The Council's offer was a dream come true, and she could hardly wait to begin planning her writing agenda. Not only would she get to report on the biggest story of the century, but she knew that her friends would also know that she was alive as well. Would the people of Earth ever know about the Witvians, she wondered.
When the ZL3 had first shown up the police had suspected the Zarronians of distributing it and taking the missing women. Daria hadn't believed it as the females of Earth were more than eager to go with the warriors and travel to Zarronia. Even knowing they would never have any contact with Earth again hadn't deterred them.
When they arrived at the house, Daria hid a yawn behind her hand then excused herself. Before she could begin climbing the steps Thorn grasped her arm. "I want to talk to you. In the garden."
"Not now," she told him, sleepily. "I'm going to take a nap."
"You can sleep later. Right now we need to talk." He kept his voice low so Ronin and Dag wouldn't overhear him. As his mother stepped through the door with Soren, he said, "Daria and I are going for a walk in the garden."
Daria accurately identified his warning look. Peeved, she shook his hand from her arm and strode through the hallway to the back door and stepped into the garden. Thorn was right behind her.
"What's so important that it couldn't wait?"
"We need to talk." Thorn placed his hand on her back, urging her up the steps and into the arbor.
"About what?" She sank onto one of the benches.
"The Council's offer. You can't accept it."
"Oh, yes, I can. I'm not giving up the chance of a lifetime just because you don't like it."
Impatiently, he sat down next to her. "What will you do with your baby? Take it with you?"
"She, not it, and I'm sure there are females who work on Zarronia. I'll do what they do."
"They have family, mentors or friends who take care of their children. You don't."
"I'm sure your parents will help me make arrangements." She frowned. "You've made it clear you don't believe the baby is yours so I don't really think this is any of your business."
"I'm just pointing out the obvious, but you're right about my parents. For some reason they feel responsible for you."
Standing, Daria glared at him. "Maybe they just like me." She went down the steps then turned back to him. "I'll take care of my daughter and you can mind your own damn business."
"No cursing." He had to raise his voice so she'd hear him as she walked away. "I'm not going to tell you again."
Soren stepped out of the den as Daria entered the house.
"Your brother is a moron," she said as she moved by him.
"Finally, someone who agrees with me," Soren said, then chuckled. "Can I get you anything?"
"Uh, no. Thank you, Soren."
"What about some juice? Or, some fruit?"
Daria laughed. "Does everyone in the house know I'm supposed to fatten up?"
Smiling, he took her arm and escorted her into the den and seated her in one of the high backed chairs next to Ronin then left. She returned Ronin's smile then looked toward Dag who straddled a chair from the table with his arms folded along the back. She stared at him for a moment then mirrored his expression and his frown became a glare.
"How are you feeling, Daria," Ronin asked.
She crossed her legs. "Fine, thank you."
"Remember she's bonded to Thorn, Ronin," Dag said.
Ronin sent her a regretful grin then chuckled. "If I'd seen you first you'd belong to me."
"Somehow I can't see you as the settling down type," she teased. He was a handsome and charming rogue. The female he eventually chose as a bondmate would spend the rest of her life protecting him from the rest of the female population.
"Maybe you could have been the female to change that."
Daria laughed. "No way! I know when I'm out of my league."
Soren returned while they were laughing, gave them an inquiring look, and set a tray on a table. "Sounds like I missed the joke," he said while handing her a glass of juice and a small bowl of bite-sized bread rolls.
Dag leaned forward and snagged a tankard of ale for Ronin then took one for himself. Daria lifted a bread roll, sniffed it and took a small nibble.
"It's bread with herbs and cheese," Soren said.
"It's good. What button do you push on the processor to select it?"
"B2T6," he said. "Mother has posted a list of foods next to the processor for you."
"That's very kind of her," Daria said.
Soren smiled. "Are you pleased with the Council's offer?"
"Yes. Very pleased. I've been worrying about how I was going to earn a living on Zarronia." She smiled. "How is a person paid here?"
