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    Governor's Tribute
    Governor's Tribute
    Governor's Tribute
    Ebook411 pages6 hours

    Governor's Tribute

    By Sharon L Reddy

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    A Relatross Treaty sector Governor was the last thing the Turon bureaucrats wanted, and why one was needed. They thought "The Great Boar" would reject their choice of advocate in his family and repudiate the treaty. The bureaucrats weren't smart enough to have come up with the methods they'd used to hide the oppression on their world. Where had they come from? The Treaty of Relatross was the most carefully-worded treaty ever written. "The team Destiny created" was defined in what it didn't say.

    Why were the bureaucrats running for Yarrow sector. The emperor of the empire that didn't rule was sworn to protect the sector. He sent his cousin, the Relatross governor to learn what was happening there. The answer was horror and a desperate race to save the people of nine worlds.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSharon L Reddy
    Release dateNov 11, 2012
    ISBN9781583389607
    Governor's Tribute
    Author

    Sharon L Reddy

    I write science fiction romance, but it's the literary definition of romance. Swashbuckle, Baby, in "white tie and tails." High romantic fantasies, million word mysteries, family sagas, statesmen, gurus and wise immortals. Loving dads, sons and brothers, and of course, the women who understand and appreciate them. High fashion and landscape design. Materials and art, the books are built to be read very fast, specifically for the way women visualize. Research on the soap operas of the fifties, trends in international populist (fan) fiction, technological development, and above all, long-term entertainment value. It has to be good in reruns. The intent is create a body of work that's just fun to read, in spurts or bursts over decades. Ethics, responsibility, nobless oblige, the power of money, the use of prestige. I write good guys win. Period. They're fantasies for women. Men with lots of muscle say, "I love you," a lot.Most of what is currently published was written in the first decade, 1991-1999, before Mother Nature changed my personal definition of "mature audience." I hope you'll remain with me as I and my work mature and enjoy the second decade of my work now being published, as well.I've lived many places and visited far more. My current residence is on a high mesa in New Mexico, in the United States, where I am engaged in a habitat restoration project.Explanation of the Pilots Group:Some of these works have been sitting on my hard drive close to twenty years and they're no fun for anyone just sitting there. They're exactly what they've been titled, pilots, like for a TV series. It is my intent and hope that other writers will choose to continue the adventures of the characters. There are only three restrictions. Don't kill off my heroes, don't make good guys bad guys and give my story credit if you publish. Yes, you may publish and make money on your stories. I loved reading and writing fan fiction, but the limitations on it could be frustrating, so... Have fun with these works that specifically don't have them.

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      Book preview

      Governor's Tribute - Sharon L Reddy

      Sharon L Reddy

      Governor's Tribute

      ©2012

      Target Yonder

      Smashwords Edition

      ISBN 978-58338-960-7

      Chapter One

      Thiretess Boer Hadlain watched the delegation from the planet his ship was orbiting walk toward him. There were more of them than there should have been and some were obviously not delegates. The emperor, his second-cousin, Tam, had warned him the entrenched bureaucracy would not be pleased to have a governor appointed and were the prime reason one was needed. He'd done it quite some time before and Boer had been working on getting himself ready to not please them for several years. Then he saw the small person in the midst of them was hooded, cloaked and being dragged along.

      What's the meaning of this?

      Meaning? We've brought the concubine required by the treaty of Relatross. Remove the hood.

      He held himself still. The concubine was a terribly scarred boy. He fought the men who held him, who dragged him forward by his cuffed wrists. Boer slowly stood and glared at the chief delegate. His sly smile was a mistake.

      Gen scan, Anverd.

      Excellent, Governor. Physical scan says he's capable of reproduction. I'm sure he's adult by their laws.

      He obviously can't see. Can he hear?

      No.

      How old is the damage?

      At least six years. Nine bones were broken in addition to the obvious burns. None were set. There's no indication any treatment was given for any of the injuries. It must have really surprised a lot of people that he survived. He meets the treaty specifications. There's nothing that says the person selected for the governor has to be of the opposite sex.

      Thank you, Anverd. He's accepted. Take those cuffs and hobbles off him.

      What?

