by Judy Mays
Ever since her puzzling encounter with the Gattan ambassador on Mediria, Brianna had read everything she could find about Gattan and its people—what little information she could find. She had learned that theirs was a race that respected strength and fearlessness in women. A woman who wasn’t afraid to challenge a man was especially honored.
The young man looked down at Brianna furiously.
Before she had time to think about it, Brianna lifted her right hand and grasped his extended claws.
The unexpected pain caused her to gasp and her knees to buckle.
Marljas had not expected Chardadon’s fiery-haired wife to issue a challenge. Nor had he expected her to run her palm against his extended claws. Nevertheless, he was quick enough to catch her before she fell.
For a full five seconds, no one moved. Then pandemonium broke loose.
Rodane didn’t know whether to restrain Char or Ban. The choice was made for him, however, when Wendjas threw his arms around Char and tackled him to the ground, all the while shouting at his brother and demanding an explanation.
Rodane grabbed Ban, fighting his own instincts to leap to Brianna’s defense—and hoping Ban didn’t use his assassin skills to disable him.
Fully conscious, Brianna heaved a sigh of relief as the sharp pain in her palm receded. Struggling against the strong arms that held her, she said, “You can let me up now. I’ll be fine.”
Unfortunately, Marljas was concentrating so hard on declaring his innocence to his brother that he didn’t hear Brianna’s soft voice. All five of the men did, however, hear the feminine roar that broke over them.
“Husband, what have you done?”
Elbowing Marljas in the stomach won Brianna her release. Once standing firmly on her own two feet, she turned her attention to the woman who had spoken.
Standing with her feet planted firmly and her arms crossed over her well-developed chest, stood the female equivalent of the lion men. Svelte, but beautifully proportioned, she was Brianna’s height. Her catlike features were more delicate than her husband’s, giving her an air of beauty that Brianna had never encountered before. It was her hair, though, that demanded Brianna’s attention. Long and thick, it trailed down her back to the middle of her thighs. And it was as fiery as Brianna’s own.
Resisting the impulse to stare, Brianna looked to where Char sprawled on the ground with Wendjas on top of him. “Is this the proper way to greet Gattan, Char?” she asked somewhat primly.
Shoving himself free of Wendjas, Char leaped to his feet and jerked Brianna behind him. “You go too far, Marljas Drefeson.”
The other men had regained their feet, and even Wendjas looked at his brother with censure in his eyes.
Marljas’ anxious gaze leaped from one face to another. “But I did nothing. I would not blood a pregnant woman!”
“Men!” Brianna slipped from behind Char’s back to stand before him with her back to Marljas. “Did you, Char,” she asked in a scathing tone, “take notice of the fact that I was the one who raised my hand to him?”
She let Char fume and turned to face Marljas. “And you, young man, what gives you the right to go about challenging someone when you’re a newly arrived guest?”
Bowing his head submissively, he said, “Forgive me, Lady. My behavior was inexcusable.”
“It certainly was. Now what is your name?”
“Marljas Drefeson.”
Behind her Char snarled, “Choose your weapons, Drefeson.”
Brianna whirled awkwardly. “Stop this right now, Alalakan don al’ Chardadon. It’s my blood running down my arm, not yours. Marljas’ challenge to Ban is answered, and he won’t dare issue it again. Will you?” she asked, turning once more to face the young man.
Char, however, gripped Brianna’s arm and hauled her around. Angrily he snapped, “How could you chance the life of our child?”
She tried to pull free. “I didn’t do anything…”
Wendjas’ wife chose that moment to intervene. In a very serious voice, she said, “Hold, Alalakan. This is women’s business. Your wife has blooded herself. It will be finished.”
Both Wendjas and Char jerked their heads around, Wendjas with shocked surprise, Char with anger.
Rodane’s gaze leaped from Denieen to her husband and back again. Why was he listening to her? Supposedly, Gattan men took orders only from their tribal chieftain or their king.
Brianna used the opportunity to slip free and face Marljas once more. She too felt there was something important happening.
