Page 43 of Return of the Nine

Daphne’s duties would be to take calls, arrange meetings for those who had a genuine concern and prepare lunches for the persons of the Nine who were on duty or visiting.

She settled at her desk and practiced with the com a second before it chirped at her. “Embassy of the Nine, how may I direct your call?”

A stream of words came through the line. Unfortunately, Daphne couldn’t translate any of them. Fortunately for her, her com system translated and displayed the information on the screen. “Madam, I am calling for Ambassador Leoraki. He has requested a seamstress at the embassy, and I wished to know if I was welcome to come now?”

Daphne sighed, “Yes, please. We are expecting you. You will be welcomed.”

There was a pause on the other end as the other party was reading her words in the language of the Nine. “Thank you. We look forward to the meeting.”

“Where will you be landing?”

“Designated spaceport.”

“I will have someone pick you up.”

“That will be most welcome.”

The call disconnected, and Daphne looked up to see Apolan leaning against the side of her desk with a small box in his hand. “I forgot to give you a portable translator. It will help you until you learn Nine Common and Forest select. While most of those travelling here have learned Gaian, not all of them have. I do not want you at a disadvantage.”

She nodded. “Thank you. Am I allowed to send some of your guard to escort the seamstress to this office?”

He blinked. “Of course. Did they call?”

“They did. The computer translated for me. The earpiece will be faster, I think.” She extended her hand, and he gave her the box with great formality.

As Daphne opened the box, she gasped in surprise. It wasn’t just an earpiece, it was a finely crafted piece of jewellery that had a piercing for the lobe as well as a cuff for the curve of her ear, all draped with tiny jewels and chains.

A little nervous, she placed the item on her ear and settled it until it was comfortable. She looked up at Apolan, “Is this right?”

He smiled. “Lovely. You look as if you were born to it.”

She blushed, and then, her eyes widened when she realised that he was not speaking Gaian. “Oh, that is strange.”

“It combines audible with mental impulses. If you are thinking about speaking to me, I will hear the words you intend, even if they are not the ones you speak. I also have a subliminal learning unit that you can link to at night. You should have a grasp of the common language of the Nine in a week or less.”

He grinned, patted her hand and returned to his new office.

Shaking her head in amazement and the strange feeling of the ear unit, she got to her feet and walked out of the embassy to speak to the guards. Her first day already held so much more than she had ever anticipated, and she had the feeling that the new experiences were not nearly over.

Chapter Four

“Hold still, Ms. Hallow. The formal clothing of the Forest Folk is delicate. You don’t want it hanging improperly.” Xeero, a charming man of the Stone Folk, had the lightest touch with a needle that she had ever seen.

Daphne held her breath as he carefully adjusted the fabric until the drawn tangle flowed gracefully to her ankles. She had already been measured for daywear, office wear, footwear and underwear. The formal gown was an issue, because the embassy gala was scheduled for the day that the building was completed and outfitted.

They had taken over the conference room for the fittings, and Xeero and his assistant spoke in low tones while they fussed, fitted and pinned her into each item.

While Xeero did the final fitting on the formal gown, his assistant, Xalik, was working with blurring fingers to finish some office clothing for her. The speed with which he assembled each article of clothing was astonishing.

He had already completed a set of flowing trousers for her. Now, he was working on the matching tunic.

Xeero stepped back, and a smile crossed over his grey features. “Lovely. I do good work, and it doesn’t hurt that the framework was such a pleasure to dress.”

She blushed and looked down at the leaf green silk of the simple gown. It hugged curves that she didn’t know she had.

Xalik looked up from his work and smiled. “Perfect. The colour suits you, Ms. Hallow.”

She waited while Xeero made minute adjustments.

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