Vivian chose the most interesting looking of the sweets Eula had had arranged on the table for them, took the plate and sat beside Eula, waiting for a cue to follow. Though she’d been reassured that it was fine, encouraged even, to be herself, she was still more than a little nervous.
Eula sipped her litah and watched the little human pick a seat next to her. Quin followed her over and again took nibbles from the items on her plate, sniffing them, and handing the plate back to her with a nod of his head. “Zha Quin, perhaps your Ehlealah would enjoy a cup of litah?”
“What is litah?” Vivian asked.
Eula tipped her cup just a bit to give Vivian a peek.
“I’ll try a little,” she said to Quin.
Moments later she was settled on the couch, a plate of Cruestaci sweets and pastries on her lap, a cup of litah in her hand. Quin pulled a chair up across from them. Vivian looked at the drink in her hand. It looked much like hot tea with milk and sugar in it. Even smelled similar. But she couldn’t know for sure until she tasted it, and she couldn’t taste it until Quin told her it was safe. She didn’t believe for one moment that Eula would give her tainted food or drink, but she couldn’t help it — she still needed him to assure her her food was safe.
“Try it, child, just a sip and you’ll know if you like it or not. I am particularly fond of it,” Eula encouraged.
“I… I can’t,” Vivian whispered.
Quin looked up from choosing a pastry from her plate and realized he’d not sampled the litah before handing it to her.
He gently took it from her hand and sipped from it, savored the smooth aromatic flavor and handed it back, “Here, Ehlealah.”
Vivian took the cup from him, smiling. She was hoping it was at least close to the tea she remembered sharing with her great-grandmother as a child. It had been one of the few things she recalled very clearly from time spent with her. She’d been very young, but the memory of sipping it with her and sharing a slice of buttered toast along with it, always made her feel close to her great-grandmother and the memory of her. Vivian brought the cup to her nose, sniffing and smiling. She tipped the cup up and tasted it. “Oh, my!” Right away her eyes filled with tears, then she sipped again, smiling ear-to-ear.
“Vivi?” Quin asked, concerned at her reaction.
Vivian smiled at him, still sipping at the litah, “I’m good, I’m okay. I love this, it reminds me of my great-grandmother.” Then Vivian turned to Eula, “It’s like tea. Back home we have something very similar. It’s called tea, and some drink it hot with milk and sugar. If I closed my eyes, I wouldn’t realize it wasn’t exactly that,” Vivian said, closing her eyes and sipping once more. She opened her eyes again, pinning Eula with an intense look, “Thank you, Eula. This is my new favorite drink.” Vivian smiled sincerely when Eula reached over and patted her knee affectionately.
“Try that yellow one on the edge there, it’s a personal favorite,” Eula suggested, indicating a particular pastry on the plate resting on Vivian’s lap.
A pleasant morning passed quickly, ending when Quin invited his mother to tour the ship and inspect the warriors on board. It was considered an honor to be called to arms, ceremoniously, of course, in the presence of one’s Sovereign or Sovereigna.
“Do I have time to get cleaned up and tag along?” Vivian asked.
“Of course, Ehlealah, take your time. We shall wait for you,” Quin said lovingly.
No sooner had Vivian entered the bathroom, her shraler on her heels, and the door closed behind her than Eula turned on Zha Quin, “Why do you taste all her food and drink? What am I not aware of?”
Quin looked to the bathroom, making sure to wait for the sound of the water to start flowing; then, he hurriedly explained to his mother the reasons behind it. He even explained the conditions Vivian was found in though he withheld the more gruesome details and only alluded to them. He also told her of the fact that she’d basically used his own ship’s computer to outwit him and how she routinely outsmarted her own guard.
This caused Eula a great deal of mirth, and she laughed joyfully.
He finished up with the way she’d dominated the attempted kidnapping the day before. Telling her honestly that had they not found her, she’d have been fine — a little bruised, but fine. Between her own attack on the perpetrators and Kitty’s help, the attempt would not have been successful.
