The Impatient Lord

by Michelle M. Pillow

“The trade was strange,” he admitted. “I really only agreed to get the other ship out of our sky. Since they were stranded, fuel was the only way to do it.”

  Seeing one of the nearby workers with a laser wrench, she motioned toward the tool. “Can I see that?”

  “My lady?” the man questioned, hesitating before giving it to her. He had a kind, open face and it took Riona all of two seconds to size him up. He’d make a horrible gambler, not that he would be the type to play.

  Riona took the wrench and ducked beneath the ship.

  “Uh, my lady?” the man called after her.

  “It is fine, Vihelm,” Mirek dismissed the man. “Riona? What are you doing?”

  Riona found the small access panel and used the wrench to make quick work of the plate cover. She pulled the metal back. Whistling low, she thrust her hand inside and ran her fingers over an engraving hidden behind the oxygen cylinders. She closed her eyes, concentrating as she read the seemingly random pattern of bumps.

  “Checking the ship’s history,” she said.

  “Next to the oxygen supply?” Mirek frowned, looking into the open panel at the tanks. “The ship’s logs are available from inside.”

  “Ships are full of interesting facts, if you know where to look. Normally, it’s not in the official logs.” She chuckled. “You, my lord, have traded for a smuggler. The markings behind the tank identify it to other people of questionable career paths. It’s how deals could be made without the interested parties being seen talking to each other. And, if you’re smuggling something off a planet, you want to be able to tell which one is the correct ship in a docking lot.” She reached in again. “This ship belonged to Kinny. He, uh—” she ran her hand over the symbol, “—he specialized in food simulator technology.”

  “How is food simulator technology worth smuggling?” Mirek wondered.

  “Oh, up until about twenty-five years ago, it was a hot black-market item. People could get units, but they were expensive and those units didn’t come with full recipe programs. Before they came out with the easy-to-program units, you had to have a specialty technician do it for you. I’m guessing Kinny would steal empty units, program them and then sell them. Everyone needs to eat. There was also a lot of money in the molecule pack refills needed to make the dishes. This was before technology advanced to make the cartridge inserts obsolete.” Riona dropped her hand and moved to put the access panel back into place.

  When she turned to him, Mirek had a strange look on his face.

  Riona gave a small shrug. “I worked selling food simulators for a few months on an emporium ship. The sales staff had a lot of free time on our hands so I would read the old logs and administration action reports.” She nodded to the open panel. “Feel for yourself.”

  Mirek stepped forward and reached behind the tanks. “What language is that?”

  “Smuggler code,” she answered.

  Mirek helped her hold the panel as she fastened it back into place. When she was done, she tossed the wrench toward Vihelm. The man caught it easily.

  “You’re clear to dock,” Vihelm said. “We’re finishing up. Pilot is on his way.”

  Mirek nodded. “Shall we, my lady?”

  Riona took his offered arm and let him lead her to the detachable docking plank. There was something comfortably familiar being in the interior of a ship. Metal rivets lined the narrow corridor. The hollow sound of the grates as she stepped on them echoed like a warning to the crew. Wires and pipes ran beneath the grates, completely visible and easily accessible should there be a problem.

  “Is something bothering you?” Mirek stopped walking and looked at the ground. “You’re staring at your feet.”

  “Oh, I was following the lines.” Riona gave a small laugh. “Old habit from being on ships. I worked as a line technician for a time. After seeing what can go wrong when they’re not cared for properly, I just tend to check them automatically now.”

  “Smugglers, food simulator sales, gambler, ship crew…you have lived a very interesting life, my lady.” Mirek looked beneath his feet. “I would think it would take years to become a line technician.”

  “I know enough to get by when I need to,” she said. “Plus, I tend to remember what I read, especially tech manuals. For some reason, the diagrams just stay in my brain.”

  “Read? You mean uploads?”

