3. Addie

3

ADDIE

" L ssa Addison, how lovely to see you again!" Lx Sambla bowed over her hand gallantly, and Addie felt her stomach quiver, as though a thousand butterflies had just taken off inside.

During their dinner aboard the Mother Ship, the Vargan Ambassador had explained the honorifics of his native language—Lx was like saying "Mr." and Ls was like "Mrs." The title "Lssa" was reserved for unmarried women, like herself and it sounded perfectly delightful coming from his thin but elegant lips.

"Lx Sambla, thank you so much for inviting me," she said, choosing to ignore the fact that Drago was looming right behind her, glaring at the ambassador. If her Protector couldn't be civil, she would just speak for herself and pretend he wasn't there, she decided.

"We are honored by your presence at our ceremony, lovely one," Sambla purred, straightening to give her the full force of his large, dark eyes. "And you've come just in time to change before our special feast."

"Oh, really? I'd love to observe your dining customs," Addie said, smiling.

"Observe them you shall, my beautiful one," Sambla assured her. "But first you must get changed."

"Oh yes. Um, I didn't bring any clothes," Addie confessed. "Because I was told that the appropriate outfits would be provided."

"So they will," Sambla promised. "If you will take my arm, I'll lead you into the palace where your ladies-in-waiting await you."

"Ladies-in-waiting?" Addie asked, taking his arm which felt thin but hard under the long black robe he was wearing. It had a high collar and there was an intricate silver pin at his throat which looked a little bit like a many-legged insect.

"Yes, indeed. For you are an honored guest—of course you must have ladies to wait on you," Sambla said smoothly. "Do come this way."

He led Addie into what looked like a medieval castle built of rough black stone. Overhead the light was dim—Addie thought they must have come just at twilight. The outline of Grimm, which was the name of the ringed gas giant planet that Crimson Moon orbited, could be seen taking up half the purplish sky as the castle in front of them loomed in the gathering dusk.

She was aware of Drago stalking along behind her, but again, she resolved to put the big Drake Kindred out of her mind. Instead, she turned her attention to studying the vast structure they were walking into. The front gates were dull silver metal shaped into something that looked almost like a spider web, she thought.

"These gates—they have such an unusual design," she remarked, to make conversation with Sambla.

"Ah yes—they are a symbol of Sheelash—whose home this palace is. She is the Goddess all Vargans worship," the ambassador explained. "In fact, we only use this palace one solar month a year, during the Choosing Ceremony where the Queen of Night is chosen. Most of that time is spent preparing for the Quenching Ceremony in the inmost sanctum—the Room of Sighs, we call it," he added.

"So you actually have two separate ceremonies—one to choose the Queen of Night and then the Quenching Ceremony afterward?" Addie asked.

"Exactly, lovely one." He nodded. "I extended the invitation for you to view the first—the Choosing Ceremony. The Quenching Ceremony is much more secretive, I'm afraid."

"How fascinating! I wish I could see the second ritual, too," Addie said wistfully. "Though I suppose I probably wouldn't be allowed," she added, not wanting to give offense.

"Well now, you never can tell." Lx Sambla gave her a charming wink. "I might be able to get you an invitation. I'd need to speak to the Council of Aged Ones though."

"Oh, would you?" Addie squeezed his arm with excitement. She absolutely loved learning about new cultures, which meant that her job always felt more like fun than work. The Vargans were turning out to be such interesting people—she couldn't wait to write a paper on them and hopefully get it published in Xeno-Anthropology Quarterly.

"For a lady as lovely as you? Of course I would." Sambla put a hand over the one she had laid on his arm and squeezed her fingers possessively. "In fact, I'll introduce you during the pre-ceremony feast tonight. I'm sure the Aged Ones are going to love you. Now let's get you inside and dressed for the feast, shall we?"

He nodded at someone Addie couldn't see—a hidden guard presumably—and the dull silver gates parted and swung soundlessly open.

Arm-in-arm they strolled inside with Drago bringing up the rear like a thundercloud that might split open and pour out a storm at any moment, Addie thought. Then she reminded herself that she was ignoring the big warrior and focused on looking around the castle she found herself in instead.

