by M. K. Eidem
"Until recently?" She quickly posed the question. "What's changed?"
Ull tipped his head to the side and gave her a strange look as if that should be obvious. "Earth females arrived."
"And that's changed things for females in the Tornian Empire?" Prime Minister Gagnon pressed. "How?"
Ull turned his attention to the Prime Minister. "It began when King Grim declared the Earth female he'd Joined with his Queen." Knowing he would need to explain further, he continued. "Since the Great Infection struck, no Tornian female has accepted a male's claim except for the Empress, who must."
"I don't understand," Gagnon said.
"For a female to accept a male's claim means she has agreed to Join with him, and only him, until they meet the Goddess. Our females no longer agree to do such a thing. Once they present offspring to a male, they expect another male to entice them away by offering them more for giving them her gift of offspring. When that happens, she takes everything the first male has given her and moves on, leaving behind her offspring. If she accepts a male's claim, as Queen Lisa has with King Grim, it means she can no longer do this. Another Earth female, Lady Abby, has also accepted the claim of her male, Lord Ynyr."
"But, there are no Tornian females that accept the claim?"
"There is one, Lady Isis. She has been with her male, Lord Oryon, for more than twenty-five years and presented him with four fit and worthy males."
"She is also Warrior Ull's mother," Trisha quietly told the Council.
"This is truth. Since this has happened, Empress Kim, Queen Lisa, Lady Abby, and Lady Isis have taken very active roles in their Houses and have also addressed the Assembly of Lords."
"So, they are only respected because they are with important males," Smyth said in disgust.
"They are respected because they are important," Ull corrected, stressing the word 'they.'
"I am the only one who has spent any amount of time with Tornians, and as the Representative appointed by President Garcia, I want to remind this esteemed Council that it wasn't that long ago in our past when others held Earth women in esteem only due to their social status or to whom they were married. Our society changed, and I believe, from what Warrior Ull has just said, that the Tornian society can change too. It's already begun to, thanks to the influence of Earth females."
"Any applicant would have to be made aware of this difference."
"Of course, Chancellor Smyth."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Representative Burke, a moment, please?"
Trisha turned at her tío's request and waited for him to catch up to her and Ull. "Of course, Mr. President."
"Alone?" The President spoke in Tornian so Ull could understand.
"I will wait for you in the shuttle," Ull told her and continued down the corridor.
"My offices are this way." Aaron gestured down a different hallway, and with bodyguards in front and behind them, they silently moved toward it. Once there, one of the guards opened the door for them to enter, then closed it and left them alone.
Trisha let her gaze travel around the room, taking in the plush carpeting, warm wooden walls, and the understated opulence that, while fitting for the President of the United States, surprised her.
"How long has this facility been in the works?"
"Since I was first elected."
"So, you've known the countries of North America were going to merge into a Council for nearly four years?" She moved toward the chairs facing the desk, but he gently gripped her elbow, guiding her to a couch along a wall.
"Not all the countries, just Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The rest are worried their voices would be drowned out by three such large countries. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Water, please," she said, sitting down. "But each country would have an equal vote. That's how it was in every other Council, so why would these other countries think it would be different?”
"That was stressed, but to no avail." He went to the mini-fridge tastefully hidden in one of the cabinets and pulled out two bottles. Returning, he handed her one as he sat down beside her. "Change takes time, and they are considering forming a Central American Council. They feel it will better represent their wants and beliefs."
"That is their right." Taking the bottle, she twisted off the lid and took a much-needed sip.
"It is. Now enough about that. Tell me how you're doing. Honestly. Are you all right?"
"What do you mean?" She didn't understand the question. Why was he asking? He couldn't possibly know. "I'm fine."
"Look, I know how heavily the disappearance of Lisa and her children weighed on you. Now all this is going on. Maybe I was wrong choosing you as Earth's Representative."
"With all due respect, Tío, you didn't choose me, Lisa did. And I'm not going to let her down again."
"You've lost weight and aren't sleeping well." He reached out to gently run his thumb over the faint bruising under an eye.
"It just takes time to adjust to sleeping on a spaceship and eating alien food." Thank God, that's what he was talking about. She wasn’t ready to reveal her condition to him, not with everything else going on.
"Well, thankfully, this will be the last night you'll have to do that." Lowering his hand, he opened his bottle.
"What?" She gave him a confused look as he drank deeply. "What are you talking about?"
"After tomorrow, all our people will be back on the planet," he told her, screwing the lid back on his bottle. "So, there will be no reason for you to return to the Searcher. Warrior Ull and Minister Ruskin can travel back and forth alone."
"I… I guess I hadn't realized that. As Earth's representative, I just assumed I would need to be readily available to both Ull and Jakob. Meaning I'd be remaining on the Searcher."
"No, I want you on the planet."
"If that's what you and the other world leaders decide is best, then, of course, that's what I'll do."
"This is my decision, Trisha."
