Cold
Henry Patton had been warned about the swift weather changes in the Arctic Circle of the planet Victory. As Tula, one of his maids with thick hair in twin tails, updated him on the weather and what to expect when he arrived in Khelen, Maevin Maer, his mistress, had explained to him the importance of this trip, as cities like Khelen were small with only a thousand or so people and no close estate to provide support. Well, no Avernell estate. Khelen was several dozen miles away from Black Fall Estate, which was controlled by House Devenek. Devenek was one of the major rivals of House Avernell, but he had been told it wouldn't be a problem. That was until the electronic malfunction of Henry's shuttle changed all that.
“Fasten yourself in!” the pilot called over the intercom as the shuttle gave a heavy jerk. Henry felt his stomach flip-flop as they dropped altitude suddenly.
“Left stabilizer's gone!” the co-pilot said, his hands dancing expertly across his panel.
“Closest landing zone?”
“Black Fall Estate.”
The co-pilot, a sharp-looking man with dark skin and long braided hair, looked back to Henry.
“Any other options?” Henry asked, swallowing.
“Ditch into the tundra.”
Yeah, that wasn't an option. The young Terran lord gave a firm nod, and immediately the pilot's hands flew across the screen while the other steered the shuttle into a steep turn.
“Black Fall Estate. This is shuttle vevet-lalu of House Avernell. We have suffered a catastrophic malfunction to our energized stabilizer and are losing altitude. By the auspices of the Gray Council, we seek permission to land.”
The comm was dead—no response—and Henry swallowed in concern. As the dark-skinned man reached to press the button again, there was a distinct chime and a voice came through. The Terran couldn't tell if they were bored or angry.
“Shuttle vevet-lalu, by the graces of the auspice, you are cleared to land. Transmitting coordinates: landing pad balu. We have an emergency crew standing by.”
All Henry could do was hold on and pray to God that he would live. Out the front port window, he could see the long tundra covered with splotches of snow and ice, which was getting closer faster than he'd like. The ground was barely visible as the sun had begun to set.
The young man glanced over to the two maids who sat across from him, fear but resolve in their eyes. Hena, an Estate Maid of the 6th Order, gripped tight to the armrests of her chair. She wore the standard pink tvekel of her rank, emerald hair long and in a braid. Her warm coat was across her lap in all its furry glory. The other was a young man he hadn't met, an Emissary Maid named Fildar who had been assigned to him. Of course, Gimavek, his bodyguard, wore his armor and had a steeled expression of someone who was ready to face his end.
Oh, how Maevin would lose it when she found out. The usual people—Maevin, Siv, Nish, and Abiva—couldn't accompany him due to important estate matters, and this was believed to be just a simple meet-and-greet to show the flag. He had been here long enough to understand. Maevin felt he needed to be seen in command and not following behind his mistress. Oh, how that did not go according to plan.
We might actually have to ditch, he thought, looking back out the front window as the ground got closer.
Like a beacon of hope, ahead of them brilliant lights flared as the expansive estate came into view. It was nestled in a mountain range, but farther away he could make out the four landing pads. Of course, the holographic display was showing them aiming for the farthest one.
Don't want to crash and burn near something important, Henry mused to himself.
It was all credit to the skill of the pilot that they did not plow into the side of the mountain that the Black Fall Estate was built into, even when a bitter gust of wind caught the flailing shuttle. It was the hard bump that almost threw Henry out of his seat that announced their arrival.
“All power is being shut down,” the co-pilot said as his hands danced over the touchscreen in front of him. Like life ebbing away, the lights dimmed, the beeping softened, until there was nothing left but the soft glow of the emergency lights built into the floor, showing how to safely exit the craft.
“Now to survive until repairs,” Fildar muttered under his breath as he peered out the shuttle window at the windswept landing pad.
“Have you radioed for help to Blue Blossom?” Henry asked the pilots as he walked towards their open cockpit.
The man shook his head. “It doesn't have the range we need, especially with the mountains interfering. It's got enough Kelenite in it to scramble any transmission. You're going to have to use the estate's comm array.”
