No Words Alone (18 page)

Fast forward to Xera’s day. The GE and
Intergalactic Council were talking, and the IC at least, pushed for
peaceful relations. The Scorpio were talking. No blood had been
shed. She was hopeful that they could work things out, or at least
part with civil nods. She was working on a way to introduce
cooperation. What they needed was neutral ground, a place to
interact face to face. Someone had to suggest that.

Outside the window she could see a large
planet. The orb itself was a pale lavender and dark purple swirl of
deadly gas, inhospitable to life. Seventh in its solar system, it
had sixteen moons, one of which was slightly bigger than Earth’s
and had rings of its own. Its name was Betlefixh. The closest she
could pronounce it was “Bettlefish.”

“Namae,” she said absently, still staring at
the moon on her computer screen. “What do you think it would take
to convince your brother and father to set up a moon station
there?”

Surprised, Namae blinked the screen. “What?
There? Why would they want to?”

“They claim this solar system, don’t
they?”

“Yes, but no one lives this far out. We
haven’t needed to colonize it yet, as this isn’t a fertile
system.”

“Yes, but it’s on the border between our
peoples. Imagine how convenient it would be to start...oh, a
trading post here. The land doesn’t have much value yet, but what
if people of both races were stationed in the area, lived and
worked together? What do you think would happen then?”

“War?” she said doubtfully.

Xera grinned ruefully. “Maybe. Maybe, though,
something better would happen. Our races aren’t that different, you
know.”

“Hm,” Namae offered, noncommittal. “What
would we trade, though? What would be worth coming all the way out
here for? Your world is a long way off, isn’t it?”

“Information, for a start. My people are curious;
that’s why we explore. I bet your people would like to know what we
do about our section of space as much as we would love to see what
lies inside yours. If nothing else, the Interplanetary Council
should know about the threat of the Khun’tat. They would also make
a better effort to police the GE if their allies were threatened.
You would be one of the herd, after all.”

“I don’t like that analogy.”

“You’re right. What would be a better
one?”

Namae thought. “Best leave it at allies. If
you say anything else, it will definitely sour my brother. You
mentioned information. Are you planning to send scientists
here?”

“Good idea. Astrographers, people who want to
study wormholes (imagine if they learned to send drones through!)
maybe even artists and musicians. Of course there would be all the
other people required to support a moon station, too. This could
really work.” Her eyes gleamed with excitement. Her family could
actually visit her in a neutral place like that.

What would her husband think of her idea?

He listened attentively when she presented
it. She made sure to use her most businesslike approach. It wasn’t
difficult. She’d been honing her bargaining skills on tradesmen
while working at her family’s inn. This was just another type of
sale.

When she was finished, Ryven sat back in his
chair and considered silently. She knew the value of silence and
waited. She tried not to let her cold sweat distract her. Either
the idea had merit or it didn’t. Maybe he wouldn’t think they
needed a whole moon base. Maybe he’d think an annual summit meeting
would be enough. Maybe he’d scotch the whole idea and continue as
they were, with ships patrolling both sides of the border and the
GE playing chicken with them.

Finally he looked at her. His expression warm
but shuttered, he said, “The idea is worth bringing to my father.
He may take it into consideration. It would depend greatly on the
reaction of the GE and Interplanetary Council, however. If they are
not in agreement...” He shrugged. If it didn’t happen, he would not
be heartbroken.

She gave a small smile. It was a start.
“Thank you. That’s very open-minded of you.” It couldn’t hurt to
give the compliment, and she was aware of the stretch this was for
him. “I can only hope all parties are as reasonable.”

His father found the idea, “Palatable, but
only just.” The Interplanetary Council was cautiously eager, and
the GE expressed neutrality, not quite willing to let go of its
grudge. Of course it took a full week of negotiations to arrive at
this agreement. Things promised to get even more sticky as they
hammered out who would pay for what, how the station would be
designed, policed and executed. Xera bargained with tact or
fierceness, differing based on need. By the time an agreement had
been hammered out, she was exhausted.

