Warrior Spirit

by Laura Kaighn

  The inviting look he threw her was such that Dorinda almost agreed. Then she remembered. “Coty’ll be back soon.”

  “Oh, yes.” Vesarius closed his eyes again. “Coty.”

  Biting her lower lip, Dorinda knelt beside him and connected with his drowsy gaze. “Know that I always want to be with you.” Lowering her hand to his dusted chest, Dorinda kissed him in the fashion of the Vesar. Then leaning over, she pressed her lips against his warmer, wider mouth in the fashion of Earth. When they parted, she murmured, “To my last breath and heartbeat.” Then Dorinda rose to snatch a washcloth from the marble vanity.

  By the time Coty returned to check on his crewmembers, they were both sound asleep beneath the covers of the one bed, tangled arm-in-arm, the Vesar snoring fitfully.

  Epilogue: Destiny’s Future

  Capt. Coty woke them the next morning, reminding the couple of their early appointment with death. Groaning, Dorinda rolled from the bed as her captain marched off to his own duties. Quickly she dressed. The Vesar was harder to motivate.

  “Come on, Sarius. What happened to honor?” Dorinda urged tugging the blanket aside.

  Vesarius blinked as from some private thought, his dark eyes glazed to the ceiling. “I ... I dreamed of Raven,” he murmured in answer.

  “The horse.” Dorinda remembered yesterday’s spectacle all too well. She sidled down beside him. Bare torso poking from the sheets, her husband’s head was propped atop his hands and a pile of pillows. “It wasn’t a dream, Sarius. They made you kill it.” After a moment, she traced his stiffened jaw with a gentle forefinger. “I cried with you,” she admitted. “I was so angry with your people. I cursed them, right there in front of them too.”

  “She did,” Coty reinforced stepping back into the room. He threw his friend a leather tunic and trousers. “Here. Special delivery.”

  “I could have killed either of you just as efficiently,” Vesarius regretted, his thoughts seemingly still far away. Then he snapped out of his contemplation to focus on the medallion at the tunic’s center. He smiled crookedly at his own sandsuit. “Thank you, Bear. Now I feel myself again.”

  “Funny how prison scrubs can dehumanize you.” Coty plopped down at the foot of their bed. “Come on, my friend. Get your ion drive ignited. I’ve a special surprise for you. Both of you,” he corrected.

  “What surprise?” Dorinda stood from the bunk and regarded her captain suspiciously.

  “Oh, you’ll see. I was up early making some arrangements. Everyone’s ready.”

  “What about the death fight with Domenazreli?” Dorinda insisted gravely.

  Again that twinkling stare and tilted grin from Coty. “Trust me.”

  Obviously intrigued, Vesarius climbed from the platform and drew on his familiar Vesar clothes, breathing deeply their familiar scent. “Now this is home,” he attested as he laced his tunic. “With just a touch of Pompeii engine oil and ion exhaust.”

  Coty shook his head in consternation. “You’ve been ship-bound too long, Commander,” he warned. “You need fresh air and sunshine. A month’s worth should do the trick.”

  “He received enough of that yesterday, thank you,” Dorinda attested with a grim frown. “I’m ready to be far away from here.”

  When they were both dressed and ready to go, Coty led them out into a bright Vesar morning. Awaiting them outside the administration building were Yolonda Sheradon, Sam Waters, Jonas Botrocelli and their Kinpanions.

  “More from home,” Vesarius rumbled slapping Tundra affectionately on the hindquarters. Reunion greetings spread all around.

  Smiling broadly, Yolonda hugged Dorinda. “We’re so glad everything worked out for you.”

  “Come on, Sarius. This isn’t the surprise,” Coty admitted leading the Pompeii’s crew to the open plaza beyond the government complex. There they found a scowling Domenazreli standing stiffly beside Madame Tolianksalya. “Madame,” Coty greeted with a respectful bow.

  Tolianksalya’s widow stepped forward and considered the assembled family of her dead husband’s kin. “Gentle peoples,” she spoke reverently. “I’ve met with you this morning to make an important declaration. But first I must explain to the commander why he is not now in battle for his life.” Domenazreli huffed in resigned defeat as the Vesar matriarch continued. “You see, once Cmdr. Tankawankanyi was judged innocent, my servant here lost his right for vengeance, for there had been no murder by Vesar hand.”