The Terran lord nodded, though his gut churned. With the adrenaline of the near-crash wearing off, the full ramifications of the situation he was in were sinking in quickly.
Gimavek had been pulling out heavy coats of fine material, offered one to Henry, and once he took it, gave one to Fildar. Hena was trying to pull hers on but was shaking uncontrollably.
“Are you alright?” Henry asked her, trying to keep his voice calm.
Her large, beautiful eyes looked straight at him. “We are at a hostile estate. You may be protected, but anything could happen to me.”
Lord Henry looked to Fildar, which the Emissary Maid was quick to translate. “Historically, things have been known to happen to servants and personnel while being at an estate of a hostile or enemy house.”
“Does Devenek pose that risk?”
“Not in recent years, but you're not Xaltean, my master, so I do not know how they will react.”
Cinching the soft sash around his waist, he turned to Hena, who had just finished. “You stay by my side and never leave. I'm not going to let anything happen to you.”
She nodded.
“That goes for you too, Fildar,” Henry said with a smile.
Gimavek patted his pulse rifle. “If they threaten you, my lord, I'll kill every last one of them.”
God, I hope that doesn't happen.
The bitter cold wind ripped at Henry's face, stealing his breath as he stepped down the extended steps to the platform below. His hood was barely breaking the cold as the flurries whisked past him like frozen ghosts trapped in a vortex. There was only one way off the pad: a long gangway over the rock outcropping this specific landing pad was built upon.
“My Lord,” Gimavek said, his voice low. Henry's eyes followed to where he was looking, and they both could make out the clad forms of three people. They were wearing what appeared to be thick tops and long skirts with another heavy coat on top. The outfits were a dark color except for their sashes. Two of them were a deep violet, while the one in the lead was a vivid blue.
“Devenek servants use color-coded sashes or collars to denote their positions,” Fildar whispered to him as they approached. “The woman in front is either a 2nd or 3rd Order Maid. The silver tassels on the sash ends are how you can tell.”
Thank God Fildar was here. Maevin had said that there was a strand of commonality running through each house, but they also had a unique way of showing it. His maids did not wear anything that denoted their rank, while Henry knew Irisik maids with more clothing and ornaments were of higher rank.
As they approached, Henry could see them clearer. The maid in front had her golden hair in two ponytails running down the side of her head across her shoulders. She had furry earmuffs on and a look that could only be disdain.
“My lord,” she started with a half bow that was nowhere near as respectful as it should be. “I am Kita, Estate Maid of the 3rd Order. This is Milu and Aeba. They will be your honored maids.”
Without another word, the three turned and began walking back the way they came.
“Honored maids?” Henry quickly whispered to Fildar.
“Those are specific maids assigned to you for the duration of your visit. They will work with Hena and yourself for your stay.”
“Anything I should worry about?”
“From them? No. That's a line for the houses. Honored Maids must be respected and protected. If not, there would never be someone to trust from the other side.”
Henry nodded. Fildar pointed out an obvious thing with the way the politics seemed to work with these people.
“That doesn't mean they aren't spying on you,” Fildar added as if just remembering it. “So be careful what you say; it will get back to the Lord of the Estate.”
“Which is?”
“Duke of the Blue Shantuk Devenek.”
“Duke?!” Henry said, blinking quickly, trying to keep his eyeballs from freezing from how wide they were. “That's like above my title. And I'm in charge of the planet?”
Fildar nodded. “House Avernell controls the sector. It does not matter what one's rank is if you are not of the controlling house. Duke Devenek's authority is below yours, but I highly recommend you show deference for his title. The respect is going to be important in our situation.”
Well, this was getting better and better. “So I'm over everyone.”
“Unless a member of the royal family visits or any Gray Council High Baron.”
The gangway that they were walking along connected to what appeared to be a long balcony that ran along the mountain's side. There were windows in the rock, and the entire estate seemed to have been built within the crevices and cracks of the mountain. It made Henry think of those old sci-fi movies where one thing phased into another. But all the lights were glowing a warm orange that cut through the gray and white of the snow and deepening twilight.
