Nightshade - Laurell K. Hamilton [20]
‘I would know if it were a trap,” she said, firmly.
He trusted the counselor, if she said it was safe, it likely was, yet… “Even if I allowed you to endanger the captain,” Worf said, “how would we keep the Orianian guard from taking this man prisoner?”
‘The guards are loyal first and foremost to the people they guard. Loyal beyond any other allegiance.”
‘They will just allow us to consort with their enemies?” Worf said.
‘Yes,” she said.
He glanced down at Troi, then at the Orianian. He did look helpless, so tiny. Worf was certain he could break the man’s spine over his knee like a stick. But you did not have to be muscular to be a good assassin, in fact looking helpless could be an asset. “I do not think this is a good idea.”
‘We have to hurry before any other Orianians see us,” Troi said.
She walked up to Audun before Worf could stop her. He watched her stand within easy reach of the man, and block his line of fire in one smooth motion. Worf ground his teeth just a bit. She was probably right, but she was making it difficult to guard her.
‘You must explain all this in more detail to the Federation ambassador,” Troi said.
‘Truly?” Audun asked.
‘Yes.”
Audun gripped her hand tightly. “I am grateful to you for believing me.”
‘If you can purify the water of Oriana, it is I who am grateful.”
‘If we are to do this foolishness, we must get out of sight,” Worf said. Leading the way, Worf hoped they would not run into any other Orianians. It would not help the peace process to have a pitched battle between the Federation party and the local bodyguards.
Worf gave a small, bitter smile. No, that would not do at all. He ushered Troi and the Orianian down the corridor. His phaser was still in his hand, on stun. Did Troi know the position she had put them in? He doubted it. She let her heart lead her head at times. Perhaps all empaths were like that.
Worf could not afford to let his feelings color his caution. He watched the empty corridors, tension riding up his spine. Troi and the man spoke quietly, smiling. If this Audun were telling the truth he could be a great help to the negotiations. If he were an assassin Troi would know. Troi had learned much this night that could be helpful. Worf watched the hallways for signs of trouble, and felt just a little useless. In a world at war he had thought to be comfortable, but their system of honor was too strange. War without honor was not a fit occupation for any warrior.
Chapter Five
General Basha sat in a high-backed chair, made of black plastic. The back of the chair was far taller than the general and had looping black curls that formed fantastic shapes. It looked like a throne that had been partially melted and allowed to cool. A desk of the same black plastic spilled away from him. The top was utterly clear as if no work were ever done on it.
The general’s gold-ivory skin was mottled by bruises along the right side of his face. The delicate skin, the long, almost birdlike bone structure was covered in deep purple-black bruises. The color was startling against the paleness.
A long gash had been stitched over his forehead. Surely this wasn’t the best the Orianian’s medical technology could do? If a doctor could rebuild a baby’s deformed face, Troi thought, surely they could heal bruises and wounds better than this.
Talanne stood to one side of the chair. Bodyguards stood to attention on either side. The two guards that had escorted the Federation party inside the room moved to stand just in front of the general. A last guard stood near one wall, closer to Talanne than to anyone else.
Breck and another Orianian guard that had been assigned to the Federation party took up posts on either side of Picard. Worf protected his back, but “Captain,” Worf said, he leaned into Picard as if to whisper, but the Klingon’s deep voice was not meant for whispering. “They have one more guard than you do. It is a deliberate insult.”
Picard nodded. “I am aware of that particular Orianian custom, Lieutenant Worf.”
General Basha waved a hand. “Cratin, go.” He spoke carefully out