  “I mean when I physically read something. Uploads work too, but they’re different. Uploads give information but not necessarily practical application. That is why they take so long to process and apply. A lot of the time, tech manuals aren’t in upload form on a ship. You have to pay to use them in schools. I don’t have that kind of space credit to afford classes. Besides, reading passes the long deep space hours.”

  “You’re an amazing woman.” Mirek reached to touch her face.

  Riona pretended not to see the action and turned away from him to continue down the corridor. She felt guilty after what her sister had said. This man had given so much to keep her alive, and what did she give him in return? He knew she wasn’t planning on staying as his wife. She hadn’t lied about that. But then why did she feel so guilty about it?

  It was the sleepily confessed I love you.

  Riona closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn’t want to break this man’s heart. Yet she couldn’t stay. It would take a long time to earn enough to pay off Range. Besides, Mirek deserved more than a survivalist gambler with giant debts. He deserved better than she could give.

  * * *

  Mirek sat quietly strapped into his seat, more interested in watching Riona than looking out the portal that held her attention. He’d seen the takeoff from Qurilixen many times. The turbulence stopped, but he barely noticed it anymore. The ship’s engines lessened their roar and the ride became smooth.

  Mirek got the impression she was sad. Yes, she smiled at him. It was a beautiful and somewhat captivating expression that drove him to distraction. It was something in her eyes when she looked at him. He sensed her leaving him before she was even gone.

  Pain welled inside him, so easy to summon as it was always right there in his chest. He had no right to demand she stay. She did not acknowledge their marriage and he could not force her to. Mirek wasn’t sure what protocol was on a half-ceremony. Yes, the queen had blessed the marriage, but she’d done so without all the facts. As far as he knew, no one had ever dared lie about the gods’ blessing before.

  In his heart, he felt she was his wife. What he felt did not matter. He’d acted on his emotions before and she paid the price. How could he act on emotions again? The ache in his chest grew so deep that he had to look away. Never had he wanted something as badly as he did Riona.

  All he could do was act honorably, do his duty and help Riona to the extent that she would let him. Maybe then she would decide to stay.

  He thought of the upcoming Breeding Festival. It was hard to believe nearly a year had passed since he’d met her. If he could get her to stay long enough, maybe the ceremony would be completed. Maybe she would choose him.

  The idea gave him hope and he clung to it. His impatience had cost them both dearly, but he would not make the mistake again.

  “Mirek?” she asked, drawing his attention around. “You’re so quiet.”

  “The Lithorian negotiations are very tedious,” he answered. “And they won’t be over today. They’ll insist we send a final document to my cousin Prince Olek to look over before they’ll finalize.”

  “I know.” Riona chuckled. “I read the report.”

  “I warn you, this will take a long time. Just do as I explained. Stay quiet, use full titles if you have to speak, and avert your eyes to the side. I will do most of the talking.”

  “I think I can handle it.”

  Mirek nodded. “Yes, my lady, you seem very capable.”

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  “Please don’t be offended if I refer to you as my wife. It will make the introductions easier.” Mirek found himself holding hi
s breath.

  “It is not an issue. You already explained and I am used to the people I meet at the fortress addressing me as your wife.”

  “The Lithorian ship is approaching, my lord,” the pilot said over the intercom. “Connection in a few minutes.”

  “We will go over to their ship to greet them once the airlock is in place.” Mirek stood and offered his arm. She took it. “I feel I must again apologize for how long this will be.”

  “You said the pregnant ladies needed chocolate. Let’s get them chocolate.” Riona walked with him to the entrance. The metal floor vibrated as a long column extended from the body of the ship. The Lithorians had a matching air lock and together the two ships would form a corridor. The loud whoosh of air filling the adjoining walkway created a slight breeze at their backs. Indicator lights blinked red, then yellow, and finally a safe green. Mirek reached to press the button that would open the door.

  “Welcome, Lord Miroslav, Ealdorman of Draig,” the Lithorian dignitary greeted as they came across.

