Two days later Keela was sitting in the garden with Moreena and Solima when the king rushed up excitedly. His eyes were bright and a huge grin was spread across his face.
“Mortociar, what are you so excited about?” asked the queen in amazement.
“I have news,” declared the king, beaming. “Good news.”
“Are the Verkuzzi extinct?” asked Moreena, teasing.
“Who are the Verkuzzi?” asked Keela.
“Oh, they’re people who live on the other side of the Jade Mountains. They’re our enemies. They’re murderers and criminals. For a while they’ve been relatively quiet, but from time to time they attack villagers who live too close to the border and they kill everyone except the women. They carry them off. We’ve been at war with these barbarians for centuries.”
“Oh, I hope that’s a long way from here?”
“Yes, my love. You have no need to be afraid. The Verkuzzi have no gliders and without one it takes weeks to get from here to the Jade Mountains,” explained Mortociar.
“So, please tell us what news you have,” the queen brought the subject back to the actual reason for the king coming to them.
“The Cordelia is in our orbit. The two women will be here shortly.”
“Hurray!” Solima rejoiced.
“That is good news, my love,” cried Moreena in delight. “I’m so looking forward to this. Has someone told Berka? He absolutely must come with Amber.”
“They’re already on their way,” declared Mortociar happily.
“Keela!” a joyful cry was heard and everyone turned round.
Amber came running up to them and a grinning Berka trotted on behind her. Keela got up from her chair and embraced her friend. They were laughing and sobbing at the same time.
Berka slapped his father on the back and kissed his mother on the head. Then he looked at Amber and a warm smile lit up his face. Amber returned his smile and blushed slightly, as she realised the way Keela was looking back and forth from her to Berka.
Moreena had clearly also realised that something must have happened between Amber and her son since they left the palace, because she was looking at them both very closely and a knowing smile spread across her face. She was clearly happy with what she saw.
“Excuse me a minute,” said Amber, blushing. “I need to go to the little girls’ room. The excitement.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Keela hastily. “The tea’s started working on me.”
“You go, girls. But come back quickly. Your friends will arrive soon,” said Moreena.
Berka reached out to Amber before she could get away and pulled her into his arms. They looked deeply into one another’s eyes and Berka kissed her gently before letting her go. Against her will Keela had to admit that she was envious of these two, who had obviously found happiness together.
They went into Berka’s chambers and Keela waited on the couch for Amber to come back from the bathroom. It seemed to Keela that her friend was actually glowing with happiness. At first she had put it down to Amber being pleased that they had met up again, but now that she had been witness to the tender feelings between Berka and Amber she knew the probable cause.
“Am I right in presuming that you’re now no longer resisting Berka’s claim?” asked Keela with a smile.
Amber grinned.
“Is it so obvious? And how about you and Marruk?”
Keela blushed.
“He doesn’t want a mate and I don’t only want sex,” she said in response.
“But something has happened between you. Don’t pretend. I can see it in your face. Out with it.”
“Not very much has happened. We’ve only kissed,” Keela resisted.
“Only kissed?” Amber asked sceptically.
“Well,” said Keela, blushing. “And maybe we’ve played about a little, too. – But we haven’t slept together!”
“Has he said that he only wants sex?” asked Amber in disbelief.
“Pretty much, yes.”
“Such a … well I can’t work that out. Keep your head up. This planet has a load of attractive single men on offer. This is a Paradise for girls. If the girls at home knew about his they’d rush here across the planets like locusts.”
Keela giggled and Amber joined in with her laughter.
“Can you wait for me a minute? I want to put something else on. I spilt my drink on the way here,” said Amber, pointing at the stain on her skirt.
“Sure!”
Amber opened one of the trunks next to the bed, and after rummaging around for a long time she pulled out a green dress. Keela watched as Amber pulled her travelling dress up over her head and she held her breath in shock. She could see bite marks on Amber’s right shoulder and on her neck.
Keela got up and went up to Amber.
“Amber? What’s that?” she asked, concerned.
“What’s what? Oh, that. Nothing any more. I was just playing with one of those cheetahs. It was completely harmless. It doesn’t hurt at all any more.”
“You played with a cheetah? Amber, tell me the truth.”
“That is the truth,” Amber insisted, but she did not look Keela in the eye.
“Just tell me one thing. Are the men here … vampires or something? Did Berka suck your blood …?”
“Nonsense!” Amber said dismissively. “You’ve been watching too many films. Berka’s not a vampire. It was a cheetah, as I said.”
Keela wanted to respond but decided to let the subject go for now. Amber was clearly not going to tell her what had really happened. Yet it unsettled her so much that it even marred her joy about Lory and Charly. If only she really knew whether it was a good thing to have been rescued by the Carthians. What if something monstrous was hiding behind the façade of these men? On the other hand Amber seemed to be happier than ever, and the glances between her and Berka were completely tender. Was she mistaken? Had it maybe been the cheetah? - Another reason for avoiding these big cats. Compared with the earthly cheetahs these ones really were disconcertingly big. Whilst the earthly cheetahs had a shoulder height of about two and a half feet, their equivalent here must be a good four feet high. These were not cats that one could snuggle up to. She would prefer to cuddle bears or wolves. She had always had respect for big cats. The way they stalked their prey made her anxious - almost as much as Marruk made her anxious. When she thought about it, he too had something cat-like about him – except when he was avoiding her - but was that not also typical cat-like behaviour?
