Araman's Aria

by Suzanne Embree

  “We still need to report to Herse.” Araman reminded him.

  “I’ll see what I can do to isolate and boost the signal. There is a lot of interference.” Santari headed back up the path. He gave a slight nod to an older woman passing him.

  Araman approached Brea who was staring out into the sea. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her head. She was feeling the same as the council did when the same was pointed out to her. Duped.

  “War is inevitable with Oleander from Olean’s point of view. I will not let them destroy Shinwa in the process.”

  “I know Araman.” She held onto his hands. “I will be fighting by your side. I am your concubine remember.” She smiled up at him.

  “You will not be fighting by my side. You will stay put until Shinwa is safe.” Araman said. Brea broke away and whirled around with her hands on her hips. Her green eyes were flashing with anger. She raised her chin and glared at him.

  “With you or without, I will be frigging fighting for my world Commandant!” Brea cursed at him. She stormed passed him. “Ishy mae fenwae isho son bayna!”

  He caught her arm trying not to laugh at her swearing at him in her native tongue. “I’m not sure a fenwae would fit up my rectum. It’s a rather large tree don’t you think?”

  “You speak Shinwa?” Brea gasped. Her hand went to her translator wondering if the energies had tampered with it resulting in its abilities to translate her language to others. It should have been the other way around. He gave her an odd look at her reaction.

  “Of course he does now, he has touched the Heart of Shinwa.” A voice from behind interrupted the couple arguing. Araman and Brea looked to see the Cin’ Goh standing at the end of the path.

  Brea turned back to Araman. “That does not mean he can keep me in a cupboard to be used when he needs to cook something!” She marched off still fuming.

  “Lyra!” Araman called after her. “I am trying to keep you safe!”

  “Leave her be.” The healer stepped up. “Her aura is still settling and her emotions will be turbulent for a while. None have gone as deep into Shinwa’s chakkra as she has. There is bound to be some volatile residual energy in her. Although I’m a little confused at what she meant by a cupboard.”

  “It refers to my old cooking pot.” He tried to explain. “Is there a way to remove it?” Araman wanted to know.

  “The energy?” She asked. Her wild hair was tamed back into a tie lying at her back. “There is a way but Brea must be ready emotionally for the release. The energy must be isolated and then transported through the chakkras to her spiritual one. Her nectar will draw out the poison.”

  Araman nodded. The healer waved her hand in a gesture to invite him to walk with her.

  “Do I carry the residual energies?” He asked pacing himself with her smaller steps.

  “No.” The Cin’ Goh replied. “None have survived the Heart as you have without the use of the Tunneling seed. None have had the strength to give themselves over so freely.”

  “It wasn’t freely.” Araman gave a half laugh. “My only thought was to save Brea.”

  She smiled at him. “It is at our weakest, that we become our strongest and when we discover what matter most.” Her eyes softened towards the man standing in front of her. His thoughts were sitting on his face. “Your mate will be fine.” She reassured him. “Brea is by no means weak. She has always been a fighter. It is her nature.”

  “I have seen her in hand to hand combat. She has the touch of a Terrian wasp only worse.” Araman could not hide the admiration in his voice. “She rendered my commander unconscious.”

  “Her mother was a strong fighter as was the mother before. It was Brea’s past kin that taught the others how to fight with their energy.”

  “You do not understand. Brea was issued to me like a weapon. If I go to battle, she goes. If I am on a mission, Brea…” the words caught in his throat.

  “Is locked up in a cupboard floating somewhere in space and time?” She shook her head at him. “Now you know why Brea is angry at you. To her, being kept safe is equal to being kept in the cupboard. Hers is a fighting spirit Araman.”

  “And my quarter’s are akin to a cupboard.” He ran a hand through his blonde hair. He wanted her to have the choice. He knew he could no longer live with her as his concubine in the eyes of Olean. “Excuse me, I have to make a report.” He left the healer standing in the middle of the path as he quickened his pace towards the clearing where the pod sat.

