“How will I know it’s working?” Evie asked.
“You’ll get a ten second delay while it thinks,” Chem said. “Just smile with those blunt Terran milk teeth and wait. No one expects your Fremmian to be flawless.”
No one except my mother.
Chapter Six
Evie
Chem and Aster walked briskly out of the building and down a stone path, past stoic faced guards in dark red uniforms. Trees obscured any real scenery, creating a dense green veil. My short Terran legs struggled to keep pace.
We crested a hill and the trees cleared. At the bottom of the hill was a lake, at the center the dark stone towers of the royal palace. A stone bridge crossed the lake, so low it seemed to hover between the still waters and the sky. The setting sun created a warm orange glow, catching a golden fire in the clouds and reflected in the water. Lanterns floated on the water. It was like something out of a dream.
“It’s lovely,” I breathed.
Aster’s head jerked back with a snort but not slowing his pace. “It is full of deceit.”
“Why is the transporter so far away?” I asked, doubling my pace to catch up to the men. The toes of my shoes pinched.
Chem paused and turned to me, weariness in his eyes. “Security. Transporters are notoriously hard to secure. It is far easier to contain the equipment in a building off site. Have you not wondered why Bitterot’s transporter is in a barn?”
My cheeks flushed at his tone. Yes, it was obvious now that Chem said it. I wouldn’t want an unannounced visitor transported directly into the front room, especially if that visitor might be armed and dangerous.
Aster asked, “Are you fit for walking, my mate?”
“These shoes weren’t exactly designed for a hike.” The small heels were murder on the stones.
Without saying a word, Aster swept me into his arms and he cradled me to his front.
“You can’t carry me,” I said.
“Nonsense. You weigh nothing more than a tauter.”
Great, I weight the same as an aggressive purple sheep. Between Chem’s disdain and Aster’s distance, the two Fremmian men sure did know how to make a girl feel special.
Multi-color lanterns lit the path down to the bridge. The air was sweet with recent rain and the earthy smell of thick vegetation. The station I worked on piped in scents for variety and nominal mental health benefits, but it wasn’t close to the real thing, not by a long shot. I rested my head on Aster’s shoulder, listening to his heart beat with each step. I would miss the fresh air when we got back to the ship.
As we walked, Chem gave a brief review of the evening. Aster would approach his father and present me as his kompli and bride. Etiquette demanded that the king initially doubt our bond. He would ask us questions, some deeply personal, and perhaps demand a token display of my worthiness. It had been several generations since a royal child bonded with a mate, so everyone was a little rusty on the formalities, but past examples were well documented. After the questions, the king would give his approval for the bond and then dinner in the great hall with the king’s ministers and closest five hundred compatriots. Aster’s eldest brother, Sindre, would be present. The other brothers were away on missions and unable to make the journey in time.
Chem’s information mirrored what Maja told me to expect. She might be a spy, and an ex-girlfriend, but at least she wasn’t a liar.
Guards opened the gate at the bottom of the hill. They bowed as we passed, Aster carrying me high in his arms, but I could sense their eyes following the unusual sight of the prince and his human bride. Did they wonder if the frail human was so weak as to not walk?
“I can walk,” I said, trying to squirm down.
“I would carry you around the globe and not feel weary.”
“That’s fantastic but please let me down now.”
Reluctantly, his arms released me and I slid to the ground. Smoothing my dress, I smiled broadly at my earnest mate. “We call this saving face back on Earth.”
“What would happen to your face?”
“It means preserving my dignity.”
He nodded. His long navy blue hair was pulled back tight. I longed to release it from its constraints and twist my fingers into the deep mane. His eyes sparkled, as if sensing my thought. If we get through tonight, there will be plenty of time for all my naughty thoughts.
The palace proper was a square structure with two massive round towers at either end. The dark, weathered stone was topped with tarnished green copper domes. Colorful paper lanterns hung from every available surface and ran on lines strung from the towers. Music and a roar of conversation could be heard outside the building.
I gripped Aster’s hand as we entered. We had not yet been announced but the crowd fell silent. Every pair of eyes in the building turned towards us. I gulped. Aster gave my hand a squeeze but his eyes were fixed forward, defiant and immune to the gaze of the crowd. As we walked the corridor to the Great Hall, no one broke the silence. I tried to follow Aster’s example and be above the curious, judging gaze of the crowd.
The heavy wooden doors to the hall opened. The Great Hall was a long, narrow corridor. Hewn from a deep grey stone, the walls echoed every sound and absorbed the little light cast from lanterns carved into alcoves. The wooden roof arched overhead. Silvery light glowed gently at the roofline but did little to illuminate the room below. Small pinpricks of light seem to twinkle, then I realized it was designed to look like the night’s sky. The floor was a highly polished tiled floor of with a dozen shades of grey, some almost white, others solidly dreary.
Cheery space.
Wooden benches lined the hall, with cushions. Some people lounged and others stood. Everyone was watching. Despite the woolen sweater and the body heat of the crowd, I shivered.
