∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Treyvon sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers against his lips thinking about everything that had happened and what he had learned. The female, Nikhil's True Mate, Mackenzie, while similar to the female he'd briefly met weeks ago, the one the Tornian Emperor had claimed. She was not the same. Her hair color was the major difference, he had never seen hair the color of flame before, and that's what the Emperor's Kim had. Mackenzie's was more a brown and that wasn't uncommon for a Kaliszian, although she had it covering all her head.
None of his warriors had met the other female as they'd been with a different group searching for the Emperor. Only he had seen her. Only he knew what Emperor Vasteri had threatened. Him and Liron, his Emperor. He needed to contact Liron. Leaning forward he entered the code that would connect him directly to his Emperor and friend.
"Treyvon, what are you doing up so late?" Liron asked, knowing that Treyvon was one of his few General's that drove himself relentlessly, trying to make amends for acts he was not responsible for.
"We discovered another site," Treyvon told him.
"Daco!" Liron cursed. "How bad?"
"Bad, the worse yet. Liron..."
Liron didn't like the way his General and trusted friend seemed to hesitate. "What is it Nikhil?"
"They had a female."
"What?!!" Liron exclaimed in shock. "Why? Zaludians can only join with females of their own species."
"She wasn't Zaludian."
"She was Kaliszian?"
"No. Liron... she says they are called 'humans'."
"Humans... I've never heard of them."
"Neither have I but while she is very different, she also resembles the female Emperor Vasteri discovered on the Ganglian ship."
"The one he has declared his Empress?"
"Yes."
"The one that Wray threatened to end all the food transports to us if we offered her sanctuary?"
"Yes, and there is more."
"Tell me."
"She wears Squad Leader Nikhil Kozar's True Mate bead," Treyvon informed him.
Liron's silence didn't surprise Treyvon. He knew his cousin. When surprised he took his time to consider all the new information.
"I informed you of the rumor that we are starting to hear whispers of," Liron finally said.
"That the reason Wray declared her his new Empress is because she is breeding compatible, yes."
"Which makes no sense as Wray refused to take another Empress after the death of Empress Adana, so other Tornians could have offspring."
"That was before the death of his second male," Treyvon said quietly.
"Truth," Liron agreed. "You have seen the bead yourself?"
Liron finally asked the question Treyvon knew was coming. "Yes. There can be no doubt that she is Nikhil's True Mate."
"It has been so long since a Kaliszian has found one," Liron whispered quietly. He had almost given up hope of a Kaliszian ever finding one again.
"Yes."
"It could also create a major problem."
"I know. If she is the same species as the female Wray has claimed," Treyvon started.
"And if she is breeding compatible with the Tornians," Wray continued the thought as he and Treyvon had done since they were young.
"And if the Tornians discover she is here..." Treyvon trailed off.
"They will demand we turn her over to them by threatening our food supply again," Liron finished on a hard note.
"She is the first True Mate for a Kaliszian since the dawn of the Great Infection," Treyvon knew he didn't have to remind Liron of that but he did need to tell him truth. "Nikhil will never allow her to be taken from him. Their bond is already strong even though she has no bead to offer him."
"I would never ask anyone to sacrifice their True Mate, Treyvon. Not even for the betterment of our people."
"So what are we to do?"
"Nothing. Not yet. Right now we don't even know if they are the same species. We also don't know if the new Empress is even with offspring. Until we do, we keep this information to ourselves, just as the Tornians would do if the situation was reversed."
"Alright but I must tell you truth that I do not feel right not informing Nikhil that there may be a threat to his True Mate."
"We do not know there is one, not yet. This is the way it must be, Treyvon, until we know more."
"Alright, but if there comes a time I feel Nikhil needs to be informed I want your permission to tell him." When Liron didn't immediately reply Treyvon pressed harder. "If she were yours, and at risk, you would demand to know."
"Alright but only if necessary. Once the Tornians find out about her there will be no going back.
Chapter Five
Nikhil lay on his side, his Mackenzie in his arms, and knew that if all the Known Universes were to end right then, that he would die a happy male. For all that mattered to him was in his arms. His manno had once tried to explain what it felt like to be so connected to an Ashe, but Nikhil had never truly believed him, even though he'd seen the devotion between his manno and mother.
Now he understood, for there was nothing he wouldn't do for his Mackenzie. Even ignore his General, if it meant she was cared for.
"I suppose you need to get back to your General," Mac said rubbing her cheek against his chest, trying to find the will to move away from him.
"The General and Commander left some time ago, Little One."
"They did?" She raised her head and looking through the open door, saw the room was empty. "Are you going to be in trouble?"
"Trouble?"
"Yes, because I didn't finish answering their questions."
"No, you did fine and answered what you could. The General may want to talk to you again later, but for now, it is fine."
"You're sure?"
"Yes. All you need to do right now is rest."
Mac laid her head back on Nikhil's chest with a tired sigh. She knew she needed to sleep and eat since she couldn't remember the last time she had, but there was still so much she didn't know.
