“That’s what he said.” Belinda’s voice inferred disbelief and not a little scorn. With her thick red mane and curvaceous figure, the other woman commanded attention.
Celeste bridled her tone because it was too scary not to consider they’d been fed a big pile of horse poop. “You don’t believe him?”
“I don’t believe much of anything. But like I said, there’s nothing back there for me, and it was only a matter of time before things went to complete shit. So I signed up. Maybe I’ll get an offer from a stand-up guy, but I’ll figure it out.”
Shirley winced. “Well, I think it’s an opportunity. I wanted a family and it’ll be nice to have enough to eat and be able to see a doctor and stuff. Maybe even somebody to take care of me. The guy I was with wasn’t the best.”
That’s what Celeste secretly hoped for, too, but she didn’t say it. Instead, she supported Shirley in her desire for children and agreed about the advantages portrayed on Meridia. Belinda smirked but didn’t press the matter, her cat-like green eyes glinting with cynicism.
The remainder of the day passed with more information being shared about their new home, punctuated by meal times. The women were gathered in groups of a hundred or so and ate and studied in different rooms that appeared to have been prepared to accommodate them. The mother ship was huge, and Celeste appreciated the presence of a guide as they moved from different points.
A crash course on customs was provided over the next several days, and everyone was given a small, square item with a screen that responded to touch. Celeste was fascinated, recognizing it as an item similar to old technology on Earth. Not that it could in any way compare. So much was at their fingertips and she immersed herself, glad she enjoyed reading. Meridia had an amazing history, as bloody and violent as Earth, but was now far more advanced and cultured. It hadn’t fallen prey to the diseases and uncontrolled warfare that had ravaged her home world, and while the politics seemed confusing and unpredictable, it appeared that as a conquering race, the Meridians now ruled a huge section of the galaxy without discord.
Celeste understood the concept of propaganda. Earth had apparently used it most recently to interfere with the aliens’ plans to propagate with humans. So she was aware what she had read could also be written to skew the reader’s viewpoint, and she doubted all the information had been supplied. Humans, and probably aliens, tended to hold things back if it suited their cause. She supposed only time would tell, depending on how much she was allowed to participate in life on the planet. So many unanswered questions.
There were lots of conversations with the other to-be-concubines. Some Celeste didn’t care to dwell on, seeing as most were far more aware of what they were getting into insofar as the physical side went. Others expressed the same thoughts and questions as she held, and for the first time, she enjoyed being with others of the same sex and age group. Laughing and talking hadn’t been a part of her life and she was glad to have the opportunity. She stomped hard on any whimsical hopes about the alien who might offer for her, but it was difficult not to be a little optimistic when life was rolling out like a grand adventure, if a rather frightening one. The lick of anticipation was somewhat arousing.
“Your attention.” Cleros raised his voice over the cacophony of feminine ones and slowly the tide of chatter diminished. “We will be entering Meridia’s atmosphere in one Earth hour. If you have any final questions, please approach.”
Soft slippers rustled against the deck of the ship and glances conveying too many different feelings to catalog were exchanged. A few of the women stepped forward, but the majority kept their place, including Celeste. She wasn’t plagued by anything other than who would choose her, and that question wouldn’t be answered until at least tomorrow after they were settled in. And even then there was some kind of preparation period with the guy, maybe like a courtship humans had indulged in before her time.
Shirley eased alongside. “I feel sick to my stomach.”
So did Celeste, but she preferred to think about it as butterflies. “It will be fine. We can always refuse.” And what if the next male is worse? What if this is a really bad idea? She wondered who was looking at her file and her picture even now, and deciding to offer for her. At least no one should be left on the shelf, considering the apparent need for females there.
“It’s not a bad feeling, really.”
Startled, Celeste studied Shirley’s face, but the other woman was peering at the warrior who’d been in charge of the kidnapping—resettlement sounded better—of the women from her town. The one who’d been so outraged over her injuries. Commander Adares. Celeste realized her friend perked up whenever the warrior entered the room and recalled his covert glances in Shirley’s direction. She pressed a hand to her own belly and wondered if she’d be drawn to a Meridian she might hope to accept…
Chapter Four
Meridia was nothing like Earth. Not even close. The sky was mauve, for one thing, and there were two suns, in a red-gold shade. From Celeste’s viewpoint, the smaller sun appeared to chase the other across the sky, spraying hues of darker purple in its wake. In contrast, the soil was golden and the water—Meridia had a lot of water in the form of lakes, rivers, oceans, and streams—stretched out in placid vats of violet. Coupled with the bright-lime vegetation, it was almost too much to bombard the senses, except the housing was pale gray with slightly darker roofs and the streets and walking paths a soothing taupe. She sucked in a deep breath and tasted freshness and cleanliness with a faint bite of salt.
“Isn’t this something.” Shirley was looking about with an expression of awe likely mirrored on Celeste’s face.
“It’s quiet. And clean. Manicured yet with a hint of wildness.”
“Aren’t you the poet,” her friend teased. “Better than your place on Earth?”
