Imperial Princess Caoimhe Bron will be twenty-three, and Imperial Princess Eleanor Bron will be twenty.
Harbin grimaced.
Old enough.
But no maturity. Just as he was grumbling over the matched luggage, another flash of red jarred his attention.
He turned and looked back at the transport ship.
Coming down the ramp was a humanoid.
He blinked. A female humanoid. Even with the hood covering most of her face, just enough peeked through that her feminine features were obvious.
She wore a long red cloak with a hood, the same shade as the luggage, and proceeded toward him.
Well, toward the cases, Reedek and him.
She walked with an assured step, the winds not bothering her. Not even the smell, which Harbin had heard could be very off-putting if one was not used to it. “I assume everything is in order?” she asked.
Reedek nodded. “Everything is as it should be.”
She nodded.
Harbin put his hands on his hips. “And who are you?”
“I am Lady Bianca. I am here to make sure that everything is prepared for the Terran Empire delegation to arrive in three days.”
“And what needs to be prepared?” Harbin asked. They were coming here. They should adapt to their home. The Rhimodians should not have to rebuild their facilities to accommodate the Terrans for a short stay. It was a useless waste of resources.
“The things that the Imperial Princesses need," she said, a smile on her face. Though the expression did not reach her eyes.
If anything, she looked annoyed that she was there.
Good.
Because Harbin was annoyed that he was there too. “And it is your task to take care of what they need?”
“It is my task to make sure they have whatever they require. That includes checking over the suite created for us to occupy while here and making sure everything is properly loaded and prepared.”
Harbin huffed.
His opinion on the matter had not been considered the correct course of action. When the negotiations were first discussed, building a special suite for the Terrans was part of the preparation list, allowing them to have what they deemed appropriate living quarters.
Because it was believed that they would be there for a length of time. More than a few hours.
Something Harbin did not think was necessary. The Rhimodians did not want much. Mostly to be left alone to exist as they saw fit. So the negotiations would be about what the Rhimodians would concede to with the Terrans.
The Terrans wanted the system to add to their empire.
Which was not something the Rhimodians were willing to give up.
Finding the middle ground was the negotiation. Hence the desire for living quarters.
This was just one more thing, it seemed.
And he wasn’t particularly happy about it.
Especially when the last order came through from Master System.
