by Vi Voxley
"Absolutely not," she said. "I think you're right where you need to be. I just wanted to hear you say that."
The kiss they shared was the sweetest one yet for her, knowing that they were on the same page. Cora was never going to say it out loud for the sake of Brocke's warrior pride, but she was relieved. The life of the chieftain brought a lot of challenges and one day there was bound to be someone younger and stronger.
Cora knew Brocke would have never shrunk back from a challenge, but for her own sake she was happy that the position didn't hold any appeal to the guardian.
Hearing footsteps ripped them out of their private moment. Cora turned in Brocke's arms and came face to face with the ruler of the realm, a man who was more than happy to welcome any challenge.
4
Cora
It occurred to Cora that Brocke was almost the spitting image of his father.
Only somehow it didn't result in the obvious similarity. Nadar Brenger was tall and powerful like Brocke, perhaps even more sturdy than his son. The same bright blue eyes burned with inner fire and there was a familiar grin on the chieftain's lips, telling Cora exactly where Brocke had gotten that particular trait from.
Nadar Brenger's armor was dark like his hair and layered, made of material so black it seemed to swallow light. The twin blades of all Corgan warriors were strapped to his back. The chieftain exuded the same easy confidence and authority that Brocke did, but in him it was more purposeful. Cora felt her knees buckle a little, like her body wanted to curtsy.
The woman by the chieftain's side had to be Mara James then. Cora had heard they were almost never apart, except when the chieftain went to war.
Cora wasn't entirely sure why, but she instantly liked Mara. To begin with, she was a Terran like Cora herself and that was comforting. Besides, Mara was smiling at her encouragingly.
She had deep hazel eyes like Cora, but Mara's short hair was dark to match her husband's. For some reason, Mara James gave off the impression of being one of those effortlessly happy people that Cora didn't meet much in her line of work.
She had small lines around her eyes, showing her age, but she stood tall and proud as if the years of challenges that she and her husband had met had not weighed her down at all.
I can only hope I look as good as she does after decades of living side by side with a Corgan warrior.
The silence stretched as the couples sized each other up.
"The Citadel welcomes you back," Brocke said at last.
Cora noticed his deep voice had gained the tone of reporting. He was standing straight too, on guard next to her.
"It's good to be home," Mara James said cheerfully, looking straight at her. "I am so glad to finally meet you, Cora. Nadar has told me all about you."
"All good, I hope," Cora replied, not sure what to say.
Brocke had mentioned that his parents approved of her too, but she still wasn't sure exactly what they'd heard. She had never met them. What were they basing their opinion on?
"Absolutely," Nadar Brenger cut in.
The chieftain's voice was as deep as Brocke's, commanding and forceful. Cora got the feeling he didn't need to raise his voice often. The room just quieted around him, ready to listen to him.
She found herself under the chieftain's razor-sharp scrutiny.
"Brocke told us everything," Nadar Brenger went on. "I must say I'm impressed. Condor was one of the most dangerous men to be born into our realm. It is so easy to fight enemies who are coarse and crude, but intelligence... that is harder to counter. Brocke did well, but we hear you helped."
"He was able to use my program to track Condor and his accomplices, yes," Cora heard herself replying, "but I feel like I was more of a distraction than any particular help."
By her side, Cora could hear Brocke begin to say something, but the chieftain simply raised his hand and his son stayed silent. Mara James was still smiling, but now there was a silent wisdom in it, a sense of knowing, and maybe a hint of bemusement.
"That is not true," Nadar Brenger said. "I know what happened and I can safely say you were nothing of the sort."
"I got kidnapped," Cora argued, fully aware she wasn't getting off to the great start she'd wanted, but she just couldn't bear the thought of letting Brocke's parents praise her for nothing.
She didn't want any pity.
"You happened to be caught," the chieftain corrected in a tone that brooked no argument. "Even warriors can be ambushed. It only means the enemy thought you were important enough to risk their lives for. Because they knew taking you would bring Brocke to them."
"That's what I meant," Cora said. "Without me, Brocke might have..."
The guardian winced by her side. She halted in the middle of her sentence.
The chieftain's bright blue eyes looked right into her soul as she met his gaze, at least that was how it seemed. Only instead of an angry frown at being argued with, there was a small smile on the chieftain's lips.
"I'll stop you right there," Nadar Brenger said. "There is no Brocke without you anymore and whatever happened or will ever happen, it is for the best. I can speak safely for my son, because we are Corgans. There is nothing he would change, what any of us would change, if it meant in the end he had you and you had him."
That was so profound it thoroughly shut Cora up.
"I didn't think about it like that," she admitted quietly.
"I thought the same, you know," Mara James said and Cora's eyes fell upon her kind face. "Back when me and Nadar met. I know what you feel. I wanted to fight so badly. I could too, a little.
“I was a trained pilot and you are an officer of the Militant, but we are not warriors. The only important thing here is that you never left him, never stopped fighting. And your program was what finally caught Condor, even if it was Brocke who killed that monster."
Cora nodded wordlessly, infinitely grateful at being understood.
