CARNAL (EXILED Book 1)

by Victoria Danann

  He looked away for a moment and sighed. “If the school was discovered, the Rautt would destroy books and possibly murder teachers and students. If the lab was discovered, equipment, facility, people… It would all be destroyed. Same with the foundry. But the weapons cache would very likely never be found unless one of the humans led them to it. It’s brilliant. It makes me feel inept that I didn’t anticipate something of the sort.

  “We were, apparently, only six weeks away from the likelihood of being wiped out. Gone as if we’d never existed. Our memories. Our children. Our history. All gone. If we don’t make some changes, the humans will go on looking for ways to get rid of us until they do it.”

  Serene continued to look quietly alarmed. Breaker nodded his head in agreement. “What’s your plan, Free?”

  “It’s fourfold and each part depends on the others. We need to form an alliance with the humans and fight with them to rid this world of Rautt. We need to abandon Newland, move to the city, and encourage our young to intermarry. Last, we need to make sure that we know everything they know. That means educating our young in the same place, in the same way. Not separate. Together.”

  Thorn could hardly contain himself. “Live with humans? You cannot mean that, Free!”

  “I do mean it, Thorn. Humans fear us partly because we are superior in many ways, but that’s not the only reason. They fear us because they don’t know us.” He glanced at Rosie in acknowledgement. “It’s been pointed out to me that familiarity is the first step toward trust. We will help remove the idea of hybrids as threat by living with them and helping them rebuild a world with the magic of technology, making sure that it’s used for us and not against us, ever again. We will integrate into their world so thoroughly and deeply as to render ourselves impervious to being the targets of conspiracy in the future.

  “You’re dreaming, Free.” Breaker’s voice was calm, but firm. “Humans will always see us as animals.”

  “They will unless a change is forced upon them. If they were smart enough to make us, they’re smart enough to figure out that we’re not animals just because we’re different. This could be good for us. Think about it. If there were no Rautt to fight, we could… Well, see? We’ve never had the luxury of dreaming about what we might do if we didn’t have a debt to pay for our freedom. But as Rosie pointed out to me, simply being outside a cage is not the same thing as being free.”

  He paused for a minute and looked at each person at the table, letting that sink in.

  “If we do nothing, what then?” He looked into Serene’s eyes where she sat at the other end of the table. “Serene and I know better than many the cost of status quo.” Serene gave a tiny flinch at the reminder of Crave, and the tiny drawing of skin around her eyes betrayed the pain of a mother who didn’t know the fate of her child.

  “All of us here, with the exception of Rosie, have children. What do we want? For them to go on living at the ready to answer an alarm at a moment’s notice, putting themselves and their children and the children of those children in the way of death or capture by Rautt? The way I see it, that’s the choice. We can hold onto hard feelings about humans, or we can try to forge a new world for Exiled by becoming allies, neighbors, even friends and in-laws with them.”

  The elders shifted in their chairs uncomfortably as they mulled over the proposal as it was laid out by Free and looked at each other as if they could glean what others were thinking by doing so.

  Sky was the one to break the silence. “I want my children to have options. My grandchildren, too.”

  Thorn gaped at her. “Options! You think we’re going to restore their power and your daughter will dance the ballet?” he scoffed.

  “If you don’t think that’s a possibility, Thorn, then maybe your thinking is too narrow to sit in this circle.” Sky’s retort was biting, but on point.

  “Let’s weigh the pros and cons.” Cage spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and rumbly like most adult Exiled males, but it was also melodic and had a soothing effect.

  Breaker looked at Free. “I think that’s a good idea. We need to consider how to proceed carefully.”

  Serene simply nodded, while Thorn looked aghast that living with humans was under discussion.

  Free nodded at Serene in return. “Let’s get started,” he said. “Rosie,” she sat up straighter hearing her name, “you will participate. If we forget something, let us know. If we’re wrong about something, let us know. Breaker is right. We can’t weigh the risk without an analysis.”

