Lifemates (Tales of Wild Space Book 1)

by Brandon Hill

  Even Agura’s expression showed a measurable loss of confidence, and this, combined with Sar’vana’s worry, drove small cracks into my faith for the first time since we arrived.

  “Stay calm, my li-ah, Sar’vana said, and squeezed my hand with assurance. She leaned closely upon me, and I could not help but notice the whispers and incredulous stares from the Elders, whose gazes momentarily flitted my way. I found it at once disconcerting and comforting that I felt nothing from this. All the shame and mortification that the old me would have felt was gone.

  And then, I spotted my parents.

  And I swore almost loud enough to be heard by the Speaker. I glanced his way, struggling to be discreet, and saw his mildly startled, curious gaze. Casually, I looked away, feigning nonchalance as I switched my sight towards Agura, whose questioning glance showed me that he heard my expletive as well.

  “What the hell are mom and dad doing here?” I said, controlling my outward reaction. Above all things, their presence threatened to break my stoic shell. Their shame I could bear, because it was a shame born of this world’s attitudes. Still, even in that fleeting glimpse I received, their appalled, weary, and distraught look was something that became forever burned into my mind. There was no way to go back.

  “Your parents?” Agura said, and followed the direction of my brief, indicative glance. His red eyes went wide for less than a second, and he growled low and quiet.

  “This was a setup, wasn’t it?” I said, still inwardly reeling from discovering their presence.

  “I can’t help but wonder,” Agura replied, his frown deepening as he brooded ever more upon the strange turns that events were taking here.

  The cloaked figure sat on a bench beside us, seeming to pay us no more heed than the cursory glance she gave when she first passed by. I saw her call one of her guards to her side, and she appeared to whisper something to him. The guard stole a single cautious and brief gaze our way before the voice of the Speaker brought our attention back to him.

  “Our esteemed guest is the newly-crowned Queen of Rhoma,” he said with a grin that was viler than the most corrosive acid. “In recent months, she has approached us with a most lucrative offer. The Rhoma Consortium will be working as independent subcontractors for the systems we need to preserve our way of life. They were kind enough to offer us their services for a nominal fee, and so they will be taking over as our benefactors from this day forward. So, as it stands, the services … or shall we say, ‘charity’ that your people provide, will no longer be required.”

  “Were we such despots that you would seek out help from the Pirate worlds to maintain your systems?” Agura said, folding his arms in front of his large chest.

  “This is not about despotism,” the Speaker said. “It’s about controlling our destiny.”

  “He means leaving it in the hands of humans only,” Sar’vana said, her tone sour and glaringly sardonic.

  “Tell me, when did a human faction acquire such technology?” Agura demanded. I was amazed to see that his confidence had, in fact returned with this alarming turn of events. Despite the fact that Sar’vana and the guards had been visibly shaken by this, the director –now ex-director, I supposed– had become as intractable as stone once again.

  “There is a lot about us that you don’t know, it seems,” the Queen said. Her voice, high pitched, and with an accent similar to the director’s, struck me as eerily familiar, but I could not place it. I felt Sar’vana tremble, and I saw the utterly dumbstruck expression on her face.

  “Li-ah?” I whispered.

  “It … it can’t be!” Sar’vana quavered, her violet eyes wide, and frozen as if magnetized upon the Queen.

  “Can’t be what?”

  “I have no troubles with your choice to procure services from another contractor,” Agura said to the Speaker, breaking my attention from Sar’vana. He placed a curious inflection upon the word “contractor,” I’d noticed, and then fixed the Queen with a baleful stare: the closest thing I had seen to hatred from him yet. “But this charade does not alter the reason for my coming to this session of Council. I still seek restitution for the crimes that Zadian slavers, in conjunction with the Raneys …”

  “The Raneys are exiles!” the Queen interjected. Agura’s eyes grew narrow, and I knew that not being allowed to plead his case was slowly wearing on his nerves. Gar and Sara turned their vicious snarls towards the Queen, as if daring her to interrupt again. The Queen, though seemingly unfazed, said nothing more. In fact, she gave a permissive, almost cordial nod towards Agura, who continued with no sound of malice in his voice.