She hadn't dared to tell Brocke that, afraid that the guardian might laugh even at the implication that she would have liked to fight side by side with him. Only at that moment, Brocke was looking at her with such loving eyes it took her breath away, thinking she'd been a fool.
Corgans didn't love like Terrans, but Cora supposed she could learn their ways.
She pulled herself together. It was pointless to feel bad when she was actually utterly happy for the first time in her life and it had everything to do with Brocke.
"I'm glad I could do my part," she said. "To help Brocke and the realm."
"And we are grateful for it," the chieftain said. "Would you be willing to do more?"
The question was unexpected, but Cora didn't hesitate even for a second.
"Of course, Chieftain," she said. "What do you need from me?"
"Your program," Nadar Brenger said, to her continued surprise. "I would like you to create something for me."
"If it can be done, it's yours," she replied, more excited with every second to have a purpose again.
And here I was, afraid I'd have to pick up knitting or something.
"Could it be reversed?" the chieftain asked. "Could you rewrite it to come up with training solutions and situations for my warriors?"
Cora could feel her mind start to spin and as a result, wasn't able to keep the anxious smile on her lips.
"You mean create basic event simulations that need to be solved? Yeah, I think I can. I always planned for the program to have that option. Entering a scenario and seeing whether it played out the same as expected instead of trying to backtrack, which is what it's doing now."
"Excellent," Nadar Brenger said. "The Citadel is at your command, if you need anything. Feel free to share the results with your own people as well. I believe the Militant could also use a training program like that."
That promise was humbling, to say the least.
Corgans were generally very touchy about a stranger playing around with their things, Cora knew that better than anyone. More than once, her investigations ha
d been hindered by the suspicions of the locals.
To have the chieftain himself now offer her the chance of a lifetime to make real change was amazing. The fact that Nadar Brenger didn't want it only for his own warriors was nothing short of a miracle.
Cora saw Mara James smiling, wondering how much she had to do with that decision. Brocke's mother had been the main link between the Galactic Union and the Corgans for many years, certainly. Mara's influence over her warlord husband was undeniable, even if they didn't always agree on everything.
"One more thing," Nadar Brenger said, his deep blue eyes drifting to his son then. "We heard a part of your conversation. It was very... illuminating. I thought the guardian of Gomor would have a different approach. I didn't know you agreed with me on that matter, Brocke."
"Neither did I," Brocke replied with a grin. "You taught me to make up my own mind, regardless of what anyone else says, including you."
The chieftain snorted.
"A true Corgan," he said approvingly, "but you most definitely get that snark from your mother. When you become a father, you'll learn to appreciate these things. Now, you said that a competition between us shouldn't happen?"
Cora saw Brocke cocking his head to the side, the ravenous flame of battle flaring up. She could feel him tensing up a little.
"I said that it didn't need to," the guardian corrected. "Personally, I could live without knowing."
"Could you?" Nadar Brenger asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Perhaps. Would you back down from a friendly test?"
"Never," Brocke said at once.
It seemed to Cora they both grew taller in a matter of seconds, fiercer somehow. She was almost certain she saw Mara James rolling her eyes.
"Has your bride been to the shrine?" Mara cut in before the warlords could say anything more.
"No," Brocke said.
"I would love to," Cora added. "It's honestly a little weird I never went there. I've lived on Gaiya for long enough, but I guess I never really had any reason before. Or someone to go with."
"Then it's decided," Mara James said, already leading Cora to the landing bay, taking her arm. "The boys can have their challenge there. The shrine is a perfect place for that."
"You call the chieftain a boy," Cora said quietly as they walked away from the warriors, who followed them after a moment.
"He's mine," Mara James said, smiling to her widely. "I fought hard for him, as you did for my son. I think it earns me the right to call him whatever I want and to tell Nadar when he's being ridiculous, like right now."
Wow.
"You are not at all what I imagined," Cora admitted.
"Nothing on Gaiya is," said Mara James. "I think that's the charm of this place. Now come, I've been dying for a Terran to speak to. You wouldn't believe what Corgans think small talk is."
"I'm guessing some lower form of artillery."
Mara James laughed, her voice echoing in the hall they were leaving behind.
"You're funny," she said, squeezing Cora's hand. "And the answer is yes, that's exactly what they think it is."
5
Brocke
The day was turning out to be better than he could have ever imagined.
Two amazing things were happening at once and Brocke wasn't entirely sure which one he liked more. He was going to visit the holy shrine with Cora, something he'd wanted to do from the moment they met, and he'd been challenged by the chieftain, which Brocke had firmly thought would never happen.
Cora. Of course. Cora is more important, always will be.
Knowing that, Brocke still couldn't deny the challenge was exciting. He knew the chieftain had something planned for him, a way to take him down a notch like fathers and warlords everywhere.
Only it had been years since Brocke had last faced his father and he'd grown much stronger in the meanwhile, while the passing years had to be making a mark on Nadar Brenger as well. Even if he wasn’t showing it. The chance to show the chieftain what he could do was exhilarating.
Yet Cora had a way of making everything else pale in comparison to her.