At the far end sat King Emre, his queen and heir on either side. Despite having a casual dinner the evening before, I was still intimidated. Emre wore a heavy cloak made from the pelt of a striped animal that I did not recognize. Braids worked through his long beard, studded with gems and silver hair. A simple gold circlet rested on his head. Despite his advancing year, perhaps because of them, his face was handsome. His eyes were sharp and missed nothing. I was only too aware of my sweaty palms.
Baris sat to his left, her dark navy hair loose and spilling over her shoulders. She wore a warm orange gown, deeply cut but flattering her figure, and the skirt faded into a golden yellow. Baris was a terrifying beautiful woman. Spine rigid and her head held high, Baris regarded me with her cool and vicious gaze.
The other man on the dais was Sindre, Aster’s eldest brother and the heir apparent. Like his younger brother, he wore a crisp white military uniform. With his navy hair cut aggressively short, he was a larger version of Aster. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and my heart made a nervous lurch. Was there no member of this family not dreadful and beautiful?
Silence pervaded the Great Hall, despite being pack to the rafters. My footsteps echoed on the polished stone floor, keeping pace with Aster’s ground devouring strides. Finally, heart pounding in my throat, we stood before the King and Queen of Fremm.
We knelt on the hard stone floor, eyes cast to the floor. I practice the maneuver so many times with Maja I felt I could do the kneel and rise in my sleep but still my arms trembled at my side. I clenched my fingers to hide the tremors.
“You may stand,” a strong voice announced in Fremm, quickly translated by the earpiece.
King Emre leaned forward, the leather in his chair creaking. “Who have you brought before me, son?” The words came a few seconds after his mouth stopped moving, rather like watching a dubbed movie.
“My kompli, my mate and my world,” Aster said, voice clear as a bell, filling the Great hall. “So you say,” Emre said, leaning back into his seat. “Kompli and komplan are children’s stories. How do we know you are not mistaken?”
“There is no mistake,” Aster replied. “I knew in an instant and could not rest until I c
laimed my kompli.”
I could not suppress my blush. He claimed me, all right. And then carried me kicking and screaming to his ship, but the claiming had been pretty fun.
“She is Terran,” Emre said.
“There is no mistake,” Aster repeated.
Emre leaned back into his chair, hands folded in his lap. “You would break your engagement with the Bakken family, our close allies and friends?”
“We celebrate a millennium long tradition of honoring the bond between kompli and komplan, of true mates. We have never penalized the bonded mates for doing what they must, regardless of contracts. Where Hvil and Marja punished for their famous bond?” I recognized the names from a historical film.
Aster continued, “The deed is already done. I have bonded with my mate and no paper contract or prior obligation will separate us.”
Emre nodded at the quoted precedent. “That was a long time ago.”
“But I am standing before you now, father, with my kompli and we wait your judgement.”
Emre pondered, stroking his long beard. It was for show but my palms sweated and my feet itched with nerves. It was all I could do to not take off my shoes and give myself a good long scratch.
“I am inclined,” Emre said finally, “to indulged you, son, in light of this established bond and welcome your kompli to our family. It has long been Fremm tradition to accept a kompli, no matter her origins if she is worthy.” He smiled in my direction, fangs exposed and eyes warm. I bowed my head slightly.
Baris suddenly stood up. “You cite tradition, husband,” she said, “but how do we know this Terran is worthy? Where are her scars? Her battles won? Is she even blooded? Why does her family not stand with her?”
I’ll show her my scars if I ever catch her in a dark alley. I held the queen’s gaze defiantly, refusing to look away. What trick did she have up her sleeve?
Baris continued, “The kompli-komplan bond is an old concept but we have an even longer tradition of marking childhood’s transition to adulthood with a challenge.”
“Mother,” Aster started but his voice grew quiet.
“We have an equally long tradition of demanding a challenge from a suitor, even if they are kompli and komplan.” She sneered at the last word. She left the dais and walked towards me. “Is your alleged mate willing to prove herself worthy?”
A collective gasp went through the audience.
Alleged.
That royal bitch. I’ll show her alleged.
“I accept,” I said, voice steady and firm but not loud enough to fill the hall. A ripple of murmurs coursed through the audience.
Baris took a step forward, her nose inches from mine. “And if you fail, will you free my son from this bond?”
“You cannot,” Aster said quietly.
My gaze did not leave the queen’s, like a high stakes staring contest. I could not look at my mate because I knew the panic in his dark eyes would waiver my resolve. “And if I succeed?” I asked.
“Then we will be family and think no more of it.” A wide smile broke across her face but it did not reach her eyes, like the grin of a predator toying with its food.
“I accept!” I shouted, voice filling the hall.
King Emre clapped his hands three times. “Very well, this is more dramatic than I like but the challenge was accepted. The first challenge will be in the morning. At the end of the fourth day, we will celebrate your marriage.”
Baris wanted drama, I’d give it to her. “Your Majesty,” I said, addressing the king. “My family cannot stand with me because they are deceased.”
“We are sorry to hear that.”
