Emperor, Swords, Pentacles
{4.5/5} “Sometimes he scented small animals, but they did not run in fear because none on this world recognized the smell of Predatory Cat. He ran uphill over stones and downhill through rank grass with the savage joy of the marauding Hillsman, fear for Emerald compressed to a small knot in his belly, and the skin of Civilization, if only for a few hours, grown very thin.”
Emperor, Swords, Pentacles by Phyllis Gotlieb, published in 1982
When dangerous people come to Qsaprinel to steal something from it, Emperor Spinel-alpha decides he must go off world to find out what it is. Meanwhile, Kinnear is Sector Co-ordinator. He’s going through various planets and when he gets to Qsaprinel his Director tells him to leave that one alone. Then he gets a package from Ungruwarkh, a picture cube with a message from Khreng and Prandra.
This is the sequel to A Judgment of Dragons.
Reading Phyllis Gotlieb is a bit like reading Frank Herbert — you don’t understand everything, but what you do understand is worth reading.
She does a terrific job of creating alien races and cultures.
I’ve read 4 books by Gotlieb.