Marljas stared first at Brianna then at his sister-in-law. When she frowned and nodded, he raised his left hand. Unsheathing his claws, he drew three of them across his right breast. Lifting Brianna’s still-bleeding hand, he matched the furrows on her palm to those on his chest.
“Our blood mingles, Sister. We are one family.”
Brianna swallowed uneasily. Somehow she had just lost control of the situation. “Will someone tell me exactly what this means?”
Wendjas’ wife walked to Brianna’s side and took her hand from Marljas’ chest. The bleeding had almost stopped, and the wounds looked like they were already beginning to close.
“These will heal nicely and scar well. I am Denieen Refesdotir, wife of Wendjas,” she said with a smile. “Welcome to our family.”
“What!”
Behind Brianna, Rodane began to laugh.
Denieen grinned even wider. “It was well done, Alalakan dem al’ Brianna. You are now bloodsister to our tribe. Be grateful you used your right hand. If you’d used the left, you’d have another husband instead of a brother.”
Brianna gasped and then swallowed as she glanced behind her. Though Wendjas and Rodane were relaxed and grinning, Ban was still angry.
Char was fuming.
Thinking quickly she said, “Marljas is my brother now?”
Marljas himself nodded affirmatively.
Brianna began to smile widely. “What kind of dragon should an Alalakan Gattan wear, Rodane?”
Everyone looked at Brianna in amazement. “Well, if he’s my brother, that makes him an Alalakan, too.”
Locking her eyes with those of an astonished Marljas she finished, “And you will wear a dragon, Brother. After that, you can settle whatever argument you have with Bandalardrac.”
Brianna spared a quick glance for her husband. Though he was obviously angry, there was now a very thoughtful look on his face.
“Ban,” she declared quickly before Char met her glance with one of his own, “how in the world did you manage to offend a Gattan?”
“It’s a long story,” Ban snapped.
“I expect to hear every bit of it.” Glancing back to Marljas, she said just as sharply. “I expect to hear your side of the story too. Then that will be an end to it.”
Much of the tension had dissipated, and Wendjas slapped Char on the back. “Very much like my Denieen, a wife to make other men envious.”
Both Denieen and Brianna raised delicate red eyebrows.
Char was still furious. The dark stain where her blood dripped to the ground underscored just how important she had become to him. She could have been killed!
The belated appearance of Wendjas and Denieen’s sons effectively eliminated any thought of an immediate challenge from Ban or Char. The fact that children were with them proclaimed very strongly how much trust they placed in the Alalakan clan.
Acting more like monkeys than the cats they resembled, both five-year-old boys scrambled into adult arms after their pell-mell sprint across the shuttle pad, one to Wendjas and one to Marljas.
“Our children,” Denieen said proudly, “Hendjas climbs upon his uncle and Charjas upon his father.”
Brianna smiled at the children’s antics. Hoping she wasn’t being too familiar, she locked her arm through Denieen’s and said, “You must tell me, Sister, how one of your sons came to be named for my husband.”
Denieen smiled and nodded. Sending a dismissive glance towards her husband, she commande
d, “Bring our sons with you, Wendjas. My new sister and I have much to discuss.”
Matching her stride to Brianna’s much slower one, Denieen turned her back on her menfolk and headed for the nearest vehicle.
Char stepped after them. “Brianna,” he snarled in a low voice.
“Later, Char,” she answered with a wave of her wounded hand.
When I get my hands on her… He was still furious with Brianna for putting herself into such a dangerous position. I could have lost her. How would I live without her?
For once, thoughts of Bakom never entered his mind.
Rodane stared after the women. Denieen had been the one issuing commands. Why?
Unaffected by the dampened currents of tension that rolled around them, Wendjas’ sons locked glances, nodded once to each other, and launched themselves at the big men who wore dragons on their shoulders. Rodane wasn’t caught totally unawares and was able to brace himself as Hendjas landed on his shoulders. Ban, however, was not expecting an attack from his blind side. He found himself flat on his back staring into merry green eyes.
