Nightshade - Laurell K. Hamilton [23]
Basha’s face softened. His love for his wife flared like a comforting flame inside of Troi’s head. Something inside of him let go, released some old hatred. The anger faded, replaced by an emotion Troi was beginning to closely associate with the Orianians-sorrow. “What would you have me do, wife of mine?”
Talanne smiled and stepped back. “Listen to the Federation ambassador, and invite the Greens to the peace talks.”
‘NO.”
‘Basha, remember the stories your grandmother told us about swimming in water outside under the skies. Water so pure you could swim in it, and catch animals out of it, and eat them. Jeric, or his children could go swimming under the sky.”
‘You do not know that their technology will work,” Basha said.
‘And you do not know that it won’t,” she said.
He stared at her for a moment or two, then turned back to Picard.
‘It seems you have an advocate among my own people. An advocate I happen to trust. Very well, the Greens may send three representatives to the banquet this afternoon.”
‘Thank you, General Basha,” Picard said.
He almost smiled. “Do not thank me.” He half-fell into his chair. Talanne rushed forward to help steady him.
‘My husband is tired,” Talanne said.
‘When our ship returns to orbit, we will be happy to give medical assistance,” Picard said.
‘It won’t be necessary, Captain,” Talanne said. “It is our custom to save serious healing for the children and life-threatening injuries. Pain is to be endured by a warrior without complaint, but we need our general strong and well for the peace talks. He will be healed in time for the afternoon banquet.”
Picard nodded. “I am relieved to hear it, Colonel Talanne.”
‘Now please go and let us tend him.”
‘Of course.” Picard turned to leave. All the guards pivoted on him, taking up their posts. His flash of irritation was very clear to Troi. “I hope these peace talks go quickly,” he whispered to Troi. “I don’t know how much longer I can stand to be the center of so much attention.”
Troi smiled. “They are only doing their duty, Captain.”
‘I suppose so,” he said, but he frowned at Worf’s broad back. Picard was having to take smaller steps than normal to keep from treading on the KIingon’s heels. Worf was being very cautious.
Troi hoped Captain Picard was right and that the precautions were excessive. The image of General Basha’s battered face flashed across her mind. Troi suppressed a shiver. Perhaps Worf was being too cautious, but then again, perhaps not.
Chapter Six
Picard looked around the nearly packed room. Lieutenant Worf and Breck were practically glued to his sides. The two other Orianian guards were nearly as attentive. It was… embarrassing. Worse, even, than having Riker fuss over him. Only Counselor Troi seemed at ease, but it wasn’t often that Picard could detect anything but peace in her delicate features.
The banquet room wasn’t much bigger than their sleeping quarters had been. Breck had explained, “Smaller rooms are easier to defend.”
All the Orianians wore simple jump-suits in the respective colors of their groups. The Torlick in black with sparkling gold braid. The Venturi in crimson with white blocks of color in sleeves and leg. The Greens wore unadorned blue. There was no insignia to mark rank. This was to minimize the chance of assassination. An assassin simply had to know his victims on sight. Unless of course, he just waited and watched the bodyguards. Their concern and watchfulness was obvious. It made hiding rank insignia worthless. Perhaps it was an old custom that predated the bodyguards?
Audun made up one of the three Green representatives. He had been eloquent last night. Picard had not needed Troi’s empathy to see the emotions skate across the man’s face. Audun was a man dedicated, not just to the salvation of the Greens, but of all the Orianians. He was the first leader that Picard had met who didn’t consider this an “us or them” problem. Audun wanted a united people, because only then could the planet be healed. It was the attitude that Picard was determined to foster in the Torlicks and Venturies. He