“Lies!” Sa’rin’s primary yells, standing to point an accusatory finger at me. “His parents sought us out for the contract. If we had known he would be so dishonorable, I would never have agreed to the arrangement!”
His secondary adds his own shouts of contempt. For his part, Dir’tik looks appalled at the claim. Something about his expression tells me he may not be a part of the plot against my family. I certainly hope that’s the case.
“Order!” the bailiff booms, pounding his staff on the floor again. “Order I say!”
“I assume you have provided evidence to prove your allegations and are not merely wasting this Council’s time?” The Eldest asks as the din settles.
“Yes of course, Eldest. May I?”
She nods. Taking another deep breath, I key up the recording from my parents home. I submit it to the Council’s systems, along with evidence of the other data the tracking device had recorded from the satellites and stations we had travelled to, and wait patiently while the elders review it.
Eldest Nea’lah’s brows furrow as she watches the scene unfold in my dam’s sitting room. The Elders behind her scroll through the evidence on their own devices, growing agitated as they review everything. Dir’tik sits back, slumping in his seat, shame and heartache in his eyes as he looks out over the audience at his brother’s son Ja’kesh.
Nea’lah presses a button on her data link. The sound of Sa’rin’s parents threatening my dam and sire rings loud and clear through the room. The two males grow wide eyed and tremble. They dart glances at the door, but a watchful guard steps in front of it. The flow of words from the vid-file cuts off as Eldest slams her hand down on the console.
“I believe I have seen enough,” she states flatly, turning to growl in anger at the Bel’fauns. “What do you have to say for yourselves?”
“It is...it is...,” Lo’nir stammers, shocked speechless by the unfolding events.
“It is FABRICATED!” Ja’kesh clamours. “Complete fabrication! We will NOT be held accountable for this absurd falsification. I demand that the mating contract—”
“The mating contract what?” Eldest Nea-lah asks, interrupting his tirade. “You tell me that this evidence is fake, yet you still wish for your daughter to continue with the contract to mate into the Va’resh line, whom you now accuse of lies and fabrication?”
Sa’rin’s primary sire appears to have lost his mind. He stares wild-eyed at the Eldest, his jaw working as he struggles for a reply. He practically foams at the mouth while his secondary looks like he’s about to spew his stomach contents, then turns his hate filled gaze on me for a moment.
“Ja’kesh Bel’faun, do you have anything to say to this Council in explanation for your grievous actions?” Eldest Nea’lah prompts, drawing his attention back to herself.
Ja’kesh’s body trembles with barely suppressed rage. “You CONSPIRE!” he shouts at the Eldest, pointing his clawed finger in her direction. “You conspire with this dishonorable neesh to ruin my family. I will have you stripped of your position and replaced with someone who can uphold our values of the law with swift justice.”
“Bailiff, remove Ja’kesh and his secondary from this hearing immediately and place them in the custody of the magistrate.”
“With pleasure,” he says, then nods at the guards standing at the back of the room. They seize Ja’kesh by the arms and pull him towards the door.
“This is NOT over. You hear me?” Ja’kesh shouts wildly, thrashing in the grip of the two guards escorting him from the chamber. Lo’nir follows timidly behind them, obviously not wanting to draw the same attention to himself, leaving only Sa’rin who stares in quiet horror while her sires are forced out.
“Does anyone else wish to be escorted from this hearing or shall we continue?” the Bailiff asks drily.
“Elder Dir’tik,” Nea’lah calls quietly. “Do you have anything to add?”
Dir’tik stares at me in stunned silence for a time. Then he stands, somehow looking older than he had only a short time before. “In light of these circumstances, I believe I should remove myself from this Council,” he replies in a small voice.
“That sounds like a wise choice, Elder. It would perhaps be a good idea for this Council to review your relationship to this case before you return?” Eldest comments as he shuffles towards the exit.
Dir’tik pauses. “Of course Eldest,” he agrees, then walks into the shadows behind the dias and leaves through another door.
