by L M Lacee
Peyton went back to watching the traders. Savo looked to where his son and daughter as well as the other three sat huddled talking with tablets out and then at Peyton. Sadness for what was to happen and resignation entered his eyes. He gave her a small nod and turned his attention back to the screens as well.
After an hour several more deals were struck and Rose was established as the Maikonia chief trader.
Savo agreed to act as an intermediary until Maikonia was established. He would open a sub-account in Rose’s name under his family house, where all the credits would go until the next trader gathering. Where she and her siblings would be established as an official house and then be awarded their own accounts.
Savo assured Peyton and Hawk they would have enough credits for everything they needed. Which instantly had Darby, Heather, and the three ladies writing lists for equipment and foods that were required.
Peyton offered the family hospitality for the following two days before they would have to leave for their next trade, they accepted happily.
Then the Leesungha family were taken on a tour of the Warship by Lukkas and Netta, ostensibly to see what a Jenersar Warship was like. In reality Peyton asked them to take note of what needed immediate updating, so it could be ordered. By the time eve-meal rolled around, people were comfortable with each other and the extended Leesungha family had been accepted and integrated into Peyton’s ever growing one.
As they talked over the meal, Peyton told Savo and Teelu she was calling Rose’s mother. She then shared her thoughts on Rose and Frand’s crash with the older couple, and in return they shared their opinions as to the way some trading families were organized.
When they had finished swapping theories, Savo admitted to Peyton he was furious with his brother’s mate who thought she could do something so outrageous to her own young. He told Peyton that he was unsure if her brother head of their house, Lasing Undinly would be involved. He rather thought not.
Later that night, Darby tracked down the Undinly family trading ships with Rose’s mother Leanii Undinly on board. It seemed she had never taken her mates last name. Teelu said not all trading females did so, although she had taken Savo’s. She believed it had more to do with the female and how much control her family had over her and of course credits. She had looked sternly at Peyton and told her.
‘Follow the credits Peyton, and you will have your answer as to why some strange and unusual things occur.’
Peyton thought that was rather a cynical view of looking at the universe but maybe more accurate than she wanted to admit, even to herself. When they retired to the war room where several couches and arm chairs had been placed to enlarge the lounge area, everyone was relaxed and happy.
The three ladies sat with Teelu sipping tea that she had made for them and seemed very happy. Peyton thought that maybe the tea was more alcohol than actual tea.
Darby ordered. ‘Comp, connect to the Undinly trading ship.’
Directing connection.
‘Audio and Holo screen.’
Connected.
Savo had supplied the codes for this comm` so the male that answered the transmission wore a confused expression on seeing Peyton. It was obvious why he was the head of the family. He did not leap to any conclusions, just politely greeted her by inclining his head and saying. ‘Greetings, I am Lasing Undinly, head of Undinly Trading house.’
‘Greetings.’ Peyton returned just as politely. ‘I am the Star Daughter. Ruler of Maikonia. I thank you for taking my comm` as you can see, I am using the Leesungha transmission codes.’
The male was very different to Savo although Frand had the look of him, as he too was tall and slim. Lasing Undinly had a narrow handsome face with piercing amber eyes, but although his skin tone was green. It was a deeper more emerald green which was not as pleasing to the eye as Rose and Miko’s was.
Apprehensively he said. ‘Yes, I assume you are using the codes with the permission of the head of Leesungha house.’
‘Of course.’
He hesitantly smiled and made the trader sign of respect then said. ‘Good eve, Star Daughter. We had not heard of your return to the universe.’
Peyton returned the smile. ‘It was rather sudden, no doubt the news will travel soon enough.’
He inclined his head with a small nod. Savo had said traders were always a good source of information, and as they traveled widely, news always followed in their wake. He told her the news of the Star Daughter would be too good a titbit to not share.
Lasing Undinly said. ‘I apologize Star Daughter. I do not know of this place you call Maikonia.’
Peyton inclined her head in acknowledgment as she said. ‘I would be surprised if you did. It is the Star Child’s system.’
He paled a little or Peyton thought he did as he seemed to go a lime color. ‘I see. What may my humble trading family do for the Star Daughter?’
Peyton acknowledged the respect with a nod of her head. ‘I have comm’d to advise you as head of your house. I have granted Rose, Frand and Miko Leesungha the sole trading contract to the worlds of Maikonia, and they are no longer able to join with your family.’
‘Lies!’ A tall female cried out as she pushed in front of Lasing.
Peyton heard Rose softy say. ‘Oh darma!’
The female was an almost identical copy of her brother. She too had the same amber eye color as well as long black hair. Except hers was twisted into a knot on top of her head. Lasing Undinly’s face revealed his horror as his sister addressed Peyton with so much disrespect. ‘You tell lies to my brother.’
‘Who am I addressing?’ Peyton asked politely.
‘I am Leanii Undinly, sister to the head of house Undinly as well as Darma to Rose, Frand and Miko Leesungha.’
Rose whispered to all who were not traders. ‘Darma in our language means mama.’
Peyton’s eyebrows rose as she said. ‘I see, and you Leanii Undinly call me a liar because?’