When they reached a large circular space that was in the center of a large crevasse with other paths sprouting off of it, Henry was glad of the tall guardrails on the paths and spaces, especially when the wind came racing through, making him stumble.
When they finally made it to the large, heavy glass doors and passed the threshold, the heat of the room blasted him in the face. It was whiplash, coming from the freezing outside into the room. As they walked, the Devenek maids unfastened their sashes, shrugged their winter coats off, and then re-fastened said sashes. Their outfits were still warm-looking: long-sleeved fine wool, with skirts that reached to their ankles. As they walked, he could make out the slit running up the side of their legs that gave them the freedom of movement while staying warm.
This entire time, Henry had no clue where they were going, and when they finally stopped in front of yet another set of doors, Kita turned to him, unimpressed.
“The master waits for you, Lord Patton-Avernell. Your guard will remain outside. Your maids may accompany you. Maid Milu and Maid Aeba will prepare your room for the evening.” Kita flicked her wrist in dismissal, and the two others immediately bowed and headed away. Kita pushed open the doors and stepped in.
The place was amazing.
The living room itself was quite large and round with tall windows lining both sides. Directly across from him, breaking up the near-continuous glass, was a massive fireplace and a stone facade running up and into the roof. What was not glass was the natural mountain itself, the structure coexisting with nature. Shallow steps descended two concentric circles, each further down with space between them. Each level was filled with chairs, lounge beds, and tables, while in the center and final circle was a couch that followed the curve while having missing sections on the left and right allowing passage from the center. A large smoky glass table sat in the center, and on the far end was his host.
“My master,” Kita said, crossing her arms across her chest like the letter X and bowing deeply from the waist. “Lord of the Green Henry Patton-Avernell of Blue Blossom Estate.”
Shantuk Devenek was a fierce-looking man. He was at least six feet, broad-chested, with amber eyes that seemed to bore through anything. His hair was a hue of blue as he lounged in the chair. At the announcement of Henry's name, he sat straight, his eyes keen.
“I sincerely apologize for my intrusion into your estate unannounced,” Henry started, trying to sound official like he had heard Maevin speak with many of the visitors who had come to Blue Blossom. He made sure to enunciate the proper Xaltean sounds as he spoke. “I am grateful for you extending shelter.”
“Lord Patton-Avernell,” Shantuk rumbled, standing. “Your apology nor gratefulness is necessary. It is extended as required by the auspices of the Gray Council.”
Henry did not let the brusqueness get to him. This was a hostile faction, that was something he understood. The tiekesetel taught him that much. Henry just stood there quietly, a trick Maevin had taught him. The Duke finally found the silence uncomfortable and motioned for the Terran lord to come down. With Fildar and Hena trailing behind him, Henry truly comprehended the size of the man who ran this estate. He towered over him by at least a foot. Shantuk gestured to the couch opposite, and the Lord of Blue Blossom Estate sat. Immediately Fildar took a position standing behind him, while Hena went to her knees to his left side, eyes cast down, waiting.
It was uncomfortable, but Maevin had explained to him the position and posture of the maids in official gatherings. She was his personal maid, was close if needed, but did not make eye contact with others as it was above her station.
“We have sent a message to your estate,” Shantuk started. “Though they obviously wanted to get here sooner, the weather has turned extremely unsafe. You will be staying the night.”
Well, there was that. Henry let his gaze drift around the chamber once more. The interplay between the warm orange lighting, the glass, and the natural stone gave the room a kind of carved elegance that raw but somehow fit the vibe (for a lack of a better word) that House Devenek was giving off.
“This is… impressive,” he said finally. “I can't even imagine how you planned this place to fit so seamlessly. It's gorgeous.”
Shantuk’s brow twitched, the faintest tightening at the corner of his eye. “It was built by Devenek hands with assistance of the artisans of House Nabeth,” he replied, tone cool. “Function over spectacle. The mountain leaves little room for indulgence.”
Henry didn’t miss the tone, somewhere inside of him he knew he should play things more carefully but the opportunity was so tantalizing. Another House and Maevin wasn't here to make sure it stayed on track. “Their architects must have known exactly how to take advantage of the terrain. Those windows look like they’d withstand a blizzard and a half.”
