Strange Land (The Young Ancients Book 15) (32 page)

Blinking, she decided not to mention that to the new Ambassador, or the future jump pilot. It was just due to the fact that someone else, Tim, had made changes to her really, wasn't it? That didn't actually make her any better than anyone else. Really, in a way, it meant she was less. Some people
earned
their power and position, and she'd been gifted it. Not that she was going to turn it down. There would be enough work to leave her feeling good about it all, later. No doubt.

 She settled the ship before even turning to look at the others, who both muttered about the All High in the back.

"Praised be." She intoned, trying to interrupt politely. "We're on Earth, outside the Capital in Noram. I was thinking that we could set up just outside the space port here and sleep on the ship? Or, I'm certain that my mother would love to have you as a guest, Ambassador Roget?" She didn't mean anything by that last bit, but the poor man blushed a scarlet red. Still thinking about whatever he and Heather had done? That was possibly a good thing really. Depending on why he was turning that shade. It suddenly didn't seem embarrassed though. It was more like livid anger.

"Here would be fine, Captain Debri. I give thanks for our safe journey, and hope the He will see to our comfort, if that is His will."

She got that one, kind of. He was being a bit snippy with her, without actually pushing her into responding. Tellerand fashion. The All High was his host, in his mind. She, of course, was being told that her will, or offers, weren't important.

It was a bit rude, given that they were in Noram, but the thing with that was no one there would call him on it. They normally didn't, when it was a matter of religion. People were allowed to believe whatever they wanted that way, as long as it didn't harm anyone else. That didn't mean it wouldn't annoy anyone, but, and possibly without realizing it, Roget had hit the mark perfectly there. By making it that kind of a matter, he could dig at her, and she basically couldn't respond without proclaiming herself against an entire people.

She did make an effort to ensure they had a comfortable enough place to rest. It was, she thought, at least as nice as a room in the palace would have been, after she did all the work. They each got a room, and a bathing area was set up, as well as a dining room and a food device. One of the ones that Tiera had sent along. It was nice enough, but Roget retired to his room directly, claiming that he was behind on his devotions. Even though he'd spent all that time with Gemma, praying.

The girl looked a bit troubled about it, when the man vanished into his own space and closed the door behind him.

"I get a strong feeling that he isn't best pleased with me, for some reason. I wonder if it was something that I've done? I just prayed with him, and didn't make any overtures or anything. Do you... Was that a mistake? Should I have suggested we do something?" The girl actually seemed troubled by it. Sara got the idea herself.

By Noram rules, a slightly moody Ambassador was a horrible thing, one that might lead to a war. That Tellerand wasn't really able to bring war to anyone at the moment might have helped a bit, if Gemma had thought of it, but the fact was, sooner or later, they would be. Making Roget feel poorly, or angry with them, wasn't a good thing. That he clearly wasn't all that happy...

"I don't think so. Not that I know how he'd signal that, if it was what he wanted. I think, perhaps, I made a mistake, asking Terry to put him in this position. The only thing there is that I haven't met anyone better suited for the task than he is from that land." Unless she counted Laroque.

Still, having the King not be stabbed every time the man felt displeased was probably a good thing. Really, if she got a chance, she needed to check in on him and the rest of her old crew. He might be in charge now, but that didn't mean her responsibility to them was done. Not really.

Sara didn't really feel a need for sleep, since her schedule was way off what they held in Noram, but there wasn't a lot else to do at the moment, so she went to her room, which was of good size, though smaller than Roget's space, and closed her eyes for a while. It gave her time to think, but there wasn't anything new to go on, as far as to who'd been attacking them in Harmony.

Well, unless she wanted to assume some things. Like the men that had taken Lars's family escaping being part of a larger plan. They probably just hadn't been in at the time though. Unless the people from Tellerand had warned them? That was possible, of course. They weren't spies or agents after all. Even without meaning to, they might well have let things slip, going around and looking for a few particular people like they were. Just mentioning that kind of thing to the wrong person could send a real agent scuttling away into the dark, almost instantly. Even Sara had been given that kind of training. If you thought someone might be closing in, you left, as soon as you safely could.

That was probably what had happened there then. The men in question had seen something happening, and simply decided that it was strange enough for them to hide away in the shadows for a while.

Without anyone to question, it was going to be hard to find out who those men had been working for however.

Roget was another problem, it seemed. The man had never been all that happy with her, she realized now. Before she'd kind of figured it was simply a difference of their social places. She was of Noram, and thought like a person of that place. He did the same with his own land and people. That meant she was pushy, for a woman, as far as he was concerned. Probably a whore too. They didn't just use that term to mean a professional woman who sold sex and related favors, there. No, it was an insult that suggested that a woman might have
once
had relations outside of wedlock. What they counted as relations was incredible too. A
kiss
could be enough to have a woman branded that way.

Sara had done a lot of that, however. They didn't really know it about her, as a people, but she was willing to bet that Roget had started to figure it out, over time. It wasn't exactly something she'd hidden from him.

So, they were different in a lot of ways. Worse, she really hadn't liked him at all.
Ever
. It was most of the people from his land too. They were judgmental, and often very rude, if you didn't believe what they did. Even with each other they could be kind of obnoxious, trying to subtly suggest that they personally were more in touch with the All High than others were. Often using some very minor things, such as
when
they prayed, or how often, as proof of that kind of thing.

Plus, even though their now dead Ancient had insisted they elevate the people that could use magic, it was clear that most of them thought their new saints were less than they were. Devil touched.

It made them very hard to work with.

