by M. K. Eidem
"But you said that for a Kaliszian, their position and status determines the amount and quality of food they receive."
"It does, but Liron distributes most of what he receives to others. It is only during official dinners that he uses more."
"I see, so he has a personal chef."
"Personal chef?"
"Someone like me who prepares his meals."
"Yes, his name is Damir. But he will not be accompanying Liron on this trip."
"He won't? Why?"
"There is no reason for him to. Fresh staples are not available when traveling in space, only food packets."
"But…"
"But what?"
"Gulzar told me that there could be times, like when you were fighting the Ratak, you are in space for months at a time."
"This is truth."
"Are you telling me you receive no fresh food for months?!!"
"Yes, it is very common for Warriors. Only when we are assigned to a planet for some time will we receive fresh staples."
"But why can't you cook in space?"
"It was deemed an unnecessary risk long ago."
"Unnecessary?"
"Yes, if a ship were attacked or lost, then the fresh food supplies it carried would also be lost."
"As would the lives of the people it carried," she whispered.
"Yes." Treyvon wasn't surprised that she would think of the people before the food. She was an unusually caring female that thought of others before herself.
"So what Liron is used to isn't that different than what your Warriors are?"
"No. I have eaten with Liron before, many times, and what you create," he looked down at his meal, "is much, much better than anything I have eaten at the Palace." He saw the color in her cheeks start to darken.
"Thank you, that's the best compliment I've gotten in a long, long time."
"It is truth," he told her simply.
"So since you know the Emperor so well, which of the meals I've prepared do you think he will enjoy most?"
Treyvon thought for a moment. "Your Beast Stew with biscuits. Liron has never had a biscuit before."
"Alright, then as soon as the Fenton arrives with what I need, I'll make fresh stock." She looked at Treyvon still standing beside his desk and ordered. "Sit down and eat before that gets cold."
• • • • • •
Jen slowly sat down on the bench. It was late. Later than she generally came out to the garden, but after cleaning up the kitchen, she'd wanted to see just how many bones she had in the cold room for stock. She'd been saving and freezing them for the next batch of stock she wanted to make. She'd been running low on vegetables, and if she had to, she could make the stock with just the bones, but she didn't want to. The flavor wasn't the same. Now she was glad she hadn't. With the Emperor sending extra supplies, she would be able to make the stock without shorting anyone's share.
Leaning back against the Crann, a heavy sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes. God, she was tired. It had been such a long, emotional day. She should be sleeping, but something had drawn her here. So she'd followed the softly glowing path to the Crann. Being near it always seemed to soothe her for some reason. It was unusually warm for a night on Pontus, and while no ground storm appeared to be building, clouds were gathering. Shrugging off her cape, she allowed the slight breeze to cool her while she enjoyed the silence of the night.
She'd never been one to like the silence before, had never experienced it, not with living in the city. In the city, there was always some background noise.
The sound of a car driving by.
The buzz of an air conditioner unit kicking on.
People talking or yelling.
Sound.
Even on the mountain, while it had been quieter, there had still been sounds. Ones Jen hadn't liked.
Birdsong.
The buzz of insects.
The occasional howl of what she thought was a wolf, but what Mac had said was a coyote.
And then there was the rustle of things unseen under the leaves and in the tall grass.
On the Ganglian ship, there'd been the hum and vibration of the engines.
While in the mine, it had been the constant echo of the machinery used to extract the power crystals.
But here, on the surface, there was nothing. Except for the lonely sound the wind made as it blew over the blackened branches of the Crann or moved the sand over the newly swept paths. What she wouldn't give to hear those night sounds of life that had so scared and irritated her back on Mac's mountain.
"Jennifer?"
Opening her eyes, she saw Treyvon standing a few feet away from her. She hadn't heard him approach.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"You are sitting out here, in the dark, with your eyes closed."
"I like it out here."
"I know that, but you are sad."
"I am?" she asked, wondering how he could tell that.
"Yes. Why? Is it because of the mine?"
"The mine?" She gave him a confused look then realized what he was referring to. How could she have forgotten? "No. It has nothing to do with this morning."
"Then what is wrong?" He moved, sitting down on her right side.
"Nothing, just thinking." She turned to face him, then realized that doing so revealed the scarred side of her face. Quickly facing forward she asked. "Why were you looking for me?"
Treyvon frowned for a moment then realized what she was doing. He'd seen her do it enough times around others but couldn't believe she thought it mattered to him. Slowly reaching out, he put a gentle finger on her chin, turning her, so she was facing him, not surprised when he met with some resistance.
"Never turn away from me, Jennifer," he told her. "While I know your scars bother some, they do not bother me. We all have them. Yours are just on the outside, and they are a sign of your strength and courage. You survived, Jennifer. Never be ashamed of that."
Jennifer felt her eyes start to fill with his gentle words. No one had said that to her and made her believe it before. Oh, Mac had tried, but Jen had never quite believed her because she was her friend, and wanted to make her feel better. But with Treyvon… he had no reason to say that, to care about her feelings. Yet, he seemed to.
