Terran Times 02 - Deal with a Dhemon (18 page)

Viola Grace

night before, but they had faded with her stupor.”

As Sam attempted to use the implements with dignity, the General made no attempts to ignore her and ended up laughing throughout the entire meal. She finished her food before he did, and began to look around the room.

“What is that?” A game board stood near one wall with two chairs facing each other. Brightly colored playing pieces were displayed on the board.

“A game of strategy, called Mintag. You have fifty moves to outwit your opponent, or you lose.

It is a complicated game, only played by the men of our kind. It is thought that no female could grasp the ideas. They lack the concentration.”

“Could you try to teach me?”

She had to wait while he finished sputtering and choking.

“It has not been done.” His breath came in with a wheeze. “You could not master it.”

“I used to be quite good a strategy games, I passed hunter training. And survived in that occupation for several years. I would like to try.”

He watched her silently for a few minutes. His face completely immobile.

“Hunter training?” He paused for a few moments, thinking. “Alright, I’ll try to teach you.

But in the evenings, in my private quarters, after dinner. Not here. The scandal would give me a 42

Deal with a Dhemon

headache.”

“Agreed. You will begin to teach me after dinner.”

The deal with the Dhemon was struck.

For the first few evenings, Sam had fun. She had a talent for the game, although she was not looking far enough ahead, she did not lose by much.

Kassil used the opportunity to learn more about her. He asked her about her work on the station, and she told him. She performed for large groups of men, songs from a hundred worlds. Driving them to lust, to increase the profits of the brothel.

It had been an extremely successful idea He asked her why she was being exiled, and she told him of the price on her head and the attempts on her life.

She told him of her species, and the specific modifications that had been made to her in an effort to hide her. Pigments increased in her skin to defend her from higher UV rays, the pointed ears that were cosmetic and the teeth that were her last line of defense.

Days passed with Etion and the etiquette lessons, and evenings were spent learning Mintag.

She was getting pretty good when everything changed on the sixth day.

She had been thwarted in her pursuit of an orgasm earlier that day, when Etion had burst into 43