  “As I was saying, we have received evidence that Zadian slavers, in conjunction with the Raneys, have been illegally procuring our people for slave labor. You have received our compiled evidence through DNA and the bodies surrendered to your government, and may review it at your leisure. I am certain you will find the evidence just as damning as we have. And so, as representative of the Felyan Empire on Zynj, I hereby demand that the parties in question have their assets frozen, their means of offworld transportation seized, their slaves remitted to our custody, and restitution paid to our government for this crime that you have allowed to go unchecked.”

  The way that the Council reacted to Agura’s words made me realize several things. Chief above all else was the fact that they had expected Agura to choke after their summary dismissal of Felyan services to Zynj. When this failed to produce the desired effect, I saw the unnerved looks in the faces of the entire council. Such boldness and lack of fear in the director subsequently instilled courage enough in me to look at my parents directly. I saw their shame-filled eyes widen with surprise and wonder as I prominently clasped Sar’vana’s hand, making my position known before them, completely free of any regret. The second thing I noticed by way of the Council’s reaction was how they cast such deferential looks towards the Queen, as if expecting her to support them. This worried me, but I knew after Agura pleaded his case, that there would be no way that the Council could worm their way out of this, not without invoking the wrath of the Empress. There would be an inquiry, and I would have to give testimony, most likely. In the flurry of murmurings that proceeded Agura’s accusations and demands, Sar’vana explained to me that such a thing would take months, perhaps years, but the slaves at least would be found quickly, and returned as a gesture of good faith. The rest would merely be details.

  My second observation was proved right when the Queen again spoke. And her words surprised even Agura.

  “In the interest of goodwill to Zynj and the Felyan Empire, I support director Agura Van’s demands, and request that the wrongfully procured slaves be returned with all due haste,” she said with finality that brought the room to a brief, but heavy silence. Amused, I watched as Sara and Gar’s aggression was replaced with nonplussed looks. Even the Council’s din of murmurings, when they had resumed, rose to a level that was close to the noise of their earlier protests. It was as if she had betrayed their expectations. I watched on, stifling laughter. The morons had actually expected her to side with them! I was at the same impressed and ashamed by their gall, as well as relieved to see that the Queen might not be the enemy that I, and perhaps Agura, expected her to be.

  One of the Elders, a particularly “elderly” one of the group had descended from his perch, down the tiers of seats to the Speaker’s level in order to whisper something to him. My guess was that it was nothing good, judging by how the Speaker’s face darkened in increments at his words.

  “Very well,” he said after the unnamed Elder returned to his seat. I imagined if he could have gutted us with his gaze, he would have done so, and gladly. “The Elders will order a seizure of property in lieu of criminal investigations of the Zadian Human Resources Guild. All Felyan bondsmen and women, should they be found, will be returned to you, and restitutions paid to your satisfaction.” He held up a finger, stalling the smile that had begun to grace the edges of the director’s mouth. “But under one condition.�
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  He paused, as if waiting for a response, which Agura gave in a permissive wave.

  “Those citizens who have requested political asylum with you will be forthwith exiled from Zynj,” the Speaker said, his tone low and gleefully cruel. His narrow-eyed gaze fell upon me, and I averted my eyes, keeping a straight face, despite my inward rage at this sentence. My sights, instead, fell upon my parents. And that was when the tears came unbidden. My expression registered no emotion; I held my poker face resolutely, but my true feelings managed to find a way to escape. Watching their tears and shame brought what I dared not express to the surface, and what lay within now flowed down my cheeks.

  “It will be all right, my li-ah,” Sar’vana whispered to me, and pressed her muzzle to my cheek. I felt her soft, furry hand squeeze upon mine, and felt her wipe away my tears, and this gave at least a brief moment of consolation. I closed my eyes and listened to the very faint purr that emanated from her as she comforted me as best she could. “You have me. You have father. You have a family, and you have a home with us.”

