Beowyn lowered onto a divan opposite the trio.
His navy cape swathed his musculature as he lengthened a thick leg and bent the other.
Resting an elbow on his knee, his loose fist fell between parted thighs.
His piercing gaze roamed the woven rugs and tapestry-draped walls with rampant curiosity.
The Verak Commanders flanked their Great Alpha.
Hands behind their backs, their gazes remained cool and aloof, even as the jittery Rä who were not used to offworlders in their province, surrounded them.
Done scrutinising the room, Beowyn grinned at Lumen. “I see why I was unable to switch your allegiance. They all but worship you. Why would a female give up such adoration to be one in a harem of many?”
Regaining some of her spark, she peeked from her mate’s shoulder to wink.
He threw his head back and boomed laughter.
The Rä startled then looked to each other for reassurance.
Failing to ease each other, not sure what to make of the visitors, they turned to the senior Rä’Veks for direction.
The Verak Commanders’ lips twitched as they exchanged a humoured glance.
They remained comfortable as the Rä warriors palmed their blades and eyed them.
“Come now,” Wind Dancer said disgruntled. “This matter must be settled to my satisfaction.” He checked his personal communicator. “I have confirmation the planetary shield is functional. We gave you access codes to return Lumen of the Stars, but how did you bypass it to abduct her?”
“We did not.” Beowyn sounded grim. “Two cycles past my Commander received an encrypted transmission. It offered a chance for Dyna ThunderClaw, my House, to acquire the female my first cousin Obryn hoped to make his One.”
Lumen twitched in Venomous’ hold.
She sat up, wide eyed. “What? I assumed he wanted me for more, um, earthy reasons.”
Beowyn smiled, eyes sad. “Aye, he felt the pull. Those of my people rescued from that hell told me so.”
“Oh. I never said it before, but I’m sorry he died. I wouldn’t....” She sent the male a look of guilt. “I wouldn’t change it.”
“I know this.” No censure bled into his baritone. Shifting forward, he propped a fist on his knee. “In the transmission were access codes to the force field, a galactic standard date, time and location coordinates. My Commanders brought the message to my attention. I decided to accept the offer, and liberate the female who might have been the One of my kin. I planned to offer her a place in my harem. To my mind, she deserved to be pampered and regarded with fondness for the rest of her days.” Beowyn paused. He looked Venomous then Fiercely in the brille. Direct and blunt. Male to males. “Know this,” his finger stabbed air, “I believed her mistreated. I would never have taken her otherwise.” His expression turned terrifying. “She was crying. Shackled. She scented of terror and blood.”
The Commanders flanking him shifted, and formerly blank expressions twisted in wrath.
“A delicate, intelligent female,” Beowyn continued, “swelled with cub treated so shamefully. I would have warred unto death to take her from such imprisonment and cruelty. Or so I thought. I believed you cast her aside, allowing the Rä female to dispose of her. She was treated like rubbish. I tell you freely, I hated you before I laid eyeson you, thinking you had done this evil to her.”
Venomous drew inward out of self-preservation.
He felt crushed under the pressure following the hideous narrative.
My mate and offspring endured terror and enslavement at the hands of the one who gave me life.
Only Lumen’s soft weight in his arms kept him from descending into a rampaging nightmare.
Not trusting himself, Fiercely removed his hands from their mate.
He gripped the carved edge of the divan base.
The polished stone fractured.
He let go then turned his face away, his breath a laboured pant.
“It’s okay,” Lumen whispered patting his stiff back. “We’re going to be fine.”
Sedate, Éorik leaned to speak in his liege’s pointed ear.
A reluctant expression crossed Beowyn’s expression.
He dropped his gaze to his laced boots. “I am loath to tell you the rest.”
“Animal.” Fiercely surged up. “Did you force her? I scent you on her, monster.”
“Sweetheart, no,” Lumen cried reaching to grab him.
“Enough.” Venomous silenced their outbursts with a searing glare. He faced Beowyn and grated, “Speak it all.”
Pale, Lumen shook her head at the Verak.
