Page 38
A red blur occurred where Tiffany had been standing.
Devran smiled. “Justice can be fast.”
“No kidding.”
They walked through the first archway, and the guards were tense as they looked at Devran. Aya smiled. “Are you scary?”
“Yes. Many fear time. Past and future.”
“Is it that obvious when they look at you?”
He chuckled. “I have visited before.”
“Oh. Got it.”
“Do you? Ah, you will.”
She smirked wryly, and they walked from a hallway lined with portraits of Tiffany until they entered a huge audience chamber.
It was easy to see Kazi. He was seated on a throne and wearing Tiffany. His hand was on her thigh, lazily tracing the glowing markings that moved with every caress. The kiss was intense, and they were wrapped together for long minutes. Aya gestured for Devran’s tablet, and when he handed it over, she found a drawing program and used her finger to draw two digits.
When Tiffany’s head was released from Kazi’s grip, a dazed Terran turned to look at them. Aya beamed and held up the tablet.
Tiffany paused and then laughed. “Nine point five? Not a ten?”
“You didn’t stick the landing.”
Tiffany howled with laughter, and Kazi’s arms were around her waist, supporting her.
Kazi was a mix of red and black war marks. One moment, he had a mask; the next, it was tigerish striping across his cheeks and body. He was wearing a sarong wrapped around his hips, and it was black and to the ankle. His feet were bare.
He looked at Devran and grinned. “Brother! You made good time.”
Devran nodded. “Honourable Kazi, I have brought a petitioner for judgment.”
Aya held her skirt and dipped down. “Honourable Kazi, lord of judgment, I seek assessment of my situation and your judgment as to the best course of action to take.”
“Who are you?”
“Soother Amaya, known as Aya to anyone who wants to converse with me.”
He settled back on his chair, and Tiffany was trying to sit straight and failing.
“I am listening. Tell me your tale.”
“It is a tale of an abused contract and my near-death.” She began with the station, the fight, the soothing, and then the contract to keep her village together.
After that came the station and the endless waves of those who needed to be soothed. Too much war, not enough sex, heartbreak, insanity—it all came into her room, and they left calm.
As she spoke, Devran was bringing up documentation and displaying it around the room.
She explained the weight loss. The inability to absorb the rations. Trying to tell the medics and finally giving up, as no one cared as long as she could do her job. Resigning herself to simply collapsing when there was nothing else to be done, and the desperate psychic blasts that she sent through the door.
“Eventually, by whatever means, Devran got my message and came to retrieve me. He has assisted me through the repercussions of my confinement. The food, the nearly dead body, the fear of being alone, and the need for living contact.” She smiled. “And of course, he put up with my talking incessantly. That was important as well.”
Kazi smiled, but his eyes were solid black while she spoke.
When she stopped, she said, “So, Honourable Kazi, what qualifies as judgment for what was done to me?”
