by Delia Roan
Perhaps emotional pain can equal the effects of physical pain.
Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see was Jenna’s tear-stained face. All he could hear in his mind was her voice, whispering his name in the dark, thanking him. Kissing him. All he wanted was to taste her again.
A groan escaped Kovos’s lips, and he wasn’t sure if it was from frustration or need.
“You owe me five credits.”
Kovos’s eyes shot open. Lithyon stood at the far end of the table. While Kovos had stopped to change out of his Bonding ceremony robe, and into a less formal suit, Lithyon still wore her ceremony dress. Despite her stunted gait, she flowed across the room with elegance.
Kovos rose to his feet as she approached. “You were right about the fight. They couldn’t wait until the end of the ceremony.”
“I never lose a bet,” Lithyon replied. “Pay up.”
“I am good for the money,” Kovos said, with a smile. “You know I am.”
Lithyon snorted and crossed her arms. “I’ve heard that pretty tale before. Let me guess, your child is sick? You need the money to pay the rent? Oh, I know! The ailing mother story! Always a classic. Don’t wiggle your way out of this one, Kovostad.”
Kovos knew she wasn’t serious. It was a trifling amount to someone of Lithyon’s prosperity. She enjoyed the idea of winning more than she enjoyed collecting her winnings. “You’ll get your money when my pay clears.”
They grinned at each other for a moment, then Lithyon’s smile faded.
“We searched everywhere for you,” she said. Her voice held soft reproach. “I was worried.”
Guilt snapped at Kovos with sharp teeth. “I’m sorry I gave you reason to be concerned.” He gestured to the room. “Where is everyone?”
Lithyon smiled, and her lovely face grew even prettier. “Once they were done yelling, I sent them each to their quarters to cool down. I asked them to reconvene here after the midday meal. They should be here soon.”
“Wise. Everyone grows more reasonable with a full stomach.”
She reached out her hand and touched Kovos’s face. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” he replied. He took her hand and squeezed it. “Are you?”
The corners of her eyes tightened, but she smiled nonetheless. “I have had better days. Ones where the brightest moment of my life wasn’t claimed by another. In front of an audience, no less.”
Kovos winced. “I’m sorry you had to deal with the Council.”
Lithyon waved away his apology. “I can handle myself, and them.”
It was one of the reasons why their union had been approved. Lithyon could cajole when the situation called for it, but she could also strong-arm even the most stubborn councilor into submission.
“So it’s true? She’s your Avowed?”
He hesitated. “It is complicated.”
“But you are bonded to her?”
Kovos nodded. He couldn’t deny it. “She wears my Promise Stone.”
“That should have been mine, by all rights,” she said. Her voice stayed light and playful. “I mean, it matches my house colors.”
Lithyon leaned against a chair back. The braids in her hair jingled as they fell forward, covering her face. Little bells and beads adorned her locks. She’d taken extra care with her appearance today.
He felt a need to console her. “It’ll only be until the festival is done.”
“Then what happens?”
“I am not sure,” Kovos said slowly. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”
“Clearly you have not. We will ship her home when you remain Latent. Because you will remain Latent, Kovos. She’s human. She cannot be your Avowed. She cannot even be here on Cadam. I’m surprised you’re even entertaining this daft notion.”
“Well, what else am I to do, Lithyon?”
“Send her back. Now.”
Kovos shook his head. “Impossible. We are busy with the festival. It would take months to get there if a Cadam ship is dispatched to Earth. No, we will wait. After the festival, the Relay will open, and Jenna’s trip will be expedited.”
“What if we don’t have to wait that long?” Lithyon leaned forward.
“I do not understand your meaning.”
“I have a confession,” Lithyon said. She licked her lips and glanced at the door, which stood open. She lowered her voice. “The Cadam Relay. It’s operational. Now.”
Kovos frowned. “No, that’s not- How?”
“My father merely deactivated it, not destroyed it.”
“Why would he do such a thing? The alliance between the Ennoi Cadam and Haron depended upon that condition. It was stipulated in the terms.”
