The Nathan Daniels Saga: Part 1 Read Free Page B

twenty-two years of life she has visited all of our Empire, and many of our friendly neighbors, but always as part of a royal delegation.  We have decided that before she embarks on a path that could have her ruling two empires; she must have a better understanding of the galaxy and the everyday people in it.  It will be your job to see to it that she gets that understanding.
    “ She is to be your apprentice for the next year.  You will teach her what you know about trading and about the places you visit.  Through this she will learn of the interconnectedness of the known worlds.  She will also learn what it is like to be a normal citizen.  You have a passenger suite aboard your ship, correct?”
    “ Yes, two small bedrooms, private head and a living area.”
    “ Excellent!” the Empress said and motioned to her left.  “Then Omany can accompany you as well.”
    A smallish man stepped onto the dais.  His age was indeterminate.  His face looked fifty, but his eyes looked as if he had seen the beginning of the universe.  He was bald, but it was impossible to tell if it was his natural state or cosmetic.  Nathan was not convinced that the man did not just will it to be so.  His facial hair was worn in the “Fu-Man-Chu” style, and was gray, streaked with black.  He wore flowing robes that were priestly in nature.
    “Omany is Remini’s intellectual and spiritual teacher.  He has been her instructor since birth.  He is a master in the defensive arts of quan-shay and a high priest of Verstaten.  He has many university degrees and is qualified to teach all academic subjects.  As far as anyone is concerned, he will have merely booked passage aboard your ship.”
    “ Do we have an agreement, Captain Daniels?”
    “ I don't see a downside for me, so my answer is yes.”  Credits and the company of a beautiful woman?  He would be insane not to accept the deal.  “How do we get them aboard without anyone noticing?  That little song and dance this afternoon attracted a lot of attention.”
    “ This evening you will go to the tavern you usually frequent.  There Omany and Remini will approach you in disguise, for passage.”
    “ That should work.”
    “ It was noticed that your current cargo consists of Halifren gems.  Am I to assume your next stop is Rhadasia?”
    “ Yes, Excellency.”
    “ That should be an excellent learning opportunity.  Oh, and captain...”
    “ Yes Excellency?”
    “ My daughter's virtue is to be intact upon her arrival,” the Empress flashed a wicked grin.
    “ Understood, Excellency.”  Nathan Daniels was marched out of the throne room.
    Nathan retrieved his weapons at the guard station and was informed that he would have to make his own way back to the spaceport.  Grumbling, he asked where the nearest tube station was.  After walking the three blocks, he was enjoying a relaxing ride to the garment district of midtown Kurufet.  He walked into his favorite clothier and placed an order for delivery to his ship later that evening.  Whistling he caught the tube back to the spaceport and the Nola .
    “ Nathan, you are one damn lucky guy,” he thought as he boarded the tube.
    As he approached the Nola , Captain Daniels noticed that the four troopers were still there guarding her.  He guessed, correctly, that they probably wouldn't leave until the princess was aboard.  Surely there would be questions at the tavern this evening and he was going to have to come up with answers.  First things first, however.  He hadn't had a passenger in months.  There was work to do in the passenger suite, and extra provisions and fuel to obtain.
    Nathan went up the ramp into the Nola .  First he went forward to the control room and did a systems check, looking especially at his fuel levels.  He made a note as to how much fuel he needed to purchase.
    He went to the galley and checked the computerized pantry.  Going through the supplies, he made more notes as to what would be needed