Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“And who’s this lovely little creature?” he said, nodding at little one, who was looking up at him with big eyes. Naggians are not as large as my own people, but they are only about a head shorter than we are, which is quite large by the standards of their universe.
“This is my new pet, little one,” I introduced her. “Little one, say hello—this is Hs’lx, a friend of mine.”
“Hello,” little one whispered, looking up at him shyly.
“She’s a lovely one, she is, your Honor,” Hs’lx remarked, surveying her with a nod of approval.
“Thank you—she’s still in the training stage but I’m very pleased with her,” I told him. “She’s a Pure One from Earth—the planet at the far end of the fifth spiral arm that was a Closed world for so long,” I added. “I’ve been told she’s a La-ti-zal—a female with special powers.”
Hs’lx looked suitably impressed.
“A Pure One La-ti-zal? You have excellent tastes, Overlord. Expensive ones too,” he added, eyeing little one with fresh respect.
“I have my standards,” I said shortly. “Little one was simply the best pet shown to me by the Commercians. The moment I saw her, I knew I had to have her.” I looked down at her fondly and stroked a hand gently over her silky fur. I loved the ways it grew so long it was halfway down her back.
The women of my own world tend to keep their hair extremely short. They look, in fact, very like men, with broad shoulders and nearly flat chests. This reminds us that the two sexes are equal in every way, but it was also possibly the reason why I had been drawn to little one with her long fur and her ripe curves and big breasts. She was so different from a woman of my own world—so much smaller and more delicate and much curvier.
“Your new little pet is a rare beauty. But have you visited my home world yet?” Hs’lx asked, raising an eyebrow at me. “For I know you said it was on your agenda while you were in our humble little galaxy.”
I shook my head.
“Not yet—it’s my next stop. I’m only here to refuel.”
“Oh, well in that case, you’d best get your little pet a set of warm winter furs,” the Naggian merchant told me. “You’ll need some outer furs, of course, to cut the blasts of the wind but you’ll also need some thin, ultra-soft inner furs to hold her body heat in. Not to mention a fur hat, boots, gloves, face coverings—”
I could see the wheels in the Naggian merchant’s head turning, calculating how much he could charge me for all this merchandise and I quickly shook my head.
“I’m afraid I already have everything that is necessary to bring little one to your home world with me, Hs’lx. Though I do need a nice, warm pet bed for her to sleep on at night.”
“Oh, well if it’s a pet bed your Honor desires, I have many to choose from!” Hs’lx said, quickly pivoting when he scented a possible sale. “If you’ll come over here to this side of the stall,” he added, motioning. “I have a nice selection of cloud-fiber beds, right beside the Vornish blades. “Do be careful with those, little lady,” he added, speaking to little one who was staring with interest at the displayed blade.
It was sitting on a stand on the counter of the stall, gleaming the deep silver-blue of true Vornish steel and the blade was up, the better to show the fine cutting edge of the weapon.
“That there is sharp enough to slit a strand of hair in two lengthwise,” Hs’lx assured her. “Just take a strand of your own hair and try it, why don’t you? Keep yourself busy while your master and I look at the beds.”
“I’ll want little one to choose her own bed,” I said firmly.
“Yes, but let me show you what I’ve got first, your Honor,” Hs’lx objected. “Your Honor wouldn’t want to give your pet too many options—it might overwhelm her brain.”
“Little one is very intelligent,” I objected. “However, lay out your wares—I’ll see what you have before she chooses one.” I looked down at my pet. “Do you wish to see?”
“In a moment, Master,” little one murmured. “I know I should be kneeling in abeyance by your side, but can I just look at those shiny little toys for a minute? They’re fascinating.”
I saw she was pointing to some bimble-stax—ingenious little building blocks that changed color and shape constantly as you built with them. A builder with a knack could build quite a tall tower with them—if they could fit them together before they all changed shape. I’d had a similar set myself, when I was a boy.
“All right,” I said indulgently, playing out a bit more leash so she could walk around to look at the bimble-stax. “I’ll call you when we have some options.”