A Cat Among Dragons

by Alma Boykin

  Zabet considered the pad and the pilot and sighed. «You drive a very hard bargain, Miss Nahrow. If I didn’t need someone’s services now, I’d find someone more amenable to reality. However, since my current pilot has just taken a position without giving me proper notification, I have little or no option. This is my last offer—» and she pushed the pad over the table with a theatrical droop of her whiskers.

  The number was lower than what Rada wanted but more than reasonable considering the extra responsibilities involved and Rada nodded. “And if I didn’t have such limitations on my schedule and negotiating position, I could easily better this. However, that is not currently the case, so I accept.”

  Actually, both women had done well and knew it, and they had enjoyed the dickering. After some more discussion of details, Zabet drew up the contract. Rada read it through, suggested one small change to better protect both of them, and when Zabet agreed, they signed. «I want to leave at 0700 tomorrow. I need to confirm the destination, but I’ll get you the details in the morning.»

  “Very well, my lady.”

  The reptile slipped her pad and stylus into a pocket on her carry-harness. «Good night then, Miss Nahrow,» and she left the sitting area to her pilot. Rada allowed herself to bask in the glow of a successful business bargain, then started back to her own room. She was about halfway when she felt a sense of pressure and tension, then a twisting of the timestreams nearby as a time ship arrived at the spaceport a few kilometers away. «Oh kniggits. Blessed Bookkeeper, please may they just be dropping off someone.» Half an hour later the sensation repeated itself and Rada whispered her thanks. Yes, just because it was a time ship didn’t mean it had to be the Traders. There were two or three other species that had similar capacities, but... «Someday they’ll have to give up looking for me. And may it be soon!»

  Just before sunrise the next morning Rada enjoyed a hearty breakfast before finishing packing her few things. She stiffened as the previous night’s sensation repeated itself, also at the same distance as the spaceport. Well, she’d just hope that being with Lady Zabet, plus her disguise, plus her contribution to the facility manager’s “favorite charity,” would keep them away from the Dark Hart, and her. The Wanderer picked up her bags, and after a last survey of the plush setting she went to the main desk and checked out. Zabet joined her and handed her a case and a satchel to carry.

  «I’m ready to go now.» Zabet led the way to a waiting taxi. «Spaceport, gate three,» she ordered. The driver nodded and whisked them to the smaller side entrance of the complex. Zabet paid while Rada carried both of their bags. As the reptile sorted through her change, Rada stopped long enough to take the safety off her blaster, just in case someone was waiting.

  As they walked through the gates, Rada noticed a pair of tall humanoids, a male and a female, standing beside a time ship. They had their backs to the new arrivals, and Rada crossed her fingers that she and her new employer could slip past without the Traders noticing them. Zabet came up, grumbling about taxi fares and shaking her head. Rada nodded off to their left, and as they started turning the male Trader hurried off, moving away from the departing pair. But before the Wanderer could relax, the female looked over their way. She did a double take and Rada’s stomach clenched.

  Lady Zabet started saying something, but a female voice interrupted, calling, “Excuse me, my lady?” and the woman came up to them, looking closely at Rada as she approached. The newcomer was tall and thin, with pale blue eyes and light grey hair.

  Oh fuck. Blessed Bookkeeper, Rada prayed, please may I not lose a contract and have to fight my way out of here.

  Zabet was polite but cool. «Yes? Do you wish to do business? Or is there a problem?» The reptile’s tail patted the ground, showing her irritation with the delay.

  “I hope not, my lady. My name is Gerda da Terbari, Trademistress, and I’m looking for a female called Rakoji da Kavalle.” She nodded towards Rada, who fought to keep herself calm and confused-looking. “I happened to be here on other business, and noticed that your pilot seems to closely resemble the person of interest.”

  Zabet’s whiskers stiffened in annoyance. To Rada’s surprise she replied, «Rrashli Nahrow has been my House Pet for a while, Mistress da Terbari. Several years in fact. I take it the person you seek is Trader born?» At the Trader’s nod, Zabet swirled her whiskers and ears in the draconic version of an eye-roll. «Well, this is not her. In point of fact, unless things have changed greatly, no Trader would ever consent to become a Pet,» the True-dragon reminded the two mammals.

