The Emperor's New Nightingale (3 page)

Julie
was the last to enter. She gazed around, searching for an escape route. There were several corridors and double doors and she noted the sparsely decorated lobby. The only things adorning the walls were long, rich, ruby red and gold drapes hanging from ceiling to floor.

A
sudden shriek caught everyone’s attention and Julie's heart pounded when she realized the suitcase she unzipped fell open. Clothes tumbled and cosmetics skittered across the polished, black and white, marble floor. Both Uric and Erson moved in to assist the woman, gathering her scattered belongings.

This was
Julie's chance. Without looking back, she slipped behind a curtain to find it hid a long corridor. At the end, she spotted a strange, bright red, triangular door.

Hurrying over
to it, pausing only to lift the old-fashioned iron latch. The door swung out onto what looked like a garden. She followed a silvery-pebbled path towards a high white wall. Not one plant she saw along the way, could she identify, nor the strange, pink stuff which looked like soft carpet. Heaving a sigh on finding another door, this one painted bright blue. One quick shove and it opened. She shot through and it clicked closed behind her.

She was
, indeed, free, but for how long and where was she going to go?

Just keep walking
, Julie. Somehow you’ll find your path.

Chapter Three

At first
she gaped at the funny little hovercrafts which looked much like the brightly painted, horse-drawn wagons from the eighteenth century, except they had no wheels and hovered several inches above the ground. Faint buzzing sounds, like those of a dragonfly passing, hummed from them.

Now,
they seemed commonplace as she walked down the designated sidewalks where other aliens walked as well.

She
managed to suppress a panic attack. Instead, her head buzzed as she was forced to face the reality of being on an alien planet.

She couldn’t keep count of the different kinds of
strange craft, or species of aliens she passed. For the most part, they were humanoid. Some of their skins were different colored, some with shiny, metallic blue and pink hair. Others had more than two arms and even more than three eyes, but who was she to judge? No one took any notice of her and she blended in on the crowded street.

Their manner of dress
looked lovely—neat, tidy and bright with vibrant colors. The women wore beautiful, soft-flowing, elegant gowns.

Julie
's feet ached and her stomach grumbled. Her last meal was before they left Earth. A hysterical, little bubble of laughter burst from her, attracting several stares from the passing aliens. She didn’t have any idea how long she slept on the ship. Shaking her head, she turned another street corner and was hit by the mixed smells—spice, oils and the unmistakable aroma of cooking food. Her mouth watered and her stomach growled again in protest.

B
eautiful, flowing, melodic music caressed her ears. It drifted out of the buildings on this particular street. The distinct sounds of baritones and soft female sopranos filled the air.

Mesmerized
, she drifted down the street, realizing many of the buildings resembled cafés and bars from her home town of Melbourne—only prettier in both sight and sound.

One building
was painted in soft, orange tones and a small canvas canopy attached to two poles with small, yellow flags hanging down beckoned passers-by to enter.

Before she knew where her feet
took her, Julie was inside and gazed about the small crowd. They sat around tables, drinking from long flute glasses and eating off triangular plates.

“Do you want a table, fair lady?”

Julie jumped with fright, placing her hand over her pounding heart. Her eyes glanced up to the speaker.

She
struggled to hold the huge, seven foot creature with two arms on each side of his muscled torso. He was royal blue with black hair pulled back from his face. His eyes were a lighter blue, and she saw a clean-cut jaw and high cheek bones. For a blue guy, he was really handsome.

His kind smile
lit his attractive face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Julie
wanted to slap herself, realizing she was staring. She tried to recover her wits.

“
No, it’s okay. I…I’m kind of new in town.”

“That much is obvious.
I am Trall, this is my song tavern. You are very welcome and you are hungry. I can always tell.”

“It’s a wonderful place, but I.
..I don’t have anything to pay you with.”

His black eyebrow
s rose, critically glancing over her.

“Then you truly are new to our planet.
It is common on Ario for one to exchange a song for a meal, if you don’t have
frillip
to pay with.” He gestured towards a small stage in the corner of his tavern.

She guessed
frillip
was some kind of alien currency, but singing for her supper was always something she was willing to do.

“A song? Are you sure?”
Her stomach growled. Embarrassed heat infused her cheeks, and she wished her damn stomach had better timing.

He
chuckled, using one or two of his four large hands to nudge her gently towards the stage. “Go sing, and we shall see how much your song is worth.”

She glanced around
. Many of the tavern’s patrons paused their chatting and drinking to stare.

Julie
swallowed hard and butterflies in her stomach turned into churning knots while she stepped up on the stage.

A song
?
Her mind ran through those she knew, or those she thought would be suitable for an alien planet.

A
tune sprang into her mind and her body relaxed as the music filtered into her head. She didn’t see any instruments, or she supposed, would they would know any human songs.

Strangely
, the music in her head flowed out and surrounded her. She drew in a breath, closed her eyes against the stares of the customers and sang.

‘
Memory, not a sound from the pavement, has the moon lost her memory, she is smiling alone…’

Her heart soared
. She was not only singing, but every ounce of her emotions poured through into her voice. How she loved to sing, whether it be in the shower on Earth, or on an alien planet. Her last high note trailed off. Julie opened her eyes to be met with stunned silence.

Her stomach dropped
.
Oh god, did I sing off key?
Were they not used to human songs? Was I so bad?

Then, l
ike a sudden explosion, the whole tavern leapt to their feet, applauding, whistling and making strange clacking sounds. They began throwing things at her—little clear, almost reflective, round chips, some in varying bright
fluoro
colors.

