“Miranda was just the opposite. The first thing she said was that she knew me, and she was completely calm and asking questions until she heard Tempest scream.” Zulien was upset and confused.
Ballion cleared his throat for recognition. “Yes, Ballion. Do you have any thoughts about this?” Ethram asked.
Ballion began to slowly pace, his hands clasped behind his back while his antennae slowly stroked his chin in thought. “My studies, as you know, were in procurement, but as a Minoc I realized my chances of getting picked for a procurement vessel were slim. I am not blind to the fact my emotions and greed can overshadow good judgment, and it is a constant battle to control those limitations. Because of this, I have the second education of Minocs’ in Ancient civilization.” Ballion noticed their surprise. “Oh, yes. Minocania has researched and observed the cultures for generations. We know it is treason, but really, who pays any attention to us? We could not be of much assistance when the temples fell, but we are determined to help them rise again. Now, of course, none of our resources go back as far as the Atlantian era, but still there was quite a diversification of peoples in the inner worlds.”
The three men looked at the Minoc curiously. Even Ethram had never heard him speak with such eloquence. Ballion continued, “My observations lead me to believe the world these women were raised in was perhaps a little more evenly divided on authority. In other words, they do not consider a male superior and, if anything, they are a bit of a threat.”
Taliquant blanched. “My Tempest thinks I mean to harm her?”
“No, no. I think she does not know what to expect. Her species is not able to transfer all their well-being and judgment based on the exclusitivity of the mating bond.”
What he was saying was making sense, based on the women’s reactions. They seemed to want to talk and have explanations before their joining. “Do you have any suggestions?” Ethram asked.
“I do, but I do not think you are going to like it because it will once again delay your joining. I think anything short of force is going to delay it at this point,” Ballion stated.
His antennae had been calmly stroking his chin since he had begun speaking, and all three men had noticed that Ballion was not the least bit nervous as he discussed their predicament. “What is it you think needs to be done?” Zulien asked.
“I think you need to get your mothers back here, and I think the four women need to sit down together and talk. It will be easier to have the joining explained, and they are more apt to accept what is said, by a member of their own sex.”
“There is no protocol for that,” Ethram interjected.
“We have never tried to introduce mates from the outer world before,” Ballion reminded his Commander. “Add to that, we are working with an Ancient, so there is no protocol for any of this. It is up to us to design the protocol,” Ballion declared.
Ethram sat back. “My little green apprentice is right. I do not have to refer to my ship’s logs, and they go back centuries and generations, to know this has never been attempted. Do you really think this will help?”
Ballion smiled, “Well it sure in dremonia cannot hurt.”
Ethram called for a member of the guard to send word the mothers were to return, and the warriors returned to their mates. In their deep sleep, they once again reached out to them and were comforted by their touch. Both men felt much better at the sign of acceptance.
The fathers returned as well, and with Ballion’s assistance, Ethram explained what was happening. “I guess the men can lounge in our quarters while the women speak. I have no idea how long this will take.” Ethram pointed to his quarters and sent Ballion to retrieve Taliquant while he went to Zulien.
Zalana followed. She watched her son rise from his mate’s side. “I am so sorry this is such a trial for you, Zule. You should be safely wrapped in each other’s arms by now.”
Zulien smiled. “I have the rest of my life for that. She knew me, mother. The first words she spoke were that she knew me from her visions, and if her adjustment takes time, then she will have it.”
Zalana stretched and kissed his cheek. “You are a wise warrior, and I see now you will be a wise mate.”
“Zulien, would you carry the Ancient to Tempest’s joining quarters. I think that would be a good place for their talks. Ballion, get a pitcher of nintine juice. The Celestial enjoyed it, and Tempest may wake with a thirst after all that shrieking.”
Zulien and Ballion left, and Ethram waved the mates awake. They were sleeping side by side on the joining pallet. He left before they opened their eyes, and Zalana and Terena waited as the young woman woke up.
Tempest opened her eyes and was facing Miranda. The two girls stared at each other, and then Tempest broke out in a huge smile. “Cripes, Miranda, where have you been? I looked everywhere for you. When you transferred the cabin to me, I thought maybe you went to find your grandmother.” She hugged her tightly.
Miranda frowned. “Transferred the cabin? I don’t remember doing that.”
Zalana and Terena remained silent, waiting to be recognized. Tempest noticed them first. “We’ve got company.”
Miranda turned around to see two women with the golden skin of the large men, sitting on the chaise in the corner. Miranda felt a twinge of despair. “Where is he?”
Zalana was nervous to the second sun, but managed to reply calmly, “Where is who, Miranda?”
“The golden man. He was with me when I woke up before, and he promised he would never leave me.” She was becoming visibly agitated and could not understand why. “Where did he go?”
