The noise of another approach caused the five to hurry to the track gates. A very large horse van stopped beside them, and a large imperious lady leaned out of the opened window. Golden, upswept curls framed a pale face with large blue eyes; a small turned up nose and a cupid’s mouth.

“Oh Kirbyson, you may direct me.”

Radhya curtsied very low as the men bowed low behind her.

“Follow the road to the right, milady. The first large building is the visitor’s center. The driver can just continue down the same road to the stable,” Radhya told her respectfully.

The horse van lurched on.

“I never expected her to come,” said Radhya wonderingly.

Max whispered, “Was that Princess Felina?”

“Yes, it was indeed. Imagine a single digit status coming for my first race. This is a miracle.”

Later, Radhya busied herself greeting one arrival after another. Sixty invitations were sent out and fifty-seven accepted.

“Dave go home. Run all the security checks. Get Aninya to send my clothes for the gala to the owner’s suite at the visitor’s center. She might have to help the cooks with this mob. We only expected about half this many. Bring Jemelina too; she can help wait on the tables.”

Dave hurried on his way.

“The usual turnout is fifty percent. I don’t know what happened. Fortunately, I built the visitor’s center for the review, so I have more than enough room.”

“I think milady didn’t take curiosity into account. After all, you’ve been a recluse for many years. They all want to see what you’re about,” said Padr.

“You’re probably right Padr. You’ve done me proud, however.”

Her eyes roved from the rugged, pristine mountaintops down the hillside covered in masses of bright yellow and royal purple blooms. Bracketing the grandstands were the flame trees, flickering in the wind. In front of the stands was the most spectacular flower show on any planet. Every color and every shape imaginable were encompassed in the beds. Most of the species she had altered or created new according to Padr’s vision. Plants and shrubs of total white bordered the burning vibrant colors around the grandstand areas. Beyond this broadband, blooms were pastel, mounded around the paths and shading gradually again, into the rainbow hues around the visitor’s center. Cascading down the rocks to the ocean, the plants shifted to blue and green so that the water and land became indistinguishable. Inside the rings of the track, there were no flowers, but an array of fungi species put on a unique display. They appeared as gemstones of unusual shape that were growing from a sheet of solid copper. Everywhere were paths, fountains and flowing water, with benches for visitors to sit and admire the view. Bare patches sported the fuzzy emerald lawn. It was a breathtaking, fascinating kaleidoscope.

Greeting duties over, Radhya returned to the visitor’s center. As she entered, Noel grabbed her arm and pulled her to one side. Will seized Kung by the collar as he crouched to launch himself. Max and Padr followed her, watching to see if she needed rescuing.

“Away with you two!” snarled Lord Barone.

He shoved Radhya beside a tree. The meep inhabiting it cheeped in terror, jumped down and scurried across the floor to another shuhan. The lady wiggled her hands to indicate for Max and Padr to stay close. Will joined them, holding tightly to Kung.

“You made a fool of me,” hissed Lord Barone.

“Nonsense,” replied Radhya squirming in his tight grip.

She drew as far away from him as possible. “You are making a fool of yourself right now.”

“How dare you laugh at me in front of slaves?” he continued shoving his face close to her.

“Don’t be ridiculous. First, why should you, or any of us care what slaves think? Second, everything that happened is because you attacked me. I could report it to the proctors you know. Third, everyone who matters is looking at us very strangely right now. No one was even here before. Fourth, as if the size of a man’s penis should matter to me when I could give him a treatment and have it grow to thirty centimeters in a week. Fifth, you’re hurting me, and I will tell that slave to let Kung go it you don’t stop.”

Noel released her and looked over his shoulder. He noted the curious glances of the aristocracy. He also noticed Kung struggling in Will’s arms.

“Do you mean it?” he asked.

“Mean what?” she snapped back.

“About the treatment?”

Radhya raised one eyebrow and looked at him.

“Let me kiss you,” Noel suggested. “Everyone will think it was a lover’s quarrel. They all know I’ve spoken of a contract to you.”