"In credits like on Earth," Ronin said.
"That's great. I'll be able to take care of myself and the baby." She took a bite, chewed it then asked, "How do you take care of elderly people?"
"They receive a pension and are valued as advisors," Ronin said. "You won't have to worry about taking care of yourself and the baby. Thorn will take care of you."
"I'd rather take care of myself. It's what I'm used to doing."
Thorn entered the room and pulled a chair up next to her.
She ignored him and asked, "What about orphans? How are they taken care of?"
"There aren't any orphans on Zarronia," Thorn said. "Children are protected and loved here. When a child is born, two mentors are chosen for him. If anything happens to his parents the mentors raise him."
"Who are Dane's and Dev's mentors?" she asked, glancing at him.
Thorn met her eyes. "Dag and Ronin."
The boys had two of the oddest godfather's she could imagine. One never smiled and the other one never stopped. "Who are your mentors? Yours and Soren's."
"Dag's father and Ronin's father."
"Does every child have two mentors?" she asked, wondering if she would have to choose mentors for her child.
"Yes. Even the foreigners who live on Zarronia are required by law to choose mentors for their children."
"So I'll have to choose two mentors for my baby?" she asked.
"No, Thorn will do it," Ronin said.
Daria didn't want to start another argument with Thorn so she changed the subject. "On Earth when a person works for the government they're paid with credits paid by the citizens through a tax system. Where do the credits come from that the Council uses to pay people?"
"Zarronia is a rich planet, Daria. We have resources here that are found nowhere else in the universe," Ronin said.
"But, aren't you afraid they'll run out?" she asked, thinking about the situation Earth was in after decades of waste.
"No," Thorn said. "The sources replenish themselves." When she started to ask him how, he asked her, "Weren't you going to take a nap before dinner?"
"Yes." Daria set the glass and bowl on the tray and rose. "Thank you for the food, Soren." After smiling at Ronin, and frowning at Dag and Thorn, she trolled from the den, her hips swaying from side to side.
Ronin watched until she disappeared. Grinning, he said to Dag, "You were right. She's the kind of female who can make a warriors' fever blaze."
Dag choked on his ale, as Soren jumped to his feet. "Ronin, let's go out into the garden for a moment."
Puzzled, Ronin glanced at him, then at Dag. "Why?"
"Sit down, Soren," Thorn said calmly. Too calmly.
Soren glanced at him, sighed and dropped back into the chair.
"Ronin, Daria is wearing my bands and you will not speak of her, at all, ever. Do you understand?"
"Sure, Thorn," Ronin agreed. "I didn't think you'd care since you haven't claimed her and you're not claiming her baby."
"What makes you think that?" Thorn asked, his voice angry.
"You're together but Daria has a soft blue glow so that means you haven't claimed her completely. She asked about choosing mentors so you obviously haven't told her that you'll do it which means you're not claiming
her baby." Ronin sat back and for once he wasn't smiling.
Thorn nodded as he climbed to his feet. "I'm going to the training academy."
"We'll join you," Ronin said.
Dag groaned. "Ronin, do you have a death wish?" Absently, he rubbed his recently healed ribs.
"No, but its time someone beat some sense into Thorn before he loses the best thing to ever happen to him." Ronin emptied his tankard and stood up.
"You think you're the warrior to do it?" Thorn asked.
Ronin glanced at Soren and Dag. "I think we can take him."
Thorn laughed. "I'll try not to break any more of your bones."
# # #
Daria laughed as she took her place at the table between Thorn and Soren. Each of them had a black eye. "Did you run into a doorknob, Soren?"
"I ran into something but it felt more like a fist," he said.
"Thorn's fist?"
He shook his head. "Ask Thorn."
Daria glanced to her right. From here she couldn't see the black eye, and he looked almost normal except for the small bruises on his neck. They looked like choke marks.