  Rosie nodded. Thorn’s glare pulled her attention. She blinked at him, wondering how much he’d have to have been hurt by humans to maintain that level of hatred for so long, even against those who were strangers and innocent of his grievance, not to mention trying to help.

  “I’d like to begin the discussion by saying that the one thing that’s off the table is doing nothing. Doing nothing is a death sentence for Exiled. Right now we have a fairly large group of humans being kept where we can watch them while we decide what to do next, but the clock is ticking.”

  “And whose fault is that?” Thorn said. “I don’t remember getting a say in that, Free.”

  “Are you listening?” Rosie said to Thorn. “If Free didn’t take steps to interrupt the course of things as planned, in a matter of weeks you would have been wiped from memory. It would be as if you’d never existed. Free is trying to find a way around that!”

  Serene reached out and gave Rosie’s hand a little squeeze. She was apparently impressed that their houseguest was acting protective of Free and willing to challenge Thorn’s unreasonable response.

  For the next few hours the group debated every aspect and angle of what might happen if they did exactly as Free suggested and what might happen if they modified parts of the plan. In the end they agreed on one thing, that doing nothing simply wasn’t an option.

  Serene’s head angled ever so slightly toward the front door. A couple of minutes later, Charming stood in the kitchen doorway. When his eyes cast over the group assembled around the table, he didn’t try to mask his surprise that Rosie was present. He was still staring at her, when his father said, “What are people saying?”

  Charming drug his gaze away from Rosie. “That something happened in the city. That we’re in some kind of danger from the humans. That we’re holding the mayor and a bunch of officials in their headquarters while you talk it out.”

  Free nodded. For hearsay it was both concise and fairly accurate.

  “Go to bed. By tomorrow we’ll be ready to share our thoughts.”

  Charming looked at Rosie one more time before backing away and turning to go. She wiggled her head back and forth slightly hoping he’d take that to mean, “Tell you later.” No one in the kitchen thought he wouldn’t hear the rest of the discussion, but no one believed he’d repeat what he heard either.

  They were in the final stages of mapping out the logistics of how such a monumental upheaval might be accomplished, should they decide to proceed with Free’s plan or a modified version.

  Sky turned to Rosie. “What do you see as the biggest problem?”

  Rosie met Sky’s eyes. “Sexual math.” She looked around the table. “There are more single males than females. The men, um, human males, who want to be married and find there are no available women, will not be receptive to easy relations between hybrids and humans. Resentment could fester and be a source of discontent among humans.”

  Cage pursed his lips, then smiled. “We’re good at sharing.”

  Rosie’s eyes widened before she shut down her look of shock. “Sharing?” she almost squeaked.

  “We could encourage our young men to form households of three, two of ours with one human female. Would that solve the equation?”

  “They would do that?” Rosie asked, trying not to sound provincial.

  When she looked at Free, he gave a slight shrug as if to say, “Sure. Why not?”

  “The chicklets would be lining up to audition,” Brea
ker said. Everyone at the table chuckled except for Thorn and Rosie.

  “I’m not sure the humans would accept that solution,” Rosie said.

  “I’ll bet they’d like that better than a shortage of available brides,” offered Sky.

  Rosie pursed her lips, considering. “Maybe,” she said slowly. “Hard to predict how they’ll react. I don’t really know anything about their culture.”

  “Is the concept completely alien to humans?” Serene asked.

  “Well, no,” Rosie replied. “It’s been done in places and at times that presented similar math problems.”

  “Well, then,” Breaker offered. “That’s settled.”

  Rosie thought it was far from settled, but she felt like it was her place to find holes in plan or logic, not argue societal mores. She tried picturing herself with two husbands in a variety of situations and just couldn’t make the images or the logistics work out successfully.

  “Next problem,” Free said.

  Rosie pulled herself out of her imaginary wanderings when she realized Free was speaking to her. Everyone was watching her with varying degrees of expectation.