Inside the Palace of Sheelash was even more like a medieval castle. The rough stone walls, covered in tapestries woven in dark jewel tones, soared upwards to a high, vaulted ceiling. The designs on the intricately woven rugs were difficult to see since the lighting in the palace was all candlelight and torches placed in wall scones at varying intervals, but Addie did her best to make the pictures out.

Most of the tapestries seemed to depict a large insect with many legs, like the pin that Lx Sambla wore at his throat. Addie thought it looked a little like a spider with a fat, segmented body. But it had a strangely human head and face. Its features were pale and it had long, blonde hair almost the same color as the Ambassador's. Its eyes were big and dark with blood-red pupils that stood out, even in the dark cloth of the tapestries.

"This is lovely art you have on your walls," she ventured, hoping to get some information.

Lx Sambla didn't disappoint her.

"Ah yes—that is Sheelash herself. She who lives forever in our hearts and is reborn afresh each year," he remarked. "Since this palace is her home, most of the art here depicts her in all her glory. In fact, I am a descendant of hers," he added.

"You are?" Addie asked doubtfully. Unless Vargan biology was much different from human biology she didn't see how the charming ambassador could claim the Spider Goddess depicted in the tapestry art as an ancestress.

"Of course—you can tell by my hair color. Only true descendants of Sheelash have it," he said, pointing to his head. "It is a sign and symbol of our ruling class. Though of course it's not nearly as beautiful as your own lovely flame-colored hair," he added, meeting Addie's eyes and giving her a warm smile.

Addie felt her cheeks getting hot with a blush.

"Oh, thank you," she said, smiling back shyly. It had been a long time since she'd had a guy pay so much attention to her and she couldn't help feeling flattered. Also, so what if he thought he was descended from a spider lady—or a lady spider, depending on how you looked at it. Lx Sambla was definitely the most charming man she'd ever met—the exact opposite of her grim and grumpy Protector.

They passed through the long stone throat of the palace into a smaller and more intimate room. There were various low, comfortable-looking couches and armchairs scattered around, as well as shelves of books and lamps which emitted a warm, golden glow.

"Ah, the Library." Lx Sambla smiled warmly. "I understand, my lovely one, that you're an academic," he remarked to Addie.

"Oh yes—yes, I am." She nodded, blushing again. "I'd love to read some of these books. If I'm allowed," she added. "The Translation Bacteria I was given aboard the Mother Ship should make it possible for me to understand them."

"But of course you are allowed! Pick any one you like" Sambla made a sweeping gesture with one hand that encompassed the many bookcases around the perimeters of the room. "Every book here has something to do with the lore of Sheelash. So in a way, every one is a holy text."

"Really?" Addie looked around in surprise. There were hundreds—possibly thousands of books here. The Vargans must be extremely devout in their worship of the Spider Goddess, she thought. It was a good thing that Sheelash was just a legend—she wouldn't want to meet the creature she'd seen in the tapestries for real!

"Yes, really. Please feel free to help yourself to reading material whenever you like," Lx Sambla told her. "But for now, let me ring for your ladies so they can get you to your chamber where you can change for the feast."

He picked up a small silver bell which Addie hadn't seen earlier and rang it exactly three times— ding! ding! ding!

The high, silvery notes were still hanging in the air like crystal raindrops when four almost identical women came quickly into the room. They all had sleek black hair with a platinum blonde stripe down the center and all of them were tall and thin, like Lx Sambla.

Well, all but one, Addie saw. The fourth member of the quartet was considerably shorter—only an inch or two taller than Addie herself. She was also plumper—nearly plus-sized, especially compared to the other three who were almost anorexically thin.

"Here they are—your lovely ladies," Lx Sambla said, gesturing proudly. "This is Teeza, Peeza, Leeza, and Sparki." He nodded at them in turn and they nodded back at the mention of their names. The short, plump one was Sparki. She gave Addie a friendly wink that made her smile back.

She's the one, she thought to herself. Whenever she studied a new culture, she always tried to find one person to get especially close to so she could interview them and pick their brain. She had an idea that the short, friendly Sparki was going to be the person who gave her an inside view of the Vargan culture.