"What was it you once said to Mamá and me about choosing a political life? 'That in serving for the betterment of the people, one must sometimes make decisions that aren't always in your own best interest.' It's one of the reasons you said you'd never marry. You didn't want the woman you loved always to take second place."
Aaron's eyes widened in astonishment. "That was over fifteen years ago. I can't believe you remember that."
"It stuck in my mind. During election years, you were often asked if you would get engaged to the woman you were dating at the time. Now might be one of those times, Tío, when what's better for the people of Earth isn't going to be better for you."
"I promised your mamá that I would always keep you safe."
"I know, but the truth is, no woman on Earth is safe unless we stop the Ganglians from abducting them, and we can't do that without the assistance of the Tornians and Kaliszians."
"I know that. I just love you so much, Trishy."
"I love you too, Tío."
Chapter Thirteen
Trisha leaned back in the copilot seat of the shuttle and released a tired sigh. God, it had been such a long day but a productive one.
"Are you alright, Trisha?"
Looking to Ull, she took in his unique profile. When she'd first met him, she'd thought his features strange with his flatter nose and sharper cheekbones, but now they seemed to fit him perfectly. He was just Ull, and the thought of not seeing him again hurt, especially when he looked at her with those unusual gray eyes of his, full of concern.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that? Do I look that bad?"
"You are beautiful. Who has dared to say otherwise?!" Ull demanded, and she watched rage fill the eyes that only moments before had been full of concern.
"Calm down." She reached out to put a soothing hand on his bare arm. "No one insulted me. Tío Aaron just asked me the same question you did, and I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I am fine. A little tired, that's all."
"Then you will rest
more." Ull looked forward as if the subject was settled and began to land the shuttle.
Trisha opened her mouth then closed it, knowing it would do no good, and really why start an argument when after tonight Ull wouldn't know if she was resting enough or not.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"How did things go today?" Jakob asked in the way of greeting as she exited the shuttle.
"It went well." Trisha knew the Kaliszian Minister was anxious to get down to the planet and negotiate for his people. That he'd put the needs of those under his protection first said a lot about the male and the Kaliszian people. "There were some tense moments, but in the end, I think we have a good plan going forward."
"Wonderful."
"The Council seems very interested in trading with the Kaliszian Empire."
"May the Goddess hear," Jakob prayed quietly.
Trisha gave him a small, understanding smile. "Has anything happened with the remaining abductees that I need to know about?"
"No, they are just impatient to return to their home."
"Understandable, I'll go reassure them that it won't be much longer."
"You need to rest, Trisha," Ull growled.
"What? Why? Are you ill, Trisha?" Jakob ran concerned eyes over her.
"I'm fine," she stressed, giving Ull an exasperated look. "I'm just a little tired. I'm not used to all this space travel. Once I talk to my people, I'll go get some sleep."
"You're sure?" Jakob knew it was selfish of him, but this female held the future of his people in her hands. If she were to become ill from helping them, there would be little chance of there being an agreement between their people.
"I am." Reaching out, she gave Jakob's arm a reassuring squeeze then left.
As soon as Trisha left the hangar, Jakob rounded on Ull, shoving the larger male. Jakob might be a Minister, but he'd started as a Kaliszian Warrior, and while he may have had to defer to Ull, he wasn't intimidated by him. "What happened down there? Why is Trisha so exhausted? You can seal the fates of both our people without her. Don't you realize that? What. Did. You. Do?"
"Never. Touch. Me. Kaliszian." Ull growled, shoving the Kaliszian male back. “I did nothing to Trisha. The sessions with the Earthian Council exhaust her. Other than her tío, she's the only one of them who currently understands either of our languages. Trisha must continually translate all the conversations. I have tried to assist her by making sure we are always physically joined, but that isn't always possible. On top of that, she is continually checking on the Earthians that have returned."
"She is doing too much." While Jakob didn't back down, his hostility level did.
"She is. She…" Ull trailed off, unable to come up with the right word to describe Trisha. She was strong and brave while still being soft and gentle. She understood even the things she disagreed with, and while he had kidnapped her, Trisha was doing everything she could to help them. "She needs more rest. Hopefully, she will start getting it tomorrow after all her people have returned."
"I will be traveling down with you tomorrow."
"That is the plan, Minister Ruskin. Now I need to contact my Emperor."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Trisha sagged back against the wall of her cleansing unit. The coolness of the wall was in sharp contrast to the heat of the water pounding down from above. She felt as drained as the water flowing down the drain at her feet. The meeting with the remaining abductees had taken longer than she'd planned. They'd been full of questions, most they already knew the answers to, but a few were new concerning how those already on the planet were doing. She'd answered the questions the best she could, but she also knew nothing could honestly calm their fears until they were back on Earth.
Back on Earth.
She shook her head at that phrase. A few days ago, that phrase hadn't even been a possibility. Now, thanks to the arrival of the Searcher, it was. Now, so many previously unknown things were possible.
Traveling to an alien planet.
There being 'aliens' who were more like us than they were different.
