9781631055577NiKohsChosenMichaelsNC (4 page)

Maybe it is because GiNae is here for
the first time since her vacation last Season. And it has been quite a while
since I last had an embarrassing personal encounter.
Fifteen ye
ars,
to be exact. He and BeSai had gotten up late for a snack and decided to
christen the dining area table. ViShe had walked in on them, having heard a
noise and reacted without checking telepathically first.

NiKoh
chuckled to himself.
ViShe had just com
e to work for us then. GiNae was a little girl of four or
five, so that would make her nineteen or twenty at the most. What is she doing
here? She should either be still at school or finding her own
Chosen
.
Turning, NiKoh exited the chamber and
began syste
matically checking every room in his home.
Nothing seemed to be out of order, but he noticed his unease was letting up.
Running out of options, he probed GiNae’s mind again, and discovered she was
now riding a
pannei
over a trail through the woods. NiKoh f
rowned and rubbed his jaw, then looked at the timepiece on
the computer console. His normal waking hour was only minutes away, so he went
into the kitchen and retrieved a cup of coffee from the automatic machine. He
warmed up a muffin left over from the pr
evious day
and took both into the dining area.

NiKoh
settled himself in his usual chair and sipped his coffee. This was his favorite
time of the day, when he could gather his thoughts and prepare for the day
ahead, review his schedule, and enjoy the solitu
de.
He activated the panel on the wall and read the morning report. Technically, he
was still on leave for his part in his brother’s Bonding Test, but he liked
being kept up to date on Planetary Happenings.

“NiKoh,
you should have awakened me,” ViShe admon
ished him,
setting a basket of warm muffins in front of him. “Would you care for some
ne’chei
eggs or
rupke
bacon?”

NiKoh
smiled. “I was earlier than usual, and why should you not sleep in a bit? I
imagine you and your daughter stayed up late, catching
up.”

ViShe
sighed. “Still, I should have sensed you moving around. I will have the food
ready soon.” She moved away, tying her apron.

“ViShe,
calm down. No one else is awake. You worry too much.” NiKoh hid a smile.

“Do
I tell you how to protect the planet?
You have
important work and need nourishment.” ViShe bustled into the other room.

I am still on leave. The food can wait.
If it will make you happy, I will go back upstairs.

I am up and your eggs will be ready in
thirty seconds.

NiKoh
laughed, this was a
conversation they had at least
once a month. ViShe had been trained to stay alert to his movements, which
meant if he was awake, so was she. It didn’t matter what time he arrived
downstairs. Within minutes, food was ready for him. In the early years of his
Bonding, he was thankful for this practice. But as his
duties changed, so did his attitude toward his staff. BeSai’s illness made for
a neglected household, so he both appreciated his staff’s continued devotion to
his comfort and felt guilty by it.

ViShe
brought in a steaming platter and a place setting for
him. “When OkVei took his placement tests, did he express interest in any other
area, or was he happy with the results?”

NiKoh
frowned. “He had always dreamed of going to the Academy, and was surprised
when he showed an aptitude for languages. He thought he
would be a pilot like myself. Why?”

ViShe
looked uncomfortable for a moment, twisting the hem of her apron.

“Relax.
If you need to talk, or parenting advice, talk to me, ViShe.”

“As
you may know,
GiNae placed high in the finance area;
that is why I requested an audience with your brother BaRok several months ago.
I thought there might be an opening she would enjoy. But now she tells me she
hates the thought of working with numbers and would rather
work with animals, either in a healing or training
capacity.” ViShe’s eyes glistened with tears and she used her apron to dab at
her eyes. “I have never heard of anyone refusing their Placement before and do
not want my daughter to suffer any consequences.
”

NiKoh
laughed. “It happens more often than you think, ViShe. The ones who do not
complain are the ones who usually end up hating their job or move from section
to section. My sister KiRah would be a wonderful decorator, but all her life
she has dreamed o
f making a home with her
Chosen
and raising children. She actually refused to take the
Placement Test. Mother was not happy with her, but BeHah assured her it does
happen from time to time.”

ViShe
visibly relaxed. “Thank you. I was worried I would have to
appear before the Council or drag her back. You have no
objections to her staying here, then?”

“Why
should I? ViShe, as long as you are here, she is most welcome.” NiKoh picked up
his coffee and drank the last of it, grimacing at the chilled temperature.

V
iShe picked it up. “I know she interrupted a private moment
last night.” She avoided his eyes, moving toward the kitchen door. “I did not
know if you would forbid her presence.”

NiKoh
cleared his throat and shifted in his seat as GiNae’s dream flashed thro
ugh his mind. “I will be more careful in the future. You
know me better than that, ViShe.”

She
entered the kitchen and reappeared with another steaming cup of coffee. “Given
the stress you are under, with BeSai and having to deceive your brother, I did
not
wish to add further discord.” She cocked her head
for a moment. “AnKie is on her way down for BeSai’s breakfast. Excuse me.”
ViShe moved into the kitchen.

NiKoh
resumed reading the morning report and looked up when AnKie seated herself at
the table.

“Gree
tings, NiKoh. I trust you slept well?”

“I
did indeed. How is BeSai this morning?” NiKoh slid the platter of eggs closer
to her.

