3

“You wish to go where_?_"

“I want to see how the average people live. You know, get away from the area around the palace. Don't you ever go out to eat, see a movie, go to a concert, watch a game, or anything like that?"

“No."

“Huh?"

“No."

“You're serious?"

“Why would I not be?"

“Aw, c'mon, Khy'an, you gotta get out once in awhile! Don't you get to go home on vacation, hang out with friends, visit family, and stuff?"

“No."

“Say what?!"

“The Che'maht Sahn'rah live to serve the Empress. Out 'home' is the palace compound."

“But don't you ever go see your family and friends?"

“No."

“Why not?"

“They are terrified of us."

“Why?"

“Because our loyalty to the Empress is absolute. If anyone dares to intend harm to Her, or even attempt to approach Her unbidden, it is our duty to kill the offender. Instantly."

“Well…okay, I understand that you have to protect your Empress, but what does that have to do with your family and friends being terrified of you?"

“Because they know the Che'maht San'rah would not hesitate to kill their own Honored Mother if she should become a threat."

“Geezers, Khy'an!"

Craig looked at his guard in shock.

“But what about, say, if your Empress was, oh I don't know, out making some sort of public appearance, and some little kid ran up to her with a flower? Surely you wouldn't kill a kid!"

“That scenario would not likely happen, Craig. Our Empress rarely makes, as you say, 'public appearances'. Also, Mûr Tua'ansa children are not impulsive by nature."

“But what if it did happen?" Craig insisted.

“The child would die."

“That's…that's…"

“Difficult for you to comprehend. Consider this: the bite of a child is more quickly lethal than that of an adult. That is something you must remember. While an adult may be able to inject a greater amount of venom, a child's is much more potent for their size. Also, remember our other abilities."

Craig thought on that and asked, “So, you're saying somebody could make a little kid want to bite your Empress?"

“That could be possible. I would not doubt that such a thing had been done in our distant past. It has been an inflexible, permanent decree that no one without proper conditioning be allowed to serve in the presence of the Empress, or allowed to approach Her without Che'maht Sahn'rah present. It has been this way since before your race learned to use simple tools. Our people all know this and respect it—it applies to all, high or low, ancient or newborn."

Craig thought some more and came up with another question.

“Um, if you don't mind me asking, how long have you been a…a…?"

“Che'maht Sahn'rah?"

“Yeah."

Bren-Khy'an smiled slightly—something Craig found she rarely did—and sent, “I entered training before your ownHonored Great Grandmother was born."

“Geezers! You don't look that old!"

Again, Bren-Khy'an smiled slightly.

“I am not. In our years, you would be a small child—I believe you would say 'a toddler'."

Craig's jaw dropped in astonishment.

“No wonder why everybody here acts like I'm a little kid," Craig muttered under his breath, forgetting for a moment how sensitive Bren-Khy'an's ears were.

“You are, and you are not."

Craig looked up at Bren-Khy'an in surprise—even sitting, she was easily head and shoulders taller than he was—and then he sighed.

“Geez, good luck finding a date for a concert on this world! If I found a girl who was twenty in my years, she'd be a little kid, and if she was twenty in your years, she'd be about as old as great grandma!"

Bren-Khy'an smiled slightly.

“A dilemma for you, no doubt."

“You got that right!" Craig said with a groan, slouching back into the couch. After a minute or so, Craig asked, “So, when was the last time you saw your family?"

Bren-Khy'an's tail twitched once. If Craig had been paying attention, he might have asked a little more carefully.

“The night before I began my training to become one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah."

“How long long ago was that?"

Again, Bren-Khy'an's tail twitched once.

“I was nine."

Craig's jaw dropped.

“Geezers," he whispered in shock, “and how old are you now?"

“I am twenty eight."

Craig quickly did the math. The last time Bren-Khy'an had seen her family, in Terran Standard Years, would have been over one hundred years ago.

“Geezers, Khy'an, that's…you wanna go see them? We could go together. Since every time I leave the embassy you have to go with me, we could easily enough go pay them a visit, and you'd get to see your folks!" Craig said with growing excitement.

Bren-Khy'an, however, narrowed her eyes and sent, “No."

“But why not? Wouldn't they…"

“It is the way of things, na'suan Craig. Leave it," she sent firmly, using his honorific.

“But…"

“NO."

Craig recoild from the force of Bren-Khy'an's sending as much as from the look in her eyes.

“Uh…geez, Khy'an…I-I'm sorry, I…I didn't mean to upset you," Craig apologized meekly.

After the time in the secluded garden a week earlier, Craig had nearly forgotten just how scary his guard could be.

A moment or so later, Bren-Khy'an softened her expression and nodded her head.

“Accepted."

Several seconds passed before either of them said anything.

“You know, it's kinda hard having to be scared of someone you care about," Craig said softly.

His words came as a shock to Bren-Khy'an.

“Are you implying…"

“Yeah, you."

“Why?"

“Well, um, you're not a bad person—scary, yeah, at times, but under all that armor and stuff, you are kinda nice. When you wanna be, and…um…you're kinda…nice looking, too."