“You need to go home and rest,” Ryven
informed her the night they signed the treaty. “This constant
wrangling is leaving you pale.” He tucked the bedclothes over her
shoulder and lay down beside her.

“It’s the lack of sun,” she told him,
snuggling close with a yawn. “We all look pale. Besides, you wanted
an ambassador. It’s demanding work, but I think I’m doing a good
job.”

His frown was fleeting, but she saw it.
“What?”

He glanced at her then looked away. “You have
done well. It’s only that I can’t picture you working this hard
once we have children.”

That banished her sleepiness. She sat up.
“Gee whiz, what’s the rush? We haven’t been married a month! Who
cares if I work hard right now? At least I’m doing something useful
with my life. That’s more than a lot of people could say.” For that
matter, she wasn’t ready to have children, but that was a subject
for another time. Surely they had contraceptives here. She’d just
quietly use them when her biannual dose of birth control wore off.
Ryven wouldn’t need to know.

“Being a wife and a mother
is
useful.
Who do you think shapes the destiny of the next generation? Having
a mother close is vital in a strong society. You can’t work
yourself into the ground and still expect to give the best of
yourself to your children, your family.” He held up a hand to
forestall her protest. “As for your contributions now, though, I am
well pleased. My father has also mentioned his pleasure.”

Mollified, she asked, “He did?”

Ryven kissed her temple. “He said I chose
well.”

“Huh!” She relaxed into the mattress. “I like
him pretty well myself.” She looked at her husband in
consideration. “For a man who worked so hard to make me an
ambassador, you already sound as if you’ve planed my retirement.
What do you plan to do for the next ambassador, kidnap another
woman?”

He frowned at her.

She gave a half shrug. “It’s a fair
question.”

There was a long pause. “I suppose you’ll
have to remain in an advocatory position. As you’re married into
the Lord Governor’s family (to his heir, no less) that shouldn’t be
a problem,” he said dryly.

Startled, she looked at him. “You’re his
heir? As in, you’ll be Lord Governor someday?”

“Of course.”

She stared at him. Somehow, she’d never
dreamed of that. After all, the man was a starship commander and
people didn’t inherit titles where she was from. She wasn’t excited
about being the wife of a ruler. What did she know about such a
lifestyle?

“This bothers you?” he said carefully.

“It’s very unexpected,” she temporized. “I’m
not sure what to make of it.”

He raised a brow. “The Lord Governor’s wife
has much influence. There were women who pursued me just for the
hope of such status.”

She grimaced at him.

He shook his head with the hint of a smile.
“I’m not trying to mock you, wife, just understand you. You are
here and they are not. It’s only that I expected more
enthusiasm.”

She cleared her throat. “I’ll see what I can
do. I have to get used to this, though. I’m unsure what to expect
of such a life. It’s...daunting.”

His brow cleared. “Ah. You’re frightened of
the unknown. That’s not unusual.”

Was he being just a touch patronizing? She
frowned at him. “I’m concerned. It’s a reasonable reaction.”

“Of course.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re being a little too
soothing. I don’t like it.”

Ryven’s lips twitched. “Moody, aren’t you?”
He blocked the pillow she swung at him. “Temper, O governor’s wife.
Dignity.”

Xera snorted. “You’re not the governor yet.”
She attacked him.

He didn’t even pretend to wrestle. He flipped
her neatly on her back and rolled on top. It put him in an
interesting position. “Little fighter. Let’s see if I can tame
you.” He slid inside her.

She gasped. He held still, to let her fully
absorb the sensation, then sharply thrust. Her sharp inhalations
soon mixed with his slower, heavy breaths. These sounded like a doe
in a thicket being devoured by a lion. And there were similarities
of situation. Xera was the doe, pinned by the weight of the hunter.
His mouth was on her, over her,
in
her, tasting and
devouring, her mouth, her breasts, her….

“Oh, yes! Ohhh
, Rye!
”

Oh, yes. There were similarities.

