Astonish by Viola Grace Page A

place in her thoughts and locked it down. Ceelie was going to keep this green jewel in her thoughts every time Keeln got on her nerves.
    “We are on final approach, Ambassador. Please strap in for landing.”
    She heard the click but didn’t look at her passenger. She needed her attention for the Tival shuttle landing. They were not as technologically advanced as the true Alliance ships, so they required a lot more effort to keep them steady during touchdown.
    Sweat formed on her brow and slicked her palms as she fought the controls for a smooth landing.
    The beacon was visible as she set the ship down on the grass. The moment that the ship powered down, the locals came out of the shadows of the vegetation and smiled in greeting. “We are at our destination, Ambassador.”
    She unsnapped her harness and got to her feet.
    Ambassador Keeln looked at her and she saw the lust in his eyes as she had countless times in the past. There was also anger in his eyes that had been showing up more and more frequently of late.
    “Who are we speaking to here?”
    She really needed to stretch after that landing, but there was no way she would do it with him watching. “The locals are going to greet you as an honoured visitor and tomorrow, you will meet with the avatar. He will be watching and waiting, so behaviour and manners are of utmost importance.”
    Keeln grabbed her by her throat and held her, not tight, but threatening. “You are lecturing me about manners?”
    She kept still. “I am not lecturing. I am briefing. By the way, there are two locals looking in through the front screen and unless you do some spin control, they will judge you by this action.”
    He released her quickly and she moved to the back of the shuttle with as much dignity as she could muster.
    She typed in the codes and swung the shuttle hatch open. Stairs descended and she walked out of the ship, waiting for the Ambassador to emerge.
    He looked very proper, his embroidered coat, snow white shirt and embroidered trousers. The Tival were a cold race, made of elegant lines and distressingly beautiful features, but if you were unfortunate enough to be around one, the beauty faded quickly into something dark and jealous.
    The locals of Hassoi came forward and smiled at them. They were a variety of sizes but all as green as the leaves of their trees. Their skin had the appearance of a smooth tree bark and their hair came in shades of pale mint to blackish green.
    She bowed low to the headman of the village. “Greetings. May I present to you Ambassador Keeln of the Tival, here to negotiate for his people.”
    The headman smiled. “I am Warcoth. Welcome. What is your name?”
    Ceelie could feel the Ambassador stiffening with outrage behind her. “I am Ceelie Orlie of the Alliance Protectorate of Terra. Please call me Ceelie.”
    He grinned, showing white and pointed teeth. “Welcome, Ceelie. The women of the village would like to offer you hospitality if you will take it.”
    She bowed. “If the Ambassador will allow it, I would be only too happy to partake of your hospitality.”
    Warcoth looked past her to Keeln.
    Ceelie turned and quirked a brow at her employer and waited for his response.
    “Of course, she must go if your women would have her.” Keeln flipped his hand in dismissal.
    The moment that he waved his hand, a giggling group of women surrounded her. Some were shorter than she was, others taller, but all welcomed her with every smile and gesture. Ceelie was separated from Keeln and escorted into the forest, the deep green surrounded her and she was surprised again at the feeling of coming home.
    Some of the women had flowers in their hair and they all wore tunics and trousers, but their feet were bare.
    Ceelie realized that she was in a bit of a pickle when the women spoke to each other in liquid tones and her mind was unable to pick out the words. “I am sorry, I don’t understand you.”
    The eldest of the women that were still pulling her