THE IMPERIAL ADVISOR
Ynno burst into the Imperial Liason Office in the Department
of Foreign Affairs of the Protectorate of Taxan. "Sarion!
Sarion!", he cried, standing at an empty desk. "Oh, hello Clare."
She pointed beyond the partition and began to say something.
A man appeared from behind the partition. "Ynno! Did the
conference go well?"
"The conference?" He seemed distracted for a moment, "Yes,
well enough I suppose", he grabbed Sarion and pulled him toward
the Coffee Dock. "I met the new Imperial Liason officer for Taxan
Amalgamate. She's was amazing! Really incredible! She really knew
her stuff. She would whisper to the Amalgamate delegate or make
notes at all the right places. I saw the ambiguities they were
introducing and I could see that she could see them too." He
paused for breath. "She's good."
Sarion poured a cup for himself and water for Ynno. He
nodded enthusiastically, as Ynno continued. "And when she spoke!
She has the grace, charm and intonations of a Princess! She
_sounds_ like a noble!"
"Come on, Amalgam may be number one on Taxan but they aren't
that rich."
"No, I'm not saying they are. She's just very well trained."
Clare wandered over, smiling with Ynno's good humour.
"Keep going", she said. Ynno continued enthusiastically,
"Impeccable dress sense, medium height with short brown hair. And
blue eyes. I'll never forget the eyes. They just kind of held
you."
"I see you gained a lot from the conference", Sarion
commented drily.
Ynno shrugged it easily away, "Ach, it all will be in my
report. The conference was no different than most. The Imperials
trying to either undermine local business in favour of mega-
corporations or tying to buy us out and amalgamate us with them.
She carried the day. I think the government can rest assured that
our biggest economic interest is no one's fool. I expect they'll
be needing less and less advice."
"I hope this friend of yours isn't putting our jobs at
risk", said Clare in mock serious tones.
"Not that they ever trusted us anyway", said Sarion. "We
have their competitors' interests at heart as well. But, you give
a rather glowing report of ..."
"Bethula Myragail", Ynno rolled the name off.
"...Ms. Myragail. You think she's good?", Sarion asked.
"Oh, yes! Top notch", he beamed.
"As good as you?"
His face suddenly changed and he looked downcast into his
cup. "You know she couldn't be as good as that."
Sarion patted Ynno. "Sorry, I didn't mean to remind you... I
suppose she couldn't be. She's just flesh and blood." He downed
the last of his cup.
"Cheer up", said Clare. "There's nothing wrong with being
the best."
"Sarion", said Ynno fixing his attention. "I think I'm in
love." He looked up into Sarion's brown eyes with his own black
ones. Tears almost flowed from his expression of utter confusion.
Clare withdrew slowly from the two of them. Sarion sighed and
threw the cup away. He put both both hands on Ynno's shoulders
and just stared into his face, concerned. Ynno broke his stare
and looked aside. "I know what you're going to say." He wiped the
corner of his eye. "I can't. I have no feelings." He turned
fiercely back. "That isn't true. They don't know. They say my
program was written by a madman. Duplicated over and over. No one
knows what I think. I ..."
"Stop", said Sarion. "No. I wouldn't say that."
"You're much more than that", said Clare.
Sarion moved his hands to Ynno's face. "I don't care a
millichit for your program. You're my friend. No one can tell me
you can't feel." Clare nodded in agreement.
Ynno smiled weakly and swallowed deeply. Sarion let go and
Clare passed him a handkerchief. "What do I do now?" he asked.
"You must meet her socially!" said Sarion with sudden
enthusiasm. He pulled him back to his desk, Clare following. "Now
let's see." He dipped his pen and began writing. "We could have a
government sponsored party to informally discuss the implications
of the last conference?"
"Why would they come? From the way they listened to her I am
sure they trust her every opinion."
"We could serve Methlanian wine", suggested Clare. "The reps
from Alganam Associates can't resist these things any more than
they can hold their liquor."
"Could be worth half a year's industrial espionage", said
Sarion and waggled his eyebrows at him.
"Hmmm", acceded Ynno. "It could work."
He thrust the stylus at him. "You've got to think positive,
my boy. You go write your report. Stress that the Imperials might
be misleading the companies and it would be recommended that we
informally see what exactly they made of it."
"Remember four years ago when you first started working
here?" added Clare.
"It comes back to me now. 'They may not know what questions
they should be asking of this bureau and so to get the most for
the taxpayers money...'"
"Precisely." They all grinned at each other.