“Oh,” Xaroth called after them. Let-Shurit paused with her to smile back. “Have her cycle measured.”
“Yes, master!”
He started them off again. Selena felt the meeting anticlimactic. Xaroth had placed her dismally low on his priorities. This was almost as bad as receiving the negative attention she’d expected from him.
She wanted to stay and hear why they’d be going back to Earth. That was her home, after all, and the only thing left there was the slave colony.
“I’m not going too fast for you, am I dear?” Let-Shurit said.
Selena shot a stunned look at him. Then she remembered that this was Hern’s former manservant.
“Um…perhaps a little.”
Let-Shurit slowed down.
“So…why are we heading back to Earth?”
“Oh, my dear, you must not ask me such things. I don’t know what my master wishes for you to know. I wouldn’t dare try to guess.”
“Hmm.” Fair enough. At least this manservant was polite.
He glided onto a moving walkway while pulling her along. She stumbled, but not so terribly this time that she had to hold on to him. They rode upwards to a higher floor, then Let-Shurit led her off by the hand. By taking a large quick step she was able to dismount the path without a stumble.
Let-Shurit brought her into a lab. Selena recognized the room, even if it was dark and full of hard edges unlike the one on Elentinus’ ship. She got a cold wave of nausea.
“What are we doing here?”
He led her to a side table where a sophisticated robot was stationed. “Well that’s something I’m quite sure I can share with you. General Xaroth wishes to know when your next ovulation is.” He then turned to discuss his needs with the robot.
Selena’s dread and revulsion grew stronger. Was this when she’d start living the nightmare Maritza had described? Where she’d be forced to ovulate faster so two babies a month could be harvested from her womb and gestated artificially?
She wanted to tell Let-Shurit about how she couldn’t abide scattering her children all over the universe. Her lips remained sealed however. This was a matter to take up with her husbands. If Xaroth wouldn’t consider her feelings about this she was sure Hern would. A tearful tantrum now wouldn’t get her anywhere.
The robot placed her hand under a scanner that projected a grid on her skin. Then a diagram of her body appeared on the wall. The robot used buttons on his console to go through different representations: her skeletal system, nervous system, circulatory system, then finally one with just her reproductive organs. It zoomed into her left ovary and spouted off a date and time. Let-Shurit thanked the robot and took her arm to lead her off again.
“When is that?” Selena said.
“That’s in two days, my dear.”
That calmed her enough for the imaginary ice in her stomach to melt. She would certainly have a chance to broach the breeding topic with one or both of her husbands before then.
They rode a walkway to the usual quarters Xaroth mentioned. Selena saw it was the same as Hern’s chamber, except even sparser. Xaroth hadn’t moved any of his belongings into it yet.
“Here we are,” Let-Shurit said. “You’ll be fine waiting here, won’t you?”
Selena stared at the empty room a moment without answering. Then she looked at him. “Can you stay with me?”
Let-Shurit placed his hand to his chest with a look of surprise. “Oh, my dear! You’re so precious you would make me feel guilty if I left you!”
They sat at the table. “I can’t stay terribly long, I’m afraid. My master may need me.”
“What does he expect from me—your master? I mean, I don’t know how I’m supposed to behave.”
Let-Shurit clutched her hand in both of his. His pale blue skin was warm. “Darling, you’ve nothing to fear. All my master wants is for you to bear his offspring. So long as you’re obliging in that you can hardly do wrong.”
Selena stared at him without blinking. “So…just do what he tells me?”
“Yes, my dear, and save any complaints, outbursts, tears, or tantrums for your time with General Hern. My master has little patience for such things. But you’ll see. He’ll make it easy for you to understand what he wishes from you.”
She drew a long breath. “Okay.”
Let-Shurit released her hand while still smiling. “How has your time been with General Hern?”
Selena felt tears building behind her eyes. “Wonderful,” she managed to say before her voice grew choked. “I love him.”