“Vivi is a very brave, very strong female,” Eula said.
“She is everything, Mother. Do not think that because she is small and huma…” Quin started, standing to address his mother.
But Eula interrupted him, “Of course she is. She is a delight, and the bond that I already see between you is one that will be envied by all who wish a bond of their own. She will adapt and flourish among our family. You are very fortunate, my son. The stars have gifted you with a very unique female.”
Quin smiled, and for a moment he looked just like the little boy he once was.
Eula reached over and grasped Zha Quin’s hand, pulling him toward her for a kiss on the cheek, “Vivi is a very strong female. Self-reliant, a pleasure to be around. She is a wonderful addition to our family. I am proud to introduce her to our people, Zha Quin. Do not doubt for one moment that I share your admiration of her.”
Quin hugged his mother. He’d been afraid that there would be some hesitance to accept Vivi, not that he cared. He’d already chosen and bonded her, but it did matter to him that his mother saw in Vivi all the things he did. “My Vivi is perfect,” he said, smiling, looking toward the bathroom door.
“She is, indeed,” Eula replied.
Chapter 30
Vivian stood in the bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She wore some of the clothes Kol had helped Quin purchase for her — a pair of blue jeans and a white linen and battenburg lace top. It was a beautiful top, but nothing compared to the clothing Eula wore. And with Quin dressed in his battle regalia, Vivian was less than under-dressed. She pulled her hair up, turning her head this way and that. Yes, maybe a little dressier with her hair pulled up. She looked around the bathroom, her eyes falling on the silky green sash she used to wear around her waist when she wore Quin’s clothing. She grabbed it up, rolling it into a ribbon of sorts and leaned over, draping her hair down toward the floor. She tied it around her hair tightly, doubling it a few times before standing and allowing the ends of the sash to hang loosely from her high ponytail. Vivian smiled at her appearance in the mirror. With her hair pulled up, you could see the St. Christopher’s medal she wore nestled in the cleavage of her breasts. She looked down at her feet; she wore her tennis shoes. It was either that or flip-flops, and she opted for tennis shoes. What she really wanted were some boots like all the warriors had. She made a mental note to tell Quin she needed some later. She took in her appearance again, better, not perfect, but it would have to be enough for now. She didn’t have any other clothing to choose from. She took a deep breath and said, “You ready, Kitty? Let’s do this.”
Quin was speaking animatedly with his mother, relating the details of so many things Vivian had been a part of since she’d arrived. When the door opened and she stepped through it into the living room, he stopped talking, his eyes following her outline from head to toe. “You are perfect, Vivi,” he said huskily.
“Not quite,” Eula said, having also risen to face the bathroom on hearing the door open and seeing her son’s reaction.
Vivian watched Eula expectantly, anxious as she approached her, “It’s all I have at this point,” she immediately started defending her manner of dress.
“Your clothing is fine, daughter. What you lack is a token of our family. A piece to signify you are of the Cruestaci nobility — that you are Sirena of Cruestace.” With that explanation, she reached behind her own neck, unclasping the silver and emerald necklace resting at her throat. “Here, this will tell all who you are.” Eula reached behind Vivian and clasped the necklace. She gently let it go, allowing it to fall to rest against her skin. Vivia
n’s naturally golden skin against the silver and emeralds set them ablaze. They actually seemed to glow against her skin.
Vivian’s hand came up to lightly caress the necklace, “It’s beautiful, but I can’t accept this.”
“It is, and you will. There are many more waiting for you. As Zha Quin’s Sirena, you have a right to any you would like to wear. We will have clothiers begin your wardrobe as well. Skirts, dresses, blouses, slippers for your feet, clasps for your hair, and, of course, your cloaks. You will have need of all of them at one point or another.”
Vivian looked down at her clothes, running her hands down her shirt and the thighs of her jeans.
Eula, realizing she’d made Vivi uncomfortable, said, “Perhaps I’ll have them make me Earth clothing as well. You look quite comfortable in them.”
Vivian smiled, “They are very comfortable. My favorite way to dress.”