Valan cleared his throat. "Boys, the Commander of the Defiance has already contacted me. He's not pleased with the 'training' practice you gave his warriors today."
"They started it," Soren mumbled.
"By the way, Thorn, I thought you might like to know that the warrior you fought is going to live."
Thorn frowned. "He offended me. He's lucky I didn't kill him."
"After dinner I want you to go to Borg's clinic and have your injuries treated."
Thorn and Soren nodded.
"Afterwards I want both of you to meet me at your grandfather's house."
"We'll be there," Thorn said as the serving female brought in their food trays and drinks.
"The plans for Thorn's house arrived this afternoon," Lia said. "Will we be able to see it in the morning, Valan?"
"Yes. We'll go after breakfast before Thorn, Soren and I go to the Council Building."
Lia and Daria discussed the house and the furnishings they were considering while Valan, Thorn and Soren discussed the fight at the gymnasium.
Dane and Dev asked questions about the house. They were especially anxious about its location until Lia assured them that they could walk over to see her and Valan anytime they liked. Dev eyed Daria's bands then asked, "Are you going to live with us, Daria?"
Daria didn't know what to say and she didn't want to lie to them. "We'll see."
Before they could ask more questions, Lia said, "Boys, did you ever find a horned beetle for Daria?"
"Yes," Dane said. "It's in our room."
Shuddering, Lia told him, "After dinner, I want you to show it to Daria and afterwards I want you to take it back to the garden and set it loose."
"Do we have to, Grandmother? We already named it," Dev complained.
"Yes, Dev, you do. You know how your Grandmother feels about insects," Thorn said.
"Alright, Father," Dev said. "May we be excused now?"
"Yes, but don't bring the beetle in here." A grin curved Thorn's lips as they jumped down and ran from the room.
"Daria, we've caught the Witvians contacting the Martins and the other men you told us about."
Lia stood up. "While you talk warrior business I'm going to use the communicator in your den to chat with my mother."
"In three cycles, Thorn and Soren will leave on a mission to Witvia. They'll be gone less than two cycles."
"How soon do you think those men will be brought to justice, Valan?" Daria asked. "Do you have any leads on the Zarronian warrior?"
"No leads yet but the other males will be picked up within a few moon phases. Your friends are being protected and Marie has been informed that you are on Zarronia and well."
"Than-" Daria jumped when she heard a shrill scream coming from the hallway. Valan was out of his seat and through the door before she had time to leave her chair and run to the open door.
Lia stood on a table in the hallway, pointing beneath the stairs while little screeches left her lips. Valan stood at the bottom of the stairs, bellowing for Dane and Dev. Daria looked into the shadows under the stairs and thought she saw something move.
"Boys, get down here right now and catch the beetle," Thorn told his sons as they appeared on the stair landing. As they started down them, Valan went to Lia and lifted her from the table. He kept her in his arms as Dane and Dev crawled under the stairs.
Daria stood back and watched the action. Lia clung to Valan, shaking while he looked angry. She saw the boys' feet appear as they crawled backward dragging something. Surely, she thought, that can't be a beetle. It looked about the size of a cat. As they pulled it into the light she gasped and stepped back.
The bug was as big as a basketball. It had several horns on its head that were at least four or five inches long and it was the ugliest color she'd ever seen. Not brown, or green, or even black. Sort of a mix of all of them. Its legs made shrill scraping sounds on the marble floor as it fought to be released.
"Are you sure they should be touching it, Thorn?"
"It won't hurt them. They don't bite and they use the horns for digging in the compost pile in one of my father's greenhouses."
Dane placed his hands on the beetles back and held it down as he looked at Daria. "See, Daria," he said. "I told you it was as big as a pillow."
"Yes, sweetie, you did. Now, uh, take it back to the garden. Alright?"
"Don't you want to touch She-Bug, Daria," Dev asked her.
Lia giggled. "They named it after your saber-cat, Valan."
Daria smiled. "I would really rather not touch She-Bug, Dane. If you don't mind."