      He's an interesting choice as advocate for your world within my family.

      Boer moved fast when the cuffs were removed. He pulled the boy into his arms and held him gently, but firmly, against him and laid his cheek on his head. The boy stopped struggling and slowly raised his hands, both missing fingers, to touch the face of the huge man who held him. Boer guided them to feel his tears, then slowly began to undress him. The marriage must be consummated. The scars were terrible and the fact he was capable of reproduction amazing.

      He grasped his wrists and moved them to the position in which the cuffs had held them, held them with one hand while he touched the scars where his eyes had been, then dropped his wrists. He raised one of his hands to touch the coronet he wore, then guided the other to his genitals. The boy jerked his hand back, but then laid it on Boer's chest and stepped forward. Boer gently picked him up and carried him to his bedchamber.

      The chief delegate was not politely escorted to the witnessing booth. Lieutenant Jastorim noted it hadn't been used in awhile and was a bit dusty when she shoved him in and slammed the door. Lieutenant Urber said it was too bad the bath the delegate was going to need would only wash the crud off the outside. They set the bio-monitor that was the only recording of the consummation kept for imperial court records. An assurance it would be, when the governor and one chosen for his family became well-acquainted, was usually all the proof planetary delegations wanted or needed.

      The bureau directors who'd had a stranglehold on the people of their world for over three hundred years had made a mistake. Instead of choosing a nice girl and giving the new governor no excuse to look closely, they'd listened to the stories about the Great Boar and decided just how to make him angry enough to repudiate the treaty. Lieutenant Urber noted a real challenge always did get the general excited. Lieutenant Jastorim grinned and nodded.

      Anverd glanced up from his comp panel and smiled. No one had offered refreshment, or chairs, to the group in the middle of the ornate audience chamber of the ancient official ship. He certainly didn't plan to. He completed the extrapolation and sent it and the information from the scans to his wife. He expected an explosion so turned down the volume on the comm button in his ear. It proved a wise precaution.

      THOSE BASTARDS! Those heartless, cruel... Anverd, I want him now!

      He's busy now, Ven. You know the treaty and the general. They thought they did. Surprise.

      Surprise. The answer is I think so, but it's going to take awhile.

      Estimate?

      Ninety-plus days.

      What?!

      You think Boer wants him to have prosthetics? I could do that in three.

      No. He's something very special.

      A feeling?

      Observation. You saw the scan. Now the meeting.

      Oh, my. Anverd, do they know he's first?

      No.

      Good. Let's not tell them.

      Oh, I'm sure we won't. It's chilly up here.

      Boer realized the boy was trying to tell him something. Suddenly he understood. He carried him to the bath and hunted 'slick' while he used it. He was working on what else he'd been saying. When it dawned on him what it was, he laughed and started hunting through the cabinets. He hadn't stocked them, which made it more, not less, probable he'd find what he was looking for. When he found it, he placed the boy's hand on it and got a nod after he'd examined it with the two fingers and thumb of his left hand. Boer was working on whether he was left-handed or ambidextrous. He smiled when he realized he was thinking about everything, and anything, but what they were trying to accomplish.

      He'd gone from 'handed,' to wishing he knew his name, to what had happened to him, to why the injuries hadn't been treated... He decided 'the boy' had made up his mind to accomplish what was necessary and knew more about it than he did. That made him angry. Then he decided it wasn't experience. Someone had answered all the questions an adolescent had.

      He glanced in the mirror and nearly winced when he saw the coronet. It was the same reaction he always had to it, but he was beginning to get used to it, at least to the reaction. When the emperor had put it on him, he'd told him he knew it was a lousy thing to do to a friend, but at least it wasn't as heavy as the one he had to wear. He sighed and brought his attention back to what needed to be done, again. Somehow, the two of them would manage it.

      It took awhile, but they did manage. Boer used the towelettes in the cabinet above his bed to clean them both, pulled the boy into his arms and fell asleep curled protectively around him.

      Anverd called Captain Farner and told her to get the delegation off the ship. She said she'd appoint someone to escort them because asking for volunteers would empty every duty station. A bit more than a standard hour later, the shuttle docked and the ship left orbit. Ten minutes later, translight drive was initialized. The old ship had some very new pieces. There were other members of the governor's family to be picked up, thirteen of them in a very specific order. He called his wife again.