  “If possible, you need to integrate the inner city without displacing anyone from their homes,” she said.

  Free gave a single nod of his handsome head. “That is a concern and we’ll keep it in mind when it’s time to rough out an actual plan. Right now, I think we’ve pared down the scope of decision to a series of cascading votes, each depending on the one before. The first vote is this, will we move into Farsuitwail, begin an education and integration process, and become part of a plan to rid this world of a threat from Rautt? Everyone votes except Rosie, who is here in an advisory capacity.” He looked at each individual before proceeding. “I say yes.”

  “Yes,” said Serene.

  “Yes,” said Sky.

  “Yes,” said Cage.

  “Yes,” said Breaker.

  “No,” said Thorn. “And I have another concern for you to consider before rushing into something as insane as voluntarily living among humans.”

  “Go ahead.” Free gave him permission to speak his mind.

  “What do you plan to do about our people who don’t want to go?”

  “I’ve actually been thinking about that throughout this discussion,” Free answered.

  “So have I,” Cage added.

  “Before I offer my opinion, does anyone else want to make a suggestion?”

  “I do,” Thorn said. “Anybody who doesn’t want to go should be allowed to stay here.”

  Free surprised Thorn by saying, “I agree, but I will make it clear that those who stay will be considered cowards who chose the easiest option while planning to fully participate in the benefits that will come from forming an alliance with the humans.”

  Thorn snorted. “What benefits?” he said with belligerence.

  “Where have you been for the past five hours?” Sky said, her annoyance showing. “The benefit of peace. For the first time in our lives, we will be able to turn our attention to something wholly productive, not having to worry that an alarm may sound at any hour of the day or night leading us into a battle that may claim a spouse.” She gave Serene a pained look. “Or a child.”

  Returning her attention to Thorn. “What’s that worth, Thorn? I say it’s a treasure beyond anything we’ve imagined so far. I say it’s worth the discomfort of making changes in the way we live and the way we think.”

  Thorn’s posture made it clear that his viewpoint was set in stone and would not be altered by any argument, no matter how persuasive. His response was to cross his big arms over his chest and tighten his expression of defiance.

  “Thorn,” Free said softly, “the rest of the discussion and votes depend on consensus. Since you disagree with our projected plans, you’re free to excuse yourself.”

  Thorn’s expression faltered. He hadn’t anticipated being dismissed from Free’s inner circle. He stood so quickly it made Rosie jump a little.

  “Yeah, old friend. I’ll go with one last nod toward reason and self-preservation. One thing I haven’t heard in all this talk is what happens when it doesn’t work out? What happens when the humans betray you? That’s inevitable. In your hearts you know it, I know it.” He waved toward Rosie. “Even this human knows it. They can’t help it. It’s who they are.”

  “I agree that we need to make a genuine effort with the humans while remaining judiciously cautious. Maybe we will need a reminder from time to time that trust needs to be earned slowly, not given quickly. Maybe they will need reminders that they need to work harder at earning our trust than the other way around. Agree not to stand in the way of progress, Thorn. Stay and help us with this grand experiment, even though your vote was no and you think it’s a fool’s folly.”

  Thorn swayed on his feet slightly, looking around the table. At length he nodded. “I will not speak for this thing that I fear will end in bedlam, but I will stand with you and not speak against it.”

  When he sat down, everyone at the table breathed in relief knowing they were stronger together even when they disagreed. Cage, who was sitting next to him, grinned and slapped him on the shoulder in a silent display of approval and camaraderie.

  Rosie did her best to stifle a yawn, but Free noticed.

  “It’s late” he said. “I think we’ve done the hardest part. Let’s reconvene here in five hours. We’ll have breakfast and decide how to proceed.”

  Rosie held up her hand. Free acknowledged her, looking amused.

  “We need to release the people being held at City Hall as soon as possible. The longer they’re held, the harder it will be to get them on our side.”

