Delivered by the Defender (Kindred Tales)

The guard, who had been standing stiffly at attention, with one arm at his side and the other held straight out in front of him, displaying the holo, looked down at her briefly. His bright yellow eyes widened in his blue and green face, and then he looked away quickly. To Selena’s consternation, he didn’t say a word.

“Um, hello?” she said, trying again. “I’m the person Ambassador Tolern’s wife asked you to pick up. I’m the musician who’s supposed to perform at the Emperor’s gala.”

Still, the guard said nothing, but only stared straight ahead.

Selena didn’t know what to do. Was there a problem with her translation bacteria? Could he not understand her? But he had looked right at her—couldn’t he tell that she was the person in the hologram he’d been holding for hours?

“Hello?” she said to the guard, looking at him uncertainly. “Can you understand me?”

All this time, Valen had been standing by, frowning. Now he stepped forward.

“I think I know the problem,” he murmured to Selena. “Let me speak to him.” He looked down at the guard and his tone became sharp. “Guardsman, you are being rude to a respected guest of the Kindred Ambassador. This lady is Miss Selena Bates—you’re meant to take her to the palace.”

The guard continued staring straight ahead but at least this time he spoke.

“I was told to expect an Independent Female, Sir,” he said loudly. “I cannot bring a female without a Seal of Independence to the palace. It would be improper.”

“But my Seal was stolen!” Selena protested. “I need to talk to the Major Domo of the palace about getting another one.”

Once again, the guard didn’t answer her, but only stared straight ahead.

“Guardsman!” Valen said sharply. “The lady is speaking to you!”

“I cannot speak to a female who is not Independent or one who is Dependent but lacks a Master,” the guard said, his face like stone. “Nor can I transport such a female to the palace. It would be against palace protocols.”

“But…then how am I supposed to get to the palace?” Selena exclaimed. “Ambassador Tolern and his wife will get into so much trouble if I don’t make my presentation to the Emperor! Please, can’t you just make an exception, this once?”

But the guard just stood there, stone-faced and refusing to answer her, or even to look at her. Clearly, he was prepared to ignore her until she gave up and went away.

But where can I go? Do they have taxis or some kind of ride service here? Selena wondered. How am I supposed to get to the palace?

“All right, that’s it,” Valen said, interrupting her worried thoughts. “Guardsman,” he said, addressing the Ma’shorkan guard again. “I am acting as this female’s Master. And as she is expected in the presence of the Emperor very shortly, you will conduct both of us there at once.”

The guard nodded and gave a swift salute.

“Yes, Sir. Of course, Sir. Right this way.”

And he pocketed the holo device and turned to lead them away from the busy rotunda.

“You don’t have to do this,” Selena said quickly to the big Kindred, though she couldn’t help feeling relieved that he was. “I don’t want to inconvenience you any more than I already have!”

He gave her a brief smile.

“You’re not an inconvenience, little one. Don’t forget, I have a residence on palace grounds too, so I would have made my way there eventually. And this way, I can argue your case to the Major Domo for you.”

“Oh, would you?” Selena looked at him hopefully. “Thank you, Valen—you’re so nice! It’s ridiculous, though—it seems like a woman can’t do anything on her own here!”

“Ma’shorka Centra is an extremely misogynistic planet,” he agreed. “Independent Females are rare and Dependent ones are treated like pampered children, unable to do anything for themselves.” He gave her a sympathetic glance. “I can understand how frustrated you must feel.”

“Extremely frustrated,” Selena agreed, glaring at the guard’s back. “But hopefully the Major Domo will listen and I can get another Seal and regain my independence.”

“Hopefully,” Valen agreed, though Selena thought—rather uncomfortably—that he didn’t look very hopeful about it at all.

What if the Major Domo won’t listen to reason and refuses to issue me a new Seal? Then what will I do? Will I still be allowed to play for the Emperor? Will Jess and Tolern get into trouble if I can’t?

Her worries were interrupted when they left the rotunda behind and stepped onto a moving walkway. It looked a little bit like the walkways Selena had seen at airports back home, but this one started at ground level and then soared high into the air. It made a graceful arc near the high, domed ceiling, allowing a bird’s eye view of the huge spaceport, and then gradually descended to an upper level marked, Vehicular Transport in bright red holo letters.