Just a Tourist
“You know if the Mistress finds out I did this, she is going to be furious. Enraged even.”
Henry Patton looked from the crowd of tourists flowing through the Belentine starport to his Chief of Security Tox Utivin. The dark skinned man stood there with his arms folded across his chest, his sharp eyes roaming from him to the crowd and scarlet cape drapped over his shoulder. Unlike his usual Xaltean outfit, the young Terran was wearing the T-shirt, jeans, and denim jacket to cut the decent breeze sweeping through the planetary capital of Victory.
“Look. I am never going to get a chance any other time,” Henry responded. The two were standing in a small two room storefront that had one way glass. Tox had explained it was a holding location for dignitaries and such for House Avernell. It was empty and smelled a bit dusty from the lack of use, plush chairs and couches were neatly arranged for anyone to sit.
Tox shifted on his feet and then let out a tired sigh. “Fine but I’m not going to let you out of my sight. How do you want to do this again? Just so I’m clear.”
Henry could not keep the smile off his face. He checked his pocket and pulled out a small circular device large enough to fit in his palm, flipped up the clear cover and held it out.
“I have my emergency beacon. The plan is that I’m going to mix with the tourists coming through. There a lot of humans these days and I’ll just slip in and appear to be one of them coming out of the star port. Then I can explore Belentine without an army and at least half a dozen maids trailing after me. I can see the city through the eyes of a commoner.”
“But you’re not a commoner. You’re a Lord of House Avernell.
“That’s the thing,” Henry laughed pointing out the window. “They don’t know that. I know you got a few soldiers here but the rule is simple. Don’t interfere unless my life is on the line. Just let things happen naturally.”
Tox sighed again and then nodded. “Your wish is my command, my lord, but when Mistress Maer finds out, I fully intend to put you in the line of fire.”
Though Henry laughed at that, it did give him pause. Mistress Maevin Maer, the woman who ran the estate and his right hand would be lose it if she discovered that he was just let to roam. He could already picture her icy blue eyes sparking with fury and the polite but utterly devastating admonishments that would follow.
“Is it worth it?” Tox inquired divining what he was thinking.
“Yeah.”
“Very well. I will see you at dusk.”
Slipping the disk back into his pocket, Henry opened the door as a large swath of tourists funneled out from customs and easily merged. Not a single person even looked at him as they were enraptured by the smooth, tall skyscrapers that made up Belentine’s skyline. It was filled with buildings of varying heights. They were a mixture of square and rectangular structures like he would have seen on earth while others have gentle slopes and curves like one would expect for a Xalteans. The walkway they were taking from the starport towards the public transportation was suspended over a section of the city and Henry could make out the circular building of the Central Maid Directorate down below. The crowds were snapping pictures, pointing, and gabbing. The amount of English he was hearing was far more than he was used to.
“Look over there! You see that tall tower?” one girl was saying pointing towards a spire that raised in the center of the city and dwarfed everything else. “What is that?”
“That’s some sort of beacon?” the father said confused as he looked at the brochure.
“It’s the defensive shield emitter for the city,” Henry said before he thought better of it. The family of four looked over to him surprised.
“I don’t see it in the pamphlet?” the father, a rotund man with a red face said holding it out.
Henry gestured vaguely towards some Xaltean officials. “I heard someone mention it while I was walking by.”
That seemed to be a good enough excuse. Henry lost sight of them as they all began to board the sleek buses that sat in a bypass ready to merge with the high speed highway that ran in the center of the city. Voice continued to talk excited around him as he found a window seat. For the first time in a long time, Henry felt normal.
Wow. I can’t believe I forgot what it’s like being a nobody, He thought to himself.
“Can we go see the fountain park?” a young boy squealed somewhere in the back as his parents tried to shush him.
“I heard they opened up Gisar’s Grove to tourists,” an older woman in seat in front of them said to the man beside her.
“You think we can buy a maid or two to take home?” someone on the other side of the aisle joked. Henry shot a glare at the two twenty somethings boys examining the pamphlet as if it had answers.
The bus began to move and before he knew it, they were rushing down the highway at high speeds, the scenery flashing by them. A glance at the digital sign at the front by the driver mentioned Anashee Square. That was where he wanted to go.
***
Getting off the bus was relatively easy as the passengers flooded out and dispersed within the already present crowd. The square was massive, about a mile across, the lines of businesses and medium buildings along the U-shape plaza. Like an onion, going down towards the center was layered with steps that circled the concrete valley until it reached a fancy water fountain with the statue of Ala, the Goddess of Rain in the center.
Souvenirs. That was what he needed to get. Annabelle would have wanted something fluffy like a stuffed toy while his dad would have appreciated something with history. How mom, older brother, and other sister was a different question.
Maybe a cook book for mom? Ephraim would probably like something military. Modesty Patton, his twin sister who was a nun of Celestianity would be a lot harder. I’ll get her a book. That’s the safest option.
Walking along the edge of the plaza and avoiding the crowds and the open air courtyards, Henry finally spotted a large mall that had smaller shops inside. That was probably going to be the best option.
As he walked, the young man glanced over and noticed three people that stood out from the tourists and Xalteans who wore regular clothing. They wore traditional outfits but these were dark orange with black trim, there tvekel skirt reached to the ground while they folded layers covered their chest and back. The one that appeared to be the leader had a tiara in her hair that sparkled against the dark curls. They were obviously members of a House though he did not recognize which. They were definitely not Avernell.