‘There is no such place as Maikonia.’
‘You know of every world in every universe and especially those that are shielded by the Star Child. I am overwhelmed by your knowledge.’
‘Of course I do not.’ She said scornfully. ‘You tell lies, my young must be returned to me immediately. They have no right to be away from their family.’
‘Oh is that all, rest assured they are not. I am sure they will be in touch with their papa’s side of the family.’
‘That is unacceptable.’
‘Why?’
‘Because his family are hiesies.’
Frand sardonically told the others. ‘Translated, that means, tricksters.’
Peyton looked shocked as she called out, ‘Savo, Teelu, you are being called hiesies and worse.’
Savo and Teelu moved into view, Teelu wobbled a little and Savo slipped his arm around her, helping her to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
Leanii’s color deepened to a dark green, a blush or fear Peyton wondered. Savo asked in a voice made of steel. ‘Do you wish to repeat that Leanii?’
She swallowed hard as she shook her head and replied. ‘No, I find I do not Savo.’
Savo said in his deep voice. ‘As I thought, be very careful Leanii, you are not so important to me and my family that I will not bring you before the guild. You know as well as I do, they will not tolerate the slander of others. Surely you do not want your family house to be sanctioned for misconduct.’ He nodded to Lasing who looked pissed at his sister as Savo and Teelu stepped from view.
Teelu grinned broadly and patted Savo on the cheek and not the one on his face, he grinned in return and whispered something in her ear. Which made her throw back her head and belly laugh as she stumbled back to the ladies and her tea.
Leanii hissed. ‘I want my young back.’
Peyton asked. ‘Do you know where your young have been for the last four luneras, Leanii?’
‘Why would I know this?’
‘Because they are dearle to you?’
&n
bsp; ‘Who are you that think you know better than their darma about what is best for my young? Their family… my family awaits their return.’
‘You know who I am and if they were my young. I would not have diverted them to a fake trade on a hostile planet.’
Rose gasped as Frand held her hand, by the look on his face he had already figured it out. Miko sat head bent with Savo’s hand on her shoulder as her mother snarled at Peyton. ‘You think I had my young sent there, to a planet that trapped them?’
‘I said hostile, not trapped! Leanii you almost had your young killed. What greater sin is there?’
Leanii stumbled back a little and dramatically gasped as she shook her head and clasped a hand over her heart. ‘You lie… you lie!’
‘You know I do not.’ Peyton started to glow her voice became a little sharper, a little clearer as she said.
‘I am the Star Daughter and resent your choice of words when addressing me. I find you contemptible Leanii Undinly and give you fair warning. Do not pursue your young. You will remain away from them until I decide you are trustworthy.’
Then she glowed brighter and her voice changed to the singsong tones of the Star Childs.
Lasing Undinly we hold you accountable for the lives of Leanii’s young. Do not make our Daughter render our justice on your family.
Peyton’s glow dimmed and her voice was her own again as she cautioned. ‘I would listen if I was you Lasing Undinly. One warning is all you will receive.’
None of the sweet female Savo and Teelu had been with for the last day was in evidence, in her place was a being of immense power.
Netta stood with her arms crossed, Hawk and Melody on either side of her, standing between the others in the room and Peyton. Teelu shifted uneasily in her seat as she wondered if the three Warriors were there to protect them from the Star Daughter or her from them.
Sensing her unease Esther whispered. ‘It is still her; this is just another side of our Peyton that is all.’
‘You do not find her frightening?’ Teelu whispered back.
‘No.’ Helen answered for Esther and Brenda. ‘She is ours, why would we be frightened of her?’
Esther asked her. ‘Are you scared of your young?’
Teelu shook her head as she whispered. ‘No, but none of my young can destroy the universe with a thought!’
‘Neither will ours.’ Brenda assured her.
‘And yet you do not deny she could.’
Helen smiled sadly as she stated. ‘Why deny a fact, it will not change what is true.’
‘She is not like that. You have spent time with her would you believe she could, or we would allow her too?’ Brenda asked Teelu, who went back over everything she had heard, seen and witnessed since coming on board. She had to admit that Rose was a very good judge of character just like her Savo. Frand was no fool, and neither was she, and to be truthful until this moment she had been unconcerned. In fact, she could already tell Savo and her own young had fallen under Peyton’s gentle spell and truth to tell, she had too.
Sighing, she said. ‘No... No, I would not, in fact I believe it would be quite difficult for her to do so.’
She raised her cup to the others. ‘It seems we are in a new era, to be honest this is wonderful, as the old one was becoming stale?’
The three ladies raised their own cups in agreement as Esther said. ‘Welcome to the family’
Teelu heard an echo of the same words glide through her mind. She was unsure if they came from the Star Daughter or the Star Child, whoever it was. They gave her a warm glow of acceptance that seemed to be reflected in the eyes of every member of her family.
The sharp uncompromising tones of the Star Daughter rang with authority as she said.
‘Listen well to my words Leanii Undinly. I will not tolerate any interference in the lives of the Leesungha family, remember they are mine now. Lasing Undinly I suggest you keep a tight hold on your family and stay clear of mine, all of mine! The consequences, if you do not, will be swift and final. Do I make myself clear?’
