Worlds Apart (Warriors of Risnar)

by Tracy St. John

  “Not at all. We have several sleeping pallets free for use. One of the women who has no cot-mate suggested you might stay with her.”

  “That’s kind of her.”

  Anneliese changed her mind about her roommate’s hospitality when she saw who it was. Beige Babe ushered her into a dimly lit room, and Salno rose from one of the two pallets inside it.

  Hand-heart salute ensued. “From my spirit to yours, Anneliese. Did you enjoy the erawots?” Salno asked.

  Beige Babe departed without a word, gone so quickly that Anneliese didn’t have the chance to ask for another room. Or to sleep in the hall. Or camp outside.

  She was stuck. “Yeah, the erawots was a blast.”

  Salno blinked. “Explosion?”

  I need to stop speaking in metaphors. With her tendency to use them, she’d confused plenty of the Risnarish since showing up. “It was fun. Do you ever go to the bonfires?”

  “No, but I understand the men get a great deal out of it. A sense of belonging and camaraderie is of importance to them.”

  “It is for most people.” Anneliese looked around the room, trying to figure out the real Salno, the woman behind the composed demeanor.

  The room smelled nice. The scents of the grasslands had wafted their way indoors, and it was similar to the fragrance of sweetgrass after a spring rain. It gave Anneliese a sense of familiarity despite the strange surroundings.

  One side of the light gray room was nearly bare. It had no more than the sleeping pallet, a low platform covered with tight, smooth dark gray linens and mounds of pillows. A few gray hooks stuck out of the walls, and below them were empty shelves. The effect was pristine, symmetrical, and boring.

  What was apparently Salno’s side of the room had a little more going for it. Her sleeping linens were pastel pinks, greens, and blues. Her belt with its pouches hung from one of the hooks. Brightly woven baskets and open bags of what appeared to be herbs hung from the others. The shelves held objects that Anneliese couldn’t make out in the dim light.

  Anneliese tried to do no more than glance at Salno’s living space, not wanting to appear nosy. She also didn’t want to open up more conversation than she had to.

  She turned and went to the boring side of the room, eyeing the pallet with concern. The surface looked as flat as a table under those linens, making Anneliese visualize hard mattresses with no give. Many people who suffered from bad backs preferred a firm mattress, but the more unyielding a sleep surface was, the worse she hurt. It was doubly so for her hip and knee. She suspected her body wouldn’t allow her to rest despite the brew’s relaxing effects. Effects that had already disappeared, thanks to discovering she bunked with the too-curious Salno.

  Hoping to stave off her hostess’s inquisitiveness, Anneliese began hinting at the late hour. “I guess I kept you up waiting for me to come in. Sorry about that. I didn’t realize I’d be rooming with someone.”

  “It was no trouble. I am only just becoming tired.”

  Anneliese toed off her shoes. Would it be weird to take her clothes off in front of Salno? The woman was a scientist and had probably observed some of the other abductees nude. What made it off-putting was that she acted abnormally fascinated with Anneliese. Being stared at as if she was some sort of bizarre creature was irritating.

  Keeping her back to the Risnarish woman but still unable to disrobe for fear of being peered at like a bug under a microscope, Anneliese cleared her throat. “I suppose it’s time to get some shut-eye.”

  “Some—? Oh. You do not speak plainly, I believe. It is sometimes difficult for the system to translate.”

  Anneliese turned to find Salno fussing with some of her herbs on a counter between the two sleeping spaces, not looking in the Earthling’s direction at all. Anneliese relaxed and started to undress. She hung her blouse and bra from a hook then unbuttoned her jeans. “You got the translation program from Nex? You wear an earpiece?”

  Salno took a pitcher, similar to those used for the men’s ales at the erawots, and held it under a curved metal tube. Clear liquid issued from the tube and began filling the pitcher. “Yes to the earpiece. The program was sent to us from Hahz Village, where Nex is from. Because we needed to bring the Monsudan test subjects in to remove the tracking devices, we thought it best to be able to talk to them. However, in most cases, your people need to be sedated before returning to the hive. It’s quite upsetting for them.”

