The Purlieu Experiment, Book 1

by Linda L Rigsbee

  “Pieter should have been there for him, like Rianne.”

  “I think so. Pieter thinks Donte is weak, but I think he’s stronger than Pieter or me. Donte went into Nyumbani knowing that they might kill him. He eliminated Farasi when the need arose and faced his execution for it without flinching. Donte isn’t weak. Pieter put himself in a position where he was between Donte and his mate and children. He should have known better than that after what happened with Liana and Bjorn. Donte will be that way as a leader. He’ll fight for the colonists - to his death. The colonists know that and that’s why he was so quickly confirmed. I wouldn’t want to be Pieter facing that cabinet right now.”

  “Do you think Donte will ever go back?”

  “Yes. There is no question in my mind that he will go back, and soon. He doesn’t know what to do with himself now. All he needs is an offer. Pieter better swallow his pride, because if he doesn’t offer, my bet is that the cabinet will.”

  If Donte was going to be an effective leader, he had to stop blaming himself for everything. Faced with an enemy other than that, Donte would be a brave and formidable force, but not if he ran off to lick his wounds every time someone made him feel like he had betrayed them. To some extent, Pieter was right, though. Donte was strong-willed to a large degree because he insisted on things going the way he thought they should. He was a little spoiled in that way. But he would listen and did change his mind sometimes. When Donte made a promise, he felt obligated to keep it, regardless of any new conditions. “He made no promise to Celyn.” Akira mused, not realizing she spoke aloud.

  Quade frowned. “What?”

  Donte should have told Quade by now. Rianne knew.

  “Celyn had a vision that she and Donte would exchange vows when she was nineteen. Donte rejects the idea as a little girl’s interpretation.”

  Quade sucked his breath in and gave a slow exaggerated nod. “Oh, I see. He didn’t tell me that.” He smiled and shook his head. “So he immediately exchanged vows with Rianne. So predictable.”

  If Quade thought Donte exchanged vows with Rianne to avoid being pressured to do so with Celyn, he didn’t know Donte as well as he thought he did. That would be dishonorable to Donte and he was all about honor. “He loves Rianne.” She said. “They have a close bond.”

  Quade nodded again. “He does, and he wouldn’t exchange vows out of spite. But that probably explains why they exchanged vows when they did. They were returning from Anialwch. The exchanging of vows is a private thing in Bergen, but usually there is an announcement that they are going to do so.” He shrugged. “Of course, he did send a message to Pieter before they exchanged vows…that evening.”

  His gaze travelled over her face. “I didn’t bring you here to discuss Donte, though. How about that job at the hospital?”

  For a while they discussed the duties and benefits of the job. Finally they stood and walked to the door. For a moment he stood looking down at her. “There was a conversation that you and I didn’t finish.”

  She stared up at him. If there was, she couldn’t remember it. “You’ll have to refresh my memory.”

  He smiled. “I’d love to.” He leaned down and kissed her lips and drew back. “Now do you remember?”

  She smiled. “I remember. That wasn’t a conversation, though. When you have a conversation, both people participate.”

  He chuckled. “True. Let’s just say you initiated the conversation and walked away before I could respond.”

  She stood looking up at him. He wouldn’t have brought it up if he didn’t want to pursue it, but at the moment she was having trouble trying to forget who he was – the President of Libertad and soon to be her employer.

  He reached for her, drawing her into his arms and suddenly she forgot. She answered the invitation in his lips with enthusiasm. Passion pushed aside any thought of his being too far above her to be interested. She would have given herself to him completely right there if it hadn’t been for his next request.

  “Stay with me tonight.” His voice was husky with passion.

  She pulled away from him. He wasn’t interested in her personally. He was interested in a promiscuous woman from Lochfowk. There was nothing honorable, or even flattering, in his request. He simply wanted a night of pleasure.

  She jerked away from him her tone scathing. “What’s the matter? Can’t you find anyone in your colony to sleep with you without benefit of vows?” She grabbed the door knob and tried to jerk the door open, but he put his hand against the door.

  “Wait a minute.”

  She looked up at him with all the loathing she could muster. “I fell for all your tricks. I thought you were interested in me, but all you wanted was someone to sleep with for the night.” Her voice was cold. “Take your hand off the door.”

  He immediately took his hand off the door and let her escape. She marched around and started up the stairs to her room. Rianne was walking down the stairs and smiled at her. Akira couldn’t muster a smile. In fact, she hurried up the stairs because tears were escaping her eyes.

  “Akira?” Rianne called after her.

  Akira was sitting on the bed, wiping the tears away when someone knocked on the door. If that was Quade, she was going to kick him in the shin.

  She opened the door to find Rianne standing outside.

  “Can I help you, Akira? Would you like someone to talk to?”

  Rianne’s Lochfowk had improved substantially since the last time they met. Unfortunately, Akira had not learned to speak their language any better. She needed to improve on that situation. She stepped back and Rianne came into the room.

  “I saw you coming out of Quade’s office. What happened?”

  “He made a pass at me.”

  “Oh?”