  Brea watched as Araman passed by without so much as a glance towards her. She stuck her tongue out at him, still furious with him from their earlier spat. Brea gave her head a shake and rolled her shoulders. She did not understand what had taken hold of her moods but the constant swing was irritating her. She preferred her calmer self prior to entering the Heart. It was not Araman’s fault she was out of sorts. A sigh escaped. After all, he risked everything to save her.

  She glanced around. She realized she was feeling oppressed as she scowled along the path with no destination in mind. The trees bordering the narrow trail were large, deep green and brown as the branches tented those below from the purplish sky. She looked up with narrowed eyes at the dark buildings sculpted from the black earth and turned away not wanting to have to make contact. The aroma of the central kitchen wafted thick in the air. The food was heavy with hot spices and sauces. Nothing she could see was light or airy that she craved. She so desperately wanted to leave and return to his world of the moons. There oddly enough she did not feel the oppression.

  Brea halted her footsteps. No, she glowered; she had to be hidden away. Her angry mood returning. She turned to change her direction and ended up smacking in a solid frame.

  “Whoa Brea, what’s the hurry? You look like you want to beat the frig out of somebody.”

  “Are you offering?” She asked stepping back from his touch.

  Santari put his hands up in front of him. “Did that once thanks. Not in the mood to eat any more sand.” Brea cracked a small smile. “I still have a limp you know.” He indicated by lifting his foot.

  “You do not.” Brea crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him.

  “It only comes out in the cold.” Santari scrutinized her. “So who do you want to thump? My esteemed leader?”

  “He seems to think I need to be kept safe.” Brea shot out.

  “Fancy that after he nearly lost you.” Santari fired back. Brea’s shoulders sagged as her hands fell to her side.

  “Not you too.”

  “Brea, if I loved someone the way Araman does you, I would want to keep them safe too. You have no idea what the man is like when he is not with you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Brea, he is unbelievably horrid, a ranting lunatic some days.” Brea raised a doubtful eyebrow at him. “I still haven’t grown back skin from his verbal lashing.” He put his hands on his hips, “Speaking of the walking dysfunctional, where is the Commandant? I need to speak with him.”

  “Right behind you.” She gave a small-amused smile.

  Santari paused with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Right behind me, as in directly behind me or approaching behind me.”

  “As in directly behind you.” Araman’s deep voice spoke up. A chortle burst from Brea despite her angry mood at the blanched look across Santari’s face. “A ranting lunatic?”

  “Well,” He gulped, “you were a little off keel after Brea first arrived.” Santari moved over using her as a shield.

  “What is it you need to speak to me about?”

  “I’ve managed a secure line but it’s delicate. Maybe two or three minutes at best.”

  “That will be long enough.” Araman looked over to Brea then back to Santari. “I’ll be with you shortly.” Santari gave a short nod and left the two alone.

  “We need to talk, Brea.”

  “I don’t think I want to talk.” Brea felt a resurgence of her anger.

  A
raman stepped in front of her and lifted her chin to face him, “Listen, if you want to have the freedom to make your choices on Olean you had better talk to me because we are not leaving this frigging planet until you do.” He let go of her and stepped back.

  Tears started to run down her cheeks. He wasn’t leaving her behind after all. She stood staring at him waiting for him to look at her. When he did she dropped her gaze.

  “I am sorry Araman.” Brea said so softly, he barely heard it. She looked around groping for words to add but none came.

  He was at her side and wrapping her into his arms when she looked up at him as though she were going to run. She started to cry in his hold.

  “Brea.” He kissed her forehead as she sniffed. “Keeping you safe does not mean tucking you away. I won’t risk losing you again.” He was stern in tone.

  Brea gave another sniffle. “I know that.” She clung to him briefly then pulled back. “I…I am sorry. I have not been feeling right since…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

  “I’ve noticed.” He took her hands into his. “Your aura is putting itself back together Brea, give it time.” She gave a little nod. Her hands felt tiny in his.

