Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Here you are, Your Majesty.” Solon helped Abbey remove the bouquet of roses from the stasis tube and she stepped forward, with his hand on her waist to guide her, to give them to the Empress.
“Oh my—I can smell them from here!” she exclaimed, reaching eagerly for the bouquet. Luckily Abbey had made sure to de-thorn the long stems so nothing scratched her.
“I hope you like them, Your Majesty,” Abbey told her. “These came from my family’s shop back on Earth.”
“Like them? Why, I’ve never smelled anything like this scent before!” the Empress exclaimed. Plunging her nose into the bouquet of roses, she inhaled deeply. When she raised her head, there was an expression of pure ecstasy on her face. “Amazing!” she proclaimed. “Call the Royal Perfumer at once! I must have this scent duplicated—it will be my new Royal Scent!”
There was a gasp from all the courtiers in the throne room and Solon saw people start whispering to each other at once.
“A new Royal Scent!”
“How shocking!”
“Truly amazing!” were just a few of the comments he heard.
“Your Majesty, I’m so glad you like the roses so much,” Abbey said, smiling politely. “Our shop is renowned for the scent of our flowers.”
“And I can see why! My dear, come forward again—I wish to sniff you even if you haven’t visited the Perfumer yet.”
The Empress beckoned for her with both hands and Abbey came forward, with Solon keeping a hand on her waist to guide her again. The Empress put her pink and blue face near Abbey’s cheek and sniffed loudly.
“Ah, you smell lovely just as you are!” she exclaimed. “May I recommend that you ask the Perfumer to enhance your natural scent rather than trying to cover it or change it in any way.”
“Why thank you, Your Majesty.” Abbey’s cheeks went pink. “That’s a lovely compliment.”
“You’re very welcome. Now—I must reward you for these lovely and unique flowers—these toeses I believe you called them?”
“Roses,” Your Majesty,” Abbey said, smiling a little. “And there’s no reward needed—I’m just happy you liked them.”
“Nonsense! It’s not every day that one is gifted such a unique and beautiful scent,” the Empress said. “There must be something you want—name it and it shall be yours.”
“Well…” Abbey didn’t seem to know what to say but Chancellor Maprist stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, you may not know it but Abbey here is one of us—she is an Inner Seer,” he told the Empress. “On the way here, she expressed interest in having an Eye-pet of her own. I told her that they are usually matched to a person at a very young age and that they are reserved for Tengulans but—”
“What? She has no Eye-pet?” The Empress interrupted. “How perfectly dreadful! She must have one at once! And not just any Eye-pet, my dear,” she added, speaking to Abbey. “You shall have only the very best from the Royal Eye-pet breeder. The very one who bred my own little Prizzi.” And she reached up to stroke the soft pink fuzz ball sitting on her shoulder.
“Oh, well thank you!” Abbey was both flustered and pleased—Solon could tell because he was touching her arm. “That’s so kind of you, Your Majesty. But do you really think I can bond with one? I might be too old.”
“Nonsense!” The Empress made a shooing gesture. “Those with the Inner Sight are meant to have an Eye-pet—I’m certain the Royal breeder can fix you right up. In fact, I’ll send you to him right now. And from there to the Royal Perfumer. And then you’ll be all ready to attend our banquet tonight!”
“Your pardon, Your Majesty, but where should we put their things while they visit the Royal Breeder and Perfumer?” Chancellor Maprist asked. “In one of the guest villas or…”
“No, indeed! They are to stay here in the Palace!” the Empress declared. “These are honored guests, Chancellor! Be certain they are treated as such.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Come,” he said to Solon and Abbey. “We must visit the Royal Eye-pet Breeder and the Royal Perfumer so that you will be ready for the Empress’s banquet tonight.”
They made several more bows to the Empress, who was extremely gracious, but already preoccupied with a group of people who had come in with the Royal Perfumer. All of them were sniffing the bouquet of roses and exclaiming rapturously over the “exquisite new scent!”
As they left the throne room, Chancellor Maprist said,
“Well, as it seems the Royal Perfumer will be busy for some time, I do believe we shall visit the Royal Eye-pet Breeder first.”
“Oh, do you really think I can be matched with an Eye-pet, even though I’m too old?” Abbey asked and Solon could feel her hopefulness through their clasped hands.
“If the Empress has decreed it, it must be so,” Maprist said firmly. “Come, let us go and see the Royal Breeder.”