Alien Chronicles 1 - The Golden One by Deborah Chester Read Free Book Online

worlds,” Telvrahd said. “The ship was rerouted twice around failed jump gates, and I missed several important appointments—”
    “Including your audience with us,” the Kaa said coldly. “Now you have forced yourself upon our company, taken advantage of our time, and created a public spectacle around an insignificant matter.”
    “Sire—”
    “Insignificant,” the Kaa repeated with more force. He glared at Telvrahd with eyes cold and flat. As his rill extended and raised, Telvrahd’s lowered.
    Bowing low, Telvrahd stepped back. “I ask the pardon of the Imperial Father. My heart is much occupied with the safety and well-being of the empire. My zeal sometimes exceeds my prudence.”
    As an apology, it left much to be desired. The Kaa heard no sincerity in Telvrahd’s tone. He saw no contrition in Telvrahd’s red eyes. Telvrahd would persist, and make a great issue over something that was both costly and unimportant. As long as there were sufficient jump gates across the empire, why bother with a few gone inactive? Even more foolishly, why make a public issue of it and stir up the populace with irrational fears?
    In the distance a squabble broke out among some Kelth lits. One of them nipped another, and their shrill yelping caught the Kaa’s attention. He glanced around, and realized the sri-Kaa was no longer clinging to his hand.
    Nor was she in sight. He stared at the small clusters of attendants, the wilting, bored courtiers, the tireless antics of the clowns. His musicians played light background melodies, but Israi was not with them either.
    His heart froze inside him. How could she be gone? In an instant, he thought of a thousand possibilities, each one worse than the one before it. “Israi!” he said in alarm.
    Telvrahd stepped very close to him. “I promise the Imperial Father that I shall not let this matter drop,” he said in a low voice. “If I must, I will carry it to the public forum and—”
    “Silence!” the Kaa roared, spinning around and turning his back to Telvrahd. Furiously, the Kaa gestured at his guards, and they pushed Telvrahd away.
    “Where is our daughter?” the Kaa demanded. “What has become of her?”
    The courtiers milled about in sudden consternation, making it impossible to determine what had become of the chune or her lady in waiting.
    The captain of the guard hurried to the Kaa and saluted. “Sire, a search will be conducted immediately.”
    “Find her!” the Kaa commanded. He could not breathe. The air was stifling, laden with too many strange and unpleasant smells. He could feel his heart pounding. His rill stood at complete extension, and he realized he was lashing his tail back and forth beneath his coat with enough agitation to make it visible. But at that moment he hardly cared if anyone noticed. If anyone had hurt her, abducted her, dared touch the most precious treasure of his life, he would have them torn into pieces and burned in the forum of assembly. He would have every building, every shop, every residence searched until she was found. He would level this entire squalid section of Vir if necessary. Who had dared take his daughter, the light of the empire, the jewel of his soul?
    “She is found!” came a shout over the hubbub.
    A guard came running, and behind him trotted Fazhmind in his silk coat and filigreed rill collar, silver bells jingling.
    “There is no alarm, sire,” the guard said, halting and saluting the Kaa. “The sri-Kaa is found in that shop across the way. She is safe and unharmed. Lady Lenith attends her, as is proper.”
    “What is proper,” the Kaa said around his flicking tongue, incapable of relief yet, “is that the sri-Kaa be in her place at our side.”
    Out of breath from having been rushed across the plaza in the heat, Fazhmind fanned himself and bowed low. “All is well, sire. The sri-Kaa slipped away while the Imperial Father was talking to Lord Telvrahd. I followed her into the shop. As did her lady in