The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2)

by Craig Gerttula

  Only a few meters from where they landed, flowed an enormous underground river, so wide that he couldn't make out the far side. They were on a small outcropping, a meter or so above the running water, a constant mist rising from where it rolled around one side. If they would have slid only a few more meters, it would have been all over.

  “Are you all right!” he shouted over the roaring water.

  “Yes!” Vickie’s shouted response was like a whisper. He stood, helping Vickie to her feet, and they shuffled back towards the hole in the side of the rock wall where they emerged. The roaring faded substantially the farther they moved from the rushing water, off the narrow outcropping.

  “Sir Georigi! Are you alright!” the loud voice of one of his guards broke through his combat PDU.

  “Yes, we are uninjured. Can you send a rope down?” They were prepared for this eventuality.

  “Sorry, sir. But there was a collapse behind you. We need to bring in excavation equipment. It may take a few hours before we can reach you.”

  He clenched his jaw. “Thank you, we shall make do and wait for your rescue,” an affirmative was returned and Georigi assisted Vickie to spot near the back wall, taking a seat on the opposite.

  “They said it could be a few hours,” he told her without emotion. This is the worst possible scenario, his mind cried, being stuck, alone, with Lady Vickie.

  “Is that so...” her words trailed off and Georigi was grateful that was all she had to say. “What exactly do you find so repulsive about me, Sir Georigi?” Her unexpectedly straight forward question caught him off guard.

  “I do not find you repulsive, Lady Vickie, just your behavior,” he answered, happy he thought of an appropriate response, he not being the best with sudden questions.

  “I see...and which behavior would that be?”

  She just had to push the question. “Your dallying, Lady Vickie, with your maid and who knows what other men and women. It is very unlady-like and any honorable noble would be ashamed and disgusted by such behavior,” he switched off his dark vision, deciding against seeing her expression at his words.

  “That is odd, Sir Georigi, since my mother always told me it was a noble ladies duty to experience the pleasures of the flesh before one is married. To provide she is properly prepared to satisfy her lover or husband,” Vickie's sensual tone made him feel uneasy, but her words were strange.

  “You must not be serious, Lady Vickie! My mother taught my sisters and I that protecting ones honor and presenting that to your beloved was the greatest gift!” He remembered his mother's words like she had told him yesterday, then felt angry at himself for giving his gift to Lady Vickie.

  “I guess we come from different stock, Sir Georigi. It is a shame, since I have been saving myself for you, except for the time with Til'Ma...of course,” she said, though Georigi knew she must have been lying, she couldn't care less about him.

  “If your words hold true, Lady Vickie, why were you making eyes at every man who entered your presence? And wearing clothing of such a revealing nature that you just as well could have been naked?” Why am I screaming? The thought occurred to him. But he couldn't stop himself.

  “Think about it, Sir Georigi! I am a woman of needs and you ignored all my advances. I tried to make you jealous, but instead you think me a whore! I'm sorry your noble honor means more to you then a woman who you claimed to love!” Vickie started crying, it was obvious by her tone. It made no sense. She was just using her feminine wiles to confuse and trick him with her words. His mother had told him of this and he had listened. This type of woman would destroy him. But he found himself moving across the cave, her sobs striking his noble heart. She pushed him away, but he persisted.

  “Get away! I don't want to be with a man who thinks I'm dirty!” she screamed.

  He forced his embrace. “I never thought you were dirty.” It was true, in a way. He thought her behavior was dirty, but never her. Her unsteady breath caressed his cheek, the smell of her sweat overpowering her lilac perfume, his thoughts suddenly becoming muddled. She kissed him then, and he kissed her back, forcefully, to show he didn't think her dirty. Passion drove him as he embraced the instinct that he had repressed since that one night in the medical clinic, so long ago.

  He awoke as a beep sounded from his combat PDU. Carefully, he untangled himself from the sleeping Vickie, moving a few meters across the cave as to not disturb her.