  “By the graces of the Lithorian people, I thank you, Barun Monke of the Lithor,” Mirek answered, careful not to look directly at the small alien. As they crossed over into the Lithorian ship, he stepped aside. “I present my wife, Lady Riona of Draig.”

  “Welcome, Lady Riona of Draig,” the Lithorian dignitary answered politely.

  “By the graces of the Lithorian people, I thank you for allowing me on your ship, Barun Monke of the Lithor.” Riona spoke quietly and kept her eyes turned toward Mirek’s face. She smiled almost mischievously and winked at him. He stiffened. Watching as her eyes turned toward the alien, he started to reach out to stop her.

  “And if I may, Barun Monke, with your permission?” Riona shot her hand forward, fingers rigidly pointed up.

  “I would be honored, Lady Riona, and much relieved if you did,” the dignitary answered.

  Mirek stiffened in confusion. What was she doing? He couldn’t help but look at her hand and then the alien who was suddenly making the same gesture.

  “I declare a treaty of peace between the Lithorian and Draig for the entire course of our negotiations together both today and in the future.” Riona kept her eyes locked to the barun and her extended limb rigid. “We find your people to have proven honor and request friendship.”

  “It is well you speak, Lady Riona. I accept your declaration for peace between the Draig and Lithorian for the entire course of our negotiations together both today and in the future. We find your people to have proven honor and gladly accept friendship.”

  Riona dropped her arm. The barun gave a small sigh. Mirek watched, confused.

  “I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to meet you, my lady,” the dignitary said. He slipped his arm onto Riona’s and was completely relaxed. He looked Mirek in the eye for perhaps the first time since they’d met. To Riona, he said, “We have been dealing with your people for years, and though we do respect that they formally asked that we supply them with the traditions of our people so that they may respectfully negotiate, I had hoped the formalities would not have lasted this long. My order will be very pleased that we are no longer forced to draft the long contract and then come back to receive the prince’s agreement.”

  Riona nodded. “I think we can both agree that friendship is better than formality.”

  “Agreed.” The barun faced Mirek. “Same amounts as last time agreeable to you then, Lord Mirek? Our chocolate for your Galaxa-promethium ore?”

  Mirek nodded, still stunned.

  “Wonderful. Next time we’ll bring the delivery ship with us, but it can be here possibly by tomorrow to deliver your chocolate and pick up our shipment. Now that negotiations are over, what do you say we have a drink?” Barun Monke kept a tight hand on Riona, leading her forward. “I have a wonderful bottle of chocolate liqueur. The food simulator companies have been trying to recreate it, but they do not know our secrets.”

  “I tried food simulator chocolate once at a tasting festival,” Riona admitted. “They did not even come close to your quality.”

  The barun laughed. “They received many complaints about that failed experiment. It gave several alien species a strange bloat and humans who ate more than a bite lost their insides.”

  “Some things cannot be simulated,” she agreed.

  “I do hope you will continue on with our ambassador,” the barun told Riona, before saying to Mirek, “I do enjoy your wife. She is delightful.”

  Mirek merely nodded, still shocked at how easy it was to get out of Lithorian tradition.

  * * *

  “He actually laughed,” Mirek said in shock. He jostled as the ship descended onto the planet. “The barun actually made a noise that wasn’t droning politeness.”

  Riona couldn’t help chuckling. The shocked look on Mirek’s face had been priceless. “For the record, that treaty is only good for Monke. You’ll have to do it again if they ever send another to replace him.”

  “How did you know to do that?” he asked.

  “How did you not know?” she answered.

  “They didn’t tell me I could.”

  “You didn’t ask. From what I understand, you had said you wanted to honor the traditions of their people. So they let you do that. But they don’t require it and actually prefer the easy route. Yet who are they to deny the request if tedious is what Draig people require. They need ore for their missions and were willing to deal with your tiresome customs to get it.”

  “We are the tedious ones?” He shook his head in disbelief. “It only took two seconds. I dread this event all year and you finished it in two seconds. Why didn’t you tell me you could do that?”

