Galatzi Life (Galatzi Trade Book 4) Read online

  Galatzi Life

  Robin Roseau

  Table of Contents

  Credits

  Cast Of Characters

  Talmonese Words

  Arrival

  Convincing

  Vendarti

  Tour

  So Much

  And Even More

  Beacon

  Results

  Raid

  Anticlimax

  Afterword

  About the Author

  Credits

  This is the first book in a while that has been through a beta process. I had an outstanding response when I asked if people would like to beta read. This book has been reviewed by four loyal readers, and so I would like to thank Charlie, Lori, Johnna, and Stephanie for their wonderful work.

  To all my readers and supporters: thank you. I couldn't continue to write these books without you.

  Cast of Characters

  Frantzland

  Maddalyn Herschel Assistant to Governor Grace, now living on Talmon.

  Felda Herschel Maddalyn's mother

  Berdine Portner Maddalyn's much older, dominant, ex-girlfriend.

  Tarriton

  Anna White Regional Secretary of State. Maddalyn's mother's aunt.

  Pippa Gaines Maddalyn’s Friend

  Dr. Serenity Hope Maddalyn’s Friend

  Tranquility Hope Maddalyn’s Friend

  Talitha Rowland Maddalyn’s Friend, A professional dancer

  MelinaMaddalyn’s Implant.

  Talmon

  Indartha

  Cecilia Grace Imperial Governor of Talmon

  Sartine Vendart of Indartha, Cecilia's Galatzi Wife

  Laradain Sartine’s Grandmother

  Estalarn A baker in Indartha

  Metarine A carpenter in Indartha

  Lishbain A carpenter in Indartha, Metarine’s cousin

  Beacon Hill

  Luradinine Beacon Hill Vendart

  Darratine Luradinine’s daughter

  Farratain Darratine’s Galatzi wife, formerly of Sudden

  Wenolopid Luradinine’s Son.

  Sudden

  Baardorid Sudden Vendart

  Valtine Sudden Vendart’s Wife

  Chaladine Daughter of the Sudden Vendart, now living on Centos Four

  Mordain Sartine’s younger sister, Galatzi Trade to Sudden, Husband Balotorid

  Kalorain Maddalyn’s Wife, Daughter of Beacon Hill Vendart, Galatzi Trade to Sudden

  Arthur Grace Cecilia’s nephew, former Imperial Navy Admiral, now flight instructor on Talmon.

  Colonel River Blue Captain of Imperial Navy Corvette Darkside, temporarily living on Talmon.

  Other Villages

  Chasatain Vendart of Mallishta

  Ashalartine Chasatain’s Wife.

  Vessatine & Trallafain Twin sisters, daughters of Chasatain and Ashalartine

  Bendano Son of Chasatain and Ashalartine

  Roldano Hollern Vendart.

  Bellain Tarlotte Vendart.

  Talmonese Words

  The Talmonese name their children using a suffix to indicate birth order:

  Birth Order

  Daughters

  Sons

  1

  -ine

  -dano

  2

  -ain

  -orid

  3

  -arn

  -opid

  For example, Baardorid is the second son. Chaladine is the eldest daughter and Margotain is the second daughter. Hilopid is the third son.

  For pronunciation, in my head, I say Sudden with an ooo sound like in food. I pronounce Baardorid as Bear-door-id. I say Chal-ah-dine with the accent on the third syllable.

  Arrival

  We had time, but it felt like there was great urgency. We didn’t even try to go back to bed, not for hours.

  Cecilia, of course, was most interested in the manifest. I knew she hoped for more rejuvenation pods to miraculously arrive, but that wasn’t going to happen, not without more effort. But what we did receive was needed nearly as desperately: more power, water, and sanitation systems, enough for two villages, although probably not enough to wire every single house. Six more of my refrigeration units arrived. And a surprise arrived: another jumper. It came with a cryptic note from Aunt Anna. “Happy Birthday.”

