Striker (29 page)

There was a story there, but Ashari did not press. There would be time enough for tales later. "You seem uncomfortable. Are you uncertain of me, or is it something else altogether? I would have you speak frankly, Dargon. You will soon be mated,"—she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye—"I guess in a way you already are, but soon your union will be official. You will become a part of House Vondorian, and I would have us start out on the right foot."

Dargon seemed to contemplate her words before answering. "I agree, but this is not a conversation for public consumption. Warlord Sohm'lan bid me hold my tongue until he could sit down with your family."

Ashari glanced at Sohm'lan, who kept the customary half-step behind her as they walked to the edge of the landing pad. Valdor informed her earlier that there was urgent news Sohm'lan refused to give over the open airways. She turned her attention back to Dargon. "Valdor has set aside time later today. When we get back to the city, we will meet with him and hear this news of yours."

When they were halfway across the tarmac, a group of riders on strange beasts bypassed the vehicles waiting to transport the Mar'Sani to Haven. Ashari heard the rumors of the returned Valuzial Guardians, but had yet to see them. The Fal'Amoric people stayed in a temporary camp outside the capital, which meant that the guardians did not venture into the city.

Six creatures loped toward them. The beasts were hairless, striped with varying shades of brown and black. The tail curved over the back of the creature, the bulbous tip spiked. Intelligent, violet gazes searched the crowd, but they never wavered from their path toward Zeus.

Their leader rode in the center. The female, who resembled Zeus, did not slip Ashari's notice, drawing out an instinctual possessiveness she struggled to contain. Valdor had warned her that the Fal'Amorics had identified Zeus as one of theirs. He had also attempted to reassure her all would be well, telling her it might help Zeus to know where he came from. She understood, truly she did, but Zeus was her youngling. She would do what was necessary to ensure he was happy, but she would not stand by and allow people who threw him away to try and reclaim him.

The guardian reached a hand-like paw up and assisted the female to the ground. Her dress of black feathers caught in the wind to billow about her, resembling a flock of birds taking flight. The lavender corset sparkled with gems that contrasted with the layered, boned necklace and the wood-and-horned headdress. No matter how Ashari viewed the ridiculous outfit, she did admire the quiet strength she saw within the female.

The Monticore allowed her through their line without question, which caused Ashari to scowl.

"Dargon! Is Zeus hurt?"

"No, Athena. He is sleeping," Dargon replied.

The female, Athena, gazed affectionately at Zeus, but when she attempted to touch him, Ashari hissed a warning. She met Athena's surprised gaze with the narrowed eyes and a stern expression of slight aggression. She would not bare her teeth in challenge—yet.

Ashari straightened her shoulders as Athena gave her an assessing look. Dargon stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Ashari, not that she needed the protection. But Athena would.

"Princess Athena, I would like to introduce Empress Ashari Vondorian."

The corners of Athena's mouth tightened as if she tasted something sour. "Then you must be a part of his adoptive family."

"You are mistaken. On Atlainticia, we do not adopt people as you would adopt a pet. We take people into our families. They are as flesh and blood to us as those we have birthed. Zeus is my young, he suckled at my breast, he bears our name, and he swims where none but the Mar'Sani can."

Athena's ice-colored gaze blazed with anger. "You believe he will not return to his people?"

Ashari felt Dargon's gaze on her. When she turned her attention to him, his stance said that her answer was important to him. "We raised our son to be good, brave, and just. He has a noble heart. He knows what he wants and does not hesitate to go after it." She turned back to Athena. "Make no mistake, I may have raised my son well, but I will drop all accoutrements of civilization and morality to protect my young. I know every detail of what was done to him by his
people
before Poseidon laid him at our doorstep. He has a forgiving heart. I am his meme: I do not forget."

Zeus twitched, cutting off any retort Athena would have given. Ashari hurried to his side when he called her name.

"Meme?" Zeus rolled his head in her direction as if he knew exactly where to find her. "You are upset, I can feel it." The hoarseness of his voice concerned her.

When she reached his side, she ran a hand over his hair, the bristly texture tickling her palm. "Everything is fine. I am with you now. You need to rest." Zeus’s eyelids fluttered closed at her touch and soon he dozed again.

