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  Pinchu grasped his hands and lifted them perhaps twenty centimeters, then released them. Alex had also stood, and Pinchu approached her and did the same. She gave the alien an uncertain look. “I’m Alex.”

  “Come, Caleb and Alex Humans. Allow me to show you a kinder side of our hospitality.”

  IRELTSE

  Due to their rapid capture, they hadn’t had the opportunity to see much of the area up close on their arrival. From the entryway of the building they’d been held captive in—it turned out to be a joint government/military command complex they called the Center—the city spread out to the horizon in a sea of bleached sandstone and coral marble.

  The Khokteh built horizontally instead of vertically, and the loftiest building in sight stood ten stories high. It was likely an architectural preference rather than a deficiency of skill, as they utilized the copious space to inspiring effect.

  Spiraling stairways wound around open-air porticos and expansive terraces. Many structures featured curved exteriors and offset floors. Artistic statues, often of unusual-looking animals, graced many street corners. The streets themselves were made of the same bleached sandstone, which wasn’t a surprise—their aerial scans had indicated it was in plentiful supply on the planet.

  Alex had never felt short a day in her life; even as a child she’d usually been the tallest girl in her age group. But the towering Khokteh moving in every direction made her feel positively diminutive. To not be able to see above the heads of the crowd…it was unsettling and led to the irrational fear that she might get lost.

  Caleb seemed to sense it—or maybe he felt the same way—as he kept a hand protectively on the small of her back. She stayed on his right side to ensure he used his uninjured arm to do so.

  Passing Khokteh often stopped to stare at them, but Pinchu’s presence dissuaded the gawkers from approaching or challenging them in any way. The passersby didn’t bow or kneel to Pinchu; still, the deference given him was clear in the far more cautious and reserved behavior the public exhibited toward him than in their interactions with one another.

  No guards accompanied them on their tour. Either the Tokahe Naataan was demonstrating an extraordinary degree of trust in their honorable intentions, or he correctly believed he could fell them with little effort.

  Pinchu paused at a broad outcropping that provided an excellent vantage over the city. Beneath them stood a large arena. Several thousand Khokteh filled its seats, watching as two fighters battled in the center. They used hand-held weapons that resembled hooked, double-bladed spears.

  The ancient Roman gladiators of the Colosseum instantly sprang to mind. “Are they fighting to the death?”

  “No, although grave injuries are not uncommon. It is a test—and an exhibition—of skill.”

  Caleb diverted his gaze from the arena to their host. “Physical prowess is important in your culture?”

  “Yes. Warriors are valued, because they must be. You see, we are at war.”

  They both turned to Pinchu now. “With whom?”

  He dismissed the question with a sideways wave of his arm. “We will discuss it later perhaps, should we tire of more pleasant pursuits. There is someone I wish for you to meet.”

  Two dozen Khokteh children practiced agility drills under the watchful gaze of a strikingly tall Khokteh standing at the front of a wide room. The space was empty of furniture except for racks of weapons along the right wall.

  Though it cut as strange a figure as all the others what with the peculiar double set of eyes and long jaw, Alex was of the opinion this particular Khokteh was nonetheless stunning. Its—possibly ‘her’ due to its height—fur shone a pure alabaster white and was decorated in swirling patterns of lavender and silver. The fur around its face was braided into multiple rows, each one wound through with alternating lavender and silver thread.

  The teacher spotted them in the corner and clapped its hands with authoritative force; the children hurried to varying levels of attention. “That’s enough for today. Practice at home so you will grow up to become great warriors. Dismissed.”

  The children all performed miniature versions of the bow Pinchu had used earlier, then sprinted out the door in too much of a rush to notice the two aliens standing in the far corner.

  The teacher came over to greet them, eyeing her and Caleb keenly but going to Pinchu first and embracing him.

  After returning the hug he gestured to them. “Caleb and Alex Humans, allow me to present Casselanhu Pwemku Yuanwoh Vneh, my life-mate and Amacante Naabaan to the Khokteh of Ireltse.”

