by Auryn Hadley
Sal smiled at her. "That means you were." Then she noticed Rayna's disheveled clothing. "Just getting in?"
Rayna grinned and nodded. "Yeah." She looked at Jase. "Cyno, right?"
"Yes, sir," he said, gently taking her hand and kissing it. He paused for a second before he released her.
"Get anything good from that?" Rayna asked.
Jase's head whipped over to Sal, who shrugged. "She listens too well. Ray, I'd prefer none of that got out, ok?"
Rayna held up her hands. "Then I'll trade. My little date last night? Yeah, I didn't meet with any Corporal Loka. Seems that the Anglian cooking part was the only truth to that setup. Figured I should tell you before he does," she gestured at Jase. "My lips are sealed if yours are."
Jase leaned toward Sal and dropped his voice. "Dom's way with women is na a secret. Just did na know the Shields were running cover fer him."
Sal's mouth fell open, and she looked back at Rayna. "You just spent the night with Dominik Jens?" she hissed.
Rayna shrugged and nodded, a large grin on her face. "Seems he has a thing for women with a sword. Said he first saw me when Anglia rode into the CFC base and the Dogs were training." She raised an eye dramatically at Sal and crossed her arms, still smiling. "He said he's glad I don't bite. You know anything about that?"
Sal slapped her hands over her mouth, looking back at Jase as he smiled at her lovingly. "Sal, ya need ta spend more time with this one. Ya let yer guard down around her, kitten. I approve."
Sal stuck her tongue out at Jase. "Then approve of that," she teased as she looked back to Rayna. "Yeah, I know about that. He tried to come on to me and I showed him why I don't touch humans."
"Yeah," Rayna said, writing it off. "Oh, and I know what Dernor is, too. I know there's more, and could probably guess the next few ranks since I can count to five now. So point for point...." Rayna gestured at the door down the hall, "How did that go from just my brother to maybe Dernor in three days?"
Jase waved her down. "Nah, that's me, na Sal. I was just telling her my preference."
Rayna's eyes never moved from Sal. "Mhm."
"Serious, Ray," Sal assured her, shifting toward the stairs. "I have to get to a meeting, and I'm not making that up."
"Ok. I believe you - because I had a very large man apologize for the same thing when he woke the King this morning. What's with the Colonel anyways? Doesn't he look at women at all?"
"Na if ya met his wife," Jase said. "His cessivi."
"Gotcha. Go to your meeting, but you'd best plan enough time to spill it all tonight." Rayna giggled. "I have to tell this to someone, or I'm going to burst. Can you believe I just fucked the King of Anglia?" She made a fist pumping motion and spun in a circle. "Ok, get." She told them, grinning.
Sal laughed but pulled Jase behind her toward the stairs. He moved to her left as they trotted down. When they reached the ground floor, he glanced up quickly.
"Ya know..." He said, thinking. "She'd make a really good queen. Almost as good as ya."
"I know," Sal agreed. "She's not likely to want kids, but you're right."
Jase put his arm around her shoulder as they walked. "Ilija's got enough fer the both of them. Third one's on the way." He stopped and pulled her to him. "Only thing wrong with this morning, kitten, is that our uniforms are still the wrong color." He kissed her gently and then opened the door.
Sal stepped out to a bright blue sky and the gold light of morning sun. Across the way, a pale line of soldiers moved silently toward the main hall. From the other side, the sound of hooves turned her attention to a cluster of men in white around a rider in deep green brocade. Viraenova and Anglia had arrived.
"Nice timing," she told her partner.
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "Was Ayati. I’d planned ta let ya enjoy Zep, then get ya here early. Did na think that would happen."
"No, but it worked out. I would never have expected him to accept our ways so easily."
"There's a lot about Zep you do na know. He protected me from humans fer a long time. He helped me with Glish. He's kind and patient, and - "
Sal laughed, cutting him off. "I know, Jase. And you feel at ease with him." She turned his face down to hers. "That doesn't change the fact that he needs to make his own decisions. Don't push him, killer. He'll just run from us. Ok?"