      What else did you learn, Ven?

      He's all the way through beautiful in a badly damaged case. I assume you got into their comp files.

      I had nearly three hours.

      You've been reading for about two.

      Two-and-a-half.

      You're bragging.

      Of course.

      The injuries are almost seven years old. He was a child, Anverd. Why didn't they heal him?

      They didn't expect him to survive. It would have been expensive and 'heroic effort' isn't wasted on the poor. There are too many of them, anyway. Basically, you get medical care if you're a member of the bureaucracy, or can pay for it. If there are any who can. He's got some type of skill, Ven. Someone did work to keep him alive and teach him something useful enough to earn food, probably because it would irritate the bureaucrats.

      Whatever it is, he must be fairly good at it. He has fewer nutritional deficiencies than I expected.

      Small is genetic?

      Yes. Did you learn anything about him?

      He was scanned to see if he fit the criteria, rinsed, dressed and declared an adult by the court.

      No identity.

      None. He was chosen because he was the ugliest male they could find in eleven hours.

      Boer's escapades are legendary and severely exaggerated.

      It's considered a matter of honor by his marines. All the women who seek his attention are great beauties and the number is beyond counting.

      It did keep him from being considered a good marriage prospect by a great many ambitious parents.

      Speaking of which, we're on our way to Dereva.

      You don't think they'll be happy.

      Oh, I think they'll be delighted. Ainda Brumerani will be intensely irritated and that will please them all, especially Dirda Brumerani. She'll be the choice if she can manage it, specifically because she isn't the first. She'd do everything she could to avoid it if she was. Her mother has been trying to marry her off to royalty since she was born. Becoming 'one of' the new governor's wives would be perfect.

      That fool said, 'concubine,' to Boer.

      He could have chosen a worse term.

      Worse?

      He could have said, 'tribute.'

      Boer carried his bride to the medical section and gently laid him on the diagnostic bed. He didn't know if he'd understood what he'd been trying to explain to him or not. He looked into the eyes of the finest physician in the empire and smiled wryly.

      Surprise. You love him.

      I've been arguing it's because he's small and been hurt so terribly, Venida, but I'm not winning.

      He's the first person you ever met who is truly your equal, Boer.

      What?

      Your size, station, rank, reputation and actual accomplishments wouldn't awe him, even if he knew them all. He'd find the accomplishments impressive, but not awe-inspiring. You find his accomplishment impressive.

      I think I'm awed.

      No, just amazed and impressed. It'll take ninety-three days.

      What?!

      Do you want him fixed or healed?

      You know the answer to that, but it creates a problem.

      Thirteen of them. Bring them down here. Let them see why you accepted him and why he is first to you. Not the damage, but the very young man who battled to survive it and made the decision to do what you indicated was necessary. Boer, he knew you weren't going to hand him back over to those who had put the cuffs and hobbles on him and dragged him around, from the moment you put your arms around him. He probably doesn't know what the coronet means, just that it's a crown and your reason for what you asked him.

      I didn't ask.

      Of course you did. He was sure of it. He gave you a very clear answer.

      True. He led me through the whole thing. He knew what to do. I didn't. I was angry at first, then decided it probably wasn't experience.

      It wasn't.

      You could tell that?

      I can tell he wasn't raped and could see yours was the first caring embrace he's known, at least since this happened. Compression fractures. Not much lung scarring at all. Very strange. I think we're looking at damage from a very hot explosion, not a fire.

      A bomb?

      Your military background is showing.

      That's not military service. It's family history. Tell me about him.

      Would you believe me if I said he's very healthy?

      Despite appearances, yes.

      He's just shorter than average, even for Nunceon, about the opposite side of the bell curve from you. He's a little dark-haired doll. Satiny blue-black curls with cute little pink ears peeking out of them. Big, light green-blue, eyes with long thick lashes. Want to see what he looks like?

      No, I'll be here to watch him heal one day at a time. How old?

