“One day a group of Terien officials came to my apartment. They informed me that, by Terien law, only a married couple may adopt a child, and any child without parents must be adopted. If I wanted to raise the baby, I had to get married and legally adopt her. Of course, the point of the exercise was that once legally adopted, the baby’s real father was in the clear. Forever. But I didn’t care about that. I wanted to raise her myself partly for my Mother, and partly because I loved her. And, I admit, partly because she was the only blood relative I had. The problem was that I didn’t even have a boyfriend, let alone someone to marry.
“Luckily for me, they had on hand a man who was very much in need of a wife. The Royal Princess had the bad taste and poor judgment to fall in love with a commoner, even going so far as to agree to marry him. Since this young man also happened to be the most brilliant young scientist to come along in Terien history, they didn’t want to kill him, or imprison him. But they couldn’t let him marry the Princess, either.”
“Michael,” Vikter said softly.
“Yes,” she replied. “The deal was pretty simple. We got married, legally adopted Nica, and they paid us an allowance. They also finished paying my way through medical school, and saw to it that Michael had the best possible education that could be provided on Terien.”
“It wasn’t until later that Michael and I compared stories. We realized that the man who was supposed to be watching over the Princess while she was in school was the same one who’d fathered my new sister. He saw a way to get out of two very sticky problems with one stroke, and Michael and I paid the price for his mistakes.”
“That was five years ago,” Lance said.
“Yes, and I know what you’re going to ask. Why didn’t we leave once we were done with school?”
Lance nodded.
“The more well known Michael became, the more the Teriens wanted to make sure he didn’t defect. He became valuable to them simply because of how smart he was. You guys know that, it’s why you invited him here.”
Vikter, Lance and Hunt all nodded. They’d heard of Michael’s reputation long before they’d met him at the conference and realized how truly gifted he was.
“Unfortunately for the Terien government, they couldn’t prevent him from traveling to conferences throughout the galaxy without ruining the reputation they wanted him to have. So they threatened to take his credentials if he didn’t return. Just in case that wasn’t enough, they also threatened to take Nica from me if I didn’t keep Michael in line.”
“Michael worked really hard to get the appointment to Earth only because we saw it as a first step in eventually escaping the Teriens. Then you invited him here right after we moved to Earth, and here we are.”
“I’m surprised they allowed all of you to come,” Vikter said. “Grateful, but surprised.”
“Michael told them that Jasan insisted on his family traveling with him, that it was the custom of the Jasani to go nowhere without their families,” Honey said. “And of course they pulled my credentials. Just in case. My real worry is Nica. I’m afraid they may try to take her from me, just out of spite.”
“They will never take Nica, or you, or Michael, unless one of you wishes to return of your own free will,” Vikter declared. “On this you have my word.”
Once again Honey felt tears roll down her cheeks. This time Lance wiped them away for her. “Thank you,” she whispered, very tired now after talking so much.
“Is there any possibility of a divorce?” Hunt asked, voicing the question he knew Vikter would not dare to ask.
“On Terien there are two types of marriage, both equally binding in the eyes of the law,” she replied. “One is consensual, and includes vows made by both parties, one to the other. The other is purely contractual and consists of nothing more than two signatures on a document. Michael and I have the contractual type. But, as I said, there is no divorce on Terien. If there was, I doubt they would grant one to us since they forced us into the marriage to begin with.”
Honey’s eyes closed even though she tried to keep them open. She struggled to lift her eyelids again, wanting to ask about Nica, and Michael.
“Rest, zetia,” Vikter said. “Michael and Nica are both safe. We will ask no more questions of you now. Just rest. Your care is in our hands.”
They watched as Honey sighed softly, her body relaxing as she fell asleep, and still they watched her.
“You were right, Vikter,” Hunt said after a while. “Things were different than they appeared.”
“Yes, they were,” Vikter replied, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Honey. “I confess, I never expected them to be this different. It’s almost too good to be true.”
“We must be cautious,” Lance said. “Already we are allowing our emotions to get ahead of the situation.”
“What do you mean?” Hunt asked.
“Vikter called her zetia, more than once,” Lance replied. “I nearly used an endearment myself, and we all feel as though she is now ours.”
“She is ours,” Hunt said.
“No, she is not,” Lance cautioned. “She is still married to Michael. The circumstances of the marriage do not erase it. In the eyes of all she is still Michael’s wife.”
“Their marriage is no more than a technicality,” Hunt argued.
“No marriage is a technicality,” Vikter said. “They did not make vows to each other, but they do have a contract and we must honor it. Until the marriage is dissolved, she is not free.”
“How do we behave as though she is not our Arima when we know the truth?” Hunt asked.
“I don’t think we can,” Lance said. “I know that I can’t.”
“I don’t know if I can or not,” Vikter said. “Nor do I trust myself enough to risk it. One kiss, one touch, one unguarded word and we risk her honor as well as our own.”
“I think those who know of the situation will not judge us,” Hunt argued.
“I agree,” Vikter replied. “But there are many Clan Jasani on the ranch who do not know the situation. Will we announce to everyone the things that Honey has trusted us with in an effort to make our own lives easier?”