“Na'suan Craig, you should not think such things of me."

“I can't help that I'm a guy and you're a…"

“You know nothing of Mûr Tua'ansa females."

“Um, you could…"

Bren-Khy'an folder her arms across her chest and sent, “Perhaps a short trip to the Merchant District will get your thoughts on other things."

“Remember, na'suan Craig, as an off-worlder, you will draw attention. As an off-worlder with one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah guarding you, you will be seen as a person of no small importance. Where you wish to go is not a place members of the Diplomatic Circle would go," Bren-Khy'an instructed while on the transport to the outskirts of the capitol.

“You think someone might try to mug me or something?"

“As I understand your words—no, crime is not a concern. However, you are still not knowledgeable enough in our ways to keep from accidentally offending someone. Listen to what I tell you, do what I tell you, when I tell you. The part of the city we are going to is populated by houses of the Third Circle—they would normally never interact with a person of your status, let alone with an off-worlder."

“But they know about us, don't they?"

“Likely so, but understand this—they may not act or react in ways you think proper. Our culture is vastly different from yours, and much older. Insults—real or perceived—are taken seriously. I have forced myself to be far more tolerant of things between us than normal, simply because it is my duty to learn your ways and attempt to teach you ours so that you do not make a fool of yourself and bring hishonor upon your house. From even the lowest among us, you would be unable to defend yourself."

“But I've got diplomatic immunity, don't I?"

“Yes, however, an insulted Mûr Tua'ansa could quickly and easily kill you without thinking. I have to keep you alive—try not to make my job difficult."

As they walked along, Craig got a lot of stares and quick bows, while Bren-Khy'an—in her full Che'maht Sahn'rah regalia—was accorded fearful looks and given a wide berth. They visited several shops, stopped to get a bite to eat—once Bren-Khy'an made sure it was safe for Craig to consume, and listened to some street performers. At one outside vendor, while Bren-Khy'an was discussing payment, Craig noticed a young woman carrying a large number of items come out of a shop and walk past him, not noticing him due to his much shorter stature. When something fell out of a bag she was carrying, Craig—without thinking—rushed over, picked it up, and touched her arm.

“Miss? Uh, you dropped this."

The woman looked down to see a hand on her arm—a definitely alien hand, attached to a diminutive alien, who was holding something she had recently purchased. Her reaction, Craig unfortunately discovered, was not what he expected.

Craig found himself flung onto the ground without being touched, the woman had dropped all that she was carrying, spun around into a crouching stance, tail whipping from side to side, and she let out the most dreadful hiss he had ever heard. Her expression was livid—eyes staring hard, mought wide open and dripping fangs exposed. Craig held his hands up in an instinctual defensive posture.

“Geezers, lady, I-I was just trying to help! You dropped…er, whatever this is, and…"

*HISSssss!*

“Whoa, chill, okay?!"

“CES'MAHT nos UNATH CHI-SAHT!"

When is looked like th woman was about to pounce, Craig called out, “BREN-KHY'AN! HELP!"

*Bamf!*

Bren-Khy'an appeared suddenly standing over Craig. In an instant, her weapon was in her hand, both it and her arm shield wee activated. It was the young woman's turn to be mentally tossed down onto the ground. Quickly looking up at her attacker, her expression went from anger to terror, her eyes looked wildly at the terrible disrupter energy surrounding the Blade of Mûr Tua'ansa head only a short distance from her face. A quick thrust and her body would be torn apart on the sub-atomic level.

“AI! M'OICHA U'NATH!" the young woman pleaded aloud.

No longer being held down, Craig backed a short distance away and stood up. By this time those in the immediate vicinity had backed away—many of the closer ones were on their knees in a submissive posture.

“How DARE _you assault a member of the Diplomatic Circle?! Your name and house—_SPEAK!" Bren-Khy'an demanded in Tuan.

“I-I am Ilen-Saa'an, of House Ilen! I swear, I did not know that…that…"

“He is a Terran, son of diplomats from the Sol Federation of Worlds. You assaulted his person and sought to harm him!"

“Truly, I did not know!"

Craig rushed forward, putting a hand on Bren-Khy'an's weapon arm with a slight downward pressure.

“Bren-Khy'an, please, don't kill her! She dropped something and didn't know it—I picked it up and tried to give it to her, and…and…it's just a misunderstanding! Please, don't!"

Ilen-Saa'an saw the alien male apparently plead with his Che'maht Sahn'rah guard. She carefully got into the fully submissive posture.

“M'OICHA U'NATH!" Ilen-Saa'an begged aloud.

Craig had learned a little of Tuan from Bren-Khy'an, and understood what Ilen-Saa'an said. Although Bren-Khy'an was poised to strike, Craig took an unthinking chance. Avoiding his guard's weapon—Craig had seen a demonstration of its power—he crouched next to Ilen-Saa'an and put his arm across her back.

“She begged for mercy, Bren-Khy'an, I won't let you kill her!"