Jase barely nodded. "K." Then he caught her hand. "I like the girl, too. She feels like an iliri when I touch her."
"I'll tell her you said that."
"Yeh. Ya've been alone with us too long, kitten, and Roo is na quite the same. But it's nice to see ya like this. Friends, family, loves... ya deserve all of it."
"That's what we're here to do. To make sure we get it." Sal sighed, closing her eyes in a long blink. "No pressure, right?"
"If ya can run the gauntlet and change Anglia, then this will na be a problem. If ya sign an alliance tonight, I'll skip out on all those lovely nuvani and sneak back in yer room."
Sal gasped in mock shock. "Lovely!" Then she kissed him to show she was only teasing. "Been getting enough offers?"
"Yeah. Until someone mentioned I'm yer cessivi. Now they do na offer, only smile."
"You know it's ok, right, Jase? If something happens... I mean I don't exactly have room to talk, and they're nearly iliri. One of them has to be of interest to you?"
He shook his head. "Nah. I know ya would understand. I know that, kitten. That is na what stops me."
"Then what?"
"They are na ya. Yer all I want." He gestured at the line of silent soldiers. "They are lovely, and kind, and elegant, but I can na. It is na how iliri men work. We are inseparable. I will never love anyone else. I can na."
"And yet you want me to spend more time with Zep?"
His deep twilight eyes met hers and didn't flinch. "He is one of us. Sal, this thing we have? It is na just you and I. It is more. We, kitten. Does na matter who makes up that group. It only matters that we are whole when we're t'gether."
"A pack," she agreed, finally understanding.
"A real pack," he said softly. "The first one that will na hide from humans."
Chapter 33
Sitting in the audience chamber for the Alliance negotiations, the day had dragged on. Sal napped through the tedious details. Her job was to be available just in case she was needed, but that was unlikely to happen with Reko serving as the Viraenovan translator. Before lunch, the topic had stayed on trade rights, but as soon as they returned, Dominik broached the subject she cared about most. Evidently, she wasn't the only one.
"And why, King Jens, would the Conglomerate of Free Citizens care about the welfare of iliri, especially those beholden to other nations?" Halin Berrik asked loudly.
The Parliament of the CFC was spread across a long table, each of the twelve Representative holding a seat. Beside them, a short table held Dominik Jens and a significantly vacant seat. Orassae Rragri lay casually on the floor near him. Across the room, Kaeen Tseri Janoyc sat with a pale man on either side. Reko stood at the ready behind her. Opposite the Conglomerate, the Myrosican Judiciary was made of six judges. The square placement of the tables ensured that no nation would feel slighted, and all would be able to view the others easily.
"Because it is human nature to protect those who need it," Dominik stated calmly. "The Emperor of Terric has notified all of us, I believe, of his intentions to remove the iliri from the continent."
Representative Berrik shrugged. "And he has valid points. The iliri are a drain on our economies. They do not socialize well with humans, and we've all heard the stories of their violent ways! What benefit do the iliri give us, and our citizens? Why would we consider spending hundreds of krits, maybe millions, to protect a group of people who has done so little to protect themselves?"
"Because," Reko said looking only at the Kaeen, his voice clearly speaking for her, "you rely upon the iliri. You come begging to the nuvani constantly, seeking our technology, financing, or military assistance. Even in your o
wn military, you need the iliri. We have all heard the stories of your famous Black Blades and how, without them, your nation would already be under a Terran flag."
"That was before many of us were elected," a man called out.
"Be that as it may, Representative Toth, do you deny that you have sought alliances with Viraenova?"
"No, Kaeen. An alliance with Viraenova would be very beneficial to both of our peoples," Toth said.
Tseri raised her hands in confusion. "And what are we, if not iliri? My own eyes are pale, the pupils slit. My own skin is pallid. My ears are short, and my nose proclaims me as nothing else. Why do you seek our favor and yet doom millions of my species to death?"
"You are nuvani," Toth said loudly. "You've claimed so yourself."
"Nuvani are merely iliri who can admit to human ancestry." Tseri stared at him. "Our own language is still called Iliran!"