At the mention of the man, Tempest’s eyes roamed the room and she began to actually panic. “Where is he? Where did the big guy go?” She stood up and searched the empty space. “He could not keep his hands off me. Where the hell is he?” she demanded.
The mothers realized the bonding was going to keep any meaningful discussion from occurring. “Would you like me to send for them? They are waiting close by,” Zalana offered.
Terena was amused with Tempest’s outrage that her son was absent, and she watched her search impossibly small places around the room for him.
Miranda tried to calm down and absently stroked her sash. She could not think of anything else but the man. “Please, I just want to know he is all right.” She had no idea why she had said that.
Terena spoke up. “Tempest, would you like me to send for Taliquant?”
“Tali what?” Tempest asked. She was still frantically searching, double-checking places she had already been.
“My son, Taliquant,” Terena replied.
“If that is the big guy that was here before, then yes. I wasn’t done yelling at him.” She nervously plopped down beside Miranda on the pallet. “Coward,” she added.
Terena laughed. “He is certainly going to have his hands full with you.”
“He’s already tried to have his hands full of me, and I am not done with him yet,” Tempest declared.
Zalana walked to the door. “I will go get them.”
Terena was pleased by the girls’ obvious discomfort over the separation. When the warriors returned and the agitation subsided, they would begin to understand the bonding.
The anxious men looked up, surprised when Zalana entered. “How are they? Did they tell you to leave?” Zulien asked.
“Quite the contrary. Your mates have not even asked our names or why we are there. They awoke in a state of extreme agitation wanting their mates. Tempest even checked under the joining pallet for you, Taliquant… three times,” Zalana laughed.
Taliquant beamed. “I knew she would miss me.”
“At any rate, we are not going to be able to discuss anything with them until you are near them. Zule, Miranda wanted to know if you are all right. I think you should sit away from them and let Terena and me see if we can get them to talk. They will approach you when they are ready.”
The warriors strode behind Zalana, relieved at the prospect of seeing their mates again. Wh
en they walked through the door, Tempest walked over, put her hands on her hips and glared up at Taliquant. “Where the hell did you go? I wake up with your hands all over me and then you just disappear? What is that about?”
Taliquant was facing the same angry woman from before. “I thought you wanted me to go. You said to leave you alone,” he explained.
“Well you don’t just paw a girl and disappear with no explanation, big guy. At least, not this girl.” Tempest poked her finger into his chest for emphasis.
Terena was laughing out loud at this point. The primitive barely reached her son’s chest, and was berating him like a farong. “Tali, she is a challenge for you.”
Taliquant looked over at his mother in distress. He had no idea what his mate wanted from him, and it seemed whether he stayed or left, she was unhappy. “What do you wish me to do, Tempest?”
Tempest looked around the room, and pointed to the sleeping pallet. “Go sit over there until I figure out what is going on.”
Taliquant looked at Zulien, shrugged, and did as she had asked. Miranda was still standing by the joining pallet. When Zulien had entered the room, she smiled at him, and then closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
Zalana watched her. “Do you know what she is doing?” Zulien asked.
“She is grounding herself. With you away, she was very upset, and she is bringing herself back into balance. In a way, Tempest was doing the same thing by expressing her frustrations.”
“I think I like Miranda’s way much better,” Zulien observed.
Tempest glanced away from Taliquant just long enough to glare at Zulien.
“Me too,” his mother laughed. “Zule, I think you should join Tali? Miranda will speak to you when she is ready.”
Zulien did as his mother suggested. Tempest was standing near Miranda, waiting for her to open her eyes, and continuing to glare at Taliquant. Miranda finally opened her eyes and again smiled at Zulien. “Did a really cute little green lizard man really speak to me?”
Zulien smiled back. “That was Ballion. You scared the dremonia out of him when you fainted. He thought he had hurt you.”
Miranda scoffed. “He would not hurt anyone. He has a very gentle nature. It just surprised me."
“What are you talking about?” Tempest was torn between following the conversation, and scowling at Taliquant, making sure he did not leave her sight.
“Tempest, you know we’re not home any more, right?” Miranda asked.
“Well, yes, Miranda. I did notice this was not the cabin,” she replied irritably.
“That is not what I mean. Come here a minute.” Miranda took her friend’s arm.
Before she could be pulled away, she pointed at Taliquant. “You. Stay.”
Taliquant continued to watch his feisty mate in fascinated silence as Miranda led her to the window. “What do you see?”
“I don’t see anything, Miranda. It’s night time.” Tempest glanced back at Taliquant to make sure he had not moved.
“Tempest, try to pay attention. Look at the sky.” Miranda pointed at the midnight blue sky, scattered stars and three moons.