  “I accept this,” Agura said, again, and this time I was almost maddened by his lack of anger, how easily and cordially he capitulated to the banishment of citizens who had done nothing wrong, only dared to love a people who had been the biggest boon to humankind since the Vlissians guided our people, lost in their starships, to the Colonies, centuries ago.

  “Does your guest accept his sentence?” The Speaker uttered the word “guest” as if it filled his mouth with bile.

  “If Agura accepts on our behalf, then I defer to his judgment,” I said, leaving barely a breath between his question and my answer. My gaze was fixed upon him, hard and resolute. And he balked at my look of defiance.

  “It’s a fitting punishment for a thief and a race traitor,” the Speaker said, now holding back none of the vitriol that he’d only barely withheld before. “How does it feel to know that you have threatened the sanctity of our world by denying your civic duty?”

  “There are plenty more to replace me,” I said, despite Sar’vana’s counsel to not allow his words to anger me. It had, unfortunately, moved well past that point now. The Speaker had lost his political decorum, I was certain, so all bets were off with the loss of mine.

  “We should have known that Felyans would be involved when you vanished from the recovery room,” the Speaker said, striking away an alarmed Elder who came to remove him from his podium. “At least now, they will have no need to meddle in our affairs anymore.”

  “Then I hope you’re happy having to pay for services that were once offered for…”

  I had begun to say “free,” but then something that the Speaker said killed the words in my mouth before I could speak them, and at once extinguished my anger. “Wait a minute. Did you just say ‘recovery room’?”

  “Oh? I thought you knew.” The Speaker’s words dripped with vitriol and an undercurrent of victory, and I knew at that moment, that I had played into his hand. He had expected me to be ignorant of my situation. “The surgery is a simple procedure, and you slept soundly through it. And it leaves no scars.”

  At once, a white-hot rage lanced through me. For a second, I wanted nothing more than to kill him: to leap from my sitting place, rush the Speaker, and press my thumbs into his larynx until he stopped moving. It did not matter that he wasn’t the one who put me under the knife, or whatever it was they used on me. I was significantly larger than the Speaker’s willowy frame, and I could have easily crushed the man’s balding head in my bare hands.

  “Be calm, Julius,” Agura said, as if sensing my rage and fury-fueled desire. “Losing control of your emotions will do no good here.”

  I heard the words of my father-in-law, but they failed to alleviate my anger … or the pain and hopeless grief that ensued, and washed over me like cold water. I had only so recently learned that Sar’vana and I had a future together, and she could bear my children. Now that part had been ripped away, with the tools of medicine first, and now with cold, hateful words.

  “Poor fixed human,” the Speaker spat my way as guards came and forced him from his platform, “Guess now you won’t be siring any half-breed pups with your catdog bitch!”

  “He already has!” Sar’vana shouted.

  The chambers went coldly silent, and I nearly gave myself whiplash with the speed at which I spun my head towards my lifemate. My first sight was of the sternness of her gaze towards the Council, and then the gentle smile she gave me immediately afterwards.

  And then I noticed the telltale hand resting upon her stomach.

  “You’re …” My words caught in my throat as I choked on my tears. I could barely say it, but she knew, and I watched as she nodded.

  “Is that what you had been waiting to tell me?”

  “Yes.”

  Emotions such as I never thought struck me in an overwhelming flood; I could do nothing but cry silently in utter awe at my mate’s confession.

  “You’re pregnant?” I forced the word out, as if saying it would make the reality of it seem more real. I was dumbstruck, terrified, and elated all at once, and felt that I would faint.

  She nodded again, beaming like a goddess upon a penitent sinner. The cacophony of protests that rose around us faded into soft background jumble as I smiled, letting the tears in my eyes flow until my vision blurred, forming a halo around Sar’vana’s beatific face.

  “How long have you known?” I said, and sputtered. “How … how is that even possible? I mean it’s barely been a week! I thought that…”

  Sar’vana softly rested a finger upon my lips, and my barrage of questions was silenced before it could begin. “Later, Jules. Ask your questions later.” She broke her gaze from me, shifting it to the complete chaos that had suddenly erupted in light of her confession. Not having realized it earlier, our guards had moved quickly in front of us, holding their spears threateningly outwards. Looking around them, I noticed another retinue of guards hauling away the speaker, who screamed words that were incomprehensible over the shouts and curses.