The Duke blinked. The expected rebuttal clearly wasn’t returned to him. He shifted in his seat.
“It is… sturdy,” he conceded. “The old builders favored resilience. It is not as grand as Avernell holdings.”
The passive edge was unmistakable, yet Henry tilted his head thinking. What had he read in the reports earlier yesterday? “Is that because of the location? Or supply issues?”
That made Shantuk pause. Hena stiffened beside Henry, which he did not miss, and for a split second he realized the question was extremely direct. He could feel Fildar's nervous energy behind him.
“My master,” Fildar started softly.
Shantuk studied the Terran, his eyes searching Henry's face for something. There was mixture of indignation but also confusion on The Duke's face.
“Supply,” he finally said. “Our logistical access is… constrained.”
Henry frowned. “Constrained how? Weather? Distance from central lines? I didn't see anything in the reports I get.”
Shantuk’s jaw tightened. “Politics. That is why.”
That was blunt and Henry could feel every person in the room both side stiffen. It was too late now, the Terran had broached the subject. He felt back out now would have not looked good.
“I take it it's an Avernell thing?”
Shantuk raised a humorless eyebrow.
“Do you not know that your estate controls half the orbital starbase and docking yards around Victory? Devenek holds only three lanes. Not enough for proper freight handling for our primary and four others in the star system. Not enough for consistent throughput of raw goods from the system lanes.” His eyes narrowed. “That limitation is not accidental.”
Henry’s stomach dropped. He had known tensions existed, but not specifics. “I… didn’t realize access was that restricted. I thought the starbase was operating under shared auspices.”
“It is...on paper.” Shantuk leaned back in his comfy couch and stared at Henry. “But Avernell controls it and our houses are not quite...friends. Their priority queues push our shipments out-corridor. Their tax negotiations slow approvals. And we—” He gestured vaguely toward the mountain around them. “We sit on frozen rock. We cannot grow, cannot expand, cannot compete with an estate blessed with open land and warm valleys.”
Henry stared. “That’s… actually unfair.”
Shantuk gave a sharp, mirthless laugh. “You state the obvious, Lord Patton-Avernell.”
“No. Really.” Henry shook his head, hoping he was coming across earnest. “If your estate can’t get materials in or out, you can’t build anything, can’t maintain anything, can’t even manage regular improvements, let alone keep your staff and family safe, that's a problem. That’s basic infrastructure. That affects everyone.”
Yes. At this moment, Henry knew there were politics at play. Victory was controlled by House Avernell and House Devenek was a rival. It was made clear that High Baron Avernell intensly disliked High Baron Moket Devenek so it was obvious why Black Fall estate was struggling and why this Duke looked at him with anger and distrust. But it was unfair and after all the mistakes he made, he was tired of things being unfair. Shantuk narrowed his eyes at his silence.
“You speak as if you intend to do something about it.”
Henry lifted his hands slightly. “I want to. I don’t know all the bureaucratic processes yet, but I have authority. If Devenek needs more docking lanes or more queue access, I can try and get it started. There's a renovation planned.”
“Master!” Hena hissed softly placing her hand on his knee..
Oh. That was supposed to be a secret. His Security Officer had said that things like that could lead to sabotage from other houses who didn't like them. That was how the houses fight.
Henry patted her hand as Shantuk glared at the maid who spoke out of turn.
“Forgive her, Duke. She has only my best interest and you can understand why what I said was not really a smart thing.”
“It was foolish.”
Silence thickened the room. Even the fire seemed to crackle quieter.
Shantuk stared at him with an intensity. “Answer me this, Terran, Why would a house that detests mine offer such a bounty with nothing in return?”
“Well, there would always be something in trade,” Henry said.
“Of course there is. And what do you expect me to pay for this privilege?”
“Nothing monetary.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t want us to be rivals,” Henry said plainly. “I’m not here to start fights or keep feuds alive. I barely understand half the customs I’m supposed to follow.” He said awkwardly. “As you just saw how my maid reacted. But I do know that if we are always wating for the knife in the back, we can't truly take care of our own.”