“Everything there was so overgrown and unkempt. It smelled clean and fresh, though, what without transport to foul the air. Sort of like here, I guess.”
“The town I lived in wasn’t so clean. And pretty sparse. These dwellings look … rich.”
“Well, we were told the inhabitants here don’t lack for anything.” Except for children. Maybe that was why it was so quiet here, though not like the solitude back home. That was something she chose.
The Commander, following Cleros’s order, had formed them into groups of a hundred or so and sent them, with heavily armed escorts, into varied sections of the city where she understood the majority of Meridia’s inhabitants lived. Most of the male population were stationed throughout the galaxy, revolving home for periods of time. There weren’t huge numbers left, in any event, and the majority of them were male. That was the truth, if the few females she’d seen since arriving were any indication, unless they kept them sequestered. But so far, Celeste hadn’t found anyone to be lying to her.
Their technology was very superior, at least to that of Earth’s and presumably other species in the System, because despite their dwindling numbers, the Meridians ruled far and wide. She could understand they didn’t want their race to die out, not like humans who had essentially destroyed the planet and one another. She thought she could understand why the Meridians nixed Earth’s technology to force them to stand down, except it backfired. When given the opportunity to rebuild, her people had squandered it, in Celeste’s mind. Someone else had asked an important question on the ship some days past, the one niggling in the back of her mind.
“How did people on Earth find out you Meridians were coming for us?” the thin blonde named Tracey asked Cleros.
Celeste felt the tension as the rest of the women became quiet and the silence stretched out. It was the first time she sensed anything that wasn’t assured and confident.
“We aren’t certain, but it’s something we are investigating.”
Another woman spoke up. Celeste had stood on tiptoe but couldn’t see who it was. “So somebody didn’t want us coming your way.”
Cleros sighed and nodded. “We have xenophobia here
on Meridia as well, young female, and there are politics on any world. The current Ruler wishes concubines from your planet to procreate with our males and thus we carry out his orders, but not everyone agrees.”
She remembered the anxious swell of sound filling the room as she and the rest of the women muttered. She appreciated the honesty because it meant they could be on their guard. If certain Meridians were opposed to those orders, the women could get caught in the middle. The warriors in the room inched forward, but their demeanor illustrated no ill intent, but rather, concern and protectiveness. Nothing untoward had happened on board to her knowledge, but she fervently hoped there were no xenophobes among the Meridians nearby. Or someone with a different political agenda than the current ruling House. Or a combination of the two.
“Hey.”
Celeste blinked when Shirley waved a hand in front of her face. “Sorry. Thinking about the idea not everybody wants us here, and the way our fellow humans addressed that problem.”
Her friend inclined her head. “No sign of us not being welcome, though. At least not among those who greeted us. Before the Commander dispersed us.”
Shirley’s tone was bitter and Celeste tried vainly to read her. “What’s wrong?”
With a shrug, the other woman replied. “Not so different than Earth, honey. We might be real important here, but that doesn’t mean we get to choose.”
“We can refuse.” Celeste hung onto that point.
Huffing, Shirley paced away, then turned and stared. “That’s not what I mean. I didn’t return to Earth, I signed the contract, and agreed to the interview. But the one I want … he walked away without a word and I’ll probably end up with somebody I hate.”
Celeste didn’t know what to say to that. She had no idea if the Commander was eligible for a concubine. Cleros had spoken about measures to determine who would be allowed to choose, and maybe the warrior wasn’t one of them. What if that happened to other women … and her? What if they fell for someone and couldn’t be with them? Shirley was obviously miserable.
“Did you tell him how you felt?”
“Of course not. I mean, look at him. And look at the choice he has now. From nobody, to pretty much any of us. Risking rejection isn’t high on my list of things to do. It rates right up there with being kidnapped.”
“Maybe you can talk to the person in charge.”
“And say what? I’ll take the Commander, please? We might have the right to refuse, but there was nothing about choosing. It’s them choosing us.”
Celeste couldn’t help think about Roy and the redhead. There weren’t enough human females to go around here, at least she didn’t think there were, but what if these guys were like Roy? She shook her head and shoved the thoughts away. Cleros had assured all the women that there would be a match for all of them, eventually. He didn’t talk about cheating but inferred fidelity and the outlined contract supported it. Maybe the dearth of females promoted monogamy with these guys hanging onto the woman they were lucky to land. The idea of being shared didn’t sit well with her at all. Somehow she doubted any of the women would be allowed to refuse to join with some male on this planet, but time would tell.
“I guess you’re right, but I’m hoping for the best.”
“There’s that optimism again, Celeste.” Shirley turned on her heel and headed from the garden toward the building that housed the group they were included in. Someone had named it the Dormitory, after housing provided back when there were schools. Their time outside was over.
After taking another look at the surroundings, Celeste followed, and the circle of guards were but a few steps behind her. There was more studying ahead, and soon the matches would begin.
****
“I don’t understand.” Celeste studied the Meridian who stood in front of her. His stance was awkward, as though he was uncomfortable, yet his clothing and embellishments indicated his rank and wealth. She had no idea why he would find meeting her awkward.