Oh my goodness! What strange thoughts I’m having today.
“We should get back now,” Amber interrupted her thoughts.
“Yes, let’s go,” Keela agreed, relieved.
When they got back to the others Marruk was sitting next to his mother. His eyes perused her body and her heart beat sped up. His gleaming eyes followed her until she had taken a seat next to his father opposite him. Amber sat down next to Berka and he put his arm around her shoulders straight away, whispering something into her ear that made her blush. Keela felt a wistful ache in her chest at the sight of the tenderness that Amber and Berka were exchanging.
“They’ll be here at any moment,” Mortociar informed the two women. “They contacted us five minutes ago to say that they would now be beaming down onto the planet.”
“I’m already looking forward to the garden party,” cried Solima with excitement.
“Garden party?” asked the queen in surprise.
“Yes, Keela and I have decided to give a small party when Lory and Charly are here.”
“Oh, have you?” said Mortociar, smiling.
“That’s an excellent idea,” Moreena agreed. “But we have to prepare for it first, my child. It can’t be organised soooo quickly. We could have the party in three days’ time. We should invite a few guests to it, shouldn’t we?”
“But not too many. And no diplomats,” said Solima, grimacing.
Berka laughed.
“No, little niece, I don’t feel like
diplomats either. But we should invite a few people so that it’s more fun. You need a few dance partners, too. We could invite Kolisz with his son. What do you think?” Berka winked at his niece.
“Do I have to kiss him?” asked Solima, and everyone laughed at her expression of disgust.
“No,” said Marruk with a grin. “If he were to kiss you I’d have to challenge him to a duel and that would just lead to complications. But you can dance, and when you’re both old enough he can ask me again if he may kiss you.”
“I hope I’ll never be soooo old. I think kissing is disgusting.”
Marruk pretended to look hurt.
“Does that mean that you don’t want to kiss me any more?” he teased, suppressing a chuckle.
“It’s different with you,” Solima assured him earnestly. “You don’t slobber.”
Again everyone laughed and against her will Keela had to admit that Marruk had a side to him that she would not have credited him with. She had indeed grasped at her rescue that he loved his little daughter, but she would not have thought that he could be so playful and funny. That did not go with the arrogant macho man that she saw in him.
“They’re coming!” Solima suddenly cried excitedly, jumping up from her chair and running towards the women.
They all turned round and Lory and Charly were actually walking towards them, accompanied by Kordan and Amano. Kordan was an icey, enormous man, a good half a head taller than Marruk. He wore his hair, in contrast to all the other Carthians, cut as short as a hedgehog’s and his eyes were icey-blue and unsettlingly cold. His angular face, with his wide chin and sharply chiselled nose, was attractive but without any visible sign of emotion. Keela did not doubt that he was a loyal warrior but as a man he gave her goose bumps of the negative kind. In stark contrast to him was the dark Amano. He looked like the typical Latino off the cover of one of her grandmother’s old suspense novels: long dark hair, dark brown eyes, a deep suntan and a fantastic smile that showed the dimple in his chin.
Charly was waving and laughing as she ran towards Solima. They hugged and Keela looked at Lory who looked somewhat more sullen. Kordan, who was walking beside her, was talking to her - because of the distance Keela could not understand what he was saying, but it must have been something that Lory did not agree with because she stopped and turned to Kordan, and with her finger poking his massive chest, she was talking to him heatedly. They were looking at one another angrily, then Lory turned away from him and walked on. Kordan shook his head and followed her, his expression rigid.
“It looks to me as if Kordan has finally found his match,” said Berka, laughing. “I’ve never seen a woman dare to openly argue with him.”
“Lory’s used to dealing with rogues and villains. She’s an FBI agent,” explained Keela.
“What’s an FBI agent?” asked Mortociar.
“The FBI is a special police investigation department where we come from. Those are the hard lads, umm, and girls of course, who sort out really bad people like terrorists, serial killers etc. They’re better trained than normal police.”
“You mean she’s a warrior?” asked Berka, fascinated.
“Umm, similar. I’ve seen her fight. She’s got a few mean moves. I wouldn’t mess around with her.”
“I’ll happily leave the messing around to Kordan. He’ll put his foot down with your little friend.”
“Little? Lory’s almost one meter ninety. And as far as him putting his foot down is concerned – I wouldn’t be so sure,” answered Keela.
Solima, Charly and Amano reached them at the same time as Lory and Kordan. The king got up and smiled aimiably at the two women.
“A warm welcome to you. We’re pleased that you’ve finally reached us safely. I hope you feel comfortable in our home and will be able to recover from the adventures that you’ve experienced.”
“Safely!” snapped Lory quietly, glaring at Kordan.
“Thank you for your warm welcome, Your Highness,” said Charly diplomatically. “It was extremely kind of you to send your men to rescue us.”
