by Elin Peer
Athena bowed her head. “I didn’t mean to offend you. All I’m saying is that ego always has an agenda of its own, and sometimes ego disguises as reason.”
“Thank you for the warning,” Pearl said with a rigid posture. It dawned on me that I’d just witnessed the closest thing to a fight between two Motlanders.
“How about you go back to the school with the happy news to Tristan,” Khan suggested. “I would appreciate it if you don’t go into details about the sex-bots with anyone else. Pearl and I will set up the interview this afternoon, and with your permission we’ll have the ceremony broadcasted as well.”
Athena and I hesitated and exchanged a long look. I didn’t mind Pearl’s and Khan’s plan since I agreed that it would send a message of hope, but I didn’t want Athena to do it against her will.
When her chin dipped in a small nod, I said the words, “We’ll do it.”
CHAPTER 36
Hugs and Healing
Athena
Finn was like an eager child when we arrived back at the school. Even from a distance we could tell that Tristan was sparring with his new friends again.
“He looks so much like me,” Finn said with his eyes glued on his son.
I rubbed his shoulder. “I know, and now we know why.”
Setting his drone on the ground, Finn was quick to get out and this time he made sure to help me down.
Tristan waved at us and Finn gave a loud whistle, signaling for him to come to us.
“Can I stay when you tell him?” I asked, and Finn gave me a don’t-be-silly glance.
“Of course you can; what happens to me happens to you and vice versa.”
I had no experience with being in a relationship like this, but his words still made me warm inside. After seeing the tight bond between Pearl and Khan, I wasn’t sure why men and women had given up on this kind of committed friendship and partnership.
I had always been taught that marriages had been oppressive to women, but from what I’d seen, the men here needed their women and treated them with love and respect. Well, except Magni, who didn’t seem to think women should have a voice in anything.
Still, I paused as I pondered the energy that had pulsed between Laura and him during the strategy meeting yesterday. If I didn’t find it so unbelievable, I’d say that Laura was attracted to Magni. I shivered just thinking about the size and nature of that man. Even I, with my great knowledge of psychology and spirituality, and my abilities to do mind work, wouldn’t know where to start with him. It was hard to imagine that Laura would be able to reason with his rigid ideas about women, but when I’d looked into her eyes, I’d seen bravery and strength. Laura was one of the rarest women in the world, born in the Motherlands and raised among the men of the North. If she was anything like them, she wouldn’t back down from a challenge, and Magni had to be the most challenging man any woman could face.
Tristan stopped in front of us with a happy grin. “I learned the most fabulastic kick in the world. You want to see it?”
“Sure?” Finn swung his hand, signaling for Tristan to go ahead. “But lose the not so fabulastic slang, will you?”
The boy nodded. It looked impressive when he jumped up and turned in the air, stretching his leg and foot.
“Wow,” I exclaimed with genuine amazement.
“Told you it was impressive,” Tristan said with a proud smile.
“Very nice,” Finn agreed. “I have something to tell you.”
Tristan smiled before he looked back to his group of friends, signaling that he would just be a minute. “I know you said we’re going back to the Motherlands soon, but I’m serious, Finn, I really want to stay here.”
“I know,” Finn said. “And I think I know why.”
“Why?” Tristan asked and tilted his head a little.
“It’s because you’re one of us.”
Tristan rubbed his nose looking from Finn to me and back again.
“You’re my biological son.”
A new surge of excitement filled me when Finn told him and Tristan’s eyes grew wide.
“Are you serious?” he asked.
“One hundred percent.” Finn chuckled with an overwhelming joy radiating from him. “I ran the test this morning and you’re looking at the handsome devil who fathered you.”
Tristan broke into a howl of joy and hugged Finn full force. “I knew it! I knew it!” he kept repeating all the while, laughing and hugging Finn.
“What’s going on?” Tristan’s friends came running and so did another group of the children who had witnessed our happy celebration.
Tristan and Finn pulled apart, and the boy dried his eyes and turned to them. “Finn is my real dad.”
“No way!” Solo was gaping. “You’re not serious.”
“It’s true,” I confirmed and the boys were quick to pat Tristan on the shoulders.
“Then you really are one of us.”
“But how can Finn be your dad?” A soft voice made me look to the group of Motlander children and see Willow take a step forward. The tall girl stood like a swan with her straight posture, long silky hair, and the symmetrical features that made her so beautiful. “That shouldn’t be possible?”
“It’s really cold out here,” Finn said, ignoring her question. “Why don’t we go inside and get warm?”
With all the children in tow we walked into the school building where Kya, Archer, Marco, Shelly, and the other children were gathered.
Raven was quick to shout the news to everyone who hadn’t heard already and everyone congratulated both Finn and Tristan.
“I still don’t understand how it’s possible,” Willow said again and I smiled a little because the girl wasn’t going to let Finn ignore her this time. “People in our countries are as different as two breeds of dogs,” Willow said pragmatically. “Nmen father the Nboys and Motlander men father the Motlander children. It’s always been that way.” Willow pointed to Solo, who towered next to her with his six feet two. “That’s why Nboys are tall and strong, while our boys are pretty and gentle.”
