Dragon's Honor - Kij Johnson [39]
Beverly expected the door to recede into floor or the adjoining walls. Instead, it simply blinked out of existence, leaving her wondering about the technology involved. Had the massive door and its watchful dragon been a hologram all along, or had some sort of transporter/replicator equipment dissolved the doorway? The trappings of the Dragon Empire were so archaic by Federation standards that it was easy to forget that they were not really a medieval society. Beverly considered herself duly reminded of the Pai’s scientific capabilities. “Very impressive,” she complimented Lu Tung.
“More than you know,” he said proudly. “In the event of an unwelcome incursion, the Eyes of the Dragon are more than capable of disintegrating any unwanted caller.”
“Oh,” Beverly said. “It is reassuring to know that your daughter is so well protected.”
“The Green Pearl is the treasure of my existence,” he said, his voice growing even more solemn than usual, “and the price of ultimate peace.”
Beverly thought she detected a note of reluctance in his tone. How did he really feel, she wondered, about marrying off his “treasure” to the Dragon-Heir? She had not had much of an opportunity to observe the prince back at the banquet, but what she had seen had hardly looked impressive. Certainly, both Will and Jean-Luc seemed to have formed a low opinion of Chuan-chi.
The dragon door reappeared mere seconds after she followed Lu Tung into the room. A momentary chill passed through her, as though a prison door had slammed shut behind her. There was no turning back now … or was there? She resisted the temptation to tap the comm badge concealed within the overlapping folds of her robes. Could she beam out if necessary, or was the harem shielded against transporter technology as well? She couldn’t figure out a diplomatic way to ask Lu Tung.
The walls of the inner chamber were bright, inlaid with many silvery pearls, as were the many overstuffed pillows that seemed to be the room’s only furnishings. Beverly spotted a pile of stuffed dragons and unicorns resting in one corner; the chamber seemed to be very much the private lair of an adolescent girl. She doubted if Lu Tung spent much time here.
“Father?” A light voice rose from a heap of cushions in the room’s center. Its possessor rose and bowed in a perfunctory fashion to Lord Lu Tung. “This one is honored and delighted that her honored ancestor has deigned to notice her existence.” The words were delivered so rapidly that they almost blurred into one long continuous syllable. The greeting was obviously a formality that the young woman recited automatically and with great haste, eager to get it over with.
The girl lifted her head, and Beverly beheld the Green Pearl.
His phaser was gone, Riker realized.
No time to figure it out. The huge warrior was almost upon him, his massive legs scattering the trays and dishes laid out before Riker. Crystal and fine china shattered beneath the man’s heavy tread. The man wore only a pair of sandals, but his lumbering steps shook the floor as if he was shod in gravity boots. “Spawn of a dung beetle!” he roared. “Prepare to be squashed like the insect you are!”
Riker was not intimidated by the warrior’s invective or by his size; he’d faced larger monsters in Worf’s calisthenics programs. The bigger they are, he thought, et cetera, et cetera. Clenching his fists, he drew back to deliver a knockout punch. The sooner he wrapped up this fight, the better. Riker smiled grimly. The big bruiser was probably so drunk he’d never know what hit him.
Riker aimed for the man’s chin, and was caught by surprise when his opponent deftly blocked the blow by raising his right forearm in front of his face. “Hah, well done, Tu Fu, well done!” Kan-hi cheered Riker’s adversary. The man lunged for Riker, who ducked beneath the giant’s outstretched arms, then butted his head