“I represent the House of Daboort, whose head is the current Ruler of Meridia, and has been for decades, Lady Celeste.”
She hadn’t been a lady—or at least treated as one—ever. It felt respectful and she liked it. Anything to quiet the butterflies doing free-flight in her belly. But the Ruler of the planet was offering for her? How was that even possible? “Okay. And you’re saying he is choosing me?”
“Actually, the interview you participated in denotes a good match, and the subsequent tests denote your complete suitability. My Master has accepted, er, chosen you as his concubine if you complete the training successfully.”
“More training.” Studying filled the time and eased her nerves so she’d applied herself, but more?
“Preparation might be the better word,” he said, caution lacing every syllable. “Because he is the Ruler.”
“So it’s different than the other matches?” Many of the other women from her group had been chosen and were presently getting to know the male. Only one had refused immediately. Shirley. Celeste couldn’t think about her friend now.
“Somewhat.” His tone belied his statement, but she wasn’t surprised. It was presumably a great honor in any society to be chosen by the boss.
“You want to prepare me for becoming the concubine of your Ruler before I meet him. Like how to comport myself? Things of that nature?”
She didn’t miss the relief that crossed his aesthetic features. This Bast looked more like a clerk or something, hardly a warrior, but he seemed kind. He was also anxious and she supposed being sent on a mission for a monarch with a chance of failing might weigh on a person. Hadn’t the kings of old Earth cut off peoples’ heads?
“Yes. That’s exactly it, the reasons for the extra training. Will you accompany me?”
“Where are we going?”
“To the Ruler’s abode. You’ll have an apartment there during your education.”
She still couldn’t believe the Ruler of Meridia had chosen her and she wanted to ask Bast why, but the part of the contract outlining the primary reason for such a match danced through her head and she dispensed with fripperies. The interview had garnered her personal information and there’d been a variety of questions that turned her head inside out, but this wasn’t about how she looked or the way she acted, or who she was. It was about being fertile, and being a virgin probably didn’t hurt her chances any. A Ruler might have those standards. A pure broodmare. It made her unaccountably sad to think he had no need to meet her first.
“I need to say goodbye to someone.” It wasn’t like she had anything to pack, except maybe her boots. She raised a hand to trace the chain around her neck. Janler had fixed the twisted and broken links, and the locket fit safely behind the soft fabric of her top.
“As you wish.” Bast smiled widely and indicated he would await her.
Shirley hugged her hard and wished her the best, but it wasn’t difficult to see the misery behind the good wishes. “Let me know how you’re doing, Celeste. See where all that optimism got you? I hope he’s gorgeous. Head of the class, girl. I knew you had it in you.”
“I’m not sure I was supposed to tell you who chose me, Shirley.” Maybe she should have checked with Bast.
“I won’t tell anyone until you agree, Celeste. No point in causing any problems. Not that you’ll refuse, probably.”
“I’ll keep in touch. And get a message to me when you are matched.” She didn’t want to talk about her apparent good fortune, not when her friend wasn’t happy.
She waved a final farewell and hurried to meet Bast who flickered a glance toward her boots but courteously offered to carry them. “I’ll take those, my lady, and perhaps you’ll tell me why you look so … sad?”
She was hardly going to tell him that being a broodmare might represent a comfortable life, far better than the one she left behind, but that it also felt cold and distant. As though she was a commodity. Besides, Shirley was really sad. “My friend? She cares for one of the warriors who kidnapped, I mean
, picked us up on Earth, and hasn’t seen him since we landed.”
Bast frowned, and she immediately changed her opinion. This man might not look like a warrior but he could be downright scary, and he radiated power. “He took liberties?”
“No. Not at all. But they were … looking at one another while on the ship. And Shirley developed some feelings for him. She’s been offered a match but refused, and I expect it’s because she’d rather be with the Commander.”
“Commander Adares?” Her companion’s voice was sharp, almost commanding.
“I’d better not say anything further.”
“Not at all, my lady. I personally feel there could be … more to the matches if we didn’t rush into things. What is your friend’s name?”
Halting, she waited for him to stop and face her, searching his features. “What will you do with it?”
“I promise you, nothing untoward.”
“Shirley Hyde.”
Bast fished a square screen from a pocket of his tunic and tapped on it. “I have her.” He showed Celeste a picture and she nodded.
“That’s her.”
He tapped a while longer and made a quiet, satisfied sound. With a smile, he tucked the device away and offered his arm. “We don’t have far to travel. I thought you might want to walk, but I can arrange a conveyance.”
“Absolutely not. I like to be outdoors and active. Will you tell me what you just did? About Shirley?”
“I merely arranged for the Commander to have an audience with someone who can make special dispensation for those who do not have the immediate right to offer for a concubine.”
Celeste knew he’d chosen his words carefully and decided not to press him further. She’d be checking with Shirley and find out straight from the horse’s mouth.
They walked in relative silence for a few minutes with Bast pointing out things of interest and importance, such as the marketplace and the governing building on the horizon. “The Ruler spends a great deal of his time there.”
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