Voices of Chaos Read Free

diplomatic skills: We see their plans, though they try to hide them. They will lure us in with promise of trade, then dictate to us how we run our worlds and our houses. Any advanced tech we receive will be rigidly supervised."
    Silence; to his distress, Khyriz realized he should have said or done something. Another voice--this one ironic. "You have no question, no comment?" He thought quickly.
    "Yes. My part in all this...?"
    Zhenu again; he sounded grimly pleased. "You took the naked aliens' tests and passed them. They claim pleasure at your intelligence, yours and that of the Lesser She Shiksara, and by this claim you for their StarBridge. But tests can be manipulated, young Prince."
    "My scores...?"
    "Not yours." The Emperor's brusque voice assured him. "Though if it had been necessary--it was important that the aliens believe we do not separate our royals from the populace, or count our females as lesser. The written tests of the merchant-she were enhanced, slightly; she was heavily 9
    coached before her spoken tests." A pause. Khyriz wondered if he should speak again, but Zhenu continued.
    "Understand, the Lesser She knows exactly what her duty is. She has been instructed how to behave on this StarBridge-- if she wishes to see her people alive again. But the merchantess is, after all, a she, so we rely upon you, young prince, to make certain she does not forget." Another silence.
    Khyriz could only hope the bench beneath him did not betray his confusion and astonishment. They want me to... to spy on Shiksara and to report on her!
    Another voice broke in on his thoughts: The Prelate's. The Prince had endured too many dull harangues during the twice-seasonal religious meetings to believe this to be anyone but the head of the Arekkhi Church.
    ''You, Khyriz, will temper your words to the situation: You will say nothing of rank, kind, and type, or how these things are determined among us. The outsiders do not appreciate the importance of classes as they exist here, and therefore you will insist that such things do not exist here. The matter of Asha will remain utterly unspoken. We have not permitted the Heeyoons to see Asha; they know nothing of Asha, and will not learn. Not here--and not from you, there. Swear it."
    Asha. Dear gods! Khyriz somehow managed to keep his whiskers and ears under control. "I swear it," he murmured.
    Zhenu, his voice silken, smug, added, "You offer them nothing about our religion or our history, unless you give the answer the outsiders wish to hear; we know you have a royal's education and skill at this. Volunteer nothing.''
    And then his father once more. But Khyriz had never heard his well-loved parent speak in such a hard tone. "Call no unwanted attention to us, or to Asha. You will promote the transfer of their technology and trade to your people--and if the aliens are not forthcoming with such technology, you will locate it on this StarBridge and transmit the information to your people.
    When you return to your apartment, you will find a list of those things we most want of the outsiders--particularly those they show no sign of letting us control." Worse yet! They want me to serve as a spy! I'm not going to StarBridge to learn, except about things they want!
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    The Prelate's voice. ''It is your sacred duty to do all possible so your people have free access to outside trade. By accident, these Heeyoons let slip there are beings--entire peoples--who are not part of their alliance. Remember the name 'Sorrow Sector.' If the Heeyoons do not give us what we desire, then it may fall to you to contact the rulers of this Sector."
    "Swear you will do this," his uncle's voice added softly.
    "I--swear," Khyriz replied as steadily as he could.
    "We will send a communication device with you--one of theirs, which they claim will give you a private link with your home world. Our station techs have modified it to be certain it is truly private. We will have instructions for you, as we learn more here. You