Dane and Dev whispered to each other, then nodded. Together, they picked up the bug and began hauling it to the back door.
"Boys?"
"Yes, Father?"
"Did you deliberately let the beetle loose in the house?"
"Yes," they both answered.
"Then, after you release it, you will go to your room and stay there until I can speak to you in the morning."
Daria relaxed, as they stumbled through the back door with their wiggling burden. "I think I was their intended victim."
"You're probably right," Lia said. "But, they shouldn't have done it."
Valan smiled at Daria. "Is there anything else you wanted to speak to me about, Daria?"
"No, not right now."
Valan tugged on Lia's braid. "I'm going to Father's."
"Soren, let's go get these bruises taken care of," Thorn said.
"Daria, would you like to go with us," Soren asked.
"Ye-"
"No. She stays here," Thorn said over his shoulder as he left the room.
"Sorry." Soren patted her shoulder and followed Thorn.
After they left, Lia and Daria settled on couches in the living area and visited for a while until the boys appeared in the doorway.
"We're sorry we scared you, Grandmother."
"I accept your apology but you still have to go to your room."
Dev asked, "Will Father kill us?"
"Dev!" Daria exclaimed. "Your father loves you very much and he'd never hurt you. Either of you." They ran to her and she caught and held them. She smoothed their hair and kissed their cheeks. "Now, kiss your Grandmother then go to your room. Alright?"
They hugged her then gave Lia several smacking kisses and left.
Daria sighed and sunk back against the couch. She was tired but it was too early to go to bed plus she was too full from dinner. "Lia, do you want to go for a walk in the garden?"
"Yes. I was just going to suggest it myself."
As they strolled along the paths, Lia began picking flowers and handing them to Daria. When her arms were full and she was surrounded by a sweet, intoxicating fragrance, Lia began choosing some for herself.
"The first time I did this, Valan refused to speak to me for two cycles."
"Why? They're beautiful and they
should be enjoyed."
"That's what I told him. He told me to enjoy them in the garden," she said with a laugh. "Then, when Thorn and Soren were born, he brought me a huge armload of them every day for an entire moon phase."
"Since then he doesn't mind if you pick them?"
"No. Usually he picks them for me."
"You know, Lia, when I first met a Zarronian warrior I couldn't imagine them as caring husbands or fathers. Now, I'm having a hard time imagining them as anything else."
"They can be ruthless and deadly when they need to be. Wherever they go others respect them and get out of their way. I once saw a group of Witvians flee from a tavern just because Valan entered it. They're terrified of him." She smiled. "They've been the guardians of this galaxy for thousands of annuals you know?"
"Really'"
"Yes. Anytime war breaks out it's the Zarronians who are called upon to confront the enemy and restore peace."
"Has Thorn ever had to fight?"
"Yes. Many times," Lia told her. "Once against the Zylians then several times against the Prezons."
"Who are they?"
"The Prezons are humanoid like us. They come from the Andreas Galaxy and they've been trying to invade the Xenti Galaxy for at least a decade. The Zylians are worse but it's hard to describe them although they live in this galaxy."
"Then they aren't humanoid?"
"No. They're like slugs except they have short arms and legs. They produce a slimy acid, and they use it as a weapon against their opponents. It's so caustic that it can burn through a protective suit in about half a nano-unit. Valan has several scars from fighting them."
"My, gosh. I never dreamt that there was anything like that in the universe."
"There are worse things than the Zylians. Every time Thorn and Soren leave, I worry that I'll never see them again."
Daria put an arm around Lia and gave her a gentle hug. "Let's take these flowers in the house and put them in some water."
Lia nodded and smiledl.
# # #
Thorn relaxed in his Grandfather's den and waited for him to reveal the reason for this summons. Soren rubbed his hand over his jaw and grimaced. The bruises were gone but the ache remained. Thorn rubbed his throat then grinned at Soren. It had been a good fight.
Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) Page 19