  Rianne probably had her own idea of who made the pass. Akira wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. “I understand why he would think, being a promiscuous woman from Lochfowk, that I would be willing, but if it’s inappropriate for a couple to be intimate without vows in Libertad, then surely it would be inappropriate for him. Or does Libertad think that it’s only inappropriate for the female?”

  Rianne frowned. “It’s not inappropriate in Libertad for either the male or the female. Bergen is the one that has that rule.” She sighed. “You think he was being disrespectful of you.”

  “He was.”

  Rianne smiled. “Yes, he was, but Quade could have all the one-nighters he wanted. If he asked you, it was because he felt a special attraction to you.”

  He felt a special attraction alright. She had planted the idea in his head with her response. She wanted to spend the night with him. No doubt he had picked up on that fact. Now he probably wondered if she was trying to trap him into exchanging vows. She wasn’t. In fact, she hadn’t thought any further than the moment either. How could she blame him?

  She gave Rianne a sour smile. “I guess I owe him an apology.”

  Rianne shrugged. “Oh well, I’m sure he’ll forgive you in a heartbeat…but if you want that one night, I suspect you’ll have to do the asking now.”

  Rianne still assumed that she invited his attention. She did, but why would Rianne think that, other than the reputation of the Lochfowk women…unless…surely Donte hadn’t told her about their one kiss.

  Rianne sat on the edge of the bed. “I wanted to ask you about something. You know Donte pretty well. “I wondered if…

  “I don’t know why everyone assumes Donte and I were intimate just because we travelled together for days,” Akira interrupted. “For once and for all, we weren’t.”

  Rianne looked uncertain. “I never gave that much thought. What two consenting adults do with their days or nights is their business. I’m not Donte’s first love and he’s not my first experience with intimacy. I doubt that I will be his last, but that isn’t what I wanted to ask about.”

  “Celyn?”

  Rianne shook her head. “No. Not even that. I just wanted to tell him something and I wasn’t sure if
I should wait a little longer since Chiku’s death.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m usually not this oversensitive. What is it?”

  Rianne watched her a moment, probably wondering if she was going to bite her head off for the next question. She finally shrugged. “It’s not like he won’t eventually find out, but…” She smiled. “We’re going to have a baby.”

  Finally there was a situation that she could respond to with a certain degree of confidence.

  “I think you should tell him now. First, if you wait, he’s going to wonder why you were reluctant to tell him. Second, he wants a family now. He told me so. Third, he welcomed the coming of Chiku soon after the death of Bjorn and Liana. This baby will make him feel better, not worse.”

  Rianne nodded. “You’re right, of course. I’m glad I asked you.” She put a hand on her abdomen. “I hope…” She paused, as if thinking better of her words. “I hope he is happy about it.”

  She was probably crazy for bringing the subject up again, but if she was going to spend more time in Libertad, she wanted to know the rules of the colonies.

  “You said that the intimacy thing was a Bergen rule…”

  Rianne waited for her to finish, and when she didn’t, she smiled. “I had a few relationships that went nowhere. Anyway, I’m from Bosvrouwen, not Bergen. Generally we feel the same way about intimacy as Bergen does, but there is no law against it. Actually, there is no law against it in Bergen, either. It’s simply not considered proper behavior.”

  So, on the tram, when Donte had confronted Chait, he had been defending Rianne’s honor, not his. Did he know he was not her first? Probably. Knowing Donte, it wouldn’t matter to him either. Still, Rianne had said she probably wouldn’t be his last. Was she thinking about Celyn? She wished she had as much confidence as Rianne. Of course, Rianne had more experience, being a representative of Bosvrouwen. Donte could benefit from her experience. He probably knew that, though.

  “Where is Donte?”

  Rianne’s smile broadened. “He went to Palangana for the day. It’s a little settlement east of here. It’s the last stop before you get to the main colony of Libertad. He was taking care of some business for Kenyon while he is gone. He’ll return this evening.”

  CHAPTER 33

  When Donte returned from Palangana, he discovered that Akira had arrived from Nyumbani. He was anxious to see how that went, but Quade immediately invited him to his office.

  Rianne winked at him and smiled; a signal that it wasn’t all that serious. He gave her an ‘I’ll see you later’ smile and followed Quade into his office.

  Quade sat on the edge of his desk. “How were things in Palangana?”

  Donte dropped into a chair and shrugged. “Well enough. Nothing much to talk about.”

  Quade shifted his weight on the desk and looked generally uncomfortable. He obviously didn’t know how to approach the subject.

  “I was surprised to see Akira here.” Donte offered. “I thought she would go back with the others. Did she change her mind about that job you offered her?”

  Quade grimaced. “She accepted it, but…I insulted her. She hasn’t said anything to me since then.”

  “Oh? How did you insult her?”

  Quade squirmed on the desk, avoiding Donte’s eyes. “I asked her to spend the night with me.” Finally he looked up. “I thought…I kissed her and she…well, she acted interested.” He shrugged. “She asked me if I was having trouble finding someone to exchange vows with me.”

  Donte fought a grin. Of all the subjects he might discuss with his father, this was probably the least likely. It pleased him that Akira responded the way she did, but to Quade, it was confusing. He wasn’t going to divulge his near relationship with Akira, but he did want to help his father.

