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)
“How fascinating!” Abbey remarked. “On my planet, Earth, people wear many different perfumes. I have five or six myself that I use, depending on what mood I’m in.”
“Oh dear—that won’t do, I’m afraid!” Chancellor Maprist sounded rather shocked. “Here on Tengula Five, you can be arrested for Scent Crime if you purloin someone else’s scent and try to impersonate them that way.”
“Oh, nobody is trying to impersonate anyone,” Abbey assured him. “It’s just that on Earth, perfumes are sold to anyone who wants to buy them.”
“So anyone can smell like anyone else and many people could smell the same?” The Chancellor shuddered. “How dreadful! That would never be allowed here. In fact, I think it would be advisable for both of you to visit a Perfumer and get your own personal scents made, so that you can mingle in Court without any problems.”
“I wouldn’t mind having my own custom perfume,” Abbey said, smiling. “Er, is it expensive?”
“Oh no, my dear! The cost of your personal scent is paid by the State. It’s a necessity, not a luxury,” the Chancellor said. “I’ll set up an appointment for you, if I may.”
“Certainly,” Solon said as Abbey agreed as well.
At that point, they finally made it to the East Entrance of the Palace which had a high, golden gate and several guards on duty. Chancellor Maprist instructed the autodriver to roll down the window and one of the guards stuck his face in and sniffed him.
“Ah Chancellor Maprist, welcome back,” he said, nodding. “The Empress is waiting for you and your guests. Please proceed straight to the throne room.”
“Thank you, we will.” The Chancellor nodded and the gates were opened to allow their vehicle entrance.
They drove up a long, smooth walkway and came to a stop in front of an impressively large building. In the front, instead of stairs, was a broad ramp leading up to the entrance. Solon supposed this must be another accommodation for the blind part of the population or “Inner Seers.” It occurred to him that during their drive through the city, he hadn’t seen a single set of steps anywhere, though he had seen many ramps.
They exited the vehicle and walked up the ramp. Abbey held onto Solon’s arm as he murmured to her about where they were going and described the palace, which was vast and grand. The floors were wood that had been stained a deep, rich red and the walls were gleaming white. Solon was glad for the high contrast because he knew that made it easier for Abbey to “see” where she was going.
Everywhere they went, people stopped to sniff them and say hello. They greeted Chancellor Maprist too after smelling him.
“Please remember that our new visitors have not visited the Perfumer yet, so their scents are not set,” he told people several times, who exclaimed about how good Abbey and Solon smelled. Solon hoped, a bit uneasily, that they wouldn’t be required to wear extremely strong scents—as a Monstrum Kindred he had a keen sense of smell and disliked strong perfumes and odors.
The throne room was vast and clearly marked with the deep red floor extending in a single straight line right up to the throne. The flooring on either side was gray marble, again providing a contrast for anyone with low vision. Sitting on a broad marble throne with a crimson cushion was a plump, friendly looking Empress.
She was wearing a stylish but comfortable blue dress and her hair had been done in long pink ringlets. Her skin was mottled blue and pink and her eyes were hidden by golden glasses that were studded with diamonds. She smiled at once when they were announced and spread her arms in welcome.
“Visitors from another world—how lovely!” she exclaimed. On her shoulder, a little pink Eye-pet chattered and whispered to her, dancing around excitedly on its three little legs. “Ah, I understand from my darling Eye-pet, Prizzi, that the lady is most uncommonly beautiful!” she added. “And that the gentleman is very distinguished looking.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Solon said, nodding his head respectfully, though he wasn’t certain if she could see him or not.
“I should like to sniff you, but I understand you haven’t been to the Perfumer yet,” the Empress remarked. “So maybe we can do that later. But I hear you have a gift for me?”
“Yes, we do, Your Majesty,” Solon told her. “I have brought you flowers from the Monstrum Mother Ship and my bride, Abbey, has brought you special flowers from her home world, Earth.”
“Oh goody—new scents!” The Empress clapped her beringed hands together eagerly. “Let me have them!” She held out her arms and Solon removed the first bunch of flowers from the stasis tube and handed them to her.
The Empress pressed her face to the bouquet and sniffed appreciatively.
“How lovely they smell! Rather like the Zolon-dews we grow in the royal garden,” she remarked. “And now let me smell the blossoms from Earth.”