      Adolescent, but that's a stage of development, not an age. Quarner is adolescent physically and she's twenty-four standard. Thormeike's son is and he's thirteen. She's not much farther along than he is. He's about the same. My guess is sixteen-plus. I'd be less surprised if he's twenty than fourteen. Make you feel a bit better?

      I'm trying to estimate how much education he had?

      Oh, that's a good one. There's an imperial library on NuncTura. Because the government does not provide full medical restoration to the general populace, it has a hard-copy Vart printer. That's raised type designed to be read by touch. The government can't tax it, charge for it or deny access to it. The imperium pays for delivery to anyone who needs it and the library computer sends the kit to teach a person how to read with the fingers to start with. If anyone told the library comp about him, including sticking 'blind and deaf' in a public record, he got one and a catalog and return delivery-paid punch cards.

      He'd have had to have an address.

      That's what I said when Anverd was telling me all this. No. The comp will send a courier to a street corner at a certain time a certain day. Your cousin's great-grandmother got very upset when she found out 'permanent address' was working rather well as a subsidy for slum landlords on Jumis. They charged rent to use one, but anything that came to the address was just dumped. However, you had to have a permanent address to get a very expensive gov postal box, one family same surname only. The poor were paying a quarter of their subsidies to get their subsidies. She couldn't change the local regulations, but she made a very strong statement that the imperium did not approve. Quote, 'The imperial library provides services for the people most abused by the local system and nothing that system does will keep it from doing so.' She was twenty-three at the time and no one on Jumis knew she was on Jumis.

      Princess Evair the Fair, went only her mother knew where. She read the Prince and the Pauper when young. When she became twenty-one, she said, 'Mother, I'm going out there.' One of my favorite nursery rhymes. My father was good at them. All my nursery rhymes were family history. Princes are expected to know who their ancestors were as soon as they can talk.

      Boer, you worked to end up with that thing around your head.

      Tam was sure a governor was needed and I was the only one who could both qualify for and do the job. I'm a prince, but not in the direct line of succession. I commanded a division of marines for six years. I... wasn't married.

      Thump!

      Thump. No exchange of vows, but that's what it is. They can petition for someone from their world to replace them after a half standard year, but I can't for any reason, except refusal to consummate the marriage. Heal my bride, Doctor. He's the only one who accepted me. The others will all accept the position. I'll bring him back after I find a way to tell him what you're going to do, how long it will take and I'll... miss him.

      Day after tomorrow. Early.

      Thank you.

      Boer spent the two days and two nights with his bride. He sat in the floor with their feet touching and rolled a ball to him, which he delightedly rolled back. He grinned when his marines came up with ideas for games for them to play and ways to teach him things. He surprised himself a great deal when he 'showed' them both he wanted to make love to him again the night before he took him to medical to be healed. He whooped when his bride giggled aloud for the first time and pulled him toward the bath. They were six days from Dereva when he laid him gently in the surgical unit, closed it and watched the unit make the circulatory connections and fill with fluid.

      Chapter Two

      Dirda smiled at her mother and went to get ready. She was very happy. She was marrying a man she admired immensely, liked a great deal, found extremely attractive and she wouldn't be the princess. She'd always understood the emperor helped spread the stories about The Great Boar for a reason, but she hadn't expected him to appoint him sector governor. No one had. Of course, no one had thought about the fact he was the first to meet all the qualifications for a Relatross sector governor in over two hundred years, either.

      She chose her favorite gown, not the one her mother had selected for her, before she found out she wasn't first. She'd been told she was first of the family. That meant second. She wondered who had been first. She felt a bit sorry for the poor girl. As bride, she was stuck with politics and ambitious politicians. She would have been a political choice, or rather the world would have been and she'd have been selected very carefully.

      She went through the fourteen worlds of the sector in her mind and tried to figure out which one the governor, after long talks with the emperor of course, would have chosen. Dereva, as closest politically, had been second. First, second and fourteenth were the most important positions, but all had duties. She set aside politics as usual and thought about Boer as governor. That got her a fast answer that stopped her with a gown half over her head.

