Araman's Aria

by Suzanne Embree

  “Who else?” Araman growled.

  “Hello.” Brea’s soft lilt came from behind him. Araman whirled around to see her holding up neatly folded clothes that were tied with a black ribbon to hold the bundles together.

  He looked down at her offering and then back to her pale green eyes sparkling. She was smiling at him. The delighted look on her face with her gifts defused some of the anger threatening to erupt.

  “Brea? Where did you get these?” Araman asked in a calmer tone.

  “It was very difficult.” She said handing Santari his bundle. Brea turned back to Araman. “I planned to teach you both how to counter certain intimate attacks.”

  “Now there’s training that I could get into.” Santari gibed ignoring the glare from his superior.

  “In order to learn you needed the proper attire. When I saw you did not have the clothes I tried using the computer.” She moved her head from side to side with a slight frown.

  “I had to pick many pictures to find the right…” her voice became drowned out from the sound of Santari’s howling, “it wasn’t easy as so many appeared that would.…”

  “Be appropriate.” Araman finished grabbing the metal pad from the manager’s hand wanting to see the amount Brea had spent. Santari watched as Araman began a slow burn. He didn’t have the clenched jaw or pulsating cheek, Santari noted, which to him was a good sign.

  Araman stood staring at Brea. Inside, his emotions were at battle as which would surface first. He was touched by her sweet gesture and did not want to ruin the moment for her by getting angry but the sound of Santari’s chuckling was beginning to irritate him.

  Araman set the clothes aside and turned to the manager. He forced a smile and pleasant demeanor across his face.

  “It seems we will have some returns and please credit my account at once. I would like to eat lunch.”

  The manager grinned and nodded. “I will personally take care of it myself.” He gave a slight bow and turned abruptly.

  Araman gestured to Brea to sit. “Thank you Lyra.” He gently said. “It was very thoughtful of you to think of our needs.” He smiled returning to his seat. “And when did you want to commence training.” He leaned back as a waiter brought over Araman’s favorite Terrian coffee for all three.

  “After lunch, if you are able.” Brea asked eyeing the tray of fruit coming their way.

  “I think I am able.” Santari stretched out.

  “You will need to change into the clothes for movement and allow your energies to move about freely.”

  “Freely.” Santari nodded. “Duly noted.”

  “Santari,” Brea’s voice softened, “I know you like to hide behind your humor but you need to be serious about this. What I will show you will save your life and somebody else’s.” She reached for a piece of yellow fruit.

  “Brea, I appreciate the offer but as far as training and combat, I doubt there is much you can teach us.” Santari said. “But,” he added quickly when she started to look dejected. “I am curious after watching you fight. Can you teach me do to a flip?”

  She shook her head at him. “You are too old.” Brea took a bite of the sweet fruit.

  “Too old?” Santari sat up straight.

  Brea nodded sucking the juice from her fingers not realizing the effect she was having on the men. Araman handed her a square piece of cloth.

  “This will help.” He told her grinning.

  “Not me it won’t.” Santari grimaced. Not only had he been just insulted, now he was going to have a painful afternoon standing at attention.

  “I learned as a child how to move, because of that, I am more flexible in my movement.”

  “Really?” Santari leaned in closer.

  “Yes.” Brea took another piece of fruit. “You are not. Because you have stiff bones, you can not move the same way.”

  “Stiff is a good way to put it.” Santari took a deep breath. Araman’s glare was getting hard to ignore. “I think, if you will excuse me, I will go find a cool shower and change.” He stood up slowly and with a slight nod to Araman he left for his suite.

  Brea watched him leave. “He is acting odd.” She glanced over at Araman.

  “He is odd.” He retorted finishing his wedge of Terrian Apple.

  She dipped her head down and then back to him, “And you are fine this morning?”

  Araman smiled then stole a kiss. With his hands still on her face he gazed into her light green eyes. “I am very fine Lyra.”

  “I was worried your experience would.…” Her translator searched for a word.

