The Challenge

by Kearney, Susan

  “—living in the family compound? Yes.”

  Not about to accept harem living conditions or any variation of the theme, Tessa’s tone turned bitter. “Kahn didn’t waste any time. He made these arrangements from space?”

  “Only for Shaloma,” Dora chattered as if she hadn’t just imparted the most devastating of news. Maybe she did need a circuit overhaul. “Miri has been installed in the household since before Lael died. The exciting news is that Miri’s expecting a baby.”

  Tessa’s gut twisted. What in hell had Kahn been thinking? He’d left a pregnant woman behind? Then lied to Tessa when he’d told her there was no one special waiting for him at home. For God sake, Miri was having his baby!

  Going from almost contented to fuming outrage in less time than a shuttle’s liftoff, Tessa took deep breaths that did nothing to calm her. “I’m going to kill him.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t share.”

  “That’s not a very progressive attitude. In fact it’s—”

  “Dora. Shut up.”

  “You sound upset.”

  “Of course I’m upset.” Jealousy had never bit her before. “Is Kahn going to flip a coin to see which one of us he takes to bed? Or maybe sleeping with him will be our reward for following his rules. Or maybe—”

  “Kahn doesn’t have sex with his other wives.”

  “What?” Tessa drew in quick breaths, but the air didn’t have enough oxygen to keep away the retching dizziness. “You just told me Miri is having a baby.”

  “Etru’s baby.”

  “Dora, you aren’t making sense. You said Miri is Kahn’s wife.”

  “Miri is also Etru’s wife, and she’s pregnant with Etru’s child. She sleeps with Etru. Only him. Shaloma is too young for sex, and you are supposed to teach her how to run a household.”

  “I don’t know how to run a . . . Kahn only has private relations with me?”

  “Yes. You’re the only one he gets naked with. Feel better?”

  Much. Air inflated her lungs again. Her temper subsided as Dora explained the family grouping.

  Still, the revelation had thrown her because she’d reacted like a jealous lover. She shouldn’t have cared this much. It was one thing to like and respect Kahn but her reaction revealed to Tessa just how deep her feelings went. Feelings she didn’t want to admit, not even to herself. “So why are all the women called wives?”

  “Because if Etru dies, it’s Kahn’s responsibility to help raise the child. And Shaloma would be the baby’s big sister.”

  Now that Tessa had calmed down, and her thoughts had stopped spinning useless cartwheels, she supposed the system made sense. Children on Rystan wouldn’t grow up without family, even if one set of parents died like hers had. She wasn’t sure about the living arrangements, or how she’d feel about having so many people around, but she would try to adapt. Glad that Dora had warned her of the unusual living arrangements before they arrived in Rian, Tessa told herself not to jump to conclusions.

  “Dora, thanks so much for explaining. I shouldn’t have told you to shut up. I apologize.”

  “No problem.”

  Tessa grinned at Dora’s love for slang. “If Kahn had told me he had a co-wife, I would have jumped all over him—”

  “Is jumping all over him different from jumping his bones?”

  “I have never used that expression.”

  “But during our stay in Earth’s orbit, I monitored North American television channels. Some phrases were difficult to learn from the context. For example—”

  “Tell me about Miri and Shaloma.” Tessa needed to distract Dora before the computer went off on a language tangent.

  “Shaloma is sixteen-years-old, pretty with long blond hair and amber eyes. Miri is voluptuous, and her belly is rounded from the child in her womb. Both women are taller than you, with less delicate bone structures.”

  “But what are they like?”

  “Can you be more specific?”

  “What makes them tick? What makes them happy?”

  “Right now both of them are pleased that Kahn has taken a wife. Miri because she worried over him ever finding the right woman, and Shaloma because now she has moved out of her childhood home and is one step closer to adulthood.”

  “What makes Miri think that I’m the right woman for Kahn?”

  “Etru told her on the talkie—”

  “Talkie?”

  “Like your radio but without towers,” Dora explained. “Anyway, Etru told Miri this morning that Kahn seems less severe since his return. The women are preparing a feast in honor of your wedding.”

