Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) (15 page)

Epilogue

Years Later

The flavored water was a huge success. Working with various processes
Gwen and Emma had finally come up with a way that the water didn’t make you
retch. They could use various leaves and seep them like tea for different
flavors. Her favorite was a rather nice one that taste like cherries. The males
seemed drawn to the one that was licorice flavored. Emma had kept experimenting
and had gotten over ten flavored waters, with new ones every so often. Her mate
Jax was her favorite guinea pig to experiment on.

“You made it!” Gwen was happy to see that Catherine was back in time for
the dance tonight. She was currently at The Watering Hole, the name of Emma’s
dome, with Amber, Mairi and Jen. “I’m guessing Knaleg and that beast you call a
pet are with the men.”

Catherine just laughed, “Yes. Knaleg went to search out his brothers as
soon as we got back and of course Titan went with him.” She pulled out a seat,
“Any new water flavors to try?”

“There is a really good one that you would almost swear was chocolate!”
Amber sighed happily. “Mmmm, chocolate!”

Catherine laughed, “That sounds good to me. Can I please have a glass of
the chocolate one Emma?”

“Coming right up Cat.” Emma called out.

“So are you done exploring Terraneu?” Mairi asked.

Knaleg and Catherine been asked to travel farther and father away from
the community in the hopes of finding a place that would serve if Terraneu had
to be abandoned. They hadn’t requested for Knaleg’s sterility to be reversed
since they didn’t want to have children until they had finished their scouting
missions.

“We found a few new spots that may work. If not as refugee locations then
as possible expansion sites once the problem of Knuan is dealt with.” Catherine
said, “Knaleg is reporting to the males, and we can decide after that if we
need to go back out again.”

“You have gone out searching enough Cat.” Amber looked around and Jen and
Mairi agreed at once. “You need to come home and give yourselves a chance at
having a family.” She hurried to add. “If that is still what you want. The last
time we had two seconds to talk, you said you were getting tired of all the
roaming around Terraneu. That the excitement was wearing off.”

“It is getting old.” Catherine sighed, “But we agreed to scout as far as
we could, and I would never ask Knaleg to back out of something he felt honor
bound to do.” She took a drink of her ‘chocolate’ water and smiled. “That is
good.” Then looking around at her friends sad faces she said, “We have talked
about it and Knaleg knows I am ready to settle down. When it is the right time
we will join you in the ‘parenthood’ club.”

“How are the personal cloaking devices working?” Gwen asked. She knew
that Kneus would be interested in how the individual units had been holding up.
The units cloaking Terraneu hadn’t shown any signs of deteriorating power.
 
Terraneu, the expansions of New Haven,
McPhersonville and the park and swimming pond were all “hidden”. If Knuan used
the Elyon to look for them, all he would “see” on a scan was a large jungle. If
Knuan used scouts to try to find them, the cloaking could be discovered but it
would take a lot of men many years to eliminate all of their possible locations.

“As far as we can tell they are holding up fine. The solar battery
doesn’t show any signs of failing. Kneus and Baylech came up with a good
design.” She smiled. “Speaking of Baylech how are the ‘Adonis’ brothers of
Terraneu faring?”

“They are fine.” Jen laughed, “Same as the last time you were home! I
don’t know who is more proud of the other, Ailech or Baylech. You would think
no one else had ever fathered children or been an uncle on Terraneu before!”

“I would have thought they had toned it down by now.” Catherine laughed
with the others, “The way they tried to out-praise one another and catch up on
thousands of years of ‘brotherhood’ in a just a few years was funny.”

“Well you know those girls of theirs
are
something to see.” Mairi smiled, “They are giving both
brothers fits. That identical platinum blond hair and beautiful heart shaped
faces. I knew when the brothers had children they were going to be beautiful,
but now I know why Ailech was named after angels. Those girls are gorgeous.”

“Not that Chloe and Celeste aren’t giving Knollig fits.” Jen smiled at
her friend, “I heard about the last poor boy that tried to talk to Chloe at the
park.”

