The Parvac Emperor's Daughter (The Space Merchants Book 3)

by Wendie Nordgren

  Hiroshi and Phillip sat across from me, Yukihyo sat to my right, Nico sat at the end by Hiroshi and me. Simon had taken the seat across from him at the other end. Kaoti sat on Yukihyo’s other side. Quaid had squeezed in beside Phillip. Yukihyo piled orange chicken on my plate. “Oh, yum. My life has been perfect since I stepped on board this ship.”

  “Your tears so traumatized Consul Dano that he sent you several jars of stuffed olives and figs. He even sent you chocolate covered walnuts. The box has a bow on it,” Yukihyo said.

  “When did I cry in front of him?”

  “At lunch.”

  Sighing, I rolled my eyes at myself. “Oh, right. I cried for no reason with Neema, too. Didn’t I? Maybe I need my own silk squares. Maybe we could make special adhesive under eye diapers for when I wet my face.”

  Quaid said, “You are calm and rational compared to Margrete. Her emotions went from one extreme to the other with both Merette and Milena.”

  “So, I’m not a wreck?”

  “Nowhere close.” I smiled and ate my chicken. Our ships would be departing after dinner. I hugged and kissed Quaid goodbye. “It will be four days before I can touch you again.” He ran his hands through my hair. “May I look forward to sharing my bed with you on Epopeus?” His eyes had gone dark.

  “You may. With the way you are looking at me, I’ll be looking forward to it.” With a slow grin, he lowered his lips to mine. I found myself wishing he didn’t have to leave. Quaid winked at me as he got into his transport and drove down Tora’s ramp and away toward the Hadrian. I closed the ramp and locked it. Simon walked in from the cargo bay. “How did it go at the shops?”

  “Mara bought a hundred dresses and is selling a hundred for me on commission. Eno bought fifty gowns and robes and asked to purchase more from us on our next visit if they sell.”

  “They’ll sell. Who wants to sleep in an ugly gown?” We took the lift up and walked to my quarters. Neema was beginning to wake. I stood over her crib and watched. When her eyes opened, it was to find me looking down at her. She smiled at me. “Well, hello!” Reaching for her, my fingers were rewarded with her soft warmth. I held her against my shoulder and breathed in her sweet baby smell. “Mommy loves you so much. Yes, I do.”

  “Mommy.” I froze.

  “You said, mommy. Oh, Neema!” I changed her diaper and sat with her in a chair to feed. Simon sat in the chair next to us and began tapping away at his vid-screen.

  “Father and I anticipate better success on Epopeus due to your new membership within the Bosh family.” My vid-screen beeped.

  “Will you get that? My hands are full.” Papa greeted us.

  “There are my girls. How was your first planetary visit in the Laconian Sector?”

  “It was fine. I got to pet a bat that was almost as big as me. The shopping was terrible, but we established trade with two businesses.”

  “Chirp chirp.”

  “Thunderdrop wants you to know about his xylophone. He’ll play it for you when we get home.”

  “Very good. I will look forward to it.”

  “Is everything okay with you?”

  “Yes, except for my loneliness.” He gave me a sad look.

  “Oh, Papa! Guess what. Neema said mommy minutes before you called.”

  “Princess Neema is a good girl. Grandpapa loves you. Very well. I will speak to you again tomorrow, my darling.”

  “Goodnight, Papa.”

  The next four days were magnificent. I fell into my domestic assistant routine with the exception of the new ship wide policy of bringing your own laundry basket to the cleaning unit. I even started baking again. On the third night as we got comfortable in preparation for our after dinner movie, Phillip said, “I have a surprise for you. Remember when we showed your father the documentary of Scipio?” I nodded. “He put his cultural liaisons in charge of creating one about the Empire. It’s ready.”

  We all paid attention. The documentary began by welcoming the new allies of the Parvac Empire to enjoy her peace, prosperity, and natural beauty. The mountains and lakes beneath the pink and orange sky were highlighted along with the business sector. The beauty of Coronis with its forests and serenity transitioned into the hunting and fishing paradises of Apellan and Naxa. Then, the beaches, jungles, and diamond mines of Daphoene with visuals of Galaxic soldiers enjoying a guided tour by handsome, well-muscled men led into the final planet to be shown. Clear blue water and images of fish swimming through stunning coral reefs transitioned to the beaches where only the most attractive Parvac citizens enjoyed the sun and waves. Thankfully, although they were scantily clothed, they weren’t naked. Mention was made that clothing on the beaches was optional.

