Chapter 9

It was a wonderful party and a wonderful surprise for Amanda who, though expecting a celebration, did not realise it was going to happen shortly after her arrival and debrief. Everyone she knew well was there, including a few from the lower levels of Hrunesh Block, as well as Mamma Vatu and her husband, who, although clearly surprised to be where they were, were enjoying themselves immensely.

“So, everyone behaved whilst we were away?” I asked Vicki after a dance.

“Yes, whilst we’re not too old for troublemaking, we’re all growing up as well,” she giggled.

“I suspect Plenna’s too busy at the medical centre,” I chuckled.

“Yes, though he’s calmed down a lot since we started dating, anyway.”

“Probably doesn’t want to be seen to be letting you down,” I nodded.

“That too,” she smiled.

“Off to Fleet soon for both of you, as well.”

“Yes, we’re both looking forward to it. Just have our finals to get through in about fifteen binary cycles,” she nodded.

“Got ours in about five days.”

“Yes, though with your talent, you don’t need specific results. Nor does Amanda, come to that,” Vicki replied.

“True, she has a job waiting for her,” I chuckled. “Whereas you and Plenna need certain quals to guarantee you your places.”

“Yes, though we both should, for all Plenna’s a little wild, it never showed up in his academics.”

“His Mum and Aunt Cass rode herd on him over that,” I chuckled.

“Yes, but now you’ll have to excuse me, my next dance is up,” she finished with her sunniest smile.

“Mine too. Promised this one to Galh,” I replied as we moved apart to pick up our partners.

Galh was growing up, just on the cusp of puberty, and was, like her sister, turning into a real head-turning beauty. She was also planning on becoming a palace Retainer. It was a specific job that combined a servant’s role with various other tasks to carry out the day-to-day work of the Royal household. The job itself was highly sought after and generally not open to outside recruitment. Usually a retainer was recruited from known friends or associates of the Empress. They also had a very high security clearance as they were often party to meetings where the big decisions on how or what the Empire was to do in certain circumstances. They also trained in various security roles as well as combat skills with the Royal bodyguards and were, when of marriageable age, considered to be a wonderful catch for whoever managed to catch their eye and propose or be proposed to.

“Enjoying yourself?” I asked as we moved to the complex steps of the dance.

“Yes, I love coming here,” she enthused.

“I meant the party,” I chuckled.

“Oh yes, we’d been preparing for it since you went off to Coriola,” she nodded.

“Thought so,” I smiled.

“The gift you got Amanda is beautiful,” she went on. “Where on Vreekoos did you find it?”

I explained about the cover-lace and its function in Ordentian society as she listened in rapt attention.

“Ah, that explains why the newsies can’t figure out where she got it from as the AIs don’t discuss Royal family business beyond the occasional visit,” she finally nodded.

“Pretty sure they must have figured out something about it,” I chuckled.

“Not so they’ve said,” she giggled.

“Wonder if Amanda will tell Teelae,” I mused.

“Possibly, but I suspect she’ll be the only newsie she’ll talk to. Even then she might not talk about it,” Galh shrugged, showing a good grasp of Amanda’s priorities when talking to the one newsie the Royal family would deal with on a one-to-one basis.

My next dance was with Truna, who was just reaching full bloom in the way of young adulthood and was currently getting over keen males, giving them the occasional zap when they presumed she was older than she actually was when they approached her when out and about with friends. I still was unsure why they didn’t check their open com channels to get her age and level stats. But apparently they didn’t, or presumed the AIs might ignore their predatory behaviour due to their upper level status.

“Enjoying life?” I asked as we enjoyed a close dance where the partners held each other.

“Oh yes. Gets a bit boring when you’re away now as Hilli has found a girlfriend and spends more time with her.”

“He has? That’s good.”

“She’s called Mirri and is slightly older than me, but younger than Hilli.”

“Like her?”

“She’s OK. Just more interested in Hilli.”

“Still on course to becoming a Healer?”

“Yes. Aunt Cass says she’ll sponsor me if I get the required grades, as has Uncle Jorulla.”

“That’s two very high sponsors,” I chuckled. Aunt Cass was the Royal Healer and Uncle Jorulla the Orliantomin and Healer in charge of the Imperial Health Bureaucracy.

