Daughter Of Ethos: Crystal City Book 6

by L M Lacee

  Peneria and Ipeara took them to a restaurant which was about mid-level in a high-rise of restaurants. As they traversed the walkways, Peneria told them, the lower level restaurants were normally larger places, because they served a less quality style of food. The establishments above this level would be smaller places catering for fewer people, depending on the restaurants exclusivity.

  When they arrived, Karen asked as they looked inside the empty restaurant. ‘Is it open?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Ipeara assured her as she looked around at the busy complex. ‘Although I have to admit the restaurant is usually busier than this. We may have just missed their second-meal rush.’

  Peneria shrugged. ‘Who cares, they are open so more for us, now ladies this restaurant.’ She enthused as they entered. ‘Is Businnah, pronounced boo- sinn- ahh, it caters to all species, from all worlds. So far, I have found no one who does not like their food. We love it and eat here every time we come to the Capital. It is the one thing we miss the most when we leave.’

  The restaurant was like every other part of the complex made from crystal, however this one was decorated in predominately red. Light and dark shades of red with white and pink lines dissecting through the color. Jorge did a quick count there only appeared enough seating for fifty patrons.

  Once inside the restaurant there were no windows to the outside, instead the walls were formed to make murals of oceans or waterfalls. There seemed to be an abundance of water symbolism, or at least that’s what it looked like to Karen. Perhaps the owners were from a water world.

  As soon as they ventured further into the dining room, they all sniffed appreciatively. Nina was the first one to recognize what they were scenting. ‘Oh my stars, it smells like Asian food.’

  ‘I hope it tastes like it?’ Melody exclaimed as her stomach gave a loud gurgle.

  Darby whimpered. ‘I adore Asian food, I have missed it so much.’

  Karen closed her eyes. ‘It’s like being back on Earth, at Mr Kwines restaurant. His place was down the road from us. Esther used to let us eat there once every week, we loved it. Amelia is going to be so sorry she decided not to come with us, she will scream when I tell her.’

  Jorge debated asking Karen not to tell her, he knew from experience the screaming could get loud. Then he smiled, knowing his mate was going to be more than sorry if Karen’s reaction was anything to go by. She was going to be annoyed, which was fine with him. He got to be the loving mate who soothed her annoyance away. He liked that part of mating, it meant he got to play the hero every now and again. He listened as the female’s all sighed happily and spoke about food.

  Discreetly, he signed for his Warriors to take seats at tables surrounding them and others to stand guard at the doors. Karen asked him, bringing his full attention to her. ‘Jorge, you will make sure our guards trade off so they can eat?’

  He smiled gently and looked at Melody, who smiled as well. Ever since Karen had mated with Hawk, she made it her mission to care for the Warriors. They found her endearing. Melody had explained to Hawk, who had voiced his concern that she would overtax herself with her worry for them. That she would settle into her position when she figured her place in their affections.

  Jorge’s eyes went back to roving over the restaurant, searching for danger as he advised her. ‘We do Karen, do not worry.’

  ‘Good.’

  Peneria had guided them to the central table. It was bare and of course made of crystal. Although this one was coal black with red and white lines running through it. It was a piece of art to be admired and coveted by every female there. They ran their hands over the warm surface, watching the waves of color move.

  ‘Oh Stars.’ Melody said as she traced her finger over a line, making it collide with another and causing a small explosion. ‘Darby look.’

  Darby turned from admiring the water scenes on the walls to see Karen smooth her hand over the table top and white and red waves move. She watched as Melody made two more lines collide and the ensuring explosion of colors. She pursed her lips and traced a pattern with her finger. ‘Nanites I bet.’

  A small dark gray male of indiscriminate age, around five foot tall, hairless with long limbs. Entered from a side door that obviously went to the kitchen. His face was small and wrinkled, shiny black pebbles for eyes stared out at them from among the wrinkles. His lips were a deep crimson and when he smiled he had startling white pointed teeth.

  He walked over to their table and bowed deeply. His voice was soft and musical, like wind chimes on a spring day. ‘You are of the Star Daughter’s people.’

  Melody answered for them. ‘We are.’