"Nikhil?" she asked quickly.
"Yes?"
"Why couldn't I understand what you were saying earlier when you were talking to the General and Commander?"
"We were speaking Kaliszian, our native language."
"And what are we speaking now?"
"Zaludian."
"Zaludian. How is that possible?" Mac listened carefully, and for the first time realized she wasn't speaking English.
"Did either the Ganglians or Zaludians put a device over your eyes?"
"The Ganglians did. Two of them held down Craig and forced it on him. When they took it off him, Craig could understand them. They tossed the educator at him and left."
"They expected him to use the educator on you?" She didn't see the worried look he gave her.
"Yes. They told him that anyone who didn't agree would be killed. Once it was done, we could understand what the Ganglians were saying, and once we got here the Zaludians, but I never realized we were speaking it."
"You probably weren't amongst yourselves." When she tilted her face up frowning at him, he continued. "It is part of what the educator does. It allows you to understand a language spoken to you and for you to speak it back. If one of your males spoke to you in your language, that is the language you would respond in. You wouldn't even realize it."
"So if I wished to speak my language, you would understand it?" Mac carefully listened to herself and knew she was speaking English. She saw Nikhil frown.
"Is that your language?" he asked in Zaludian.
"Yes," she responded in Zaludian. "Did you understand what I said?"
"No, I'm sorry, Little One."
"But I thought you said..."
"You will only understand and speak the languages programmed into an educator, and it seems the Ganglians only gave you theirs and the Zaludians."
"Will I be able to learn your language?"
"Yes, Little One, and so much mo
re." He gently caressed her cheek. "Tomorrow, if you are feeling up to it, Luol would like to place our educator on you. It will contain all the languages in the Known Universes, and also a history and background on each."
"I will be able to speak and understand you in your language?"
"Yes."
"And you will understand mine?"
"No, as it is not one of the known languages. But with time, if you and your males work with Luol, we should be able to learn and record it so it can eventually be programmed in." He saw her start to chew on her upper lip. "What is wrong, Little One?"
"It's just... I just..."
"What? You can tell me."
"I want to learn your language and know more about... well everything. It’s just I hated having that thing on last time. It was uncomfortable, and I was scared."
"Uncomfortable? What do you mean?" Nikhil's entire body tensed. An educator should never cause discomfort. Had the Ganglian one harmed his Mackenzie?"
"It was hard and cold, and seemed to press so tightly against my temples." She didn't realize she reached up to touch the spot. "I didn't like it."
Nikhil rolled slightly so she was on her back, caged between his massive arms, surrounding her with his protection. "It will not be that way this time, Mackenzie, my vow. You will be safe. I will be at your side the entire time. Luol will make sure the educator fits properly, and it will cause you no discomfort."
"And I will understand things better, like how to open a door?"
"Yes, Little One."
"And what your beads mean?" She reached up touching the braided strands that had fallen over his shoulder.
"It will help you understand, yes. But I will tell you whatever you wish to know about my Suja beads."
"Suja beads... Why do you wear them?"
"All Kaliszians wear them." He shifted to his side, propping himself up on an elbow, then reached behind him to bring all his braids forward so she could see them. "These are my Bloodline beads, which I received during my naming ceremony shortly after my presentation."
"Presentation?"
"When I took my first breath?"
"You mean when you were born. Okay, I understand."
"This bead," he touched the red and amber one on the bottom of the braid, "represents my mother and her bloodline that now runs through me. And this one," he touched the green and amber bead above it, "represents my manno and his blood line."
"Manno... your father?"
Nikhil thought for a moment. "If father means the male whose bloodline you come from, then yes."
"So what does this one represent?" she asked, touching the large dark amber bead above it that was swirled with lighter amber.
"Me. If I am blessed with offspring, I will be able to take a portion of this bead and transfer it to him or her, claiming forever that the offspring is mine."
"And they will be able to carry that piece of you with them. Forever."
"Yes."
Mac thought about that for a moment and realized she wished she had something like that from her father. "So what ones did you get next?"
Nikhil went on to tell her about his beads, about how he earned them, how for certain achievements he received more. The majority of his beads were strung down his center braids and went nearly as high as his clip. These he refused to go into detail about how he had earned them, and only said that they were his Battle beads. Her grandpa had been that way with his medals. He would tell her what battle they were from, and the names of all the men that had been lost and how brave those men had been, but he wouldn't go further than that.
"What about this one?" she touched the single braid that hadn't been pulled over his shoulder. Instead, it brushed his massive bicep that was resting on the bed and held only one bead. A white bead with green swirling through it.
"That is my Ashe bead," he told her in a hushed tone.
"Ashe bead..."
"Yes. It is the only bead I have the power to offer to the female I wish to have my offspring. If she accepts it, she will become my Ashe, my Lady."
"But... then why is everyone addressing me as Ashe then? Why have you called me your Ashe? Why is this," she lifted the bead in her hair, a pine green bead with white swirling in it, "in my hair?"
