An Unfortunate Heir Read online

  He rubbed at the small mark where his Kaduran focus crystal used to be. “It is not going to be easy at all.”

  Thander smiled. “I know, but you had to agree to let us search. Okay. We will find you a candidate, and you can take it from there.”

  “So easy?”

  “So easy. Come on. You need to eat. Let’s head into the city and get something to eat. There is a great place near Argos Square. You need a nice break.”

  Zaber frowned. “Isn’t the square filled with our crewmen?”

  “I will ask for the private room. I know that they have one. I have attended wedding celebrations there.”

  Zaber sighed. “Fine. I hear they have lovely gardens near the square.”

  Thander clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit! Who knows, we may find your future breeder just wandering around.”

  “The women in the city are on lockdown.” He chuckled. “We aren’t going to see anything that isn’t fifty years old.”

  “Well, some of those ladies might be worth looking at.” Thander chuckled.

  Zaber didn’t comment. Thander’s choices in companionship tended to run to the more mature of females. He didn’t have a family legacy to protect, he had six siblings who chose to remain on their home world. Their children would be lotteried to determine who was going to be in the military to follow in their uncle’s footsteps.

  They walked to the balcony and stepped out, their wings catching them as they slowly glided toward the square. Zaber sighed as he noted that there were only men wandering around. He needed to get his troops back to their original provinces as quickly as he could manage. They were disrupting commerce.

  It was far easier to keep track of twenty thousand people when they were all allocated to specific parts of the ship. Here, they ran around at their leisure and were dealing with others who did not have the same training or experiences. They stood out.

  They landed in a clear zone near the gardens. He folded his wings in, and Thander pointed to the restaurant.

  “It’s over there.”

  Zaber nodded. “Lead the way.”

  It was a quick walk across the square, and when they entered the restaurant, the room went quiet for a heartbeat before a cheer resounded and shook the walls. The staff froze at the raucous noise, and Zaber smiled and said, “Thank you, now quiet.”

  The men chuckled, and the sound cut off in an instant. They stood, saluted, and then sat again.

  The host looked at them with wide eyes. “Where would you like to be seated, Generals?”

  Thander spoke. “I believe you have a private room?”

  The host paused. “We do, but it is currently engaged.”

  Thander smiled. “I am sure that whoever is there will not mind our company. Allow us to plead our case for companionship, and we will leave if they do not let us join them.”

  Zaber chuckled. “We can be very persuasive.”

  The host swallowed. “Yes, of course. This way.”

  As they walked past the tables, the men sat straight and saluted. Commander Dethon looked at Zaber and gestured to the private dining room and then tapped his forehead. The warning that Kadurans were in the room was not lost on Zaber. He nodded and smiled slightly.

  The host scratched softly on the door and stepped inside. There were soft sounds of conversation and a soft laugh. “You may join us, gentlemen.”

  The voice spoke pure Athon with no hint of an accent. The host stepped out and bowed for them to enter the private space.

  Zaber was surprised at how light the room was. The wall behind the occupants was filled with flowers, and the two women reclining on the cushions raised hands in greeting.

  “Please be welcome. We will be continuing our journey shortly, and you may have your privacy. As you can imagine, we are not in the mood to deal with your men.” The woman in black spoke, her forehead crystal twinkled as she moved her head.

  Zaber and Thander bowed. Thander spoke. “Thank you for sharing the space. Have you recently arrived?”

  Zaber stared at the woman in the dark robes. The one in the blue was far more attractive by Athon standards, but then, he was not pure Athon. His own Kaduran blood roared in his veins. As he slowly took one of the couches, he was happy that his tunic concealed the ill-timed interest in a member of the opposite sex.

  “I am Zaber; this is Thander.”

  The woman with stars for eyes smiled. “This is Tya; I am Shan.”

  The younger woman smiled, but her eyes looked like standard Athon eyes. Zaber focused on her. “Tya, you are not Kaduran, are you?”

  Tya looked to her companion and then shrugged. “I am not. Shan obviously is. We are out today shopping for my wedding, so this seemed the easiest way to go about it. We have only been importuned once, and that was on the way in here, so I think it is working.”

  The servers brought in hand towels and water for the new arrivals, and they washed their hands.

  When the niceties were taken care of and orders were placed, Zaber looked at Shan once again, only to find her staring at him.

  * * * *

  General Ibrik Zaber, sitting four feet away from her. Shan sighed. It was certainly distracting. Her focus crystal tingled, wanting her to use it to rummage through his mind. That was rude.

  She stared at him and saw the scar on his forehead. That was a very familiar mark. “I didn’t know that you had Kaduran blood, General.”

  He looked at her with a slight smile. “My mother.”

  “Ah. And when you entered the Athon forces...” she tapped her forehead.

  “Yes. They are not fond of focused psychic powers in their military.”

  She snorted, and he grinned. He had a very nice smile.

  He asked her, “So, you are here for the wedding?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Wedding and the following few weeks, and then, it is back home to attend to family business.”

  Tya cleared her throat. “There could be room to negotiate. Shan is not in a hurry.”

