CHAPTER 16
Camavel was wary of M’Pak. “They are killers,” she declared. “How can you house a beast such as this?” I was glad the cub couldn’t understand her words, although her sentiment was clear from her posture and refusal to touch him. He huffed and sauntered back out the back door to lie in the sun.
“I adore him,” I told her. “And I’m helping Karelch by raising him until he can survive on his own. It gives me something productive to do.”
“It sounds as though you have new duties to attend to, though,” she said.
“Yes, that’s why I messaged you. I received word from the palace that I’m to join the King and his daughter for lunch tomorrow, and then I have my first protocol lesson.”
Camavel sniffed. “No instructor can prepare you as well as I have.”
I hid a smile. “I have no doubt, and that is why I reached out for your help now. I don’t know any of the customs for greeting or dining with royalty. Are they different than what you’ve taught me so far?”
Placated, Camavel grinned at me. “Of course! I have been teaching you the day-to-day customs, and you have been an apt pupil, but there are many layers of royal protocol to cover. First, what do you plan to wear?”
I hadn’t thought much about clothing. Now that I had emerged from my fog, I was more observant of the Ptexari around me.
Males and females alike generally wore nothing at all or colorful skirts of what looked like dyed strips of hide.
They wore no shirts, leaving their wings free.
Neither sex had nipples or breasts, and both had impressive muscular torsos.
If anything, the males seemed to have more muscular shoulders and arms, but otherwise, they looked alike in body.
The one distinguishing feature was the crest of feather-like appendages on the males’ heads.
They seemed to express a lot of emotions through the opening, closing, and flicks of their crests, but I couldn’t really interpret all the subtle meanings yet.
Females had no crests, but many of them pierced the ridges on their foreheads with jeweled studs.
Regardless, all of them (except Camavel) were a good 10-15 inches taller than me.
I had never felt so short in my whole life.
I led Camavel to my bedroom and pulled out the few clothing items I had.
The servants at the Prince’s estate had given me a few brown, ill-fitting shirts and skirts.
When I was being charitable, I reminded myself it was probably the best they could do on short notice. They were serviceable, if nothing else.
“These will not do!” exclaimed Camavel. “Come, we will go see Robnar, the tailor.”
I sent a thought to M’Pak that I would be out for a while. He didn’t need to be hand-fed anymore, and there were food and water dishes for him in the kitchen.
“No worry for me, Mother Andie,” he replied.
“Am stalking ovinas.” Ovinas were large hopping creatures that reminded me of a cross between grasshoppers and frogs.
Both M’Pak and the Ptexari thought them delicious.
I found them revolting, but they provided M’Pak with a delightful chase.
Plus, Karelch was pleased that M’Pak showed interest in hunting.
We walked toward the Market Square at the center of the village.
My mind turned to practical matters. “I can’t go to the tailor, Camavel.
I don’t have any money to pay for clothes.
” I had been in the village about two weeks so far and hadn’t needed to buy anything.
The food replicator seemed to be unlimited.
I had accompanied Camavel to the market several times and looked at the goods on display.
She paid for her items by scanning her wristband on the communications panel at the entrance of each booth or store.
Whenever she asked if I was going to buy something for myself, I politely demurred that I didn’t need anything.
Camavel picked up on my discomfort. “Is that why you have not made any purchases?” she asked. “My dear child, you are one of the wealthiest beings on the planet! The King gave you the former Prince’s estates and holdings.”
“Well, I didn’t want it and chose to live here instead.”
She clucked. “He should have explained that better. You still own the estates, and the income derived from them goes into your accounts. We should stop and get a wristband keyed to you first. The shopkeepers can still charge your account without it, but it makes the transaction much quicker. Although, since you are the only Lumanela on the planet, there wouldn’t be much need for you to prove your identity. Still, better to have it just in case.”
Dragging me to a tech booth, she called out, “Manoko, I need a wristband.”
“One moment!” a voice called back from underneath a machine of some sort.
“I have to finish this install….and there.” A large male rolled out from under the machine and gasped in surprise.
“The Lumanela! So it is true. I had heard you had taken up residence in the village. You are even more beautiful than rumors have suggested.”
“Oh, um, thanks, I guess. I’m a human from Earth. I don’t know anything about the Lumanela. Hi, I’m Andie,” I said, trying not to be awkward.