In the end Xera just lay there, too spent to
reach for a blanket as her lover lapped her in the afterglow. She
enjoyed the slow caresses of his tongue, the languid sweep of his
hand. She fell asleep with his fingers tucked inside her, the feel
of his naked skin under her cheek. Maybe he had a point, she
thought hazily. Being a full-time wife might have its
advantages.

She was in a fog most of the next morning.
Her husband’s insistence of sleeping with his fingers intimately
upon her had caused a very restless night. They’d awoken several
times, and now she was tender and too sated to do more than stare
fuzzily at the Scorpio version of tea. She held her cup’s warm
weight in her hand and looked dreamily into nothing.

Ryven leaned over the back of the couch and
growled in her ear as he kissed her. “Those kind of looks will land
you right back in bed.”

“You have to go to work,” she scoffed with a
smile. “You said so yourself.”

He grunted. “Spoilsport. I might take a long
lunch, though.”

She looked at him archly. “And I might take a
long nap. You didn’t let me sleep last night.”

He grinned. “You slept; just not for
long.”

“Your fault.”

“You didn’t mind.” He kissed her quickly.
“Rest today.”

“Hm.” She planned to, but she had other
things to do as well. She wanted to start a journal so she’d
remember things when she got another chance to send her family a
message through the wormhole. As much as she liked to daydream, it
was unlikely that her family would ever visit the proposed moon
base. She’d probably have to heavily edit the journal when she was
done, but that was all right. She’d read that journals were good
therapy, and she could use the introspection.

She also needed a list of goals. What did she
want to do with her life? Things had changed radically for her and
she desperately needed a point of focus. The moon base had provided
that, which was one of the reasons she’d thrown herself into it.
But where was she most needed next?

An opportunity arose as she observed Namae in
the officer’s mess. The whole habit of her sister-in-law playing
servant grated, and she was determined to change it. Xera had been
forced to order the girl to sit at the table and eat with her as
she had tea. Now the girl sat with her shoulders hunched and
avoided the eye of anybody who looked politely their way. The whole
thing was just sickening.

Xera had enough. "For pity's sake, sit up
straight, will you? Even monks act like they have a spine, and they
are far more penitent then you are. Though, if it will make you
feel better, we can see about getting you a hair shirt. Why you
feel like serving the sentence for someone else's crime is beyond
me."

Namae looked up with wounded eyes.

"Don't try that on me," Xera said in
exasperation. "I'm not your father or your brothers that puppy dog
eyes will convince. I'm sure they enjoy the way you punish
them."

Namae sat bolt upright. “Punish them? How am
I doing that?"

"Please. Do you think they enjoy the
impression you're leaving? You make it seem as if they’re punishing
you for what your brother-in-law did. You make them look bad." She
didn't bother to keep her voice down. A few of the nearby men
slanted looks at them.

Namae sent her a hushing look. "Please!"

"Then sit up and act like a princess. If
you've forgotten your lessons on how to be one, I’ll be glad to let
you join me in the deportment classes I asked your brother to
arrange for me. They are almost as much fun as boot camp, but one
of us ought to come out of them looking as we learned how to behave
in public." She took a disgruntled sip of tea. "Really girl, have
some pride! I thought princesses were supposed to be snootier than
this."

"I am not snooty," Namae said in stiff-backed
outrage.

Xera smiled with satisfaction and sipped her
tea. “Now that’s more like it. I was beginning to think your
brothers had inherited all the moxie in your family."

"What is that?" the young woman asked
suspiciously.

Aware that she had to maintain appearances,
Xera lowered her voice. She waggled her brows and leaned forward
slightly. "Manly bits."

Namae looked positively offended. “That’s
awful!” It was hard to say if it was the sentiment or the
description she disliked.

"It would be if it were true. I'm happy to
say I don't believe it is." Xera set down her cup. "Come on, let's
go.” She waited until they were in relative privacy in the
corridors before asking casually, “So, who’s your fancy?”

Namae looked at her suspiciously. "What do
you mean?"

Xera smiled. "Who do you like? Which men do
you think are handsome? Don't be shy, we’re sisters now. Who else
am I going to have girl talk with?"