  “Put me off?” Araman finished for her leaning back. He popped a purple cherry into his mouth and enjoyed the sensation of the sweet-tart flavor bursting in his mouth.

  “Sometimes when one is not used to such journey’s it can frighten them.”

  He took her hand. “No Lyra, it did not frighten me.”

  “Good.” Brea smiled at him. She was relieved “I want to show you and Santari what I know. It might help you.”

  “Help us how?”

  Brea took a deep breath. She had forgotten she was not supposed to know about the mission. She had to think carefully on her answer.

  “You and Santari know how to hit. You do not know how to fight or you would not have been looking at a weapon yesterday.” She could feel no tug on her energies to indicate it was an untruth.

  Araman chuckled. “Yes, and I might not have been looking down the sight line of a weapon if somebody had not started the fight. Diplomacy might have worked.”

  “Diplomacy?” She questioned softly waiting for the translator to kick in. She turned surprised at him. “You think talking nicely to those…to those…Renpets would have settled the moment?”

  “What is a Renpet?” Araman asked out of curiosity.

  “It is a small flat headed rodent with beady bulging eyes and no ears. Its skin is covered in slime so it looks like it has no hair and it leaves a poisonous trail that smells like rotting flesh. They only serve as fodder for the larger prey as they are mentally deficient.” Her translator was barely keeping up with her thought flow. “They do nothing but eat, breathe and copulate.” Brea said in disgust.

  “Lyra, military regulations state that in any hostile situation diplomacy must be attempted.” Araman explained.

  “They were not looking for pretty words. They wanted to hurt that woman. Words would have been a waste of time.” She shot back.

  “You’re right.” He nodded rising after a silent pause. He did not want to argue with her and when he thought about it, the thugs were a little intent on killing. “Words would not have worked.” He held his hand out to her. “You know it would not hurt Santari and I to learn another fighting technique and have a work out.” Araman gave her a smile.

  She eyed him suspiciously.

  “What?”

  “If you are trying to appease my anger.…” Brea said as a smile spread across her face.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Santari step out of his doorway. He was struggling to keep the pants up while fighting with the belt. Brea started to laugh when a breeze caught the end of the thick tie and Santari started to chase it like Beebles chased his tail.

  “We should maybe rescue him?” Araman watched his underling become frustrated.

  “Brea!” Santari shouted stomping across the beach as the Commandant and Brea stepped off the deck. “I can’t keep my pants up!”

  His anger was met with pale green eyes twinkling as she fought to keep her laughter at the wild man from escaping.

  “Here.” Brea tugged on the tops with the ribbon. She tied a unique style slipknot to keep the bottoms up. “Now they won’t fall only loosen with your movement to allow your energies freedom.”

  She took the belt from his hand and tied it around his waist holding the sleeveless tunic together again with her odd knot. “You see how it is done?” Brea turned to Araman. “You need to change.” Her focus returned to Santari.

  “I’ll be rig
ht back.” Araman said ignoring the silly grin on Santari’s face from Brea’s attention as he headed to the suite.

  “Can you come back as a duck?” Santari called after him. “Ow!” He rubbed his arm. “What was that for?” He looked to the spot rising in a welt. Santari was not sure whether to be in awe of her strength or fear of what she could really do to him if she chose to.

  Brea was frowning at him with her hands on her hips. Her black and gold hair hung in soft tendrils around her face. Santari understood how his Commandant fell under her spell. Even angry, her pale green eyes darkening under a cloud of anger she was still beautiful.

  “To get your body aware of what could come.” Brea shook a dainty finger at him.

  “Pain?” His voice rose a notch. “My body is aware of pain. I think my body has had enough pain for a lifetime Brea.”

  “Pain will only be a part of it if your body needs it to learn.” She explained to him as if he were a child.

  “My body does not need pain to learn.” Santari began to worry about his safety at her strange method of teaching. “I can read you know.” He shot at her.

