The Emperor's New Nightingale Read Online Free Page 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