  The title translated roughly to ‘Mother-Heart Warrior’—a quite lovely title, Alex thought.

  The female Khokteh gracefully executed her own bow. “You may call me Cassela. It is an honor.” She had evidently been informed about their arrival before meeting them, as well as their method of communication and unique appearance, as she displayed no surprise or confusion regarding their presence.

  Having seen it three times now, Alex took a clumsy stab at the bow. Both Pinchu and Cassela made that rumbling barking noise. She cringed in embarrassment—something else she rarely felt.

  Pinchu patted her on the back, which nearly sent her toppling to the floor. “Well done, Alex Human.”

  “Not so rough with our guests, nizhopini. They look as though they will shatter at the slightest touch.”

  “Ah mey, this one nearly took out two of the Security Patrol. They are hardier than they appear. Puny, but strong.”

  The fact Caleb didn’t so much as flinch at being called ‘puny’ was a testament to his substantial level of self-control. At her quiet snicker, however, he shot her a daring glance.

  Cassela studied them a moment. Her foremost eyes fell to where Caleb’s hand vanished behind Alex’s waist. “You are life-mates to one another?”

  The Mother-Heart Warrior didn’t lack for directness. Alex exchanged a pleased smile with Caleb. “Yes, we are.”

  “Good. You will dine with us. The doctor assures us your physiology is compatible with our diet.”

  So the scanning had been medical in nature. She dreaded learning what ‘compatible’ meant, but she forced a note of enthusiasm into her voice. “Thank you for the invitation. Dinner sounds wonderful.”

  26

  IRELTSE

  * * *

  THEIR HOSTS’ HOME WAS unexpectedly charming. Situated outside the city on the edge of a cliff above a canyon of topaz and vermilion boulders, it spread out in a single towering story across the plateau.

  Elaborate marble columns and high arches marked the entry to not merely the house itself but to every room within. The floor was made of a sandstone so soft it could be mistaken for rubber. Ambient lighting placed in strips along the edges of the ceiling created a pleasant luminosity in the rooms, giving them an open and airy atmosphere despite a relative lack of windows.

  The dining area lay beyond a tiled pool of teal water situated in the middle of what otherwise resembled a living room. It looked inviting, but Alex hoped they wouldn’t be expected to partake. Not as a group, anyway.

  Cassela motioned to a patio behind the dining area. Caleb was mid-conversation with Pinchu, so she followed. Indoor transitioned seamlessly to outdoor, and she found herself standing above the canyon as the sun set in the distance. She exhaled quietly at the sense of wonder the scene aroused.

  “This is truly gorgeous, Cassela. Your planet is beautiful.”

  The fur around Cassela’s neck fluttered. “We find much peace here when times become difficult. I encourage Pinchu to find more, but leaders must bear the burdens of their shikei.”

  She still wasn’t opening the connection to Valkyrie for fear of the reaction it might cause, but she could always talk to her.

  “Valkyrie, there isn’t a translation for that word?”

  ‘ ‘People’ would suffice for a translation, but the term encompasses a broader notion of clan, as well as history and future—their ancestors and the children yet to be born. It is a compell
ing word.’

  Alex sighed wistfully, for the concept made her think of her mother. She hoped the burdens she had left her mother with were lighter than those which had come before, but suddenly she wasn’t certain. No matter their weight, she had no doubt Admiral Miriam Solovy could bear them, but it was tragic she had to bear them alone.

  “At least Pinchu has you to give him comfort.”

  “Mey, and comfort I do provide. But enough of sentimental poeticism.”

  “Yet you have a precise translation for ‘poeticism?’ ”

  ‘It is an accurate interpretation. I stand by it.’

  Cassela gestured to Alex’s forearm. “What an enchanting bracelet—there is much beauty in simplicity.”

  She ran fingertips over the curves of the smooth, onyx metal, smiling to herself. “Thank you. It was a gift from Caleb—the first gift he ever gave me, in fact. It…well, its origin is a long story, but it holds a lot of meaning for me.”

