Tooth and Claw - Doranna Durgin [54]
He would.
Meanwhile, the less friction, the better. “I’m honored to meet you, Takarr.”
“Not,” Takarr said, “honored enough to ask for my presence aboard the Enterprise.”
Picard didn’t bother to hide his puzzlement. “You have a standing welcome aboard the Enterprise, I assure you.”
Takarr studied him a moment—most likely not familiar enough with humans to measure the sincerity of the offer. Then he said, “I have business elsewhere,” and left as abruptly as he’d arrived.
Picard looked at his slender back as Takarr entered the building he and Nadann had just left. “I think I’ve just been snubbed.”
“Don’t take it to heart, Captain,” Nadann said. “Recent weeks have been a trial for him. Over his mother’s protests, the ReynKa chose to leave Takarr out of the shipboard activities. These are Akarr’s days of glory.”
“Surely having the boy present wouldn’t—” Picard started, but stopped himself. “Foolish question. It obviously would make a difference.”
“Not much of one,” Nadann said. “Frankly, I think it’s Atann’s way of making a point with his ReynSa. But that’s speculation on my part.”
Speculation. Of course. As Troi had told Picard … a complex people. “I only hope I can gain a better understanding of this culture befo—”
The doors before them slid aside, and a young Tsoran barely checked his momentum before crashing into Picard.
“Apologies, apologies,” he said, barely glancing at Pi card as he quickly flashed his throat to them both. He’d clearly been about to speed onward, but came to a second abrupt halt as he saw Nadann. “Mighty sybyls! Ambassador, I’m supposed to meet an important hu—” and he cut himself off, finally truly seeing Picard for the first time.
Picard was not without sympathy … but that sympathy was limited. He wasn’t at all slow to add up the pieces. Nor was Nadann; her optimism faded, her expression turned inscrutable. “That is most likely to be me,” he said to the youth. “I am Captain JeanLuc Pi card.”
“Captain,” said the young Tsoran, his lower lip drawn tight in what struck Picard as an appalled expression; the boy’s under-purr was tight and high. “I’m sorry I’m late, esteemed sir. I wasn’t told—that is, my assignment came la—that is, there is no excuse, Captain. Please accept my apologies for not meeting you at the in room This time, he held position with his head twisted to expose his throat… waiting.
“Apology accepted,” Picard said, although there was a tight edge to his own voice; he understood just what had happened here; the boy had fallen into trouble, but the insult was meant to Picard. “What is your name?”
The boy relaxed a little, if cautiously. “Ekenn.” “And you are to be my guide, am I right?”
“You and the ambassador, I was told. It will be my honor.”
Indeed. Nadann had intended to excuse herself, to leave Picard in a better position to discuss the charts with Atann. If Atann had been here, as expected. Picard cast through the discourse since the previous night, messages passed and taken, with no direct communication
between himself and Atann. “Atann,” he said to the boy, “is not coming. Is that right?”
Ekenn shifted uneasily, recognizing the loaded nature of Picard’s question, but not the reasons behind it. “No, he isn’t,” he said. “I will show you the kaphoora training. It was said that such a tour would mean more, coming from a student in training.”
“And indeed it will,” Picard said, though he exchanged a glance with Nadann and said, quietly wry, “We’ve been set up.”
“That we have,” Nadann said. “But there’s only one thing for it, and that’s to sally forth with delight, as though we could not have arranged things better ourselves. Are you up for that?”
Picard gave her a gentle snort. “Ambassador-Nadann—it is the least of my worries.”
“I expect it is,” she murmured, and then turned to the boy. “Ekenn, we entrust our experience here to you. Please show us those things you deem most important.”
As Ekenn ducked his head in a quick bow and preceded