AnKie
shook her head. “She had trouble sleeping last night and I had to give her
medication. She is asking to go to the
Council
Gardens
today, and I am hoping the outing cheers her up.” She
looked up as ViShe entered with a tray. “Thank you, ViShe.” AnKie spooned some
of the eggs onto one of the plates on the tray and stood. “Would you like to
accompany us, NiKoh?”

“Let
me know whe
n you decide to leave. I have a few things
to attend to, and think an outing would be good.” NiKoh nodded his head and
sipped his coffee.

“Blessings
then. I will inform you when we are ready.” AnKie picked up the tray and exited
the room.

NiKoh
heaped his
plate with food and enjoyed his solitary
meal as he finished reading the document. He eyed the
ne’chei
eggs
and spooned a few more onto his plate. ViShe returned and set down a mound of
po’che’fri
and
strips of
rupke
, then left again. NiKoh patted his stom
ach, then selected a few of each to enjoy.

The
panel chirped. He touched the screen and his mother’s face appeared.

“Greetings,
Mother. How are you today?”

“I
am well, NiKoh. I was wondering how BeSai is this morning. It was so good to
see her at the cerem
ony yesterday.” ReNei smiled.

NiKoh
stroked the stubble on his jaw. “She had a difficult night but has asked for an
outing today, which is a good sign.”

“That
is good news. Have you spoken to TiGra lately?”

NiKoh
frowned. “I read the report and nothing see
ms out of
the ordinary. Why?”

“Some
people are saying JeWal’s ship is still at the space dock. We thought he would
return to Xaxa after the ceremony, not stick around.”

“Mother,
maybe he is extending his stay. We imposed on him a great deal last season, ma
ybe he is simply taking in our culture a bit. I think it
would be rude to insist he return at once.”

ReNei
dipped her head in acknowledgement. “TiGra thinks his whereabouts need to be
monitored.”

“The
security monitors should be in place, and if he
attempts
anything out of the ordinary, then the officials will be notified. I hardly
think Military needs to be involved yet.” NiKoh mentally counted to ten. “I
will contact TiGra if it will make you happy.”

“Thank
you. Blessings, my son.” The panel went d
ark.

NiKoh
shook his head and finished his breakfast. His late father had consulted with
ReNei on nearly everything Council-related, and since his death, ReNei enjoyed
special favor with Council members.
It is almost as if
Mother were Emeritus Elder. I kno
w she feels close to
Father by keeping in touch with the daily reports, but it is getting out of
hand.
NiKoh pushed his plate away and stood up, patting his stomach.

He
went upstairs to his chamber and dressed, gathering his wavy purple hair at his
nape an
d securing it with a leather thong. Back
downstairs, NiKoh went to his private office and contacted TiGra, the
second-in-command Elder and repeated what his mother had said.

TiGra’s
sigh was audible. “I did not know she intended to tell you.”

“I
will tell
her I spoke to you and that you have
everything under control.” NiKoh gritted his teeth. “I will be returning to
work next week, providing my mate is doing well. With my absence, I felt the
need to stay close to her for a time.”

“I
understand. Blessings.”
TiGra signed off.

NiKoh
leaned back in his chair and scrubbed his face with his hands. A cautious
female voice entered his mind.
NiKoh? We are ready to
leave. Are you going with us?

Joy
filled his heart.
Yes, be’che’ lu’vey. I am happy to
accompany you.
Fi
nally, a bright moment. His mate venturing out for
the second time in two days was encouraging—and the fact she wished to return
to her passion, gardening. NiKoh stood and met BeSai and AnKie at the foot of
the staircase, a huge smile on his face.

BeSai
c
lutched AnKie’s arm and reached to take NiKoh’s
extended hand. “Greetings, NiKoh. Are you sure you wish to accompany us? RiKar
or BeHah may think you are ready to return to work.” Her soft gray eyes held a
twinkle of humor.

NiKoh
kissed her knuckles. “Esco
rting two lovely ladies? I
will remind them both I am still on vacation.” He tucked BeSai’s arm through
his and led both from the dwelling. After activating the panel that led to the
Trade Area, NiKoh took delight in the warm day, buying his mate a trinket
which caught her eye, and stealing a kiss or two as they
strolled toward the Council of Elders. He felt BeSai’s fingers grip his bicep
the closer they got to the massive white structure with the impressive
collection of flowers, trees, and plants all arou
nd
it.

NiKoh
watched as BeSai approached the garden in a reverent manner, touching the soil
with her fingertips, stroking petals, and smelling random flowers.

“Whoever
took my place is doing a good job.” She wiped her hands on her skirt and took
NiKoh’s ha
nd. “This section looks good, but I notice
a few weeds over there.” She hurried over to pull the errant plant out of the
ground and continued her inspection. “Oh, AnKie, look!” BeSai’s face grew
animated as she gestured toward a four foot, gnarled tree. “I
planted this the year OkVei was born. Here’s the willow
tree and the bench where I first met NiKoh—do you remember that?”

NiKoh
smiled. “How could I possibly forget that? You were on your knees, tending the
soil. I didn’t see you and tripped over your bas
ket.
AnKie, we joke that I literally fell for her that day.”