  He bowed again. ‘We are honored to have you in our establishment.’

  Peneria answered. ‘We are honored to be here.’

  His eyes crinkled more when he looked at her. ‘Ehah! Missy and small Missy, we are once again blessed.’

  Ipeara grinned at the surprised Terrans. ‘I did tell you we came here a lot. This is the most revered Shodian Lujunn Dorjinu, the famous Businnah chef of the Capital. Shodian means master chef.’

  Sadness entered his eyes. ‘Ehah, small Missy, we are not for long, this weken is our last days of business.’

  Peneria asked. ‘I do not understand, are you giving up serving food?’

  He shook his head. ‘No Missy, we have been asked to leave as we are not citizens, so we must go.’ He spread his hands in a what, can you do gesture.

  Peneria and Ipeara’s lips pulled into straight lines, showing their displeasure. He hunched his shoulders when Peneria asked kindly. ‘Where will you go, you have not been on your home world for many yentas?’

  ‘This is true, many worlds will want our food. We will endure and survive.’ Then he clapped his hands together. ‘Now enough of my woes, what would I serve you?’

  ‘Well as to that.’ Ipeara grinned as she looked at the Terran females who had remained quiet, while they had discussed the demise of the Shodian’s business. ‘Do you trust us?’

  Without hesitation, they confirmed they did. ‘Of course.’

  She smiled at the compliment and then introduced them all to the restaurant’s owner. ‘First though, Shodian Dorjinu allow me to introduce our companions, Specialist Darby, Lady Karen, Specialist Nina and Tivna Melody.’ They all bowed their heads in acknowledgement as he returned the gesture saying. ‘Welcome to my restaurant, Lady Karen are you with child?’

  She blushed as she said. ‘I am.’

  He smiled gently. ‘I will make sure I keep that in mind when I plan your meal.’

  ‘You have met out kind before?’ Melody asked him.

  He smiled and replied. ‘Many times, Tivna Melody.’

  Ipeara introduced Jorge. ‘Shodian Lujunn this is Commander Jorge, he is in command of our guards.’

  Lujunn looked into the dark eyes of a man who had wielded death and smiled on seeing the strength and compassion within his needar. Before he could halt the words, he spoke a blessing so old it was not known where it came from. ‘May truth guide your hand!’

  Recognizing the blessing. Jorge inclined his head and quietly said. ‘I thank you Shodian.’

  Peneria said. ‘Please Shodian Lujunn, serve us what you think we desire.’

  ‘As it pleases you, Lady Peneria.’

  ‘I am a Captain now in the Star Daughter’s Armee.’

  His eyes widened as some of the wrinkles around his eyes smoothed out. It was, Darby thought a look of surprise. ‘Your Papa is pleased with this?’

  Peneria smiled. ‘He is very proud of both myself and Ipeara and pleased I am mated.’

  He nodded. ‘I am sure he is. Congratulations on your mating and you small Missy, are you mated too?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, I am a pilot.’

  ‘That is good. I will serve you delights that will cause you to dream of my food for yentas to come.’ His forehead moved upwards as the Terrans all smiled at the boast. ‘You think I jest, wait my friends, wait and be amazed.’

>   Karen rubbed her hands together in anticipation as she said. ‘We will Shodian Dorjinu. Please do not forget our Warriors.’

  ‘Lady Karen, I will not, they too will delight in my food.’

  She nodded and handed him her ident band. ‘For everything please.’

  He smiled. ‘As you wish, Lady Karen.’

  He left and moments later the tea was delivered by a smiling young female, another almost identical female served the Warriors. Each female was taller by five inches than their father and were heavier. The Shodian’s daughter’s eyes were the same bright shiny black and their lips were as crimson as their fathers. They also had the sharp pointy teeth but unlike their father, neither were bald. Each of them had a different shade of crimson hair which fell in long ropes down their backs to just above their ample buttocks. In a statuesque, vampiric kind of way, they were attractive.

  ‘Greetings, I am Laalinn, Lujunn is my parent, we hope you have much pleasure here.’

  ‘Greetings Laalinn, we thank you.’ Peneria replied, then made the introductions, finishing with. ‘Laalinn, are you experiencing trouble still?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, not now we are to leave.’