      She slowly pulled it the rest of the way on. The sector had a governor for a reason. That reason was NuncTura and the Turon bureau directors. Rampant racism, general oppression, a misogynic, nepotistic, oligarchy who controlled more of the world's resources and industries with every year... Of course, expressing that opinion was a good way to get your assets seized for back taxes. Back regulations were written to do it. They were the most common kind. Would he have chosen NuncTura as first? Yes. Would he have told them? She suddenly grinned. The answer was not before he gave them a chance to do something stupid. She knew him even better than she'd realized.

      She forgave her mother, of course. They'd been forgiving each other for having very different opinions since she was four. She'd told her she didn't want to be a princess because they had to work at being princesses all the time. Her mother said that's why they needed those who could do the job right and she could, so she should do it.

      Mother! Fasten me! Come on! You know he picked me specifically for the position he's sure I'm the one to hold! You know he's sure he won't get 'A' woman here!

      That one?

      He likes it. He had a great deal of difficulty looking in my eyes when I wore it to the representative's tea. They kept slipping down. We both thought it was hilarious. Mother, there's not a man I just plain like more. First of the Family is the... strategic advisory position. He's the first Relatross Treaty Sector governor in two centuries. He knows why and I'm the who he wants to help. You made sure I was the most qualified. I, personally, am second. All the others will be 'A' woman. Do you think his bride is Turon or Nunceon?

      What?!

      Mother! We're talking about Prince Thiretess Boer Hadlain, the golden-haired hero the Imperial Combined Service Command Staff demanded the emperor let them make a general at the age of thirty-five. He said waiving regulations wasn't his prerogative and an hour later Boer was protesting he didn't have the years in service, while marine generals and navy admirals pinned crowns on his uniforms. The emperor won't play trilev with him. I quite understand. I have.

      That's a game of luck.

      Only for most of us. It just takes Boer longer to win if luck runs against him. What's the reason for a governor? NuncTura. 'You have a governor, me. Your move.' Can I use some of your teffis oil?

      Two dabs. If you use more, his eyes will water when he gets within a meter, but you can take the bottle with you. You're sure that gown?

      Yes, Mother. It distracted him enough I almost won a game. He'll know I understood exactly why he came here second when he sees it. No vows of fidelity, but don't break them. I'm the only woman he chose, for both reasons.

      But not the princess.

      The princess has a great deal of difficulty finding out what people are worrying about for the governor. She's swimming in respectful polite even when she's not stuck beside him. Fourteenth is his official representative to the imperium, more respectful polite. Basically, he's giving me a staff of eleven to help him accomplish what the emperor wishes. He wants the Treaty of Relatross enforced. If that takes marines, Boer will do it, but he'll be sure that's the only way to do it before he does. Pack that one for me for the first ball I attend at the Imperial Palace?

      Well, at least I'll be sure you're dressed appropriately for something.

      Mom, the only thing we've ever really disagreed on was why, not really who, I should marry. This is the only compromise that could settle that disagreement. It's the job you were sure I could and should do, without putting me in the middle of Empire Sector politics. That's always been what I was sure I should avoid. I'll miss you.

      You know they all think it's hilarious.

      Yes, but they know it's a compromise too. In some ways, it's a very clear statement our new governor does know us and will be a good one for us. Forgive them for being so pleased I didn't end up a princess too, Mother. They didn't want a Lady of Dereva in the imperial family. It's a nice functional democracy with a bit of the pomp of a monarchy. If I'd become a princess, that bit would have become much more important than they want it to be.

      I know. I'll go get the teffis oil and an appropriate carry-all for the wardrobe you should pack.

      You see, I am excited. I didn't get beyond Boer is coming for me and he likes this dress.

      He is the one you want to marry?

      Always was, Mother, but he knew the reasons why we shouldn't even better than I did.

      I don't think I'm even surprised.

      Huge, beautiful, brilliant and I won't be working not to argue with women who have heard all about him.

      You're saying his reputation is not deserved?

      Of course it is. He and a great many others, including the emperor, worked hard to make sure he had it. It worked well to keep him unmarried long enough for the emperor to appoint him governor.

      Boer saw Dirda and grinned. She'd worn the yellow gown that had made concentrating on anything else difficult for an entire afternoon. He'd been rather sure she would understand she was why Dereva was second.

