So, so, and so, Hilfy thought. Gtst excellency was not suffering. One wasn’t so certain about Dlima’s mind.
“Tell the captain,” Tlisi-tlas-tin said, with a gentle nudge of gtst elbow. “Or shall I?”
Feathery white lashes veiled moonstone eyes, and gtstisi squirmed deeper into the nook against gtst excellency. “I have the rare pleasure to make your honor’s acquaintance.”
“This is Dlimas-lyi,” Tlisi-tlas-tin said, with gtst arm about gtsto and a look of thoroughly foolish contentment on gtst face.
Good, living gods, Hilfy thought in despair.
“Gtstois a person of such inestimable quality, such wonderful refinement… beyond a consolation. I am beyond fortunate.”
So Dlima was something like male … as Tlisi-tlas-tin gtstself was something no other sapient species on record had.
“I am ineffably honored by the event.” One didn’t refer to gender in polite conversation. What she was seeing was intimacy verging on the indecent, by every book on stsho etiquette she had read.
How did one deal with stsho in this condition?
Don’t refer bluntly to the integration, the books said.
Don’t use the gtsto pronoun without clear permission. Use the universal gtst.
Don’t refer to mating.
Don’t act embarrassed.
“That gtst excellency has discovered such happiness as my guest,” she added desperately, “is a delight and an exquisitely unexpected honor to our hospitality.”
Gods rot it. She had business to discuss. Urgent business.’
But gtst was pleased. Gtst sipped gtst tea and gtsto was quick to refill the porcelain cups.
“Such excellent kindness,” she said, and gtsto fluttered with pleasure. A spidery white hand reached out to stroke her probably frazzled mane, and she valiantly refused to flinch.
“What a curious and unexpected texture.”
If gtsto proposed a threesome she was going to run for it.
“Dlimas-lyi,” Tlisi-tlas-tin said gently. “Would you absent yourself? There is such tedious business at hand,”
Dlimas-lyi bowed, and bowed, on the retreat from the bowl-chair. Tlisi-tlas-tin sipped gtst tea and Hilfy did the same.
Thank the gods … the third gender was the one that dealt with outsiders, business, and stress.
But outsiders didn’t meet the sexed genders—or most rarely did.
“I am vastly moved by the trust gtst excellency has bestowed.”
“Your tastefulness fulfills my extravagant expectations of a foreigner. If I had not come on this voyage I should never have met Dlimas-lyi. As a result of your hospitality I have … iiii … no, I shall be daring … affected a person of such exquisite worth as I could not dream of. Gtsto was the offspring of Atli-lyen-tlas, gtsto, ruthlessly abandoned, gtsto, hitherto gtste … who most valorously hid from gtst enemies until Chanur had come to port. Then, seeing my magnificence, and surely to afford me comfort, gtstisi became gtsto …”
So Atli-lyen-tlas’ daughter had hid from assassins, and, attracted to Tlisi-tlas-tin had become … call it male. It didn’t bear offspring in this hormonal condition. If she presented what gtst had said to the universities at Anuurn or Maing Tol, she could justify a second certificate in Foreign Studies. Scholars would kill, to hear what gtst confided to her … but scholars were not going to hear it. That was the other thing you learned in Foreign Studies—not to sell out your source.
And in Protocols … never to let your source know you had.
“I am overwhelmed,” she said honestly. “You are a most gracious guest. Admiration of your virtues has compelled me to personal efforts to fulfill our promises. And I must tell you—we are again frustrated in our attempts to reach Atli-lyen-tlas. The kif ship is here. It will not give us any information about passengers. But we have not abandoned effort.”
“They are offensive individuals.”
“I concur. Also the mane about whom I spoke, Ana-kehnandian, aboard Ha’domaren, is notable by his presence at this station and his clear intention to meddle in your excellency’s affairs.”
“What does your honor propose to do about this annoying person?”
“This is Kshshti. We have no confidence in the authorities to do anything. We shall attempt creativity. Has your excellency any advisement? We would receive it with all attention. Or had your excellency rather wait on further information—“ Never press a stsho for decision, “—we should certainly attempt to obtain it.”