Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [212]
He took a moment to groom himself in his private cabin, making certain that his formal suit was impeccably clean, every steel-gray hair in place, his manicured hands carefully scrubbed. He peered into a mirror and was pleased to see no bloodshot lines in his gray eyes, though he had not slept well for many nights. Even in private meetings, appearances were vitally important.
As he looked out upon the alien metropolis, Basil's heart pounded. Despite his various briefings, he still considered the Ildirans a vast mystery. Before leaving Earth, Basil had received another detailed report from his sociocultural spy on the abandoned colony of Crenna. Davlin Lotze had been sent there to comb through the remnants of the plague-stricken settlement but, expert though he was, Lotze had gleaned only a few tidbits, no revelations of great economic or military significance.
The empty Crenna town had yielded a blurry glimpse into the mundane parts of Ildiran society, the way some kiths lived, how they designed and built their structures, what old-fashioned communal agricultural methods they used. Unfortunately, the anthropological spy had been unable to discover any weaknesses or flaws that the Hansa could exploit against the Ildirans.
And now they had to work together. Basil steeled himself to proceed, despite the level playing field.
When he caught his first breathtaking glimpse of the curves and pinnacles of the PrismPalace, dazzling under the light of seven suns, Basil understood why some Ildirans joked that the name of the Whisper Palace was fitting, since it was only a whisper of their Mage-Imperator's citadel.
When he and his delegation entered the Prism Palace, a uniformed Ildiran military officer quickly met them. Basil recognized Adar Kori'nh of the Solar Navy, who had flown formal observation ships to Oncier for the Klikiss Torch experiment.
Basil spoke quickly. "I am pleased that a leader of your stature has come to greet us, Adar Kori'nh. We have important things to discuss with your Mage-Imperator, and I would be honored if you would join us. We are faced with substantial military implications."
Kori'nh bowed his head. "Agreed, Chairman Wenceslas. I have unfortunately had recent firsthand experience with the enemy."
Basil's eyes widened. He had not known this. "You were present at the Qronha 3 attack?"
"Yes, Chairman. I...survived. Many others did not."
Their pace quickened. "We must discuss how the Earth Defense Forces may combine with your Solar Navy in defense against these terrible aliens."
"If the attacks continue," Kori'nh said.
Basil drew a deep breath. "Adar, you know as well as I that the attacks will continue."
Kori'nh led them to a private grotto with stained-glass walls that glowed like jewels on fire. Diminutive attender kithmen hurried into the room bearing the levitating chrysalis chair, as if it were a palanquin. Basil assessed the grublike Mage-Imperator, an obese man who had, by all accounts, never left the womblike throne since his ritual castration nine decades earlier.
After introductions, Basil folded his hands in front of him. "Mage-Imperator Cyroc'h, I apologize for not knowing the expected conventions in your culture. What is the appropriate greeting for a leader of your stature?"
The Mage-Imperator's chubby face was like a baby's, completely unreadable—seemingly gentle, yet somehow intimidating. "In Ildiran culture, supplicants endure many days of purification and make a ritual ascent around the citadel hill of the Prism Palace, washing themselves in the blessed canals. That is how my people come to request an audience with me."
His eyes narrowed into folds of fat. "However, Chairman Wenceslas, our time is short. I expect only that you greet me with respect, as you have done. It is best if we do not attempt frivolous imitations of each other's culture."
"Thank you for that concession, sir," Basil said. Did the Ildiran leader truly expect the Chairman of the Hanseatic League to treat him as a god? "I wish our meeting were taking place under better circumstances." He decided to move