“By the great S
ong Krystal, I have never heard a voice of such beauty!” Trall said, clapping all four of his hands and approached the small stage. “Go on, collect your
frillip
chips.”

Julie
obeyed, bending down to scoop up all the little round chips; they filled her small hands. Trall cleared the way through the smiling, tavern patrons, leading her to a small, sheltered table.

“Sit, sit
, little one. What is your name?”

“
Julie Beasley.” She held out her handful of
frillip
chips. “Is this enough for a meal?”

“Dearest
Julie, what planet are you from that you do not know you have enough to buy half of my tavern in
frillips
?”

The heat rose into her cheeks. “I’m
sorry. I'm from a planet called Earth. I don’t know anything about your world.”

Trall gasped
. “You are an Earthling! I have heard of your species. Your planet is much like our own, filled with music and song, but I did not think you had intergalactic travel.”

“
We don’t. I was brought here by someone else.”

A girl
, about the same height as Julie and wearing looked like old-fashioned, bar wench clothes, apart from the fact they were brightly colored in oranges, yellows and green, stepped forward. Julie would have considered her human if it wasn’t for her bright metallic, silver hair and bright pink eyes.

“Want me to get so
mething for the singer, Trall?” The girl smiled warmly at Julie.

“Yes, Mik, bring
Julie today’s special and a tall tanker of
veer
.”

“Sure, no problem
. And Julie, you have sweetest voice I’ve ever heard. Thank you for singing.”

Mik winked
, walking gracefully away.

“Now, what I would like to know is who brought you and
if you must return to them?”

Julie
turned her attention back to Trall. “Will you take me back if I tell you?”

“Are you in any kind of trouble?”
His thick brows knitted together in a fierce frown.

Julie
wasn’t sure how far she could trust the four-armed, blue alien. However, there was something almost fatherly about him. She has already taken many chances since finding herself in this alien world. She needed to take one more.

She rela
ted her story of how she came to be on Ario.

Trall sat for a moment in silence, his gaze
solemn. Julie chewed nervously on her lower lip.

“You and the other women were brought here wi
thout your knowledge or consent. It goes against the Emperor’s rules. Every female must know who and what they are singing for.”

She was still confused. “So
, just what is this nightingale competition?”

“Sweet little
Earthling, each woman will sing for the Song Krystal. The one whose voice can make it shine will become a bride to the Emperor. She will be Empress over all of Ario and the Four Galaxies of Harmony.”

“Bride to the Emperor
? Empress, that’s the prize?” Julie snorted unlady-like. As prizes go, it was pretty grand, but still she and the other women were deceived by Uric and Erson.

Amusement
crossed Trall’s face. “The idea of becoming Empress over the galaxies does not appeal to you?”

“Oh, I’m sure someone
would enjoy it, but being forced to marry someone only because you made some Krystal shine? Anyway, most royals are up themselves.”

Trall let out a full
, hearty, belly laugh, drawing the attention of some tavern patrons. “Julie, I do believe you are a romantic.” Trall leaned closer, smiling roguishly at her.

“Something like that
.” She smiled despite herself. “The fact is I’m far from home and I haven’t a clue what to do.”

Trall glanced around the room. “Do you desperately wish to return to your planet
? Were you taken from family, a husband or lover?”

Julie felt her blush deepening.
“Oh, no, nothing like that. I recently lost my last living relative. I…I don’t have a boyfriend... to be truthful, I’m all alone.” Her heart ached with the realization; she really was all alone in the universe. With the passing of her mother, what did she have left? She gazed down at her hands, folded tightly together.

Two of Trall’s blue hands settled over hers, warm and comforting
. She glanced back up at him.

“Sweet song bird
, please don’t feel so sad. You are not unwelcomed on this planet. You have a talent envied by the whole galaxy. Do you believe in fate, Julie?”

“I’m not sure
. Why?”

Julie noticed a gleam in Trall’s eyes
when he grinned at her.

“
Because I have a proposition for you which I think will benefit us both. I won’t tell anyone from the Song Council you were brought here as a Song Krystal contender, and I’ll send an anonymous tip to the authorities about the other women, if you would consider becoming a song bird and, if you like, a tavern maid. We are a little short-handed.” Trall chuckled. “Yes, even for me with four hands.”

“You’re offering me a job?
”

“More like a partnership
. With your voice, I have no doubt you will draw many more customers. We will split the profits of what you make from the customers fifty-fifty. Think about it—the fates are giving you a new opportunity, a new life and a new job on a new planet.”

She stared at the blue alien with four muscled arms
. Could I, dare I take his offer?

“If I say no?”

“You have plenty of
frillip
chips. You can get lodgings and food, and I’ll still tell the authorities about the other women. All you have to do is sing Julie, and the whole planet will fall at your feet. I’m just hoping they do it in my tavern.”

The mor
e she mulled it over, the more she liked the plan. She liked Trall and felt compelled to trust him.

“Where would I stay? I know nothing about your planet.”

“You have already learned so much in a short time, have you not? We will continue to teach you.”

She couldn’t deny it, every moment she
learned something new about this planet of Ario.

“As for a place to stay,
I have spare rooms available above; sometimes I rent them out. Mik is one of my tenants, but, of course, the choice is yours.”

A new life, a new job, a new world
.
No longer would she have to worry about her debts on Earth, or struggling with back breaking labor to pay the rent and feed herself. Where was the downside to being a tavern maid and song bird?

Julie
’s smile came straight from her heart. “All right, I accept.”

* * * *

“My Lord, my Lord!” Orin stood up as Jitt, an elderly Krystal keeper burst through into the royal chambers, his face mottled red and he wheezed from the effort of running. His eyes darted wildly about the room before falling on Orin.