I turned to the door and walked in; the two halves parted as I did so, then closed behind me with a snap.I turned to the door and walked in; the two halves parted as I did so, then closed behind me with a snap. Inside was a living room, done in a comfortable dark green, a color not unlike the Princess herself, who stood behind a large desk set in one corner of the room. "Stay where you are," she said. A cold fear began working its way up my neck. That was not the Anni I had met four years ago. The thought rammed its way into my consciousness again, Something is wrong. She ignored me for the most part, examining the data screen in front of her. She smiled for a moment, then said "Good." She looked up at me, walked around the desk to stand in front of me, just at arm's length. "This time, it is you." With that she hit me. Not just slapped me, but _hit_ me, hard across the face with a closed fist. I shook my head with disbelief, staring at her, rubbing my jaw with my hand. "What was that for?" I said. "You prag, how dare you insult me by sending that abomination under the guise of a peace treaty to violate me." I stared at her for a few seconds, not sure what to say. Not sure what she meant, either "I... I don't know what you're talking about, Anni." "Do not dare call me that," she said. "I do not know you, and you do not know me. You will address me as 'Your Highness.'" I stared at her, uncomprehending. She continued. "On Hermoc the 40th, do you deny that you sent an android with your appearance to llerki to attend the dinner given in honor of the Peace of Fahn to be signed Remmar first?" "A what? Princess, that was me." "With the exchange writ recently, we have been allowed to review some of your current technologies. According to your own documentation, the basis of your respiratory function does not perform on llerkin. |