"I need to go to the training fields if we are done here," Gulzar informed her.
"Haven't you already trained today?" Mac asked frowning at him. She knew Nikhil and the other Warriors always drilled in the morning before the Pontus sun made it too hot.
"A Warrior can never drill enough, especially one that is trying to achieve Elite status." With that, Gulzar stomped out of the room.
Both women watched in shock as he left. Gulzar had been overly quiet the last few days, but he'd always remained polite, and he had never stomped out of the room before.
"What was that about?" Jen asked looking at Mac.
"I have no idea. I'll ask Nikhil."
"So are you up for a walk in the gairdín?"
"Do you mind if I pass?" Mac asked, knowing Nikhil would be returning to quarters soon.
Jen saw the anticipation in Mac's eyes and couldn't help but feel a little envious. She remembered how excited she used to get when she knew she'd be seeing Todd soon, even if it had only been a few hours since she last had. That had been in the early days of their marriage, before her parents’ death, and she'd learned more about her husband than she wanted to.
"No, go ahead," Jen told her. "I'll see you later."
"I hope not." Grinning, Mac left.
Jen was happy for her friend. Glad that Mac was happy. Mac deserved it after everything she'd been through. Instead of heading for the gairdín, Jen turned to the coolers. It was time for her to get a better look at what the Emperor had sent them.
• • • • • •
Luol made sure the entrance to his quarters was locked before he turned and swept Maysa up into his arms.
"Goddess, I have missed you!" The words were barely distinguishable as he pressed his lips against hers.
"As I have missed you, my love." Maysa wrapped her arms around his neck enjoying how her body molded to his as he lifted her off her feet. No, he wasn't the large and bulky Warrior so many females seemed attracted to, but he was exactly what she was attracted to even after all these cycles.
Luol couldn't believe his Maysa was here in his arms. He had missed her so much. He hated their time apart, especially when there were other females around. Oh, he wasn't attracted to either Mackenzie or Jennifer. His Maysa was and would always be the only female he wanted, but seeing them just made him miss his Maysa more.
But now she was here, and he planned on making up for lost time. Shifting his grip, he slid an arm under her knees and carried her to his bed.
• • • • • •
Treyvon was on his way to his Command Center when out of the corner of his eye he caught movement on the training field. Who would be out there at this time of day? While the Pontus sun was descending toward the far horizon, the heat it left behind was rising like waves from the scorched sands.
Gulzar.
He crossed his arms over his chest and silently watched as the young Warrior went through a series of drills to sharpen a Warrior's sword skills. Gulzar moved with precision and grace even though sweat was dripping from his body to be greedily absorbed by the parched sand.
"Enough!" he roared out when Gulzar moved to begin the drill again, and the male turned to him in surprise. "Report, Warrior Gulzar."
Gulzar didn't know what Treyvon wanted him to say, but he immediately moved to stand in front of him. "General?"
"What are you doing here, Warrior Gulzar?"
"I'm training, General," Gulzar told him, looking his General directly in the eye.
"During the worst heat of the day? With no other Warrior?"
"An Elite Warrior must be prepared to fight no matter the conditions, General, and my sword skills need improving."
"You believe this because of the other morning with Spada?"
"Yes, General." He lowered his gaze at the admission.
Treyvon thought about what he should say to the young Warrior. It was truth that Warriors needed to keep their sword skills sharp. It is why they drilled every day, but every Warrior at some time lost or was unable to use their sword. It was why they also trained with blades and hand-to-hand. What Spada had done hadn't been to teach Gulzar, it had been to humiliate.
"Even though he too lost his sword?"
"To you, General, a more skilled and powerful Warrior."
"This is truth. Yet, is he out here training to make sure it does not happen again as you are?"
"I… no, General, but he has already achieved Elite status while I…"
"Will one day. Of that, I have no doubt, Gulzar."
"I… thank you, General."
“Unless you allow what others think and say to prevent it."
"I… I do not understand, General."
"While you come from a worthy bloodline, Gulzar, none before you have been able to achieve Elite status."
"I know this, General."
"It wasn't because they didn't have the skill, Gulzar. It was because they didn't have the will."
"What?" Gulzar gave him a shocked look.
"There are many Spadas in the universe. Ones that judge you, not because of your worth, but because of what your ancestors have or haven't done."
"The way you have been judged because of Aadi." The words were out of Gulzar's mouth before he knew he had spoken them and he paled as Treyvon's entire being seemed to freeze and harden.
"Truth," Treyvon's tone was as cold as the sun was hot.
"It was not my intention to imply that you were anything like your ancestor, General. I have never had anything but the greatest of respect for you." The raising of Treyvon's eyebrows had Gulzar quickly continuing. "Truth. I have studied the battles you have fought in and what you have achieved. You've earned every bead you wear and refuse to wear any of your ancestors’. Unlike some."
"Like Spada."
"Yes. And while you are a demanding leader, you never ask anything of your Warriors that you would not do or have not done yourself. That is a truly worthy and honorable male, and one that I would be proud to serve and learn from."
"One day it will be you that others will be looking to learn from, for you will have more to teach them than I do."
"I… I do not see how that could be possible, General."