“You’re right,” I confirmed. “That’s how it’s always been, but comparing us to a breed of dogs is maybe a bit harsh.”
“Why?” Willow asked. “Humans have produced specific traits in dogs for centuries; it’s the same with Nmen and Motlanders. We’ve been moving in different directions for hundreds of years now, so how did Finn father a Motlander child?”
I chose the truth. “Maybe the selective breeding, as you call it, has been part of the problem. We were just discussing the same thing with Pearl and Khan, and the truth is that in the Motherlands we now have a desperate situation where we need men who can procreate. That’s why some children are now being fathered by Nmen.”
“Was I fathered by an Nman?” Raven asked. “I’m not exactly tall for my age, but I’m strong.”
“It’s possible,” I admitted and faced eight other children who also wanted to know if they had been fathered by Nmen.
“We don’t know, and it’s really only by chance that Finn and Tristan found out.”
“That reminds me,” Finn looked at Mila. “Magni wants me to run a test on you. He wants to know if he’s your biological father.”
Mila lit up. “Is he?”
“No, honey,” I said with a quick smile. “It’s almost impossible. I think Magni got carried away with Finn being Tristan’s dad and all. I can almost guarantee you that he’s not your father.”
“But he could be?” she said in a hopeful voice.
“Yes, theoretically.”
Mila and the other children were debating whether or not it was best to be the child of an Nman or a Motlander.
“Solo,” Archer barked at one point and frowned at the large boy.
“What? I didn’t do anything,” Solomon defended himself.
“Tone it down, will you?” Archer told him.
Solo looked annoyed but he didn’t challenge Archer and my curiosity made me whisper to Kya. “What was th
at about?”
“It’s Willow and Solo,” Kya whispered back. “Look at them. They’re like two magnets and it’s gotten them in trouble before. He’ll take her hand when he shouldn’t and if we don’t keep an eye on them, they’ll sneak off to be alone. The only time Solo behaves is when Magni is around.”
I looked at Willow and Solomon again, and asked the obvious question. “What’s wrong with them holding hands?”
“Don’t even get me started,” Kya whispered back. “Archer and I have been pretty large-minded about it, and everyone here knows that Solo and Willow see themselves as a couple. The Nmen have all these silly rules and I worry for her. In six months Solo will be leaving and Willow will never see him again.”
I angled my head. “You shouldn’t be so certain. Finn and Tristan found each other, and that was against all odds too. If Willow and Solo are meant to be together, their paths will cross again.”
“How many times do I have to explain it?” Hunter was raising his voice in frustration as the argument continued among the children. “Of course Willow was fathered by an Nman,” he said “We’re twins and obviously have the same parents.”
Some of the other children weren’t so sure about it, and no matter how emphatic he was, they wouldn’t listen and it enraged Hunter, who hissed, “You’re not listening to me.”
Shelly walked by and placed a hand on his shoulder, “Stop arguing about it, Hunter.”
“But I’m right,” he pointed out and just received a sympathetic smile from Shelly.
“I know, but their minds are made up, so there’s no need to confuse them with facts.”
A different argument between Raven and Nero caught my attention when Raven complained with a pout, “That’s rude, Nero.”
“I’m just being honest,” Nero said with an attitude. “I don’t like Motlanders and I don’t like you.”
“But my dad is an Nman,” Raven defended herself.
“Boulder adopted you, that’s not the same as fathering you.”
Raven pushed her jaw out and narrowed her eyes. “That’s mean.”
But Nero, a handsome twelve-year-old Nboy, just shrugged, uninterested.
“You should apologize,” she insisted.
He snorted. “Forget it. But I’ll make you a deal.”
Raven was more than a head smaller than him but she placed her hands on her hips and took a firm stance. “What kind of deal?”
“If you go away, I’ll promise to miss you.” His smirk said that he was lying.
Unafraid, Raven took a step forward. “That’s very immature, Nero. You know, I would ask you how old you are, but I doubt that you can count above five.”
It was Nero’s turn to get mad. “I’m eleven months older than you are, and a lot wiser too.”
“No, you’re not,” Raven argued, biting her lips, trying to find some sort of comeback. I thought about interfering but I wanted to give her the chance to work it out herself.
“Look, Raven,” Nero said and leaned back with a superior posture. “Remember when Solo asked you if you wanted to be in the infantry, and you thought it was where the babies live?” He gave a condescending laugh. “Only an idiot would think babies can be found in the infantry.”
Tears welled up in Raven’s eyes. “We don’t have armies in the Motherlands – how was I supposed to know that Magni’s warriors are in the infantry?”
Nero rolled his eyes as if that was common knowledge.
“So what if I don’t know much about the Northlands yet? I’ll learn, and at least I don’t have so many gaps in my teeth that it looks like my tongue is in jail,” Raven threw at him.
Nero stared her down. “You’re lucky we Nmen don’t beat up girls or I would have whipped your ass by now.”
“What Nman? You’re nothing but a child,” she goaded him, and I stepped in before the boy lost his temper and got physical.
