Read Interface for Free Online Page B

it gingerly. She thought it was distaste until she noticed the bruises on his hand. Merc had given him a bit of a squeeze.
    "It was expressed to me that it was urgent and so I came."
    The premier took his hand back and she could see his fight not to wipe it on his smart tunic. "Well, I am sure that you will be only too happy to get back to your normal schedule."
    Shock and rage came to Vikki's mind through their link.
    Even Vinni looked surprised, but it was the reason that he was there. He was there to take her away. The Geviil wanted her gone.
    She inclined her head. "That would not be wise, Premier."
    He gave her a sneer, seemingly unaware that Vikki's hand on Merc's arm was the only thing holding him back. "I do not see why not. You have carried out your assignment and now you can be on your way."
    "It is not that simple. I engage in a very stressful occupation, Premier."
    "I fail to see why I should care."
    "Because Mercuros is my mate, his mind and mine are linked. Now that we have…met, our minds have woven tightly together. If you send me away, Merc's composure will suffer and if I die on assignment, he will not survive long."
    She felt Merc's amusement at the appalled look on the premier's face.
    "What?"
    Her dragon spoke, "What words did you not understand? When I agreed to sleep here and wake for the benefit of your folk, the agreement included the arrival of my mate and the home I required for her. She is now here. We will live together, have a family if we are so blessed and carry on as good citizens of Geviil, for that is what we are. The documents were signed and ratified into the Archives centuries ago. The agreement will not be altered now."
    His voice raised to a shout on the final sentence and to Vikki's astonished eyes, fire snorted from his nostrils. She sent him calm and the fire turned to trails of smoke.
    "I will have to discuss this with parliament."
    There was a moment of silence and Vikki's lips twitched as a familiar hum ran through the psychic plane. She knew that hum and wished she could have been there when it happened. "Discuss it with Geviil as well. The planet has taken an avatar."
    "What? That is impossible. Geviil is not sentient." The premier's colour had drained until he was powder blue.
    She smiled and it wasn't a nice smile. "Yes, he is. He merely did not enjoy using your race as avatars."
    "But, you two are the only off-worlders here. There is no one else."
    Merc's mind caught on and Vikki smiled. "Well, there is one other."
    She pointed to Vinni who was still reclining against the couch and a swirl of black and silver came through his eyes. "Greetings, Premier. Do you like my new avatar?"
    The premier swayed and Vikki moved quickly to catch the small man before he hit the floor, or worse, the tea set.
    "It is impossible. In all the years my people have been here, there has never been a report of communication with an avatar."
    Vikki sighed. "Based on my research, with the exception of the liaisons who were brought up to communicate with Merc, you have not encouraged mental expansion within your species. The true soul of Geviil has lived within plants, birds, mammals and anything that took its fancy. In my line of work, you learn quickly that not all avatars walk on two legs."
    Vinni got to his feet. "Well said, Vikki. Vinni thinks highly of you, though he believes you need more of a sex life." The planet looked at Mercuros through Vinni's eyes. "I believe that the problem has been solved."
    Vinni came around and took custody of the premier. "Come along, Rasso. We have much to discuss and I will need to go over it with your parliament."
    They were exiting the room and she heard the premier say, "What?"
    "I am tired of being an insular planet. I want to see races, people, others. You and yours are going to change the policy or I will toxify the environment, get you off my surface and send out a general invitation to any species who wants to come and live here."
    The conversation