  “I haven’t thanked you.”

  “You don’t need to. Just keep your promise and never do that again.” He hugged her tightly drinking in her warm spicy scent.

  She nodded resting her head against his shoulder letting out a little sigh. “I think I need a cleansing.” She spoke quietly into him. “We could both.…”

  A loud crashing from behind the trees interrupted her sentence. Santari crawled out on all fours with small leaves and twigs entwined in his dark red hair. His sleeve was slightly torn and dirt smudged him from his face to his knees. He was a mess and visibly upset as he stumbled out of the tree line a few feet away from the entwined couple. Brea and Araman stared at him as he glanced behind before straightening himself out. His shirt was lacerated into fine ribbons that the soft breeze waved as a taunt.

  “Problems?” Araman asked as Brea stepped away. He caught hold of her hand knowing his conversation with her would have to wait.

  “No. None. Why?” Santari jumped when a high pitched shrill came from the branches above. A flash of brown wiry fur jumped from limb to limb before disappearing behind the large thick branch.

  “I was just wondering. You seem a bit out of your normal self,” Araman answered, looking at Santari from top to bottom.

  “Yes, well, you see there was this fuzzy little creature....”

  “Fuzzy?” Araman raised an eyebrow.

  “Rather like a Terrian Koala from Ancient Australia. It sat beside the ship chattering at me while I was working on the communications hoping to give you a few more minutes. The little guy started to rub up against me leg and put his head under my hand.”

  Brea realizing what had just happened to Santari put her hands up to her face trying to stifle the laughter resulting in a snort that a Terrian horse would envy. Both men looked at her in puzzlement.

  “And what is so funny?” Santari demanded to know as she fought her laughter.

  “You…you.…” The words were struggled out. “It is the Gribid mating.…” Another snort escaped from Brea as she clamped her hand over her mouth.

  “Season?” Araman offered. Brea just nodded muffling her laughter.

  “Anyway,” Santari ignored the woman. “A couple more showed up and did the same thing. Then they leapt and played around my feet while in between purring up against me.”

  “I still don’t see how fuzzy purring creatures can do this to you.” Araman said leaning over Brea to see if she was all right.

  “That’s just it. I was so caught up in how cute and friendly these little guys were I followed them into the trees. That’s when it got ugly. They swarmed like bees and then.…” Santari gulped. “They began digging their claws into me and started…started.…” He couldn’t say the words.

  “Started what Commander?” Araman used his Commandant tone.

  Santari looked up at him, “Humping me Sir.”

  Araman blinked and then he joined Brea in a fit of laughter. Araman slapped his hands against his thighs as his deep rumblings echoed across the dark waters. It took he and Brea several minutes to compose themselves as Santari stood with arms crossed glaring at them.

  “I could have been killed.” He shouted at them. The result was more snickers and snorts. The two were acting like little children at the word ‘penis’. “Look at this, I’m suffering and you’re laughing at me.” He slapped his hand to his chest. As he pulled his hand away a sticky substance pulled with him. “Ugh.” He flicked his hand. “What is that?”

  “Semen.” Brea answered controlling the urge to laugh. It was proving difficult for her. “During the Gribid mating time, when our single moon is whole, the Shinwa know never to venture into the trees. They need to enhance their male qualities to expose themselves to the females who will then choose their mate. The males need warm blooded creatures to rub up against to help with erection.” She explained.

  “You mean I have been molested to a bunch of furry exhibitionists? Yuck.” He wiped his hand on his pant legs smearing into more goop and adding a touch of dirt to emphasize the stain.

  “What do they do if they can’t find a large gullible creature?”

  “They use each other. The females then rub themselves against the males resulting in copulation.”

  Santari let out a yelp as five little brown creatures ambushed him from behind laying him flat down on the ground. The little balls of hair rubbed themselves on Santari like a Terrian cat on a cat-hater. They purred and chittered as they stretched out against him.