  The Trader gave Rada another hard look and the “Feltari” did her best not to show her fear. “You are correct, my lady. I apologize for keeping you,” and de Terbari stepped out of their path.

  A male voice called, “Mistress Gerda! I just spoke to the port master about that landing fee,” and the Trader strode over to where the man was standing. Rada could have danced with joy, except for Zabet’s line about “House Pet.”

  «Where are we parked?» And at Rada’s gesture Zabet led the way towards a small, odd-looking craft parked away from the main fueling area and behind other vehicles. The True-dragon’s sapphire eyes narrowed as she realized where Rada had pointed. «That’s a time ship. Feltari can’t handle time ships!» She sounded angry and Rada didn’t blame her.

  “No ma’am, they don’t. I’m not really Feltari, but that is my ship,” and the Wanderer paused as the True-dragon slowed her steps.

  Zabet frowned, thumping her tail. «Well, we’d better hurry. Explain yourself later, Pet,» Zabet ordered, and Rada was happy to do so. They got into the Dark Hart and departed in near-record time after receiving their safety clearance. The Wanderer sang their path and once they were safely en route, the True-dragon sat up and glared at her pilot. «Truth. Who are you, and what’s going on?»

  “I’m Captain Rada Ni Drako, of Colonel Ingwe Adamski’s Adamantine Division. The Traders had a falling out with my parents and are hunting me because of that. Yes, my name was once Rakoji da Kavalle.” Rada took off the wig and removed her contacts and tail stripes under Zabet’s skeptical eyes.

  «A felinoid who can handle a time ship and fights. Interesting. Well, Rada Ni Drako, you’re working for me when you’re not on duty, from now on. You owe me, big time, and I intend to collect.» Zabet settled herself down around the base of the life support tank housing the ship’s central processor. «Since I’ve claimed you as my House Pet, you’d better know something about business. Because you’re going to earn every centicredit I spend on you!»

  Rada smiled her warped grin. “I am Trader trained, my lady. How do you think a mercenary officer could afford to stay at that kind of hotel if she doesn’t do some Trading outside of her main job? There’s a reason I started in logistics!”

  «Good. If you don’t screw up, I’ll take you as partner. Now here’s where we are going and what I expect you to do.» And thus began a most unusual partnership.

  A Modest Proposal?

  King-Emperor Shi-dan considered his options and rejected the entire list, clearing his computer display with a swipe of his open forefoot. He got up from his bench and began pacing, talons clicking on the inlaid stone floor of the office adjacent to his private chambers. The reptile swished his muscular tail, neck spines starting to rise before he controlled his frustration. Shi-dan wanted to find some way to safeguard the Imperial homeworld of Drakon IV from invasion even as the Empire’s resources stretched thinner, likely remaining thin for the next forefoot-full of year-turns. The King-Emperor also needed a way to force his court and people to start taking non-Azdhagi seriously as trading partners and allies, and not be so swift to dismiss their military prowess. The little debacle on Sidara should have taken care of that, but no. He grunted a humorless laugh.

  All at once, an elegantly simple solution struck the heavyset, dark brown reptile, one so radical that he rocked back a little at the thought. And if he staggered, then the rest of court might depose him for even proposing such an audacious
thing. Shi-dan rubbed under his muzzle with one talon, considering. The possibility also existed that the person whom the King-Emperor wished to involve in his problem might reject his offer or have found other employment, although his sources suggested that the individual remained unemployed by choice at this juncture. Shi-dan paced some more, then ducked into the small lineage shrine attached to the Imperial suite and lit a stick of incense to the god of wisdom. For good measure he also lit one to the deity of luck before returning to his worktable. This was a message he preferred to write himself, and he scratched his broad muzzle meditatively as he considered how best to phrase his wishes. The King-Emperor carefully laid clean paper on the writing tray, dipped one of his talons into the ink jar, and began composing a letter.