“Oh, how marvelous!”
Her eyes were welling up. She cleared her throat to stave off some emotion.
“General Hern has always been kind. Compassion comes naturally to him. That’s so very rare for our people.”
She nodded.
Let-Shurit gave what seemed like an artificial pause. Then he looked at his manicured fingernails. “Has General Hern spoken of me at all?”
Selena heard a quaver in his voice. She glanced at him and saw lines of stress around his eyes. This drew her out of her own momentary despair.
“Yes. He said nice things about you. He said he wished he didn’t have to trade you.”
Let-Shurit burst out with something half a sob and half a laugh. He covered his mouth and composed himself. “Is…is that so?”
“Yes.”
He still avoided her eyes. “I have a pet Domestic here. He sent me a message—he said that Shol-Ignar had been severely punished. In fact, isn’t he still recovering? That’s why he was not at General Hern’s side?”
“Yes.” Her curiosity began piquing. “Shol-Ignar stepped on me and kicked me so General Hern had him whipped.”
“Oh!”
Selena could tell the exclamation was a delighted one, even if Let-Shurit managed not to smile for a moment.
“How wretched for my poor former master—to have such an unsuitable manservant.”
Selena waited.
“You know, I’m not entirely sure my dear master General Xaroth is pleased with me. Oh, I do try to serve him as best I’m able, but there are such dramatic clashes of personality. I hardly know how to make up for my deficits.” He tapped his nails on the table causally. “Do you think our dear General Hern might ask for me back?”
“Shol-Ignar doesn’t want to go back to General Xaroth.”
Let-Shurit grasped her hand again. “Oh no, of course not! That would certainly be a terrible idea.” He swallowed. “I merely thought perhaps a new manservant could be brought from the home world. Someone eager and young. Stern, the way General Xaroth is. There are so many of my kinsmen clamoring for their chance to escape the Etiken ghetto—especially now, when castration has been outlawed.”
Selena kept her gaze steady on him. They’d known each other how long? Fifteen minutes? And already he was trying to get her help. The implication became obvious to her.
“I think you’re right. A new manservant who hasn’t been castrated would be better for General Xaroth. Especially when he commits Ryezeit with them.”
Let-Shurit’s eyes grew wide as saucers. He looked at her with his lower lip trembling.
“At least a servant who hasn’t been castrated might enjoy it.”
He covered his mouth with his hand. Then his eyes squeezed in anguish and tears spilled down his face. Let-Shurit leaned forward, quaking with sobs.
Selena’s lips parted. She felt as though her insides twisted. The crime was more horrible than she realized, and here she was, heartlessly mining for information. She went to Let-Shurit and draped an arm around him.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
He wept too fervently to form words.
Selena’s stomach clenched. “What a terrible thing for him to do.”
Let-Shurit jerked up from his huddled pose. He grabbed her arm hard enough to hurt her.
“You must not speak of this to anyone! I’ve told you nothing. I would never dare complain about anything—anything my mast
er does.”
She swallowed with her expression still pained.
“Swear to me you won’t speak of it! If I’m dismissed I’ll be exiled back to the ghetto. You can’t imagine how horrible it is—I’d never survive there now. I’ve grown far too soft for such a life.”
“It’s okay. I won’t…I swear I won’t get you in trouble. It’s just horrible. Shol-Ignar went through the same thing. He just about admitted as much.”
Let-Shurit broke into new tears. “General Xaroth…he wasn’t happy with him. He wanted someone—less resistant. But…it’s so painful.”
“Oh, God.” Selena soothed his silky hair.
He snuffled. “Would you…when it’s appropriate…would you see if General Hern might ask for me back?”
Selena’s chest ached. She turned away from him. “General Hern wants to keep Shol-Ignar. He used this punishment to bond with him. I just don’t think—“
Let-Shurit wept into his hand. “Of course. It’s hopeless for me.”