“Yes, Dad said so too,” she replied as both she and Galh now occasionally used Mum and Dad to address my parents despite their being adopted. Hilli still used Dave and Kirim though.

“You’ll get there,” I nodded. “Just don’t get distracted with boys until you get in.”

“Oh yuk,” she grimaced. “They’re seriously immature at times. I wish I could find a boyfriend like you.”

“I’m taken,” I chuckled. “What about Girol? He obviously likes you.”

“Girol? No, he’s waiting for Galh.”

“Really? She kept that quiet.”

“Doesn’t want to be teased. I think. Hilli’s unaware too.”

“I won’t tell him and I won’t tease.”

“Good. She gets shy and flustered around him, though it’s obvious they both care and are waiting till she hits six.”

“There’s someone out there for you as well. Just don’t sacrifice your future as a Healer to be with them immediately,” I nodded with a smile.

“I won’t. I’m going to be a Healer first, then find romance.”

“That’s my sis,” I chuckled as we parted.

There were several other dances until finally I was partnered with Aunt Manny who was clearly letting her hair down this rest period.

“You did well on your mission,” she congratulated me.

“It’s not work to me. I just talk and draw,” I smiled.

“Nevertheless, you exposed a critical, if minor, issue with the Raffagee and whoever is trying to get around AI restrictions.”

“I’m pretty sure they’ll make an error of judgement and expose themselves sooner or later,” I agreed.

“Probably, though I suspect there’s a possible layer above them because the finance and technical resources they use to achieve production are all top of the line, usually sourced from exports to other Realms though.”

“Ah, I see,” I nodded. “Fake companies diverting equipment back to the Empire?”

“Yes, Herrick and Vilgra have a lot of resources looking into it, though the Troubleshooters can’t operate too openly in friendly Realms.”

“I can,” I chuckled.

“I hoped you’d say that, Dayyev,” she smiled.

“Anything to help, Aunt Manny.”

“Just don’t get yourself into trouble.”

“I won’t, though I’d appreciate borrowing a Royal bodyguard when I go as they have more than enough skills to allow access to various properties as well as watch my back.”

“That can be arranged. I’ll put Liono on it initially, though there may be others.”

“Pretty sure Trusha will want in,” I chuckled.

“I’ll think about it, though if Trusha goes, Amanda will want in and I’m unsure as to whether I want the Princess Royal running amuck in a foreign Realm, no matter how friendly we are.”

“Form a team to travel on ‘official’ visits to those Realms. Bodyguards, Retainers and a Healer, all with Troubleshooting skills,” I suggested.

“It’s a thought,” she answered. “I’ll get back to you after a meeting with the Security Group.”

“Thank you, Aunt Manny,” I replied with a graceful bow after the dance ended.

It had been a wonderful party, though all good things must come to an end, as an ancient saying tells us. Though for once Amanda and I found ourselves alone on a veranda overlooking the grounds with no Trusha or other bodyguard in sight, though no doubt someone somewhere was watching us.

“I love you, Dayyev,” she murmured before we exchanged kisses.

“I love you too, Ammie,” I replied.

“There are just some days when I get so tired of all the protocol and protection around us and wish for an ordinary life ... not that I have a clue what an ordinary life is,” she finished with a slight chuckle.

“Me either,” I nodded with a smile.

“So, what were you and my Mum discussing,” she asked, changing the subject.

“Setting up a team to accompany us and to look into various activities the Empire thinks might be ... troublesome.”

“Oh, right. Sounds like a very good idea, people will expect me to be accompanied on my visits.”

“They will, though this last one was a bit of an ad-hoc effort,” I nodded.

“Who did you suggest?”

“Titles only, no specifics. Bodyguards, a couple of Retainers, a Healer, all with Imperial Troubleshooter experience,” I explained.

“Quite a team. Doubt we’d get Kiria or Tillan though.”

“Wouldn’t expect to. Kiria’s a Ground Force Commander and much more valuable elsewhere,” I agreed.

“Very true. I expect she’ll make a senior Commander very soon, if her accomplishments are anything to go by.”

“Her first calling is still as a Healer. Always will be.”

“I know, but to Ground Force that’s secondary, as they see her combat command and control skills as being the most important to them.”