“On the hand only,” said Radhya extending one.

Noel grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth. Releasing her, he swaggered away. Radhya spit and bristled like Kung, eyes like thunderstorms.

“Get me to my suite,” she snapped for all the world like a true aristocrat.

Max cleared the way, Padr, and Will on either side with Kung slinking behind. The royals in the foyer exchanged knowing glances. Some of the women tittered behind their hands.

Radhya slapped her hand on the plate of the lift. It whisked her and her companions to her room, which was large and ostentatious. Everything was black, white, or silver. The walls were white, and the flooring was black and white squares. Ornately carved and stuffed blackwood sofa and chairs circled the room. A silver chandelier dangled from the ceiling not far from a large blackwood desk with a built-in comcentre that occupied one corner. The black draperies opened on a view of the ocean. Radhya stood staring at it for some time, distress in the set of her shoulders and the line of her back. Her men stood like statues. This was not the owner they were used to. Only Kung prowled restlessly, investigating the room. A chime shivered in the air.

Without turning her eyes from the waves, Radhya instructed, “If that is Aninya bring her in. If it’s Dave tell him to check the crowd and dinner arrangements.”

Aninya stepped from the lift carrying many boxes. She stopped short at the tension in the room.

“Milady?” she inquired.

Turning from the window, Radhya shook her head. “You men use the slave’s closet over there.” She gestured to a door on the far wall. “Prepare for the banquet tonight. Don’t, absolutely don’t, let that slime-eating piece of hemorrhoid near me tonight, at all! If Barone gets within ten meters of me, I’ll puke.”

Radhya strode to the large silver bathing room opposite the slave’s quarters. She stripped off her dusty clothes tossing them to the silver-streaked marble floor. The facilities were far more than any single mortal needed but Radhya made use of them to the full. The men hurried to do the same in the tiny quarters they were allowed. Two hours later, she emerged, just before they would have been late.

Her men slaves couldn’t look away. With raven hair was coiled on top of her head giving her much needed height, a gold and emerald tiara confining it, she looked like a woman from a fantasy. She wore makeup, enhancing her natural beauty, and glowing dark green emeralds hung from her ears, a single strand encircling her delicate neck. A low cut gown of shimmering green-black partially revealed her body, generous breasts threatening to spill from the front, while her waist looked tiny enough to span with one hand. From there the gown flared into a bell and flowed to the floor.

“I don’t think I can breathe in this and I certainly can’t bend over,” Radhya said, “I expect you all to wait on me hand and foot like real slaves.”

“Yes milady,” they all chorused.

“More than my pleasure,” added Max.

“Aninya, I’m sorry, I need you in the kitchen,” instructed Radhya extending a hand.

“Yes milady,” the cook replied.

“And thank you. You did a splendid job.”

Aninya smiled and curtsied. Then she vanished into the lift. Radhya gestured to Kung to rest on the sofa and guard the rooms. She, Padr, Will, and Max followed Aninya into the lift. From the foyer, Radhya and her bodyguards went to the banquet room. The doors to the ballroom were folded back giving a beautiful view of a calm, sleepy ocean; blue and green waves feathered with touches of pink and gold from the setting sun. The ballroom was windowed on three sides, the fourth being the doors from the banquet room. The highly polished zebrawood floors glowed in the soft lighting of a dozen crystal chandeliers. Fully utilized, the banquet room itself would seat three thousand.

Tonight, it was set for a couple hundred guests. Many highly polished tables covered with snowy linens, tall, silver tapers rose from baskets of white flowers that graced the area. Their perfume filled the air.

Radhya threaded her way through the crowd, murmuring polite greetings and inquiries to the other aristocrats. Heads turned as she passed. Whispered discussions followed her trail. One whisper was louder than the rest.

“How come Barone was the only one to notice a piece like that?”

Radhya fixed the speaker with a steely glare. The culprit ducked his head and disappeared behind a slave carrying drinks. The slave offered the tray to her.

