> Rada mock-begged.
The big True-dragon obliged and the mood in the bar improved at light speed. <<Thank you,>> Rada sent the bouncer. She told Zabet privately, <<That fool makes me feel like apologizing for having mammary glands and a four-chambered heart.>>
<<Someone should,>> her business partner snapped, jerking all the vegetables off the skewer in her forefoot, chewing furiously, and swallowing the mass in one large gulp. <<Wars have started over less. What in the name of hydrogen is he thinking?>>
Rada made an Azdhag negation as well as shaking her head. She replied aloud in Trader, “Damn if I know. If he were in my House I’d, well, he’d never be in my House, because Ni Drako has standards.”
The dull orange waiter brought Zabet a second beer. <<Your House doesn’t elect it’s leaders?>>
<<I prefer a republic, but that,>> and he pointed over his shoulder at the holo-screen with his central forefoot talon, <<example of electoral idiocy is almost enough to make me a monarchist.>>
Rada did her best to look grave. “Quite understandable,” she replied. That satisfied the waiter, who stalked off to take care of another table.
Zabet finished her skewered produce and half the second beer. <<For all that I detest the Azdhagi system, at least it keeps the truly incompetent out of office once they’ve been identified.>>
“True, that.” Personally, Rada rather liked the prospect of being able to blind, dismember, or execute terminally stupid bureaucrats. Yet another philosophical difference between her and Zabet, she sighed, and finished her juice and the last of the crunchy fried things.
She flagged the waiter and handed him her credit ring. << If you’re done, Lady Zabet, let’s depart before the Terran delegation tries to leave. I suspect traffic near the spaceport will be a challenge.>> Rada did her best impression of the current head of House Moytu.
<<An excellent thought, my lord,>> Zabet agreed. Rada left a nice tip and the pair caught a fast personnel transport back to the spaceport. As she’d guessed, a clutch of angry True-dragons spilled out of the next transport to arrive and took up positions alongside the large group already waiting outside the gate. <<Eh, let’s use the side entrance.>> Zabet pointed around the corner.
“Agreed. I don’t think even diplomatic immunity is enough to prevent the pox being wished on those fools.”