  “But are they happy to welcome me? Or are they happy because they think I’m the right woman for Kahn?”

  “I’m not sure I understand the difference.”

  “Sure you do.” Tessa took several fortifying breaths. “We were friends before Kahn married me. Right?”

  “Yes.”

  “And if Kahn threw me out of his family—”

  “Rystani men do not divorce.”

  “—but if he got mad and threw me out, you’d still be my friend, correct?”

  “Of course.”

  “But are Miri and Shaloma capable of making such distinctions?”

  “Perhaps after exposure to your radical way of thinking, they will come to love you as I do,” Dora spoke gently.

  Tessa frowned. “Dora, I’m not that fragile. You needn’t use psycho babble on me.”

  Dora’s laughter trilled in her ears. “Sometimes you are too smart for your own good. Why don’t you just relax and enjoy the welcome party?”

  “I hate parties.”

  “So fake it. I happen to adore them. All those simultaneous conversations to monitor. All those delicious men to watch. My sensors are in every room of the living quarters except the bedrooms. I don’t intrude there unless invited.”

  “Thanks. But didn’t you mean that you like to overhear all the gossip?”

  “That, too, dear. Human relationships are fascinating. Now, it would be wonderful if you’d find something other than a backpack for me to wear. Something nice. Maybe something pink and sexy.”

  Tessa groaned. At least Dora’s patter helped keep her nerves in line. She didn’t like social gatherings which required lots of small talk. Invariably she was bored or managed to offend someone. What she really wanted to do was see how far Rob One and Two had gotten with the hydroponics equipment. The manufacturer had assured her they could have a good crop to harvest in less than six weeks after planting the seeds.

  Tessa didn’t know squat about farming, but Dora did. While Tessa should be concentrating on her Challenge skills, she couldn’t use her psi all the time without resting between her training. And during those periods of rest, she might as well as be useful and help with the food growing. If she didn’t return from the Challenge, she’d like to leave something good behind. And what could be better than helping these people to survive? Dora’s expert programs and the computer would guide the work of the robots. Meanwhile, Tessa still hadn’t told Kahn about any of her purchases except the food. While she suspected the women in her family would enjoy the food preparation and cleaning machines, Kahn might consider her purchases wasteful. The million credits she’d spent were still a sore subject between them, one she was reluctant to mention. But soon she would have no choice about telling him.

  In fact, once she reached Rian, she suspected a lot of her freedoms might be curtailed. She tried to prepare herself, tried to tell herself to assess before she reacted, reminded herself that whatever freedoms she might win for herself would take time, that she had to be patient.

  As the snow sled slowed, she hoped curiosity would outweigh her sense of dread. It didn’t. Nothing could repress her quiet anxiety over coming to a new world, meeting a new family. And once again being the stranger.

  Chapter Twenty

  TESSA EXPECTED the entrance to Rian to be well hidden, so when they parked the vehicles inside a large cavern w
ith whitish gray stalactites and stalagmites, she figured they were taking a break in their journey. But after the men shut down their engines, they dispersed in several directions—all except Etru and Kahn, who escorted her deeper into the cave.

  Glowing stones rested every few feet along the polished floor, lighting their way. She’d expected to feel claustrophobic after the floor angled deeper into the mountain, but the wide passageway and high ceilings gave the feel of an office building’s hallway back on Earth.

  Kahn held her hand and walked by her side. “We are careful to hide Rian’s location from Jypeg and the Endekians by using a multitude of entrances and exits.”

  “Don’t they have heat sensors? Or radar?”

  From behind them Etru answered. “The radiation helps hide our presence. There’s no need to be afraid. We have lookouts posted.”

  “And the Endekian presence in still small,” Kahn added quickly, as if he feared she might take Etru’s words as an insult about her courage, but she’d known immediately that the man was trying to comfort her, not insult her. “The party that captured us must have tracked us when we entered the atmosphere, and they tortured Xander because they needed to learn the location of Rian.”

