Trista raised her head and stretched to plant a quick kiss on his lips. He cupped her face.
"Trust me, Trista. Please."
"All right, Q'winn. I will trust you.” She watched in amazement at the quick light that danced in his eyes. His face broke into a smile that pushed away the shadows of his words about the Raku. There was a knock on the door.
He suddenly grabbed her, rolled her under him, kissed her quickly and rolled off the couch, pulling her with him. She stumbled to her feet and stood gaping at him. He moved to open the door and she quickly composed herself.
He opened the door and admitted four men and one woman. Trista saw they watched with interest as Q'winn placed his hand in the center of her back and introduced her to them. Just what had he done in becoming her lover? Would these people know by that touch what was between them?
Trista removed her plate with the pastry bits from the table. She looked at Q'winn.
"Do I offer them something to drink?” she asked in Terran.
"No. I will serve them,” he answered in Dannarri. “You may help, if you wish."
Trista darted for the food preparation area. There was silence behind her, then she heard Q'winn telling them she was unsettled. There were murmurings of understanding, then Q'winn was beside her, smiling down at her.
"Fix tee,” he leaned over and whispered. She glanced at him and saw the gleam of mischief in his eye and immediately relaxed.
"Why don't you do it, after all?” she asked, aware of the five sets of eyes on them. He gestured toward the table. She went and sat in her chair then caught herself chewing lips already sore from her nervous nibbling.
The woman was the first to speak. “Do you know our language?” she asked Trista.
"A little. I hear better than I speak,” Trista answered. There were nods around the table.
Q'winn came and stood behind her chair. He placed a hand on her shoulder and Trista noted the slight shiftings around the table. “She understands what we need from her,” Q'winn told them.
Q'winn took his seat beside Trista and pulled up a star chart on the little screen. “This is her world, Terra.” The chart systematically enlarged until Terra filled the screen.
"How many people live there?” the woman asked.
Trista looked at Q'winn. She didn't translate numerical information very well. He nodded to confirm he would tell them in Dannarri.
"I'm not sure. Maybe six billion.” Q'winn translated that and Trista saw the beginnings of alarm on several faces.
"What are your space flight capabilities?"
"What types of weapons do you possess?"
"Planetary defenses?” They began to ask questions in rapid-fire succession.
Trista looked at Q'winn for help. He held up his hand to stop them and displayed a graphic on the screen that showed all of Terra's satellites.
"Let us begin with what the Anakin discovered. Perhaps Trista can then answer for us as we go along.” Q'winn laid his hand over hers. Trista saw eyes drop to their hands. Was Q'winn daring them to say something, or to ask?
Q'winn displayed item after item on the screen, telling what he knew. The kadens had questions about each item and Trista answered as best she could. No one seemed to be angered when she lacked knowledge. No one became impatient with her. She became more and more agitated by what they might not be asking, what they might not be saying. Her nerves were badly frayed by the time Q'winn held the door for them to leave. The sun was setting.
Trista dropped her head into her hands. She was exhausted. Her head hurt with tension and with hunger. Her stomach was jittery from cup after cup of the strong tea she consumed all day. She heard the bolt on the door drive home and a few moments later felt Q'winn gently stroke her hair.
"You did fine, love."
"What happens now?"
"Now they will meet with the other, lower ranking kadens."
Trista raised her head and glared at him. “I think I know that,” she snapped at him. “What do we do next?"
He looked at her calmly. “I have a surprise for you."
"I have a surprise for you, too, if you don't answer my question,” she warned him.
"You need a break. You need to eat. We will see to these things, then we can talk more."
Trista looked at the stubborn set of his lips. She knew from experience that he would be uncooperative unless she agreed to these small things. And she was hungry. She sighed deeply.
"What's the surprise?” she asked as normally as she could since her jaw wanted to clench in frustration. And if it were anything to do with sex, he'd be sorry.
There was a knock on the door and Q'winn opened it. Vanteen came in with a large hamper that contained their dinner. She gave Trista a bright-eyed curious look.
"Trista come see Vanteen when done eat."
Q'winn spoke up. “No, she won't see you until later. I am taking her to the hot spring."
Vanteen perked up, then her eyes narrowed and she flashed her small, sharp teeth. She nodded and hastily scampered out the door. Q'winn watched her go.
"I think I just caused my brother a bit of trouble."
Trista snorted by way of a reply. She was unloading the basket as fast as she could. In very short order she had the food divided up and was eating.
"All right,” she said, slicing off a wedge of some sort of melon, “what do you have to do next?"
He sat and looked at her in dismay.
"What?” she asked around a mouthful of the melon. “I'm eating. You said eat, I'm eating.” She swallowed.
"And you accused me of a mind with one course."
"That's a one-track mind, Q'winn. And, yes, you have one. What happens next? Just tell me."
"We wait and we allow others to do as they must. There will not be another avaki posted to Damali until just before the Season of Ubari, the time to harvest. I will continue here until he arrives. Then we will return to Mahdis."