“He did it for me. He could not leave his only daughter on Cadam without a means of reaching me. Admit it, your father would have done the same for you.”
Kovos shook his head. “No, my father would not bend his morals, not even for his own child. However, I can sympathize with your father’s position. It could not have been easy. Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
Lithyon shrugged. “It is not really the sort of thing one mentions in casual conversation. The Relay was to be reactivated, regardless, so why mention it?”
“Why mention it now?”
“You could use it to send the human back. Now. Before we have too many questions to answer.” She seized his hand. “Kovos, we could play it off as a mistake. A crazy human who misunderstood our Ennoi ways. Nobody would need to know.”
“I would know.” Kovos placed his hand atop Lithyon’s. “I cannot, in good conscience, deny my words. My honor would not allow it.”
For a moment, Kovos thought Lithyon might strike him. She lowered her head and said nothing. She sighed and straightened. “Well, I suppose all we can do is wait and see. Where is she staying?”
Kovos blinked at the sudden switch in topic.
“There is a spare room in the left…”
Lithyon clucked her tongue. “I say this with great love. For a man who is smart enough to rule an entire clan of Ennoi, you are certainly stupid at times.”
She snapped her fingers and a servant dressed in Lithyon's colors ran up and bowed.
“Go find the human and move her into one of the spare rooms in the Royal Wing. Make sure she is comfortable, and post guards outside her door.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Also, find my maid-servant Cyndrae. Tell her she has been assigned as the human's personal maid. She is to help the human in any manner. Dismissed.”
“Yes, my lady.” The servant bowed again before hurrying away.
Lithyon beamed. “Don't worry. Cyndrae will take excellent care of the girl.”
Kovos scratched his nose. “That's very generous of you, Lithyon. But you don't have to give away your servants. We have plenty in Ados.”
“Kovos, think it through. The girl needs to be in the Royal Wing. She just interrupted a huge political coup. She destroyed alliances with a few simple words. She’s practically the downfall of the Ennoi right now. Our number one enemy. She's walking around with a target on her back.”
Kovos winced. It was true. Jenna had ensured that every ambitious councilor was gunning for her head. Fool that he was, he'd failed to take her safety into account.
“With a maid of my colors at her side, it will be seen that I endorse her. We provide a united front to the general public.”
“Clever.” Lithyon’s ability to maneuver always impressed him. Kovos lacked the finesse.
“Yes, I am rather.” Lithyon consulted her lumis, and tucked the little device back inside her robes. “The council will be here shortly. We better get settled in. I suspect they will have plenty to say about today's events.”
“Lithyon.”
She stopped and turned. “Yes?”
“I'm sorry to put you in this situation.”
“Oh, stop. That is the third apology you’ve provided this conversatio
n. After a while the words become meaningless.”
He took a deep breath. “Thank you for looking out for Jenna. I'm glad you at least are keeping a clear head. She needs all the friends she can get.”
Lithyon smiled, but it faded quickly. She threw her hair over her shoulder, and smoothed down her dress. “I'm not doing it for her, Kovos. I'm doing it for you.”
“I am grateful for your friendship, Lithyon.”
Her face flushed. “There is no greater honor, Kovos, than being your friend.”
A hacking cough at the door attracted their attention. An old Ennoi woman clad in Haron colors leaned on a cane. Yaldir stood on her other side.
“Ah,” said Lithyon, raising her hands, “there you are, Zulda. Come sit.”
Zulda hobbled to a nearby chair. Yaldir held her elbow and lowered her into her seat. She sat with a groan, and nodded her thanks to Yaldir. The Ennoi woman’s chin dropped to her chest, and soon, she softly snored, her wrinkled face slack.
“Poor dear,” Lithyon said. “She’s exhausted from all the excitement from this morning.”
Zulda was a strange choice for an honor guard. Most leaders chose a guard who could protect both their honor and their body, but Lithyon had chosen her father’s honor guard as her own. Zulda had even advised Lithyon’s grandfather.