Zha Quin stepped forward, taking the cloak from his own shoulders, he swung it around Vivian’s, using the gold clasp to tighten it to be sure it wouldn’t fall from her shoulders. On him, it fell to his knees — on her, it touched the floor. He stood back looking at her. “No,” he said, shaking his head, “it hides too much of your beauty.” He stood back, looking at her, searching for a remedy. He wanted her to wear it, but didn’t want her completely hidden.
“How about this?” Vivian asked. She threw the sides of the cloak back across her shoulders, allowing it to flow behind her.
“Yes! Much better. But we’ll get you a smaller one as well.” Then, “Shall we go? They await us on the Command Deck first. Then each of the remaining decks will wait for their inspection as well,” Quin said.
Quin led the way, his Ehlealah at his side, his mother, Sovereigna of Cruestace, bringing up the rear. Kitty meandering among them all, all of them surrounded by all five of Vivian’s guard and double that number of Eula’s guard. And Eula’s guard were huge, completely silent, dangerous looking males. Vivian didn’t like being surrounded by them — at all. She knew the members of her own guard and their names. She was comfortable with them. But the royal guard that accompanied Eula was another thing altogether. She stepped closer to Quin, “I don’t like this,” she whispered.
Quin looked down at her, then around at the males surrounding them as they walked. “You are safe, Vivi.”
“I didn't say I wasn’t. I said I didn’t like it!” she snapped at him.
Quin called Kitty, who sashayed to his side from Vivian's right away. Quin leaned over and unclasped the chain from Kitty’s neck, pulled it free and handed it to Vivian.
Vivian smiled hugely, “Yes!” she whisper screamed. She wrapped it around her hand, holding the end in her palm, then wound it all the way up her forearm, ending just above her elbow where she then tossed the end over her shoulder.
Quin took her other hand in his and started walking as he said, “Vor, bring your team in closer to Vivi.”
Vor and his men pulled in closer so that they, in effect, separated Vivian from Eula’s guard. Vivian still wasn’t completely at ease, but she did feel a bit of relief. She sighed and kissed Quin’s hand in thanks.
“I promise I won’t hit anyone that doesn’t deserve it,” she said, looking up happily into Quin’s eyes.
Quin looked over his shoulder at the sound of his mother chuckling.
“What?” he asked.
“Vivian will be a great ruler one day,” she said smiling.
“We will both be,” Quin answered.
“Yes, as long as she allows you to help,” his mother teased good naturedly.
“We will rule together,” Zha Quin insisted.
“Of course, you will. Just as your father and I do.”
Quin did not pick up on the innuendo that Eula ruled and allowed Quin's father to think he did as well, but Vivian did, and peeked back at Eula who shot her a secret wink.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Vivian lay in bed, looking up at the ceiling. She was exhausted. She’d spent the last three days being measured, choosing different dress designs, receiving instruction on proper protocol, and basically being taught to do the right thing at the right time to be able to support Quin as a proper Sirena would. She now had a closet full of formal dress for any occasion that may arise. All the clothiers, jewelers, instructors, historians — everyone Eula had brought aboard to give her a crash course in royal behavior had finally left. Apparently, it hadn’t taken very long at all for rumors of the Warriors’ Sirena to circulate through their population. Those rumors included a battle-born female who roamed the corridors of Command Warship 1 with her dagger in one hand, a battle chain draped from her shoulders and a shraler at her heels. She was becoming legend, and, thankfully, that was a good thing, which meant she was given more protocol leeway than most would have received. For the most part, Eula and her staff had decided to just leave her alone with the exception of formal events. For those she was as prepared as she could be. But for now, she was thankfully alone. She had one more lunch to get through; then, she’d be able to relax and just be herself, spend a little alone time with Quin. In truth she didn’t mind this last lunch as much as she had minded the last few days. It would be just herself and Eula. Quin had been called away early that morning, before they woke even, to attend some occurrence that only he could handle, so it would be only she and Eula. She really liked her mother-in-law, and it seemed her mother-in-law really liked her as well.