"I am General Treyvon Rayner, Supreme Commander of Kaliszian Defenses. It is my honor and duty to defend and kill for my people if it is necessary. I am very skilled at it. But you, you have already acquired a skill I will never possess."
"I do?!!"
"Yes. You learned to prepare food in such a way that not only allows it go farther, but it also tastes good. You will be able to teach others this skill and make their lives better. That is what an Elite Warrior is supposed to do."
• • • • • •
Maysa lay across her love’s chest, gently running her fingers up and down the well-defined muscles of his arm. She had truly missed her Dasho in the cycles they'd been apart. She'd always understood why he was gone and his commitment to healing those that protected them. But that didn't mean she had to like it.
"What are you thinking so hard about, my Maysa?"
"Our time apart. Why we were apart."
"Maysa…"
"It is alright, Luol." She lifted her head to look into his concerned glowing eyes. "I have always understood your commitment to healing those that protect us, and in this instance, I think you have done more than that."
"What do you mean?"
"I think you have saved more than those that are protecting us. I think you may have helped save all of us."
"What are you talking about?"
"The females, Mackenzie and Jennifer. They are amazing. And so tiny."
"They are stronger and more resilient than they look."
"They would have to be, now wouldn't they, to survive what they have."
"I truly think you will like them, Maysa. Mackenzie, while she is the shorter of the two, her personality and courage make up for the lack of height. I've never seen anyone stand up, not only to other males but to Nikhil the way
she does."
"It is because she knows Nikhil loves her, that he will never harm her, and that if anyone else tries to, Nikhil will end them."
"This is truth," Luol agreed, caressing her naked back. "Jennifer is entirely different. While she is taller than Mackenzie, she is more reserved, more watchful."
"She would have to be now, wouldn't she? With the severity of her injuries."
"This is truth, and yet she refuses to back down, especially if she knows it is right. She even stands up to the General."
"She stands up to Rayner? And he allows it?"
"Yes. At first, I think it irritated him, but now…"
"Now?"
"Now, I think he looks forward to it, to being challenged."
"I see." She thought back to how the General had been immediately at Jennifer's side.
"What do you see?" Luol asked.
"That General Rayner is interested in Jennifer and not just as a female under his care."
"But… she is severely scarred."
"Are you saying that if I were scarred, you would not care for me?"
"No! Of course not! I care for you because of who you are, not because of how you look!"
"Yet, you do not think General Rayner can feel that way about Jennifer?"
"I…" Luol frowned, thinking back. "I have noticed how he acts around her. How protective he is of her. But as he has not offered her his Ashe bead, I believe him to be acting as his duty demands."
"Perhaps he is just allowing her time to heal."
"Her scars are as healed as she will allow me to make them."
"I am not speaking of her physical scars, Luol. I am speaking of her emotional ones. You told me she lost her Dasho in that mine."
"Yes, the Zaludians killed him."
"A female does not just get over a loss like that, Luol. Not if she truly cared for her Dasho."
"All indications are that she did, and it was because of those feelings that she was injured." At Maysa's confused look, he continued. "She tried to protect her Dasho by attacking the Zaludian that was attacking him."
"She… she attacked a Zaludian?" Maysa paled at the thought.
"Yes."
"Then she not only loved her Dasho deeply but is a truly brave female."
"I believe…" Luol's response was interrupted by a knock on his exterior door.
• • • • • •
Jen found she was humming as she pushed the loaded hover cart down the corridor. It had been an exciting past couple of hours. She'd lost herself in first the cold room, then the cool room, and finally the dry room. She couldn't believe the difference in the variety that the Emperor sent. There were things she'd never seen before and would need to consult with Luol to get more information on what to do with them.
But that was for another day. Right now, Luol needed time with his Ashe, a lot of time. But they would also need some food. Stopping in front of Luol's door, she knocked. It took several minutes, but eventually, the door opened revealing a Luol she'd never seen before.
While he'd always worn the tight black pants the Warriors did, he'd never worn the vest covered in weapons. Instead, he'd worn a sleeveless black shirt that had always been buttoned up to his neck and been perfectly groomed. Right now that shirt was hanging open, revealing he was just as fit as any Warrior, and his braids were wildly tangled.
"Jen." His hands went to his shirt, searching for the buttons at the sight of her. "What is it? Are you in pain?"
"Oh no. No, I'm fine. I'm sorry to interrupt your time with your Ashe, but I thought you might like Last Meal."
"Last Meal?" Luol's gaze finally went to the hover cart that was beside her.
"Yes. I brought some for you and Maysa. I knew you'd have a lot of… catching up to do, and didn't want her first meal on Pontus to be a nutritional packet."
"That is very kind of you, Jen." Maysa stepped up beside Luol wearing a beautiful multi-colored covering that reminded Jen of a kimono. "Won't you come in?"
"Just for a moment," Jen told her as Maysa pulled Luol aside. "It’s called Salisbury steak with mashed tatws. I also included some biscuits and butter. Luol can show you how to eat them."