Beowyn grimaced. “There was payment.” The words seemed to echo and grow louder. “A fortune in Zutki jewels. Enough to barter for an outer band planetoid in this star system.”
Wind Dancer lurched onto his feet.
He shoved away the hands trying to help him, barrel chest heaving as he jerked to face Venomous. “This is why you asked for your mother.” He juddered, legs rickety. “This. This.” He retched, staggering as he hunched over with a rattling cough.
Fiercely’s legs buckled, and he dropped onto the divan with a grunt.
“Serpent’s Hood,” choked Cobra expressing the revulsion and shock of those present.
“This is a great shock then,” Éorik murmured.
“No matter how angry, how vengeful, Rä simply do not do such things,” he rasped. “We do not betray our own. And to betray kindred.... After what happened in our past, it is anathema to us.”
Venomous clutched his Rä’Na tighter.
She was more precious to him than a whole planet of Zutki treasure.
His life giver knew how he felt about her.
She knew.
He’d spoken frankly, passionately, about his feelings to his kindred when they questioned if he were addled to want her.
Rushing forward, Deathly as It Goes coaxed Wind Dancer into regaining his seat. “Please, Elder. Rest. You are not well.”
“I am well enough to know my Rä’Na has betrayed her kindred! Has betrayed me! Our offspring.” He clutched at his throat and wheezed, shook his white-quilled head as the huntress tried to press water upon him.
A Sylph scuttled into the room and up to Cobra that Strikes.
He listened to the servant’s rustling voice then his sapphire scales bled colour until he appeared washed-out. “Venin Stings the Sweetest is here asking for her Rä’Veks.” He hesitated then added, “She is ... distressed. Wailing her offspring’s mate is lost in the Empty Quarter, and demanding a search party go after her.”
Deathly murmured, “The abandoned spaceport is nowhere near the Empty Quarter.”
“Hunters know the winds in the wasteland are so strong, trails are lost within moments of being laid. It is impossible to track through it.” Cobra’s face darkened. “With the storm coming in, we would have given up the search within spans. Based upon the Rä’Na’s word, thinking it truth, we would have not looked elsewhere. For what reason would we?”
“If the small one had not convinced me to bring her home, she would be dead to you,” Beowyn concluded. He whistled under his breath and shook his shadowy mane. “A devious beast warms your pelts, wise one.”
Wind Dancer’s expression was livid. “Bring her to me. Find my nest mate. Dawning Light needs to be here for the judgement.”
“I will bring him,” Cobra said then left.
“There were two others with the Rä female,” said the white-maned Commander. “Sexless ones.”
“Aye.” Beowyn nodded. “‘Tis truth.”
“Her attendants,” Éorik speculated. “One seemed contrite for what Lady Lumen suffered.”
Jaw clenched, Venomous jerked his chin at Fiercely then towards the haze.
The suspicious male narrowed his eyes at the Veraks, but stood, and loped after the warriors and hunters who went to help secure the traitors.
“Father.” Venomous’ voice swelled with crashing power. “Vow those responsible for this offence
will be punished.”
“I....” Wind Dancer hesitated, eyes averted. “Lumen has yet to complete the bonding rites. She is not considered Rä, but offworlder.”
Venomous stiffened. “You dare to speak of trivial legalities? Look at what she has done!”
“It is law. There is room for leniency.” Wind Dancer’s shaky hand tucked into his robe sash. “I am not asking you to forgive. I ask your clan to consider mercy.”
“Done,” Lumen said. Her head swung back and forth between them. “For my part, it’s given. We can work through this somehow.”
Bowing his head, Wind Dancer murmured, “You humble me, daughter.”
Venomous’ hearts squeezed. “No.” He stared his father down, not a hint of give in his black stare. “No.”
“Babe,” Lumen whispered.
“You are my everything, and she wanted me to believe you dead. I cannot express the horror of it. Do not defend her to me.”
Shadows bruising the skin beneath her eyes, Lumen lowered her head to his shoulder, held on, fingers stroking his nape.
Wind Dancer turned his face away, a tremor wracking his frame.