“Can’t you speak to General Xaroth?”
His eyes grew wide again. “Certainly not!” He dabbed his nose on his sleeve. “He’d ship me back to the ghetto so fast—my word! Don’t you dare breathe a word of this to him.”
“No. I won’t. I promise.”
He stood while erasing his tears on the sides of his hands. “I need to get back. Oh, what a wretched thing to happen. My face must look destroyed.”
“You look fine.” She meant this. His face had only flushed slightly and was already returning to normal.
Let-Shurit stood before her and clutched both her arms. “My dear, I beg you, not a word of this to anyone. Not even a whisper! Should you betray me it can never be undone. I’ll simply be shipped away to the most gruesome Hell you can imagine. I beg you not to condemn me. You may think your words harmless, but you don’t know of our systems. You can’t. You’ve barely just arrived.”
“I won’t say anything to anyone. I already promised this to you, and I keep my promises.”
He turned away, unconvinced. “Oh, I dearly hope so.” Then he went into bathroom to wash his face. He came out looking fresh and dewy. “All right then. I must return to my master.”
He waited. Selena didn’t know what he expected. A moment more and he turned on his heel and left her.
She resumed her seat at the table, feeling exhausted.
In a shorter time than she expected, the chamber door slid open once again. General Xaroth entered followed by Let-Shurit.
“Then tell the chief communications officer that no messages are to be sent to Lord Elentinus nor any member of the High Council without my approval.” He noticed her standing beside the table midway through his sentence and stepped toward her.
“Yes, master.” Let-Shurit wrote notes with a stylus onto an electronic tablet.
Xaroth looked Selena over. “Oh, right. I’ve still to deal with this one. Sit, woman.”
Selena sat. Xaroth sat in the other seat and started taking off his boots.
“Make sure the officer knows I’m in command now, not Hern.”
“Yes, master.”
“This isn’t technically Lord Elentinus’ jurisdiction anyway. I don’t want him involved.”
“Very wise, master.” Let-Shurit’s smile was constant. Selena found it false-looking now.
Xaroth kicked off both boots and sank back in the cushioned chair. His feet were still sheathed in black material similar to the garb under his armor.
“Shall I prepare your night potion, master?”
Xaroth waved Let-Shurit away with one hand. “No. See to your orders, but come straight back to me when you’re finished.”
Let-Shurit bowed to him. “Right away, master. Er…but, master? Wouldn’t you need a bit of privacy this evening to become acquainted with your new bride?”
Selena felt a shard of ice in her middle.
Xaroth scowled at him. “I know damn well what my needs are. You’re to obey my orders and come straight back to this room. Understood?”
“Yes, of course, master.” He hastily left.
Xaroth leaned his head against the wall behind the chair. He closed his eyes and rested. Selena watched him for a moment, but then focused on her folded hands in her lap. She wondered if he meant to sleep until Let-Shurit got back.
“It occurs to me that I don’t know your name,” Xaroth said without opening his eyes.
“Selena.”
“Selena, you may call me General Xaroth until we’ve have the matrimonial joining. Then you may call me husband. Understood?”
“Yes, General Xaroth.” She fought a growing urge to cry. If grief infected her voice she knew it would just make him angry.
“Where are you from, then?”
She didn’t understand the question and began to panic.
“Where did Hern get you?”
“Oh. The slave colony on Earth.”
“And how did it end up being you? I take it there were other eligible females.”
Selena pursed her lips a moment. “I volunteered.”
Xaroth opened his eyes. He looked at her critically, as though he thought her lying. Then he scoffed.
“So here we are, dragging women from the past away from their homes and families, throwing them into a world completely foreign to them—terrifying even, when we have a ready source of females who would marry us willingly. That’s the state of our leadership, Ms. Selena. That’s what happens when a ‘compassionate’ dictator is given authority over the only race in the universe we can breed with.”
Selena stared at her hands again. She realized he was talking both about his deceased wife and Lord Elentinus.