  As they strode through wide corridors, Tessa saw many men, fewer women, and even fewer children. The Rystani people shared skin tones that varied from tan to deep bronze and a wild assortment of eye colors. But what struck her hardest was that no one carried extra pounds on their lean frames.

  Kahn greeted his people with a nod of respect, a pat on the shoulder, and short welcomes. He never once failed to proudly introduce her, either. She read respect for their leader on their faces, and curiosity about her. But no one asked questions or tried to impede their progress.

  Through open doorways, Tessa saw cramped quarters overflowing with people, rounded rooms with a hearth full of glow stones, a central gathering place. As they walked, she spoke quietly to Kahn. “What makes those glow stones light up?”

  “They have a natural phosphorescence. We would export them to other worlds, except with their atomic interior they can so easily be made into weapons.”

  “There’s nothing else to export?” she asked.

  “The unique formation of our planet which produced glow stones denied us gems and metals in the non-radioactive areas.” Kahn accepted a ceramic decorative plate from one of his people. Another gave him a string of beads. And he passed out candy to the children.

  The Rystani people in this corridor seemed more familiar with Kahn, though no less respectful. Children made a game of running over to touch him, accepting pieces of candy and then careening away with pleased laughter. Men and women alike approached him with gentle smiles of welcome, giving small tokens of their esteem.

  Laden with gifts, Kahn turned into an elaborate hallway decorated with an arched golden ceiling, carved stone columns of fantastical creatures and an intricate mosaic floor of deep pinks sliced with streaks of green. After the plain walkways they’d already passed, this one seemed overdone and gaudy, yet conveyed that a man of importance lived here.

  Although Tessa had always known Kahn was a leader of Rian, which was the capital of Rystan, seeing hundreds of his people react to him made her realize that she might be expected to be a role model for the women—something she was ill-equipped to do. But first she had to win the Challenge.

  The luxurious hallway ended in a set of double doors guarded by two sentries who opened them to let them pass. After the opulence of the hallway, she’d expected a palace. Instead they entered a homey living area with a massive hearth full of glow stones and intricate tapestries on the opposite wall.

  Two women, both taller than Tessa, waited in the room, lounging on a huge sofa left over from the era before suits and null-grav were in use. Miri’s hollowed cheeks and the dark shadows under her sun-colored eyes suggested she hadn’t been sleeping or eating well. She walked to greet the men with a graceful waddle, her long flowing dress unable to hide her swollen belly. Miri kissed Kahn’s cheek and hugged Etru with a fierce gladness.

  Etru gently cupped her neck and tugged her to him, wrapping Miri in a tender and possessive embrace. “I told you I was uninjured.”

  “Yes, my love, but sometimes a woman needs to see for herself.”

  The young Shaloma greeted Kahn with a proper bow of the head, but with bright-eyed curiosity she focused on Tessa. Although half a foot taller than Tessa, Shaloma’s waif-like appearance and the tilt of her violet eyes gave the appearance of a teen on the verge of adulthood. Her face, framed by flowing blond hair, possessed arrogant cheekbones, a bold nose, and full lips. When her face fleshed out to match her features, she would be a knock out. However, she seemed totally unaware of her potential, moving with the brisk steps of an eager child, not a woman making an entrance.

  After Kahn made formal introductions, the women handed the men drinks and retreated to the kitchen, taking Tessa with them.

  Shaloma’s eyes glinted with pleasure, barely waiting her turn as Miri hugged Tessa. “My, you are just a tiny one. It’s hard to believe you saved my Etru’s life. I will forever be in your debt.” She pulled back and placed a blue glass jar into Tessa’s hands. “This is a perfume that has been passed down from my grandmother’s time, to be used for special romantic occasions.”

  Touched by the gesture, overwhelmed by the friendly psi coming her way, Tessa shook her head. “I can’t accept so precious a gift.”

  Miri’s hand closed over Tessa’s. “You’ve already given me the most precious gift on the planet, the life of my baby’s father. I will be insulted if you say no.”

  Embarrassed by Miri’s warmth, Tessa ordered herself to breathe. At a loss for words, she wanted to convey how much Miri’s welcome meant to her but couldn’t speak past the sudden lump in her throat.