  “As it should be for such treasures. Come, let us rejoin the others.”

  Alex stole a last look at the fading rays of sunlight beyond the canyon then trailed her inside.

  Pinchu was cavorting in the adjoining room—the kitchen?—in a most animated way, waving at two servants and fiddling with various bowls and containers. Caleb watched the performance from a safe distance.

  Cassela made a deep clucking sound and brought a hand to her throat. “Pardon us while we ensure the meal is ready. Make yourselves comfortable.”

  As soon as they were alone she turned to Caleb, drawing him close to whisper, “I’m a little concerned about the food.”

  He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I know, but suck it up. And smile. Given their size I suspect they eat larger portions than we do, so don’t feel you have to clean your plate—but make a good showing of it, else you’ll offend them.”

  Her nose scrunched up at him, eyes narrowed. “When did you become a diplomat?”

  “Undercover work, obviously.”

  “Obviously.”

  Cassela reentered the room then and ushered them toward the dinner table.

  It was tall. The chairs were tall. Everything was so damn tall. She felt like a goof climbing up into the chair but refused to let Caleb hoist her up, lest she feel ten times more like a goof. He gracefully hopped up into his as if all chairs were that tall. He also didn’t seem to be favoring his injured arm any longer; she knew he’d upgraded his eVi’s healing routines after his run-in with the assassin on Pandora, but it was still an impressive recovery.

  Pinchu joined them a few seconds later, taking a seat across from Caleb as an unfamiliar Khokteh—one of the servants—began placing steaming bowls of food on the table.

  It smelled fine. Nice even, like mint and roasted nuts. A sideways peek into the nearest bowl revealed a thick brownish substance which reminded her of meatloaf.

  She placed her hands in her lap, waiting for a cue as to the proper procedure to follow. She’d rarely troubled herself with dinner party etiquette back home, but for some reason here she had the desire to respect their traditions.

  Pinchu and Cassela launched into a recitation of a prayer.

  Gods of the stone, Gods of the sky

  Blessed be your gifts, Hallowed be your favor

  Supplicant before you, Grant us your nishnaaidzh, diin niiyol

  Here and forever more, Your servants most beholden

  Hmm. She hadn’t expected them to be religious and made a note to ask Valkyrie about it later.

  She was saved from deciphering the proper table manners by the servant heaping food out of the bowls and onto her plate: the aforementioned brown mush, a stack of tendony meat and yellow blobs that might be vegetables of some sort. The eating utensil beside the enormous plate was a tong-like contraption with three openings for a handle. She slid her thumb and forefinger in two of them and scooped up a helping of the brown substance.

  It was unusually bitter and had a sharp aftertaste akin to chicory or escarole. But it didn’t make her want to gag, which really was all she was hoping for. She smiled. “This is delicious.”

  It occurred to her that Cassela may have been nervously awaiting her reaction, because she seemed to visibly relax. “Wonderful. Please, continue.”

  Caleb directed his attention across the table. “Would you be willing to tell us about the war you mentioned this afternoon? We’ve seen some ourselves, unfortunately.”

  Their hosts exchanged a few murmured words, then Pinchu gave his version of a nod. “Long ago…” the translator hitched before supplying ‘several thousands of years’ “…we traveled to the two other habitable planets in our system, Nengllitse and Tapertse, and established colonies. In this period of our history it took months to travel between these planets, so the colonies matured in relative isolation and governed themselves.

  “By the time our space travel capabilities developed to where this travel took only days, they had each grown to become populous, fully-functioning and independent societies. They had also grown hostile toward us and one other. For a time we maintained a strained but peaceful relationship among the colonies, but two hundred forty years ago it devolved into war—a war which continues to this day.”

  Cassela set down her tong. “We bomb their planets, they bomb ours, and so on in what seems like an endless cycle. Whenever a faction starts to gain the upper hand, one of the others counters with some new weapon or tactic, nullifying any advantage previously gained.”

  Alex realized she’d started pushing her food around on her plate. She took a small bite of the vegetable, a comparatively bland dish similar to squash, and washed it down with the citrus-flavored water the servant had supplied.