Manoko stretched his wings and closed his eyes. “It is true, then. Your voice feels like water on my skin. Truly magical.” He gave his whole body a shake, then opened his eyes and smiled at me.
I had heard similar comments during my time here, but decided not to press it at the moment. I’d ask Camavel later. Manoko’s prolonged stare was becoming a bit unnerving.
“Stop mooning over her. She needs an identification wristband.” Camavel snapped.
Manoko shook himself again. “Of course, one moment.” He plucked a band from a box and held it up to his communications panel.
“Please place your hand on the panel so I can key it to you.” I did so, and the panel and the face of the wristband both flashed blue.
“Simple enough,” he said and handed the band to me.
I placed it around my wrist and snapped it closed.
“Now, please hold the band to the panel so the cost can be deducted from your accounts.”
I did as he asked, and the panels both flashed yellow. “A pleasure doing business with you, little Lumanela,” Manoko bowed to me. “Would you like to join me for dinner one night this week?” he asked, crest rising on his head.
“No, she would not, she is mated to Prince Dakleth.” Camavel snapped again.
“Come, Andie.” She flexed her wings and indicated we should move away.
I was grateful for her intervention, even though I didn’t appreciate the reference to my rapist. I was trying to move past my assault, but his name was everywhere.
I wasn’t interested in Manoko - or any man right now, but I didn’t want to have to be reminded of the ‘mating’ to get them to back off.
I trailed dutifully behind Camavel to a delightfully painted shop while Camavel ranted about males trying to take what did not belong to them. I kept silent. This was a convo I definitely did not want to have with her. A pleasant trill chimed as we entered the shop.
“Camavel, dearest, WHO have you brought to me?” the shopkeeper purred.
I took him in, and my mouth dropped open.
He had a beautiful purple crest that he had adorned with sparkling, ruby-like jewels, and he was wearing a drop-dead gorgeous full-length russet shiny gown, with a halter neck and the back cut out to accommodate his wings.
The deep color set off his dark gray skin beautifully.
More jewels studded his forehead ridge and ears, and I had never seen such a graceful, elegant creature in my whole life.
Also, I was hella surprised, because if I wasn’t mistaken, I was meeting my first Ptexari drag queen.
“Is this the Lumanela everyone’s talking about?” he practically bounced on his toes, and his wings fluttered. “Oh, dearest, you are STUNNING. Please tell me I get to dress you, oh please please pleeeease!” His excitement was contagious.
“Rein it in, Robnar,” Camavel admonished.
“Yes, you can make her some clothes, but you have to keep it tasteful. She’s dining at the palace tomorrow with King Akapa and Princess Kashtinela, so she needs appropriate clothing for a royal luncheon.
After that, you can design a whole set of clothing for her.
She needs casual wear as well as clothing for formal events where she will be representing the royal family. ”
Robnar looked like he would pass out from excitement. “Oh, you are a dream client!” he exclaimed. He took in my drab shirt and skirt. “Is it customary for you to cover your top as well as your bottom?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied. “Humans have breasts,” I hefted them a bit with my hands so he could see, even through the shirt, “and it’s customary for us to cover them. We wear dresses, or skirts or pants with a shirt.”
“How exciting!” Robnar replied. “Most Ptexari wear just skirts. Skirts, skirts, and more skirts. Do you know how boring it is to sew nothing but skirts? I shall take great pleasure in dressing you, Lumanela.”
“It’s Andie. I’m just a human, not a Lumanela.”
“But you are exactly as Lumanela are depicted! Small, delicate, beautiful, and your voice is sending waves of contentment through my skin.”
Weird, I thought, but again, something to explore another day.
“Ok, well, do you think you can make me something suitable to wear in time for lunch at the palace tomorrow?” I asked.
“But of course!” he replied. “Scan your wrist on this panel, and I will have access to the measurements from your most recent medscan.”
So no HIPAA laws here, I thought, scanning my wristband and wondering what other data about me people on this planet had access to. Nothing I could do about that, but still.
Robnar pulled out some fabrics and designed a few sketches while we talked.
I was surprised how quickly he was able to pull ideas together and sketch them on the tablet.
He was clearly a master of his craft, and I felt better upon leaving his shop.
“I will have your first outfit delivered to your cottage tomorrow morning, and then your other items over the next week or so,” he assured me.
With that errand handled, Camavel accompanied me back to my cottage to give me some pointers about table manners for my first royal luncheon.