"Kate Elliott - Jaran 1 - Jaran" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elliott Kate)

recognize, because he wore the alloy elbow clip that marked his authority as a ship's master.

She drew in her breath, lifted her chin, and inclined her head with the exact degree of
condescension that a duke's heir might grant a mere ship's captain.

Before the captain could bow, one of the other Chapalii stepped forward. "Who has
allowed this interruption?" he demanded in formal Chapalii. "Our business here is private,
Hao Yakii." The Chapalii turned his gaze on Tess, but she knew her ground here; indeed,
conduct was so strictly regulated in Chapalii culture that she usually had a limited number of
responses. It made life much easier. Knowing he was at fault, she could regard him evenly in
return. As he realized that the captain, and, belatedly, the other Chapalii, were bowing deeply
to her, his skin hazed from white to blue.

"I am honored," said the captain, straightening, "to be the recipient of your attention,
Lady Terese. May I be given permission to hope that your brother the duke is in good health
and that his endeavors are all flourishing and productive?"

"You may."

The slightest reddish tinge of satisfaction flushed the captain's face. He bowed in
acknowledgment and gestured to his companions, introducing them in the formal, long-
winded Chapalii style, not only their names but their house and affiliation and title and station
and level of affluence: Cha Ishii Hokokul, younger son of the younger son of a great lord, no
longer well off, traveling back to the home world; Hon Echido Keinaba, a fabulously wealthy
merchant traveling to Odys to negotiate several deals with the merchants of the esteemed
Tai-en Soerensen's household. Hon Echido bowed a second time, skin white, secure in his
quick recognition of the duke's sister and doubtless hoping that his acumen here would stand
him in good stead in the haggling to come. Cha Ishii bowed as well, but it was not nearly as
deep a bow as a duke's heir merited.

Tess acknowledged them and nodded again at the captain. "Hao Yakii. I desire passage
on your ship, to the Dao Cee system."

He did not hesitate. Of course, he could not. "It is yours, Lady Terese. You honor me
and my family with your presence."

Before she could reply, Cha Ishii compounded his first offense by addressing the captain
in court Chapalii. "Hao

Yakii, this is impossible that a Mushai's relative should be allowed on this run. You must
prevent it."

Hao Yakii went violet with mortification, whether at Ishii's effrontery or at some mistake
he had just realized. Hon Echido watched, neutral, unreadable, and doubtless unsure
whether any human could actually understand the intricacies of court Chapalii.

But Tess's dismay had evaporated, drawn off by her irritation at Ishii's assumption that
she could not understand him, and by sheer human curiosity at the mention of that name,
Mushai. "You refer, I believe," she said directly to Ishii in court Chapalii, thus indirectly
insulting him, "to the Tai-en Mushai. Was he not a duke who rebelled against one of your