  “What is the goal? What would victory mean—for you or for them? Forgive me if it’s an impertinent question, but I’ve always had difficulty rationalizing war. My father was killed fighting one. A losing one, from his perspective…” she glanced at Caleb “…but a victory from the other, arguably equally valid side.”

  They both made a figure-eight symbol over their chests, like Catholics performing the Sign of the Cross. “Sadness for you. The answer is simply control. Domination. They want to rule us, as we believe we should rule them. It is in our genes. Many wars were fought here on Ireltse for control of land and shikei before we reached a state of peace.”

  “But can’t you just say ‘We won’t try to rule you if you’ll agree to leave us alone’ and be done with it?”

  Caleb huffed a breath beside her, and she turned to him. “What?”

  “That line didn’t exactly work on the Alliance twenty-six years ago. I’m sorry, I know this isn’t easy for you to hear. But the fact is, those who rule always believe they have a right to it. History demonstrates that freedom must, almost without fail, be taken by force.”

  She swallowed heavily and hurriedly reached for the water. “I know.” If he had any idea what a painful admission it was for her…but of course he did, which was why he followed the statement up with an apologetic half-smile.

  She gazed back across the table. “It’s easy to judge other situations from the outside, oblivious to the hypocrisy in the judgment. Forgive me.”

  Cassela wore an expression that Alex was on the verge of deciding had to be a grimace. “There is wisdom in your words. I pray for the day when all Khokteh are ready to hear it. But until such a day comes, we fight. We have no other choice.”

  Pinchu interjected. “And the advantage is with us now. Our ships’ new weapons are twice as powerful as those of our opponents. They will not be able to keep up with the damage, I believe. The end to the war may finally be at hand.”

  Given what had been said, somehow she doubted it. But she offered him a noncommittal countenance and hid the rest in a bite of the ‘meatloaf’ and another lengthy sip of water. The sharp taste of the food was starting to burn her throat, but she persevered.

  Mercifully, the conversation moved on to more cheerful topics, and in the end it was a genuinely enjoyable eveni
ng. The translator had become all but invisible by this point, the slight delay between responses to allow it to do its work giving them a chance to take a breath and contemplate what was being said.

  When the plates had been cleared away by the servant, Pinchu stood. “You will bed here tonight.” It was delivered as a declaration rather than a question.

  Still, she hesitated. “That’s not necessary. We can return to our ship—we won’t leave, I promise.”

  “Nonsense. You will bed here tonight as our honored guests. Tomorrow we will take you to see our ships. Possibly you can teach us to make them fly as fast as you claim yours do.”

  “Well….” She appealed to Caleb for help.

  He nodded graciously. “We’d be honored to stay for the night.”

  Cassela stood and prodded Pinchu toward a hallway on the left. “It’s settled then. Let us see to the guest suite.”

  She frowned at Caleb after they had left, feeling a little…queasy, or was it dizzy? “I just hope the bed’s comfortable. And that there is a bed.”

  He laughed, in a more free and open manner than he typically shared in public. “We’ll see soon enough. And if not, this floor is soft enough to sleep on.”

  Her stomach grumbled by way of response. “Valkyrie, I need you to do a quick check and make sure the food isn’t actively poisoning me.” She blinked and toggled on the connection.

  ‘There are several unfamiliar bacteria in your digestive tract, but your immune system is negating them. You will probably experience some uncomfortable cramping for a few hours. I should note, however, the liquid nourishment appears to have been—’

  A gasp echoed through the room, and she looked up to find Cassela and Pinchu staring at her from the hallway entrance. Staring at her eyes and the pulsing glyphs along her arm, specifically.

  Shit. She hurriedly killed the connection, but the damage had been done.

  Cassela approached her with evident caution. “What…are you?”

  “The same as I was.”

  Pinchu moved far more assertively toward her, so much so Caleb subtly shifted his stance, ready to intervene. “You resembled one our Gods. Are you sent by them?”