Trader's Leap (Liaden Universe Book 23) by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

Author:Sharon Lee & Steve Miller [Lee, Sharon & Miller, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Action & Adventure, General
ISBN: 9781982125011
Publisher: Baen Books
Published: 2020-12-01T06:00:00+00:00

II

They had locked him in, of course. He had no complaint to make there; he was, in fact, disposed to be grateful. The quarters were spacious, set beside most he’d known: clean and tidy, with everything working as it should. Well, the screen only offered books, and vid, and puzzle-games, but that was surely intentional.

If it weren’t for his fear for Dyoli, he might have been well content in this pretty prison room; might have opened a book, or taken a nap, or . . .

It had been hours now, since he’d been shown inside and had the door locked upon him, with the information that someone would be by to talk with him soon.

Perhaps they’d forgotten him.

Perhaps Dyoli—but no. Surely, surely they would have told him if Dyoli . . .

A chime interrupted this worrisome chain of thought, followed by a man’s voice.

“Master pai’Fortana, it is Shan yos’Galan, master trader on-board. May I have a moment of your time?”

yos’Galan. Mar Tyn took a deep breath. He had expected a security person, or perhaps the captain, again. He had not expected the master trader. Had never expected yos’Galan himself.

It had not occurred to him that he would be required to answer so high.

Another breath, and he found his courage again; courage to speak as if the door obeyed his voice.

“Please enter, Master Trader,” he said. “I am entirely at your service.”

The door slid open, and his visitor stepped within, everything that was tall and elegant, with the sheen of High House sophistication upon him.

He had silver hair and silver eyes, yet he was not, Mar Tyn noted, beautiful. He was far more than beautiful; he was self-possessed, polished, well-dressed, and—as became apparent as he paused to bow welcome to the visitor—charming.

If his nose were a trifle bold, his skin more brown than gold, and his chin rather too pointed, what matter? Those were not the defects they would be counted in some lesser person, but rather marks of distinction.

Mar Tyn bowed as lesser to greater, showing his empty, upturned hands.

“I would bid you welcome, my lord, but it would be an impertinence.”

“Would it? Well, perhaps you’re correct. Allow me, then, to bid you welcome, and ask if you have time to sit and talk with me. I have, as you may suppose, some questions.”

“Yes,” said Mar Tyn. “I had supposed that . . . someone . . . would have questions.”

yos’Galan tipped his head and sent a sharp glance at him.

“But you hadn’t supposed that it would be me? I regret. We are short-handed, and all the crew is doing double duty.”

He moved a graceful hand, showing Mar Tyn the room, the bunk, the single chair.

“Please, sit, and be as comfortable as you may be. I will do my best not to come the High House lordling.”

Almost Mar Tyn smiled, remembering Dyoli’s attempts to leave a like manner behind. He expected that this man might have somewhat more success than she had done, but he would never be mistaken for a Lowporter.

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