  Free glanced around the table. “Excellent point. We need to be prepared to make announcements to our people by mid-morning, then go directly to Farsuitwail and announce our plans to Comstock and the others being detained. They’ll carry word to the rest of the humans in their own way, but we need to be prepared to place active duty fighters in each of the facilities at the same time to be sure that nothing is hidden or destroyed.” Free looked pointedly at Thorn. “From now on, we know everything humans know and everything they do.”

  “That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said all night,” Thorn said.

  Rosie drug herself up the stairs, scuffing each one with the drag of her boots. Charming was sitting on the top tread waiting for her.

  “What…?”

  She held a finger to her lips and pulled him inside her room. “Your dad included me in an ‘advisory capacity’. I don’t get a vote. It’s sort of a takes-one-to-know-one thing. He thinks I can anticipate potential human treachery. And, sadly, he might be right. At least to a point.”

  Charming looked at her like he pitied her. “You’re not a bad human, Rosie.”

  “No. Of course not.” She smiled. “I’m charming.” He laughed quietly. “The thing is, for humans, bad and good is as much a choice as anything. We all have it in us to go either way. Free’s friends keep talking about trust. I’m not sure humans can ever trust each other. Not really. Not completely. And I’m the first one to say it would be a mistake for Exiled to ever forget that.”

  “Then you’re against this plan.”

  “No. I’m for the plan.”

  Charming cocked his head to the side. His smooth young brow furrowed but didn’t wrinkle. “I don’t get it.”

  “An uneasy alliance is better than an uneasy distance. There’s a famous saying in my world. It’s a quote from a philosopher who specialized in political warfare. ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer’.”

  Charming looked away with a slight scowl. “I understand what you’re saying.” He looked at Rosie. “And I wish I didn’t.”

  “The death of idealism is hard.”

  She gave Charming a kiss on the cheek.

  He grinned. “It just got easier.”

  Rosie’s responding chuckle quickly died as she grew thoughtful. “Your dad… I see why he’s the Extant. He�
��s brilliant and good with people.”

  Charming smiled proudly. “He is. That’s why no one has questioned his leadership or challenged for it in all these years.” He grew serious. “People say Carnal will be next.”

  “They do?”

  “Yeah. You might say he’s, ah, admired.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “He’s still a prick.”

  Rosie laughed at him again and pushed him toward the door. “I’m falling-down tired. Mere human here. Get out and let me get a few hours’ sleep.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  At ten o’clock the next morning, the elders had gathered everyone who was not on duty elsewhere into the bar for a community meeting. It was packed. When all the seating had been claimed, people stood lining the walls. Scar, Dandy, and Traces, a girl who usually worked the night shift with Scar, were all on hand behind the bar anticipating the need for drink when the meeting ended.

  The six elders stood on the other side of the bar facing the crowd. Free turned to face Rosie and leapt to the top of the bar from a flat-footed-standstill, with the grace and ease of a panther. When he turned to face the gathering, all quieted.

  Rosie’s eyes drifted over the Exiled until they reached Carnal who was standing near the door, leaning a shoulder against the wall, and staring straight at her. She surmised that he’d been relieved from duty in Farsuitwail in time so that he could be present for the impending announcement. No doubt he also needed some rest.

  “Thank you for coming,” Free began. “In the past twenty-four hours, we’ve faced some hard truths and come to some hard decisions. You’ve heard that we’re temporarily holding high-ranking humans captive in their governing headquarters. I can see by your faces that you’re concerned because this could be considered an act of war.

  “So let me first say that the decision to hold those people was a reaction to learning that humans have been secretly reconstructing the means to restore technology.” When a murmur went through the crowd, Free held up his hand. “That’s not the problem. Their primary goal was to use the technology to wipe out the Rautt. Frankly, that’s understandable. Since I’m unable to find anything redeemable about the Rautt, I can’t disagree with that intention. The quandary for us is that they see us as a threat and part of their problem.