“Our world, our ways, na'suan Craig—move aside!"

“No! I will not!" Craig insisted.

“Then I will move you!"

Craig felt himself being dragged away by unseen forces. The young woman began wailing and it was too much for Craig. Although he had the ability, Craig seldom used the limited form of telepathy almost all Terrans had by this time.

“MOM!!!"

As luck would have it, Cassandra was having tea with Lady Nemi-Mer'ana, when she heard her son's frantic message. She immediately shared it with Lady Nemi-Mer'ana, who then teleported with her own guards to where Graig was.

*BAMF!!!*

“HOLD!"

Bren-Khy'an froze instantly upon hearing the command.

“Stand down, Bren-Khy'an! Let us see what this is about. Obey!"

Bren-Khy'an took a step back, de-activating her weapon, though kept it at the ready. Again Craig went to Ilen-Saa'an and knelt down, taking her hands into his.

“M'oicha, swe-na," Craig said aloud, though softly.

Lady Nemi-Mer'ana raised an eyebrow. Although Craig's accent was not the best, she understood him well enough, as did the young woman. As soon as Ilen-Saa'an raised her head, her tearful eyes looked questionably at Craig—but when she saw Lady Nemi-Mer'ana, she wailed again and put her head down, exposing her neck.

Looking at Lady Nemi-Mer'ana, Craig pleaded, “Please, it was all just a misunderstanding! She had her arms full of stuff and she dropped something. I just picked it up and tried to return it, but then she kinda freaked out. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground and she was upset, so I yelled for Bren-Khy'an, and then things got really ugly, so I…I called mom."

Lady Nemi-Mer'ana looked at Craig with her piercing eyes for a few seconds.

“You speak true, na'suan Craig, however, there is a matter of honor before us. What shall we do with this girl?"

“Um, I…I don't want to press any kind of charges or anything. It was just a misunderstanding," Craig replied.

“A simple misunderstanding."

“Yeah, just that."

“I was a 'misunderstanding' that could have proved fatal to you, na'suan Craig. We cannot abide such to happen to you," Lady Nemi-Mer'ana sent.

“I…I understand things have to be done according to your ways and all, but no harm, no foul, as we say back home. Maybe I might have deserved getting knocked on my tail for touching her or something, but geez, it's not worth killing somebody over an honest mistake!"

Lady Nemi-Mer'ana chuckled softly over Craig's use of the word “tail".

“Yet something must be done about this."

“Look, this poor gal got scared out of her wits—let me at least make it up to her!"

“And how would you propose to do that_, na'suan Craig?_" Lady Nemi-Mer'ana asked coyly.

Bren-Khy'an, having been privy to the conversation between Lady Nemi-Mer'ana and Craig, thought to herself, “Tread carefully, Craig, lest you find yourself in too deep with this one."

“Um…," Craig started to say, frantically trying to think of something not too stupid, “uh, she…she could, maybe, come over and have dinner with us."

Lady Nemi-Mer'ana looked down a moment, resting a finger against her lips. When she lifted her head, she had had a slight smile.

“Acceptable. See to it that you cha-nwea sends the appropriate invitation. We are finished here."

With a slight nod, Lady Nemi-Mer'ana and her guards teleported away.

Bren-Khy'an let out an audible sigh, de-activated her wrist shield and returned her weapon to its carrier.

“You know this will, as you might say, 'make waves'."

“What's wrong with inviting someone to dinner to say 'I'm sorry'?"

“You do not know Mûr Tua'ansa females, Craig."

“Yeah, yeah, you said that before. Why don't you teach me?"

“What?!"

“Well, you keep telling me that I don't understand 'Mûr Tua'ansa females'—you're one, so why couldn't you teach me?"

“Craig, I am Che'maht Sahn'rah_.._"

“Yeah, I know, you keep saying that, too. What does that have to do with you teaching me about Mûr Tua'ansa females?"

“I…would hardly be…an appropriate instructor in that regard."

“Why not?"

“You would not understand."

“Back to that again. Try me. Just because I'm a klutz doesn't mean I'm stupid."

“*sigh* Very well, perhaps we can start after we return to the embassy."

“Cool."

“Craig?"

“Yeah?"

“Are you forgetting someone?" Bren-Khy'an asked, glancing down at the still prostate Ilen-Saa'an.

“Geezer!"

Craig knelt back down and gently lifted Ilen-Saa'an's chin.

“M'oicha, swe-na," Craig said quietly with a gentle smile.

Ilen-Saa'an looked around, and with a puzzled look, she asked, “Ahn'suwe ma'acha bahjaht?"

“Uh, I'm not sure what that means, but…um, ne'chat, om-ne'chat."

Ilen-Saa'an nodded her head, understanding Craig's somewhat rough attempt to say “all good."

Craig helped Ilen-Saa'an up and then helped to pick up her belongings. When he handed them to her that was when Craig got his first real good look at Ilen-Saa'an's face.

“Oh, geezers," he whispered softly, “you're gorgeous!"

(On to Chapter 4 https://www.sofurry.com/view/1051960)