Xaroth stood. “Well, things are about to change. It’s always the military that must clean up the refuse of a careless government. Would you like something to drink?”
She stiffened. “Yes, please.”
He went beside the door to press the call button for a robot. “Now we’ll see how well we fair when decisions are made based on logic. On cold reason, Ms. Selena, and enforced through the superior might granted to us by the gods.”
The door slid open to reveal a Domestic.
“Bring us two Shraffs. Cold.”
It began to roll away before the door closed. Xaroth dropped back into his seat.
“There’s no room for compassion when our race is nearly extinct. I shouldn’t be the only one to realize this, though lately it seems that I am. I just thank the gods that it’s my turn to lead our soldiers.”
He reclined once again and closed his eyes. Selena fidgeted. Words were making her tongue itch. She tried to convince herself to keep quiet. Her fidgeting went from her hands to her toes, and then finally her lips moved.
“General Xaroth,” she said.
He eyed her.
“This is fascinating to me. Won’t you tell me more?”
His face never lessened in its sternness. He sat up again and turned his chair to face her.
“Ms. Selena, I do not require the vacuous idolatry of my wife to bolster my self image, nor do I welcome attempts to stall my advances long enough for my manservant to return. Kindly tell me, which of those endeavors were you pursuing?”
His glare told her he expected an answer. She felt a little sick, but also challenged. The latter gave her strength enough to answer him without falling apart.
“Neither, General Xaroth.”
“What then? Take care to be truthful. I’ve no tolerance for deceit.”
Her lower lip trembled. “I was trying to get you to tell me why you’re having the warships head back towards Earth.”
He gaped at her a moment. Then he laughed. His smile remained afterwards. “You’re cunning. I didn’t expect that.”
She swallowed.
The door slid open and the robot entered with a tray that held two metal bottles. A shroud of icy condensation wafted off of them. It presented the bottles to them and left. Xaroth opened one and gave it to her, then opened the second and drank a
swig from it. Selena felt like they were toasting how cunning she was, so she tilted back her head and drank. It tasted like beef broth with vinegar in it, and then was followed by a strong alcohol aftertaste. Being a lightweight, she grimaced and shuddered.
Xaroth laughed again. “This is a strong libation. Unless your physiology is far different from what I assume, it’s going to get you intoxicated. Particularly if you try to match me sip for sip.”
She peeked at him while a heat spilled through her face. “Um…well…are we going to be…um, joining tonight?”
He gave her a contented look. “If so you’ll wish to get drunk, is that what you’re saying?”
Obviously. She wondered if she should lie so not to insult him, then she remembered his comment about deceit. “Yes, General Xaroth.”
“If it’s all the same, I’d prefer a partner who doesn’t need the aid of spirits. However…” He glanced at the door. “I wish I’d remembered to ask Let about your cycle.”
Selena recited the date and time for him.
“Ah, well.” He paused to take another sip. “No rush then.”
She felt like a fist clenching her stomach finally let go. Her posture slackened. She pushed the metal bottle away from her.
“General Xaroth?”
“Yes?”
“May I ask about our children?”
He looked away from her. Then he took another sip of his drink. Silence stretched several more moments.
“I’m sparing you the discomfort of bedding me. Kindly return the favor by sparing me the discomfort of that conversation. You may go back to your quarters.”
Selena’s lips parted.
He gave her a cross look. “Go on. Leave. I wish to go to bed.”
She managed to get her legs to work and headed for the door. Her trembling fingers pressed the call button for a robot.
“I’ll make time for you tomorrow.”
She looked back. His face had softened.
“I feel this is a fine enough introduction for now. You appear as though you’ll be a perfectly suitable wife.”
Her heart was racing. “Thank you.”
He turned away from her. “Goodnight, Ms. Selena.”
“Goodnight, General Xaroth.”
The Complete Alien's Bride Page 45