Chapter 5

Lise

Not long later, Sara and Cassi tore themselves away from Nugget to show me around the Thrail. Roads, which I had observed before, were built to work through the valley. Wide, strong bridges arched over the narrow river, spanning no more than twelve feet, at frequent intervals. Buildings varied in size and were built around small public areas, like squares, where business and conversation happened. Gardens were grown in every free space. Overall, it was a beautiful and fertile oasis in the middle of an otherwise brown, rocky landscape.

It was interesting to see different alien species here. Ships of many designs came and departed from the landing pads set up on the hill, loading cases and crates onto their vessels. During my research of Mitra, I learned that each Thrail had not only unique customs, but also different products that they traded. Thrail Tyvor one was one of most diverse in terms of goods produced. The valley was apparently a perfect environment for rare plants and processed goods that were in demand by other species.

Sara and Cassi took me to the dining hall first. It was the largest building I’d seen so far in the Thrail. The straight-walled building looked as welcoming as a fortress, and looking through the doorway revealed a massive space that opened up like the world’s most intimidating school cafeteria. Even Cassi gave me a reassuring look before we went all the way inside.

Only a few people were eating this time of day. Tables were arranged in rows, with large chairs to accommodate equally large Mitran bodies. At the far end, massive cauldrons held delicious-smelling soup that was being prepared for the next meal of the day. I assumed that would be dinner since it was the afternoon. Five very capable-looking Mitrans were cutting meat and adding it to the pots while laughing and talking to each other. Ovens lined the wall behind them, mingling the scent of baking bread with the rich soup.

“Are you hungry?” Cassi asked me. “I’m sure they have something. They always do.”

I thought about asking, What about snacks? There were probably no snacks. Besides, I wasn’t hungry yet. I shook my head. “No, I’ll wait for dinner. Are there assigned seats in this place?”

Cassi laughed. “Actually, there are, sort of. See that giant table all the way in the front? That’s the warlord’s table. He and his favorite warriors sit there, and at the ones around it. Anywhere else is fair game, but a lot of Mitrans have their favorite spots. They won’t ask you to move, though. If you want to sit farther away from the action, the far end, over there, is a safe—and quieter—spot.”

I filed that away as a mental note. It would probably be best to arrive to dinner a little late, to see what table was empty and not have to face the displeased glower of a Mitran male who didn’t want to forfeit his favorite seat. As a human journalist with an annoying flycam following her everywhere, no one was going to want to sit with me.

“Come on, let’s show her the bathhouse, Sara.” Cassi grinned. “That’s my favorite place in the whole Thrail.”

Sara nudged her with an elbow. “Except for your bedroom.”

Cassi laughed. “That’s true.” She winked at me. “Second favorite spot.”

On Earth, Mitran males had achieved near mythical status for their rumored abilities to pleasure in bed. None of this had been substantiated by an interview, of course. And I had no intention of lowering my investigation to that level, either. I was no gossip columnist. At least, that’s what I kept trying to tell myself as I gazed around at the display of muscles and wondered what these males were like in bed.

We departed the dining hall and walked a short distance to a simple brown building. It looked as nondescript as anything, except for a weird, cone-shaped roof. We went inside and I felt warm, humid air with a light mineral scent to it. Towels on shelves lined opposite walls, and staircases led downward into the underground.

“This is where you wear your robe.” As the words left Sara’s mouth, a woman emerged from the lower level, dressed in a robe exactly like the one Sara had given me. Her skin was dewy, her hair damp, and her feet were bare. She smiled and dropped a wet towel in a bin before exiting into the cooler air outside.

“Come on,” said Sara. “We’ll show you around.”

I followed them down the stairs and could immediately see why this was Cassi’s second favorite place. It was an underground cavern, carved from what looked like a combination of ancient planetary shifts and Mitran workings. Pools, some bright blue and steaming, and some clear and placid, pockmarked the floor in a series of large pits. The air was hot and moist, like a sauna. The sound of trickling water could be heard everywhere, as well as gentle murmurs, voices, and occasional spots of laughter.

“These are for women only,” said Sara. “The males have their own baths on the other side of that wall.” She pointed to where the pools ended and an uneven, rocky wall edged the room. Multicolored lichen grew in swirls and streaks along the ceiling and walls, making the room look painted. Lights hung from the ceiling in dropped orbs that let out a low, relaxing light.

“The hottest pools are over there.” Cassi pointed to the right-hand side of the chamber. “They get cooler over there.” Predictably, the left-hand side. “There are warm waterfalls at the back, behind that outcropping, for showers. You’ll find soaps and lotions back there, too.”

“We can come here anytime we want?” I asked, still in awe of my surroundings. The flycam’s lens was fogging up, sending out a ping for me to come and clean it, but I ignored it. In fact… I reached up and flicked the camera off. The orb went dark and fell into my hand. No need for it to record anyone’s naked body when they got out of a pool.

