Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Commander Solon and Lady Abbey are now being seated!” he announced.
“Oh my dear—there you are!” the Empress exclaimed from Abbey’s left. “I’m so very glad you’re here.”
“Thank you, your Majesty,” Abbey said politely, leaning towards her. “And I want to also thank you for letting me have an Eye-pet—I found the perfect one and I’m already in love with him!”
“Oh, do tell me all about it!” the Empress asked. “Did you get one of the pups from the new litter?”
“No—I found one who hadn’t matched with anyone yet. He’s a little older but I like that—we suit each other perfectly. Don’t we, Spex?” she asked, reaching up to stroke his soft, fluffy fur.
“Pretty Abbey chose Spex and Spex loves Pretty Abbey!” he squeaked, dancing on her shoulder with his three little feet.
The Empress heard him and laughed.
“My, my—it seems you’ve found your soulmate, my dear!” she said to Abbey. “But tell me—I hear you had a spot of trouble at the Royal Perfumers?”
“Oh, er…” Abbey wasn’t sure what to say.
“The Royal Perfumer accidentally made a scent for me that was too, ah, enticing, Your Majesty,” Solon said, answering for her. “I had to wash it off, unfortunately, but we have agreed to use my natural scent as my Official Scent instead.”
“Well, that’s all right then—you do have a lovely natural scent,” the Empress said. “But speaking of scents, the Perfumer is hard at work incorporating the fragrance of those roses you brought into my Royal Scent. He promises me that it will be done very soon and I simply cannot wait to wear it!”
“I’m certain it will smell wonderful on you, Your Majesty,” Abbey said politely. “I’m so glad you liked the roses—they’re the best selling flowers in our shop back on Earth.”
“I’m not surprised a bit!” the Empress declared. “In fact—”
But just at that moment, someone murmured in Abbey’s ear,
“Your pardon, Lady Abbey, but I have tonight’s menu card here for you.”
“Oh—the menu cards!” the Empress exclaimed.
“Thank you,” Abbey said, reaching out for the menu.
A stiff card, studded with many raised bumps arranged in straight rows, was put into her hands. She frowned as she ran her fingers over the rows of round bumps.
“Is this some kind of raised lettering? I’m afraid I can’t read it.”
“No, no, my dear!” The Empress laughed. “The bumps you’re feeling are the choices for tonight. You simply hold the card to your face and press a bump—just one at a time, mind you. A little spray will come out which gives you the scent and flavor of the dish the bump represents. Chose whichever dishes you like and when the server returns, tell him your choices.”
“How interesting, I’ve never heard of that kind of menu!” Abbey said. “But, er, how do I know what the name of the dish that I’m smelling is?”
“Oh, your Eye-pet can tell you. The name of each dish is written above the corresponding scent/taste bump,” the Empress said. “Now let me see, what’s on the menu for tonight…”
She was clearly preoccupied, so Abbey decided to try the menu card for herself.
“Spex, can you tell me the name of this first scent/taste bump?” she asked, resting her finger on the bump at the top left corner of the menu card.
“Of course Spex can read for Pretty Abbey! That one says ‘fragelpane dooder,’” he squeaked in her ear.
“Hmm…okay.” The name meant nothing to her—she couldn’t even tell if it was a meat or a vegetable or some other kind of food entirely. Abbey decided the only way to find out if she liked it was to press the bump.
Bringing the menu card to her face, she pressed the first bump. It made a soft bzzt sound, like an aerosol can and a shot of slightly wet spray went right up her nose.
“Oh!” Abbey gasped, pulling the card away from her face. The scent of fragelpane dooder wasn’t very nice at all. It was kind of a mixture of wet dog and mud, Abbey thought. Worse, she could taste it as well and the flavor in her mouth was even more disgusting than the scent!
“Oh dear…Spex doesn’t think Pretty Abbey liked that very much,” her little Eye-pet squeaked in her ear.
“No, judging from the look on her face, that isn’t her first choice,” Solon rumbled from beside her.
“It’s just…a very strong smell,” Abbey said, coughing and trying to be diplomatic. She didn’t want to offend the Empress. “Let me try another one.” She ran her fingertip to the next bump. “Spex? What’s this one called?”
“That one is ‘chomble-hopper,’ Pretty Abbey,” the little Eye-pet said. “Will Pretty Abbey try it?”
“Yes, I will.”
Hoping to get the bad taste of wet dog and mud out of her nose and mouth, Abbey brought the menu card to her face and pressed the next button…only to be greeted with a scent that was exactly like an extremely ripe fart.