"What will the others do? Besides talk, I mean."
Trista wanted to squirm under his scrutiny. She knew he was withholding information and his calculating look told her he was debating what more to tell her. She managed to be still and meet his look, eye to eye.
"Trista, we have watched the Raku for more than a thousand years. They are creatures of habit. Methodical. They rarely deviate in their cycles, and when they do, even the deviations have a pattern. Even now our ships are at a distant world, far from yours, watching for them. If they come as we expect, with only two ships, we will destroy those two ships."
"Why? What do you think they will do at this other world?"
"The same as other worlds. This planet is rich in resources the Raku want. If the people of that world prove to be unmanageable, the Raku will release a plague. You looked shocked. You should be. We were."
"Was it plague that killed the people of Elpida?"
"No. They were too angry for that. It was some sort of anti-matter explosion. We've never completely understood it.” He handed her a slice of bread with herb spread on it.
"We did not make the decision to hunt them lightly. Nor are our people in complete agreement with it. We are not as strong as the Raku, but we are stronger than most of the other worlds they prey on. We are all children of Sioda. We cannot turn away from your world now that we know it is there.
"In the past, if a Raku ship has not returned from a world, they do not return there. They have not returned here. They unleashed their weapon and considered us beaten. Their arrogance is one of their tactical weaknesses and we exploit it."
Trista could see the shadows in his eyes. No, the Dannarri did not hunt the Raku for revenge. Nor did it appear the Dannarri hunted to expand their territory.
"What do you ask of the worlds you help?” she asked warily.
"Many of them do not even know what has happened above their skies. If a world does not appear to be advanced enough to understand its place in its own solar system, we remain quiet. We do not even consider your world to be adv
anced enough to formally contact."
"So you don't waltz in and demand payment or a hero's welcome?"
"What?” He looked confused at first, but then shook his head. “We demand nothing from them, Trista. Have you considered we may be saving the very people who may one day conquer us? It may even be your world. We accept that possibility, and still we will do what we can to protect you."
She had not thought of that.
"They've done more than you've said, haven't they?"
"Yes. They have committed their genocide not once, but over and over. And sometimes, before they do, a portion of the populations are enslaved for a time.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckles.
"Do you hope to eventually destroy them?"
"I do not think that is possible. But we will drive them from the places we can reach, and we will tell those ready to hear and possibly aid us."
She heard an odd note in his voice. Resignation, perhaps. Sadness, certainly. He had told her before a war was coming. This was war of a very different nature from the wars on Earth.
"You would fight a war you never expect to fully win?"
"Yes. The victory is the continued existence of my people, and yours and others. Every day we survive and thrive is a victory. We will do what we can."
Sixteen
"It would really help if you'd tell me where we're going."
"You don't like walking dark passages underground?"
"Q'winn."
Q'winn laughed softly at the exasperation in her voice. He stopped and turned.
"W'eylin,” he said, “remain here.” W'eylin nodded, and settled against the wall assuming his guard duty.
Q'winn took Trista's hand and tugged. “Come on. We are almost there.” She looked at him skeptically, but followed him once more.
The corridor opened in a vaulted chamber that contained a small pool. Small wisps of steam floated upwards. Trista bent over and tested the temperature. It was not as hot as she'd feared. She watched as Q'winn lit the lamps of Sioda.
"I'm not supposed to be here, am I?"
"No. This is only used by the avaki. It is a place for us to relax, center ourselves.” He sat and pulled off his boots. “I want to relax after today. Don't you?"
"Yeah, I suppose I do,” Trista muttered. “I still have questions for you,” she said as she kicked off her own boots. “Lots of questions. Are you...” Her voice trailed off as his pants dropped to the ground and he quickly jumped into the water. It was only a bit more than waist deep on him.
Damn. She'd barely gotten a look at him. And she enjoyed looking at him. Then again, the water was very clear.
She finished undressing and jumped into the pool with him. The water was wonderfully warm and she sank down until it covered her shoulders.
"There's a current. Um, the water moves,” she observed.
"Yes, although it's very slow. What were you going to ask me?"
She looked closely at him and saw the little lines at his eyes. He only got them when he was very tired. “It can wait. We should just enjoy the water. Is there soap?"
"Not unless you brought it. I'm sorry I didn't think of it.” He sank to his knees and leaned his head back, wetting his hair.
Trista dropped to her knees in front of him and he grabbed her to keep head above the water. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him.
"Make love to me,” she whispered.
"I cannot, love. Not here. This is Sioda's place. I may no longer truly be avaki, yet part of me will always follow some of the practices.” He kissed her again. “I hope you can understand that."
"I understand, Q'winn.” And she wanted to always respect that part of him. But she felt a crushing disappointment that they could not come together and give comfort to each other.
She wished that she could share his couch during the night. To have him hold her while she slept so she would feel safe. She wondered if they could ever do that again.
"I've disappointed you.” His voice brought her out of her reverie.
"No, no you haven't. Not really. I was just thinking, that's all."
"You need something from me that I am not giving you."