When Nikhil didn't answer, instead looked uncomfortable, she frowned. "Nikhil?"
"That's my True Mate bead."
"True Mate?"
"Yes."
"Why did you put it on me?"
"I didn't."
"What do you mean you didn't?"
"I cannot give my True Mate bead to a female."
"What?"
"The bead makes that decision."
"The bead... it's alive?" She jerked slightly.
"Not in the way you mean," he quickly reassured her. "It is hard to explain. Suja beads are a reflection of the one wearing them. They absorb their energy and respond accordingly."
"What do you mean?"
Nikhil selected several of his braids and showed them to her. "Do you see how there is a bead at the end of each of these?"
"Yes."
"These are my Elemental beads. They always remain at the bottom of all my braids."
She carefully touched the dark beads, and while they were warm, they didn't seem to respond to her touch the way the one in her hair did. "Alright."
"The beads above them are called Attainment beads. They reflect my accomplishments or milestones that I have achieved in my life. The height of the bead on the braid indicates the worthiness of those accomplishments or milestones."
Mac reached out, taking more of his braids in her hand. Only in the center braid did the beads touch his Elemental beads, and yet there were more beads there and they extended higher than on any other braid.
"These braids are thinner." She caressed the center braids.
"I have been in many battles," he told her quietly. "If it is believed I have performed... well, then I may be awarded more beads. If that happens, the new beads are placed on one of my existing braids. The Elemental beads will then divide, and a new braid will form with the new beads migrating to that braid."
"That... that's amazing."
"It is not this way on your Earth?"
"No. Not even close."
"Then how can you know if you are dealing with someone who is worthy?"
"You have to trust what you see, and your instincts."
"What you see can be manipulated."
"Yes, it can." Mac thought back to one of her only two boyfriends. Derek, who had looked like a nice guy, but turned out to be a total jerk.
"Are you alright?" Nikhil asked.
"Yes. So these can't be manipulated, as you say, or removed?"
"They can, but only for a short period. No more than a day."
"What do you mean?"
"If I wish to thoroughly cleanse my hair, I release my Suja clip, and then I will be able to remove the beads. After I am done, they are replaced."
"How can you remember where they all go?"
"I don't, they do. While I cleanse my hair, the beads will combine. I separate my hair, into that many strands, then place an Elemental bead at the end of each one. They attach themselves, and then I replace my clip and the other beads. Within a day, they will divide and return to their proper position."
"That... that is amazing. Do you do it often?"
"No. Normal cleansing is usually enough as the beads can be moved slightly. It is only if I have been in an intense battle, or there is an important occasion I must attend that I will remove them."
Mac just lay there for several minutes, letting everything he'd said settle in, as her fingers lightly played with his beads. Some were warm, some seemed to glow, others sparkled. But there were a few, mostly the ones on the thinner braids, that were cold and made her think of violence and death. Nikhil's hand reached up and gently pulled her fingers away from them.
"You don't need to touch those," he told her quietly.
"Why do they feel that
way when the others don't?"
"As I said those are my Battle beads, some... reflect moments of the battle."
"You have to carry that with you?"
"Every warrior does, whether he wears the Battle beads of it or not."
"I guess that would have to be true, but I hate to think of you carrying all that weight alone."
Nikhil lowered his forehead to hers, feeling his chest tighten at her words. She saw more than the glory the Battle beads represented; she saw what he had to do to wear them, and the burden he would carry for the rest of his existence. Yet he didn't want her to worry. Lifting his head, he reassured her. "I am strong."
"I can see that," she gently rubbed the muscle on his arm. "But some loads are too much for even the strongest to carry alone."
"That is why, if the Goddess finds a warrior worthy, he will find his Ashe." His finger ran along her cheek again.
"Ashe." Mac reached up and touched the bead still in his hair.
"Yes, but if the Goddess truly wishes to bless a male, she will grant him a True Mate." He reached down and touched his True Mate bead that was now in her hair.
"You still haven't told me how it got into my hair."
"I can't tell you because I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"There was a time, long ago, when many found their True Mate. But since the Great Infection, there hasn't been a single one. Until you." His eyes glowed brighter as he gazed into her eyes, fingering the bead in her hair. "It is said when one meets their True Mate, their bead will transfer to them on its own. I believe... when I carried you on to the transport, my bead recognized you as mine and transferred to you."
"But... I'm not Kaliszian."
"That has never mattered. The Goddess considers us all her children, and, therefore, our True Mate can come from any species."
"I..." The sudden growling of her stomach cut her off and had her blushing.
"What was that?"
"Just my stomach. Ignore it. Tell me more about True Mates."
Nikhil's eyes widened when he realized what she was saying. Of course, she was hungry! He hadn't given her what Luol said she needed.
Food.
Rest.
Cleansing.
He'd done two of those things but had failed the most important one. Goddess, how stupid was he? How could the Goddess trust him with such a precious gift if he wasn't even smart enough to care for her? He was immediately out of the bed and rushing into the outer room.