  I had been about to ask what had happened when I saw a red cloak block my view of the cacophonous mayhem. I looked up into the intense blue eyes of the Queen, flanked by her own entourage. Agura ordered Gar and Sara, who had been spoiling for a fight since the Speaker’s first hostile outburst, to stand down.

  “Methinks you’re no longer welcome here,” she said, and nodded towards the door. “Perhaps it’s time for our company to exeunt with discretion, wouldn’t you agree, director?”

  “Former director, it seems,” Agura said. With grateful acquiescence, he followed the Queen’s leave, with Sar’vana and I close behind and our guards taking the rear as we beat a hasty retreat. It was only when we reached the door that we seemed to be noticed by someone other than my parents, whose haunted gaze had never escaped my mind’s eye. Once we were through the doors, I heard a single shout for the guards, and heard the sound of hurried footsteps in the antechamber.

  “Damn. And I was hoping they were too preoccupied,” I heard the Queen say.

  “They want us, not you,” Agura replied. “Would you defend us?”

  “My dear director, this is hardly the time, and after all, I am married,” the Queen said, stunning me with such a cheeky remark at such a time. Sar’vana snickered, and her reaction only added to my confusion.

  “They’re coming,” the Queen said in a tone that was abruptly hard and determined. Her guards fanned outwards into a circular formation and drew their swords, while Gar and Sara flanked us, holding their pikes at the ready

  “Not to worry,” Agura said, and his hand went to the stud in his ear. I saw guards rounding the corner in the antechamber, and the Queen drawing a gun before Sar’vana’s soft hand shielded my eyes. I heard Agura warn the Queen to cover her eyes, and the sensation of vertigo came ...

  ... and went.

  The familiar human scents were replaced by the odors of alien life that filled the Felyan ship.

  I h
eard the Queen let out a disappointed groan, and then, once Sar’vana removed her hand from my eyes, saw her veil removed to reveal a completely unabashed, red-lipped pout upon a round face with a tiny nose. The two sharp, protruding teeth below her upper lip were a dead giveaway.

  “I wanted to fight!” the Queen, whom I now recognized, much to my staggering shock as Alexa, the pilot of Steel Dragon, whined, casting her dismayed expression towards Agura. “I can’t believe you did that!”

  “There was no sense in causing unnecessary bloodshed,” Agura replied. “It was imperative that we left quickly and without further incident.”

  “They needed to learn their place,” Alexa snapped. “A few corpses in the corridors would teach them to accept their lot and be happy. And if you’re not willing to get your hands bloody then I am!”

  “So you’d like to go back?” He asked.

  Alexa looked Agura straight in the eye with her icy blue gaze.

  “Yes.”

  “NO!”

  We all joined in with that unified disapproval: myself, Sar’vana, and guards both Felyan and human as we stood there in the tree-filled transport room.

  “Oh, you’re all no fun at all,” Alexa said, her voice having risen an octave, into a childish whine.

  “So my daughter says,” Agura quipped with a wry grin towards Sar’vana.

  At Agura’s mention of my lifemate, Alexa’s expressive eyes, almost as large as Sar’vana’s, fell upon my her, and she practically beamed. “You! How are you doing, love? I haven’t seen you in ever so long! I thought you were coming visit me on Rhoma before my wedding!” She glided forward and pulled Sar’vana into a warm embrace.

  “Well, I was coming to visit you,” Sar’vana said, standing on her tiptoes to join Alexa in the embrace. “But father was suddenly called to Zynj. He could have turned it down, but …. Well, Jules was there.”

  “Zynj? This is where he was from?” Alexa’s gaze was as piercing as ten security cameras as her full attention shifted to me.” “Oh, my!” She guffawed, and made a vague, almost imperceptible grimace. “Well, I hope he was worth all the fuss … well, obviously, he was. You are expecting his child, am I right? I mean, you weren’t just trying to piss them off because of all the bigotry, were you?”