“But I do have a sister and a friend who is like a sister. I know, according to Fremm tradition, that a bride must have two people to witness the ceremony or it is null.”
Baris frowned. One little trick avoided.
Emre nodded. “We will send for these sisters, do not worry. Until this, let us dine and consider the day.”
Two great long tables rose from the floor, flanked by benches. A table rose at the dais, elevated and allowing the occupants to survey the room. Aster lead me to the head table. We sat on the end, next to his brother, Sindre. The audience took their seats in an orderly manner and servants appeared carrying trays and pitches. The transition from royal audience to feast was seamless.
The food was sumptuous but it was lost on me, tasting like ash in my mouth. Baris distracted me with the Maja ploy, got me so angry with Aster’s past love affairs that I didn’t contemplate any surprises tonight.
It completely worked; Baris played me like a chump.
I’m a cook, not a politician: I just can’t compete.
Chapter Seven
Evie
The refreshing night air embraced me as we exited the heat and the crowds of the palace. I could breathe at last.
Aster strode towards Chem. “Prepare the ship. Get as many of the crew on board as you can. We leave as soon as we get to the station.”
Chem nodded.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“I will not let you do the challenge,” Aster said, chin held firm. “I will not let you harm yourself.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “It’s mostly ceremonial, right?”
Aster and Chem exchanged a look. Not ceremonial, then.
“Right?” I prompted, panic rising at the unknown dangers that I agreed to.
Aster’s large, rough hand took mine but said nothing. Well, fuck.
“You gotta give me something to go on here,” I said. “I’m freaking out.”
“We will leave this place,” Aster said. “I will renounce my title and my family and we can be kompli and komplan in peace.”
“No,” I pulled away. I didn’t know his entire life story, but I understood the importance of family and no self-respecting Fremm ran away from a fight. “We will not run away like bloodless cowards.”
“I have a ship, I have warriors who will fight for me and I have my kompli. I have more than most ever dream possible. I will not lose you.”
“And what will you do? Hide? Live on the ship forever? Change your name? Your face?” Not his handsome face, I’m partial to it.
“I’ll be a smuggler!” Aster roared. “There are plenty of ways to earn a living if you don’t look too hard at credentials.”
I reached up and stroked his face, skin glowing under my touch. “No.”
“But if you fail…”
“No,” my voice firm. “I will not run away from a challenge. I will do this the hard way and I will make your mother apologize.”
Aster rubbed the bridge of his nose, a weary gesture. Finally, he nodded. “The challenges are not random,” he said. “They are in sets of three, but we have no way of knowing which set she will pick.”
Chem said, “After tomorrow, we will know the challenges and will be able to prepare for the remaining two if you finish the first.”
I nodded. Go into the first challenge blind but we can study up for the other two. “What might it be?”
We took the transporter back to Bitterot Farm. I brewed the Fremmian equivalent of coffee while Chem pulled up a list of possibilities on a glass tablet. The challenges clustered together in archetypes: hunter, homemaker, warrior, etc. My eyes kept returning to one in particular.
“This one,” I said, tapping the screen. The archetype expressed tradition in food, song and blood. Baris wouldn’t be able to resist watching me fail to uphold sacred Fremm custom.
Chem frowned when he read it. “The queen will not choose this.”
“Right now Baris thinks I can only prepare Earth food.” My smile was a gloat, true, and I should know better than to gloat, but I had good reason. The first challenge was the preparation of the winter holiday feast, Enhette, which celebrated the unification of Fremm, marking the planet’s rise from a dark age of constant battle to a galactic force. I continued, “She will choose this to humiliate me in my profession.”
Aste
r nodded and then said, “Challenge two is the Recitation of the Unification.”
“That’s a problem,” I said. Baris knew my Fremm was a backwater farmer level at best and learning the ten thousand word saga in a day would be miraculous. “We’ll worry about that tomorrow night.”
The communication device on Aster’s wrist beeped. He frowned but went outside to take the call, leaving me alone with Chem.
I removed the translator from my ear. Small and cleverly designed, it blended into ear jewelry. “Can this be modified?”
Chem raised his eyebrows. “You would cheat.”
“I would win.”
A white smile split about his azure face but was quickly replaced with his usual serious expression. “Are you not worried to end the bond that ties you and my captain together?”
I shrugged. “That’s just a formality, right? I mean, the bond can’t be broken, not now.” We connected. Aster and I might not know a whole lot about each other, but we were connected.
“But you said you would release the prince from the bond.” His tone was very serious, implying that there was an element I overlooked.
“And how would I do that? It’s impossible.”
Chem’s gaze drifted from my eyes to just over my shoulder. I turned to see where he was looking: a knife block on the counter.
Oh.
I would release Aster from the bond with my own knife and spilled blood.
Oh.
Well, fuck. No wonder Aster wanted to run. I’d do the same thing if I heard him naively volunteer for a suicidal plan. “How has he been able to sit and listen to us plan? That would drive me mad.”
Bride of the Alien Prince: Alpha Alien Romance (Alpha Aliens of Fremm Book 2) Page 4