"Thank you," she whispered, lifting a hand to touch where he was still touching her chin. "That means a great deal to me, especially coming from you."
"It is truth."
"Not all see it that way." She dropped her hand and lifted her chin slightly. "So tell me, General, why were you looking for me?"
Treyvon knew what she was doing by using his title. He was making her uncomfortable, so she was trying to put some distance between them. It was something he would allow, for now.
"There was something I failed to inform you of concerning the Emperor's arrival." He told her letting his hand fall away.
"What?"
"There will be ten extra for Last Meal."
"Ten?"
"Yes. The Emperor will be accompanied by eight guards and a guest."
"A guest?"
"Minister Klueh's daughter, Colleen Rachana Klueh, will be traveling with Liron. She will be attending Last Meal with him."
"I see." She had learned that ‘Colleen’ was the title given to single females.
"See what?" he asked, his gaze quickly searching the area for what she was seeing.
"It's an Earth saying," she said trying not to chuckle at his confusion. She sometimes forgot how literally Kaliszians sometimes were. "It means I understand."
"And what is it that you understand because of my words?"
"I understand that the Emperor is personally escorting a Kaliszian female back to her manno because he is interested in her."
"No, that would be an untruth."
"Really?"
"Yes, as Liron had already planned to travel to Imroz to meet with Klueh, there was no diplomatic way to refuse Klueh's reque
st that his daughter travels with him."
"So if given a choice, he would not allow her to accompany him? Why? Is there something wrong with her?"
"There is nothing wrong with Colleen Klueh. She is a very beautiful and very sought after female."
"And?"
"Why do you believe there is more?"
"Because of how carefully you are wording what you are saying."
"As I said, Rachana is a highly sought after female," he found he couldn't continue to look at her and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared into the darkness, "but she is also a very demanding one. She only stays with a male for as long as he satisfies her every need."
Jen looked at him for a moment then jerked back as it hit her. "You were involved with her."
"For a time, yes." He turned his head to look at her. "I withdrew my friendship some time ago."
"Because she was very demanding?"
"Because she has no loyalty and cares about no one but herself."
"I see." Rising stiffly, she reached for her cape. "Well thank you for telling me about the extra meals I need to prepare."
Treyvon rose as she did and took the cape from her, shaking it before wrapping it around her shoulders, his hands remaining there.
"What has upset you, Jennifer?" he asked because he could tell something had.
"Nothing, I'm just tired." She took a step forward, and his hands fell away. "Good night, General."
Treyvon could do nothing but watch as Jennifer slowly walked away with her uneven gait. Would he ever understand this female? He had told her truth with every question she asked. Tipping his head back, he looked at the stars and silently asked the Goddess.
What had he said that upset her?
The only answer he received was in the form of rain that suddenly began to fall. Striding out of the gairdín, he didn't notice that the luciferin that fell out of Jennifer's hood flared brightly where it lay against the Crann before it dissolved and was quickly absorbed by the tree.
• • • • • •
Jen lay in her bed that night, on sheets she knew Treyvon had provided for her, and listened to the falling rain. Her quarters didn't have a window, so she didn't know if there was any lightning, but she did know that the low rumble she heard now and then was thunder. She loved watching a good lightning storm as long as she was safe inside. If she weren't so tired, she'd get up to see it.
Tired and confused, that is.
The day had been such an emotional rollercoaster starting with the mine and ending with finding out Treyvon had once been involved with this beautiful Rachana.
Why did that upset her so? She didn't know how long ago it had been and really what did it matter? She'd had Todd, and she and Treyvon weren't involved. Still, for some reason, there was an ache in her heart at the thought she was going to meet a female that Treyvon had been intimate with.
Rolling over, she punched her pillow and tried to will sleep to come.
• • • • • •
"She is fighting her feelings for him," the Goddess said in a disappointed tone.
"She is loyal to her first Dasho. Would you wish for her to be less so? Does Treyvon not deserve one that loyal?"
"Of course he does, but it is taking so long!"
"It will take as long as it must, my love. They have both survived much, and neither will just blindly accept what they are feeling, as others might. Especially not her, not with the task she has set for herself."
"But if she accepts her feelings, that will be resolved."
"She doesn't know that and she can't. Goddess," Raiden grabbed her arm stopping her from turning away from him. "If you do anything to change that, then not only will she doubt her feelings are truth, but so will Treyvon and that will ruin everything we are trying to do."
Chapter Sixteen
Treyvon watched as Spada drove Gulzar to the ground on the training field again then continued his attack. While a Warrior needed to learn to defend himself in such a situation, this was not the way they taught the skill.
"Spada!" His voice boomed across the training field, immediately freezing all but Spada who finished the downward stroke of his sword, knocking Gulzar's sword from his hand before he acknowledged Treyvon.
"General!" He turned to face the General, a smirk of satisfaction on his face.
"Do you need to see Healer Luol, Warrior Spada?"
"Healer Luol?" Parlan frowned, losing his smirk at the way Treyvon addressed him. He was Elite Warrior Parlan, not just Warrior. Gulzar was just a Warrior. "No, General, of course not. Gulzar wasn't able to injure me!"