"Girls, this is Lssa Addison, an emissary from the Kindred Mother Ship," Lx Sambla went on, continuing with the introductions. "She's a very important person and she's going to be meeting The Council of the Aged later on, at the feast. Please take her to her room and be sure she's dressed appropriately."

"Hello!" trilled the four ladies-in-waiting, coming to surround Addie.

"And here is where I leave you. For I, too, must prepare for the feast." Lx Sambla relinquished Addie's arm at last but made a great show of bowing over her hand. "I cannot wait to see you wearing our native Vargan style, my lovely one," he said to her as he straightened up. "I'm certain you'll look absolutely stunning."

Addie felt her face get hot with a blush again and she smiled and nodded back at him.

"Thank you so much, Lx Sambla."

"You're more than welcome. I will be counting the hours until we meet again." He bowed once more, deeply, and then turned smoothly away.

"Well, you must be very important if Lx Sambla is interested in you!" one of the tall, thin Vargan ladies-in-waiting said.

Addie wasn't sure it was Teeza, Peeza, or Leeza—she had already forgotten which of them was which. It wasn't too surprising, considering that all of them had the same pale skin and black hair and were all dressed in nearly identical long black dresses. In fact, they all looked kind of Goth—right down to the black lipstick and fingernail polish all of them were wearing.

Only Sparki, the short lady-in-waiting, was different. She was wearing bright pink lipstick and fingernail polish which stood out against her black dress.

"Thank you—I met Lx Sambla at a dinner aboard the Mother Ship not long ago and he invited me to come observe your customs," Addie said to either Teeza, Leeza, or Peeza.

The tall, thin lady in waiting who had spoken to her barely nodded—her eyes had fallen on Drago and she didn't seem interested in Addie anymore.

"And who is this you have with you?" she purred, passing Addie to go stand in front of the big Kindred. The other two tall, thin ladies joined her at once.

"My, what a mountain of muscle!" one of them exclaimed.

"He's certainly a treat for the eyes," the third remarked, raking her dark eyes over Drago's tall form.

"Oh, er, Drago is?—"

"I'm Dr. Hollister's Protector—I go wherever she goes," Drago growled. He seemed unimpressed by the three thin, gorgeous Vargan women fawning over him but that didn't deter them. They were grouped in a semi-circle around him and Addison was apparently completely forgotten.

"Well, you certainly brought a big hunk of man-candy with you, didn't you?"

The voice startled Addie, who was watching her Protector and his new groupies and trying not to feel jealous. She looked around and saw that Sparki, the short lady-in-waiting was talking to her.

"Oh, uh, he's just my Protector—that's all," she said, trying to laugh and not quite succeeding. "You know—my bodyguard," she added.

"Well from the way the tiresome trio are looking at him, it's his body that's going to need guarding," Sparki said dryly. "Are the two of you together? You know, in a bonded relationship?" she added curiously.

Addie shook her head.

"No, of course not. We're just…" She swallowed because her throat was suddenly dry. "Just coworkers—that's all."

"Good," Sparki said decisively. "Then you won't get all bent out of shape when the greedy threesome wants to use him for a late-night snack."

"Well, I don't—" Addie began doubtfully.

But Sparki had already hooked her arm through Addie's and was tugging her in the direction of the door.

"Come on—they'll catch up eventually," she said. "Let's find you just the right outfit to wear at the feast tonight. If you're meeting the Council of Aged Ones, you want to look impressive."

Reluctantly, Addie allowed herself to be led away. She was aware that Drago was following her—though he was now surrounded by the other three Ladies-in-waiting, who were all twittering with excitement and asking him questions.

"Can I feel your muscles?" Addie heard one of them ask.

"You must be so strong," another one purred.

"I bet you could lift me with one hand!" the third exclaimed.

She tried to tell herself that all this extra attention Drago was getting was not making her jealous. After all, he was her coworker and that was all. It wasn't like they had any kind of relationship. He was free to do what he wanted with whoever he wanted—it was none of her business.

But no matter what she told herself, she could feel her jaw clenching as the high, excited voices of the other three ladies-in-waiting, all flirting as hard as they could, drifted to her ears.