"Now you're psychic?” She used the new word deliberately just to see his eyes sparkle. She wasn't disappointed in that. He enjoyed the challenge of learning her words.
His interest over the word faded in a flash. “What is it, Trista? Do you need to discuss today more? If you need this, we will talk."
"I want to spend the night with you. All night."
"Tonight?"
She saw it on his face. This was not something he should do. But the one night she'd slept in his arms had left her hungry for it.
"I'm sorry, Q'winn. I shouldn't have said anything. It's unfair to expect you to take the risk.” She tried to keep the disappointment from her voice.
He cradled her against him. “Perhaps it can be arranged. I cannot promise.” He tipped her chin up and smiled at her.
Trista held him tighter. The unasked question of what his part in this hunt for the Raku was clenched around her heart. He had said his people would need all the kadens. His decision to give up his place as an avaki had been made too easily. He'd been considering the necessity of it long before she came into his life. Her presence had only brought it sooner.
She knew instinctively that in the quiet darkness of their bed, he'd give her answers he never would in the daylight. And she knew, too, that come daylight it would have to be as if nothing had been asked, nothing answered.
"Perhaps it is possible, if you would have me tonight,” he said quietly. “Perhaps it is better not to try and plan such a thing too far in advance."
"Yes,” she told him, then she kissed him. She felt his lips smile against her just before his arms tightened around her. His tongue teased at her lips and she opened to him.
They embraced for long minutes, kissing, touching each other yet avoiding greater intimacies. Q'winn finally suggested they get out and dry off. He needed to speak with his brother and decide whether Trista should remain in his rooms, or if W'eylin would remove Vanteen from Trista's. Either way, it had to be achieved quickly and without notice.
Just before they left the little chamber, Q'winn pulled her against him again. It was Trista's turn to smile. Maybe Sioda didn't mind kissing at her pool, after all.
* * * *
Q'winn blew out the lamp and slid under the soft covers beside Trista. He had not even settled before her hands were on him. Tiredness fled as he rolled her under him.
"Now, Q'winn,” she was urging him. He bent his head to her breast and suckled. She arched under him and he thrust into her, then stilled, savoring the feel of her encasing him. She relaxed and sighed.
He looked at her in the dim moonlight. Her hair was much longer now, and it spread across the pillows. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling. He kissed down her throat, roving to the soft skin on her shoulder.
"There is more. Or is this all you desire?” he whispered to her. He slowly pressed his hips to hers. She sighed.
"Hmmm. This is good for right now."
Q'winn gently nipped the swell of her breast. “Do you really think so?” He turned his attention to her other breast and shifted his hips again. She stroked his flanks.
He settled his weight better and slid his arms beneath her and kissed her. Her lips opened to his and her tongue teased at his until his gentleness fled. He flexed his hips and she responded by wrapping her legs around his waist.
He set a slow pace for them. For all that she had demanded he come into her, she was far from completion. He kissed her neck, her shoulders, her lips as all the while their hips rocked to each other. Her fingers would tighten in his hair, her hands grip his arms, his hips. Her thighs gripped him, and slid upwards to his ribs as she opened herself more to him.
Her climax came suddenly. She gasped his name and jerked against him. He rose over her drove into her, hard, and watched as her back arched. She threw her head back a
nd trusted him in her most vulnerable of moments. He eased his movements as she began to relax beneath him.
Q'winn lay still on her with the sweat pouring off his body and the need for air burning his lungs. He was so hard, and so close to his own release he ached exquisitely. All he had to do was hang on and give her these few seconds to float and to feel the ebbing of her body's pulses. He could feel them, too. They were the proof that he had pleased her. They excited him in a way different from any of the other things they shared.
Trista drew a ragged breath and Q'winn surged into her, almost by reflex. He buried his face in her neck as the ecstasy rolled through him. He thrust into her, withdrew, and drove into her again. She was whispering in his ear and he turned his head to kiss her and groaned into her mouth as he came.
She didn't protest when he went limp on her, although he knew she would if he stayed like this too long. He started to move and she surprised him again by holding on to him and not letting him shift his weight from her. She held him there until he slipped from her body.
He rolled onto his back and drew her to him. She settled with her head on his shoulder.
"I want to wake up with you, but that means I'd have to go to sleep,” she said softly. “And if I go to sleep, I'll miss all the night."
Her logic made him chuckle. “You must sleep. I must sleep. Tomorrow you have to deal with Vanteen and I have to deal with the kadens."
"You have the easier day."
"I believe you,” he said, laughing softly.
"Tell me something from your boyhood."
He drew a deep breath. He'd known sooner or later she would want to know more about his life. It wasn't something he wanted to talk about with anyone. How could he explain to her his mother's madness, his father's demands, and the fear they had fostered in a young boy? She wanted to know of happy times and he could not think of any to share.
"My boyhood was not easy, or happy, Trista. I survived it. And on many levels I've overcome it. It is over and done with. I would leave it in the past."
The Skies of Mahdis Page 14