Diamond Star by Catherine Asaro

skin was so clear, it almost seemed translucent, and her green eyes had a quality of wisdom that made Mac suspect she was far older than she looked. He didn't recognize her, but he had the unsettling feeling he should.
    "Del!" The woman smiled. "I can't believe it's you." She spoke in Iotic, an ancient language of the Skolian people. Mac had needed to learn it as part of his job, but it was almost as rare as Latin. Almost. It remained the native tongue of one small group, the Skolian noble Houses, which included the House of Skolia, otherwise known as the Ruby Dynasty. Del's family.
    "Aunt Dehya, my greetings," Del said. "I thought this was my mother's channel."
    Aunt Dehya? Mac almost fell over. He knew that nickname only because Del had mentioned it before. This woman's real name was Dyhianna Selei Skolia. He was looking at the Ruby Pharaoh, the sovereign who had overthrown her own government and in doing so had become one of the most powerful human beings alive. It was almost impossible to find images of her on the meshes. Known as the Shadow Pharaoh, she existed as a powerful, unseen presence. He had always imagined she must be a towering Amazon, stark and formidable. Not this petite woman. He doubted she was as fragile as she looked; her gaze had a core of steel.
    "It is your mother's line," she told Del. "She's in her office, preparing for the Assembly. Shall I get her?"
    "I don't want to bother her," Del said quickly. "I can talk to you." He had the look of a youth who hoped to escape a lecture.
    The pharaoh smiled, a beautiful expression. "It's good to see you, Del. How are you?"
    He actually returned her smile, looking shy. "I'm all right."
    "Have they treated you well?"
    His more typical scowl returned. "They're always asking questions. Yeah, they've treated me well. They're just innately annoying."
    Dehya laughed, her voice like a ripple of water. Mac suspected her amusement came at least in part because she knew General McLane would hear Del's remarks.
    "I'm sorry it's taken so long to get you out of there," she said. "But it shouldn't be too much longer."
    "Actually," Del said, "I'm free to go. If I want."
    "You are?" She sat up straighter. "They've told us nothing."
    "Mac Tyler just told me today. I'm going to talk to General McLane later this afternoon."
    "Then it's official?" Dehya didn't sound as if she believed it. "They've put up so many roadblocks."
    Del squinted at her. "I made myself so annoying, they want to get rid of me."
    "Oh, Del." Dehya looked as if she wasn't certain whether to laugh or worry. "It will be good to have you home."
    "Well, see, uh, that's the thing."
    She raised an eyebrow. "The 'thing'?"
    "I'm not coming home."
    The steel came back into her gaze. "What have they--"
    "Aunt Dehya, wait! It's my choice."
    "And why, pray tell, would it be your choice?"
    "It has to do with a, um, woman."
    "Oh." That didn't seem to surprise her. "What kind of woman? Someone McLane's people introduced you to?"
    "No! She's a musician. I mean, she doesn't play music, she helps people who do."
    "And you like her?"
    "I'm not sure. I want to find out. And explore the music scene here." Excitement warmed his voice. "You wouldn't believe it! People here compose the most amazing works. Some of it even sounds like what I do."
    A smile softened her face. "Which means a lot, yes?"
    His posture relaxed. "Yes. It does."
    "We'll miss you if you stay."
    Del spoke dryly. "Mother will want Imperial Space Command to come haul me back home."
    Her voice gentled. "It's because she worries about you."
    "I'm great," Del said. "Tell her I send my love. I'll talk to you later."
    "Talk to her now," Dehya said. "You've been in custody for weeks. You can't just comm us up, say, 'Oh, I met a woman, I'm staying, talk to you later.' "
    Del made an exasperated noise. "Fine. I'll talk to her."
    "Don't be angry."
    He just shook his head. "So how's the Assembly?"
    Mac couldn't believe he was listening to this, the pharaoh talking to her