  “No kidding. I found being the Monsuda’s guinea pig more traumatizing than being blown up.”

  Anneliese had stripped down to her underpants. To her relief, Salno showed no interest in the view of nearly naked Earthling. She crumbled her herbs into the pitcher, opened a cabinet, and set the pitcher inside. “Brew.”

  Barely ten seconds later, Salno retrieved the pitcher. From another cabinet, she withdrew some cups and poured the now-lavender liquid into them.

  Anneliese held up her hands when Salno offered her some. “I had quite a bit of ale and then broadleaf at the bonfire. If that’s alcoholic or narcotic, I’m pretty sure I’m at my limit.”

  Salno continued to hold the cup out to Anneliese. “This herbal mix will not cause a reaction against the ale. This is more of a tea, I think you’d call it. It’s relaxing. Get comfortable and drink.”

  Anneliese didn’t want Salno’s tea, but she didn’t want to argue for once. Instead she pulled the linens back and climbed onto the mattress of the sleeping pallet.

  “Oh wow!” She sank into the plush cushion. It was like sitting on a giant marshmallow. “This isn’t half bad. My back might not keep me awake after all. Just let me stick a pillow between my knees so my hip doesn’t go nuts. Hey, they’re insanely soft too. Oh, you’re still holding the cup. Sorry, I forgot about the tea. Thanks.”

  Anneliese took the cup from the patiently waiting Salno. Now that she had discovered how cozy the bed was, she didn’t mind having some nice tea. It smelled delicious too, more like a dessert than something herbal.

  With the first sip, she discovered it was even better than it smelled. It tasted like liquid berry cobbler, fruity and sweet and delicious. Anneliese pulled the whispery linens around her and snuggled luxuriously on the bed. There had never been anything so warm and comforting.

  “Thanks for the tea. It’s amazing stuff,” she told Salno before erupting into a huge yawn. The fatigue had descended in full force, making her eyelids heavy. She forced them to remain open and drank more tea.

  Salno came close, but her attention was for Anneliese’s clothing rather than Anneliese herself. The Risnarish woman brushed off little bits of leaves and flower petals where they’d stuck.

  Remembering how her clothes had gotten messy, Anneliese had an instant of embarrassment, but it passed quickly. She was too comfortable for that. She considered telling Salno she could take care of her own things. She was too content for that too. Instead she offered a halfhearted apology. “I should have done that. Sorry you’re putting yourself out on my behalf.”

  Salno offered her a peaceful smile, as if it somehow fulfilled her to straighten Anneliese’s clothes so they wouldn’t wrinkle. “It’s not a problem. You’ve had a big day. You need to relax.”

  “That’s not going to be hard in this bed.” Anneliese yawned again and sank farther into the pillows and mattress. She decided she might never crawl out. It sapped away all her worries and tension, absorbing them from her body like a sponge. She finished the remainder of her tea.

  Salno’s voice came from a gentle, gathering darkness that stole close to fold Anneliese into its embrace. “I’ll take the cup. Good night, Anneliese.”

  Anneliese’s last coherent notion was that she should wish her hostess a good night too. She opened her mouth and knew no more.

  * * *

  Anneliese opened her eyes and blinked. Why was everything heather gray? Ceiling, walls...her sheets had somehow turned gray ove
rnight too, though a darker shade.

  At least she was comfortable. Bad things weren’t happening when a person felt this cozy, right? She had the urge to wallow in the bedding she’d awakened in, to go back to sleep because this must be a secure place. Unless she was in the hospital again. But no, she wasn’t there. Afghanistan was ages ago. Another time, another place.

  A way different location.

  Anneliese suddenly remembered she was on Risnar. She was in the temple complex of Cas. In Salno’s room.

  She also recalled how abruptly she’d fallen asleep. Had Salno drugged her with that berry cobbler-tasting tea? She sat bolt upright in a panic.

