Neutral by Viola Grace Page B

showed her inside.
    “Oh. This is larger than I expected.”
    He quirked his lips. “I get that a lot.”
    She paused and realised that he was laughing at her. “Apologies. This is new to me.”
    “This ship is for you, the VIP quarters are for you, the guard is for you. Lord Dremal is just here to verify your credentials.”
    Ari blinked and jerked her head. “Thank you, Captain.”
    He winked. “Captain Kredik, at your service, Scribe Longway. We will walk with you when you leave the ship and keep Dremal from being a pest. Two guards will be posted outside your door at all times, both here and in the palace.”
    She tilted her head and nodded as she got her security briefing. She was an asset and they were taking possession of her.
    “Within the palace itself, you will be escorted to the audience hall and to all your meals. If you are out of your quarters, you will be under escort. At no time will you be unwatched while you are at the court.”
    “That sounds like fun. I am delighted that it is a two-year contract.”
    “Renewable by mutual consent, but you will have to draw up that contract when you arrive. It is a test, by the way.”
    “Is it, Captain?”
    “It is. If you put anything into it that favours you more than the imperial house, there will be a penalty. It is your job to be completely neutral in matters of contracts, even your own.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Why are you telling me this?”
    “Because you look like being a scribe means something to you. I am trying to help you achieve the best start I can.”
    He bowed, his helmet obscuring his features. His skin was a green so deep it appeared black, but his eyes were a sparkling gold.
    She couldn’t make out his hair colour, but as long as it wasn’t cotton candy pink, he would probably be very handsome.
    “Were you ordered to do this, Captain Kredik?” She quirked her lips.
    “No, but it was a suggestion made by one of the Guardians on Hredu. A reliable scribe is hard to find, and we wish you to have a long and flourishing career. Enjoy the flight, when you move about the ship, you will do so with guards to get you used to being followed.”
    She flipped her braid over her shoulder to hang down her back. “That sounds like such an attractive way to spend my time. I can hardly wait.”
    “You will also have a bather and a dresser, as well as a makeup specialist. Your time off will be allocated in large chunks, but you will still be guarded during your free hours.”
    “This just gets better and better.”
    The ship throbbed and lifted away from Luna Base.
    The captain inclined his head again, “That is what they all say.”
    He left her in her spacious quarters, and she stared at the closed door before giggling. With a grin that didn’t want to quit, she put her clothing away and sat at the desk, watching vids and reading up on Hredu. The learning flash gave her the language and letterforms, but she had to learn about the people and how their society was constructed. If she could see anything on the scribes, it would be most helpful for her current path.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    The captain had not been kidding. When she left her quarters, she had guards with her, when she ate in the galley, when she sat in the observation deck. It didn’t matter where she went in the ship, they followed her without complaint.
    There was a small space where she could exercise, and she did it, trying to ignore her guards. Well, she ignored them on one level and memorized what she could about them so that she could recognize them on sight.
    The scar on one hand, the missing nail on one pinky finger. One held his shoulders lower than the other and the tilt of the head made one look like he was always listening.
    Having a scribe kidnapped was not a thing, but killing one to delay negotiations was not unheard of. On at least one occasion, the assassin had been disguised as a bodyguard.
    She worked out as she had become accustomed to doing when she needed