  Shan felt her cheeks get pink. “Suddenly, I am thinking of things I need to do.”

  Tya said, “Also, you two are invited to attend the ceremony. It is at eleven in the morning at Yseff Park. First rest day.”

  Thander asked, “Who is your husband?”

  “Prolan Alloway. He did his military service and got out three years ago. He started courting me right after that, and as I am older than he is, there was no time to waste.” Tya chuckled.

  Thander frowned. “I thought you were just a child.”

  Tya laughed out loud, the sound rippled through the room, and Shan smiled.

  “Next to Shan, all Athon women look like children.” Tya smirked, and she grabbed the last tart.

  Shan muttered, “And eat like them, too.”

  She reached out for one of the cookies she had selected for dessert, and a small green dot was on her hand. She glanced at Thander, who casually put the scanner away. “What was that?”

  Thander smiled. “Just a quick scan to make sure that you aren’t Athon. Zaber is looking for a breeder, and they have to be acceptable to our government.”

  Shan blinked. “Why? What do they have to do with it?”

  Zaber snorted. “I am the last point on a pyramid of inheritance. All of my siblings are dead, as is my father. My mother and her line are the only members of my family left, and my mother was not an official concubine to start with.”

  “Wow. Official concubine. Nice phrasing. I am guessing that your father just couldn’t figure out birth control, so he used it as a bragging point.” Shan chuckled.

  Zaber smiled. “That is entirely possible. He was very brave but not very intelligent, or he wouldn’t have taken more than half of his surviving children on a warship with him.”

  “You were removed later? Taken from your mother?” Shan frowned.

  He nodded. “I was nineteen on Kadura, working for the family import business when the Ath
on military came to me with a conscription notice. My crystal was removed, and I began training to command vessels.”

  Shan looked at Thander, and the man appeared to be shocked by the conversation, chewing slowly.

  “Does your mother live here now?”

  “She has an estate, but she has not used it. She says there is no point until I choose to stay home.”

  Shan grinned. “That does sound like a Kaduran mother. Congratulations on having such a strong will in your lineage.”

  He smiled. “Thank you. I am very proud of her and hope that she feels the same.”

  “She is proud of you, or she would not have named you My Heart and Kitten Paws.”

  Thander sat up. “What?”

  Zaber covered his face with a hand. “It did sound like that when she would hold me close, but I never got a translation from Ancient Kaduran.”

  “Well, it is not a common name, but it is the most direct translation. I had to take language classes. Lots and lots of language classes.” Shan smiled and looked at Tya. “I believe that we should continue our errands. We still have gifts to purchase and the grooming day to arrange.”

  The men protested, but Shan stood and reset her hood. Tya did the same. They bowed and left the room. Shan had left a hefty stack of currency behind.

  “Enjoy your meal, gentlemen. Tya’s invitation was sincere.”

  It was the last thing she said before they left the restaurant, and her heart resumed a normal beat again.

  Chapter Three

  Tya was still giggling an hour later. “I have never seen them aside from the news vids. They are much more striking in person.”

  “Zip it, Tya.”

  “And General Zaber, he’s quite lovely, isn’t he?”

  “Zip it, Tya.”

  They walked along the row of shops, and Shan saw the jewelry shop. “Next stop, Tya.”

  The jeweler looked at them then noted the quality of the icon on Tya’s forehead. “What can we do for you?”

  Shan stepped forward. “We need a full bridal set, groom’s set, witness bands, and a variety of gifts for guests.”

  The light went on in the jeweler’s eyes. “Certainly. What kind of gifts would you like?”

  Shan walked toward him. “First, the bridal set. If the style is appropriate, we will continue from there.”

  She stood near the counter and extended her hands to remove the first jewels from the box he presented.

  He panicked. “What are you doing?”

  She carefully lifted the necklace collar up and flexed it as if it would be draped over Tya’s shoulders. The loose connections gave way when she started to move it.

  “If this is the best that you have, you should close shop.” She gave the man a serious look.

  His ruddy skin darkened, and he straightened. “I see the lady has a discerning palate.”

  She gave him a cold look. “I see the man has made an error in the judgment of his workmanship. Those links were wide open.”

  He darkened more, and there was an angry tint. “The piece wasn’t finished.”

  “Thank you, we will find another jeweler for our custom.” Shan looked to Tya, and her friend looked embarrassed. This was her recommendation.

  He spluttered, “But you broke it.”

  “No, I touched it and mimicked the bride wearing it. I did not want to wreck her luck by having broken links at her wedding. My people are fussy about things like that.” She smiled tightly. “I also have a recording of this interaction, so consider carefully before you attempt to lay false charges.”

  His eyes flared, and the stain of guilt highlighted his cheeks.

  Shan left with Tya, and Tya apologized. “I am so sorry. My aunt told me to go there.”

  “Does your aunt like you?”

  Understanding dawned. “Not particularly.”

  “Right. Come with me. I know of another shop that specializes in quality workmanship. I should know. I own it.”

  They walked through the alleys until they reached the very high-priced and elegantly exclusive shops. The script in old Athon read Elegant Heart. Shan nodded to the doorman, and he opened the door for her. She ushered Tya in ahead of her.