  “Wow. When Papa has something done, he has it done right. That was the best documentary I’ve ever seen. Ephors was left out though.”

  “Yes, as were the moons with our hidden military bases,” Nico said with a grin at my surprised expression.

  Not bothering to ask, I snuggled against Yukihyo. I loved being on the couch with him right where we belonged. He rested his hands on my stomach. “Nico and I have a real name for junior.”

  “What will we be calling the little one?” Yukihyo asked.

  “We are naming him Niklos Tavere Cassian. What do you think?”

  “That is a fine name for a future emperor.” His words had Nico exuding pride.

  “I am eager to tell Mother, but we should tell Emperor Probus his grandson’s name first.”

  “Did you hear that Niklos? Your daddy had better tell them soon before someone overhears me talking to you and tattles.”

  Chapter Seven

  When we docked on Epopeus, I was a bundle of nerves. Yukihyo kept calming me. Eric and Quaid met us. Quaid gave us all protective glasses and a cute sunhat for Neema. “Please keep your eyes covered at all times unless you are indoors.” In addition to the glasses, Quaid handed Simon and me small bowl-shaped clear tinted items.

  “What are these?” Simon asked.

  “I worried about Thunderdrop and Cass’s eyes. I thought these might protect them and that they might attach them with silk.”

  “Chirp.”

  “Quaid, you are so thoughtful. Thank you.” I kissed his jaw. I spotted Nico and Yukihyo rolling their eyes at each other behind my back.

  Simon placed a hat over Cass’s cephalothorax. It covered his eyes, but didn’t interfere with his leg joints. Thunderdrop helped to hold it in place with silk. Then, they helped Thunderdrop put his on. I giggled at the two spiders. They chirped back and forth to each other. I had worn a formal white dress along with the emerald necklace Quaid had given me. Kane waited for us on the ground with Pierce and Lorca. They all wore hats and glasses. The two suns shone brightly in the sky, and I found the warmth of Epopeus much more enjoyable than the frigid temperatures of Naxa. Unfortunately, I imagined Yukihyo and Neema disliked this planet. Neema held her arms out for Pierce. He smiled, took her, and began singing softly to her. Neema cooed and giggled at him. Quaid invited us to ride with him and Eric in their long black Galaxic transport. Hiroshi, Phillip, Simon, and Kaoti said they would follow us. They planned to ditch me with the Bosh family and find buyers for their silk. Quaid had assured Yukihyo that Neema and I would be as safe with his family as if we were in Papa’s palace on Parvac. When I had asked Nico if he and Kaoti were going with Yukihyo and Hiroshi, he had looked at me like I had gone mad.

  With a disbelieving look, Nico had said, “Do you honestly think I intend to let you out of my sight, woman?” In answer, I gave him my sweetest smile.

  Through my dark glasses and the transport window, I noticed the two suns of Epopeus had continued to rise in the blue sky. The planet was warm, lush, and tropical. Eric drove us along a road that cut through the middle of the jungle. I saw nothing that could pass as a house. Then, he turned down a smooth black topped road that led off into more jungle. The light had turned green as it filtered through all of the leaves. The dense foliage opened up, and I caught sight of several
identical buildings that had been built several feet off of the ground. They appeared to be connected by covered walkways. As we drove closer, I saw the walkways were enclosed by plasti-glass walls to prevent falls. Quaid said there were twenty buildings. Three of the large buildings were side by side in the front. Behind them and perfectly centered were three rows of five houses. I couldn’t see beyond them to the others. Quaid gave me his arm and walked me up the steps of the center building. Yukihyo attempted to calm me, but I clutched at Quaid’s uniformed arm. Quaid was the only one of us not wearing protective glasses. His eyes weren’t the solid black I had once believed them to be. Through my tinted glasses, his irises and sclera appeared to be a deep rich brown like strong coffee in a white cup.

  Consul Bosh, Elspeth, and Julia waited for us on the wide veranda. Quaid’s father had a wide grin on his handsome face. He held his arms out to Quaid. “Our space faring son finally returns and brings with him a beautiful bride.”