  “Everything alright?” Araman wondered why his underling was acting like a schoolgirl over a horned mutant beetle.

  “No!” Santari whirled around to Araman. “She thinks my body needs to learn through pain. What kind of sadist did they match you up with?”

  “Santari,” Brea’s soft lilt interjected. “You are a physical being. In order for your body, not your brain, to sense and react, pain must be used as a tool for your body to learn.”

  “Keep an open mind Santari. Sometimes Brea’s words sound worse than they really are.” Araman reassured.

  “Great. Keep an open mind. Pain is a tool for my body to learn.” He looked over at the two of them. “You know Araman, you’re just as bad as she is.”

  “Please stand beside each other with your feet shoulder length apart and relax your hands at your sides.” Brea removed her sandals waiting for the men to take the stance. She started circling them breathing in and out in a steady rhythm. “Be aware of your surroundings.” Her voice was soft. “Be aware of the sounds of movement.”

  Brea brushed by Araman and could feel his energy extending out as a shield. She wondered if he could feel his immense strength. It shimmered before her like lightening. Her head snapped up to Araman who was smiling at her with his eyes.

  Holding his gaze she brought her foot up to knee level then immediately lowered it. Her efforts to bring him down were resisted.

  “Be aware of that which you can not see but that you can feel.” She came up behind Santari. “Be aware of touch.” She gently hooked her foot behind his knee and gave a slight push.

  Santari was only aware of what Brea was saying when he felt his knee buckle and he ended up with a mouthful of salty tasting sand. It stung where her foot had made contact.

  Brea knelt by Santari’s head. “No Santari, you must not fall. Even when you relax your body must be aware of attacks.”

  “Do you mind Brea, I am in the middle of trying to compose my dignity. Give a guy break.” Santari spit some sand out of his mouth. He rose up to his knees and looked at the tiny woman who had the touch of a wasp.

  “Why is my leg stinging?”

  “That is how the Shinwa like me fight. We not only use our physical strength but we enhance it with thought and energy. I gave your body a.…” Brea gave the side of her nose a tap as her translator failed.

  “Zap?” Santari looked at her with an amused smile.

  “Zap?” She looked over to Araman who grinned at her. “Alright, I gave your body a zap of energy to learn to be aware of such attacks. In hostile situations, using a combination of strength and energy you can break a man’s leg no matter his size.”

  Santari stood up and rubbed behind his leg. “Yeah, I believe that.” He cracked his neck and jumped shaking. “Am I able to use my energy?”

  “If you become aware of the web within, you could.” Brea answered. “Again take the stance.” She stepped in front of the two men and stood facing them. She sensed within Santari that he would have to go through more pain to be aware of his energies. More than she was willing to teach him.

  Araman looked over to Santari and back to Brea. “How quickly can your methods be taught?”

  “Some in a day, others a lifetime. Weaker moves that command more physical strength than energy can be taught more easily. The move on Santari can be taught to physically bring down an opponent. The more energy used the more damage done.” Brea caught on to the meaning behind his question. “Oleander was only interested in the teaching of the physical.” A broad smile crossed her face. “For the type of training they insisted on, it would not have given them anymore advantage.”

  Araman broke into a grin. “I thought you could not tell an untruth?” He taunted.

  “I can not. I can choose my words carefully. You never asked me on the methods only what.” She smiled sweetly up to him.

  “I think she got you there,” barbed Santari.

  “What would you have taught Oleander?” Araman asked her wondering if she would show them.

  “What I did to Santari for one.” Brea moved closer to Araman. She brought a hand up to his arm and pushed through his aura trying to reject her touch. She dragged her fingers held together like the shape of an arrow up over his shoulder to the base of his neck.

  Brea felt a ball of fire form beneath her touch. She recognized the sign of energy burst and pulled away by bring her hand along to his other arm. She began to question if Araman was possibly part Shinwa and was not aware of it. Only a Shinwa male would give his mate an instinctual warning.