  “And ruin the fun?” Riona shook her head in denial. “You looked so adorable trying to tell me how to behave.”

  “Adorable?” He pretended to frown.

  “Sorry, I meant manly. Very, very manly,” she corrected.

  “You more than earned thousands of space credits with that achievement today, my lady.”

  “A fair wage is all I ask for.” She sighed, pleased at how well she’d done.

  “Prince Olek is going to be very happy he doesn’t have to read those negotiations anymore. He’s expecting a large contract.” Mirek gave a long sigh of relief. “And I am very happy as well.”

  “Glad I could have a purpose.” She closed her eyes as the ship jerked toward the landing pad, only to open them once they touched down.

  “We’re home, my lord,” the pilot said over the intercom.

  “Perhaps this is why the gods sent you to me,” he said quietly when the engines stopped.

  Riona didn’t answer but found she liked the idea that she was useful.

  Chapter Ten

  Lady Clara and Lady Kendall would not stop staring at her, Aeron would not stop grinning and their husbands seemed grateful that the wives had something entertaining to do. Riona did her best to relax, but noble dinner parties were not her thing. Up until Aeron showed up and ruined her tournament win, most of her meals had been eaten on the go.

  Okay, so at least she wasn’t being presented to royalty and no one expected her to wear a gown. The loose comfortable drawstring pants and tunic shirt suited her better than yards of restricting material. The men wore similar outfits while the pregnant women were in maternity dresses.

  Aeron had arranged for dinner to be served in the family dining hall. The food had a rich, succulent flavor, the kind of taste that came from fresh ingredients. The brothers referred to the dining hall as intimate, but Riona estimated fifty guests would easily fit in the room. Aside from the immediate family, Cenek had joined them for the meal before returning to his ceffyl duties, stating he didn’t want to leave the boys alone with the herd for too long or they’d find some sort of trouble to jump into. Riona thought that perhaps what those boys needed was some firm discipline.

  After dinner, the family retired to Aeron’s home to relax and talk. Riona knew Kendall from the ship. The woman hated gambling and so naturally
Riona expected Kendall would not like her. By the blank expression on the woman’s face, that was a fair assessment. Kendall said all the polite things, but mostly contented herself with eating off her husband’s plate of fruit and snuggling into his side on Aeron’s couch.

  Clara’s expression was masked, but the woman did at least smile in her direction. It was more emotion than Riona had expected out of a Redde noblewoman. Clara inquired about Riona’s health, noted how nice her complexion had recovered and graciously accepted Riona’s thanks for keeping her company while she had been unconscious. Clara’s husband, Vlad, gazed adoringly at everything his wife said.

  As for Bron, it was clear the man loved Aeron. He touched her belly whenever he was close enough to reach it. He kissed Aeron’s head whenever his lips happened to be in the vicinity. And he whispered constantly in his wife’s ear to make her blush and playfully hit his arm. Aeron was happy and she was much loved. The fact became more evident with each ticking second.

  Her sister’s home was what Mirek had called the tower rooms. It looked like Mirek’s section of the fortress, only slightly larger and the ceiling came to a sloping point above them. Aeron would be safe here, protected by strong dragons and a mountain of stone.

  Riona couldn’t help the jealousy she felt when seeing the sisters-by-marriage interact. Aeron got along with the other women in a way they as birth sisters never had. The Draig wives had a bond, made stronger by content marriages and pregnant bellies. Riona could relate to none of those things. She knew very little about children and even less about marriage. Despite this, she tried her best to be cordial to everyone and hide the fact that she felt like an outsider peeking in.

  “Riona, you should come and see the family portrait gallery Vlad is building for me,” Clara said. “I’ve already convinced Kendall and Aeron to have their portraits done. I would love it if you’d let me hang yours as well. There is an artist coming after the babies are born. Coe is very fast and does all his work with paint. It only takes him six solar months to complete a portrait.”