“Can your dragon really fly?” Charjas asked breathlessly.
Ban was a man who loved children too much to do anything other than grin. “Only in my own ship, fearless one. Perhaps one day I will show you.”
“Ha!” Charjas exclaimed as he leaped from Ban’s chest and scooted towards Rodane and his brother. “My dragon man says I am fearless.”
Hendjas looked expectantly at Rodane who stared back, obviously at a loss for words. Giving Rodane one last disgruntled look, Hendjas swung his head towards Char, a calculating look in his eye. Char had no doubts as to what his intentions were.
Before Hendjas could leap from Rodane’s arms, Char had grabbed him about the waist and tossed him to Marljas. “That is how to fly like a dragon,” he said somewhat gruffly.
Hendjas whooped with joy as he flew through the air into his uncle’s arms.
Charjas quickly changed direction and headed for his uncle also.
Wendjas’ loud yell stopped the antics of both boys. “Enough. Is this how a Gattan behaves at the home of a friend? What would your mother say?”
Both boys mumbled apologies, but Charjas had the audacity to look up at his father and say, “But Mother isn’t here.”
Even Char had to smile.
Walking over to Ban, Marljas offered his hand. After staring at it a moment, Ban clasped it and Marljas pulled him to his feet. “For the sake of my new sister, I offer truce.”
Ban stared at him for a few moments. “For the sake of my cousin, I accept.”
“Good,” Wendjas said, a hand on each son’s shoulder. “You will take Charjas and Hendjas with you. Chardadon, Rodane, and I will take the other vehicle.”
“Perhaps we will be able to keep them from killing each other,” commented Wendjas after they left. “My sons will have them fully occupied.”
Since Char was staring after Brianna and Denieen, Rodane asked, “How much housing will you require for your crew?”
“There are no other Gattan with us. Marljas piloted the ship.”
Char’s mind was pulled from its bloody fantasies. For Wendjas to come alone with his family bespoke trust no other Gattan had ever demonstrated. “I will send people for your things.”
“Marljas must accompany them. The ship is set on a defense mode.”
An affirmative grunt was Char’s answer.
Rodane asked. “Why are you here, Wendjas?”
“After much thought and reflection, my mother and father decided that trade would be better than war. It’s a much more subtle but equally satisfying way to defeat one’s adversaries.”
“Except for Brianna. She can start a war all by herself,” Char snarled mostly to himself.
Rodane laughed at the questioning expression on Wendjas’ face. “Don’t take what Char says to heart. In his mind, he still sees Brianna lying in a pool of her own blood. My brother just realized just how important his wife is to him.”
Damn Rodane. Why doesn’t he keep his mouth shut?
“Marljas would not have knowingly blooded a pregnant woman!”
Char’s tone was caustic. “Perhaps not purposely, but I don’t remember you being very levelheaded either.”
Rodane’s eyebrows lifted, but Wendjas was in an affable mood. “Six years ago, Chardadon tried to lure Denieen from Gattan.”
To say Rodane was shocked was an understatement. “You courted a Gattan!”
Char shrugged. “She’s quite beautiful.”
“What happened?”
Wendjas continued Char’s story when he wouldn’t. “Denieen pretended interest since I was proving too slow to declare my love. She thought a handsome dragon man would spur me on. She was right.”
“So that’s how you got the Gattan scar on your chest,” Rodane mused. “I always thought you took part in some sort of ceremony to bind our families in trade.”
Char snorted. “If you call an angry Gattan trying to claw my heart out a ceremony.”
“Denieen didn’t think I’d carry things so far. I’m normally a very even-tempered man.”
Char snorted again.
“Denieen stopped the fight?”
Wendjas shook his head. “Once a fight begins, it becomes a matter of honor. Your brother fought well.”
“You mean Char could have been killed?”
“Yes.”
Rodane rounded angrily on his brother. “And you’re angry with Brianna? Do you realize what would have happened if you had died six years ago?”
Char shifted uncomfortably.
