"Holy frack . . . " Starbuck gazed at the screen, partly in wonder, partly in horror and mostly in complete bewilderment. The balance of cubits in his account was akin to six sectars pay. He accessed the account itself and drew in a sharp breath when he saw the name under which the deposit was made.
"Sagan's sake, woman, what are you doing to me?" He muttered, closing the connection to the account and jumping back out of his seat with such force that the chair toppled onto the floor.
He needed to see her, and he needed to do it now. Actually, he had been planning to go there anyhow, now he had even more reason to do it. Frackin' Hades Hole! What was going through Ama's mind?
He raced towards the maintenance shuttle that he had already arranged to pick up their shipment of Empyrean Ale. Ama was still generous with her ale and fumarellos despite the fact that his role with Empyrean Ale and Tobacconists was largely honorary now. Starbuck had been so thorough at the outset of the business, that the ale and tobacco were being carried in every possible establishment in the fleet. Of course, the popularity of the product had grown so much, that when any new business opened its doors, the owners automatically contacted the Empyreans.
Ama had also made the ale available to her people at a reduced cost. Starbuck had seen the numbers, and he couldn't help but wonder if the Empyreans were enjoying their ale a little too much. However, when people, especially those recently accustomed to enjoying the freedoms associated with planetary life, were suddenly stuck on a freighter staring at four walls while traveling through space, a little bit of ale eased their passage. He couldn't help but remember that the Imperial Empyreans had historically abandoned their quest for Earth twice before, and wondered if under the circumstances that they faced within the fleet, if they would fare any better.
Within ten centons, he was heading towards the Malocchio, the Empyrean freighter. He tried to make himself relax as he sat on the shuttle, but after enough experience dealing with Ama, it just wasn't possible. Talking with the former Empyrean necromancer was like dodging laser bursts from a high-powered, yet finicky weapon. Just when he thought he knew what to expect from her, she'd zap him again.
He tried to console himself with the fact that his triad practice had gone well. He had had so much pent up energy that Apollo actually had a hard time keeping up with him. Well, so much for the old man theory, he smiled in satisfaction. His shots had been pure artistry, and he had even sunk a few hook shots, each one sailing above his partner's attempted block as they went one-on-one. Now, in hindsight, he wondered if Apollo had been taking it easy with him to boost his morale. Mind you, the sweat pouring off his friend indicated he had been playing as hard as Starbuck. Perhaps his luck was taking a turn for the better.
He felt the shuttle's approach and briefly spoke to the engineers, both of whom would be attending the card game. After all, he had to invite a few extra players if he was going to coordinate the event with the necessary secrecy. Favours begat favours.
Soon he was striding towards Ama's quarters, but not with his usual jaunty step. An inexplicable unease had affected him; the kind of sensation that normally had him wanting to run in the opposite direction. He shook it off as he was about to hit the entry panel, but the hatch slid open inexplicably and eerily. Lords, he hated it when she did that!
He lingered at the entryway, his eyes adjusting to the flickering candlelight in the room. It looked as though she was performing some kind of ceremony. A sinking sensation once again set in. She knew he hated this mumbo-jumbo felgercarb!
"Oh, do come in, Starbuck. I've been expecting you, my dear."
Ama's voice came from every direction simultaneously, seemingly disembodied. He finally spotted her lounging on a longseat at the end of the room, her trademark wild, long, white hair spread out in every direction. He entered the room, picking his way across it slowly in the reduced light, ever mindful of what just might be lying around the retired necromancer's chambers, and not wanting to step on it. Looking around, he realized the acoustics had more to do with her voice carrying than her necromancer abilities. He blew out the breath he had been holding.
"Ama, why the frack did you deposit a fortune worth of cubits into my account?" He asked, point blank. After all, while she was letting him get a few words in, he might as well make them count.
A familiar cackle of laughter surrounded him. She stood up and held out a glass of ale to him. "Come. Sit. Join me. First we must eat and drink. Then we will talk of business."
"Do you know how much trouble you've gotten me into?" Starbuck walked up to her. As always, her presence made her appear more magnificent than her actual size.
She pressed the ale into his hand. "A new brew. Try it."
Starbuck sighed, knowing how the woman stuck to her traditions while entertaining in her chambers. She would answer no questions before he imbibed. Luckily, he was technically off-duty, though with the Hades he had been through, in retrospect it probably wouldn't have mattered to him one whit. He tipped the amber fluid up and drank deeply, swallowing a full third of the tantalizing liquid within. It was lighter than the usual brew, but with a full-bodied flavour that reminded him of the best Sagittarian Ales from before the destruction. "It's good."
Ama raised her eyebrows and smirked. "My, my, you must be angry at me. Just good. I think it's sensational." She lifted her glass and drank. "Liquid poetry," she added. "I've added a few cases to your supply for your game tonight. They should be loaded on the shuttle as we speak. I thought we could get some feedback from some of your friends."
"Are you talking business already? Lords, woman, you're conforming." He chastised her as he sunk onto the longseat and dug into the platter of treats she had set out. As usual, the food was of the best quality. Of course, she had the finest of ales and tobacco with which to barter, so he shouldn't be surprised.