The leader glanced over towards him and their eyes locked for a moment. Her eyes were dark and felt like they could pierce him straight through. There was a cunning in them as she surveyed everything that caused his stomach to flip flop. Dropping his eyes, Henry stepped into the nearest shop to just stay out of sight.
It was a small shop filled with clothes and other trinkets designed to get the attention of shoppers from other planets. There were products with English and Spanish writing as those were two of five official languages of the Terran Confederacy. He walked between the shelves looking for something his family would like.
Henry sensed it first, a presence behind him. He turned around and standing only a few feet away was the woman in orange from earlier. Her sharp eyes were tearing through him and there was a smirk tugging at the corner of her pretty mouth. Being up close, he could see how fierce she appeared, her long face and slender nose looking at him like a predator that cornered prey.
“Oh,” Henry said in English refusing to give away he knew Xaltean. “Am I in your way?”
“No.” she answered in accented English.
“Oh, good. I'm just trying to find some gifts for my family before the shuttle leaves, ” Henry said trying to sound like a tourist.
“I see,” the woman said stepping closer, her scent reaching his nose. A mixture of smoke and spice. “Do you plan to stay long in Belentine, Lord Patton-Avernell of Blue Blossom Estate.”
Henry's stomach dropped into his shoes. His face must have gone pale as the predatory grin grew bigger.
“Eta ki vi ki?” Who are you? Henry asked in Xaltean trying to regain his footing.
The woman bowed mockingly to him as she spoke. “I am Battle Maid of the 4th Order Tivin. House Irisik.”
Shit, Henry thought taking a step back.
“I'm surprised your handlers let you out on your own,” Tivin said stepping forward and not allowing him a chance to retreat. “It is unbecoming of a Lord of the Green not to have their entorauge with them.”
She took another step forward and Henry found his back against the wall. “or their security.”
“You really think I'm without security?” Henry said trying to sound brave.
“No,” Tivin answered matter-of-fact. “I know of the stories of Primal Tox Utivin who serves as your Chief of Security. He's got soldiers watching you.”
“Good that you know.” Did that sound brave?
“The problem is,” she took one more step forward and there was only a few inches between them. Her scent overtaking his senses. “There reaction time will be twenty to thirty seconds, no clear shot if you deployed snipers. I could have a knife in your stomach before they could get in to the shop.”
Henry's eyes dropped to her belt where the sheathed weapon sat.
“Is threats the way a servant of Irisik greets a lord?” Henry asked trying to remember everything his Emissary Maids had taught him and to use the culture against her. There was only words between him and whatever she had planned.
Tivin's eyes did not leave his face, they seemed to search for something. Fear maybe? Henry breathed a sigh of relief as she took a step back.
“We are in the back of a tourist shop,” Tiving said reaching near his head and running her fingers across the costume jewelry that clinked and swayed. “No one knows we are here and you haven't earned my respect.”
Xaltean propriety stated he should have challenged her on that. Her was the ruling Lord of the sector and she owed him deference to his title. Instead he reached out and plucked the necklace she was fiddling with from her hand.
“Well, in that case, how about you accept this as a gift from me?”
Tivin started at those words. She actually took two steps back, a horrified look on her face. “What did you say?” the woman demanded.
It was Henry's turn to smile. “I mean, if we are doing away with protocol and properiety, why can't I offer a pretty girl a gift? Are you interested in going out to eat together? Maybe take a stroll in the nearby park? I hear Gisar's Grove is beautiful at this time of day.”
Tivin's face blanched and she stepped back even further keeping her distance as if the words themselves could harm her. Her voice lowered in volume as she hissed at him. “I am not your heshut! How dare you treat me as if I am your toy that you can decorate and spoil.”
“So, the rules are important then?” Henry asked setting the necklace down. He saw the realization cover her face and then a burn of red in her cheeks. For the first time, she lowered her eyes. She gripped the edges of her skirt and curtseyed deeply.
“My Lord Patton-Avernell. My greetings to you. I apologize for my inappropriate conversation and will accept any punishment you deem appropriate.”
“How about,” Henry said side stepping around her as Tivin looked up. “How about we pretend that we never had this conversation?”
“You'd let it go?” Tivin asked suspiciously. “Do you expect my body in return?”
“For crying outloud,” Henry said with a roll of his eyes. “We aren't sex crazed monsters. I'm in enough trouble with my Mistress that I'd rather not add inter-estate diplomatic incident to the list.”
Tivin remained silent as she stared at him and for a second, he thought the situation was going to get intense again. Instead, she simpy nodded at him.
“Then I shall take my leave, Lord,”
She turned to leave as she could see the two others that had come with her to Belentine making their way across the plaza towards them.
“For what it's worth,” Henry offered. “It was actually nice to meet you.”
Tivin just looked over her shoulder at him, a hint of confusion in her face before she vanished out the door. Henry let out a sigh of relief.
“I cannot understand how you keep avoiding death.”
Henry Patton visible jumped and his heart skipped a beat. In the shadows in a connecting row, he saw Tox lean out into the light. “First the tiakesetel with House Nevakev and now here.”
“You were there the whole time?” Henry asked relieved that he actually had someone with him.
“Of course,” Tox chuckled. “Did you really think I was going to let you out of my sight?”
Henry laughed at that as they made their way to the door. The Terran had to make sure of something though.
“You did hear that I don't want anything done about this Tivin, right? Nothing about her mouthing off to Maevin.”
“I honor your wishes no matter how strange they may be.”
Forget the souvinirs. Henry wanted to get back to Blue Blossom.