“There are several qualified candidates.”His tone was icy.
“I see.Male candidates, I assume.”She matched him for the frigidity.
Though she couldn’t see him do so, she was certain Rorix nudged Signis under the table.It was the Dramok who responded.“I assure you, your gender has no bearing on our decision.”
“I’ve heard that before,” she sneered.All attempts at diplomacy ended in a flash.“The Coydidak has just a few elder females left, doesn’t it?None of childbearing age?So you’re unused to interacting with us.Perhaps you’re threatened by the idea of intelligent women who do more than bear children?”
Rorix drew up as if she’d struck him.“Our council has women on it, and we revere them as excellent leaders.”
Signis all but bared his teeth at her.“If Kalquorian women could be spared by the home world, we’d certainly welcome them,”
It came to her in flash.They were bigoted all right...in a different direction.“Oh,Kalquorianwomen?Then it’s because I’m an Earther.Thank you for clearing up my mistake.”
“Matara Lorenz—” Rorix began.
“Dramok Rorix, I insist you be as up front about your prejudice when speaking to other applicants of my race.They deserve to be informed how poorly they’ll be treated by the Coydidak.As do the Imperial Clan and Royal Council.”She left the threat of her exposing their speciesism unspoken.
I guess I will stoop to lower means to get what I want.She felt no shame in becoming the bulldozer, especially since no cleavage was required.Blackmail would do just fine.
“Your application will be taken seriously.”Rorix spoke between clenched teeth.
She wondered how good he’d look if she found the proverbial bat and smashed those teeth out.Deciding she had nothing to lose, she promised, “It damn sure better be.”
She stood up so quickly, her hover chair bounced slightly.She stalked out of the conference room.Just before the door hissed closed behind her, she was certain she heard Negal sigh, “You jerks.”
At least she could agree with one of them on something.
Chapter Nine
Laughter entered thecorridor at full steam, uncaring and even wishing someone would run into her so she could give them hell.It was a side wing in the Government House, however, which was apparently little used.Traffic was light.The few young Kalquorian men in sight were in as big a hurry as Laughter.A few darted appreciative glances, but none slowed.They wove expertly around those who were going slower than their pace, showing they were used to dodging those who came out of nowhere.
She headed toward the main corridor, where Royal Council members roamed in flowing robes of blue, green, red, and purple among the dashing aides.She also saw the occasional red armored Royal Guards stationed like terrifying golems near where Laughter assumed were sensitive areas.The hulking Nobeks were paired with Earther women in black armor, who appeared frighteningly fragile next to their behemoth partners.The women could hear the telepathic exchanges of any Darks who dared to breach the Government House.Laughter knew there were also Kalquorians and humans patrolling the cliff edifice who could detect by sight the presence of their shadowy enemy.
Her mind lit only briefly on the threat of the Darks.She was too busy fuming over Rorix’s and Signis’ treatment to dwell on how effective the Kalquorian safety measures might be.
I ought to march up to Emperor Clajak’s office.Tell him how anti-human his last best hope for our mutual survival is.He needs to remind them who’s in charge—