  The grey-eyed woman puzzled through the ornate script a few days later, frowning and wishing she’d learned more of the written version of formal Azdhag when she’d last been within the Empire. Rada Ni Drako thought she understood what his Imperial Majesty wanted, but it seemed so unbelievable that she set the letter aside, fixed her evening meal and then returned to the missive. This time she read it aloud, carefully pronouncing the hissing, bright-voweled language as she remembered hearing the letter’s author speak it several years before.

  “We, King-Emperor Shi-dan of the Azdhag Empire, from Our throne on Drakon IV, do repeat Our invitation to you to come and advise Us on matters of planetary defense.” What followed was plain enough—a basic security consultation contract, like one or two others she’d done or watched, and what the King-Emperor had requested not long after the Marauders finished their contract. But then the letter grew, well, intriguing. “Should your assessments and interests and Ours converge, We would consider offering you more extended and intensive participation in Our security matters.” Rada ran a hand through her waist-length hair and frowned. That sounded like the possibility of much more than just a standard contract! But did she want to get dragged into Azdhag politics and life?

  “Bah, he’s probably just using it as bait, like most people do,” Rada snorted. She didn’t need the income from the contract at the moment, whatever it would be. However, every little bit would help in the future. She stood up, cleaned her supper dishes, and then stepped out onto the small porch behind the cottage. An almost overwhelming perfume from the flowers in the gardens filled the night air, a blend of lily, rose, and clove. A light breeze stirred the flowers and set the weeping vines along the cottage’s back wall waving. She leaned against a roof post and sighed.

  Rada went back inside and wrote two letters: one to the King-Emperor of the Azdhag Empire, and the other to the owner of the guesthouse. Then she blew out the small lamp, made sure her weapons remained within reach, and went to sleep. Before dawn the next morning she broke her fast, packed her few belongings, and cleaned the guest cottage. Then she went to the main residence, left one letter for her mentor, and scanned and sent her reply to the King-Emperor. She decided to leave before the reply arrived on Drakon IV, so she could do a little business en route. Shi-dan’s answer would reach her ship in transit as easily as it had reached her forwarded address here. The soft scent of flowers trailed behind her on the morning wind as she strolled through the garden to her time ship.

  “Your most gracious Imperial Majesty,” Shi-dan read to himself, three days after he sent his initial offer. “Although I do not know how I might be of service to you or the Empire, I accept your generous invitation to return to Drakon IV and consult on whatever matters Your Majesty finds necessary. My fees remain unchanged and I will come at your convenience. With utmost honor and gratitude, Very Respectfully, Commander Rada Ni Drako.” The King-Emperor smiled, barely able to contain his delight. The first hurdle had been passed, in some ways the easiest. Commander Ni Drako would come and he could talk to her.

  Well, there was no time like the present, Shi-dan decided. He called for his vizier and the palace seneschal. “We are expecting a guest. Commander Ni Drako will arrive in the morning two days from today. You will arrange for the Commander to have quarters appropriate for a minor noble or midrank diplomat,” he told the seneschal.

  The vizier and seneschal both frowned, and the vizier inquired, “Imperial Majesty, as I recall Commander Ni Drako was the mercenary captain to whom you granted an audience, correct?”

  “Correct,” Shi-dan agreed, watching his men trying to decide how to ask their next question.

  “The female mammal mercenary captain, Imperial Majesty?” the smaller seneschal ventured cautiously, neck spines starting to rise with agitation.

  “Correct. Commander Rada Ni Drako, late of the Mustang’s Marauders, former scout with the Adamantine Division, trained and served with Krather’s Komets. That ‘female mammal mercenary captain’ whom We have invited to come and consult with Us on matters of planetary security.” Shi-dan enjoyed the anxious looks on their faces and nervous tail twitches. If this is what happens even before Ni Drako arrives, he thought to himself, what comes after should provide great entertainment!

  As per his request, Rada Ni Drako’s ship appeared just after dawn two days later. Two of the Palace Guard and the seneschal were on hand to greet her and the seneschal didn’t try to hide his discomfort with the small mammal’s presence. She ignored his irritated tail twitches and barely-hidden dislike as she followed him to her assigned quarters, carrying her weapons and gear bag. Ni Drako made careful note of possible exits, escape routes, and other potentially life-saving information. Her last visit had caused some consternation and she expected someone to threaten her, even if she was the King-Emperor’s guest.