Ama sat down beside him, watching him enjoy the bounty with gusto. He was finally filling out again. He had looked far too thin for the first couple of sectons after the rescue mission on Alrin. He wasn't quite himself after that excursion. Oh, he had tried to put on the usual front, but she had known he was missing something. It had oddly enough translated into the departure of his famous . . . or infamous luck. But it was more than that; it was his spirit that needed to heal as much as his body. She could feel it when she had been near him, seen it in his aura.
Luana, her goddaughter, had been similar. Neither of them would admit how they had regretted how things turned out after Alrin, but Ama knew. She recognized the haunted look in Luana's eyes every time she looked at the warrior who had captured her heart and awakened her passions. But Lia had set Ama straight that morning on the latest occurrence in their ever-evolving relationship.
And then, of course, she had acted accordingly. The timing couldn't have been better.
"Don't they feed you on that battlestar of yours?" She teased him, inwardly pleased that she had remembered his favourites. It would help break the news.
"Sure, it just doesn't taste this good." He grinned in reply, slipping back into their usual rapport. "Okay, I'm eating, I'm drinking . . . What gives?" He took another deep draught of his ale.
"I was speaking to my goddaughter this morning." Ama told him, studying him closely for his reaction. "Clearly, felicitations are in order."
Well, it was all he could do to not spit the ale back out again! Even so, he coughed and sputtered as he tried to swallow the cold brew instead of inhaling it, which was his body's natural tendency at this point. "Feli . . . citions?" he rasped, coughing again.
"Of course." Ama replied, raising her glass to him and drinking again.
"Ama, I don't know what Luana told you, but we're hardly at the stage for felicitations." Starbuck corrected her as quickly as he could, all the time wondering how he could have misread Lu so completely.
"Not Luana, my dear boy, Lia. I spoke with Lia."
"Lia? But how does she know . . . ?" Starbuck stuttered.
"They're sisters, Starbuck. They talk about these things." Ama replied rationally, topping up his glass.
"Wait a centon, I don't get it. If you know about Luana and I, then what are the cubits for?" After all, she should be turning him into a putrid by now, not giving him money.
"Her dowry." Ama replied.
"Her what?" Starbuck shook his head, a feeling of dread overcoming him.
"Dowry, dear heart. It's generally considered the property brought to a husband by his bride. Of course, a ten percent interest in Empyrean Ale and Tobacconists is included, but we can review the entire pre-nuptial agreement later."
"What?" Starbuck jumped to his feet, a strange quivering was beginning to infect his limbs, starting at his ankles and moving upwards. The gorge rose in his throat.
"Now, now, don't have a conniption, Starbuck. Sit down." She ordered him, a faint smile crossing her face as he instead backed away from her in horror. "By the virtue of the Goddess Triquetra, you didn't expect to make love with an Empyrean Princess and treat her like just another Colonial tart, did you?" She also climbed to her feet, enjoying his discomfort.
"Ama, Luana abdicated. Her and Lia both did. You know that as well as I."
"Yes, that's true. But she's still a princess and my godchild. I swore an oath to her parents to see she was cared for, and her abdication doesn't change any of that." She walked towards him and grabbed his hand, turning his palm upward and holding it up to her face. She carefully traced the lines she saw there. "I know that you are an honourable man, Starbuck. Surprisingly so for a commoner. I also know how much you care for Luana. All I'm asking is for you to do the right thing."
"Ama, I don't need twenty-five thousand cubits in my account to get me to do the right thing!" He tried to pull his hand back, but she held on tightly. "Frack, woman, don't you understand that Sire Dracus accused me of taking bribes to throw triad games at the same time you deposited the money?"
"I believe you're getting off topic here, Starbuck. I was talking about you and Luana. This whole triad thing will sort itself out." Her eyes narrowed deviously.
"Well, forgive me if I lack your confidence." Starbuck returned sarcastically.
"Quite all right." She replied with her gap-toothed grin. "Now, as to my goddaughter, what are your intentions? You show me your hand, I'll show you mine."
"You better ask her, Ama. The last thing she told me was 'no commitments'. Frankly, that doesn't exactly shout 'marry me, Starbuck'."
"You're a fool if you believe that, Starbuck. You know how the girl cares for you." Ama replied, grabbing his index finger with her left hand as she readied her hidden blade with her right.
He yanked his hand out of her grasp as a glint of metal reflected off the flicker of candlelight. "Ama, how many times do you think I'm gonna fall for that?" He asked incredulously.
"Just one more time would have been helpful." She remarked ruefully. "I want to look into your future."
"No. I'll keep my blood this time, thank you very much. And I'll sort my own future out. Just like the whole triad thing." Starbuck retorted as he turned to go. "I'll transfer your cubits back to you. Not only do I not take bribes for throwing games, I also don't take them to marry princesses."
"It's not a bribe, dear heart, it's a dowry. What's done is done." Ama replied, slightly abashed at his reaction to her generous offer as she followed him to the hatch.
"Either way, my relationship with Luana is none of your business, Ama."
"Oh, that's where you're wrong, Starbuck. Dead wrong. It is very much my business and my responsibility." She watched as he pounded the activator to the hatch. It didn't budge. "And Starbuck, I don't want you leaving here with the wrong idea. I wouldn't have done this if I didn't think you were the best man for my goddaughter." She tapped the activator and the door slid open, responding immediately to her touch.
"Well, I guess that's more than a commoner like me could expect." He replied briskly before turning and leaving, hearing her call his name one more time. Too fracking bad.