  “Dad, what got into you?”

  Quade’s face turned red and his smile was chagrined. “I’ve been asking myself that all evening. There’s just something about her…”

  “So you think she was trying to push you into exchanging vows with her?

  Quade rubbed the back of his neck. “It crossed my mind.”

  “I seriously doubt that was what was on her mind. She has quite a complex about the reputation of Lochfowk women…being promiscuous. She probably thought you were taking advantage of that.”

  Quade turned a darker shade of red. “I didn’t think that…I never heard it before now.”

  Donte could contain the smile no longer. “Well, I trust you know what to do now.”

  Quade nodded. “Thank you for the information.” He hesitated. “Having you kids around has reminded me of what I have been missing.”

  Donte stood. “Kids?”

  Quade chuckled. “You are to me.”

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “Come in.” Quade called. He spoke to Donte as he started for the door. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  A man stepped inside wearing a light green uniform. He glanced at Quade and turned to Donte with a bow.

  “Monomi, I have been asked to escort you to see Niall.”

  Donte looked askance at Quade, who lifted his eyebrows and shrugged. Donte couldn’t imagine why anyone would bow to him, much less someone from Lochfowk. “I don’t know who Niall is. Why would he want to talk to me?”

  “It is about the destiny of the colonies, Monomi.”

  Quade glanced at Donte. “Niall was the first commander of the Baigh. He’s got to be nearly 400 years old. No one has seen him for at least thirty years.” He nodded at the man. “That’s the uniform of the Lochfowk infantry. Rianne could tell you that.”

  Donte looked at Quade. “Rianne?”

  Quade smiled. “While you were in Nyumbani, Rianne served on the Baigh for three years. You two shouldn’t keep secrets.”

  Donte shrugged. If they were going to the Baigh, it wouldn’t take long. Apparently Niall was no longer missing. Still, he couldn’t imagine why Niall would want to talk to him.

  “Give me a few minutes to get ready.” Donte said, and left the office.

  He didn’t find Rianne downstairs, so he climbed the stairs to their room. There he found Rianne lying on the bed.

  “What’s wrong?” Donte asked.

  She smiled as she sat up. “I was feeling a little light-headed, so I thought I would lie down for a little while.”

  “You’ve been working too hard.” He said, sitting on the bed beside her. He explained the presence of the Lochfowk man. “I thought I would go with him and find out what this is all about. I should return this evening. Will you be alright?

  She nodded. “I’ll be fine…We’ll be fine.

  He had started to rise when the inference of her words struck him. He sat back on the bed. “Rianne?”

  She grinned. “Yes, I am.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t go.”

  “Nonsense. As I said; we’ll be fine. Quade is here if I need any help.”

  He put an arm around her shoulders and drew her close, kissing her forehead. “Are you sure?”

  She tipped her head back and smiled up at him. “I’m sure. Do what you need to do.”

  He stood and went to the dresser, grabbing a change of clothes. “I think I’ll drop by and see Papaw on my way back. I might stay the night there.”

  She followed him to the dresser “That would be a grand idea – maybe a few nights? You haven’t talked to him since…”

  “I know. I’ve been meaning to go, but all this stuff with Nyumbani… That’s pretty much settled now, so I should stop making excuses.” He kissed her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Or the next day.” She amended.

  Donte followed the man out of the house and mounted the equine he offered. They could have walked to the station, but if the man felt more comfortable riding, it didn’t matter.

  When the man continued to lead him past the station, Donte stopped him. “Are we going to ride instead of taking the tram?”

  The man shook his head. “There is no tram where we are going.” />
  “We’re not going to the Baigh?”

  “No Monomi. We go to the mountains.” He pointed toward the mountains of Libertad.

  “How long will we be away?”

  He shrugged. “Two…maybe three days.”

  “I need to tell my mate where we will be.”

  He shook his head. “No Monomi. We must hurry. Niall will die soon and he must speak to you before then.”

  He should tell Rianne and Quade where he was going, but a strange voice inside said he should go with the man now. Perhaps it was the voice of insanity. All the same, he followed his instincts. They would think he was in Bergen and not worry about him.

  He followed the man.

  They rode at a brisk pace most of the afternoon and stopped at a secluded cabin at the foot of the mountains to rest for the night. Early in the morning they took off again on fresh mounts. They crossed the border into Lochfowk in a mountainous area near the borders of Bergen and Vlaktes. They were on a steep trail on the side of a mountain when the man stopped. He turned and looked at Donte first and then at a large white accipitridae soaring across the valley below. Chill bumps came up on Donte’s arms. How did the man know? The accipitridae flew closer and lit on a tree near them. The guide kept watching him and the accipitridae, as if he expected the two to communicate.

  Donte reached back and untied his clothes. Wrapping the spare trousers around his arm, he lifted it in invitation to the accipitridae. It watched him with one eye and then the other. He was getting ready to lower his arm when it flew from the tree toward him. He lifted his arm higher and it landed on his arm.

  The guide watched them, clearly amazed, and yet he obviously expected some kind of interaction.

  Donte spoke in the language of the Anialwch. “Celyn, Why are you here?”