  The shop workers smiled and welcomed them in. Shan said, “We are here to get a full wedding set with gifts for fifty.”

  The ladies’ eyes brightened. One of the older women asked, “When is the wedding?”

  Tya smiled. “Six days from now.”

  The younger of the women made a dismayed expression. “Oh, that is too bad. There will be a surcharge on a rush order.”

  Shan asked, “Really?”

  The woman flushed but nodded. “Yes. Really.”

  “I would like to speak to your manager, and I would like them to contact their headquarters, please.” Shan smiled.

  The manager came out a moment later with her hand on her com. She confirmed the rush charge, and Shan sighed. “I had hoped to do this nicely.”

  Shan used her own com and contacted the headquarters, talking to the CEO of her company, a lovely woman named Jimt. She put the call on speaker.

  “Elegant Heart Corporation, how may I direct your call?”

  “Hello, Minik. This is Lady Shan. I would like to speak to Ms. Jimt, please.”

  “Yes, Lady Shan. Of course.”

  “Hello, Jimt. How are you today?”

  “Lady Shan! It is lovely to hear from you. Are you on Athon?”

  “I am. I was just attending a friend’s wedding in the capitol and have brought her here to get her a full wedding set. Imagine my surprise when it seems that this particular outlet charges a premium for a standard bridal order. Now, I know that the stock is in. I confirmed the shipment while I traveled from Kadura. So, is this a new policy that someone instituted without running it by me?”

  “Of course not. Who is the manager there?”

  “Sebile Wiol. She’s listening and has just gone very pale.”

  Jimt chuckled. “Sebile, the very tall and frightening woman in front of you owns the whole, damned company. Provide her with the best service, and we will discuss the fee that seems to have not appeared on your profit statement.”

  Shan handed the com over carefully. “You two have things to discuss, and Tya and I are here to shop!”

  The clerks caught on and scrambled to bring samples together. One woman set them up in the selection room with tea, and the others came in with box after box before the trial and selection was going to begin.

  A chastened manager came in with the now-dark com. Shan took it and smiled. “Thank you. So, are you still employed?”

  The woman’s head was bowed. “That is up to you. If you say yes, you can let Madame Jimt know, and she will arrange biweekly audits of the accounts and inventory. If you say no, she will have a new manager here tomorrow at the beginning of business. Either way, I, and the employees here, need to repay the company for the fees we have erroneously collected, and from there, the money will be returned to the clients that we charged and explained as a change in policy that will be reimbursed to the date we began to collect it.”

  “Excellent. I will tell her to begin a legal inquiry but to hold the action on it until we have collected the funds so that we do not pass the statute of limitations before filing a complaint. If the money is returned in good time, the charges will be dropped.”

  The clerks paused, and their eyes widened. The younger one said, “We can’t pay back that much!”

  “Oh. Dear.” Shan sighed. “I know for a fact that this business is one of the only ones that pay a middle-class or higher wage. You have benefits, you have travel opportunities, and you can continue to climb the corporate ladder until retirement. There is no limit to where you can go. It is your choice.” Shan sighed. “It always was.”

  She clapped her hands. “Now, shall we get on with the shopping? Prices are as stated, and commissions still apply.”

  The manager st
ared. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. I know you are surrounded by the trappings of wealth and power. It corrupts, which is why we tend to promote people quickly. We get them moving and focused on their own rise.” She smiled. “And I was not kidding about shopping. I am here to purchase items for my friend and now that she is mortified about the ways of business, she is going to have to get used to the idea that sometimes nice people don’t act in their own best interest.”

  The clerks were subdued but soon got into the spirit of the day as Tya tried on set after set, making intelligent comments on the composition of the heavy jewels or the shine of the metal.

  Shan took her small com and sent her plan to Jimt. When it came to the witness cuffs, she smiled. “Now, we need two men’s sets. Mine will be smaller.”

  They stared, and the young woman asked, “You will be wearing a men’s set?”

  Shan pulled back the long sleeve of her robe. “Yes. A small men’s, but still a men’s.”

  The clerk was going to put one of the cuffs on her, but Shan stopped her. “Only touch me over the fabric. My skin is considered to be toxic to most Athon. It won’t kill you, but you would hit your head when you hit the floor.”

  The clerk paused, and Shan took the cuff and put it on her wrist, checking the rotation when she twisted her wrist and smiling. “I like the fit. Tya, what do you think?”

  Tya was wearing four pounds of jewels. “It needs more sparkle. You are striking, but you need to be evenly striking, not just your head.”

  The clerks laughed, and Shan smiled. “Fine. What would you pick?”

  “I would take these two and separate and mix the links. The amber, onyx, ruby, and turquoise are a nice combination.”

  Shan looked at the women and smiled. “Can you find another set of men’s cuffs with the same stones?”

  One of the clerks took up the challenge. “I think I have something that will suit.”

  The rest of the appointment was a scavenger hunt as they mixed and matched pieces, setting up a full day’s work for the jeweler on site the next day. That was a service she would pay extra for.

  Tya was delighted, and they had an appointment to pick up the jewels the following afternoon.