Who would have thought musical instruments made out of wood and animal products could make so much noise? At least they were in tune, mostly. Zeta grimaced as she sipped her drink and gazed around. The Red Dove had been recommended by the innkeeper as the place to go if she wanted entertainment. To be sure, there were other taverns, for locals wanting a quick drink before or after dinner, but at this time of the year, the Red Dove was the only one with music. The place was packed with what appeared to be a mix of locals and a few off-worlders, mainly human. Channa was seated next to her, while Lian stood against the wall behind, keeping an eye on the crowd.

"Do you think your man will turn up here, then?" asked Channa idly, taking a small sip of her drink. One ale would last her all night.

"I hope so," admitted Zeta, widening her eyes provocatively. "After all, this is the only place they recommend for off-worlders."

Channa sniggered. "As long as you still respect him in the morning!" she teased.

"I always respect my lov-" An elbow in the ribs caused Zeta to break off suddenly.

"There he is," hissed Channa. "Just coming in the door now. And he's got two of his guards with him."

"Go and ask them if they'd like to join us," said Zeta.

"Really, Zeta! Do you think that's wise?" protested Lian from her post against the wall.

"It will be fine!" insisted Zeta. "This is our first time on Terania and these men are strangers to us. There's no reason to suspect them of wishing to harm us, is there? Go on please, Channa, I'll stay here with Lian."

She watched as Channa made her way through the throng. All three men turned to look across at Zeta and she gave a small wave. The three appeared to be arguing amongst themselves for a moment before they turned and followed Channa, the yellow haired man in the centre. He was even more good-looking than Zeta remembered.

Zeta stood and held out her hand in the old-fashioned way. "I'm glad you could join us. I'm Sika and these are my friends, Channa and Lian." She used her travelling alias as a matter of course but there was no need to have false names for her guards. They weren't the ones who were known throughout the constellation.

"Thank you for inviting us. My name is Roki, and my friends, Hal and Tarkan," the young man introduced himself with a smile.

"I'm afraid there are only two chairs," Zeta apologised.

"That's fine. We'll stand," said the shorter guard quickly. "You sit.. Roki." Zeta thought there had been a tiny pause before the name. As if it was a name Hal wasn't accustomed to using.

Roki seated himself as Hal went to stand against the wall, beside Lian. The two guards eyed each other warily.

"Perhaps you could get us all a round of drinks, Tarkan," asked Roki.

"I'll help," said Channa quickly. There was no way she was going to let a stranger, even one she fancied, bring drinks across a crowded room to her mistress. The two departed toward the bar and Zeta and Roki sized each other up. And smiled.

Two days passed before Zeta and Roki were able to persuade their over-protective guards that they deserved some private time together. They chose a secluded cabin on the beach, one that neither party had visited before, for both privacy and security.

Zeta and Roki arrived at the same time, carrying a couple of bottles of sparkling wine and a basket of supper, all carefully inspected by both guards.

"Goodnight," Zeta told the guards in firm tones, as she stood in the doorway to the cabin. "We'll see you in the morning."

Roki shut the door behind them and they exchanged a wry grin. "I know they are only doing their jobs but..."

"Sometimes..." Zeta shook her head.

She looked around the room, pleased to see a real wood fire ready to be lit, and a comfortable looking couch in front of it. Two open doors led respectively to a bedroom and a small bathroom.

"Let's open the wine and light the fire," suggested Roki.

The couch was just as comfortable as Zeta had hoped.

~~~~

"I hope you're not getting too attached to Roki," Lian warned, carefully, a few days later. "You've been spending a lot of time together."

"He's fun," said Zeta, equally carefully. "And I am supposed to be having a holiday, after all."

"Well, as long as you realise you'll have to say 'goodbye' soon," said Lian. "Remember, we return to Achernar in a couple of days."

"Hmm," murmured Zeta. "We'll see. Roki has another week here."

Lian gave her a sharp glance but Zeta refused to meet her eyes.

Zeta looked across at Roki sleeping in the bed next to her and sighed wistfully. He was different from the men she knew, less shy and self-effacing. He expected to be treated as an equal and, rather to her surprise, Zeta found that she liked that. She sighed again, if only...