"Let us get him inside to comfortable accommodations." Dargon courteously placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. His posture was not as stiff as before. What did she say or do to cause such a changed in his behavior toward her? "Zeus once told me he was so well-loved by his family that he never questioned who or what he was."

Maybe she was foolish to worry another would lay claim to her son and attempt to steal him away from his family. She looked at the capsule where Canry rested. It had been done once; it could happen again if she did not stay vigilant.

Dargon patted her hand in a reassuring manner as they moved away to make room for the brothers to be placed on the transport. "I have not met Canry, but Alpha has. He says Zeus is fond of him, and as protective of Canry as he is of the twins. In their own way, your sons fought well in battle. You and the emperor would be proud of them."

Dargon's kind words eased the pang in her heart slightly. She desperately wanted to reconnect with Canry and yet she feared facing him. She had lost him as a youngling. How could he forgive her for that?

The ride down the mountain went much smoother than the walk up. Ashari escorted Dargon to the suite he would share with Zeus, and temporarily with Canry as well. She had to leave her sons for a brief time to meet with Warlord Sohm'lan and the rest of the family.

Rounding the corner to the meeting rooms, she came upon Athena, and her own set of bodyguards, who apparently awaited her. Ashari's footsteps slowed as she approached, unsure what the princess of the Fal'Amorics would want of her other than an argument.

Athena bowed low from the waist. "Empress Ashari, I would like to apologize for my brash words and quick temper earlier. I can understand how you would feel about my family after finding Zeus. Since meeting Zeus, I, myself, have questioned my parents' thoughts and motives and I cannot come up with an answer that would not make me despise them for what they have done. I will not forgive their actions, either. This does not change the fact I grew up hoping I would see both my brothers again, nor does Zeus’s,"—Athena's eyes glistened and she blinked rapidly, turning her head away from Ashari—"denial of family ties cause me to adore him any less. Even though it hurts, I understand. I do." The princess turned back to face Ashari. "The Mar'Sani, House Vondorian, have given him what the Fal'Amoric could not. For that, I will be forever grateful. As the de facto ruler of the Fal'Amoric, since the elders have not been found, I offer a treaty of alliance to the Mar'Sani. Maybe, hopefully, you will allow me to visit the beautiful planet Zeus cannot stop talking about." The wary hope in the female's eyes ...

Ashari released a pent-up breath before bowing in respect to Athena. "I will speak to the emperor regarding your offer. I think he will be agreeable to such an alliance. And ... you would be welcomed to visit Atlainticia."

"After my coronation, I will have the papers drawn up. Thank you for your generosity—with everything."

Athena spun on her heel and strode away, but not before Ashari glimpsed the trembling lip or the silent tears.

"Empress, all have arrived." Sohm'lan stood in the meeting room doorway. Behind him, she glimpsed the Galactic Emperors and the Crown Princes. It seemed they waited only for her.

Ashari unbuckled her weapon's belt and handed it to the guard at the door. She needed this meeting to be over quickly so she could return to her two youngest sons. Judging by the expressions she glimpsed when she stepped through the door, she would not get her wish.

Zeus groaned when he rolled over. His muscles felt stiff and sore, as if he had slept in the same position for far too long. The sleeping platform seemed softer than usual. He cracked an eyelid, not ready to rise, but the muffled voices stirred his curiosity. He could not imagine where in Dargon's cabin someone could be that he would not be able to hear them clearly.

The view of a well-appointed sleeping chamber shoved his lingering sleepiness away. He did not recognize the room decorated in black and yellow, which was opulent, yet tasteful. Soft lamplight in the far corner was the only illumination. He attempted to recall how he came to be under the huge canopy of heavy fabrics, dressed in sleepwear matching the colors of the room. His gaze fell upon the mother-of-pearl capsule, his memories of landing on Valespia, and the ensuing battle came back to him.

How long had he been out? Zeus rose from the bed and stretched some of the tightness out of his muscles before heading to the lavatory. He looked longingly at the waterfall shower, but opted for the expediency of the sonic shower. Wrapped in an oversized towel, he returned to the sleeping chamber to search for clothing.

"I hung your uniforms in the armoire."

Zeus started at the soft voice that came from the shadows near the tall windows. Another light switched on, revealing Canry perched on the edge of the window sill, almost completely obscured by the heavy black velvet curtains.