“Anytime, yes,” said Sara. “But water levels are really low in the middle of the night. They work like the tides on Earth, except they drain through the pores in the rock. They refill in the early morning. It keeps the water really clean, but if you’re all about a midnight swim?” She shrugged. “You might just get a foot soak.”

I laughed, delighted by this place. “Do all Thrails have one of these?”

“No, it’s unique to ours.” I did not miss the possessive tone of her words. These women felt pride and protectiveness over this place. That spoke volumes about the males and the society they had set up.

“No guys try to sneak in or peep in?”

Cassi’s eyes went wide. “Oh, no. Never. The warlord wouldn’t allow that.”

“Amazing,” I murmured.

“Well, those are the basics,” said Sara, leading us back to the stone steps that would bring us up to ground level. “One of us will stop by tomorrow and show you where we live, so you can visit.”

“Thank you.” My footfalls rang loud on the stone steps. The others wore softer shoes, but I was still in my city heels and tailored clothes. In fact, all the clothes I brought looked like these. I looked at Cassi’s and Sara’s comfy pants and pullovers with a pinch of envy. Why had I brought only professional clothes with me? I did have that robe, now, but that was it. “Where do you guys shop?” I gestured to their attire.

“There are shops in the main square,” Sara replied. “It’s near the warlord’s home and that’s also where most of the trading gets done. Do you have universal credits? They’re accepted here, as well as the Mitran currency.”

Hans, my editor from Earth Life News and Galactic Report, had given me a decent stipend in UCs to buy whatever I needed, in addition to my new and improved salary. If I was going to spend six months here, I wanted to blend in a little.

Once outside again, I turned the flycam back on and let it float. The air was still clean and crisp. The Thrail felt a little brighter to me. I turned my face up to the sky, which was darkening. The red glow of the nearest planet painted everything crimson and I closed my eyes, letting a rare, quiet peace come over me.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Sara said softly.

“I had no idea.” My lips curved. “I get it now. It’s damn near perfect here.”

“Aisha was from a big city, like you. She said between her job and her life, she’d gotten sick.” Sara’s voice was still soft. “She came here to get free, maybe fall in love. Have a family. Maybe do all the things she didn’t think would happen in her life on Earth.”

“And she’s happy?” But I knew the answer.

“Yes. Not everyone loves it here. Some have left.” Sara tugged my sleeve. “Come on. Let’s get you back to your house.”

My mind tuned out whatever she said after that as I became conscious of something. An awareness. I slowly turned, feeling watchful eyes on my profile.

I sucked in a breath. There he was. Standing on one of the bridges that spanned the narrow river. The sky made his red skin look molten. He wore the thick, leather pants that many Mitrans wore and a hide harness that crossed over his body and held a blade in its sheath. Amazingly, his feet were bare. His gaze was dark, inscrutable, but there was a line of tension through his body that radiated across the space between us.

“Oh, my,” Cassi said, though I only vaguely heard her.

Sara followed up with, “Shh.”

Time quieted and my attention focused on the powerful male regarding me. For a moment, I thought he was going to cross over to me, but he inclined his head, ever so slightly, and walked away, offering a divine view of his back side, which was just as easy to look at as his front. I was stunned for a moment.

I blinked and tuned back in to my surroundings to find Sara and Cassi staring at me.

“He never does that,” Cassi said in a whisper.

“What?” I asked, though my voice was raspy.

“Look at a woman. Really look. He’s never shown interest in any of us.”

I shook my head, as much to get my wits back as to refute her. “A look hardly counts as interest.”

Sara cocked her head as we continued walking toward my little house. “That wasn’t just any look.”

A bubble of panicked excitement moved through my chest. The warlord was not interested in me. Not in the way they were thinking. Probably? “He just expected me to make a scene or break something by now.”

Cassi chuckled with a delighted look in her eye. “You’re going to break something, alright—his heart, when you leave for Earth.”

“Okay, now you’re just terrifying her.” Sara hooked an arm through Cassi’s. “Look at her face. She’s as red as a Mitran.”

“We’re all as red as Mitrans in the afternoon light.” But Cassi gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. He’s not going to haul you off to his lair. He won’t do anything unless you initiate something.”

“And even then, the warlord of the Thrail isn’t going to choose an annoying journalist as his wife,” I said reasonably, but even I heard the shrill edge to my voice.

Sara held up a hand and nodded sagely. “Right. Exactly. Nothing to panic about. Look—there’s your place. We’ll leave you to get some rest and cuddle with that cute cat of yours. You’ve had had a long day.”

I waved absently, unwilling—no, unable—to even conceive of myself doing much in the warlord’s presence except sputter apologies and perhaps curtsy. Although I did hope he’d grant me an interview. “Yes. Good. I need…sleep.” And a cuddle with my cat.