bored her quickly but she had nothing else to do. Only the goal of writing to her parents kept her at it. Unlike the other entries she’d seen, the colors section came with samples. That made sense. There were more color names today than a few hundred years ago.
The tablet didn’t show many colors beyond the more mundane, which was too bad since she had looked forward to salmon, blush, rose and all the other subtle shades of pink. Obviously the jattikans didn’t want to get that in-depth. Or maybe the program was saving those for later and the current list was an introduction.
She started humming under her breath as she wrote her answers. The list zoomed by a lot faster with a rhythm to set her pace. Soon she got into her singing and a few words of a song slipped past her lips. It was an unconscious action. She paused and waited to see if anyone noticed. No one paid the least bit of attention to her. She smiled to herself and resumed working.
Humming turned into singing under her breath. While she could keep humming, it felt so much better to sing. Besides, she sang too softly to cause any issue. The other occupants of the room probably couldn’t even hear her.
She finished one song and the section on times of day at the same time. The tablet loaded family terminology while she tried to think of another song.
Clapping started.
That startled her. Starling looked up. Everyone in the room stared at her as they clapped, even Bekion, who smiled as he held his hand out to her.
She set aside her tablet and went to him. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Sorry.”
“Not at all, Starling.” Bekion stroked her cheek. “I didn’t know you could sing so beautifully.”
“We just met.”
He lifted her to his lap. “Would you grace us with another song?”
“You can’t understand my words.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It did before.”
Bekion made an amused noise. “In this instance, it does not. The melody and your voice are enough. Please.”
She nodded. No point picking a needless argument and she did want to sing.
Bekion sat back with his hand resting on her lower back. She faced her audience. A flippant song came to mind to vent her spleen about all the crap she’d endured but she chose a better song.
She bopped her head to the music only she could hear. The intro played. She decided to skip the harmony since it wouldn’t sound right without the background music. She let her eyes slip closed and started the song.
The original singer had a wide range and thanks to years of training and a healthy dose of genetics, so did Starling. Her voice was a gift from her father. He’d made sure it was honed.
She hit the part of the song with the drawn-out note. Several people started clapping at the length she held it. Actually, she could have held it longer but the song didn’t go that way.
The song ended and she bowed her head, signaling she’d finished.
Everyone clapped loudly. Some even cheered.
“Very beautiful, Sire,” called one man.
A woman down the table said, “How fortunate to have such a talented pet.”
“Hear, hear.”
The clapping continued.
Starling felt her homesickness returning. On Earth, she’d heard the same applause on a regular basis. As a singer at a nineteen-twenties period bar, Starling always received tips and appreciation from the patrons.
The job had been fun. She’d gotten a complete wardrobe and stylist so she would be the height of twenties chic. The owner had been a stickler for authenticity. Fortunately, he’d drawn the line at certain aspects of the twenties, like the segregation. Everyone had been welcome so long as they followed the dress code and kept things civil.
“Starling?”
She jumped and looked at Bekion. “Sorry. Yes?”
“You looked far away. Is something wrong?”
“No.” She shook her head to clear her thoughts. The past was gone. Thinking about it caused pain. She smiled at him. “Did you want me to sing another?”
Bekion couldn’t answer because many at the table called affirmatives. He smiled and waved her forward. She thought of a more upbeat song. There weren’t as many long notes but the song’s tempo and light nature helped lift her mood.
She bounced a little and bopped her head to the rhythm. At that moment, she wished she had stashed her MP3 player in her purse. She’d left it at home because the battery was low. Jattikan technology might have been able to adapt to it, or vice versa, and allowed her to hear the music rather than imagine it. But then, she hadn’t known she would never see her home again.
As before, she ended the song with her head bowed. Everyone clapped. A few people called for her to sing another.
Bekion held up his hand. The people in the room quieted. “That is enough. We have business to attend. I don’t want to tire my pretty pet.”
Starling almost laughed at the pouting faces turned her way. She could sing another twenty songs and be fine but she didn’t say that. She eased off Bekion’s lap and walked back to her spot.
Bekion said, “Bring the tablet and return.”
She thought he directed his comment to another until she turned and found him looking at her. She pointed to herself and he nodded. Why did he want her to return to him? He didn’t want her to sing any longer.
She shrugged and did as he bade. When she returned, he resituated her on his lap. She placed the tablet on the table and continued her task.
Bekion rested his hand on her lower back and said, “Continue, Lord Orvey.”
Starling glanced up.
The man pictured on the screen four seats down from Bekion’s left nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty. As I was saying, the border has always been the Ajoki River. The river itself is unclaimed.”
“That is false,” barked a woman directly across from Orvey.