  ‘Oh, I see.’

  ‘I will leave you to enjoy.’

  Along with the tea she had delivered were tiny triangle wafer thin crackers that reminded them of fried wontons.

  Melody murmured as she popped another one in her mouth. ‘Oh my stars, these are delicious.’

  Peneria tried some and sighed. ‘He really can cook, it will be a shame he is to leave. Lujunn arrived here with his daughters Laalinn and Jealinn.’ She waved a hand in the direction of the other female as she served another Warrior. ‘Both sisters are as good as their parent in preparing food, he has taught them everything they know. In fact, last time we were here Lujunn told Papa they could have places of their own. I guess not know though, it is sad, they have been here for at least twenty-five yentas.’

  ‘What trouble did they have?’ Jorge asked from the table next to theirs, before he sipped his tea.

  ‘Unca Parkern, told us he learned Lujunn was being pressured to allow his daughters to be leased out.’

  ‘Leased?’ Darby’s voice could have frozen hot tea.

  ‘Ahh yes it is like an…’ Peneria searched her memory and frowned then said. ‘Like a… a contract, not quite slavery but close, and always for a term of five yentas. Usually they are paid nothing, the parent receives credits and every minor infraction adds time to the contract.’

  ‘Barbaric, slavery by any other name.’ Darby muttered.

  Peneria nodded. ‘We are in agreement on that. Obviously he said no, but some owner would not take no for an answer and they were not being nice about it. I know Unca Parkern, spoke sternly to several males who worked for the restaurant owner. I heard they left the Capital and have not been back.’ Peneria grinned as she told them. ‘He can be very persuasive.’

  ‘Especially when he brings out is fists.’ Ipeara muttered. Everyone including Jorge smiled at that.

  Jorge asked absently while his eyes followed the younger daughter Jealinn as she served and talked to his Warriors. ‘Would you know the name of the owner and his restaurant?’

  Peneria eyed the Commander. ‘I do, perhaps you want to visit the restaurant with Amelia?’

  Jorge said with a smile in his voice. ‘No, that would not end well for anyone. I thought a few of us males may go on what Marlo calls a male night out.’ He looked at Peneria. ‘I am sure Willian would enjoy a male’s only night.’

  ‘I am sure he would. I will make sure he has the name of the establishment and the owner’s name, so you can thank him personally.’

  He grinned. ‘Thank you.’

  It seemed to Darby as she listened to Jorge that the Shodian and his daughters just got themselves a champion.

  FIFTY- EIGHT:

  Ipeara said thoughtfully. ‘Papa said he thought Lujunn and his daughters had been banished from their planet.’

  ‘They were banished.’ Peneria confided softly. ‘Lujunn was the ruling family’s chef when the Empress mysteriously died. He was accused of poisoning her and was sentenced to death. He could not prove his innocence, so before they carried out the sentence, his family smuggled him and his daughters from the world and they have hidden here ever since.’

  Karen asked. ‘How do you know this?’

  Peneria smiled. ‘I have always liked to solve puzzles.’

  Melody quietly asked as she watched the sisters move efficiently around the restaurant. ‘If they are hunted. Why have they not been returned to their world?’

  ‘Their world is isolated and I believe someone used him to hide their complicity in the death of the Empress.’

  Nina snorted in disgust. ‘He was set up to take the blame for someone else.’

  ‘Yes, I believe the Emperor may be fearful if Lujunn is returned after all this time, the truth may come out. Of course, this is just a theory I have put together with my tentative enquires. I did not want to alert them to where the Shodian is. Because even though they are not actively searching for him or his daughters. If they catch him, they will put them all to death. His home world is very big on honor and retribution.’

  Darby eyed the sisters. ‘So do you think they finally caught up with him?’

  Peneria shook her head as she sipped her tea. ‘No, more than likely success, probably the same owner who wanted his daughters. Maybe they thought by driving them out he would agree to having his daughters working for them. Or it could be as simple as someone paid an official off so they could take over his restaurant, hoping his reputation will benefit them.’