"I was referring to your hearing and how it seems deficient in comparison to every other Warrior on this field."
"Sir?"
"Did you not here my order, Warrior Spada?"
"Sir, I heard you call my name, but you gave no order, General."
"And you didn't feel that was sufficient for you to cease what you were doing and respond immediately?"
"I was demonstrating a move to Warrior Gulzar and felt I needed to complete it for him to appreciate it fully. No Elite Warrior loses his sword. Ever." Parlan's smirk returned as he looked at Gulzar who still lay on his back.
"You believe what you feel is more important than immediately acknowledging me? The Supreme Commander of Kaliszian Defenses?" Treyvon moved across the field not stopping until he and Spada were nearly nose-to-nose.
"I… what… No! Of course not, General!" Parlan stuttered.
"Warrior Gulzar," Treyvon said, his gaze never leaving Spada. "Wait for me on the side of the field."
"Yes, General!" Grabbing his sword, Gulzar was immediately up and moving to stand with the other Warriors who were forming a circle around their General and Spada.
"On my word," Treyvon growled softly, moving several steps away to pull the sword from his back. "We shall see if your words are truth."
Parlan's eyes widened at Treyvon's words, and stumbling back, reluctantly raised his sword. He had only sparred with Treyvon once, and that was to earn Treyvon's acceptance into this particular branch of Elite Warriors, as it was the closest to the Emperor and the most prestigious. The final test for all was to spar with the Supreme Commander. If he found your skills worthy, you would be admitted. Somehow he knew this would not be the same.
He was right.
Treyvon was pissed, beyond pissed, but none of it showed on his face. Elite Warriors did not use their skills and their position to overpower or harm others. It was to be used to defend and to protect those that could not do so for themselves. And during drills, it was used to teach, not humiliate.
He knew there was no love lost between Spada and Gulzar, even though they were from the same planet. He had intentionally told Nikhil he wanted them to spar together at least once a week to see if they could overcome that animosity and work together as all Elite Warriors must. He was surprised to discover that it was Spada that had failed to adjust instead of Gulzar.
Time to show Spada how it felt to be humiliated in front of those you served beside. In a deceptively quiet voice, he said, "Begin!"
• • • • • •
Gulzar tried to keep the awe off his face as he watched Treyvon spar with Parlan but knew he failed. Yes, he had observed Treyvon sparring before because he wanted to learn as much as he could from the General. But those matches had been nothing like this. Not even when he sparred with Squad Leader Nikhil, the strongest Warrior among them. Those battles had been long and fierce with both males ending up covered in sweat, and while neither conceded, there was always respect between them.
This was General Treyvon Rayner as he would be in actual battle. He gave no respect to his opponent, tempered none of the strength in his strikes, and Parlan was reeling under the onslaught.
Treyvon continued on his offensive attack with Parlan stumbling around the impromptu circle, barely able to block the blows coming at him. When he dropped to one knee, which would usually signal the end of the match, Trey
von gave him no quarter, continuing to attack until Parlan was on his back and his blade was sliding across the ground until Nikhil put a foot on it.
Treyvon leaned over Parlan's sweating form on the ground. "You seem to have lost your sword, Warrior Spada."
"I… yes, General," Parlan spat out.
"So your statement to Warrior Gulzar was an untruth, at least as far as you are concerned."
Parlan's eyes flashed angrily up at Treyvon, but he swallowed hard, knowing he had to answer as all the Elite Warriors were present. "So it would seem, General."
Typically, Treyvon would reach out a hand, assisting a Warrior back to his feet as a sign of his respect for the defeated Warrior. He did not do this with Parlan. Instead, he sheathed his sword and turning his back on Spada and left the training grounds.
• • • • • •
Hours later, Treyvon was still having trouble controlling his anger for what Spada had done. How in the name of the Goddess had he ever allowed that male to become a member of the most Elite branch of the Emperor's Elite Warriors? Spada had none of the qualities Treyvon demanded from these males. How could he have been so wrong? He needed to correct this.
Immediately.
Turning to his desk comm, he started the process of stripping Parlan Spada of Elite Warrior status.
He was just finishing up the report and transmitting it to Liron, the only one that could deny Treyvon's recommendation, when his secondary line rang.
"Treyvon," he answered.
"General, the Fenton is requesting permission to enter the atmosphere."
"Have they transmitted the correct codes?"
"Yes, General."
"And the Defender has scanned and verified it is the Fenton?"
"Yes, General."
"Then grant them permission to land, but put our defenses on high alert."
"Yes, General."
Disconnecting, Treyvon punched in a different code.
"Luol here."
"Healer Luol, your presence is required at the Fenton."
"At the Fenton?" Luol questioned. "Why? Who is injured? Why wasn't I informed earlier?"
"No one is injured, but your presence is required. Proceed directly there. That's an order, Healer Luol." Treyvon disconnected before Luol could respond. Smiling, he rose and prepared to watch what was about to unfold and realized his day had just gotten a great deal better.