Another land dispute. Did Bekion do anything else besides settle borders and ownership? Starling focused on her project.
Bekion said, “Lady Ruset, I did not give you leave to speak. You two are acting no better than the people who come before my throne on a daily basis to air their grievances. I expect better from my lords.”
Lady Ruset bowed her head.
Lord Orvey glared at the woman.
Bekion drummed his fingers against Starling’s back. With his hand beneath the table, no one could see his action. Starling got the feeling he wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.
A wild impulse made her blurt out, “I want to see a map.”
All gazes turned to her. She made herself appear as wide-eyed and innocent as she could. They all treated her like a dumb animal. If it meant cutting the tension in the room, she didn’t mind playing the part.
Bekion asked, “A map, pretty pet?”
“Of this planet. I want to see a map. I don’t even know what the planet looks like or if it has a moon or what color the sun is. I want to see a map.” She gestured to the table. “You all have some impressive technology here. You can’t tell me there isn’t some way to show me a map.”
He lifted his hand from her ba
ck so he could tap his arm cuff a few times. The room darkened and the table glowed as a holographic projection of a planet appeared.
Bekion said, “Panagiota.”
Starling stared. It resembled Earth with its blue, brown and green surface. She leaned closer to the projection. It only shared Earth’s coloring. Panagiota had more land than water and the planet had no white, designating snow.
“It’s pretty,” she said.
Bekion flicked his fingers and the planet turned until he stopped moving. He pointed at a large island in the middle of a giant lake, enclosed in the center of what looked like Panagiota’s largest land mass. “We are located here.”
Starling asked, “Is this a natural island or did you make it that way so the palace would be easier to defend?”
Murmuring erupted from the lords and ladies.
Starling looked around. What had happened? Had she said something wrong?
Bekion waved the room to silence. “An ancestor of mine changed the face of the planet hundreds of generations ago in order to fortify his defenses. A single generation later, my family was declared rulers of this planet.”
“Because of the terraforming?”
“No, because my ancestor defeated all those who would have tried to take his land. He launched several successful campaigns from this island. None could hope to defeat him. He set out to conquer the planet but died before he could see it done. His daughter followed in his footsteps. She became the first queen of my family line.”
“Oh.” Starling stared at the island.
It was lush and green. But then, she was looking at an aerial view from space. Closer up, she might actually see the palace and villages and the like. The view the projection afforded her only allowed her to see the rippling mountains surrounding the lake. No sneak attacks from there. There had to be a quick way in and out, otherwise Bekion’s ancestor would have made himself a very elaborate tomb.
But that wasn’t why she had wanted to see the planet. She reached out and made the hand motion Bekion had earlier. The projection moved. That caused another round of murmurs, which she ignored. They would get used to her eventually.
A large river caught her eye. She stopped the projection above it and pointed. “Can you make it bigger?”
Bekion reached out and tapped the spot she indicated. The map expanded and grew, showing a closer view of the river. “It is interesting, pretty pet, that you would choose this location.”
“Oh?”
“This is the very river causing such contention between Lady Ruset and Lord Orvey.”
Lucky, Starling thought to herself. Her original goal in requesting the map had been to find the longest or the widest river.
She found a river with a width that almost split one continent in half. It could be two separate landmasses, except the river tapered off and disappeared into a large chunk of flat land that connected one side to the other.
She asked, “What’s so special about the river?”
“That is a good question.” Bekion turned his gaze to Ruset. “What would be your answer, Lady Ruset? Why struggle so hard to keep what has always been a neutral territory?”
Lady Ruset sat up straighter and cleared her throat. “Your Majesty, the river has always been acknowledged as part of my lands. If it is no longer to be considered neutral then it should be named legally mine.”
Lord Orvey huffed a few times. “King Bekion, that river is only hers in her delusional mind. Her lands are mountainous while mine are flat. The river curves around and avoids the mountain before resuming its original path. The river itself declares itself part of my territory.”
“You would claim dominion over the intent of nature now, Orvey? How arrogant and pretentious can you be?”
“Better that I be arrogant than deluded, Ruset. No river belongs to a mountain. It has always been a mutually agreed upon neutral point. If anything, it should remain as such. If not, then it should naturally go to me.”
“That argument is as unnatural as your hair.”
Starling stared at the pair with a raised eyebrow. Really? They had resorted to defaming one another like children. She looked at Bekion.
He said in a loud voice over Lady Ruset and Lord Orvey’s continued maligning of each other, “You two both voiced valid reasons and arguments. I shall think on this matter. Until I do, the river is neutral and cannot be claimed.”
Neither looked happy. That didn’t make sense to Starling. Orvey had lobbied for the river to be neutral. He was getting his way and yet he looked as upset about Bekion’s decision as Ruset.
