Chapter 31
ELENA
Surveying her surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and professional assessment, Envoy Violet Storey descended from her transport onto Nova Cal’s roof followed by a solemn Engareni assistant and two guards in Alliance Diplomatic Corps uniforms. Her sharp green gaze seemed to scour every detail and penetrate every secret.
The guards positioned themselves at the bottom of the ramp to watch for possible threats while Violet and her assistant joined Ardruc and me near the edge of the landing platform.
“Dr. Elena Regis,” she said, in a voice that might have carried through the entire valley. “Just as lovely as your mother, I see. And as far as I can tell, every bit as brilliant.”
“Thank you,” I said with a small bow. With my stomach roiling with worry about what the investigators might have found, I couldn’t feign my usual confidence, but hopefully I didn’t look as nervous and worried as I felt. “Welcome to Vorsa World, Envoy. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Oh, hardly.” She waved her hand. “And call me Violet, dear. I feel like I’m your aunt.
Your mother and I have been the best of friends for…
well, never mind how long. Our first meeting would be a grand occasion even if I wasn’t here so you could introduce me to the inhabitants of this gorgeous planet. ”
She turned to Ardruc, who kept a respectful distance. He was nearly twice her height and I figured he didn’t want to tower over her—not that his size appeared to faze her at all. I could easily picture her staring down a charging Hardanian war-pig and then riding it into battle.
“And the very esteemed Dr. Husiorithae,” Violet said, and gave him a perfect Fortusian-style bow. “I read your latest contribution to the Science Division’s archives on the trip here from Engaren. Very fine work. I even understood parts of it.”
His lips twitched. “Thank you, Envoy,” he said with a very deep bow.
Bursts of korae in all colors spread across the sky.
I didn’t open my senses because I didn’t want to alarm Violet with the rings that appeared in my eyes when I did so, but my Vorsa mark thrummed as if all the threads around us were reacting to Violet’s presence.
But was that reaction positive or negative?
I couldn’t tell, and that added to my uneasiness.
Violet gasped and craned her neck to watch the korae. “Great gods above and below,” she breathed. “Now that is impressive. I’ve seen holos of the korae, of course, but recordings and reports just don’t do them justice at all, do they?”
“No, they do not,” Ardruc rumbled. “Everything about this world defies quantification.”
And to think, not that long ago I would never have imagined he’d say such a thing, much less believe it.
“So it would seem.” Violet tore her gaze away from the korae and turned back to me. “Well, I’m sure you’re both curious about what the investigators found when they arrived at the coordinates you provided.”
“I am very curious,” I said. To put it mildly. “And very concerned.”
Her mouth compressed into a thin line. “I’m sorry to say they found clear evidence of extensive, ongoing removal of natural resources by multiple private companies working under contracts negotiated by the Nyvoran Ministry of Trade and Exports.
The investigation has just begun, but the team has informed me they suspect the illegal removal has been going on for at least a year. Possibly as much as two years.”
Ardruc growled. I’d expected confirmation of what Ka had told us, but it still hurt. The churning in my stomach turned to unbridled rage and my fists clenched.
“I am disgusted, frankly,” Violet said with a shake of her head.
“The amount of duplicity and corruption required at the highest levels of government on Nyvor for an operation of this nature to take place is astounding. And as a duly sworn representative of the Alliance, I’m horrified that their operation has been going on under the noses of the Division of Conservation and Environment.
” Her eyes narrowed. “Whatever changes need to be made to ensure this never happens again, I will see it done. I plan to make that promise to the Vorsa and apologize on behalf of the DCE.”
My chest still felt tight, but Violet’s fierce determination and apparent sincerity made breathing a lot easier.
“Thank you very much for those assurances,” I said fervently.
“You are most welcome.” She glanced around the otherwise empty rooftop. “And speaking of the Vorsa, when might I make their acquaintance? Not to rush you, but given the circumstances I’m anxious to reassure them as best I can, as soon as I can, that the situation is being addressed quickly.”
Ardruc gestured at his lat’sar case, which lay at his feet.
“If I may, Envoy? As I am sure you noted from our brief, the Vorsa cherish improvisational art forms and consider them an essential component of all interactions. Ka, our primary contact among the Vorsa, requested we convene the meeting according to their ways.”