  Rada’s quarters were not large, but looked comfortable—if one was a mostly-quadrupedal reptile. I’m indoors, dry, and no vermin infest the place, so no complaints, she reminded herself. Ni Drako used the wait time before her appointment with Shi-dan to clean up and to change into her formal uniform from the Marauders. Her storm-grey split skirt and tunic with white trim, black boots and gun belt made her look a bit ghostly, given her brown-black hair, silver-grey eyes, black ears and tail, and pale complexion, but she really didn’t care. The mercenary settled down on one of the benches with the only history of the Azdhag Empire that she could find and reviewed it and the notes she’d made during the Marauders’ two contracts with the Empire.

  The summons arrived an hour later, and Rada followed a thickset servant along the stone passages into the old heart of the Palace complex. The reptile’s shoulder came perhaps to her waist and she quashed a smile at the prospect of being tall for a change. Two heavily armed guards stood outside the door leading to Shi-dan’s reception room and they blocked her entrance. “No weapons are allowed in the Imperial presence, Commander Ni Drako,” one of large males warned, and she nodded and began divesting herself of blast pistol, belt knife, the dagger in her boot, and the ornate stiletto that had been tucked into her braided hair. And the roll of wire from her pocket. And the hold-out blaster from her other pocket. The guards gave her a look of increased respect, and then let her into the room.

  King-Emperor Shi-dan sat waiting for her, four guards stationed along the walls. Rada strode towards him, halted five paces from his seat, and saluted as she would a senior officer. He nodded and she stood at parade rest, waiting for him to speak. The King-Emperor studied the female mammal with great curiosity. She was the only humanoid he had ever seen in person and although he knew that she was not considered “normal,” he failed to see anything odd, aside from her coloring and her name. She used Ni Drako, “daughter of dragons,” a battle name, not her birth lineage name. Despite his intense scrutiny she remained calm, seemingly content to wait as long as necessary.

  For her part, Rada watched the large, chocolate-brown reptile with equal curiosity. Unlike most Azdhagi, Shi-dan’s eyes were a green so dark they were almost black. Combined with yellow slit pupils, they gave him a malevolent appearance. He’d been a formidable warrior when he was younger and Rada decided that she still wouldn’t want to face him in single combat. At almost three
meters in length he was not especially large for a reptile, but very muscular, and intelligent to the point of brilliance. Rada held the greatest of respect for Shi-dan, even before he’d bent or broken a number of traditions by meeting with her in a private audience after the Marauders’ completed their last contract with the Empire.

  “Commander Ni Drako, We are pleased that you have accepted Our invitation,” Shi-dan began. “Do you understand what We desire?”

  The mercenary’s black tail twitched slightly. “If I translated correctly, Your Majesty wants my analysis of the security status on Drakon IV, focusing particularly on any potential weaknesses that someone like me would exploit,” she ventured.

  “That is correct. What do you know of Our empire?” He shifted forward on his throne, listening carefully to her response.

  “Very little, Imperial Majesty. I have read that it began developing very recently, within the past five of your centuries, beginning with the unification of the throneworld, thence across the local star systems until today. The political structure varies from world to world, but overall is what scholars would call ‘feudal,’ being based on loyalty to one’s superiors and duty to one’s vassals.” She concluded, “Otherwise, all I have read or heard are legends and rumors, Imperial Majesty.”

  Shi-dan was not displeased and he allowed himself to relax a little more. “You are correct, in as far as you have spoken. We will be frank, and what We say does not ever leave this chamber. Do you understand Us?”

  “Yes, Imperial Majesty.”

  “We have studied the accounts of previous empires not of Azdhagia, and they all collapse from inside, barring disaster such as befell the Tergarians.” Rada nodded in agreement as he continued. “It is Our desire to prevent that. One of the greatest weaknesses We have found in Our empire is Azdhag confidence and pride. It is too easy to diminish the accomplishments of the Empire’s alien enemies and allies. We desire someone from outside Azdhag culture and foreign to Our court to study Our throneworld and court, finding all the weaknesses that can be found.” He stared down at the mammal, gauging her reaction.