I find myself feeling a hint of relief from my previous anxiety. Perhaps Eldest Nea’lah will rule in my favor after all.
“This Council is shocked and deeply disturbed by the contents of this file you have presented. Never before have we seen such deceit in the name of greed. It is clear to us that you were the victim of a devious plot. We apologize for our previous judgement of you and your secondary. At this time, do you wish to press charges against the entire Bel’faun family?”
“I do not wish to ruin the Bel’fauns. As far as I know Sa’rin was unaware of her sires’ plans. It was never our intention to dishonor the values our species hold dear, nor to damage our own, Eldest Nea’lah, but we could not go through with the mating.
“We tried. We were returning home with the intent to go through with the contract our parents agreed to, but enroute we met another female and despite our intentions, we fell in love. She triggered our mating heat and we bonded. I will admit that was when we began looking for a way out of the contract.
“Once we learned the details of how this agreement was forced upon us, we knew we had to do something. Sa’rin is a strong, attractive female, and we hope she finds a worthy pair to mate with, but it is not with my secondary and I. We have found the female we wish to spend our lives with.”
“Your honesty and compassion serve you well, young Va’resh. We do not approve that you found a female before deciding to investigate your contract, but we also do not blame you. The traditions of our people would make any male reluctant to protest once the contract is finalized.” Nea’lah looks at the audience once more. “As for you, Sa’rin Bel’faun. Step forward. What do you have to say about this matter?”
“Eldest Nea’lah, I am also appalled by the actions of my sires. I had no knowledge of this terrible deed. This treachery is inconceivable. It is horrifying that they would act in such a dishonorable way on my behalf and personally, it insults me deeply. It is true, I wanted Ca’lek and Va’naar,” Sa’rin says, then turns, looking at my longingly and continues. “But had I known the circumstances, I would never have agreed to the mating contract myself. It was never my desire to force them to mate me. I am sincerely sorry that this happened. I cannot express just how sorry I am. I never wanted to hurt my future family.”
“I am sorry on your behalf as well Sa’rin, but I am glad to know that you had nothing to do with this disgraceful matter and are looking towards a better future for yourself and your line. This Council hopes you will find an appropriate contract in a timely manner. Given your position, I would strongly recommend that you take a look at the registry. There are three pairs of males in the area currently looking for a mate. Perhaps one of them would suit you,” Elder Nea’lah says in a no nonsense tone.
The Bailiff winces sympathetically.
“Yes, of course. I will find more suitable mates and enter into a proper agreement as you suggest, Eldest,” Sa’rin replies in a flat voice.
I spare a pitying look for Sa’rin, who now stands stiff, emotionless, and smelling of distress. The Eldest’s suggestion is definitely less suggestion and more of an order. Between the Elder’s orders, Sa’rin’s beauty and family connections, it is highly doubtful that it will take more than a few cycles for her to find herself contracted to one of the pairs on the registry, despite this scandalous disgrace.
In truth,Va’naar and I always disliked her cruel and selfish tendencies. We could never picture her by our sides no matter how many times she tried to capture our attention, however, I am hopeful that th
is experience will serve as an eye opener for her. I can’t imagine how awful she must feel after being tarnished by her sires’ selfish greed, but I do wish her the same happiness that I have found with Polly and Va’naar.
“Let it be known, that this Council rules in favor of Ca’lek Va’resh and Va’naar De’lin. The mating contract with Sa’rin Bel’faun is invalid and henceforth rescinded. Sa’rin Bel’faun will not be incarcerated for her sires’ crimes since she had no knowledge of their machinations. We cannot, however, allow families to trick and bully others into unwanted contracts and then go unpunished.
“As such, the sires of Bel’faun will be confined and stripped of their holdings. One-third of the value will be transferred to Ca’lek and his secondary as punitive damages. The Council will take one-third for fines. The rest will be returned to Sa’rin, after she contracts to and mates a willing pair under the watchful eyes of this council. We will ensure that she enters into an honorable contract and this incident is not repeated.