For a while she'd been considering the idea of getting some of their people to move to Mars, or the stations there, but now that she thought about it, the idea seemed like a lot more effort than it was worth. There would be other people willing to go, she bet. It would take a lot less begging, most likely. She could find some people that held a bit of adventure in their hearts, and who wanted to live in refinement. That probably wouldn't be too hard of a sell, for a lot of people. Especially young ones that didn't have a family already.

Mars would, eventually, be a good place for that kind of thing.

She had a small window in her room, so was able to get up at first light. She stretched, but it didn't really feel like anything in particular. Then, after getting a shower, and collecting Gemma up, she decided to head into the city. First though, she sighed and pulled the correct communications device, planning to leave a message with whoever it was that answered at the Palace that early in the day.

It
had
been Squire Gemma, she thought, but when she did it this time it was Princess Varley that picked up. Her face showed, the angle coming from slightly underneath her chin. She was very pretty, Sara realized. She'd
known
that, of course, since all Princesses were never less than lovely as a rule, but now it was very clear to her for some reason. She wasn't immortal, but had the perfectly smooth skin that most of them had. All of them, including Sara.

That could have been makeup, but looking at the quality of her skin closely, it didn't seem like it.

"Good Morning! You've reached the Palace. This is Princess Veronica speaking. May I be helpful to you today?"

Sara smiled. She'd seen the girl before, but mainly in passing, even if they had several friends in common. For all that she'd made out with her older sister, and had sex with her brother about a hundred times, they'd never really gotten a chance to be all that close. It was strange how things like that could work.

She grinned at the girl anyway, since being friends wouldn't hurt, if they could manage it.

"Hello, Princess Veronica. I'm Sara Debri. Um, Ancient of the Martian Circle? Anyway, today I'm playing delivery girl, and was hoping to be able to pass some things to the King? A box of things from your sister, Princess Karina. Oh... I don't know if you heard? She's the Ancient of Mars, now. I'm going to be doing the space stations around there, while we make it a good place to live. It will take a while, so don't be too impressed yet. Still, it might be enough to get me in today? I also have the Tellerand Ambassador with me. So, there's that. The real one this time, not just me holding the job for a few days. Roget Smithson."

The girl nodded, and almost instantly started writing, rather than question her about anything in particular.

"I'll put the word in. Can we contact you in an hour or two on the Ambassador's visit, and a good time to come yourself? I notice that you're already on the list to be let in. I know that Alphie put you on it when he was here, but this seems new. I wonder why that is?"

The question was a little close. Probing. Especially since the Princess had probably worked out that she was a spy already. After all, there was no other real reason for her to have been in and out of the Palace over the years. Unless she was servicing the King. That would be a bit rude of his daughter to ask about though, wouldn't it?

Not so much for an old serving woman at the tavern, but still...

Sara smiled.

"Honestly? I haven't a clue. Your brother probably suggested it at some point and it was just left on the list? Though I have been making a lot of trips to Harmony, and taken some letters back and forth. That seems more likely really. I wouldn't think the Royal Guard would leave a name on the list by mistake." It was notoriously hard to get on the thing, after all. "Oh! I'll also be bringing Captain Gemma along. If that's allowed, I mean? Gemma Cannor?" That was the right name, Sara knew, but it never hurt to seem like you weren't up on everything perfectly. As long as you really were.

"That should be fine. I'll set that all up and have one of the secretaries get back to you? Or do it myself. Things have been a little slow here lately. Do you think you could take me to Harmony later today? Gerent was going to, but he was called away for some reason."

Sara looked at the Princess, and nodded. It wouldn't hurt after all, and would only take about an hour. She should get back there anyway...

Gemma leaned in, so her face would be in the picture.

"I can do it, if you'd like, Princess? I have my ship, and your sister, Princess Karina, taught me how to do jumps earlier. If I still have my room there, we can take trips all the time."

The girl on the screen looked away suddenly, but then back with a small smile.

"If it's safe? That would be very welcome, actually. I know that Father is
most
pleased to find that we'll have some space capable craft now. Thank you, Gemma. I'll go, and see who's available for scheduling. Are you at Debri house?"

Sara shook her head then. "No, on my ship, just outside the port here. We were going to go and see about things in town. Ambassador Smithson is still sleeping. I should probably make sure he has breakfast and time for his prayers. Need anything from the market?" It was a bit playful of her to ask that, but the Princess actually nodded.

"I do, actually. Can I give you a list? I'll repay you when you arrive..." It wasn't that much stuff, but it would probably come to a few gold by the time it was all collected. That meant getting some from her mother's house first. It wouldn't take too long though.

The early part of the day went smoothly enough. The market had everything they needed, which was mainly some new and interesting things to take to Harmony for the Debri storefront there, and it wasn't hard to find what Veronica wanted either. The very interesting thing however was that Roget had come along.

The man didn't buy much, just some sugared nuts from a vendor, but he did share them, as they walked along, and tried not to scowl the entire time.

As they left the man actually managed to smile at her.

"This is truly a wonder, I must be considering. What things you have here, collected all to one spot. Truly it is a blessing. Praise be the All High for delivering such to this land."

Sara was about to say praised be, when a man in black, who was clean shaved and about forty, bowed to them from the side.

"Yes. We should give thanks to the One. Are you a follower of the One God?"

The man looked at Roget, who managed a credible bow back.

"We call Him the All High, but if I have it correctly, it is the same. I'd heard that some in other lands held the faith, but I didn't think to meet any! This is a grand day indeed!"

The men chattered back and forth for a bit, the other man seeming greatly pleased,
especially
after realizing that the shorter fellow was the Ambassador from Tellerand. The land of the One God itself.

"We should speak, later, if you have time for such in your schedule? There is much to speak on, and consider." The man bowed again, and they made plans to meet, at a local religious house. It was the other man's personal residence, but easy enough to find.