Starling wanted to ask but she kept her mouth shut. To stave off the temptation of joining the conversation further, she forced herself to concentrate on her tablet. She was still confused why Bekion had called her there. But then, Bekion himself confused her.
Chapter Seven
“So ends this week’s session,” Bekion said.
His nobles bowed to him before blanking their screens. Once the last person left, Bekion turned his attention to Starling. She didn’t falter or act as if she planned to stop working.
Bekion decided he would watch her for a short time. He reclined against the back of his seat, able to relax after the two-hour-long meeting. Starling adjusted her position so she remained hunched over the tablet and continued writing.
He had officially owned Starling for ten hours—one full day. In that time, she had completely usurped his normal routine. His thoughts had wandered back to Starling when he should have been concentrating on the reports of his high-ranking nobles. His only recourse had been to summon her in hope that her presence would alleviate the problem.
He didn’t know if it was her or the act of owning a pet that so distracted him. The latter made more sense. While attractive in her human way, Starling was not to his tastes.
“Huh?” Starling looked up from her work at the empty room and then glanced over her shoulder at him. “Did the meeting end?”
He smiled at her confusion. “Three minutes ago. I didn’t want to interrupt you.”
“You should have said something.” She tapped the tablet before pushing it away. “Now what?”
Bekion was about to answer when Rois entered the room. Nausic and the other guards followed. Rois bowed. “Lunch is ready, Bekion.”
“Good.” Bekion slipped his arm under Starling’s legs as he stood.
She leaned down and snatched up her tablet then righted herself.
“Do you think you will be able to eat this time?”
Starling snapped, “It’s your fault I didn’t eat last time.”
“You started eating before I could warn you.”
She harrumphed and Bekion laughed. He walked toward the door, which Rois opened for him.
Nausic stood on the other side. He held out his hand, indicating Starling, and said in a grudging voice, “I will carry her, Sire.”
Bekion breezed past Nausic. “No need.”
Starling said, “Or I could walk.”
“Indulge me for a time, pretty pet. I’m sure I will grow out of this whim soon.” He smiled at her.
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
Holding her wasn’t much of a burden. Starling weighed very little. For her size, that worried him. He needed to make sure she had proper meals, especially after her episode at breakfast.
They reached his chambers, where his staff waited with the table set for lunch. After settling himself and Starling at the table, the servers uncovered the dishes.
Starling looked at the food with suspicion.
Bekion said with a knowing smile, “The pelbuah is absent. The cook will no longer serve it.”
“Good.” She reached for her fork and then proceeded to taste test every food before committing to eating it.
He had never been so entertained during a meal. His relaxed attitude surprised him as well. Something he hadn’t felt at a meal in years.
Furielle entered from the inner chamber. She held a dress draped over her arm and
looked very pleased. The expression dropped when she saw Starling.
Bekion asked, “Is there something amiss, Furielle?”
The woman rushed over to Starling and touched his pretty pet’s head. “What happened to her hair?”
Starling moved her head from beneath Furielle’s hands. “I braided it.”
“Why?” Furielle asked.
Bekion said at the same time, “I didn’t give you permission to do that.”
Starling set down her fork and took a breath. “Look, you. I am sick of arguing with you and I’ve only known you for two days.”
“Then do as I say,” Bekion said in a matter-of-fact tone.
She gripped her fork once more and looked as though she would throw it at him. After a moment, she set it down. “I’m not doing this. I braided my hair. End of discussion.” She resumed eating.
Bekion sipped his drink as he watched her. She thought she had won. He would have to disillusion her of that. “Take it out, Furielle.”
The woman nodded. She signaled behind her to another woman, who approached with a brush.
Starling snatched up her knife and pointed it at Furielle and the hairdresser. “Do it and you’ll lose some blood.”
Both women hesitated, giving Bekion worried looks.
Starling faced Bekion. “It’s time for a cultural lesson. In order for my hair to stay that cute little cloud you’re so fond of playing with, it has to be combed out constantly. It’ll compact and turn into one huge knot otherwise. That’ll happen faster with you petting it, which I hate by the way. That much combing will weaken my hair, making it break off as well as damage my scalp.”
He nodded, not commenting.
“As well, there is a cleanliness issue. My hair will not dry completely after being washed because air cannot reach my scalp and you won’t let me use a hair dryer. That will cause mildew, which is disgusting and smells horrible. I would personally like to avoid that.” She put her hands on her hips.
Everyone in the room stood in silence, waiting for Bekion’s reaction.
He digested her words. While he would never say it aloud, he agreed with Starling. He had grown tired of arguing. Debates, discussions and arguments filled his days. His time in his chambers meant a break from that.
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