The haze of the Senate Quarter stretched across a tessellated archway, leading from the vestibule out onto the central plaza, yet the stalls were empty, the space void of life except for the gurgling fountain.
The Rä people were hidden in their lairs from the eclipsing wave of black and green dust billowing from the desert.
The turbid cloud tore across the province, swallowing the land in its cumulonimbus maw, casting shadows at its fore and in its wake.
Flashes of lightning set the mass afire from within, and thunder pounded the earth with its roaring boom.
Hushed voices drew closer.
An older, feebler voice rose in tremulous anger.
Wind Dancer stood as Cobra that Strikes and Dawning Light emerged from a passageway.
The robed Rä’Vek hurried across the polished stone, gaze snapping between those assembled. “Does this Rä’Vek speak truth?”
“Yesss,” Venomous answered when his other father seemed incapable of speech. “She is being brought to us.”
“Substantiation for this dire wrongdoing?” he demanded.
“Irrefutable.” Venomous’ fists clenched. “My Rä’Na, the Verak Great Alpha and his Commanders have given testimony.”
“Guilty?” Dawning Light croaked. “I knew she was struggling to accept Lumen’s differences, but she seemed to do better when told she could plan the bonding ceremony.” He blanched then swayed. “A guilty verdict by us means....”
“The shunning,” Wind Dancer whispered aging before their eyes.
The haze fizzed as Fiercely returned, body tight, strides clipped, and his expression rigid.
Venin Stings the Sweetest’s shrill voice rang out as she swept in behind him, flanked by her a’Rä accomplices.
Escorting them were the Rä warriors privy to the treachery.
“I demand you explain why I have been detained! Did you not hear me? We are in crisis. As we speak your Rä’Na is out there dying! You thoughtless....” Venin Stings the Sweetest trailed off as she realised the vestibule was filled with witnesses.
Her eyes landed on the Veraks.
Whipping straight, she jerked backwards.
Her gaze unerringly found Lumen in the knot of bodies, and she heaved a stunted breath. “Whatever they have said is a lie.”
“Foolish,” Beowyn denounced shaking his dark head. “You would have done better to confess and plead mercy.”
Wind Dancer limped forward. His eyes burned as he stopped before his life mate. “How you shame me.”
She gasped, hand flying to her throat. “My Rä’Vek.”
“That you could do this to our offspring after he was lost to us for so long! Grandfather watched over us. Blessed us. Our offspring was returned a mated male. He has seeded life of his own.” He staggered, repulsed, hand coming to his mouth as if about to be sick. “All you had to do was accept your new daughter and get ready to swaddle a hatchling close to your hearts.”
“We do not even get to warm the egg as is proper,” she spat. “I doubt the half breed will ever welcome our touch.”
“I do not know you.”
She took a jerky step, but stopped as he recoiled further. “She is the one–”
“No more,” Dawning Light whispered voice reedy. “No more lies. No more hatred. No more poison. I refused to believe this of you, but I see the truth on your face. You have always been difficult, wanting impossible things your way. You pushed us to the brink with your demanding ways, yet we cared for you. We gave you all you desired.” He, too, withdrew with a revolted expression as she went to touch him. “You have gone too far this time, and we cannot save you.”
Shaken by the wall of cold, Venin shied back. “I wanted to send her somewhere better. Somewhere she could be happy.”
“Don’t.” Lumen pushed forward. “Do not stand there and pretend you care. I begged you not to do it. You called our hatchling an aberration. You told Beowyn to kill it.”
“This is truth,” Beowyn grated. “It turns my stomach. A warrior of honour would never hurt a cub.”
“You said nothing,” Venin snapped. “You were happy to take her.”
“Aye. I would do it again, a thousand times over, to keep her from you.”
Venomous could not bear to look at his life giver.
The weight of his fury landed upon the a’Rä. “Do you deny you kidnapped my Rä’Na and sold her to the Great Alpha?”
They exchanged a look.
It was clear from their expressions contesting the evidence was pointless.
“No,” one replied.
Wind Dancer tore his gaze from his mate.
His mouth thinned. “Choose judgment. The vote, the blade or exile?”