“Water only please,” she spoke softly.

Will took the glass and tasted it before passing it to her. She absently sipped at it. After an hour of this torture, when the light had faded from the sky, and the stars had yet to appear, the slaves lit the tall silver candles.

“At last,” Radhya sighed.

She threaded her way through the crowd to the top of the head table. It was her banquet, and she yielded pride of place to no one, not even the Princess Royal, Felina. The chief steward escorted that lady to the foot. Other stewards escorted the rest of the aristocracy to their assigned places. Soon all seven tables presently in the room filled with guests. Radhya sat down, everyone followed. She could see Dave by the door. He nodded at her. As the serving girls brought around the first course, savory odors wafted through the room.

“I must admit,” began Princess Felina, “that my curiosity is piqued. I saw one of your new pet cats at Lady Shansea’s house. It was most attractive. I had hoped to see some here, perhaps even buy some.”

“I am sorry milady. Kung, who is just a half-grown kitten, was with me earlier, but he was too excitable, so I left him in my room. Singha, his mother and Ringha, his sister are back at my home.”

“What a charming habit you have of naming everything. Perhaps you can sell me one of your half grown kittens,” said Lady Felina.

Radhya set down her fork. “I offer sincere apologies, Lady Felina. The lynxcat is much more than a pet. They have as much intelligence as chimpanzees, and they have the hierarchical mind of a dog. That means that at a young age, in their case between six weeks and three months, they bond or imprint on a person or another lynxcat. You cannot change that bonding once it occurs. If you remove them from the people they are bonded to, they will pine away and starve themselves to death.”

“Oh pooh. I am sure you could do something about it.”

“No milady, I could not. The purchaser of Ringha waited until she was three months old. I could not in good conscience sell her once bonding had begun. So now I have three instead of the two that I intended,” answered Radhya calmly.

“But I do so want one of the darling things,” cooed Princess Felina.

“Singha should be coming into heat shortly. Six months later, she will kit. I will let you know, and if you wish, you may purchase one. They are very costly, but I will bump you to the head of my list. I already have over two hundred and fifty names.”

“My, then they will be very common, won’t they?” replied the princess disappointedly.

“I doubt that,” returned Radhya. “All the females I sell are sterile, and Singha breeds only twice a year at most. Of course, not everyone can afford the cost either.”

Radhya named a price that caused the princess to raise her carefully sculpted brows.

“My, my,” replied Lady Felina, “they will be a precious item. You must show me yours.”

“When the banquet is over I will bring Kung down briefly. Please tell me about your entries for tomorrow.”

Felina giggled. “I am afraid you will need all your lynxcat money when my Silver Bullet cleans out your purse.”

The Princess continued bragging about her colt for some minutes. The other royalty joined in the discussion, each pointing out the merits of his or her own stock.

Lord Sutherland asked, “So Radhya, are you entering any of your own races?”

“Indeed I am, milord,” she replied. “I have three racers that are good candidates.”

“Have we seen them race before?” the stout Lord Pehelalatin inquired.

“No,” answered Radhya. “Each one is on his or her maiden race tomorrow.”

“Why I never heard of such a thing,” exclaimed the pale Lady Amelia, contract spouse of Lord Pehelalatin. “Did you Jimmi, did you ever hear of sponsoring a race to start your own racers on their first run?”

“No, no my dear,” he replied patting her hand.

“Ah, but we can always use some novelty, can we not?” spoke up the young blonde Lord Tavi. “Life is just so totally drear and boring, you know.”

“Actually, milord, I do not,” said Radhya. “I find no time to do all the things I would like to do.”

Lord Tavi languidly waved his hand at her. “Ah yes. You are one of those working aristocrats who give the rest of us a bad name. Well please, don’t bore us with tales of your wonderful occupation.”

“Why milord, I would not dream of it. I do have some plans for further adventure/recreations you might enjoy.”

All the Lords and Ladies dropped their languid poses.

“Something new?” inquired Lady Koom.

