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“Welcome to Lan-xing Ulen, how may I help you?” hovered a blue civilian droid.

  “Two rooms, please,” answered Lord Knight Ronel.

  “We have several room options,” offered the droid. “What perimeters should I search for in order to find each of you the perfect lodging?”

  “I am Lord Ronel; my mistress is Lady Abbess Cara of house Ten-Ar.”

  The blue of the droid’s skin brightened, “Dignitaries from Dong-Bei! Well then I have a two bedroom luxury suite available to your mistress for thirty tai-ors per beinor featuring two private bedrooms, a common living room, private access to global communication channels, and access to a small private garden. You are the abbess’ knight protector?”

  “I am,” affirmed Ronel.

  “Do you still wish for two rooms or is this suite to your liking?”

  “We will take the suite,” agreed Ronel, offering a triangular payment card to the droid.

  The droid scanned his payment card, “Welcome to Lan-xing Ulen. Please enjoy your stay.”

  The next morning Lord Knight Ronel sat in silence with Lady Abbess Cara in the dining room, nursing a glass of kelan juice thoughtfully as the abbess relished a plate of Belarian waffles with kara berry jam and a hot steaming mug of the same minty hot chocolate traditionally served at formal occasions like weddings and royal court receptions. Clothed from head to toe in black with only a narrow band of Ten-Arian crimson adorning his modest trousers and doublet, he felt naked without his heavy, two-handed Ten-Arian broad sword, “Your Excellency, are you sure I should not wear my sword?”

  “Why would you need to be armed, Ronel? You think there is going to be danger at Nan-li Central? It is a healing center, not a war zone.”

  “With all due respect, Your Excellency, that healing center has you written all over it; you were the one who proposed its construction. You were the one who insisted on it featuring twice as many research laboratories than the typical healing center. That healing center is at the forefront of medical research for the region. Yes, it services many of the poorest on our world – but it is clearly your work. That makes you a target, especially here.”

  “I am a healer, not a warrior. Why would anyone want to kill me? My heart is to end suffering and make our world worthy of its many blessings.”

  “Healers know things that the rest of us do not. That makes you a threat, Your Excellency. But more than that – you are the ranking leader of our house, even above the Masters of Ten-Ar. Theirs is a chorus of voices, but you speak with the strength of a single healing voice.”

  “If you feel so strongly about it, lord knight – by all means arm yourself as you see fit. I want to avail myself of this delicious food. Go back to our suite once you finish your meal and join me here.”

  As commanded, Lord Knight Ronel returned to their suite to find the abbess’ communications system flashing with an incoming message. “This is Lord Knight Ronel,” he answered.

  Lady Healer Gwyneth’s image appeared, “Lord Knight Ronel, I am relieved to find you still alive.”

  “What happened?”

  “An attack, my lord! Twelve of our best healers and healers in training studying the samples her excellency collected last beinor were found murdered – bilast poisoning.”

  “Bilast? The abbess found high levels of bilast at the mine, did she not?”

  “She did. The data and samples are still here – thank the goddesses – but I fear for her – and myself. Clearly whoever is responsible wants everyone to think this was some personal blood feud. I do not believe it; these particular healers and healers in training were our top planetary experts on radiation poisoning and local ecology,” explained Gwyneth.

  “Without which you cannot offer authoritative testimony in the Great Council if I understand the political situation.”

  “Correct! Ronel, I am afraid for the abbess. Can I meet both of you there with the data? I do not feel comfortable transmitting it from here. We have no clue who killed them or where they are; unless you disagree, I prefer to not provide an obvious path to your whereabouts.”

  “I am supposed to meet the abbess in the dining room directly. Can you meet us there?”

  “I will try!” acknowledged Gwyneth.