didn’t even see you shift back.”
“That happens when your eyes are closed.”
She wrinkled her nose and kicked her feet. “Put me on my feet. We are drawing an audience.”
He smirked. “Fine. Are you feeling all right? You look a little paler than normal.”
“I am not used to violence directed toward me. It will take some getting used to.”
“You will not be a target any longer. That ends today.”
There was a tone of finality in his voice, and as he held her hand and they returned to the council chamber, she knew that the gauntlet was going down.
She stood at his side as he spoke to the councillors who seemed surprised to see him. He laid out his requirements. All hostilities toward Kyna were to stop immediately or the colony would be invited to leave within thirty days of the next attack, and after that, those who remained would be destroyed.
The archive would be locked and all access would only come when the Jhenno were gone.
It was a simple solution. Cease hostilities or lose the only draw that the planet had.
One of the councillors sat up, “You cannot lock the archive.”
Jherin gave him a narrow-eyed look. “The blast shields went down this afternoon. The only thing that will open it is the touch of my dearest mate.”
The council exploded in conflict, arguing amongst themselves.
Jherin raised his hand. “I will give you a few days to come to a decision, but the new colonists are coming and Jhenno will be a draw for intellectuals from around the Alliance and beyond, your own records show that. I assembled that information and I control it.”
She stood at his side and kept her face impassive.
He took her hand, and they left the council chambers. The moment they were outside, he picked her up and swept her into the air.
There were things to be discussed, but she kept her mouth and her mind calm. Later would be soon enough. He had had a stressful day.
As they approached the sandcastle, she sighed and leaned her head against him. I like your house.
He whooped and did a corkscrewing flight around the spires and outer walls of the blue structure.
Kee smiled; she guessed that he had been waiting for that moment and his reaction was all she could have hoped for. They were together for as long as she lived. Divorce was not an option in the Drai culture, and she could not see him finding another woman with a mind like hers.
He landed in the courtyard and put her on her feet. “Tramic has been doing some interior decorating.”
Laughing, she held tight to his hand as he brought her into the entry hall. “Wow. He did a wonderful job.”
“He can also craft clothing for you, if you like. The nanites can tear down and build up any molecules they wish.”
The glowing furniture was highly polished, and it was an excellent counterpoint to the blue stone.
He showed her the entertainment centre. “We have access to all the vids in the archives on voice command.”
She smiled at the thought of men with remote controls. All the couches were low to allow for Jherin’s wings, but she could imagine quite easily reclining against him while they watched something.
The dining room was set with places for twenty; the kitchen had machines that could produce anything from nothing more than base ingredients. It had gone from a cavern with a large library, to a home.
“Why did you lock the archive to my bio-signature?” she finally had to ask.
He pulled her to one of the couches and settled her in his lap. “With our minds, I have linked your life to mine, and mine to yours. I want you remembered for your wisdom and interest in the written word. That will only come if you are Prime Archivist.”
She blinked back tears. No one had ever thought to keep a memory of her. Even her family had only used her for their little moments. The idea of being remembered for her work and not just her attachment to a powerful man swelled her heart to bursting.
Kee kissed him. “Thank you.”
He traced her cheek.
“That happens when your eyes are closed.”
She wrinkled her nose and kicked her feet. “Put me on my feet. We are drawing an audience.”
He smirked. “Fine. Are you feeling all right? You look a little paler than normal.”
“I am not used to violence directed toward me. It will take some getting used to.”
“You will not be a target any longer. That ends today.”
There was a tone of finality in his voice, and as he held her hand and they returned to the council chamber, she knew that the gauntlet was going down.
She stood at his side as he spoke to the councillors who seemed surprised to see him. He laid out his requirements. All hostilities toward Kyna were to stop immediately or the colony would be invited to leave within thirty days of the next attack, and after that, those who remained would be destroyed.
The archive would be locked and all access would only come when the Jhenno were gone.
It was a simple solution. Cease hostilities or lose the only draw that the planet had.
One of the councillors sat up, “You cannot lock the archive.”
Jherin gave him a narrow-eyed look. “The blast shields went down this afternoon. The only thing that will open it is the touch of my dearest mate.”
The council exploded in conflict, arguing amongst themselves.
Jherin raised his hand. “I will give you a few days to come to a decision, but the new colonists are coming and Jhenno will be a draw for intellectuals from around the Alliance and beyond, your own records show that. I assembled that information and I control it.”
She stood at his side and kept her face impassive.
He took her hand, and they left the council chambers. The moment they were outside, he picked her up and swept her into the air.
There were things to be discussed, but she kept her mouth and her mind calm. Later would be soon enough. He had had a stressful day.
As they approached the sandcastle, she sighed and leaned her head against him. I like your house.
He whooped and did a corkscrewing flight around the spires and outer walls of the blue structure.
Kee smiled; she guessed that he had been waiting for that moment and his reaction was all she could have hoped for. They were together for as long as she lived. Divorce was not an option in the Drai culture, and she could not see him finding another woman with a mind like hers.
He landed in the courtyard and put her on her feet. “Tramic has been doing some interior decorating.”
Laughing, she held tight to his hand as he brought her into the entry hall. “Wow. He did a wonderful job.”
“He can also craft clothing for you, if you like. The nanites can tear down and build up any molecules they wish.”
The glowing furniture was highly polished, and it was an excellent counterpoint to the blue stone.
He showed her the entertainment centre. “We have access to all the vids in the archives on voice command.”
She smiled at the thought of men with remote controls. All the couches were low to allow for Jherin’s wings, but she could imagine quite easily reclining against him while they watched something.
The dining room was set with places for twenty; the kitchen had machines that could produce anything from nothing more than base ingredients. It had gone from a cavern with a large library, to a home.
“Why did you lock the archive to my bio-signature?” she finally had to ask.
He pulled her to one of the couches and settled her in his lap. “With our minds, I have linked your life to mine, and mine to yours. I want you remembered for your wisdom and interest in the written word. That will only come if you are Prime Archivist.”
She blinked back tears. No one had ever thought to keep a memory of her. Even her family had only used her for their little moments. The idea of being remembered for her work and not just her attachment to a powerful man swelled her heart to bursting.
Kee kissed him. “Thank you.”
He traced her cheek.
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