  Salno was also sitting in bed, on her own pallet. Her eyes were closed, and a low hum issued from her on each exhale. She obviously was meditating, though how she could do so, Anneliese couldn’t imagine. The pose Salno sat in did not look comfortable at all. The Risnarish woman’s thighs spread outward flat on the mattress, and her knees bent so that her legs formed Vs. Anneliese half expected her own bad leg to throb in sympathy for Salno’s twisted limbs.

  Anneliese scowled at her roommate. Caring not one bit for Salno’s contemplation, she started to stand up to confront the woman. It wasn’t until she yanked the covers aside that Anneliese remembered she wore only panties. Ranting in blue cotton bikini briefs would hardly make for impressive impact on anyone, much less the always-composed Salno. She pulled the linens up to her chest and settled for yelling at her.

  “Hey!”

  Salno’s eyes slid open, and she smiled tranquilly at Anneliese. “From my spirit to yours, good beginnings on this new day. Did you sleep well?”

  “I slept drugged,” Anneliese seethed. “Don’t you dare deny it.”

  Salno closed her eyes again, her expression not altering for a millisecond. “Of course I won’t deny it.”

  Anneliese’s mouth was already open to contest whatever defense Salno gave. It snapped shut again when the Risnarish woman didn’t offer one. For a second, she felt deflated by the unguarded admission. She cast about for the correct response, but all she could come up with was, “Why did you knock me out?”

  “You were agitated from all that happened yesterday. I was concerned your emotional tension and pain from old injuries would impede your rest. I mixed herbs of the gowda, brewed a tea from it, and now we are both revived after restorative slumber.”

  Anneliese seized the opening to voice her grievance. “I didn’t ask for help.”

  “I gave it where it seemed needed. Are you alert? Refreshed?”

  Salno’s placid demeanor again sapped the bluster from Anneliese. She sounded like a petulant child to herself as she made the only point she could. “You can’t go around sedating people without their knowledge. It’s underhanded. Especially if you do it to a roommate who was stuck on a lab table by the Monsuda.”

  Salno opened her silvery eyes and considered before nodding. “That’s a good point about your experiences in the hive. I won’t do it again.”

  Anneliese stared. Frustration raised her voice to a near-shout. “You shouldn’t have done it in the first place!”

  Salno tilted her head, intent curiosity invading the serene expression. “I have heard your concerns. I have acknowledged them and assured you the action will not be repeated. What more do you wish from me?”

  Anneliese had no answer to that. What did she want from Salno when she’d scored an admission of guilt and assurances it wouldn’t happen again?

  Salno’s inquisitive gaze grew sharper still, though there was no sign offense had been taken. “You do prefer conflict, don’t you? I remove your reasons for confrontation, and you act confused. Is this need for quarreling an Earthling trait or just yours? Is this how you engage in meaningful exchanges?”

  Anneliese growled deep in her throat. She jumped up and started pulling her clothes on. “Maybe I am quick to the punch. You don’t get far on my world unless you’re ready to defend yourself.”

  “Do you think you need to defend yourself with me?”

  Anneliese adjusted her bra and reached for her tank top. “I don’t know you. I have no reason to trust you.”

  “Ah, so the immediate response is distrust. To attack before being attacked. This is why you’ve been angry with me since you got off the collection pod.”

  Embarrassment heated Anneliese’s face. She had been reacting negatively to Salno from the very start. Initially, it had been because she was jealous of the Risnarish woman’s suspected—and disproved—relationship with Nex.

  Why did she continue to try to pick fights with the scientist? Because of the questions? Because Salno hounded her with requests for information as any scientist would?

  Anneliese blew out a breath as she dropped onto the mattress again, jeans in hand. “I’m sorry if I’ve been aggressive. I guess I’ve been fighting for so long, I don’t know of any other way to be.”

  “Because you’re a trained warrior similar to our men?”

  Anneliese offered a chagrined smile. “Before I became a soldier, I fought. I’m a woman. On Earth, we say women have to be twice as successful as men to be considered half as good.”

  “That is odd. What does gender have to do with excellence?”