  Brea ran over and chased them away as Araman came up behind her to help Santari up.

  “You really need a shower.”

  “No, a shower will not remove the oil of the musk. You must bath in specially prepared water.” Brea put her hand into Araman’s. “Come I will show you where.”

  She led them back up the dark path to a ‘Y’ and veered left away from the center of their community. Instead the path lay deeper in the Shinwa woods where the trees fought for any glisten of light from above. Shrills and caterwauls came from the branches above. Santari started to get a little nervous at a familiar chittering following behind him.

  The trail ended at a large pool of glowing water. It looked as though a thousand fires lit it up from below. Oranges swirled with reds as the water moved in whirlpools.

  “It is fed from an underground vein.” Brea explained. “This is the blood of our world. And through here are the bathing tombs.” She pointed to a dark rocky hill with an opening that both men would have to duck into.

  “Why do I get the feeling that I should be getting a little frightened?” Santari asked dryly.

  “Nothing here will hurt you.” Brea paused as a group of young Shinwa women came rushing out and grouped around Santari. He looked around to each one with stark horror on his face and then to Brea.

  “They will mix the oils to rid your smell and help you bath.” Brea encouraged him.

  Santari looked over to Araman, “If I start screaming please do check in on me, if it’s not too much bother.”

  Araman shook his head at his Commander as he was hauled off into the mouth of the hill.

  “You also should bath in the healing waters.” Helena said behind the two as she came up from behind. She extended an arm out towards the cave. “I have been sent by the Cin’ Goh.”

  “Why?” Araman asked not bothering to keep the suspicion out of his voice.

  “Because, she is calling for a Chatam Pritam ritual.” Helena said.

  “We know already.” Brea stopped short of the entryway. “We do not need the ritual.”

  “It is in accordance to the council’s wishes. If you both truly are Chatam Pritam they will finally trust Araman and his words. You will need to cleanse first. Follow me.” Helena stepped in front and through the opening.

  Araman lo
oked over to Brea. He held his hand out and waited for her to take it. She paused only slightly before letting her fingers slip into the strength of his. His thumb caressed over hers before giving her hand a squeeze. He let their hands drop before leading her inside.

  The dark blue marbled walls arched naturally shaping the hard material into a large cavern. The smooth rock reflected the illuminated calm water in the middle of the ground. Above on the ceiling it looked like the Terrian Northern Lights had been captured and they were dancing about looking for an escape.

  Ahead, Santari’s groan rebounded, followed by female tittering and giggling. Brea grinned over to Araman.

  “I thing Santari is enjoying his bath.” She leaned in and whispered to him.

  “If he enjoys it too much more, he will want to incorporate it into military regiment.” He grumbled under his breath. Brea shot him a wide smile knocking the breathe out of him.

  Helena waved them to where she stood by an opening. Behind her the cave’s mouth flickered in a soft pink light. As Araman come closer to the entryway, he saw the light was filled with a sheer netting of fine silver threads.

  “When you are ready, enter here.” Helena turned to leave and then hesitated. She looked up at her son. “It is a journey from this point forward Araman. You must let the energies guide both your Human and Shinwa natures and in that you will find the Inner Chakkra. The center of your web, where all is held for our next life.”

  Araman watched his mother leave. The old familiar sensation of wanting approval washed over him. It was not the same as his wanting his father’s for his accomplishments but deeper. Araman wanted his mother to be proud of not what he had done but for man he was.

  Helena stopped and slowly faced her son. His want had struck her like a spear to her heart.

  “Araman Diago, I am the mother of the son who has touched the Heart of Shinwa as if he were Elyk. I have never felt pride like I have felt looking upon you. Both now as a man and when you were a babe in my arms. It is your heart that proves the man you are, and it is the part of you that brings me the greatest joy.” She smiled to him before disappearing.