“What did Knollig do this time?” Amber couldn’t hide her amusement, “Oh
yes I remember. The boy complimented Chloe on her swimsuit didn’t he Mairi?
Something about the color matching her hair?”

“Yes.” Mairi laughed, “Knollig happened to hear and told the poor boy
that his black eye was going to match his suit if he didn’t walk away. I though
Chloe was going to die with embarrassment and I wouldn’t have blamed her.
Knollig and I had a talk, again and he promised that he is going to stop
threatening the girls’ potential suitors. Not that either of us believe that.”

“Well at least the other girls have suitors.” Amber sighed, “Poor Brennae
is really quite despondent that she will never have any boys interested in
her.”

“I can’t believe that!” Catherine sat straighter in her seat, “Brennae is
gorgeous! I don’t believe that the boys aren’t interested in her.”

“Put yourself in her place.” Amber bemoaned, “Her father is the leader of
the council. Not to mention she has three uncles by blood, another three
‘uncles’ on the council, and about two hundred ‘uncles’ watching out for her at
every turn. Don’t even get me started on her brothers and cousins. I heard the
boys talking to Brennae and they actually told her and I quote: ‘We know what
boys this age are thinking. You are better off not dating.’
 
Can you believe that? ” Amber shrugged
helplessly, “Because of all of them I don’t think any poor boy has even tried
to ask her out on a date, much less steal a kiss at a dance or at the swimming
pond. If they could slip past the watching eyes of the men, there are sacath
around her constantly. It is like the animals are drawn to her. Tabec and
Cabat...Jen’s sacath Opal...even Lady...every sacath within a hundred mile
radius seems to find her.”

“Well Chloe and Celeste are usually with Brennae so it makes sense that
Lady would be there too. If she isn’t tailing one of those two she is off to
find Brennae. It is what happens when we raised them all so closely together.”
Mairi smiled. “You are right though Amber. The girls have told me of times that
either sacath or men are chasing boys away from Brennae. She is the first girl
born, and they think they are protecting her. What has Knalech said Gwen?”

“He is a bit younger, but he is growing up in his cousins foot-steps. He
thinks that all of his cousins are beautiful and that no boy on Terraneu is
worthy of them.” She smiled as she thought of her son. “He is so much like his
father. Always tinkering with something or in the technology dome looking over
Kneus’ shoulder.”

“I am going to have a talk with Kniam.” Amber’s worried eyes seemed to
glow purple, “They are hurting Brennae with their actions more than they are
helping. At tonight’s dance I will insist that things change!”

“Can you believe it has been seventeen years since the first dance?”
Mairi asked Amber. “Can you remember what it was like back then?”

“It hasn’t changed that much...” Amber reflected, “The community has
grown there is no denying that but as much as it’s grown in size, nothing about
daily life has changed.” She laughed, “Unless you count the school, the daycare
and the fact that our babies are all grown up.” Her eyes suddenly got teary, “I
heard the boys talking the other day about getting their own dome in Terraneu.
That they were ‘grown-up’ now and ready to train full time.” Waving a hand in
front of her face and taking a deep breath she composed herself. “I wouldn’t
have said on Earth that sixteen was old enough but here? I think I am going to
have to let them have their space. But if I let the boys go, how am I going to
stop Brennae?”

“You have to let them make mistakes and live their lives.” Jen held her
friends hand, “Remember when they discovered that they could ‘freeze’ minds
like Kniam.” Everyone at the table laughed at the story they all knew by heart.

The boys upon going into puberty had discovered new abilities. Talking in
mind to the other males of the community and as their father could
do...‘freeze’ another male with their minds. Amber had walked into the living
room of their dome to find the twins just sitting there, staring at each other.
When she couldn’t get them to talk or move, she had frantically called for
medical help. This had the whole community waiting on her doorstep to see what
had happened. It had taken a stronger mind...Kniams to be specific, to
‘unfreeze’ them. It turns out they had each tried to ‘freeze’ the other at the
exact same time, accidentally locking each other’s mind. Kniam had been furious
and they got a talking to like no other in the history of Terraneu.