Shantuk’s jaw moved slightly, as though testing the weight of Henry’s words.
“I see.”
“Look. You know that we're upgrading the starbase. Yes, I understand that telling you is a risk since, as you said, our houses are rivals. But this is what I would like to propose.”
Henry internally cringed and laughed at himself as he seemed to not be able to stop himself. Boy, Maevin was going to have his ass for what he was doing here.
“I would like to propose a joint venture. House Devenek is the second largest house here on Victory and within the star system. If you provide workers, resources, and experience along with Avernell engineers, we'll give you a larger portion of the station so you can take care of your people.”
Shantuk’s gaze drifted to Hena, to Fildar, then back to Henry with what could only be disbelief at this strange Terran.
“Do you not worry that we will sabotage the station weakening Avernell's position here?”
“And ruin your advantage?” Henry asked feeling a moment of brilliance...god, he hoped it was brilliance. “You're getting more space, participation where you can claim that you helped make the upgrades, and the chance of not worrying someone is going to back stab you.”
“The High Barons would not go for it.”
“Not their call.”
That brought stunned silence. The temperature in the room had dropped and it was not just because of the night that had descended.
“Explain.”
“I saw the paperwork that was drafted for Blue Blossom. We are House Patton-Avernell. I'm saying we do this as the Lord of Blue Blossom to the Lord of Black Fall. We work together for the betterment of our people, not for our houses.”
“You are either naïve,” the Duke murmured, “or far more dangerous than you appear.”
Henry swallowed. “Is… that a good thing?”
A faint, almost imperceptible, smile touched the corner of Shantuk’s mouth.
“Time will tell.”
He rested his hands on the armrests, posture relaxing a fraction.
“For now,” he said, “we will treat your proposal as… a gesture. Nothing more. But gestures can have weight. And if you are sincere in this desire to ease tensions…” His eyes locked onto Henry’s with quiet intensity. “Then I am willing to see where this goes.”
Henry nodded. “That’s all I’m asking.”
Shantuk gave a slow exhale, something easing in his shoulders.
“Very well,” he said. “Tomorrow we will speak in more detail. But tonight—you are my guest. And the snow outside ensures you remain so.”
With that. The meeting was over.
Night settled over the Devenek estate with a slow and heavy presence. The storm that had begun in the afternoon had grown into a full mountain gale. The floor to ceiling window of the guest room showed a sheer drop into the crevasse, now filled with swirling white. Gusts of snow slammed against the glass in repetitive waves, each one muffled but unmistakable.
Henry stood near the window for a moment, watching the wind tear through the abyss. He had never seen weather that violent. The rains in the valley where Blue Blossom was were scary in their own right but there was something with the way the snow and wind ripped at everything.It was as if the storm wanted to swallow the entire estate whole.
Behind him, the large guest chamber had taken on an unplanned arrangement. Fildar was already asleep on the long couch that curved beneath a wall of carved stone having been worn out from the adrenalin of the meeting. He begged forgiveness as he collapsed on the couch. Henry did not even fault him for it. He wanted to collapse too. He had refused the servants quarters with his characteristic stubbornness. Gimavek sat on the floor in front of the door, back straight, pulse rifle within arm’s reach. He intended to rest with one eye open and had no intention of letting anyone slip past him.
Hena hovered near Henry, jumping every time a large gust of wind slammed against the window. When one particularly loud crack echoed upward through the mountain, she flinched hard and grabbed Henry’s sleeve. She immediately let it go.
“I apologize, My master,” she said with a bow.
“You okay?”
“I will be.”
“Hena.”
The maid looked at him and glanced to the protocol maid who was out cold.
“I'm scared. I've never seen a storm like this and we are at a hostile house. I don't want to die here.”
“You're not going to die. You're safe in this room.”
Hena did not seem to believe him, her eyes large in fright. He sighed. He had done it before but he motioned to the bed.
“You want to crash here with me?”
Her eyes got even wider.
Henry nodded. “It is fine. You can stay here.”