      I accept her.

      Boer, you're supposed to wait to accept until they present me.

      Oh, then I guess telling them I'll see them later and carrying you off is probably not a good idea. Hanus, Dereva is the world I will point to as example in my sector. You don't need a governor, but I need you.

      You have our support, Governor. I present our selection for your family, Lady Dirda Brumerani.

      Now can I climb on his lap, Hanus?

      Dirda, you're outrageous.

      We'll make a good team. Won't we, Boer?

      Yes, Dirda, we will. I ask you to accept the designation First Lady Relatross.

      Oh, my. I thought I was prepared for this.

      I'm sorry, but I need you to carry that old title.

      I trust your judgment on it. I accept. At least it's not princess. Where is your bride?

      He's being healed. It's going to take some time.

      What?! Oh, those fools!

      I ask none of you mention this to anyone until my family is complete. I hadn't planned on telling you. You now understand how much I trust you to aid me.

      I'm working my way through it, beginning with 'he.'

      There's nothing in the treaty that says opposite sex, Hanus.

      They made you so mad you...

      Managed, Dirda, but more because of who he is.

      Well, now I understand why the title. Hanus, he's Nunceon, poor and damaged. How badly, Boer?

      They were sure I wouldn't accept him, that no one would. I'm very glad they made the mistake.

      You love him.

      So will you. You're the person I most anticipate introducing him to, in about a quarter standard year. Hanus, I wish I didn't have to tell you we need to go immediately.

      We understand completely. Let's see, forward the record to the imperial court and do let us know if you need a fleet or ten.

      Thank you.

      You're welcome. Fems and gens, let's go. We're steaming up the audience chamber.

      Do tell my mother about the title, Hanus.

      I will. A point of agreement is too rare an opportunity to let pass.

      Dirda leaned against Boer and wept. He held her gently and told her of the two days he'd spent with his bride. She suddenly smiled and noted he wouldn't be as busy as most governors. He looked at her a few seconds, then burst into laughter and nodded. That part of having another male in his family hadn't occurred to him. He hugged her and Venida smiled as they walked out of the medical section together. She programmed the unit to prepare for surgery. She'd wanted to wait until after they'd been there, so the unit would have time to clear the blood before Boer saw it.

      It didn't surprise Dirda that Halcyon was next, but their selection did. They showed a great deal more wisdom than she'd expected. Miman was an accountant and in her early thirties. Boer was delighted and told them he hoped others gave as much thought to the selection as they had. Mim told him she hadn't planned on marrying, but they'd convinced her he needed someone who knew something about interplanetary finance in the family and she was quite pleased they had. When he took her to see his bride, she stormed out of medical and went to work. Anverd had just the files she needed.

      Micali knew fourth was usually the historian and selected a student of it for him. Loucala was shy, lovely and very surprised when Mim called her Lou, but it was exactly what was needed. She began the history with Boer's acceptance of his bride. She was as angry as Dirda and Mim had been.

      The delegation from Baslior had to work to keep up with Aura. People usually did. She grinned and told Boer it would be interesting to dance with a man and not look down at the top of his head. He laughed and said she probably still would because he'd have trouble remembering to look in her eyes. She told him it was interesting not to just think of her tits as things that had to be strapped down when she was working out. She spent quite some time talking to Venida about what Boer's bride would need in the way of physical training when he was healed.

      O'Dona chose a young Lady of the aristocracy. Dirda yelled, Misty! and they met in the middle of the audience chamber in a hug. Boer said she was obviously accepted whether he planned on it or not, then grinned and told the delegation he was as pleased as First Lady Relatross. Misty looked at him, then back to Dirda. She squeezed her hand and nodded. Misty was the one who understood exactly what it meant. She was a countess and understood palace intrigue, that it was primarily well-intended and how to use it. She demonstrated a very extensive and surprising vocabulary for a Lady when she saw Boer's bride. She went to work.

      New Cander selected a young woman who'd gotten an advanced degree in child psychology by the time she was sixteen. Barri stated she planned on lots of children and for several of them to be hers. Boer noted he hadn't gotten that far on the idea of family yet. She told him that was her job and not to worry about it. The delegation was still laughing when they left. Barri spent two hours talking to Boer about his bride and headed for Anverd's records. Anverd noted sitting beside her while she pulled those she wanted made him want to check to see if the comp was overheating.