“I guess this means the afternoon session is about to begin.” Kovos took a long breath.
“It looks like it will be rough,” Yaldir murmured as he took his place behind Kovos’s chair. “Better prepare for the storm.”
Soon the room buzzed with activity as Council members and their honor guards entered. Kovos waited until each dignitary found their seat, ignoring their glares and mutters. Lady Tamlhen sniffed in derision as she breezed into the room. She pointedly avoided the glare from the Treda councilor, who sported a black eye due to her potent left hook. The last to enter was Lord Ziykon Ar’Lhoris, who nodded to Kovos before sliding into his seat.
“Thank you for assembling here,” Kovos began. “I now call this Council meeting into session.”
Before he could add anything further, Lord Bilkar Ar’Strobo stood. While his mulberry and forest green robes were thread-worn in a few spots, he held his horned head high with pride. The portly Ennoi crossed his arms over his belly and fixed Kovos with a scowl. “You gathered us here for a purpose, Lord Kovos. The Ennoi leaders in this room have shown faith in you. We came, with open ears, when so many of our peers chose to ignore you.”
Murmurs of agreement rose from a few Council members.
“The fact,” Lord Bilkar continued, “that I am here is because of the trust we place upon you, Kovos. Not as the leader of the Ennoi Cadam, but as your father’s son. I fought with your father. Drank with him. Broke bread with him. I knew the man well. A good man.” Bilkar shook his head. “So know I speak the truth when I say his heart would break over what occurred today.”
Kovos’s lips tightened. As much as it pained him to admit it, Bilkar was right.
Father would be disappointed.
“Where is the alliance you guaranteed?” Lord Bilkar asked. “Where is the symbol of everlasting peace and the gestures of goodwill you promised? You’ve messed up, my boy.”
Boy?
Behind him, Kovos heard Yaldir take a sharp breath. He raised a hand to caution Yaldir.
“Have you had your say, Lord Bilkar?” Kovos couldn’t quite keep the ice out of his voice.
“For now,” Bilkar replied, sinking back into his chair. “You may speak.”
Kovos chose to brush aside the insult. As young as he was, he was still the head of the Council, and he could damn well speak when he wanted.
I’ll give the old fool a piece of my mind.
Hush, his conscience whispered. That is not how your father would handle this.
Kovos straightened his back, and gave what he hoped was a placating smile, though under the table, his hands were clenched. “You are right, Lord Bilkar. I have placed a burden upon the clans of the Ennoi. As it is a personal matter, it should have no bearing upon the alliances we are forging within this room.”
“And yet,” interrupted Lady Tamlhen, “they do.”
“Fair point,” Kovos said through gritted teeth. “However, I can assure you that this upheaval will have no long-term consequences for the Ennoi. The Relays will continue to be rebuilt, allowing free trade once more between Ennoi clans. Cadam will provide ships to help patrol the vulnerable colonies and stabilize conflict areas.”
“Good,” said Lady Tamlhen. “Our people should not suffer for your lack of honor in your personal life.”
Whatever sharp reprimand rose to his mind was cut off by Lithyon’s clear voice. “No, my lady, our people should not suffer. That is not the goal of this Council.”
She stood and walked to Kovos’s side, where she placed her hand on his shoulder. “Kovos and I have always been in agreement. We want what is best. Our people, all Ennoi people, matter more than the frivolous bickering keeping us divided as a people. We shall rise above the turmoil, as we always have.”
Around the room, Council members nodded.
The knot of tension in Kovos’s chest unraveled. He placed his hand on Lithyon’s and squeezed. She returned the gesture, and when he looked up at her, she was smiling down at him in reassurance.
With Lithyon by my side, I can deliver what I have promised to my people.
My honor depends upon it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
JENNA
Jenna felt she was trapped in the eye of a hurricane. All around her, servants clad in orange and blue hurried and bustled, cleaning a room she was told would be hers during her stay at the royal city.