Jen set three covered plates on the low table in front of the couch then turned to face the couple still standing by the door. "The covers will keep the food warm until you are ready to eat. Now I'll get out of your way. Enjoy." With that, she pushed the hover cart out of the room and continued on her way.
"Biscuits?" Maysa asked moving toward the table. "Those are the cooked dough you told me about?"
"Yes, they are amazing." He lifted the cover off the smaller of the three plates, and the wonderful aroma of warm biscuits filled the air. "Everything Jen cooks is amazing."
"Goddess, Luol, that smells incredible."
"Wait until you try it, my love."
• • • • • •
Jen's next stop was Mac and Nikhil's quarters. They hadn't shown up for Last Meal either, but then Jen hadn't expected them to. She was sure Nikhil had understood her reference about his survival shirt. She'd learned that while Nikhil might be a very large, reserved male, he was in no way slow in mind or body. He knew exactly what she and Mac had been discussing.
So she wasn't surprised when Nikhil's door opened to a half dressed Nikhil, his skin flushed, and Mac nowhere to be seen.
"What!" he demanded, frustration at the interruption pouring off him like waves.
"I brought Last Meal for you and Mac. I figured you and Mac got 'tied' up." She had to struggle to hide her smile as his mouth dropped open. She bumped the cart against his abs, making him take a step back. "I'll just set it on the table. The covers will keep it warm until you're both 'free' to eat."
She was only able to hold back her laugh until she was out of the room and the door slammed shut behind her. She was still smiling when she knocked then entered Treyvon's Command Center.
"General, Last Meal," she called out, pushing the hover cart. She froze when she saw he wasn't alone. "Commander Gryf."
Gryf inclined his head toward her.
"I'm sorry, Commander, I didn't realize you'd be here. I only brought enough for the General."
"I am fine," he told her shortly.
"You can just set it over there, Jennifer," Treyvon told her quietly.
Nodding, she moved the hover cart across the room and set the covered plates where he indicated.
"It will stay warm as long as it's covered," she said, turning to find Treyvon standing directly behind her.
"Thank you, Jennifer," he murmured. "I greatly appreciate you bringing me this."
"No… no problem," she stuttered when he ran a gentle knuckle along her jaw. Glancing behind him, she realized his wide body completely blocked Gryf's view of her. "I'll just let you and Commander Gryf get back to work."
• • • • • •
Jen's heart still hadn't resumed its regular beat as she pushed the hover cart into the kitchen. Why had Treyvon touched her like that? The better question was why had it affected her like that. Sure, Treyvon was an attractive male. Hell, he was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen, but she… she was not attractive. Not anymore.
Setting the cart in a corner, she turned to finish cleaning the kitchen. She was surprised to find it sparkling and clean with everything put in its proper place.
Gulzar.
Shaking her head, she grabbed her cape and headed for the gairdín.
The Pontus moon hung large and heavy in the sky. It reminded Jen of what her grandfather used to call a harvest moon. Shuffling along the dimly glowing path, she was surprised at the slight sweetness the breeze carried. It reminded her of something, but what? Pausing, she closed her eyes and took a slower, deeper breath searching for what it was and then it hit her.
Vanilla.
It was that sweet, warm, subtle scent of vanilla.
Where was it coming from?
Walking past the Crann, she followed the scent down the path that ended in a pile of
rubble. Staring at the enormous stones, she wondered if she should follow the scent by climbing over them. Just then the breeze shifted, and the smell was gone.
Sighing, her shoulders slumped, and she moved back to the Crann and sat. Was she just imagining it? Did she want something from home that badly? Tipping her head back, she sent up a silent prayer that wherever her little sister was that she was safe and happy. And that one day she might see her again.
Rising slowly, she reentered the base, not seeing how the paths glowed brighter for a moment as if responding to her prayer.
Chapter Eighteen
Jen smiled over her shoulder, hearing someone enter the kitchen. She expected to see Gulzar. Instead, she found Luol and Maysa walking into her kitchen carrying last night's dishes.
"I could have come and gotten those," she said moving to take the tray from them.
"That's alright," Luol told her, refusing to let her take it. "Where would you like these? The sink?"
"That would be great, thank you."
"Last Meal was delicious, Jen. Thank you so much for bringing it."
"I'm glad you liked it."
"Maysa was hoping you would allow her to spend some time with you today so she could learn how to prepare food the way you do," Luol said turning back to face her.
"Of course, although I'm just making Beast Stew and biscuits for tonight, so it won't be that difficult."
"Maybe not for you," Maysa spoke, "but in all the cycles I've been Luol's Ashe, I have never prepared him anything near as good as what I tasted last night. I need to learn how to, or he may never want to return home to me."
"Like that is even a possibility," Luol growled, storming across the room pulling Maysa into his arms for a deep, hard kiss cutting off her amused chuckle.
Jen turned back to the stove and took a keen interest in stirring the stock that was simmering on it.
"Jen… Oh!" Mac slid to a stop seeing Luol and Maysa locked in a passionate embrace, her gaze moving to find Jen by the stove. "Umm, I brought back last night’s dishes."
"Sink."
"Right. Uh hi, Luol. Hi, Maysa," she said walking past them.
The two finally seemed to remember they weren't alone and slowly broke apart.