“Of course.” Violet clasped her hands at her waist—a habit she’d apparently picked up from the Engareni. Her silent assistant had stood in the same pose for the entirety of the conversation so far. “I would be honored to participate in Vorsa tradition.”
Ardruc gave me a smile and took his lat’sar to an open area between the landing pad and the ladder that led to the upper roof. He warmed up quickly, then began to play a light but introspective melody.
Korae burst across the sky, the breeze swirled around us, the trees rustled, and the music swelled. Violet smiled and joined me in swaying in time with Ardruc’s playing. Her assistant and even the guards followed suit.
As an envoy, Violet had probably been called upon to participate in a wide variety of customs on countless worlds. Doing so would be a key component of her duties. But judging by the way she smiled and her eyes sparkled, this experience meant more than simply fulfilling her duties as an envoy.
Just five minutes or so after Ardruc began improvising, the Vorsa began to arrive.
One by one, sparking, shimmering, and swaying, they appeared around the edge of the station’s roof in a rainbow of bright colors. Violet watched them dance, her expression full of awe.
After a few minutes of dancing, the Vorsa rose into the air above us and began their duet with the korae.
Ardruc played more quietly until he finally ended with a long, beautiful note.
Then he returned the instrument to its case and came to stand next to me.
I said to hells with formality and slipped my hand into his. His smile made my heart flutter.
Together, we watched the Vorsa dance and emulate the bursts of korae with what seemed to me like joy and exuberance.
I still felt sick at what the Nyvorans had done, but as I watched Violet gaze at the Vorsa and their wondrous world in awe, hope began to replace the gut-churning worry that had consumed me since Ka first revealed the planet was under threat.
Ka floated down to the roof near the ladder, where Ardruc had set up new, larger translation tiles. Violet took a few steps forward, bowed in greeting, and continued swaying.
Ka extended a thread to the inscription tile and wrote a long message. The second tile provided a translation within moments.
The Vorsa honor caretaker-listener Elena and caretaker-listener Ardruc. The Vorsa honor and welcome the Envoy Violet from the Alliance. I am Ka.
Violet inclined her head. “Ka, thank you for your welcome,” she said in Alliance Standard.
“I honor the Vorsa and Vorsa World. I honor caretaker-listener Elena and caretaker-listener Ardruc, and I thank them for the opportunity to greet the Vorsa on behalf of the Alliance. The Alliance honors the Vorsa and Vorsa World.”
Ka dipped once, then extended a thread to the inscription tile.
The Envoy Violet knows the Not-Vorsa called Nyvorans have stolen from Vorsa World?
“Yes, I am aware.” She inclined her head again. “I apologize to the Vorsa and Vorsa World that the Alliance was not aware of this crime. The Nyvorans will never again steal from Vorsa World. I honor the Vorsa for informing Elena and Ardruc of the harm the Nyvorans have caused.”
Ka shimmered. The Vorsa honor Envoy Violet for this promise. The Vorsa honor the Alliance and accept the apology.
Relieved, I let out a breath. Ardruc squeezed my hand. I squeezed back.
“The Nyvoran contractors have agreed leave Vorsa World immediately,” Violet told Ka.
“The Alliance honors Vorsa World, and offers the Vorsa the choice to join the Alliance as a sovereign world. If the Vorsa do not want to join the Alliance at this time, they may do so in the future at any time. Whether the Vorsa decide to remain independent or join the Alliance, the Alliance honors Vorsa World and will ensure no Not-Vorsa violate its sovereign space or steal resources.”
Ka dipped twice. The Vorsa honor the Alliance for the invitation. The Vorsa have learned about the Alliance from the data held in the computer system at Nova Cal. The Vorsa are willing to discuss the invitation to join the Alliance with Envoy Violet.
My heart leapt. As an Alliance planet, Vorsa World would have protection and ongoing diplomatic connections with other worlds.
But just as quickly as my happiness bubbled up, Ka’s next words stunned me.
The Alliance will not need to guard Vorsa World. The Vorsa have given warning now. The Vorsa will ensure no Not-Vorsa violate the sovereign space of Vorsa World or steal resources.
My stomach lurched. Ardruc’s hand tightened on mine.