  He hugged Quaid. Then, he hugged me and kissed my cheek. I smiled, blushed, and looked down before risking a glance up at Quaid’s mothers. They were each smiling at me in a friendly way, so I was able to stave off my panic.

  “I have longed to meet the woman who finally managed to awaken Quaid’s heart. I feared the day would never arrive,” Elspeth said.

  Somehow, I didn’t think his heart was the part of him that I had awakened, but I smiled and hugged Elspeth in return. I heard Consul Bosh chuckle. When I turned to see why, all I noticed was a slight pinkness to Quaid’s cheeks, but I dismissed it. He must not be accustomed to the heat either after spending so much time in space. After Julia had embraced me, they invited us all to come inside. The entire house we had entered appeared to be a massive living room. Tall plasti-glass doors were centered in each wall and opened to verandas and walkways to other buildings. Couches, tables, and chairs were artfully scattered around the room. Quaid’s older brother, Quintin, and his younger brother, Quincy, stood and greeted us with smiling faces. They bowed to me and hugged Quaid. His sisters and I curtsied to each other. Then, the girls surrounded Quaid hugging and kissing him. His father and brothers were welcoming Yukihyo, Nico, and Kane. Eric was getting hugs from Quaid’s mothers.

  “Mommy.”

  Smiling, I turned and took Neema from Pierce. Simon and Quintin had begun to chat. Thunderdrop clung to the back of my skirt. He blinked at me through his hat. I laughed at him. Twelve people were in my group, not counting the spiders. Ten were in Quaid’s group before Quintin’s wives and children entered the room. Once his three wives and five children entered, thirty people were inside. I was surprised that there was still plenty of seating available. Papa had helped me select gifts for the Bosh family. Lorca held a large white rectangular bag of gifts for me. Nico and Kane presented Consul Bosh with crates of processed steaks, fish, and pineapple. I had brought Elspeth and Julia each diamond tennis necklaces. Each of the diamonds was of the exact same size and cut, set in platinum, and created a glittering effect around their necks. I had brought diamond tennis bracelets for each of Quaid’s four sisters. My three new sisters-in-law received pear shaped thumb-sized diamond pendants suspended from platinum chains. They smiled and seemed to enjoy the play of light on the facets as much as I did. I was relieved that they liked my selections.

  “Teagan, I hope you and our other new family members will be staying here with us during your tour of our planet,” Consul Bosh said.

  “Yes, sir. Thank you for the invitation, Consul Bosh.” I thought his eyes glittered in amusement, but I had no idea why which worried me. Two maids brought refreshments. I was seated on a couch in between Quaid’s mothers. Neema grabbed a fistful of my hair.

  “Are you a real princess?” Eri, Quaid’s eleven-year-old sister asked.

  “I guess. That’s what Papa tells me.” Eri kissed Neema’s cheek and got a smile from her.

  “Why do you guess? Weren’t you always one?”

  I rubbed Neema’s foot and thought. “No, I haven’t been one for very long.”

  “Well, you had to be born a princess to be one, unless you marry a prince.”

  “Eri, leave Teagan alone.”

  “But, Mom! Do you have a crown?” she asked.

  “No, your brother gave me this pretty necklace, though.”

  Eri whispered, “We’ll talk later,” as her older sisters dragged her away to play with toys Quaid had brought them.

  “Tiny cousin, Eric and I must return to our crews. You will call me if you need anything,” Kane said as he bent down to kiss Neema and me on our foreheads.

  “What do the two of you really have planned?” I asked.

  Eric gave me his shark grin, winked at me, and waved goodbye.

  “We are riding back with them so as to leave you with your transport,” Hiroshi said.

  “Wish us luck, sweet cousin. We plan to employ your strategy,” Simon told me.

  “Then, take the Thalassan inspired gowns.”

  Cass chittered and chirped at Simon. Thunderdrop joined him. Simon looked at me. “Lorca and I can handle them. Come on, Simon. Didn’t you see all of the buildings and railings for spiders to play on here?”

  “Okay, but mind Teagan and Lorca.”

  “Chirp,” Cass promised. Then, my group became eight.