“I choose the knife,” the quiet until now a’Rä said in a strong voice.
“Hunter, hand Gently Falls the Rain your blade,” Wind Dancer ordered of Cobra that Strikes.
Grim, the Rä’Vek unsheathed the unadorned dagger at his waist.
“May I not have a warrior’s blade?” the a’Rä asked.
Venomous gritted his teeth. “No.”
Gently Falls the Rain winced, but took the dagger Cobra offered, tolerating the insult.
To die on a blade used for animals signified the a’Rä was no better than one.
“What’s going on?” Lumen asked, arms crossed over her chest, chafing.
The air temperature dropping because of the storm.
“Last testimony?” Wind Dancer asked ignoring the question along with everyone else.
Gently Falls the Rain glared at Venomous. “The alien does not belong here. It will be like the blood pure all over again. I sought to preserve our peaceful way of life, I meant her no harm.”
“A ridiculous leap of reasoning,” Venomous said, voice cold. “That time of darkness was caused by people like you, not my Lumen.”
“What do they speak of?” Éorik asked.
“The blood pure hail from our primitive past,” Deathly enlightened. “Two thousand solars ago, our species blended so deeply with others, less than a sixth of the population were purebred Rä. A fanatical sect emerged and propagated the belief that if you possessed a drop of offworlder blood, you were no longer Rä, and to be treated as lesser. It took solars to end the eradication of offworlder mates, and those who refused to shun them.”
“You’re talking about honour killings,” Lumen whispered her face ashen. “The family murder the members they think disgrace them.”
“Yesss.” Deathly crossed her arms to clasp her elbows. “The Great Senate voted unanimously to close our borders. The mixed blood were purged during the dark time, and their descendants shunned. We rebuilt our civilisation, and stopped travelling the stars to avoid the offworlders that might awaken us. It is a part of our history we remember with shame.”
Beowyn’s expression sharpened. “One human is no
great threat. Unless there are others here?”
“No,” Lumen whispered rubbing her forearm. “Just me.”
Gently Falls the Rain sniffed. “You may think my reasoning flawed, but my intentions were–”
“Pure?” Venomous finished, scathing. “How noble you make your evil seem.”
“I was the one who suggested the Verak.” The a’Rha jerked its head to Venin. “The Rä’Na wanted us to slit her throat then dump her body for the razorbeasts.”
Venomous felt the world tilt.
Fiercely looked moments from beating the perpetrators to death.
Even Cobra growled in anger.
Drawing herself up, Venin Stings the Sweetest hissed. “Lies.”
“Even as you stand beaten, you fail to act with honour. Why did I follow you?” Fangs clicking, Gently Falls the Rain turned to face the haze. The a’Rä knelt then rested back on its heels. “Tell my kindred, I spoke truth in the end.”
“Hey,” Lumen said with more force. “What is happening?”
“It will be done,” Cobra swore.
Angling the blade to point just under its breastbone, the a’Rä repressed its anima as it rose to protect.
In a short, brutal thrust, it sheathed the blade into its chest.
Lumen screamed, causing the Rä to flinch, and skittered back.
Gently yanked the blade free then plunged it again with a harsh rasp for air.
Hands falling to the side, Gently Falls the Rain folded over in a bow.
With a final twitch, the a’Rä grew still.
Lumen chanted, “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.”
Wind Dancer turned to the other a’Rä who watched resignedly. “Roam the Highest Peak?”
Serene, the a’Rä spun around and peered into the storm. “I choose exile.”
“W-What about t-the vote?” Lumen’s hand pressed her forehead, the other fisted in the material of her softsuit. “Doesn’t that mean judgement goes to trial before the Elders?”
“Yess,” Deathly said in a quiet aside. “But the transgression.... Lumen of the Stars, the Senate will vote unanimously to sentence the a’Rä to painful death. They are not mated, so punishment is severe. There can be no other judgement. Choosing this end is valiant. It removes the pain of inflicting the burden of punishment from the kindred, and the a’Rä regains honour. Gently Falls the Rain and Roam the Highest Peak may now enter Grandmother’s embrace without shame.”