  “My turn,” Shaloma moved in for her hug, saving Tessa from having to respond. Shaloma might be thin, she might be a child, but she embraced Tessa with a fierce enthusiasm that bubbled up from her in a genuine welcome. “I am so glad Kahn married you. I can’t wait to hear about Earth. Is it warmer there? How far away is it? And however did you get Kahn to allow you to wear that stunning pantsuit? Do you think he’d let me—”

  “Shaloma!” Miri laughed. “Give the poor woman a chance to settle in. You can pester her with your questions later. Right now we have a feast to prepare, although Kahn’s favorite meat is not as good without Jarballa to spice it up.”

  After they’d arrived at Rian, Tessa should have remembered to change out of the pantsuit that had become her uniform while on the spaceship. However, she’d been so caught up in her new surroundings, she hadn’t given her suit a thought. She suspected Kahn had noticed and was gratified that again he was making more allowances for her.

  However, now was not the time to think about how pleased she was with her husband, especially when she could actually contribute to the meal. “I might be able to help with the spices. Dora, where’s the food materializer?”

  “Stuffed in the broom closet.”

  Miri and Shaloma’s eyes widened. “Who said that?”

  “Dora is a computer and a friend. She’s been watching over the items we brought with us from Zenon Prime. If you could lead me to the broom closet, we could unpack.”

  “Wow.” Shaloma let out a most unladylike whoop of glee that made Tessa chuckle. “You have a computer for a friend?”

  “Dora, say hello to Shaloma and watch your manners.”

  “That means she doesn’t want me to talk about sex,” Dora spoke out with absolutely no shame.

  “Dora!” Tessa warned her. “Shaloma is not yet an adult.”

  “But I would love to talk about sex.” Shaloma giggled.

  Miri tried to keep the amusement from her face and failed. “Let’s leave them to get acquainted. If I don’t spice the octar meat soon, it’ll be too late.”

  The broom closet turned out to be a huge pantry where cooking items and food stuffs were stored on floor-to-ceil
ing shelves. Miri waddled into the pantry and using a small glow stone like a flashlight, she perused the stores. “The robots could barely fit all the supplies you bought in here, and we have one of the largest larders in Rian.”

  “After Kahn told me about the food problem, I stocked up on supplies.”

  “You?” Miri turned from the supplies to frown at her.

  “Yeah. Me.” Tessa saw no reason to mention the details to Miri. “It’s kind of a sore point between Kahn and me, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention—”

  “The men aren’t concerned about the kitchen. They don’t even know how to boil water, never mind cook.”

  “Um, Miri.” Tessa appreciated Miri letting her off the hook without explaining how she’d blown their credits and now felt compelled to be honest. Biting her lip, Tessa picked up the food materializer. “I don’t know how to cook, either.”

  Miri patted her shoulder. “You can learn. I will teach you. And I know all of Kahn’s favorite meals.” Miri then winked at Tessa. “However, as much as I like to cook, sometimes it’s a chore that I wouldn’t mind turning over to a machine. I’m eager to try it out.”

  Tessa grinned. “Wait until you see the cleaning machine I bought.”

  “What does it do?”

  “Wash dishes. Mops. Dusts. Whatever we ask it to do.”

  “Oh, my. That sounds wonderful.” Miri patted her stomach and confided. “This pregnancy makes me sleep a lot, and Shaloma is the sweetest child, but she isn’t too thorough with her chores. She prefers to daydream.”

  Tessa carried the food processor into the kitchen where Dora and Shaloma were chatting away about fashion on Zenon. A bit relieved that for once Dora hadn’t turned the conversation to sex, Tessa interrupted, “Dora, what kind of power supply does this machine require?”

  “It comes with a hundred-year battery. All you need to do is connect the hose out the back into the raw ingredient container.”

  While Tessa connected the hose, Shaloma set the table, and Miri opened the oven to check the food. Mouthwatering smells of roasting meat and baking bread, plus some kind of fruit tart wafted into the room.