  “Whose is that?” I asked when we got to discussing it. “Happy Birthday? That doesn’t make sense.

  “It belongs to your department,” Cecilia said immediately. “Your aunt has a sense of humor. She sent it as a present. Maybe it’s for you; maybe it’s for me. Maybe it’s for the planet. Does it matter? You need one you can depend on having. It’s yours. Send her an equally cryptic response.”

  I laughed. “I will. Mordain will enjoy her new jumper.”

  “Actually,” Cecilia said. “You should take whichever of the two is most capable and leave Mordain the other one.”

  “All right, but I want all my staff checked out.”

  “Drop a note to Arthur and River,” she replied.

  “Sure.”

  “Did you get a letter from Chaladine?” Cecilia asked.

  “Yes. You?”

  “She says she’s doing well.”

  “Yes,” I repeated. “She sent us a surprise.”

  “It’s not on the manifest.”

  “It’s not that kind of surprise,” I said. “And as it’s a surprise, I’m not telling.”

  She laughed. “We should talk about our guests. I wish we’d known for certain your mother was coming. We could have planned better.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” I said. “Governor, Vendart, I would like to know how welcome she is.”

  “That is a particularly stupid question, Maddalyn,” said Sartine.

  “No, it’s not,” I said. “It seems that way to Talmon ears, but Cecilia understands what I mean.”

  “Sartine, do you think you could invite Maddalyn’s mother into your home?”

  “Maddalyn, your mother is welcome. Did I really need to say that?”

  I looked at Cecilia then turned to her wife. “Sartine, mother believes she’s coming to stay with me and my wife. She doesn’t know we spend most of our time here. She doesn’t know when we’re not here, we’re traveling half the planet. The governor hasn’t yet indicated whether Mother is welcome to join us everywhere we go.”

  “I can forego your services for a few months, Maddalyn.”

  “No, you can’t, Governor. Did you just tell me Mother isn’t welcome to join us?”

  “Of course she’s welcome to join us.”

  “Good,” I said. “How much?”

  “As much as she wants.”

  “Thank you, Governor. Sartine, Mother is going to come with Frantzland ideas of how things work, which you won’t even understand.”

  Sartine shrugged. “I think I’ll put her in the room next to yours. The walls are thin.” I laughed. “Maddalyn, she’s welcome for as long as she stays.”

  “Let me be quite clear. She’s not leaving.”

  “She’s staying?” Cecilia asked.

  “Well, she may not know that yet.”

  Sartine snorted. “Ah.”

  “She’ll be calling you Vendart.”

  “Maddalyn,” Cecilia said warningly. “We don’t do it that way.”

  “I know,” I said. “But she’s not leaving. Okay?”

  “We’ll let her know she is very welcome,” Sartine said.

  “Thank you.” I smiled. “It’s going to be busy. Did Cecilia mention Mother isn’t our only guest?”

  “No,” Sartine said. “How could she skip something like that?”

  “Wait,” said Cecilia. “I see we have three tour
ists.”

  I laughed. “You paid their passage, Governor. Tentatively. They’ll pay you back if they don’t stay.”

  “Your friends,” she said. “I didn’t realize.”

  “They’ll be calling you Vendart as well, Sartine.” Then I smiled. “Governor, did you really want to go to that fish harvest festival?”

  “Good golly, no.”

  “Excellent. I’m cancelling your attendance. We’ll send someone else. Blaine and Aston are always complaining they work too much.”

  “You can’t send them,” Cecilia said.

  I grinned. “I’m cancelling your attendance and asking for a meeting with the regional vendarti. I have a list. I’m sending it to you now.”

  Melina handled that. Cecilia and Sartine both received it. Sartine cocked her head and then said, “Why is my name not on this list?”

  I grinned. “Because you’re that much fun to tease. You’re listed under initials G.C.”

  Cecilia cocked her head. “G.C.? What is G.C.?”