Tempest was about to ask her what she was supposed to be looking at when she caught sight of moon number two, and by the time she spotted number three, her mouth was hanging open.
“Like I said, we’re not home anymore.” Miranda led her shocked friend back to the joining pallet and sat down next to her. “Now, these people don’t seem to want to hurt us, so I think we need to find out what is going on. It appears if we get all crazy, they’re just going to make us go to sleep again.”
Zulien interrupted, “Actually, Ethram's the only one who can do that.”
“That is the man with the cloak?” Miranda confirmed.
Zulien nodded. “Is she all right? Tali is getting a little nervous over here. It might help if he held her,” Zulien suggested.
“Only if he wants his arm broken,” Tempest shot back.
“She is fine,” Miranda laughed. “Tempest, calm down a little bit. He has not moved since you asked him to sit down.” Tempest glanced over at him to make sure.
Miranda guided Tempest over by where the women sat, and she placed them where they could see the men sitting on the table in the middle of the room. It made no sense to her why this was important, but she realized it was hard to concentrate when he was out of sight. She looked at the woman who had brought the men back. Miranda was on eye level as she stood by the tall, sitting woman, and she held out a small hand. “I am Miranda and this is Tempest.”
Zalana beamed and wrapped the small offering in both her large, slender hands. “It is so good to meet you, Miranda. I have waited a long time for this. You as well, Tempest.”
Tempest glanced at her and gave her a quick nod of acknowledgement, before her eyes fixed on Taliquant again. The big guy sat there grinning at her, and it was beginning to piss her off.
The golden woman continued, “I am Zalana. Zulien is my son. This is Terena. Taliquant is her son.”
Tempest looked at Terena, who was smiling at her in an extremely amused way. “You should teach the big guy some manners.”
“He does not mean to dishonor you, Tempest. We do not understand your ways. He will learn,” Terena said. “Of this, I am quite certain.”
“Miranda, you have already figured out you are no longer in the outer worlds, and I am sure you have a lot of questions. I promise you, all of them will be answered in time. You are correct that we will not harm you. That is positively the last thing we want to happen. There are those who would, though, and it is important for you to understand these dangers.”
Tempest turned and stared evenly at the woman. “Lady, no one is hurting Miranda. They would have to get by me first.”
Zalana smiled at Terena. “I believe I am beginning to figure out why they have bonded, though it is unusual for a woman to be a protector.”
“Miranda, we need to get out of here.” Tempest was still studying Taliquant.
Miranda sighed. “Where do you suggest we go, Tempest?”
“If ever there was a time to use your magic, this would be it, don’t ya’ think?”
The Shallistarians tensed at Tempest’s words. They had no idea if the Celestial could actually transport them back to the outer worlds, and the warriors gripped the pallet to keep from running to them.
Miranda laughed softly. “Tempest, we are here for a reason. The goddesses’ showed me visions of Zule or whatever he’s called. I’m sorry, what did you say your son’s name was again?”
Zulien closed his eyes as he heard his mate say his name. He felt a peace he could not remember since he was a boy and his mother held him to ease his fears.
“Zulien, but Zule is fine if it is easier for you. It is our nickname for him.” Zalana straightened and said proudly, “I have visions as well.”
“Have you seen me? Can you tell us why we were brought here?” Miranda asked with a tinge of anticipation. She had never met anyone else who had visions like she did, and the thought of meeting someone else like her was exciting.
“When Zulien was a child, I had a vision of him standing before the moons and the suns with his arms across his chest. I immediately thought it looked like he was guarding and protecting them, and here you are with the golden hair of the suns and the luminescent skin of the moons. I did not see your face back then, but I recognized you immediately.”
Miranda frowned. “Then, you believe I am here for a reason too?” Miranda’s hand trembled a little in the woman’s grasp.
“Oh, yes, Miranda, there are so many reasons for you to be here. I have been asked to help you.” Zalana bowed her head, a little embarrassed that she should have the task of guiding an Ancient.
“I’ve waited so long for a teacher to help me understand why I am so different. Whatever the reasons we were brought here, thank you, Zalana.”
Zalana was shocked that the Celestial had reached the conclusion that she was to be the teacher. It was Miranda's destiny
to teach the people of the inner worlds, and Zalana chose her words carefully. “We will learn from each other, I think.”
Tempest was confused by the constant feeling she needed to watch the golden man. “So what is the deal with the big guys? Are they going to teach us to fight or something?”
Terena said, “No, they are going to protect and comfort you.”
Tempest turned on her. “Protect and comfort me? That big guy,” she turned to point at the warrior, trying to remember his name.
“Taliquant,” Terena reminded her.
“Whatever. That big guy was running his hands all over me. We do not call that protection where I come from,” Tempest replied indignantly.
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