“There is no fault found on the side of the Var’esh-De’lin line. May these males go forth and contract with the female of their choice with our blessings,” Eldest Nea’lah announces, banging a small gavel on the tabletop.
I sigh in relief and release the breath of air I feel I’ve been holding since I stepped foot in this council’s chamber. With a renewed sense of hope, I nod my gratitude to Eldest Nea’lah and the other elders then exit, eager to share the news with my family. The bailiff calls out a new name and the next set of people brush past me, already bickering. I swear I hear Eldest Nea’lah quietly groan, and I smirk, knowing it’s likely another petty property dispute.
Outside, the air is fresh and the clear sky is bright. The sun is warm on my face and a cool breeze ruffles my fur, but I don’t care if it gets messed up. Nothing matters as much right now due to the fact that Va’naar and I are finally free to be with the female we adore. I am calmer inside today than I have been for a long time. I hadn’t realized just how trapped I’d felt when I first heard of that terrible contract to Sa’rin. The dark cloud that hung over my shoulders is now gone. Closing my eyes, I take a deep, soothing breath, and let all my unhappiness flow away.
“Ca’lek?”
With my mood suddenly souring just a little, my eyes pop open at Sa’rin’s hesitant voice. She stands before me, nervously clasping her hands together.
“Yes?” I slowly drawl.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry again. I didn’t know what my sires had done,” she says, peering up at me.
“Your sires spoiled you, Sa’rin. You always got everything you wanted. Did you truly not wonder how they managed to secure a contract when we had already turned down your many attempts to curry favor with us?”
“I just thought maybe they’d changed your mind,” she says, shrugging. Her sudden reticence is suspiciously out of character, but I attribute it to our proximity in the council’s chambers.
“And when we never contacted you? Never wrote? Never replied to your messages or spent time talking when you commed us? What about when our mothers refused to present you with a navizili? Did none of that strike you as odd?” I tried to temper my words, but found I had no patience for this female. If it weren’t for her insistence that we were her ideal mates, her sires would never have pulled their stunt on our families.
“You truly never wanted me?” she demands in reply, her expression turning tense, her ears flattening. “It’s her, isn’t it? That human that was in your room the other night. You lied to me didn’t you? She’s the one who stole you from me,” Sa’rin announces, her words hard, spitting accusation in my face.
“Never once did I give you reason to hope. Even as pups, Va’naar and I turned you away. You pursued us because of our family lines, not because you loved us. Your passionate plea to the Council was the only time you have ever used that word around me. You can’t even remember Va’naar’s name.”
Sa’rin doesn’t deny my comment, but rolls her eyes.
“Had the contract been finalized, we would have done our duty and given you pups. Then. when you abandoned us, taking them with you, we would have lived our lives alone and watched our young from afar while hating you for denying us our offspring. There was never going to be an us,” I say harshly.
Sa’rin’s eyes dart away, but not before I saw the truth and the anger in their depths.
“I wish you happiness with your new mating,” she says tersely, turning to leave.
“And despite everything that has happened, I wish you happiness as well,” I reply, knowing full well her empty words are nothing but that. Empty.
She hesitates, her hands balling into fists, then she strides down the street in the direction of her home. No doubt she wants a chance to hide a few valuables before the officers of the court arrived to confiscate everything.
Washing her from my thoughts, I turn in the opposite direction and hail a transport to take me back to Va’naar’s home where my mate and secondary await news of either my success or my failure.
∞∞∞
Polly
Pacing back and forth across the room, I bite my lip. It has been hours since Ca’lek left for his audience with the Council. “What is taking so long?” I mumble under my breath.
“Patience my love,” Va’naar says lazily from the nearby couch. He’s so sprawled out and relaxed it reminds me of the people who used to come to the spa, who undress and then laze around in their robes waiting for their massage. How can he be so relaxed right now? How?!