Leanii and Lasing Undinly paled and with her mouth in a tight line Leanii bowed her head. Lasing looked like he wished to be anywhere but where he was, as he too bowed his head. ‘Very clear Star Daughter?’
‘Comp’ off.’ Peyton turned to the people in the room. They all bowed their heads as Darby said. ‘Peyton you are glowing.’
‘Oh, dayam it, sorry.’
When the glow faded, she took a deep breath and became Peyton once more.
‘You okay?’ Melody asked her, as she handed her a glass of water.
‘Yep… just you know, annoyed!’
‘Yep, I get that, you did well. I think you scared the tuap out of them.’
Peyton grinned and asked. ‘Too much, you think?’
Netta snorted inelegantly. ‘No, seriously, it was probably not enough but it should work.’
‘I hope so.’ Darby said as she nodded toward Rose who stood with her brother and sister. ‘Because that is just sad.’
Peyton finished her drink and agreed.
FIFTY-EIGHT:
Rose held her sister in her arms as Frand stood by them both, his face impassive but his eyes glowed with anger.
‘I am sorry.’ Peyton said as she walked to them. ‘I was unsure, so I had to ask.’
‘She tried killing Rose and Frand!’ Miko stated in a soft, hesitant voice.
‘Yes, she did.’ Savo replied for Peyton.
‘Why?’ Miko asked of her unta who came to her side.
‘Probably.’ Teelu answered as she stroked a soothing hand over her niece’s hair. ‘Because of the wed price. In her family the darma receives a big bonus if her young wed. If they wed inside the family, it is an enormous bonus. To have all three of you wed would have made your darma very rich. When Rose and Frand took you and left the family as you were entitled to do. She lost her ability to have you wed, therefore losing the credits she would have made. So her only option was to secure your deaths.’
Heather was appalled as she said. ‘That makes no sense they are her children.’
Teelu agreed. ‘You and I, Heather, in fact no rational person would think to do such a thing. Leanii is not now or has at any time been rational.’
‘After our papa’s death she became even more unbalanced,’ Rose stated, ‘which is why the three of us made the decision to leave.’
Savo told them. ‘It was a wise decision the credits Leanii would have received for the wed price for each of you would have carried her through the rest of her life. So imagine when I tell you, those credits would have been pittance, to what she would have received from the trader’s guild on your deaths.’
‘Dearle Stars, she would have ruled a world.’ Rose said.
Miko looked at her unta and parta and asked. ‘Unta Teelu, do you think she did this all for credits?’
Teelu’s face held sorrow as she softly told her. ‘Yes sweet one, all for credits.’
‘And nothing can be proved, she never admitted to anything!’ Stated Melody.
Peyton stared at Savo as she asked. ‘You will of course bring this matter up at the next guild meeting?’
‘Ahh well…’
‘If not, I can always do so for you!’
‘No, I can do so. I will need the recording of this eve’s conversation.’
‘Of course, Darby will see to it.’
‘Thank you.’
Peyton inclined her head, and no one missed the fact that the Star Daughter had issued a gentle demand and a reminder of who she was. Frand said in tones devoid of emotion. ‘She always felt her contract to our papa lessened her value somehow.’
Savo said. ‘I am sure she did, still does I imagine.’ He looked at Teelu, who inclined her head slightly, then he sighed as he prepared to reveal a few family truths.
‘Your parent’s union was a trade, back before your parents joined their houses, the Undinly house and ours were warring.’ For the non-traders he explained. ‘Which in trader ter
ms means, one house would out bid at every opportunity the other house and then it would turn around. This type of warring is normal and condoned by the guild. What the houses began doing was under cutting prices for trades before they were placed on the market which affected other houses, unbalanced the whole community. Deaths became a regular practice for the houses, to ensure the trade as well as having a house benefit by removing competition. It became so bad the trading guild convened a special gathering.’
Teelu told them. ‘Only twice before has a gathering been called out of time. The guild members demanded a reason for the war. Unfortunately, the houses could not or would not remember what or who had started the argument. It had escalated so much that the original reason had disappeared under so many other crimes.
The guild demanded a resolution which proved fruitless as none were forthcoming.’
Teelu shrugged as she took a bite of the tasty morsel Brenda passed her, a pleased expression crossed her face and she hummed then told Brenda. ‘I could trade these.’
Brenda laughed as she moved on, Teelu looked after her and said. ‘I meant that.’
Savo finished his drink, then took up the tale. ‘The guild realizing that both family heads were unwilling to accomplish a resolution made two proposals, the first was to dissolve each house.’
Gasps where heard from the younger members of the family, Rose said. ‘No, it has never been done.’
Teelu said. ‘Yes it has, on three occasions in our history.’
‘Amazing!’ Miko said as she looked at her siblings and cousins. Teelu frowned. ‘Apparently, you have not read the records, make sure you do, as a trading house of your own, you should know this history. You will be initiated at the next gathering, and the guild will demand you all understand the records. Also, you must have your house name by then.’
‘Yes Unta.’ They all agreed.
Darby said. ‘If you like you can download the records to me, I will ensure they study.’