She couldn't complain, they had both known exactly what they were getting into. A holiday romance—with no ties, no promises, and hopefully, no regrets. Both of them had realised immediately that the other must be a person of status in the outside world, the average tourist certainly did not travel with one bodyguard, let alone two or three, but each was careful not to probe too deeply, accepting the edited version of themselves the other was prepared to offer. They had talked about Terania, about common interests, likes and dislikes, funny stories from their past, but nothing that would give away their true identity.

Despite the omission, it was clear to Zeta that Roki was a person of consequence on his world. Perhaps the gap between them might be surmountable. Or would the knowledge that she was the sister of the most powerful woman in the Constellation be too overwhelming?

She was still pondering when there was a crash outside and the sound of raised voices.

"Let us through!"

"Out of the way!"

Zeta leapt to her feet, reaching for her weapons, at the same moment she identified the voices as belonging to Roki's guards.

"Roki?" she asked. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," said Roki grimly, now wide awake, "but I'm going to find out!"

Even as he finished speaking the bedroom door was flung open and Hal almost fell into the room, Lian hanging grimly onto his right arm. They caught a glimpse of Tarkan and Channa struggling viciously on the floor of the main room.

"Stop that right now!" thundered Roki. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Are you all right, sire?" asked Hal at exactly the same moment. "She's an Eridani!"

Zeta stared at Roki in shock, and took a step back, still gripping her daggers. Sire? Just who the frack was he?

Hal jerked forward, Lian still hanging on. "Look out! She's armed!"

"Stay back!" ordered Roki, getting to his feet and ignoring his nakedness. "Can I suggest we all calm down for a moment? Sika?"

He pulled one of the covers off the bed and held it out to her.

Zeta hesitated, looking for signs of treachery on Roki's face but found nothing except concern. She dropped her daggers and took the bedcover, wrapping it around her body. Roki wrapped a second cloth around his waist.

"Now what's all this about?"

The four guards all spoke at once, glaring at each other.

"Assassin..."

"... Orionist butcher..."

"Eridani plot..."

"Enough!" said Zeta loudly over the top, getting back in control. "I think the time for subterfuge has passed. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves." She squared her shoulders, knowing that whatever Roki said, this was the end of their relationship. "Matris Zeta D'Achernar, younger sister to the Matriarch of the Eridani Constellation."

Roki swallowed.

"Prince Barok of Rigella, third son to King Agos of the Orion Sovereignty."

The guards moved as one to stand behind their respective charges, poised to attack again if given the word.

Roki and Zeta's faces were expressionless masks as they wondered how on Betelgeuse to extract themselves from a situation that could turn from farce to tragedy in an instant.

"Well, I think I can safely say that no-one is planning to assassinate anyone tonight." said Zeta, looking at Roki. "If you like to remain here, I'll take my clothes into the other room to dress and then I'll go back to the inn. Or if you prefer, you and your men can go into the front room and I'll stay here until you leave."

"We'll go," said Roki, without asking Hal or Tarkan, realising that Zeta needed to retrieve her daggers. He picked up his clothes and hesitated for a moment. He looked at Zeta, wishing they could have a moment of privacy, but that was out of the question. "I'm sorry things ended this way. I enjoyed your company... Sika."

Zeta swallowed. "I enjoyed your company too, Roki. Perhaps... one of these days... we'll see."

                                                             ~~~~

Given the current state of tension between the two Constellations, not to mention the downright hostility, Zeta knew that she and Roki—Barok—would never meet again, but maybe their encounter would pave the way for others, perhaps one day in the future, in a generation or two... who knew what might happen?