The holy shrine lay on the coast of the great ocean, the pearl of Gaiya. The world wasn't only significant because of the Citadel, but mostly the shrine. Gaiya was holy to the Corgans, all of it, but everything was focused on the shrine. It was customary to travel the long stone walkway at least once in a person's life or when faced with an extremely important decision.
Many Corgans claimed to have seen visions or messages in the shrine. Brocke had taken that for superstitious rubbish until Nadar Brenger had added his voice to the choir.
The chieftain had told him of the time when he took Mara to the walkway. It had been the moment when he'd been filled with absolute confidence that she was the one for him, not that the chieftain ever doubted that.
Brocke wanted that, that certainty that it wasn’t just his senses telling him everything was as it was supposed to be, but the spirits as well.
He wasn't entirely sure what it was that he was expecting, but the shrine worked in mysterious ways. Epiphanies were as common as visions. It was hard to say where wishful thinking ended and the spirits of the shrine began, but ultimately it barely mattered.
The shrine gifted people with confidence and there was no magic higher than that.
The day was gorgeous around them as the fighter landed, but even that light faded to the background when Brocke looked at Cora.
Her red hair looked like flames in the morning sun, ruffled by a slight ocean breeze. Like his mother, Brocke noticed that Cora immediately removed her shoes. Both women stepped onto the shore barefoot, clearly enjoying the sensation of warm sand underneath their feet.
He couldn't take his eyes off Cora. The delicious body caused his cock to stir, making him ache for her. But there was more. It wasn't simply lust he was feeling. What he felt towards Cora was far beyond simple desire.
The little Terran had become the center of his world. In fact, she'd become absolutely essential to Brocke, like she was a part of him.
"It's as gorgeous as they said," Cora called, running to him over the sand. "I can't believe I never came here before."
"Maybe this is exactly the right time," Brocke said, catching her in his arms. "I have been here many times before, but with you, it seems like I've never truly seen it."
Cora's beautiful eyes shined up at him as she smiled, a light blush covering her cheeks. It might have been the running that did that, but Brocke doubted that.
"You're actually going to fight the chieftain, aren't you?" Cora asked as they ascended the stairs and stepped on the walkway.
"Yes," Brocke confirmed, "but knowing him, it won't be the kind of fight you're expecting."
"Corgans," Cora said again.
Walking a few feet ahead of them with the chieftain, Mara James turned around, grinning ear to ear.
"That's what I always say. Corgans are impossible."
"But also irresistible in their own way," Cora pointed out.
"Can't argue with that," Mara agreed, wrapping her hand around the chieftain's arm.
They fell silent for a long minute then. The golden rays of daylight fell upon the walkway, creeping in between pillars that supported the roof of the shrine. The entire sea-facing side was open, letting the waves crash against the shrine, sometimes bathing the walkway with ocean water.
The stones were very warm while the ocean was lukewarm at best. A slight mist rose above the path, giving the feeling of walking through a golden fog.
Looking at Cora, Brocke finally understood what the chieftain had meant. Cora's eyes were wide with wonderment, so removed from the pain and tiredness of the dark days they'd been through. Her hand in his was soft and smooth and perfect, like she fit against him in every possible way.
There was no doubt in Brocke's heart that fate had brought Cora to him and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure he was worthy of that gift.
The fog was misting around them. For a seco
nd Brocke thought he saw a boy walking by Cora's side. With blue eyes like his and a smile like Cora's. The guardian couldn't tear his eyes away, but as soon as he blinked the vision was gone.
"I think we will have a son," he told Cora quietly.
She looked at him, hazel eyes wide. Instinctively, Cora's hand covered her belly and a wide smile appeared on her lips.
"Really?" she asked. "Did you see him?"
"The shrine plays tricks with people, but I think I did, yes," Brocke replied, barely able to conceal and control his joy. "He will be a great warrior."
Cora nodded.
"Of course he will be. He has a great lineage for that. And you will teach him to fight."
Brocke pulled Cora into his arms and kissed her. She moaned in surprise against his lips, digging her fingers into his messy dark hair.
"I wasn't sure if you wanted a son," Brocke admitted when they pulled away at last, her sweet taste lingering in his mouth. "I know what Terrans think of our culture."
Cora gave him a serious look, but she still couldn't fight down the smile on her face. She hadn't taken her hand from her belly yet and Brocke added his, the two of them standing there, ready to protect their child from everything, now and in the future.
"Terrans don't know anything about Corgans, take it from me," Cora said. "But I am so happy we'll have a son. A warrior wouldn't be my first choice of profession, but he won't be me. And with a father like you, he will be great."
That earned Cora another passionate kiss. Brocke could feel his cock pressing painfully against his armor, needing to thrust himself into Cora again. For Brocke, it was impossible to be around her and not want her, especially when she was giving him everything he'd ever wanted.
They walked on hand in hand, catching up to the chieftain and Mara, who had politely gone on without them. Cora got the feeling that the way she and Brocke were behaving was nothing surprising to the chieftain and his wife.
By the time they got to the other end, Cora was practically glowing. In times before Nadar Brenger had become the chieftain, Corgans had believed that the holy world was only meant for them, but that turned out not to be true. Just seeing Cora like that, utterly happy just because she was with him was proof enough for Brocke.