  “This is Sir Georigi,” he whispered.

  “Sir, we have finished the excavation, we can send the rope down whenever you're ready,” the guard's voice seemed to echo through the small cave.

  “Good, send down two jumpsuits as well, the ladies and mine were torn during the fall.” It pained him to lie, tarnishing his honor, but he was unwilling to admit that he accidently threw them into the underground river in his haste.

  “Very well, sir,” the guard left the channel open, seeming to consider saying more. “And something came up while you were indisposed. A strange message arrived in regards to Alutia V5432, a petty world near Don'Alutia. It sounded serious and I think you would want to investigate as soon as possible.” His guards knew him well, and if they thought it was something that he was honor bound to investigate, then he would.

  “Very good, I already planned on leaving as soon as we were recovered.” He smiled, knowing that he might be returning to this world in due time.

  “Are they done yet? I'm getting rather hungry,” asked Vickie as she stretched.

  “Yes, it will be a few more minutes...” He found his eyes drawn to her naked form. “And Lady Vickie, if you will be my lover, I have two requests. Please wear less revealing clothing and try not to act too unladylike in the presence of others.” She smirked at his pleading words.

  “Very well...while I am your lover, I will follow your rules, but you must also follow mine...” Her smirk spread into a seductive smile. “You are mine without question to do with as I please, whenever I please. Do you understand?” She pulled him down to the smooth cave floor.

  “Yes, Lad-” Her lips stopped his response, and his thoughts. He ignored the rope and bag that appeared in the hole, and instead, indulged in the woman he found he really did love.

  Chapter 10

  Trent floated in the center of the crystal clear lake, letting its cool, green tinted water caress his sore limbs. Lia, his blue and black catillian, squeaked at his side, skiing across the water's surface with her six human-like hands as if it were frozen. He grinned, moving his own hand slowly towards the surface, splashing a handful of water at his unsuspecting catillian. But she dodged skillfully, squawking her displeasure before bounding well out-of-range.

  “Trent! Ge...” Sasha shouted from the shore, but her words were drowned by the tumbling waterfall that cascaded from a nearby cliff. He smiled, waving in her direction.

  They had just finished yet another round of their “leisure activities” to help pass the time of their isolation, when a sudden urge took him; why not swim? It seemed to Trent that having such a beautiful lake unused was unacceptable. But what fun was it to swim alone? He'd thought, deciding to whisk Sasha into the lake with him, diving under the water's surface with her locked in his arms. But she'd wiggled free of his grasp, exiting the lake with all haste, her smoldering gaze showing her fury. Thinking it another game, he swam to the lakes center, trying to goad her into chasing.

  “The water is refreshing...come join me, my love!” he bellowed while swimming away from the waterfall.

  “Trent! Get back here! Now!” Sasha's shout sent a shiver through his spine. Why do I love her so, even when her words are so full of displeasure?

  “Of course. But why won't you join me?” he shouted back, angling his body towards the shore, allowing the gentle current to start carrying him towards his love.

  “Because it's dangerous!” Sasha screamed. He sighed as he picked up the pace, wondering if Sasha's concern was born from being unable to swim. If she'd just ask, I'd be more than happy to teac
h her, he thought with delight.

  When he reached the lake's edge, he climbed up the grassy shore, pausing to allow Lia to hop onto his arm, then shoulder, landing within his curly locks. His gaze turned to Sasha, who strode down the shore, face of sculpted ice, staring daggers into his heart. For a moment, he wavered, she obviously angry about his behavior. But his eyes wandered and the beauty of the sight of her unclad being threatened to again, overwhelm his rational mind.

  Sasha stood like a goddess. Her hands on her hips, still glistening as the water and sweat intermingled on her exposed skin. It took all his willpower to control his rising lust. But he couldn't help but move closer, wanting to bask in the presence that was his wife. As he approached, tears appeared at the corner of her emerald eyes, her bottom lip quivering, and her hands balled in fists. The passion of moments before vanished and anxiety took its place.