  ‘Lujunn will never bond his family, it is slavery with a different name.’ Ipeara growled, then pleaded with Darby and Melody. Knowing as Peyton’s sisters, she had more chance of convincing them to help, or at least they may be able to convince Peyton. ‘Can we help them?’

  Melody nodded to Darby, who then flicked her eyes over the other two, who nodded.

  She smiled as she told Ipeara. ‘Oh, I think we almost have to, don’t you ladies. I mean, imagine if we went back to Peyton and Netta. Not to mention the other Terrans and said we have had the best Businnah food ever, and we let the owner slip through our fingers. I am betting our lives would not be worth living. If that is, the food is as good as he seems to think it is?’

  ‘It is to die for.’ Ipeara promised.

  They all grinned at the metaphor, especially considering what they had been discussing. Ipeara realized this when Peneria groaned loudly and laughed. ‘Oops, I am sorry, bad example.’

  Melody agreed with Darby. ‘Peyton would not be happy and she will find out. Then she will come here, and we all know how that will end. So to save the high-rise we will do what we can to secure Shodian Lujunn and his daughters.’

  Ipeara sighed her relief as the others all laughed because they knew what she said was true.

  Peneria said. ‘We thank you, it would be terrible to lose one such as him and his daughters.’

  Nina grinned as she commented. ‘The food must be good. You are never this enthused about anything other than Willian or Boaks.’

  ‘What am I?’ Ipeara pouted, which had them laughing at her expression.

  Peneria shrugged as she replied, ignoring Ipeara’s pouting face. ‘This is true, just wait until you taste the food, you will agree.’

  Karen munched on another thin cracker and hummed in pleasure while she swallowed it, then mumbled. ‘If these are anything to go by, it will be fabulous.’

  Darby looked at Karen’s obvious enjoyment of the tasty titbit and asked. ‘Peneria, why do you say parent, do they not have a mother?’

  Peneria swallowed the giggle that desperately wanted to escape as she said with a serious expression. ‘On the world Lujunn and his daughters come from, it seems that every ten yentas the males go into procreation hibernation.’ The Terrans all stared at her blankly, and she explained. ‘It is what they call the mating heat.
’

  ‘Oh, got it.’ Karen said as the others nodded in understanding.

  ‘So apparently when this strikes them, the parent withdraws from society and goes to a retreat in the mountains of his home world.’

  Ipeara almost lost it when Peneria then told them with a gleam of laughter in her eyes. ‘When a male goes into his hibernation heat, he can then inseminate and produce a child.’

  Darby frowned as she said. ‘So what, all males do that. What you are saying still does not explain why you say parent?’

  Ipeara told her. ‘She means himself, by himself, without a female.’

  Karen’s mouth dropped open as she held a cracker half-way to her mouth. Melody choked on her tea, forcing Nina to hit her on the back as she and Darby, stunned by the revelation, looked at both sisters with blank expressions. While their minds tried to assimilate what they had just been told. Jorge coughed on a laugh and stood to pace around the room, so they could not see his expression, which was a cross between amusement and horror.

  Melody asked when she got her breath back. ‘Are... are you saying the male carries the baby?’

  Peneria eyes bright with mirth said. ‘Yes.’

  ‘And gets himself pregnant.’ Karen whispered, the cracker in her hand forgotten.

  ‘Yes.’

  Darby asked. ‘Once every ten yentas?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Melody stared after Jorge as he did a circuit of the restaurant as her mind turned over the information.

  Darby took in a much needed breath then pleaded. ‘Let me tell Peyton.’

  Melody agreed. ‘As long as I can tell Netta.’

  They all burst out laughing, even more so when Nina muttered. ‘That is just crazy shit right there.’

  ‘We aren’t in Kansas anymore, that’s for sure.’ Melody drawled as Jorge returned. Then she spent a few mins explaining the saying, which had the effect of taking their minds off the unthinkable.

  Several mins later Darby finished her tea and then said to Peneria. ‘You and Ipeara have a talk to the Shodian, tell him about us, where we come from and the download. Explain that we will make sure they are cared for and will keep him and his family safe. If they want to open restaurants on the worlds, we would really love that. Say on behalf of the Star Daughter, we would like to invite them to live on her worlds as free citizens.’