  Araman looked down at her. He had felt her touch and he had felt her intent to give him a little sting. “How is that move easy to teach?”

  “What move? I saw nothing but Brea touching you.” Santari furled his brows.

  Brea moved towards Santari who jumped back. “I won’t hurt you.” She said softly. She was pleased his body was now aware that she could bring pain.

  Santari looked to Brea’s sweet demeanor and then to Araman. “You know I’m going to regret this.”

  “You see Araman, the physical body although as well toned as Santari, will still have various points that are weak.” She placed her hand gently on Santari’s arm. She felt his muscles stiffen under her fingers.

  “Here is a very good spot to rid the air of your opponent’s lungs. In any species that relies on oxygen, the spot where the ribcage meets is a good place to hit physically.” She placed her hand on the spot on Santari.

  His skin began to tingle and warm where her hand lay. It became torture when Brea slowly glided her hand downward pausing slightly at the top of his pants before she slid her touch around his waist to his backside. As her fingers ran up his spine it left a trail he could feel of tiny electrical volts.

  Araman stood with his fists clenched at Brea touching his underling the way she touched him. He fought to control the urge to rip her away from Santari who was closing his eyes as her hand reached the base of his skull. He didn’t like the smile that crossed her face either.

  Brea’s fingers found at the back of Santari’s neck the give away sign that he was a physical being. A small bone at the base of the skull that came to a small-blunted point. She gently started to massage it.

  Araman nearly belted the man when a small groan escaped from Santari’s mouth. Brea looked over to Araman and gave him a warning glare not to interrupt her. He clenched his jaw.

  Santari’s mind felt like it was melting into a mud puddle from the massage Brea was giving him. No wonder Araman was a raging tri-horned bullrus when it came to his concubine if this was the treatment he received.

  Before the next thought could formulate, Santari felt his mind switch off just as the feeling of his landing on the surf hit him.

  “In some species the physical beings have a bone on the skull that if pushed hard enough could kill them. I have only rendered him unconsci
ous. When he wakes he will feel like he has had a rest.”

  “Why did you do that?” Araman looked at the heap lying at her feet.

  “If he should be attacked that way again, his body will remember and he will instinctively react to protect himself.” She looked down to him with a tender smile. “I worry about him.”

  Araman put his hand up to the base of his skull and felt for the bone. He didn’t have one. He felt relief and then wondered about the heated sensation he felt there. He knew Brea withdrew when she could not find the bone or he would have been the body on the beach.

  Santari started to move. He felt like he had been hit with a ton of bricks. He tried moving a leg but it felt too much like expanding rubber to maneuver. He laid there and grunted.

  He saw Brea’s face appear to his level but upside down. “Are you ill?” She asked.

  “Araman?” Santari flopped his body onto his back and looked up to his superior. “Keep her the frigg away from me.” He looked over to Brea who had straightened. “No offense, but you are going to kill me yet.”

  Brea gave him a breathtaking smile. “Oh Santari,” her soft lilt chimed, “have no worries, I would never do anything that would hurt you.”

  “No, just render me unconscious. Why don’t you pick on Araman while I lie here and scoop together the last remaining shreds of my male ego.”

  “I can’t.” Brea’s pale green eyes shone in amusement at him.

  “Oh, well in that case, so much for male ego. Please just take whatever remaining pride and dignity I have left. Why not strip me naked and sell tickets?” Santari shot at her.

  “I am unsure why you would want me to do that to you.” Brea seemed confused.

  “I wouldn’t. That’s the point.” Santari sat up. He used his hands to brace himself against the wobbly feeling in his spine.

  “Then why ask me to do it to you.”

  “Because you have done everything else to me. Zapped my leg, knocked me out, what’s left?”

  “Lots.” Brea started to laugh. She offered a hand to help him up. He looked at her in distrust. “I promise no more Santari.”

  “I told you I was going to regret this.” He took Brea’s offer and rose to his feet. “So explain to me why you can’t pick on Araman.”