  He quickly rushed the last few steps to her side. “Sasha, I’m sorry,” he apologized, “what’s wrong?” then continued, confused at why she would be so angry.

  “Why would you do that? You know how dangerous that is!” He froze. Is she really that petrified of swimming?

  “I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking it could be dangerous,” he responded honestly as he hugged her close, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

  “On Planet Tidelia, the underground oceans are inhabited by dangerous predators. So you never enter any pool of naturally occurring water,” she scolded as she struck his chest. He winced as the punch rippled through his still healing shoulder.

  “I didn't know, I'm sorry...” his voice trailed off.

  What were thinking, Trent? He asked himself, realizing he'd just nonchalantly dove into a naturally occurring body of water on an alien planet. What if there had been a dangerous creature? I could have been injured, or worse, killed. His thoughts turned dark, leading to the place of gloom that still permeated deep within his soul, having never been fully left behind. He tried to suppress the negative emotions released, bury them back in their dark prison. But it was too late. He knew the thoughts were true, the last of his resistance fading.

  “You understand...right?” Sasha's voice cracked, tears flowing freely down her puffy cheeks. “I don't want to lose you...ever!” she pushed her forehead to his, her fear mixed with love overflowing from their bond, making him feel even worse.

  “Yes, I understand,” he answered. “Why am I so stupid?” he mumbled under his breath, wincing as he felt a sharp pain shoot up his forearm as Sasha pinched him.

  “Trent! It was an honest mistake, nothing more,” she told, trying to hold his gaze, but it was already too late.

  “I'm feeling a little sleepy...think I'll lay down for a bit,” he said without emotion, releasing her, his arms falling limp at his sides. With head hung low, he started down the path towards their cottage. Why am I like this? He wondered, unable to comprehend how something so minor, made him feel so bad. He loved Sasha so, but he knew he would continue to hurt her, he was a broken man and that's what broken people did.

  Arms wrapped around him from behind, keeping him from moving forward. He felt the warmth of Sasha's body pressing up against his -back as he stumbled into a spongy purple bush with no leaves.

  “Tell me what you're thinking,” Sasha whispered, her voice no longer full of the sadness of moments before. He found himself trembling. He was scared.

  “That no matter how much I love you, I can't avoid hurting you or worrying you, since I'm broken...” Tears started creeping into his eyes, but he held them back.

  “You didn't hurt me, Trent. You just scared me, which you do every time you release my hand. Look at me!” She forced him to face her, to stare into her emerald green eyes, still red from earlier tears. Her expression softened, then tensed, becoming serious, making him feel calm, at ease. “You are not broken. I love you and there is no way I would love a broken man. You are a great man, the greatest in the universe and I love you. I love you so much that I would destroy anyone if it was to save you,” Sasha declared, her raging emotions flowing through their bond and Trent found himself drowning within.

  It is true, she loves me so. He forced himself to recover, to repress his harmful thoughts, his dark emotions, and answered her confession.

  “I'm sorry, my love...yet...yet again I let my despair get the best of me. But I have you...you the woman I love more than words can express. My Sasha, my beautiful Sasha,” he lost himself, the torrent of emotions being too powerful for his fragile psyche to handle. They sunk to the ground, letting the spongy bush catch them as they embraced, allowing him, for a time, to forget the sorrows that seemed to forever penetrate his being.

  “Will you always be with me, my duke?” her question, a whisper, but it caused him to stir.

  “Of course, my love, you are part of me and for us to be separated would be my death,” he answered truthfully. She stood, leading him down a narrow trail and into a small clearing, pushing through the tall growth of single leafed bushes, then a meadow of knee-high, transparent grass. They came across a small pond lined with smooth, red stones. Trent noticed that it was manmade, the water being clear blue, and the bottom easily seen. Sasha stepped carefully into its edge, small ripples born of her touch spreading across its sparkling surface. She turned and drew him in with her, as if begging to be kissed. So he leaned forward, ready to oblige her seduction, when she smiled deviously and fell backwards, dragging him into the pond with a splash. Terra and Lia squawked in anger, hopping back to shore as Trent broke the surface, pulling the squirming Sasha close.

