A Lotus for the Regent by Adonis Devereux Read Free Book Online Page A

followed the length of the arm until
it reached the face of the one who served him. He nearly jumped out of his
seat. The woman had golden hair, and her features, too, were angular. Not Zenji
at all. In fact, she reminded him of the boy minstrel the night before.
    "Thank
you," he said in Sunjaa as she set a napkin before him.
    She bowed in Zenji
fashion and moved off, and Kamen could not help but stare at her. She was
lovely, of a beauty that rivaled Saerileth's or any other Lotus's. Perhaps even
more beautiful because of her unusual countenance. Her long golden hair was
piled up on her head in a complicated, curving braid that sloped down her scalp
only to snake around and end in a heap on top of her head, held in place by
pins. So much hair, so lovely. Why would a woman who looked like her work in
the kitchen? She walked around the table with grace, confidence, and air. She
was not meek like the other slaves. Still, Kamen could not take his eyes from
her. When she bent over, he stole glimpses of the curve of her ass and thighs.
His gaze traveled down her back and then back up, over her neck and through her
braid again. Once she looked back at him, and Kamen had to look away quickly
and act like he was calling over one of his men who stood near her. When the
Sunjaa sailor reported to him, Kamen said, "Never mind." He waved the
man away.
    There was to be an
hour of peace before the negotiations resumed, so Kamen decided to sit back and
enjoy the guildhouse cuisine. He sampled the cold boiled vegetables first. They
contained just the slightest hint of weak vinegar, but were in all other ways
unappetizing. Zenji food just was not as flavorful as Sunjaa. First of all,
there was no bread to be seen. Kamen could not imagine a meal without bread.
And what with the solemnity of the occasion, he had expected boiled cabbage.
There was none, for it was not considered a delicacy here.
    Kamen dug into the
baked fish with the small, silver fork provided. It was delicious, and its
soft, tangy meat melted in his mouth. The Ausir spoke in hushed tones, though
the factions did not speak to each other. The only communication between the
two were cold stares, curled lips, and sucked teeth. Kamen watched and ate, but
he said nothing. He wished he could understand them, because often the Losiengare
sailors looked at him and nodded to one another.
    "They will
make promises they do not intend to keep." The blonde serving woman was at
Kamen's elbow, whispering in his ear.
    He looked up at
her, and he stared at her soft lips. The scent of ginger hung about her, and it
intoxicated him. "What?" he asked at last.
    "You
there." The Guildmaster ran over and grabbed the woman by the arm.
"Back to work. How dare you speak to the Regent!"
    Kamen stood, and
the table fell silent. "It's all right. I want to hear what she has to
say."
    The Guildmaster
grinned and bowed, pushing the woman behind him. "She has nothing to say.
She is insolent. I will have her beaten."
    Beat her? Why
would any man even consider marring her perfect, alien beauty? "That won't
be necessary. I shall hear her."
    The Guildmaster
glared back at the woman. "She is troublesome."
    "Then I will
take her outside." Kamen held out his hand.
    Everyone watched,
and the Guildmaster smiled and bowed to his unwanted audience. While he did so,
Kamen took the girl by the hand. The Guildmaster could not prevent him now
without causing undue embarrassment, so Kamen ascended the steps with her and
walked out onto the porch.
    "What did you
mean just now?" Kamen let go of her hand but did not step away from her,
as would have been natural when conversing with a stranger.
    Neither did she
step back. "The Losiengare will promise you anything because they already
plan to betray you."
    "How
so?"
    The woman's
blue-green eyes searched Kamen's face before she answered. Her eyes reminded
him of the sea. "They will promise you friendship on disadvantageous terms
for themselves, and then they will steal your ships to