“No, of course not,” Hunt said with a sigh. “What will we do then?”
“We must keep our distance from her until their marriage is ended,” Vikter said.
“Honey said that Terien will never grant them a dissolution,” Lance said.
“It is fortunate, then, that they are not on Terien,” Vikter said. “I think that, under the circumstances, Prince Garen would readily grant a divorce. We cannot ask for it ourselves, of course, but I think it would be acceptable for us to approach Michael on this matter, so long as we are discreet about it.”
“In that case, we probably will have to stay away from Honey for only a matter of a few days,” Lance said with relief.
“If all goes well, yes, I think that’s a safe guess,” Vikter replied.
“That’s good,” Hunt said. “I doubt I could manage to stay away from her any longer than that.”
“Shall we go now?” Lance asked hesitantly.
“No, not yet,” Vikter replied. “We will stay with her until she is fully healed. Then we will throw ourselves into clearing the rubble from the explosion and rebuilding the Research Center and the Infirmary. It will give us something to do while we wait.”
Day Seven
Darck Winicke stepped out of the small hut he shared with Thelba and looked around at the rest of the small village. It was difficult to tell whether it was day or night since the entire village was hidden inside of a massive cave, but he didn’t care. Never in his life had Darck felt as content as he had since coming here to this hidden village on Onddo. Never had he been more accepted. That the village population was entirely female made his acceptance all the more remarkable to him. On Earth women, all women, young or old, had looked at him with nothing but disgust. Except his mother.
“What is troubling you, Darck?” Thelba asked from the doorway
behind him.
He turned to look at the female Narrasti, amazed, as always, at the depth of his feelings for her. Raised on Earth, he had a human’s idea of female beauty, which Thelba could never come close to meeting. Nevertheless, from the first moment he’d met her he’d thought her the most beautiful female he’d ever laid eyes on with her light green, scaled skin, and warm yellow eyes. She looked like a female version of himself, which was interesting considering that he was only part Narrasti.
“You no wish to tell Thelba?” she asked. “You could tell Marqex. She listen good.”
“Of course I wish to tell you,” he said, reaching out to caress her cheek. “I was just thinking about my mother.”
“She makes you troubled?” Thelba asked.
“No, the way I treated her makes me troubled,” he replied. “She was the only person in my entire life, aside from you, who loved me unconditionally. But I wanted to be accepted by my father’s people, so I turned my back on her, treated her as they treated her. Only now do I see how I must have hurt her.”
“How did they treat her?” Thelba asked.
“Badly,” Darck replied. He couldn’t think of a way to explain to her that his mother had been a prisoner of the Brethren for her entire life, that she’d been forced to give birth to him. How could he tell a being as gentle and compassionate as Thelba that he had not only accepted that situation as normal, but that he had become one of his own mother’s jailers?
“Does your mother still live?” Thelba asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “She was very old when I last saw her, before we left Earth.”
“You must make peace with her shadi,” Thelba said. “If you do not, it will haunt you for all time.”
“What does that mean? Shadi?”
“Shadi is the part of her that you carry, inside of you,” Thelba said, struggling to explain a concept she was born knowing in a language she’d only recently learned.
“Like her soul?” Darck asked.
“No,” Thelba replied. “Her soul is her own. Shadi is the part of her self, her heart and feelings, that she shared with you, that you carry within you.”
Darck frowned in thought. “I think I see what you mean,” he said. “But how can I make peace with such a thing? She is not here. I cannot tell her how sorry I am.”
“That is why you must make peace with her shadi,” Thelba replied. “Once, when you were young, your feelings were good, yes?”
“Yes,” Darck said, smiling slightly. His childhood had been lonely, stuck with his mother in her desert prison, but she had worked hard to keep him busy, given him things to do and think about, given him the only education he’d received.
“Then they become poison, yes?” Thelba said.
“Yes, that’s a good way to put it,” Darck said. “Poisoned.”
“You must make peace with the poison,” Thelba said. “Only then will it lose its power and fade away, leaving the happiness and beauty behind.”
“How do I do this?” Darck asked. “How do I make peace with poison?”
“That is inside of you to know,” Thelba said sadly. “None can tell you that. It is your poison, your peace. But you do not have to do this alone. We will ask Marqex to do ceremony and all will help.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to share this with everyone,” Darck admitted.
“You are not asked to do that,” Thelba assured him. “We lend you our hearts, our shadi, to help you heal yours.”
“You are so good to me,” Darck said.
“No, I selfish,” Thelba said with a smile. “I want good father for children, happy father. That is all.”
Darck laughed. “I have lived with selfish people my entire adult life. You don’t even know the meaning of the word. How are the little ones doing today?”
“They are warm and safe in nest,” Thelba replied. “It will not be long now. A few weeks. Then we shall have little ones running through the village bringing joy to all.”
Darck smiled. It had freaked him out at first when Thelba had laid three eggs, and announced that he was going to be a father in a few months. But it had seemed perfectly normal to everyone else. The entire village had celebrated the coming event and eventually he’d grown more accustomed to the idea. Especially after watching Thelba’s happiness grow with each passing day.
