Dragon's Honor - Kij Johnson [36]
“Hah!” Kan-hi laughed, his good humor returning. “I think you have made a conquest, Commander … I mean, Will.”
Chuan-chi merely sniffed disapprovingly. Perhaps, Riker thought, he considered the turquoise handmaiden a traitor to the cause of Pai isolationism. Too bad. At least I’m making some friends here.
Riker contemplated the woman’s delicate features. She really was quite attractive and exotic. If, as Kanhi had claimed earlier, this beauty was unremarkable by Pai standards, he had to wonder just how gorgeous the vaunted Green Pearl was. Could she really be beautiful enough to bring peace to this warring planet? Or to warm the dour heart of the Dragon-Heir? He grew steadily more curious to see the bride herself at tomorrow’s wedding.
In the meantime, the woman’s hands continued to work their soothing magic on his neck and shoulders, massaging away the stress and anxiety he felt. Better be careful, he thought, or I’ll be too relaxed to bodyguard the princes. Still, he closed his eyes for just a second or two, letting his body indulge in the lovely young woman’s accomplished pampering.
He nearly jumped out of his skin, though, when he felt two more hands sliding sensuously over his chest, working their way beneath the fold of his dress uniform. His eyes snapped open and his head twisted around to see another serving maid, the one clad solely in beads, kneeling before him, stroking his torso even as her sister servant ran her hands up and down his spine. Unlike the blue-eyed, ponytailed maiden behind him, this woman had waves of inky black hair flowing over shoulders and large purple eyes like amethysts. One string of tiny, silver beads dangled over the woman’s generous breasts, while an identical string encircled her narrow waist, the beads rolling over her naked hips as she leaned closer to him. Staring wide-eyed at the new arrival, his beard only inches away from her pale white chest, her fragrant perfume filling his nostrils with the scent of fresh flowers, Riker found himself rendered briefly speechless. Those are really small beads, he thought.
Amused by Riker’s predicament, Kan-hi had plenty to say. “My brother’s servants appear quite taken with you, Will Riker. Apparently, one must never underestimate the effects of novelty on a female’s delicate sensibilities, meaning no disrespect, of course, to your own individual magnetism, which I am sure is considerable.” The Second Son chuckled as he watched the nubile serving maids wrap themselves around Riker, enveloping him in soft, warm, buxom, female flesh. “I trust you are enjoying yourself?”
Turquoise lips brushed his ear as the first woman nuzzled the left side of his neck. Beads rustled seductively as the other woman kissed the right side, purring as softly as a tribble. “I am, er, overwhelmed by their hospitality,” he gasped. This is getting out of hand. He wondered how he was going to extricate himself, literally and figuratively, from the women’s all-too-distracting attentions. It was a shame Data had not been able to come along; he definitely would have gotten an education.
Two extremely large men guarded the broad archway in front of Beverly Crusher. Huge, curved scimitars rested on the men’s broad shoulders while some type of energy weapon hung on the sash about each guard’s waist. Eyes fixed straight ahead, never deviating from their assigned task, the men stood at attention on opposite sides of the archway. The open doorway was framed by a breathtaking jade arch decorated with intricate engravings of men and horses. Beverly paused to inspect the engravings; as nearly as she could tell, the carvings illustrated the rise and fall of an ambitious warlord. The story, whether mythical or historical, reminded her of Lord Lu Tung’s recently quelled rebellion against the Emperor. She glanced at the stolid, middle-aged man. In