  “I caught myself a sexy fish,” she giggled, snuggling further into his embrace, covering his lips with her own. Time stood still as he allowed himself to drown in their now, intermingling emotions.

  They lay floating in the shallow pond, starring up at the starry sky, a flock of aluvian, the flat, bird-like creatures they witnessed when they first arrived on Alutia'Earth, circling high overhead.

  “That was a...new experience...” Sasha said, her words broken as she tried to catch her breath.

  He smiled. “I agree...why didn't you tell me about this place sooner?” he asked.

  A wry smile crossed Sasha’s lips. He splashed her playfully. “I'm sorry, my duke. To be honest, I forgot...we have been rather preoccupied these last 30 days, have we not?” He ran his hand over her glistening skin as she spoke and the memories of their time of isolation returned.

  After the bonding had completed successfully, they'd decided to continue to forgo the use of their clothing for the remainder of their stay. He'd thought it a fantastic idea at the time, but found his appetite for Sasha to be insatiable. So as the days blurred together and they lost themselves in each other's love, their exhaustion, or at least his, started to weigh heavy on the mind. But when he raised the issue to Sasha, it did little to lower her own desire, seeming to ignite it further, she barely providing him more than a few hours to recover between “exercises”.

  “Weren't we supposed to do something while we were here?” he asked, the unexpected question taking Sasha by surprise. She raised a hand towards the distant sky, showing the mark of the Emperor and Empress Star they shared.

  “Yes, to become one in body and mind. The elevation ceremony was meant to confirm we could accept each other by revealing the darkness that lay hidden within. The 45 days of isolation is a time when the two are supposed to become one in body and mind...which I think we've already done, my duke,” she explained, her voice turning sultry as she finished. With a grin he started scattering kisses over every inch of her flesh, glistening in the orange tinted moonlight, she only giggling in response. He relented after a few moments, looking deep into her emerald eyes that reflected the distant starlight.

  “I have questions. I've held them back...since I'm scared of your answers....” he admitted, deciding now was a good time to voice those he’d held locked away. Her look became inquisitive as she let her feet touch the pond's stone bottom.

  “Do you think me a bad person?” Sasha
asked, a hint of playfulness in her tone, seeming to have predicted his line of questioning.

  “No, of course not......but,” he paused, thinking how he could word his question without hurting his love.

  “But?” She forced his hand, pushing her face close, her nose touching his as she looked deep into his eyes.

  “Good people may be taught bad things as if they were good,” he sighed. “I'm sorry, it's hard to explain,” he tried to look away, but her hands were on his cheeks, holding his gaze.

  “I understand. You think I may have been taught something is acceptable that you find objectionable?” Trent nodded, relieved she didn't seem angry.

  “Let us remove ourselves...having to look at you in this water will be too distracting,” she purred as she ran a hand over his chest, then started climbing the shallow bank. Trent followed, grabbing her outstretched hand.

  They pushed their way back towards the path. Sasha squeaked, accidently stepping on an animal whose transparent body made it difficult to see in the partial darkness. It scurried away, more scared of them then they of it. Trent tried to hide a snicker. An elbow struck his stomach lightly, letting him know he'd been caught, before they continued on, locating one of the many biological beds scattered throughout their private garden. Sasha removed two thin blankets from a hidden compartment grown into the bed’s side, wrapping one around herself, then the other around Trent.

  “You are too distracting, my duke,” she explained. He smiled, kissing her again as she stretched out across the bed, before lying down at her side.

  “As are you, my love,” he responded, then paused, not sure where to begin.