  “Governor’s Consort,” I said. It was in English, and Cecilia barked a quick laugh. Sartine clearly didn’t know the word and offered a puzzled expression. “Maybe I’ll change it to Indartha Vendart,” I offered.

  “That’s probably best,” Cecilia said.

  “A three-day conference,” I said. “At the center.”

  “Why is Malaratine's Cove Vendart on this list?” Cecilia asked. “Remove him.”

  “He’s on the list because Beacon Hill Vendart was adamant,” I said. “I believe the words were…” I turned to Kalorain. “What did your mother say?”

  “Let him see what he could have if he weren’t a complete moron.”

  “I’m fairly certain her language was somewhat more colorful,” I suggested.

  “I’m trying not to teach you those words,” Kalorain said with a smile.

  “We’re not playing that game,” Cecilia said. “Remove him.”

  “How do you feel about regime change?”

  “Did you just tell me you want my job?”

  “Of course not. I meant at Malaratine's Cove.”

  “Oh. I’m not playing local politics, and I’m not playing these games, either. If Luradinine wants to rub his nose a few times, she can do it when I’m not around.”

  “Right,” I said. “Removing his name. I can’t add his cousin’s name? She seems like a nice woman. Luradinine introduced us.”

  Cecilia stared at me. “Just how much mischief have you been causing?”

  “None!” I said. “My mother-in-law causes enough mischief for all of us. Cecilia, this is her doing. She invited Kalorain and me to dinner, and we met Tressalarine. I was going to offer her a job, but Luradinine cut me off and suggested the woman could be far more good for Talmon if Malartine’s Cove’s ministers realized they had an incompetent vendart and looked around a little.”

  Cecilia paused then said, “You may invite her. But we’re not playing those kinds of politics.”

  “We’re not,” I said. “Luradinine is. If we’re not playing the right politics, are you suggesting we also should interfere when someone else is?”

  “No,” she said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “So you don’t read my reports. I knew it.”

  “Then you buried it.”

  “Not intentionally,” I said. “But we were dealing with that little emergency, and then we got busy, and I just didn’t bring it up. I’m sorry, Governor.”

  She waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it, as long as my office isn’t getting involved.”

  “We’re not.”

  She sighed. “How can we invite her and not invite her vendart?”

  “Which is why he’s on the list,” Sartine said.

  “I wasn’t sure why Luradinine was so insistent,” I said. “But that makes sense.” I grinned. “I said he was invited. I didn’t say I was offering a ride.”

  Cecilia’s mouth dropped open, then she began laughing. I gave it a few seconds.

  “Tressalarine might be visiting Beacon Hill when we pick up Luradinine,” I said. “I couldn’t say.” I paused again. “In fairness, all of this is Luradinine’s doing. So, Governor, are you satisfied with this list?”

  “I am,” she said.

  * * * *

  As an event, the arrival of my guests was not as momentous as when Cecilia’s family had come. I had tried to downplay it, actually. My friends, and indeed, much of the planet had something to say about that.

  Of course, Cecilia and Sartine were there, as were the people who worked directly for me. Kalorain, Luradinine, and my extended family came, including Wenolopid. Sudden Vendart was there with his rather impressive family, when you counted the adopted members. All my coworkers were present as well as a few from the recruitment center.

  Mistalarn came, and Ginger with her. I thought that was sweet.

  The arrival of the lander wasn’t always a big event, not anymore. But whenever we knew people were coming, much of Sudden turned out to provide a grand welcome. When it was obvious that was happening this time, we hurried to set up the markers defining the “do not cross” line. Everyone would remain safe.

  The lander did what it frequently did. It flew over Sudden at nearly ten thousand meters then circled for a while as it descended. Then it disappeared to the south before appearing ten minutes later, this time much lower. It did a circle of Sudden before setting up for landing.

  It settled in over the runway then moved to the parking area. I stood with Cecilia and Sartine and my extended family, Kalorain’s arm around my waist and Cecilia at my shoulder. I was practically trembling in anticipation.