Wendjas continued his story. “Mine and Denieen’s mothers were furious. She’d falsely goaded me into a blood feud. Retribution was necessary.”
Rodane contemplated Wendjas. Their mothers were furious, not their fathers? “So that’s how you got all those red diamonds.”
“And the trade treaty,” Wendjas added.
“A treaty that has benefited your family as much as it has mine,” Char interjected.
“What caused the dissension between Bandalardrac and Marljas?” Rodane asked.
Char shrugged again. “I have no idea.”
Wendjas said, “Last year Bandalardrac appeared on Gattan as a courier for the Hardan royal family. Marljas found the girl he was courting in Bandalardrac’s arms, but the Medirian ambassador and the girl’s family smoothed things over. She was quite headstrong and not in the least interested in my brother’s suit.”
“But her family was interested,” Rodane guessed.
Wendjas nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. Marljas was too stubborn to listen to me. The girl had no interest in him, and Mother would never have approved the match. However, the day after Bandalardrac left Gattan, the girl disappeared. She hasn’t been seen since.”
Their mother wouldn’t approve? Rodane struggled to keep his mind on the conversation rather than the puzzle turning over in his mind. “So everyone believes Ban spirited the girl away.”
“Yes.”
Rodane turned to his brother. “Char?”
Char shook his head negatively. “I can guarantee that in the last year, Ban never gave passage to any Gattan. Nor could he have been in the company of one for any more than a few hours if one happened to be in whichever space bar or dive he was frequenting at the time.”
“How can you be sure of this?”
“The ship Ban flies is Alalakan built. Its computer sends a steady stream of information back here to our master computer. Ban is Alalakan. We couldn’t allow him to roam about unmonitored,” Char answered with a satisfied smile. “Whatever happened to that girl, he wasn’t involved.”
Wendjas looked thoughtful. “I must send this information back to Gattan. Everyone always assumed she left with Bandalardrac. If that isn’t the case, there are many new questions to be answered.”
They stopped before the house and ceased their conversation. Inside, the women were discussing where to house their unexpected guests.
“Goodness, Xdana. The solution is simple. Put Wendjas and Denieen in the guest quarters of my suite,” Jenneta said.
Denieen inclined her head. “I am honored, Matriarch, but do you realize how active my children are?”
Jenneta’s dark eyes sparkled. “I raised two boys of my own. Even though yours are Gattan, I doubt there’s much I haven’t seen. Besides, having me about may dampen their exuberance. If I’m correct, a head of gray hair has that effect on Gattan children. And please call me Jenneta.”
Denieen smiled. “Wisdom such as yours is invaluable, Jenneta. We’ll be honored to accept your hospitality.”
Xdana sighed with relief. “That means Marljas…”
“…will stay in the other bedroom of the heir’s guest suite,” Brianna finished from where she sat on the couch.
Reactions were simultaneous.
“Cousin…” Ban began.
“New sister, I protest,” Marljas snarled.
“Brianna, I will not allow…” Char snapped.
“Silence!” Wendjas roared, more to his brother than anyone else. “How can you think to question a breeding woman?”
Caught in an obvious breach of Gattan etiquette, Marljas and Ban had the good graces to look embarrassed.
Char, on the other hand, was no so easily intimidated. “I am the Alalakan,” he snarled as he crossed his arms across his chest. “I will say and do what I damn well please.”
Jenneta rose to her feet. “Char…”
He spun around, his fury obvious. “No! Don’t say anything, Grandmother. Brianna could have been killed.”
With Jamiros’ aid, Brianna rose as gracefully as was possible and walked across the room to face her husband. Looking up into Char’s angry eyes and holding out the hand which still showed angry red cuts, she said, “Though it was unintentional, Alalakan don al’ Chardadon, I was torn from my family on Earth and brought across the galaxy to an alien planet. Here, instead of the fear and loneliness I could have encountered, I have found the love of not one, but two new families. Now a third opens its arms to me. But, most importantly, your child rests beneath my heart. With such a gift, how can I refuse others?”
