22. Aizor

Chapter 22

"Ihate leaving them," Van-eesa said as we walked again through the open room with the pods containing the other women.

"They're safe here."

"Are they?" Her hand remained on the top of one of the long cylinders as she looked my way.

"No one would dare challenge the gods to cause them harm."

"But one of them is missing." She peered around frantically. "The red-headed woman."

"Perhaps . . ." Yes, I would say it. "Perhaps she has been sent to her mate like you were."

"We need to find her. Help her."

"She could be anywhere on Zuldrux."

Her shoulders curled forward. "I hope she's okay."

"I could send some of my males to study the area, see if they can locate her."

"Would you?" Hope bloomed in her voice.

"I will."

She squeezed my hand. "Thank you."

"Of course. Are you ready to leave?" I had many plans for the next week. Seven days was not long, but it was better than no days. Could I convince her that she belonged with me for a lifetime?

"Yes, I'm ready to go."

We walked back down the path to the shore, and I blew through the bone, summoning a caipareel. I held my mate in my arms as it graciously gave us a ride back to the opposite shore. At first, Van-eesa appeared pensive, which was a change from surly, though I wasn't sure whether this was a good or a bad sign. I didn't want to ask what was bothering her, though I suspected she was worried about the other woman.

And about remaining with me.

What if she told me she couldn't wait for the seven days to end, that her only goal was to return to her home planet sooner?

We left the caipareel and it eased back into the water, disappearing from view.

Van-eesa watched it go, and when her smile rose, so did mine. "I still can't believe we rode in a giant puffer fish's belly."

While I understood her words, I also didn't. Poof-a fish must be a creature from her home world. Did any of her males rival a Zuldrux warrior?

"We'll return to my clan." I scanned the woods surrounding the lake but saw no concerning movement. Voolon watched us approach, and she didn't appear tense. But I couldn't shake the feeling we were being watched. The sooner I got my mate home and safe among my clan, the better.

Then I could work to win her love.

"If nothing else, I'm grateful I understand your language now," Van-eesa said. "Your god slammed the side of my head, which either knocked some sense into me or changed something in my brain."

"Did you need sense knocked into you?" I asked with a chuckle.

Her laugh joined in. "I might've."

I was grateful she appeared happy about this. Something had changed, and I welcomed it.

I lifted her onto Voolon's back and leaped up behind her, nudging my hepadon to turn and begin the journey home. She soon loped along the path weaving back up the mountain, leaving the valley and my uneasy feeling behind. By the time we reached my clan's territory, the sun had slid down to hover above the horizon. It would be dark soon.

"Are you hungry?" I asked. She must be. I was famished.

"Yes. What's for dinner?"

Even in this, she sounded happy. Had the gods found a way to bring about this change of heart? If so, I'd thank them until my dying day for whatever they'd said.

"I assume we'll eat roast bribard, plus whatever the gods choose to prepare for us." I slid off voolon and helped my mate to the ground, nudging Voolon's flank to urge her to join the herd. "We hunt for meat, and a few select fruits and vegetables, but everything else we eat is gifted to us by the gods."

"I saw the plate ooze from the counter this morning, but I couldn't tell where it came from."

"Let me show you." I extended my hand, holding my breath. Would she brush it aside?

"Yes, show me." With a smile, she linked our fingers together.

We walked to the central dining area, finding almost everyone gone. It was late. Many would have eaten already and returned to their homes. A few sat around the fire blazing in the middle of the open area, and they watched as we passed.

My mate stopped beside Jessia. "We sort of met, but I couldn't communicate with you or tell you how nice it is to meet you. I'm Vanessa."

Van-eesa. Van-essa. Yes, that was it. Vanessa. I repeated the correct pronunciation in my head until it felt natural and smooth.

"You can speak Zuldruxian," Jessia said, looking toward me.

"Today, we traveled to speak with the gods," I said.

"Ah." Jessia nodded wisely. "And what did the gods have to say?"

"That my mate would now understand our language." I wouldn't mention that she might leave me in seven days. That was nearly a lifetime from now. I had plenty of time to show her why she belonged here with me.

Jessia gave Vanessa a tusky grin. "Wonderful. Perhaps you would like to sit with me sometime and tell me stories of where you come from."

"I'd love to." Vanessa's fingers tightened around mine. "I've seen a ton of movies and read many books. I'm not sure where to start. What sort of stories do you want to hear?"

"Stories?" Brulon raced over to join us, his younger brother, Trevar, scrambling behind. "You're going to tell stories?"

"Soon, my youngling." Jessia patted his back. "Our traedor's new mate said she'll share tales from her home with us soon."

The boys looked up at Vanessa in amazement.

"I think I know exactly what story to tell first." Vanessa turned her gaze toward me. The happy look remained in her eyes. Would it stay with her through the next seven days?

"Not now, younglings," I said. "Vanessa is hungry, as am I. We need to eat."

"I promise I'll tell you some stories soon," Vanessa said, stroking first Nuvar's then Brulon's head.

"That's very nice of you. Come along," their mother said, easing toward the open front doorway. "It's nearly time for bed, younglings. Time to take care of your tusks and snuggle in your bed furs."

"Aw, do we have to go to bed right now?" Brulon asked. "I'm almost grown up. Nearly a warrior like Aizor. Put Trevar to bed and let me stay awake longer? I want to practice with my sword so I can defend our clan." He gouged out with the play sword I'd made for him from wood. When he turns fifteen, he'll be gifted with a crystal sword by the gods.

"Bed," she said firmly, sharing a smile with Vanessa. "You can beat the bushes with your sword tomorrow."

With heavy sighs, the boys left with her.

"Children are the same everywhere," my mate said, watching them leave.

"As are males," I said.

A shadow crossed her face. "Not all males but that's a good thing."

She spoke of her hex and his meanness. If only I could avenge her by lobbing off his head. How could anyone treat this amazing female poorly? She was not only lovely to look upon, but she was kind.

Sorrow shadowed her face, and I wanted to make her feel better again. But sometimes, a person had to allow the emotions to come to the surface. Only then could they be broken up and sorted through, the worst of them tossed aside.

We left Jessia to enjoy the fire and walked into the dining area, finding it empty of Zuldruxians.

"There's a big pan of food sitting on the counter. Did the gods leave that?" The fluffy hairlines above her eyes lifted.

"That's probably bribard prepared by Muzzire. As I said, our gods don't provide meat."

"Vegetarian gods?"

"I don't know that term, but they only gift us with vegetables, fruits, and grains."

"In crystal form."

I chuckled at her pout. "You enjoyed the sweet branch on the island."

"It tasted like candy. Some of this morning's breakfast offerings were like eating rocks."

I stopped by the counter, ignoring the bowls sitting next to the pot of stew. "Watch."

She frowned at the empty counter.

Two plates appeared holding food unlike anything I'd seen before.

"Tacos," Vanessa breathed. "They heard me. Tacos!" She flung her arms up into the air and started shifting her lush behind, twirling around. "Tacos. Tacos! I love you, gods." She shook her hands in the air. "You hear that? Truly, I love you!" Stopping, she grinned up at me, her arms flopping against her sides. "If they really want to make me happy," she lifted her voice to a shout, "they'll also give me coffee."