She watched the Ennoi servants carefully. Some of them were like Kovos, the colors on their skin muted and pale. Some were like his mother, tall and horned, with brightly colored scales that shimmered. As far as Jenna could tell, they were all the same species. She couldn’t tell what differentiated the colorful Ennoi from the dull ones.
The servants shot curious glances in her direction when they felt she wasn’t watching. Jenna tried to smile at them, but they bowed their heads back to their tasks without acknowledging her presence. Jenna stepped forward to help a servant make the bed, and when her hands touched the sheet, all activity in the room stopped.
The maid in front of her gaped at Jenna, until, sheepishly, she dropped the fabric. “Sorry. I guess I’ll just… stay out of the way.”
She took a seat on a low bench, hopping on and letting her legs dangle. She examined the room. The furniture was built to a slightly larger scale, making her feel a bit like a child. It was very different than the tiny chamber she’d first been offered.
The room’s white walls contrasted with the vibrant colors of the blue sheets on the bed, and the deep orange of the carpet. A small vanity with a mirror sat on one side, flanked by a large wardrobe, where a servant hung up items of clothing Jenna had never seen before.
Definitely an upgrade, she thought, running her fingers over the ornate embroidery on her seat. The expertly-laid stitches created a pattern of tangerine flowers in bloom on a sapphire field. Even better than Rachel’s work.
Jenna wondered how Rachel, Clinton and her coworkers at the Vogel Theater Company had fared on opening night. Had they cursed her for missing her performance? Had they worried about her when she hadn’t shown up? Did a concerned neighbor call the authorities when they saw Jenna and Mel’s broken front door? Were the police baffled by their disappearance? How was Mom holding up?
Is Mel okay?
A servant bearing a large tray swept in, and she placed the tray upon a round table beside the window. As if on an unheard cue, all the servants stopped, faced Jenna, and bowed deeply.
“Your room is prepared, my lady,” the servant with the tray said. “We have provided refreshments for your comfort.”
Jenna shot to her feet quickly. “Err, thank you for your hard work. The room
looks amazing.”
It might have been the right remark, because the servant’s posture relaxed. “We are pleased to assist you in any way necessary.”
With another bow, the servants filed out, and silence filled the room, along with a delicious scent. Jenna’s tummy grumbled.
The tray held several small plates and bowls, each heaped high with various different foods, none of which Jenna recognized.
“Okay,” Jenna muttered. “Here goes nothing.”
She nibbled on a cracker. That didn’t work. She had to gnaw on it for a good minute before a corner snapped off. Eventually, she placed the cracker on the edge of the tray, and spat the rest of the chalky mush into a napkin.
“Okay, not that.”
The rest of the food was a mixed bag. The stew that resembled kelp was tasty, but too spicy. The bowl of mixed seeds was delicious but not very filling. The largest disappointment was the square that resembled a dark chocolate brownie yet tasted like scrapings off the bottom of a rubber boot. She settled on eating the red jelly, which tasted like mixed berries, and some soft buns that were lightly salted.
Her tummy full, Jenna noticed her bladder needed attention. She tried several doors before finding one that led to a small room she assumed was the bathroom. After relieving herself, Jenna studied the bottles arranged around a large sunken tub, sniffing the contents. They all held thick oils that smelled like forests and herbs. It was a scent she recognized from the closet. The scent of Kovos.
Pleasant, but strong.
Like Kovos.
She blushed and put the bottles back.
When she exited the room, she heard a delightful sound. Music drifted through the air, each note deep and bass-filled. Intrigued, she crept on quiet feet to the front room, where she found the source of the music.
A tall Ennoi woman clad in a simple dress of spring green and baby blue stood beside the musical instrument. Her hair swept into a severe bun, revealing horns on her head and on the sides of her face. Her scales were peach, mottled with pale gray swirls. Her fingers ran across the strings, coaxing music from the instrument with skill. Jenna leaned against the wall, enchanted by the strange melody. The Ennoi woman began to hum and swayed, caught by the music she played.