Vivian yawned, stretching. She had to get up and get over to the commissary, or she’d be late. She rose, dressed in her favored blue jeans, of which she now had half a dozen pairs since Eula had made her clothiers make her several more pairs, and armed herself as was now her habit. She put her chain on a completely unconcerned Kitty and clasped it with one of Quin’s cloak clasps.
She hesitated, but ended up wearing the necklace that Eula had given her. She didn’t take off her St. Christopher's medal — never would — she just wore the emerald necklace over it. She stood back and regarded her appearance. She smiled, happy with the effect. Except she still didn’t have any boots. She wanted warrior’s boots. She’d asked Eula, but Eula had said they were issued by their military uniform providers, not the royal clothiers, so while she could get some, it wouldn’t be right away because they’d have to be specially ordered.
Vivian stepped into the hallway and shouted, “Hey! I’m going to meet Mom in the cafeteria. You coming?”
Asl and Zahn stepped into view, with Asl answering, “Yes, Sirena, we are. And it is a commissary.”
“Cafeteria,” Vivian answered.
They walked to the lift and when the doors opened for them to board, Vor, Rel and Kail stood inside, waiting for them. Vivian stepped directly onto the lift, Kitty along with her, “Hi, dudes. Riding the elevators today?”
Vor chuckled, “No, we are manning the lifts in the event you decide to slip away again. It would not look good for you to slip away from us with our Sovereigna present on board.”
Vivian looked up at Vor, then met each of their eyes, “Oh, guys, I wouldn’t do that to you. I don’t want to embarrass you. And honestly, I already told her that if you hadn’t all assumed that I was just like your own women, I’d never have been able to get away from you.”
“You told her that?” Kail asked.
“I did. I realize I caused you embarrassment when I did that. I won’t do it again. I’m truly sorry.”
“Thank you, Sirena. Though it would be much more difficult to escape us now that we know how wily you are.”
Vivian nodded and smiled. Honestly, she had no doubt she could escape them whenever she wished, she just wouldn’t do it again unless she actually needed to. First, they were there for her safety and without them, she was not as safe as she was with them. Second, they were each excellent warriors, well-trained and more than capable. But because she was a female and a small one at that, they each, every one of them underestimated her, which always gave her the upper hand — well, except for Zahn. He saw her for what she wa
s, a capable and self-sufficient female, and for that she gave him a little more respect than the others — though she’d come to respect and love each of them. They were not just her guard, they were her new family. They’d sworn to protect her with their very lives, and she would not cause them any unneeded difficulties.
“Besides, if I want to be alone, I’ll just tell you all to go away,” she finished on a smile.
“Exactly,” Vor answered. “Wait, what? You cannot just tell us to go away.”
“Sure I can. I just don’t. Because I rather like walking around with my own personal living weapons.”
They all snickered and laughed at her, but as the doors opened for them to step out onto the recreation deck they each schooled their features into that of their partially emerged Psi’s. Vivian had figured out that was why Eula’s guard looked so large and dangerous — they maintained their partial Psi’s while on duty. And now it seemed so did her own guard.
Vivian and Kitty obediently walked in their center down the corridor and into the commissary. The moment she entered the large dining room she started receiving greetings and smiles, each of which she did her best to return. She saw Eula sitting across the room, speaking with several of the crew while her guard stood at attention around her table. She looked up and saw Vivian enter, stood and waved at her across the room, “Daughter! I am here!”
Vivian snickered, “Like I’d miss the big scary dudes surrounding you,” she mumbled quietly, causing her own guard to struggle to keep from grinning, then, she called back, “I’ll be right over!”
Vivian went through the food serving line, picking a few of her favorites, ‘paste’ among them, and beaming with pleasure when Cook appeared from the back to offer her a platter of fresh, still steaming bread rounds. “Ohhh, you are at this very moment my favorite person!” she said to Cook, grinning at him. “Thank you so much! I love these things.”
Haven 1: Ascend Page 27