“Darck! Darck!”
Darck and Thelba both turned to see Beleth running toward them from the cave entrance. Darck tensed. Beleth had taken over the regular run to the Brethren encampment a few weeks earlier. Darck still went himself occasionally, but he didn’t like leaving Thelba behind, and she had to stay to watch over the nest.
Beleth skidded to a stop and reached into a small bag she carried around her neck. She pulled out a small cylinder and handed it to him. “This was in watching place,” she said, panting from the long run. “Is message.”
“Thank you, Beleth,” Darck said.
“Would you like to rest and drink?” Thelba asked politely as Darck turned the metal cylinder over in his hands.
“I thank you, Thelba,” Beleth replied. “I shall seek Marqex now.”
As soon as Beleth trotted away, Darck twisted the tube in the middle and it broke open, revealing a thin sheet of rolled paper. He unrolled it carefully and read the brief message.
Stalnek arrives in three weeks. Sickness is worse. Only forty one left. Must speak with you. Meet me at rock in seven days.”
Darck was stunned. Only forty-one Brethren left? Counting himself and the other three young males he’d convinced to come to the village, that left only forty-five Brethren out of the one hundred and three that left Earth. They were not a dying race, he realized. They were already dead. Thelba and this village of women who’d snuck out from beneath Magoa’s rule in a bid for a peaceful life, were the only future available to what was left of the Brethren.
Darck read the message again, wondering what his father wanted. Surely he couldn’t expect him to return to the encampment because Stalnek was arriving. Everyone already thought he was dead. Besides, there was nothing that could ever induce him to leave Thelba, or his unborn children. What he really wanted to do was convince more of the Brethren to come here, to this village. It was the only future left for his people, and it was the best future of all.
“Why do you smile, Darck?” Thelba asked. “Is good news?”
“I smile because I have you, and the children,” Darck replied. “I have a family, and you are more important to me than you know.”
“You are of importance to me, too,” she replied.
“I must go and meet my father,” he said. “My uncle, the leader of the Brethren, is almost here. Once he arrives, I can never risk going back there. He cannot discover that I am still alive.”
“Why? Does he dislike you so much?”
“I don’t think Stalnek likes anyone,” Darck replied. “Except his own son. But William is dead now, and Stalnek wants me to rule after him. I will never be like Stalnek, and eventually he will kill me for that.”
“Do not go, Darck,” Thelba said, suddenly frightened.
“Don’t worry, Thelba,” he said, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle hug. “Stalnek isn’t here yet. I need to see my father before he does get here. If he doesn’t return with me after that, I’ll probably never see him again.”
***
Xi-Kung mentally reviewed his report to Xaqana-Ti one last time, confident that he’d done everything possible under the circumstances to control the nightmare situation the idiot Xi-Tarq had placed him in. He was not as confident about Xaqana-Ti’s reaction, but then, she was a Ruling Female. One never knew what they thought, how they would react, or what they would do about anything. That was just one of the great mysteries of females, he supposed.
“Xi-Kung, I sincerely hope for your sake that you have good news for me this day,” Xaqana-Ti said, the lovely, erotic notes of her voice filling his quarters. Xi-Kung shuddered uncontrollably, but refused to allow himself
to succumb fully to Xaqana-Ti’s deadly charms.
“I have news,” he replied, choosing his words carefully. “Whether or not you, most beautiful and wise Xaqana-Ti will find it good or not is not for one such as myself to say.”
Xaqana-Ti’s soft laughter had him shivering inside his makina. He shook his head, forcing himself to think. “Speak then, Xi-Kung, and I will decide for myself.”
Xi-Kung took a moment to clear his mind, then gave Xaqana-Ti his report. As he spoke, she remained silent, though something within him tightened and shook when he told her about the imprisoned Xanti and captured makina. Before she had a chance to react to it, he immediately told her of his plan to destroy both, and its success. When he was finished he fell silent. There was no more to say.
“I am not pleased by the loss of the clone makina,” she said after several minutes. “However, all things considered, you did not do too badly, Xi-Kung.”
Xi-Kung wanted to shout for joy, but he resisted the temptation.
“I thank you, Xaqana-Ti,” he said carefully. “I wish that I could have found a way to retrieve it, but in the end, destroying it was the best I could do.”
“Transfer the data to me at once,” Xaqana-Ti said. “Then you must return to Jasan. I have another task for you there.”
“As my Lady wishes,” Xi-Kung said smoothly, allowing no hint of his reluctance to sound in his voice.
Xaqana-Ti laughed again, and he was reminded of that moment of madness when he considered lying to her. He could not even hide his true feelings from her.
“You are the most gracious and cunning Ruling Female of all time, and it is a great honor to be of your brood.”
“You have a silver tongue,” Xaqana-Ti said. “Luckily for you, I like it.”
A few minutes later, after he’d sent the data she’d requested and received his new orders, Xi-Kung closed the connection with Xantara with more than a little relief. It was always stressful when one had to speak directly with one’s Ruling Female. He allowed himself to relax a little as he pulled up his new orders.
The Vulpirans' Honor: The Soul-Linked Saga Page 18