"Yes, but look at your hair. It is blonde, and your eyes are blue. This proves that you are not iliri," Berrik said.
"Human, you still call those such as Blaec Doll iliri. How is this different?" Rragri asked through her Vargwar.
"It's the customs that they hold," Representative Berrik said. "Your peoples are civilized."
Tseri Janoyc laughed, the sound shocking in the tense room. "Civilized? You mean how I had both my Ahnor," she gestured to her left, "and Dernor" her right, "in my bed last night? I believe you proclaim such orgies to be barbaric? Or do you mean our public interactions, such as how I disciplined one of my maagra this morning with my teeth? Or is it something else?"
Halin Berrik stared across the table at the Viraenovan ruler. The Kaeen stared back, her face impassive, waiting for the human woman to submit. Her lip slowly curled, revealing sharp Iliran teeth.
Dominik Jens stood suddenly, and all eyes turned to him. "What I mean, Representatives is that our human nations will suffer for the loss of them. Only our human nations!" He pounded his fist on the table. "Yes, we humans are a proud species, but we rely upon the iliri more than we know. Just look at this meeting." Dom gestured around them. "Are you so blind that you can not see the gifts they give us? Well, let me make this clear to you. Would the iliri please leave the room?"
There was a stunned silence, and many of those assisting the rulers looked at each other confused.
"Ten minutes, please? I am sure the Kaeen will understand."
Tseri nodded, and Reko looked at her gratefully, turning to stride proudly from the room. His decision set off a chain reaction, and both men and women turned and walked out. Two of the guards behind Dominik turned and followed them. When the last iliri was out of sight, Dominik looked between Myrosica and the Conglomerate.
"Now, please. Let us continue."
"I do not know what your display was intended to convey, King Jens," Halin Berrik said.
Kaeen Tseri stood, and looked at the woman for a long moment. When she said nothing, Halin shrugged. Tseri smiled and then spoke. A fluid and lilting stream of Iliran fell from her mouth, and Halin Berrik's eyes grew wider.
"What did she say?" she asked Dominik.
"I have no idea," Dominik admitted. "I've had difficulty learning either Iliran or Grauoran."
Rragri turned and looked at the Myrosicans, gesturing at them as she spoke, her own words in Grauoran.
"I believe your point is clear, sire," the Justice said, smiling. "I also know you well enough to know the language barrier is not all you mean to show us."
"You're right, Justice Krex. Without the iliri, I would not have the alliance with the grauori. Without the grauori, we would not even have the ear of Viraenova. The Conglomerate came to me for an alliance. I have nearly ten thousand more troops than you, but without the grauori, I am unwilling to consider moving on Terric. If you dislike the iliri so much, Ms. Berrik, perhaps you have an idea on how to convince the strongest military on the continent to support our efforts?"
"Well, naturally, there is the steel and other metals that we will win from this battle. That has to be a tempting offer for each of us."
Kaeen Tseri rambled off a string of words, making a dismissive gesture.
Berrik smacked her hand on the table in frustration. "You don't speak a word of Glish?"
Kaeen shook her head and pointed at her ear. She gestured to the men between her, obviously discussing something with them, but their personal conversation was silent.
"The nuvani prefer to speak through their link if their minds are strong enough, Representative," Dominik explained.
"Fine, then get the iliri back in here to translate, or we're going nowhere," Toth demanded.
"She said," Reko called from the entrance, as he walked slowly to the floor, "that metal holds no interest to the nuvani. You are welcome to it, for it is too limited to be of use for more than decorations."
The Conglomerate Parliament all looked at her stunned. "You think of metals as wealth," Reko continued to translate, "but it is only a lie you tell yourself. Wealth is in resources, food, and labor. Wealth is in the people of your land, and without people, your countries will fade quickly. This is why we do not want to congregate with you." Tseri gestured to the humans. "You seek the easy answers, but your problems are complex."