He moved to his brother's side, searching Canry's face for any sign of his former exhaustion. His lips were pinched with stress, but otherwise he appeared recovered.

"Why do you sit in the shadows? You should have woken me." Zeus followed Canry's gaze out the window to the placid pool of water off the stone balcony. There, floating on the surface, was Nethus, his austere expression gone, replaced by one of intense longing.

He resisted drawing Canry into an embrace, worried his brother would once again disappear into the waters. Canry lifted his hand and pressed his palm to the glass as he held Nethus's gaze.

"You gave me the strength to complete my task. You needed the rest just as much as I did." Canry dropped his hand and turned his brilliant green gaze on Zeus. "Besides, it afforded me a reason to be a coward."

He drew Canry away from the window, noticing for the first time that his brother wore formal attire in shades of deep blue. "What do you mean?"

"Meme is out there." Canry glanced at the tall double doors leading to the sitting room. His hand trembled slightly in Zeus’s before pulled away, shoving his fists into his trouser pockets.

"Do you not wish to see her?" Was Canry afraid to see Meme? Zeus did not understand why Canry was reluctant.

Canry's expression crumpled a little before he quickly schooled his features into an expressionless mask. "Yes," he whispered.

"Then why are you still here? You did not need to wait for me."

Canry pulled his hands out of his pockets, holding them in front of Zeus to show the leathery yellow skin slashed by sharp-tipped, blue-green scaled stripes starting at the back of his hand to flow up his arm, disappearing under the sleeve of the crisply-pressed dress shirt.

"I am not who she remembers. Once I looked the same as them, with their black scales and eyes the color of the sun."

Zeus sat him on the settee, taking a place on the edge next to Canry, covering the hands Canry glared at. He understood Canry, his worries, the fear, and the apprehension of what others would see when they looked at him. But never once had Zeus agonized over the family's acceptance, at no time had they let Zeus down, or made him feel of ignoble character or blood lineage. If he could coax Canry out of the room, bring him before their family, Canry would see for himself that they loved him, too, just as he was. "And I am a soft-skinned, short, ridgeless, tailless human." He smiled gently when Canry met his gaze. "Well, not as human as I once thought. They love me unconditionally. Even when I was blind. You are their son, their brother, and you have been missed. You worry about a ridge when you have a red-tipped spiked crown instead. Any who glance at you will know you for the prince you are."

A smile ghosted across Canry's lips. "Says the male who killed a hunter with one stroke."

"And your voice ensnared hundreds of Humans, and encouraged the Mar'Sani warriors." Zeus stood. "We are both worthy of the Vondorian name and well-loved. Now come. Let us dress and rescue Dargon from Meme."

*~*~*

Ashari sat on the settee and watched Zeus’s future mate stare out the window. He seemed uncomfortable, even though he greeted Azaes and Mestor with familiarity. She supposed Dargon could be enraptured by the view. The capital, Haven, was the city of a thousand waterfalls. In simpler times, Haven was one of the most romantic cities in the galactic alliance. Maybe he planned secret interludes with her son. She imagined the two—three—of them had not had much downtime since they met. But she did not believe Dargon contemplated a secret getaway. He seemed to be deep in thought, or maybe he spoke to his symbiote, Alpha.

She glanced at the dark green torque sitting on Dargon's collar bone. The Alpha-Zetamites were legend in certain circles. Considered fierce when crossed, although the list of rile-worthy trespasses seemed small, they acted completely without mercy when those lines were crossed. She took a contemplative sip of her honey wine. If what she read was true, both the Dar Massaga and the Alpha-Zetamite were worthy mates for Zeus.

The men in her family sat in a circle of chairs, Valdor between Azaes and Mestor. They still discussed the information Sohm'lan had given them regarding the treachery brewing. The list of Houses who would like to see Valdor unseated was short. Those Houses were the same ones causing problems before Zeus became a part of the family. They latched on to Zeus’s perceived ancestry as just another reason the Vondorians should be deposed. Would the news of Zeus’s biological race infuriate those houses? The knowledge he was in line to not only Atlainticia's throne, but the Fal'Amoric and Galactic thrones as well, should cool a few tempers. His performance on the battlefield may also put to rest other rumors, but with House Cordyl stirring tempers, who knew how people would react.