What ever doubt she might have had, it was gone when the wind hit the window again. Before he could react, she shed her clothes, and darted into the bed with nothing but the blanket pulled tightly around her shoulders. She curled into a terrified ball, eyes fixed on the storm outside. Henry sighed inwardly. He just invited a girl into his bed. Who was now naked. His mother would have been horrified.
'I guess I have changed a bit.'
He settled on the opposite side of the bed, still dressed, giving her as much space as possible. She immediately inched closer, seeking warmth like a frightened animal.
Fildar’s voice drifted from the couch, low and gravelly. “That was a risky maneuver today.” He yawned but did not lift his head. “Speaking so honestly to Shantuk could have turned very ugly.”
“I thought you were asleep,” Henry called over leaning up against the pillow. “You don't have to wake up.”
“I dozed. I appreciate your indulgance, My Master,” he said yawning again.
“Go back to sleep.”
Fildar didn't seem to argue as he was snoring again. Another thunderous crack rattled the glass. Hena burrowed closer and hid her face.
Henry laid back on the pillow and drifted to sleep. How long he was asleep, the young Terran did not know. Henry awoke with a slow pull of awareness, as if the dark itself was trying to lull him back into sleep. The storm outside had grown heavier and the world beyond the tall window was filled with swirling curtains of white. Moonlight hit the snow and scattered a pale glow through the room. Faint shadows trembled across the ceiling as the wind pressed against the mountain walls.
Warmth pressed against his side. Hena slept half draped over him, breathing softly. Her skin felt like heated silk under the blankets. She had curled up there after whispering that the storm howled like the dead and that she would never get any rest alone. She was drooling on him. There was something so stark and hilarious about that. It took everything in him not to laugh.
Fildar was still snoring and at a glance, in the shadow of the door he could see Gimavek still blocking it but asleep, weapon in his arms. Which is why Henry’s heart lurched when he saw the silhouette sitting on the edge of the bed.
Someone was there.
Someone he had not heard enter.
For the briefest instant every muscle in his body went tight. His breath caught in his throat. The shadows parted just enough for him to see the sharp line of cheek and jaw, the long fall of hair, the steady eyes watching him without blinking.
It was the maid from earlier. The haughty one.
Kita. That's it.
His pulse kicked hard. For one terrible second he was certain she had been sent to kill him just as Hena had warned.
Kita lifted a hand, palm toward him. Her voice came quiet that it was almost lost in the wind. “Relax. If I wished you dead you would not have woken.”
“How,” Henry managed, “did you get in here without waking them?”
A small light crossed her eyes, something like pride. “One trained by House Gijol can easily enter a room like this.”
Gijol. The house that trained Ashkatula. Assassins.
Henry swallowed. “That is not comforting.”
“It is not meant to comfort. It is meant to answer your question.”
He tried not to shift too much, because Hena murmured and tightened her arms around his ribs, completely unaware. Kita’s eyes flicked to her only once, then back.
“Did Shantuk send you?” Henry asked.
“Yes,” she said. “He must balance the will of House Devenek with the good of his estate, yet he is not without honor. Though he pledges your safety, I am here to personally guarantee it.” Her gaze softened a fraction. “He assigned me to make sure nothing happens to you before morning.”
Henry frowned. “Is there a threat I should know about?”
“There is always a threat.” Kita's said. “Your presence here benefits some and offends others. Devenek has foes who would relish the chance to kill a visiting lord and force Shantuk to answer for it. There are others who would enjoy thrusting blame upon him. You and your House are not the only ones that pose a threat to us.”
Henry let out a slow breath. The bed felt smaller and the chamber colder. He stared at her for a long moment. Her presence was unnervingly steady.
“Then what happens in the morning?”
“I take you to your shuttle. I have sworn to ensure you leave these walls in safety.”
“And if something happens to me,” he asked, “or you fail?”
“Then my throat will be cut and my body left to bleed out in the snow. Such is the consequence of failure.”
Horror swept through him so fast it made him sit up slightly, which only made Hena cling tighter. “That is insane. I have my own guard. You don't have to risk your life like that!”
Kita regarded him with an expression that might have been amusement. “It is not throwing anything away. It is the life I chose. Devenek gives me purpose. I serve until I can serve no longer. I will not fail my master.”