“Not entirely new, actually very ancient” replied Lady Kirbyson. “You see in my historical reading I came across descriptions of an endurance race. A race of often two or three hundred klicks. One rider, one horse on a prescribed course against maybe twenty or thirty competitors. A real test of skill and hardiness. I thought to see this week if I could interest anyone in such a competition.”

“Will there be betting on the outcome?” asked Lady Felina.

“Undoubtedly, there will be wagering as to the mettle of the man and beast,” interrupted Lord Sutherland.

“Ah, something to get the juices flowing” replied Lord Tavi, rubbing his hands together.

“A race lasting a couple of days perhaps?” asked Lady Amelia. “That would be perfect. These races tomorrow are over so quickly one has hardly time to enjoy them.”

“I’m sure it would be more thrilling than show jumping. That is such a total yawn,” Lord Tavi put in.

“I will be surveying the crowd tonight to check on the interest. I take it all of you at the table would be favorable?” questioned Radhya.

Murmurs of assent greeted her last statement. She relaxed back into her chair, smiling.

Finishing the last bite of her dessert she looked at Lady Felina, saying, “If you will excuse me now, I will fetch Kung for you to see.”

Radhya rose and glided across the banquet room trailed by her three guards. Returning to her room, she put a new golden collar on Kung and attached a braided gold lead, studded with emeralds. Then they returned to the crowd of aristocrats.

Oh’s and Ah’s followed their progress across the floor, interrupting the musicians who were just tuning up their instruments in the ballroom. Extra slaves crowded around the tables as they cleared away the remains of the banquet. Radhya led Kung straight to Lady Felina.

“Milady, this is Kung,” she introduced, “and I would warn you against trying to pet him. He is not the cuddly type.”

She heard a snicker from one of the bodyguards behind her.

“Oh, pooh,” said the Princess. She bent over to pet Kung. The lynxcat backed and fluffed his fur, hissing at her. Lady Felina snapped her hand back.

“Well, I never! You were not joking,” she said frostily.

“No, milady. You see these have been carefully tailored and bred as bodyguards. Kung guards me....”

“And I wouldn’t put his reflexes to the test. I did and paid for the consequences,” came the voice of Lord Barone from behind her.

Radhya’s men circled her and kept Barone from approaching any closer.

“Oh Noel, what happened?” inquired Felina.

“I was testing the reflexes of her bodyguards, who after all trained at my facility, and this little beast sank his claws and teeth into my leg. Fortunately, the medical facilities here are excellent,” said Barone craftily.

“But still, how perfectly dreadful,” cooed the Princess. “Is it safe to have him in such a crowd?”

“As long as no one tries to harm me or to pet him I think he will be absolutely safe,” answered Radhya glaring at Barone from behind Max.

“Now the first dance is about to start, Radhya,” broke in Noel. “I think I should partner you in it.”

“Do you now?” snorted Radhya. “I am sorry Lord Barone, but Lord Tavi was to be my partner.”

Handing Kung’s leash to Max, she held out her hand to the vapid young Lord dressed in pale green. His golden curls bobbed uneasily in response.

“Ah yes, of course, Lady Kirbyson, that is quite the honor. I shall be delighted to lead the dance with you. Ah, with your permission, of course, Noel,” he replied glancing uneasily into Lord Barone’s raging face.

“You don’t need his permission, only mine,” stated Radhya emphatically.

She led Lord Tavi to the middle of the gigantic dance floor and nodded to the musicians. They struck up an ancient tune called a waltz. Many aristocrats and their spouses soon joined them on the floor.

“What a perfect foil,” exclaimed Princess Felina, clapping her hands together. “He is so fair and light against her darkness. An absolute picture. Maybe you will have some competition, Noel.”

The princess whispered to one of her bodyguards. The woman aimed a holomera at the waltzing pair.

“Princess, since the love of my life has abandoned me, would you console my grieving spirit in the dance?” Lord Barone asked her.

The princess gave him her hand and giggled as he led her into the melee.