  The ramp descended. A minute later, a crewmember descended then waved to us. A minute after that three women descended together. They reached the bottom of the ramp and looked around. Then they waved and began walking towards us.

  “My friends,” I said to Kalorain.

  Behind them, one more woman appeared. Like Pippa, Serenity, and Tranquility had, this woman walked to the bottom of the ramp then looked around. She stayed there longer, looking about. But then she turned.

  My mother had undergone rejuvenation in the intervening years since I left Frantzland, and she had taken a significant change in her appearance. But she’d sent me images, and so I recognized her.

  “Mama!” I screamed.

  She heard me and looked this way. I tore from Kalorain, running for my mother. I stopped at my friends, just a moment, then said, “My Mama. My Mama.” In that moment, I didn’t have any more English available than that.

  “Go,” Pippa said.

  I took off running again.

  Mama never believed in public displays of any affection, none at all. I didn’t care. I ran for her, and when I reached her, I threw my arms around her and hugged her very, very tightly. And Mama surprised me: she wrapped her own arms around me and hugged me back, saying, “Mein liebes Mädchen. Mein liebes Mädchen!” My darling girl.

  I realized this wasn’t much different from how Cecilia had greeted her own parents. I clung to my mother saying, “Mama! Mama!” Over and over while she said, “Mein liebes Mädchen. Maddalyn, mein liebes Mädchen.”

  Eventually we relaxed, and then I looked at her, I looked carefully for the first time.

  “You have changed so,” I told her. I brushed at her face. She had rolled her age back younger than I’d ever seen, looking twenty or so, in Talmon years. I thought perhaps she hadn’t looked this age since she had been this age.

  And she had blonde hair, long, blonde hair. Oh, it wasn’t white like Cecilia’s, and it wasn’t as long, but it was quite long, although she had it in a braid down her back. Her eyes were the same, deep blue, but her face was thinner. In fact, she was more petite everywhere. “Mama.”

  She smiled, and it was radiant. “I wanted to look fantastic,” she said. “I wanted to look fantastic when I came to see my daughter.”

  “Welcome to Talmon, Mama,” I said. Then I took her hand and led her furt
her from the lander. Everyone was watching us: my wife, my friends from here, my friends from Tarriton. Everyone was watching us.

  “Did you meet my friends?”

  “I have just arrived,” she said. “You should introduce me first.”

  “Oh. They flew with you.”

  “Oh,” she said. “No. I didn’t know they were your friends.”

  “I didn’t know if you could come,” I said. “Or come so soon. But I’m so happy, Mama. You were the only thing missing from my life.”

  We reached, well, everyone. Cecilia and I had discussed what I was to do, and so I led Mama straight to Kalorain, who was watching with a broad smile. Then I continued to speak in German. Cecilia stepped behind me, and when I spoke, she translated. And Madge was there, waiting to translate anything anyone else said.

  “Mama, I wish to present my wife, Kalorain. Mama, they only use first names here, but they know you will wish to be called Frau Herschel.”

  “No,” she said.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Aunt Anna talked to me. This is not Frantzland. I am Felda.”

  I stared. Who was this woman? But my smile broadened. I looked at Kalorain. “My wife, this is my mother, Felda.”

  Kalorain stepped forward. “Guten tag, Felda,” she said in memorized German. “Wilkommen in Talmon.”

  “She speaks German?”

  “Two entire sentences,” I said, “and maybe a few words I shouldn’t have taught her.”

  Mother looked at me. “How should I greet her?”

  “However you are comfortable,” I said.

  And so Mother held out her hand. Kalorain gave hers, and Mother added a second. But then she looked over at me and then back at Kalorain. “Sie sind die Frau meine Tochter. Sie können gerne du zu mir sagen. Mein Name ist Felda.” Then she moved closer and wrapped Kalorain in a hug. You are the wife of my daughter. You may call me ‘du’. My name is Felda. Du is the informal version of ‘you’.