“I know you’re right.” Amber agreed unhappily, “I have to let them find
their own way. They are mature enough, and we are safe for now. I want them to
live their lives and have some freedom before we have to really start worrying
about Knuan showing up on our doorsteps. I’ll talk to Kniam tonight.”

The talk between the females went on for hours. Soon enough it was time
to get ready for the dance. The celebration dance was still held every six
months and was a magical time. The whole community was decorated with banners,
streamers and lights. Thousands of them were twinkling away on almost every
conceivable surface.

Amber was in the bathroom decorating her hair for the dance. It was in an
updo off her shoulders, held in place by a clip and the rest rained down her
shoulders and back in little ringlets. Kniam surprised her when he came in with
a delicate chain to wrap around her hair and into the curls.

After thanking him, and some passionate kissing she got serious so she
could talk with him about their daughter. “Kniam I have to ask you to do
something for me.”

“Anything for you my love.” Kniam moved her hair so he could kiss her
shoulder, his fingers moving in her curls. She playfully slapped his hand away.

“I need you to pay attention Kniam. It’s important.” She pulled him into
the living room so they could have a serious talk. The bedroom was way too much
of a distraction, he would get ideas there. She sat on the chaise with him, her
face turned up to his. “I need you to tell the other males to let Brennae have
fun.” She put her fingers against his lips before he could protest. “Let boys
talk to her. It’s not like there are that many her age to go around! Let her
sneak kisses at the dance, let her talk and flirt and have fun. She is the same
age as Knadyn and Knacayn, but she hasn’t lived half as much as those two! It
needs to end. She deserves some happiness. When we tell the boys tonight that
their domes are ready for them, I want Brennae given the same opportunity.”
Tears danced on her lashes even as she thought of her babies leaving.

“If it is bringing you such unhappiness why are you suggesting it?” Kniam
hated to see her cry, even if it was from happiness.

“Because it is the right thing to do. They are ready to be on their own.”
She wiped her tears and smiled at Kniam. “Just think, we will have the dome to
ourselves again.”

“Now that is something we can look forward to.” Kniam leaned in to kiss
her when the door opened.

“Mother...Father...really! In the middle of the living room.” Brennae
swept into the room, followed by Cebat, Tabec, Opal, Lady and Titan. When she
saw the look on her fathers face she hurried them back out the door. “Oh no you
don’t! Out!” The sacath didn’t look happy about it but went sulking out the
door. “Mother, your hair looks beautiful! I love that chain.” She gave her
father a huge smile, “You are such a romantic!” Not bothering to slow down she
hurried to her room. They could hear her talking as she went, “I only have a
few minutes Chloe and Celeste are waiting for me. Knacayn and Knadyn should be
here any second...” Her voice trailed off as she went out of hearing range.

“Talk to them now Kniam. I want Brennae to have a good time tonight.
Please.” Amber begged softly.

Kniam got a serious look on his face, his eyes unfocused for a few
minutes then he said softly, “I have done as you asked, and the other males
will let Brennae have her space.” He didn’t have to add, because Amber knew no
amount of begging would stop it completely, that the males would still be
watching for any sign of Brennae being “bothered”.

“Thank you Kniam.” Amber hugged him around the waist, “Have I told you
lately that you are the best father?” When he just shrugged, she teased. “What
about mate?” Looking up into his face, her purple eyes burning, “What about
lover?”

“Oh that’s just gross.” Brennae laughed as she swept back through the
room. “Can’t that wait until I’ve left for the dance?” She stopped at the couch
to kiss both her parents, “Knadyn said you wanted to tell us something.” Her
gaze swept between them.

“It can wait.” Amber squeezed Kniam on the leg in a silent promise for
later, and then walked with Brennae to the door. Her daughter hadn’t gotten
taller than she was, which put her a couple of inches over five foot. Her hair
was the same mix of ash blond, darker blond and mocha. The thick mass of hair
was in a tangle of intricate braids around the crown of her head before falling
down her back in one thick braid. She had incredibly long eyelashes she
inherited from her father, along with his perfect cheekbones. Smiling at the
surprise in store for Brennae she said, “We will tell you three together at the
dance. Have fun tonight.”