  “Let’s have some lunch,” Consul Bosh suggested. He led us through the back door of the living room onto a wide veranda that had seating and pots of blooming flowers, across a wide covered walkway, and into a building of an identical size to the living room. This room was divided in half. The front portion held a dining room. The back contained a kitchen of industrial size. Open arched doorways allowed passage between the spaces. A table for twenty was in the center. Two smaller tables with shorter legs and smaller chairs were to either side of it. Vases full of fresh tropical flowers were atop each table. Again, I saw tall plasti-glass doors leading out of the building from each of its sides.

  Quaid’s sisters went to the table on the left, and his brother’s children were seated at the table to the right. The one-year-old boy, Quinn, went in a highchair. A nanny appeared to help him. I caught Peirce and Lorca eyeing her with interest. Quaid pulled out a chair for me. I kept Neema in my lap. There was plenty of room for everyone. I had never seen such a large family. Yukihyo grinned across the table at me and winked. I raised an eyebrow at him. If he had his way, we would need a table just as large for our own children. Quaid sat beside me. He smiled and took my free hand into his. Nico and Phillip were seated by my new sisters-in-law. Yukihyo had begun talking to Quintin about their family business.

  “We manufacture programmable nanite patches,” Quintin told him. We each perked up in interest at that. Phillip began asking all sorts of questions. I hugged Neema to me and tried not to tear up.

  “Do our nanite patches interest you, Daughter?” Consul Bosh asked me.

  “Yes, sir. I believe that’s what Phillip used to fix me, or I wouldn’t be blessed with Neema or our new baby.”

  Nodding, Phillip said, “Yukihyo wouldn’t be here at all without them.”

  That did make me cry. My nose began to tingle, and I felt my eyes warming and turning red. “Don’t cry my love,” Quaid said as he blotted my tears.

  “What do you think of that Quaid? If not for your family, I might not have my own.”

  “Mommy mommy mommy,” Neema said. I wondered if she had learned her repetition from Thunderdrop.

  Plates of food were being placed on the table by the maids. Quaid filled my plate. I noticed that Quintin’s wife, Tilda, seemed sensitive to the smell of the food. Her daughter, Talia, was five. She had had her body to herself for years. Tilda saw my smile and smiled back at me. “I’m finally past that stage. We have pineapple fizzy water packets on Tora to share if you would like.”

  Tilda looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

  Well, crap. Now, I knew how Yukihyo felt. He chuckled at me from his seat. “Um, nothing. I like your dress.”

  I blushed and looke
d at Yukihyo. I thought my question at him about whether Tilda was pregnant. He smiled and nodded. Consul Bosh, Quintin, Quaid, and Quincy looked between us and at each other. Quintin got a grin on his face. I was ashamed of myself for ruining the surprise. Quaid kissed my temple. The women of Quaid’s race had weaker abilities than the males. The males seemed to be capable at telepathic communication. I guess they couldn’t sense the thoughts of an embryo. The women of Yukihyo’s race were much stronger empaths than the naturally aggressive males. The females centered and calmed them as Neema and I did for Yukihyo. In return, Yukihyo kept us safe and calmed our emotions when we were frightened or upset. Neema rarely cried. He kept my panic from overwhelming me and the sadness from taking over, so I didn’t need to shut my emotions out to survive. I knew Quaid could flood my system with endorphins and dispel unsettling thoughts, but what did he get in return? My relationship with Yukihyo was symbiotic. I remembered hearing that Quaid and the other Laconians like him on the Hadrian kept themselves under tight control. My concentration slipped away.

  “Try this,” Quaid said as he placed something on my plate.

  “Oh, that’s good.”

  “It’s shrimp with lemon, peppers, and avocado,” he said.

  After lunch, Elspeth suggested we make ourselves at home. The building behind the dining room and kitchen was for laundry and storage. The last three of the five buildings in the row behind it were Quaid’s. To each side of the center row of rectangular buildings, were four identical ones. To the sides of those, were three more for a total of twenty. All of the buildings were identical on the outsides, had verandas around them with plasti-glass walls, and connected to each of the other buildings with covered walkways. To keep us out of the suns, Quaid led us through the back door of the laundry building and into his first building. It had the same doors as the other buildings in the center front and back. The center of the room contained a sitting area with chairs and decorative tables. To each side were two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Phillip, Kaoti, Pierce, and Lorca each took a room.