A sudden pang of sadness hits me and I wonder if I’ll ever work as a massage therapist again. But I can’t think of that now, not when I’m worried about the Council’s decision. I stop pacing for a moment and glance up at Va’naar.
“Patience? Patience!? You want me to have patience? How am I supposed to have patience when we don’t know what is going on!? What if they rule against us? What if they demand you to mate with Sa’rin? What if they order me to leave the planet? What if they locked him up and are coming to get us too?”
I might be a little hysterical right now, I thought as I glare at my laidback mate.
He gets up and comes to me, then wraps his arms around me in a tight hug, murmuring soothing noises while he strokes my back and tries to relieve my panic. I bury my face in the soft fur on his shoulder and struggle to pull myself together.
“They won’t lock us up for breaking our contract. If they rule against us, order us to mate Sa’rin, or order you to leave, then we will leave with you. They will not decide who we mate. They can’t deny a true mate bond, regardless of whether they believe it or not. We have chosen you, bonded to you, and we will not let them take you away from us, or take us away from you,” he states, kissing the top of my head.
“Can we really do that? Can we leave safely?” I ask, pausing as the gears in my mind quickly turn into chaos. “What if they come after us? What then?”
“They won’t like it and they may seize our property here on Mephida, but we don’t need any of it. We have our ship, and we have a fortune stored in warehouses and banks off planet. They won’t arrest us for breaking our contract. They can only banish us from the planet and any further business dealings with the residents here. We need only you to be happy in this big, wide universe,” Va’naar says reassuringly.
“Poor dear,” Va’naar’s mother croons, walking in and seeing us. “You must be so worried. It will be alright child, Eldest Nea’lah is a good female, strong and wise in her years, if a little stubborn sometimes. She will see the truth. Come. You must be starving. Come and eat something. Make those pups big and strong for birthing.”
Without waiting for an answer, she snags my wrist and pulls me into the kitchen, urging me to sit at the counter. Va’naar follows, laughing into his hand and watches her fuss over me.
“Mother Da’leah, I’m really not that hungry,” I say while she starts fixing me a snack.
“Nonsense child. I remember when I was heavy with pup. I must have ea
ten my weight in tola noodles every day!” She laughs, digging through a bin in the cupboard. “Here, have a calva bar dear. These are made from a rare root vegetable grown at the base of the Goddess’s mountain. It’s a Mephidaean delicacy usually reserved for special occasions. I had them set aside for the family reception before the mating ceremony, but it just so happens these are also good for a mother and her pups.”
She extends her hand, offering me a bright purple cake-like snack. I accept it with grace and take a bite, then immediately regret my decision as its extremely dry, sour flavor fills my mouth. As I struggle to chew the sandy chunk, all I can think about is that I have never tasted anything so awful in my life. Her bright amber eyes meet mine, waiting to hear what I think of her baked goods.
“It’s delicious isn’t it?” she asks with such a cheery and hopeful smile that I can’t possibly tell her the truth, even though I dislike the idea of lying.
“Umm, it’s very...uh good, different, but uh good,” I say, flicking my tongue against my teeth in the hopes of scraping the remnants away from my tastebuds.
“I knew you’d love it. Here, have another one. I can make more later.” She grabs a plate off the table, fills it with more of the gritty snacks, then passes it to me.
I can’t blame the excitable female for wanting to care for me, or her newly inherited grandpups as she calls them. She’s just so sweet and wants to help. Honestly, it’s been so long since I’ve had a family. I love having her fuss over me. I wonder what Ca’lek’s mother will think of me?
We had messaged his family to let them know we’d landed yesterday, but they were visiting his sisters in the next town and wouldn’t be back until later today. Va’naar’s own sires were still at their shop in the market district where they sold some of the goods that Ca’lek and Va’naar brought home.
The Alien Pirates' Treasure (Star Pirates Book 1) Page 21