“How about you two take a break for a moment?” I suggested but they kept up their mean-stare contest.
“Did you know that I speak five languages?” I asked to distract them. “It’s true, and you know what I’ve learned?”
“What?” Raven asked and finally looked at me, her manners too rooted to ignore an adult.
“That speaking five languages is great, but the ability to keep quiet in any language is just as important, and you know why?”
Nero shook his head.
“Because words can be very hurtful and abusive. Look at how upset you both are.”
“Nero started it,” Raven said and crossed her arms. “He’s always mean to me.”
He gave a rude shrug. “Because I don’t like you.”
“Listen,” I said, not prepared to let them start another fight. “I once heard a fascinating story about a wise man, and you know what he said?”
Nero shook his head. “No idea.”
“He said nothing.”
Nero scrunched up his face. “That’s a lame story.” The boy was taller than me and when I placed my hand on both his and Raven’s shoulders, he pulled back.
“My advice to you two is to practice the silence. You both want the last word, but notice how fast it escalates into a war of words between you.”
“That’s just because I’m not allowed to beat her up,” Nero said with an attitude. “I would never argue like this with a boy.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” Raven lifted her chin. “One day, I’ll fight you and I’ll beat you. Just you wait and see. My dad is a great fighter and he’s teaching me.”
Nero scoffed. “You’re just a girl. I could beat you with one arm behind my back.”
“Prove it,” Raven dared him.
“Calm down, both of you,” I told them.
“Honestly, you’re wasting your time,” Shelly, who stood next to me, said. “In the beginning, I thought they didn’t like each other, but then I realized that Nero isn’t this mean to everyone, it’s mostly Raven. It’s pretty evident that he’s got a huge crush on her, and since she keeps taking the bait, I guess she must like him too.”
Nero exploded with a face red from anger. “That’s a lie!” he exclaimed and drew everyone’s attention.
“Is there a problem?” Finn moved in on my other side and placed his arm around me in a protective manner.
“Shelly says that I’ve got a crush on Raven and that’s not true,” Nero shouted. “I fucking hate her.”
Raven was blinking from the harsh words and right away Willow came from behind and wrapped her arms around Raven, with more of the Motlander girls moving in like a swarm of bees offering comfort and support.
“Why do you hate her?” I said with interest.
“Because he’s got a crush on her,” Shelly stated matter-of-factly. “I already told you.”
Holding up my hand, I silenced Shelly and focused only on the boy. “Nero, why do you hate Raven?”
With everyone looking at him, and both Marco and Archer crossing their arms with reproachful glances, Nero was under pressure.
“I just do!” he stated but I wasn’t prepared to let a person this young grow hard and cynical without at least trying to help him.
“Come with me,” I said and walked out of the room.
“Where are they going?” Archer asked behind me, but I didn’t stop to explain.
Entering the kitchen, I waited for Nero to follow before I closed the door behind him. “Now tell me.”
“Why should I tell you anything?” he asked. “I don’t even know you that well.”
“Which is why you should tell me,” I said with a soft voice. “This is what I do in my job, Nero. You can vent to me without the fear of being judged or punished, so take the opportunity.”
Nero lifted his hands to his hair and exhaled with frustration on his face. “I don’t know why I hate Raven so much, she just annoys the hell out of me.”
“Was it always that way?” I asked.
“Yeah, more or less, but it’s gotten worse. Whenever she walks into a room I just want
to leave.”
“And why is that?”
He looked away. “I don’t know.”
“But if you did know, what would you say is the reason?”
It was a trick question to bypass his filter, and like most times it worked.
“I hate how all the adults pamper her.”
Staying quiet, I waited for him to continue.
“Did you know that Boulder and Christina adopted her?” he narrowed his eyes. “She goes home with them on Sundays and I see her cuddle with them. Getting hugs and shit.”
I nodded my head but didn’t interrupt. My heart was going out to this twelve-year-old boy who hadn’t known the love of a parent since he was three and came to the Northlands.
“It’s not because I’m jealous or anything,” he claimed. “I just don’t like how they pamper her and let her get away with fucking everything. You’ve heard her; she says mean stuff too, but she never gets in trouble for it.” He threw out his hands. “She charms them all with her happy nature, but I didn’t ask to be in a school with Momsies, and I hate their stupid love circles and massage and crap.” He paused but I kept quiet, waiting to see if he had more he needed to vent. “And it’s not just Raven,” he continued. “One time Magni hung me upside down in a tree because I made Mila cry.” He snorted. “It’s not my fault that the Momsies are such crybabies.”
“Would you like to leave the school?” I asked him in a soft voice.
Nero turned away from me and muttered low. “No.”
“Why not?”
His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “My friends are here.” He spun around. “And just for the record they don’t like how all the Momsi kids get special treatment either.” He pointed a finger at me. “Did you know that some of them even sleep with Shelly or Kya sometimes?” With a scoff, he added, “Like they’re fucking toddlers or something.”
“Would you like to sleep with an adult too?” I asked.
He scrunched his face. “No.”
“Would you like to get a hug now and then?”