  Coty beamed. Dorinda sighed in relief, and Vesarius simply raised a knowing brow.

  “If Domenazreli desires to carry out his queítarná-tŕos,” Madame Tolianksalya maintained, “he must proceed to Orthop to find the guilty.” She considered the younger man’s smoldering glower. “He has declined the opportunity.”

  Then, straightening her shoulders, the matriarch glared down her regal nose at the assembled crew. “And now to the declaration,” she proclaimed. “I present to you, Brune Tankawankanyi, a gift, first presented to your wife, Jade, by my mate.” Dorinda suddenly beamed in knowing anticipation. “He has forgiven you, as do I for his death.” From her bright cloak, Madame Tolianksalya withdrew a folded parchment. “Before everyone present, I would like to identify this as the deed to the Rhaza homestead.”

  Vesarius’ mouth tensed in an ‘O’ of sudden recognition. Delicately he reached to clasp the offered document in one mahogany hand.

  “It is a statement of his permission to proceed with the Vwafar´ee, Brune,” Tolianksalya stated with a serene nod. “Upon its successful completion, the landholdings of Tankawankanyi will be returned to you, as will full citizenship and bonding eligibility.”

  The hot, desert air froze around them as if in suspended shock. Dorinda found her voice first. “Oh, Sarius! Now you can earn back your warrior’s spirit. We can be together ... always!”

  Vesarius’ throat seemed tight with emotion when he agreed. “Yes, Green Eyes. And I may again have a home on solid Vesar soil.”

  Dorinda jumped into his embrace as his assembled human family clapped their congratulations. Tundra howled his delight. Noah chittered merrily. Coty enthusiastically smacked the Vesar’s shoulder as Aztec took to the sky in a feathered dance of celebration.

  “Happy now, Brother?” Michael Bear Coty inquired, grinning mountains.

  His obsidian eyes creased with joy, face half buried in Dorinda’s fiery crown, Vesarius tolled deeply, “Ecstatic.”

  The End

  Original Copyright 1993

  Look for Vesarius’ and Dorinda’s continuing adventures of the Vesar Warrior Legacy in Warrior Ordeal and Warrior Fury,

  due out in 2017 & 2018!

  About the Author

  Laura J. Kaighn is a professional storyteller, author, educator, and volunteer docent naturalist. She has been writing and sharing her stories since childhood. Laura’s loves of nature, science, science fiction and her American Indian heritage date to her earliest interests in reading and research.

  Her favorite questions: What if? Why? And how?

  Laura holds a BA in Elementary Education/Communications Minor and a MA in Library Science from Glassboro State College, later Rowan University.

  Her previously published works include the YA fantasy/sci-fi novel Earth Child: The E.D. Piper Chronicles (2013), the MG nature anthology Rabbit’s Tale & Other Rites of Passage: Parables for a Modern Age (2014), and the first in her Sci-Fi series: Warrior Heart (2016). Warrior Spirit’s next installments: Warrior Ordeal and Warrior Fury will be published in quick succession. Volumes five through eight of the Vesar Warrior Legacy will

  be available in the foreseeable future.

  Sequel, Earth Child: Discoveries, will be published in early 2017.

  Laura shares her modest home in southern New Jersey with her husband, an extensive library, a bevy of furry and finny pets and her feathery and fuzzy neighbors. She can be reached through her website: http://ladyhawkestorytelling.com/

  About the Cover Artist

  Irena Fonorow is a graphic artist
and designer. She holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Visual Communications from Stockton University. She’s done freelance print design for a variety of clients, including brochures, posters, business cards, logos and book covers. She also specializes in watercolor and acrylic paints. Irena has exhibited locally and through Stockton’s alumni juried art shows. Her artwork has been sold on Art Exchange as well as through private sales. Irena believes talent, in all forms, must be shared and enjoyed. The artist grew up in Absecon, NJ and currently resides in Wyndmoor, PA. She gets most of her inspiration from the beauty that surrounds her. You can contact Irena Fonorow at: Ifonorow@gmail.com.