Dominik nodded at her, but Justice Krex spoke up. "Kaeen Tseri, you shame me with your wisdom. Myrosica is ambivalent about this war. We understand that if Terric is not stopped, we will face him soon enough, but we are unsure if putting our people into poverty, and sending generations of young men into war is the right answer."
"I felt the same," Dominik said, "until Terric came for me."
"You beat him back well enough. He should not come again," Krex pointed out.
Dominik shook his head. "No. I merely stuck a stick in the nest, Justice. Our intelligence says that the Conglomerate, Myrosica, and Anglia are all of interest to him because each one holds a repository of metals and ancient technology."
Representative Toth looked across the room at Dominik smugly. "And where did you get that information?"
Dominik smiled, "From the Archduke of Terric. He is also the son of the Emperor."
"And you have him in custody?"
"No, not any longer. He was released."
Voices began to murmur around the room, like a hive of bees.
"Why," Representative Anis asked, "would you have released him?"
"Because he told us what we desired to know, Representative."
"We don't even know the Emperor's name, King Jens. How could he have told you all you needed to know?" she persisted.
Dominik smiled at her. "Makiel Geirr. Is this a bad time to mention that the intelligence was obtained by Iliran skills? My demands for this alliance are simple. First, you grant us diplomatic immunity in your nations for the duration of this war. Second, you acknowledge that the citizens of Anglia include all three kingdoms - human, iliri, and grauori. Third, you grant us permission to accept any iliri who seek to relocate and grant us the authority to assist those who do not but have suffered because of this war. I'm talking about making them less of a drain on your own economies because of our efforts."
"What's the catch?" Representative Berrik asked.
"That you acknowledge the existence of the grauori and iliri as independent and sovereign species, equal to humans." He held up his hand before she could speak. "I'm not asking you to change your laws - not yet at least - because that is a discussion for another time. I merely want all of my citizens to be covered in wartime just as humans are."
Kaeen Tseri looked across at Dominik. He glanced at her but refused to meet her gaze. Intrigued, she looked up at Reko who politely kept his eyes on the ground.
You know something, she told him, but Reko said nothing. Why is he pushing so hard for the ability to take in all the iliri?
Anglia has room and is sympathetic to us, Reko finally admitted.
And you have learned well how to control your mind. Your words are chosen so that you can speak the truth, but not all the truth. Tseri looked back
at Dominik as he debated with Representative Berrik yet again.
She watched the nuances of his mannerisms and how he glanced down to Rragri often, but Tseri knew that he did not hold a link. Their actions told her they had a plan in place, and each was playing off the other. She looked again at the empty chair, wondering why it would be there since it was obvious the grauori would not comfortably fit in something designed for humans. Finally, she raised her eyes to Reko again and saw him following the debate closely, his shoulders tense.
There's more to this debate than the war, she suddenly realized.
Reko turned back to her, dropping his eyes quickly to the floor, but she'd seen the shock and acknowledgment on his face. The silence in his mind was more answer than he could give her otherwise.
I only know of one pure iliri female left on the continent, she told him. We thought you all were gone until we arrived here. Reko Wyra, imagine my very pleasant surprise at seeing both you and the Lieutenant at the gates to greet me.
Yes, ma'am. We are happy to be of assistance to you, Reko said.
I'm sure. Now answer me something. Do you know who that chair is for?
Reko glanced across the room and said nothing, but Tseri could feel his mind searching for an answer.
Yes.
She smiled. I see. Is that chair the reason why Dominik Jens is demanding the right to claim any iliri that chooses to relocate? Before you try to edge out of that, let me ask the next question. If I help him, would a true Kaisae hold it and bring our people back?
Reko looked up and met her eyes. He held them for a long moment, and then a smile slid across his face.
Yes. It is for my sister.
Speak for me, Ilus? Tseri asked, rising to her feet.
"This has gone on long enough," Reko said for the Kaeen. "It is obvious that you humans can not come to a decision with any speed. I tire of these negotiations that go nowhere. Show me that we can agree on something and that I have not just wasted months of our time!" Tseri slapped her hand on the table and glared around her. "Agree to something. Anything!" She threw herself into her seat and looked at Dominik Jens.
