A Forest of Stars - Kevin J. Anderson [199]
“I am sorry to interrupt you, King Peter and Queen Estarra.” OX seemed to enjoy using the titles. “Chairman Wenceslas sends this bottle of the Hansa’s finest wine to you. It is a century old, reputed to be one of the best vintages ever bottled.”
Glad for something to do, Peter pulled the cork free and looked at the label. “It’s a shiraz from Relleker—as if we needed anything more to drink tonight.”
“I bet it cost a fortune,” Estarra said.
He poured two glasses and swirled the dark red wine in them. “Rule one: Never trust Basil.” Peter then went to a planter in the corner and poured the wine into the dirt. He looked up at her with an uncomfortable smile. “It’s probably poisoned.”
She laughed, but Peter didn’t. He wasn’t sure if he was joking.
While OX stood dutifully hesitant, as if hoping they might give him additional instructions, Peter offered Estarra, his new bride, a small smile. “For weeks, I’ve wanted to be alone with you, but today I’ve been swept from place to place and kept so occupied every minute that I couldn’t think much about it…until this moment.”
Estarra chuckled. “That’s exactly how I feel. It’s not that I’m…afraid of you, Peter, but the whole situation is”—she struggled to find the right word—“intimidating.”
Peter tapped his finger on his chin. “Maybe we need some time to decompress a little. Just because we’re here in the royal wing with the doors closed doesn’t mean that we have to…I mean, not right away, unless you…I mean—”
Estarra laughed again. “So the Great King of the Terran Hanseatic League is really nothing more than a fumbling shy boy at heart! That wasn’t in the briefing my sister gave me.”
Peter wasn’t entirely inexperienced sexually—Basil had seen to that, of course. The Chairman had always been intent on keeping the King in his place, complacent and pliable…and for a young man with raging hormones, providing occasional discreet lovers should have been the perfect key. The women had been expert, and beautiful, and Peter had never seen the same one more than once.
Basil had given the young King firm advice. “Don’t ever, ever do something so foolish as to fall in love with one of them. That isn’t what they’re for.”
Peter had found the exotic women entertaining, and certainly pleasurable, but each one had received strict instructions to keep their conversations to a minimum and to depart as soon as they had satisfied him. For a long time, he hadn’t even realized it wasn’t enough.
Estarra, on the other hand, was something else entirely.
Peter brightened as an idea came to him. “You said you wanted to swim with the dolphins.” He turned to the Teacher compy. “OX, do you think you can arrange that, even at this late hour?”
“You are the King. Such a simple request should not be difficult.”
Estarra seemed briefly relieved. “Yes, I’d like that—but only for a little while.”
Peter opened the door to the corridor, startling the guards. The King gestured reassuringly, and OX led the way, marching like a windup soldier down the corridors. The dutiful sentinels hurriedly fell in after them.
OX sent signals ahead. Lights were switched on in the bubbling saltwater pool, which had been built to look like a grotto on a volcanic island. Peter and Estarra, still wearing their wedding finery, separated to private dressing rooms. In preparation for the young woman’s arrival, the Palace had obtained numerous styles of swimsuits for her. Now, as Peter changed, he wondered which one Estarra would choose and how she would look in it.
Finally, they met out in the humid air of the enclosed swimming area. Peter caught his breath when he looked at her. Without being assisted by style advisers or fashion coaches, Estarra had selected a shimmering purple-and-turquoise one-piece suit that clung to her like iridescent dragon scales.
Since she’d always