She stepped into the outer room of her assigned chambers, and Halu stared. “Holy hells. Your faceplate is glowing.”
Padana chuckled. “That is the idea. This isn’t the long-term suit that my mom was in, but it is a good approximation that will let me go without eating or drinking for a day.”
Halu looked at it. “Are there reinforced joints?”
“Yeah. I can manage standing or sitting. Whatever is necessary. So, shall we get going?”
“Of course. Your guys are waiting outside. Are you going to be able to manage a full day?”
Padana repeated it back to Halu. “Of course.”
They left the temporary embassy with her guards around her and headed for the imperial court and the office that had been assigned to her. She stopped and got the authorization from the emperor to act on his behalf in a writ that was on actual parchment. Empress Ariadne still kept her hand in when it came to writing out the legal matters for the Hredu.
The displays inside the armour gave her access to precedent and local law. She had a private library with just the flick of her eyes.
The court divided as she approached; their expressions went from anticipatory to confused. Inside her helmet, she grinned.
She walked to the imperial seats, and she bowed deeply. “I am here to serve the Hredu Empire. I will do my best to act in your best interests.”
Emperor Usorn chuckled. “I believe you are going to regret that phrasing, Negotiator Tyrell.”
She stood straight. “I have many regrets in my life so far. I shall simply add it to the pile.”
He laughed and said, “This is your secretary, Lord Amen Thel. He will keep your calendar for you. He has secondary duties, but they can be worked around.”
She turned and stifled a laugh. Winter was dressed in the formal court uniform, and he had a tablet in his hand. “Negotiator, I am at your disposal.”
She inclined her head toward him. “I thank you for your service.”
He smiled. “It is an honour to offer it. Now, there are several claims on your time. Would you care to discuss them in the privacy of the negotiation offices?”
“I have offices?”
“Temporarily. If you decide to remain after your term, I am sure something more permanent will be arranged.”
She straightened and inclined her helmet. “Please, lead the way.”
He bowed to the emperor, she did the same, and they left through a side alcove with her guards around them. There were guards at the entrance of the alcove, and they also looked familiar.
When they were out of the court, Halu started laughing. “I think I like that prince of yours. He is starting things off with a definite assertive mood.”
Padana snorted. “Sure. Three out of four guardians are around me; that won’t go badly.”
Lord Thel chuckled. “We are mainly ceremonial. I will show your companion how to bring up the schedule, and I will maintain it from wherever I am.”
They entered an office with a boardroom and a comfortable seat at the head of the table. She took her position at the head of the table and nodded her helmet toward Thel. “Okay, give me a rundown of who wants to negotiate for what.”
He nodded. “There are a lot of marriage negotiations. Several domestic trades and three bids for gate access. The petitioners are waiting in the court, so I will send the guards for them if I am not here.”
She inclined her head. “Can you extend your tablet?”
She held her hand out over it, and she got the display up and running within her suit. “Got it. I can now begin pulling up the files I need.”
He blinked. “You can do that?”
“Yes. I applied for all clearances on my way here. The emperor was happy to grant them.”
Halu chuckled. “She is remarkably efficient, but if you show me how to manage and identify the courtiers, we can manage with the standard guard detachment during the negotiations.”
Thel looked at her. “What exactly are your credentials, lady’s maid?”
Padana snickered, “Halu is well qualified to deal with whatever comes our way. She’s a registered talent, daughter of an enforcer, peacekeeper, and a guardian. Pride of the Nyal Imperium.”
Thel blinked. “Halu of Jennila?”
Halu nodded and inclined her head. “Just the same.”
“Your parents are Frisk and Lance?”
Halu chuckled. “Those are the ones.”
He looked at her chalky skin and dark hair; the mask of gold pigment around her purple eyes made for a very striking appearance. “You aren’t a guardian?”
“My family is filled with guardians. There was no need for me to get in line.” Halu smiled. “Lord Thel, you are staring.”
He blinked. “You don’t look like a Terran.”
She laughed. “I am not. I am mostly Ekathi of Jennila. Pointy ears and all.”
Padana listened to the interesting conversation and chose her first clients. “Lord Thel, I believe the first clients to come in should be the Mardke and Hrodan grouping. I am ready if you would please bring them in.”
Lord Thel nodded, and Halu went with him to see how he greeted the families.
Padana snickered five minutes later when shouting and screaming could be heard coming toward her down the hallway.
She sat at the table and put on the recorders. Halu had her hands in the crests of two of the men of the Hrodan family; the ladies followed and huffed.
Halu sat the men at the end of the table, and the ladies settled next to Padana.
Lord Thel came in with his folk sullen and stomping ahead of him, aside from the young male. He looked nervous.
Padana gestured for him to take a seat and did the same for his irritated family members.
She looked at the families who began arguing the moment that they sat down.
She knocked her fingers on the table gently, and when that didn’t work, she rolled an arcing and sparking ball of static energy down the table. Anyone leaning forward was struck and knocked insensible.
Padana smiled at the couple. “Now, I am Negotiator Tyrell, and I want to know what is standing between your two families as well. So, Miss Hrodan, Mr. Mardke, tell me why you two should be wed.”
The first two hours were spent stunning anyone who tried to argue with her and soothing the upset couple. By the end of their negotiation, the agreement had been made, and a preliminary version was sent to the emperor’s scribe for the creation of the marriage contract.
The families were subdued but calm as they left the office. They had agreed on the terms of the contract, and their bio signs indicated they were in agreement with the final terms.
Halu looked at her. “So, that is new. Is it the suit?”
Padana chuckled. “Yes, it is the suit.”
Lord Thel stared at her. “How do you do that?”
Padana looked at him through the shell of her helmet. “Do what?”
“Listen to their petty concerns without losing your mind.”
“Oh. That. That is training. All of my family members were taught how to listen to arguments and made decisions without losing their composure. You have to be willing to listen.” Padana got up and stretched, twisting and bending. “Right. I have made the roster. Bring in the next happy couple and their insane families.”