      Rinder chose a politician's daughter. Androvia knew democracies and bureaucracies and how both functioned properly. She hated the system on NuncTura before Boer escorted her to the medical section. She said, Yell, 'Via' if you need me. I'm going to be trying to come up with something besides a bomb to blow that system apart. Anverd already had the files she needed pulled.

      Sealore's selection was an ecologist in her late twenties. The chief delegate smiled and told Boer that Minadona had rolled over the person with the responsibility of admitting only authorized persons to the senate chambers. She'd yelled she'd selected herself and get back to work on budgeting the plan to re-seed a shoreline with native plants. She said the completed plan to pay for the re-seeding she'd dropped on her desk had shortened that task a great deal too.

      Dona sat down at a comp in medical section, told Boer she'd find him later and asked Venida for the initial scans. She told her she could learn things from anything that helped determine his normal diet. She had everything she could get on the biota of the fourteen worlds of the sector on sixteen data store crystals in the capacious pockets of the field vest she was wearing.

      Granitine's selection was 'just' a nice girl of nineteen, but a very intelligent one. Linlola was interested in everything and could find anything in a library. We think she's read all ours. Lola said she'd discovered there was something she wanted to know everything about after all and had work to do and walked out of medical section.

      Osmindra wasn't ready. Boer wasn't really surprised. Dirda told the fem, trying to explain why, that she wanted the best unpaired comp programmer they could find between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five in twenty standard minutes and Boer would prefer a woman. Boer was laughing too hard for the chair of the selection committee to have any doubts First Lady Relatross meant exactly what she said and he approved.

      Callio was barely eighteen and knew exactly who Anverd was. She almost noticed Boer on her way to his comp station. Anverd introduced Cal to Boer's bride on the screen and she yelled at him to accept her so Anverd would give her the access codes, so she didn't have to break in to get started.

      The delegate asked Dirda if she was who she had in mind. She told him the governor accepted her. He was laughing too hard to say it. He nodded and they headed for Lobora as soon as the shuttle returned from the planet.

      Angeli, Li, was a tiny thing, with a cute little girl voice, who was twenty-four, but looked seventeen. She was a tech. She pulled a design peripheral out of her pocket and connected it to the medical section comp. She had an idea that might reduce the time needed to heal Boer's bride by several days. Venida got her the specs on the surgical unit fast. Boer smiled and left them working.

      Kime held a drawing. The winner was a girl from a farmstead on Greens, their agra and mining colony. Dinora learned she'd won when the shuttle landed beside the barn. When Boer walked out of it, she whooped, yelled for her mother and seven sisters to pack her and at her father and four brothers to fill the shuttle's cargo bay with fresh stuff. Boer grinned at the slightly plump big girl and said she was accepted. Nora looked him up and down and asked if the shuttle had a bed. She sat down on the deck beside the surgical unit and cried for the all the poor babies on NuncTura.

      Chapter Three

      Cherissa knew they were last and what the job of fourteenth was. Edwardiana was a rich society girl with a flair for public relations. She'd been making her family's company very popular with people since she was six. As soon as the shuttle left, she said, Call me Eddy and tell me why you need a Lady Relatross-Thiretess in the imperial palace. Boer took her to see his bride and she nodded.

      You need them ready to accept both him as your bride and that you may have to go in with marines to end this kind of abuse.

      That's why there's a First Lady Relatross and a Lady Relatross-Thiretess. You'll like Tam and you'll be a great deal more help to him than I'd expected.

      You expected them to pick someone who could handle the syrup and pour it out just as fast. They did. My uncle picked me for what they didn't know you needed, which is, of course, why he's rich and they're comfortable. He called me as soon as he heard 'First Lady Relatross.' I need to be pregnant when I get there. You need the feeling of family that will instill. I'm extremely pleased it's a good excuse for insisting I get to play in your bed several nights in a row too.

      "I'm amazed and wondering if Destiny is laughing because I don't

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