that?”
“Keeping your life.”
Chapter Six
Saia didn’t try to join in the conversation her mother held
with Taio and Eva. Both females had an arm looped through Taio’s. The trio
walked in front her, Milin and Aria walked by her side.
While her mother talked about how much Josanis had grown
since the last time she’d seen him and how he resembled Taio when he was that
age, Saia tried not to think about her own life, and the changes that would
happen sooner rather than later.
Would Ranuit Pi treat her better than her father did?
The information she’d found on the Zumagala had been very
limited. Their wars had been outlined in great details, but everyday life was
not discussed in the research files. The current war had been going on for so
long, the Zumagala had turned into very secretive beings.
Who was she to judge? Under their warring nature could be a
species of fun-loving farmers or artisans.
She groaned.
Wishful thinking, since all their pictures showed imposing
males garbed in thick clothing laden with various weapons.
“Is something the matter?” Milin asked.
Saia smiled. “No, no, Milin. Everything is as it should be.”
Milin lowered her head. “I want you to know that as your
aide, I am available to talk whenever you need me. You can trust me.”
“I know.”
She and Milin had not been together long. Milin became her
personal aide, as customary, with the announcement of her bonding contract.
From that moment on, she and Milin were supposed to be inseparable, like Aria
and her mother.
There was nothing lacking in her aide’s company. That was,
when Milin wasn’t whimpering about Saia’s upcoming bonding ceremony.
Unfortunately for Milin she had accepted the position of personal aide without
getting the full details on who Saia was bonding with, and where they
would live.
Olo hadn’t been forthcoming with the information before
posting the position and interviewing the candidates. Milin didn’t want to go
anywhere near Ranuit Pi or the other Zumagala. Saia didn’t blame her. Milin had
expected to go somewhere more befitting a daughter of an important king.
If there had been a way to leave her new aide on Drazlan and
terminate her employment, Saia would have. To do so now would only disgrace
Milin and her family. So, teary-eyed, Milin tried to be brave and continued to
do her duties, even though Saia knew she wanted to run and hide at the first
opportunity.
As they entered the bustling dining hall, Saia followed Taio
to the private raised tables intended for the royal family, advisors and
guests. Aria and Milin veered away and continued to the regular seating.
Saia sighed. Just once she would like to sit somewhere other
than the royal tables. Then she would be able to hear the conversations of the
commoners. Maybe they would talk of their travels to different worlds and
different galaxies. She would revel in each word, try to imagine every small
detail they described.
What was the use of being surrounded by species from
different worlds without being able to learn about where they came from, their
planets, cultures and species? They would be able to give her information about
the universe that couldn’t be found in the research files.
As they approached the tables, she looked longingly at
Lo’Ren, Eva’s pink friend, who sat at a table in front of the performance
arena. Lo’Ren was from a mining colony on Briel, which captivated Saia because
it was on an asteroid belt. Lo’Ren had explained Briel to her in complete
detail, but Saia longed to hear more. As she watched her mother ascend the two
steps, she knew speaking with Lo’Ren would have to wait until another time. Her
mother would never let her sit anywhere else but the royal tables.
Upon seeing them approach, Rasha stood and came forward.
“Queen Xochis, you are as lovely as ever.” He kissed both of her cheeks. Rasha
approached her next. “Beautiful Saia.”
She returned his strong embrace. Rasha was Taio’s
“Keeping your life.”
Chapter Six
Saia didn’t try to join in the conversation her mother held
with Taio and Eva. Both females had an arm looped through Taio’s. The trio
walked in front her, Milin and Aria walked by her side.
While her mother talked about how much Josanis had grown
since the last time she’d seen him and how he resembled Taio when he was that
age, Saia tried not to think about her own life, and the changes that would
happen sooner rather than later.
Would Ranuit Pi treat her better than her father did?
The information she’d found on the Zumagala had been very
limited. Their wars had been outlined in great details, but everyday life was
not discussed in the research files. The current war had been going on for so
long, the Zumagala had turned into very secretive beings.
Who was she to judge? Under their warring nature could be a
species of fun-loving farmers or artisans.
She groaned.
Wishful thinking, since all their pictures showed imposing
males garbed in thick clothing laden with various weapons.
“Is something the matter?” Milin asked.
Saia smiled. “No, no, Milin. Everything is as it should be.”
Milin lowered her head. “I want you to know that as your
aide, I am available to talk whenever you need me. You can trust me.”
“I know.”
She and Milin had not been together long. Milin became her
personal aide, as customary, with the announcement of her bonding contract.
From that moment on, she and Milin were supposed to be inseparable, like Aria
and her mother.
There was nothing lacking in her aide’s company. That was,
when Milin wasn’t whimpering about Saia’s upcoming bonding ceremony.
Unfortunately for Milin she had accepted the position of personal aide without
getting the full details on who Saia was bonding with, and where they
would live.
Olo hadn’t been forthcoming with the information before
posting the position and interviewing the candidates. Milin didn’t want to go
anywhere near Ranuit Pi or the other Zumagala. Saia didn’t blame her. Milin had
expected to go somewhere more befitting a daughter of an important king.
If there had been a way to leave her new aide on Drazlan and
terminate her employment, Saia would have. To do so now would only disgrace
Milin and her family. So, teary-eyed, Milin tried to be brave and continued to
do her duties, even though Saia knew she wanted to run and hide at the first
opportunity.
As they entered the bustling dining hall, Saia followed Taio
to the private raised tables intended for the royal family, advisors and
guests. Aria and Milin veered away and continued to the regular seating.
Saia sighed. Just once she would like to sit somewhere other
than the royal tables. Then she would be able to hear the conversations of the
commoners. Maybe they would talk of their travels to different worlds and
different galaxies. She would revel in each word, try to imagine every small
detail they described.
What was the use of being surrounded by species from
different worlds without being able to learn about where they came from, their
planets, cultures and species? They would be able to give her information about
the universe that couldn’t be found in the research files.
As they approached the tables, she looked longingly at
Lo’Ren, Eva’s pink friend, who sat at a table in front of the performance
arena. Lo’Ren was from a mining colony on Briel, which captivated Saia because
it was on an asteroid belt. Lo’Ren had explained Briel to her in complete
detail, but Saia longed to hear more. As she watched her mother ascend the two
steps, she knew speaking with Lo’Ren would have to wait until another time. Her
mother would never let her sit anywhere else but the royal tables.
Upon seeing them approach, Rasha stood and came forward.
“Queen Xochis, you are as lovely as ever.” He kissed both of her cheeks. Rasha
approached her next. “Beautiful Saia.”
She returned his strong embrace. Rasha was Taio’s
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