Having feelings for one of those aliens when nothing could ever come of it.
Sighing heavily, she straightened and motioning for the water to shut off, stepped out of the shower and began to dry off. Several minutes later, dressed in sleeping pants, she heard a knock on her door. Sighing heavily, she tossed the towel back into the cleansing room, then answered the door.
"Ull." It was a little bit like déjà vu seeing him there holding a tray.
"May I come in?" he asked when she just stood there.
"What? Oh, yes, of course," she said, stepping back. "Please come in."
"I noticed you didn't join the rest of your people for last meal."
"No, I wanted to shower first."
"And to rest." He gestured with his head to what she was wearing as he went to set the tray down.
"Truth," she chuckled, sitting down in the chair he pulled out.
"You will eat before you do that."
"Well, as you've brought more than enough," she said, her gaze traveling over the plates then back to him, "I hope you planned on joining me." She was surprised at how much she wanted to share last meal with Ull. Especially when this could be the last time they were ever alone again.
"I would very much like that." This time though, instead of sitting across from her, he took the chair beside her. After being so close to her all day on planet, he found he didn't want to be separated now. "I selected the things you seemed to most enjoy last night."
"Thank you, but I hope they are things you enjoy too."
Ull's gaze traveled over the items he had selected just because she liked them. He now realized they were also some of his favorites. "They are all items I would have chosen for myself."
"Good." The next several minutes, they selected what they wanted and settled down to eat. Trisha watched as Ull picked another piece of what passed for Tornian bread and smothered it with hunaja. "You must have a sweet tooth."
"Sweet tooth?" Ull gave her a confused look.
"You seem to really like the hunaja. It's like something we have on Earth called honey. It's sweet." She watched a ruddy flush spread across Ull's pale, pearly face.
"Hunaja is a rare substance in the Tornian Empire. It is found only on my home planet of Betelgeuse, so I grew up on it."
"Then I'm glad they included it with the supplies on the Searcher. Everyone deserves to have something that reminds them of home."
"Is this… honey on your planet a rare thing?"
"There was a time when it was. The bee population suddenly began to decline because of several factors, but thankfully we were able to address them. Now the honeybees thrive, so we have an ample supply of honey."
"Just as you have an ample supply of females."
"I don't think I ever thought to compare the two, but in a sense, yes." Carefully she set her silverware down. "I want to say something to you while I can, but I don't want it to sound condescending or for you to take it that way."
Ull set the hunaja smothered treat aside. "You can say whatever you want to me, Trisha, and I will listen."
"When I first met you…"
"When I kidnapped you," Ull corrected.
She gave him a small smile. "When you kidnapped me, I honestly believed you were the most arrogant, stubborn, unlikeable 'alien' I had ever met."
"I was the only 'alien' you had ever met."
"True." Who knew Ull had a sense of humor? "Now, stop interrupting me."
"My apologies."
"I also believed that if you were the best your Emperor had to send, with your abrupt and aggressive attitude, then there was no way to reach an agreement."
'See, she doesn't believe in you. She never believed in you.' Suddenly that dark voice was back in his mind, and he stiffened.
Trisha noticed how his eyes began to darken and put a hand on his arm. "You said you would listen."
"Continue," he growled.
"As I said, y
ou were abrupt and aggressive and seemed to take offense when I intended none. But as I got to know you, how you were raised, and got to learn about your society, I began to understand."
"Understand what?"
"That while our societies are very different, as are many of our attitudes and beliefs, we are more alike than any of us thought."
"In what way?"
"When you strip everything else away, all we want is to be loved for who we are. Not for who our family is, or the position we hold, but for who we are, as individuals."
"This would be truth, but it seems you believe that can never happen for me."
"What?! What are you talking about? I never said that!"
"You said that with my abrupt and aggressive attitude, no female will ever be willing to Join with me, let alone remain."
"That's not what I said or implied." Slamming her fists on the table, she surged to her feet. "But I left out pigheadedness, which is what you are exhibiting right now! God, men are so infuriating, especially when all you’re trying to do is compliment them!"
Ull rose when she did and was about to storm out of the room until her words stopped him. "Compliment?"
"Yes. Compliment, you big cabrón!"
Ull quickly moved across the chamber and pulled her up against his chest. Leaning down, his lips nearly brushing hers, he murmured, "What compliment were you trying to give me, my Trisha?"
"That… that I was proud of you today," she whispered, her hands coming up to rest on his chest. "You listened to the leaders' concerns and found solutions. Maybe not perfect ones, but solutions. You were honest with them, even when it wasn't to your advantage. You told them what they and you were up against, and you never lost your temper. Your Emperor chose exactly the right male to send to Earth."
"You no longer consider me to be arrogant?" He placed the faintest of kisses over one corner of her mouth. "Or stubborn?" He did the same to the other corner. "Or to have an aggressive attitude?" With that question, he captured her lips in a deep, hard kiss, lifting her off her feet as he did so.