  “My point. On top of that, I’m also part of a minority that’s been getting its collective ass kicked for hundreds of years. If I don’t fight for my rights, I’m going to be run over.”

  Salno considered for a few moments while Anneliese put her pants on. At length, the Risnarish woman said, “Given these factors of discrimination, I understand your automatic anger response. Like anything else, as long as the anger serves a purpose, it is worthwhile. Perhaps that is why you are a warrior?”

  “So I can constructively channel my angst?” Salno might have a point. Not many Mohawk women went into military service, but the need to protect others and to right wrongs had made it feel natural to her. The idea that she might have chosen such a career because it allowed her to fight for a good reason was one worth considering.

  Anneliese found it nice that the Risnarish female could share her ideas and criticism without being a bitch about them.

  “I doubt you’ll find such reflexive annoyance will serve you well here on Risnar. Try to relax while you’re with us, if you can. You could use the respite.”

  With that, Salno closed her eyes again, leaving Anneliese to examine her advice. She had to admit, it would be nice to let down her guard for a change.

  She just wasn’t sure how.

  * * *

  Anneliese was self-conscious about not having showered when Nex came to fetch her. However, she would be training with the Cas troops. If it was anything like training as a U.S. soldier, she saw no point in cleaning up only to get sweaty and filthy. Besides, she believed she wasn’t too stinky. At least, she hoped not.

  Nex greeted her with an enthusiastic hug. If he was put off by any aroma she wasn’t aware of, he didn’t show it. He followed up the hug with an ardent kiss, much to the stunned reaction of the Risnarish women wandering past them in the dormitory dome’s foyer.

  Anneliese greeted the stares with a raised eyebrow. “Find your own, ladies. This guy is mine until I go home to my own planet.”

  Nex laughed as if delighted with her claim of ownership while the women blinked in confusion. He gripped her hand, pulling her outside. They walked toward the men’s part of the village. “How did you sleep?”

  “Thanks to Salno, like a rock.”

  He chuckled, though whether it was at her glare or the insulted tone of her voice, she wasn’t sure. “She gave you nectar of gowda? I was going to suggest it to you, but I forgot. I may have had other things on my mind.”

  His grin was pure lechery. Even someone as out of practice with the opposite sex as Anneliese was these days couldn’t have missed his meaning. She gave him a shove but laughed at his evil leer.
“Okay, okay. I had a few matters swirling around my head too. I probably wouldn’t have slept without the help.”

  “You ate? I didn’t think to ask, and you should have something before you try to train with us.”

  “Salno took care of me.” Anneliese scowled to admit she owed credit to her bunkmate. “She’s weird but conscientious. I can’t take that from her.”

  Nex gave her an amused glance. “You like her.”

  “Against my will. There’s something about her that’s horribly, charmingly decent when she’s not pissing me off.”

  Nex laughed and pulled her along a path that wound between the outer temple complex domes and the main central one. “Come on. If we’re going to the training grounds, we’d better hurry. Jape doesn’t appreciate it when people are late.”

  “Does any commanding officer worthy of his rank?”

  He led her to a dartwing parked between two domes. Anneliese put on the helmet he handed her. “Is this the same vehicle Jape lent you yesterday after the other crashed?”

  “My newly assigned vehicle. They’re all owned by the community at large, but we do try to take care of the ones we’re given to use. Like the shooters.” Nex patted the weapon he wore on his hip.

  Anneliese couldn’t help but check the secret compartment in the dartwing. Two shooters. “I’m impressed with how these come standard,” she said. She’d surrendered the pair she’d used the day before to Jape.

  Nex shook his head as he squeezed his frame into the cockpit’s tight confines. “You have a love for firepower.”

  “Only in the hands of those who know what they’re doing. That’s me, at least with my planet’s weaponry.” She climbed carefully into the dartwing, sitting between his muscled legs. “Now I’m ready to learn to use yours as effectively as possible.”

  They set off, winging away from the temple at an incredible speed. Within a minute, the domes beneath became sparsely scattered, the spaces between them wider and wider the farther they flew.