Henry shook his head. “No one should have to live like that.”
“It is the way it is. I accepted that long time ago.”
He let his back sink into the pillow again, though the tension refused to leave his body.
“I am not going back to sleep,” he whispered. “I won't let you risk your life.”
“You will sleep, little lord” she said in a voiceless laugh. “Your body needs rest. I am here. Nothing will touch you.”
Her confidence was so complete that it settled over him like another blanket. Hena breathed against his shoulder. Fildar snored. The storm howled against the window with a deep, rhythmic pulse. His eyelids grew heavier in spite of himself.
Kita remained a still figure at the edge of the bed, he shadow almost statuesque in the dark shadow illuminated with moonlight.
Henry’s eyes fluttered once.
Twice.
Then he was gone.
The wind carved long, low notes across the landing platform as the morning broke. The storm had not fully passed, yet it had lost the angry bite it held the night before. Snow drifted in slow spirals and the light was muted behind a curtain of cloud. Henry stood with his winter robe pulled tight, hood drawn low, breath steaming in the cold. Hena stood beside him in her formal winter layers and looked far more composed than she had in the middle of the night. Fildar and Gimavek hovered close, both alert in spite of the early hour.
The door to the interior hall slid open. Duke Shantuk stepped onto the stone platform. Another man followed. He was tall, broad shouldered and wrapped in thick protective robes. A silver sash crossed his waist which was a new color and there was not time for Henry to ask Fildar. Frost clung to the man’s beard and he bowed formally before taking his place behind the Duke.
Shantuk inclined his head to Henry in a calm, almost neutral greeting.
“Lord Henry,” Shantuk said. “This is my steward, Vedarat. He ensures the estate remains in order and that our servants operate with discipline.”
Vedar bowed again. “An honor to receive you, my lord.”
Henry returned a respectful nod. “Thank you. Your hospitality was… very thorough.”
For a moment he wondered if Kita lingered somewhere nearby, perhaps in a shadow or watching from a vantage point above the open courtyard. He kept his expression steady, offering neither hint nor implication. Shantuk watched him, and a knowing spark flickered quietly behind the Duke’s eyes. Nothing was said aloud.
Shantuk folded his hands behind his back. “I have considered what you asked of me,” he said. “If you submit your proposal through the appropriate channels and if it does not compromise the structure of Devenek, then I will honor it. You have my word.”
“Thank you,” Henry replied. “I appreciate you considering it. It was out of the blue.” He hesitated only a breath. “And thank you for the precautions you took last night. I understand their purpose and appreciate your concern.”
Shantuk’s expression did not change. His tone remained even. “Your safety as a visiting lord is my responsibility. Nothing more.”
A low roar carried through the air. The group turned to see the Avernell shuttle cutting through the haze. Its engines glowed faintly as it descended, pushing aside loose snow that scattered across the landing pad. The stabilizers flared, fighting the last gusts of wind.
Shantuk stepped closer to Henry so their voices could carry above the turbulence.
“You are an unusual Terran,” the Duke said. “Unusual and brave. Few would be bold to talk as you did in the presence of a rival house.”
Henry felt an uneasy warmth rise in his chest. “I do not know if I would call it bravery. Maybe stupidity? Mom did always tell me I talk too much.”
The comment about his mom seemed to have been lost on the Duke. Shantuk gave a quiet hum that might have been amusement. “Either way, I look forward to our next discussion.”
The shuttle settled into place and lowered its ramp. Snow gusted beneath the engines and Fildar signaled for their small group to approach. Hena adjusted her hood and stepped closer to Henry. Gimavek followed keeping a watch on the perimeter.
Henry turned back to the Duke. “Until next time.”
Shantuk inclined his head once more. “Travel safely, Lord Henry.”
Henry followed his companions toward the ramp. As the engines hummed and the cold stung against his cheeks, he felt a knot form in his chest. What had he done? What had the Duke said?
Unusual. Brave.
Reckless. I think that's the best description.
He pulled in a slow breath and stepped into the warm shuttle interior. Henry may have bitten off far more than he could chew.
'Crap.'
Maevin was going to kill him.