“Just call me Mortociar, my child. We consider you girls as part of the family. Come and sit down with us and take a little refreshment.”
“I need to make something clear here,” Lory interrupted and ignored the admonishing look from Kordan. “I have not come here willingly and I’ve already told this big oaf here that I don’t intend to share a room with him and that I’m not his possession just because I’ve been to bed with him. I don’t know how that all works here but where I come from sex alone is not a promise of marriage. I don’t expect a luxury suite or any other privileges. If I could be given a small room and if someone could help me find a way back to earth I would actually be very grateful.”
“Dear Lory – that’s your name, isn’t it?” began Moreena, and once Lory had nodded in confirmation, she continued: “I’m sorry for any bother that you’ve had to tolerate up to now. I can understand your anxiety. Please take the time to recover and consider your next move well. Of course we’re prepared to help you get home, but this can take a long time. At the moment we don’t even know where your planet is. I will instruct our astronomer to meet with you in order to solve this problem, but we can’t get involved in what’s going on between you and Kordan. As long as you’re here on Karrx7 Kordan is responsible for you and I hope that you can settle your problems and that you will perhaps stay with us after all. You’re clearly mates even if you don’t wish to recognise or accept this right now.”
“Mates? Is everyone here completely mad? I’d rather go into the forest and live there than spend the rest of my life with this… arghh, put me down, you big oaf!”
“Kordan had grabbed Lory and simply thrown her over his shoulder. Lory was struggling and thumping him wherever she could, but Kordan took no notice of it.
“Bastard! Son-of-a-bitch! Put me down…!”
“Aunt, uncle,” said Kordan curtly, as he turned to go, simply carrying off the wild Lory.
Keela watched the couple, incredulous.
“Can … can no one do anything about that, really?” she asked, distraught. “I think she really does not seem to want that – he won’t be violent to her, will he?”
Moreena put her hand on her arm reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. Our men never use violence against women. Apart from holding her or carrying her away Kordan won’t do anything to her. And you heard yourself that they’ve slept together, so he clearly doesn’t leave her as cold as she’s now trying to make out. Carthians do not rape. If they had sex together then it will have been because she wanted to as well.”
Keela could feel Marruk looking at her and she glanced at him fertively. For a moment she almost hoped that he would also just throw her over his shoulder and carry her into his chamber. Why did she have to be the only one again that was with a man who did not want her - or at least who had no serious intentions where she was concerned. Berka had claimed Amber, Kordan had obviously selected Lory as his mate and there also seemed to be something going on between Charly and Amano. And her? She was falling in love with an ass-hole who only wanted to shag her. Typical. What was wrong with her?
“Charly, you were with the two of them during the journey, so perhaps you can tell us a little more about the problems between the two of them,” said the king, joining in the conversation.
By now Charly had sat down with Amano and was sipping on a tajaka. She glanced at Amano and nodded in agreement.
“Well, it’s constantly up and down with the two of them. Kordan was after her from the beginning, like a predator after its prey. But Lory is a woman who’s used to giving orders, so she and Kordan bickered non- stop with one another. But I can confirm that there’s definitely something going on between the two of them, and that it’s not only one-sided. We once caught them, by chance of course, um …” Charly blushed and looked to Amano for assistance.
Amano was grinning in amusement, but he did come to her aid by continuing the story: �
�They were both in the canteen when Charly and I burst in, and they were quite heavily into one another, and I did not get the impression that Lory was needing to be forced into anything.” Winking, he continued: “Even though she was screaming, those were quite definitely not cries for help.”
Berka chuckled and the king hid his amusement behind a little cough. Amber blushed like a tomato and so looked similar to the very embarrassed Charly, who was also bright red.
Keela decided to examine Lory. If she, too, had bite marks, then they were not from cheetahs, as there were none on board the Cordelia.
Chapter 9
Y-Quadrant, Karrx7
Royal Palace of the Arr’Carthians
7th day of the month of Manao in the year 7067
Federation Time
Since the arrival of Lory and Charly Keela had not had the opportunity to speak with Lory alone or to find out in any way whether she, too, had bite marks. As usual Marruk was avoiding her and Amber was with Berka the whole time. Solima continued to give Keela language lessons and Charly also joined them for the lessons. She seemed to like Amano a lot, but Keela could not work out how close their relationship was. In public at least they did not exchange any intimacies the way Amber and Berka quite openly did. But Charly was living in Amano’s chambers and also did not seem to have a problem with that.
“So pensive?” came a pleasant male voice next to her. Keela turned her head and looked up at the Carthian beside her who was looking at her with a beaming smile. She knew him - he was Luvoka - one of the officers from the Cordelia. She smiled back at him, but did not reply. What was she supposed to say?
“I haven’t seen you dance yet. Don’t you want to?”
“I … To be exact, no one has asked me yet,” Keela answered.
“Would you do me the honour?” he asked with a wink.
“Why not?”
Luvoka held out his arm to her and she placed her hand on it. There were a lot of people dancing but the Carthian led her confidently across the dance floor. Although she did not know the moves to the dance she had no problem following his lead. She realised that it had been a long time since she had had such fun. Without noticing, one dance led to the next.
Kidnapping Keela Page 10
