Chapter Seven

Kalquor

Betra smiled at Resan as his Dramok motioned for him to approach the door to Clan Seot's home. Resan probably did so because he didn't want the responsibility of being the first to greet Shalia, should she answer the summons. Betra chose to give his clanmate the benefit of a doubt and concluded he was being deferential because of the former relationship he'd had no part of.

There was no need to press the door announce to alert Clan Seot they had visitors. After all, theirs was the sole home dug into the rocky island off the capital city's shore. Shalia had clanned well, though it had been a side-effect of her falling very much in love.

Which was what I wanted for her when we ended as lovers, Betra had a moment to think, then the unobtrusive door set in stone disappeared to reveal Anrel.

"Unca Betra!" the nine-year-old squealed and flung herself in his arms.

He chuckled to hear her still using the pronunciation from when she'd learned to speak. "Hey! Who is this grown-up beauty? You can't be my little baby niece, young lady," he said, swinging her up with a laugh.

She had indeed grown since their last visit. Despite having a human mother, Anrel appeared to be fully Kalquorian. Her black hair was to her waist, and her blue-purple eyes were bright. She was also taller than her human and many of her hybrid contemporaries.

"I haven't been a baby in a long time," she chirped, tossing her head imperiously. "Hi, Unca Resan and Unca Oses."

"Hello, loveliest girl. You've grown to be quite the lady, bajoni kitama ." Resan was no fan of Shalia, but he was unreservedly fond of her children. He pressed a gentle kiss to the beaming face of his honorary "beloved niece," as he'd called her.

Anrel had a moment to squeeze his neck before Oses swept her away. "What about this old unca?" he rumbled. "Have I been missed at all?"

"Every day." She inspected the rugged features. "No new scars? Good."

He chuckled. "You'd deny a warrior his marks of honor, child?"

"I love you too much for you to be in danger. I need my Unca Oses to visit me."

Betra watched as the hardass Nobek melted, his gaze softening and growing bright. No one could undo Oses as Anrel could.

Before an emotional display could descend to embarrass him, the rumble of many feet and squeals of children warned them they were about to be mobbed. Sure enough, at least a dozen small bodies stampeded through the doorway and surrounded them. Tiny hands grabbed at the legs of Betra's trousers as purple, brown, and blue eyes stared up at him. Cries of "Unca, Unca, Unca!" filled his ears. The younger ones had been influenced by Anrel's title for Clan Resan.

"It looks like we have the entire horde here today," Resan laughed as he patted the heads of black-haired tots, a scattering of brunettes, and even a blonde.

"Only three-quarters of them, so count yourselves lucky. The whole gang would have trampled you flat."

Betra's head lifted. His heart thumped madly at the familiar voice. Shalia smiled at him from the entrance.

For an instant, the world disappeared. He no longer heard the children's calls. He saw only her.

When he'd first met her, she'd been mourning the loss of her previous relationship and recovering from an attack on the rescue installation, in which she'd been trapped in a fire. He'd watched her rise from dangers that had devastated her in body and soul. Each peril had ultimately fed her strength, until she emerged as fierce as any Nobek who'd ever drawn breath. She radiated an aura of confidence. She was toned, honed like a weapon, but it failed to detract from her femininity. Her beauty had only grown through the years.

Her regard shifted to Oses, and Betra learned to breathe again as she spoke. "Hi, guys. Welcome once more to Casa Chaos. Come on, kids, let's calm down and let them in. Don't worry; the parents of most this bunch will be here within the hour to reclaim their offspring."

Her tone was warm and loving, but there was no mistaking the command she issued, as powerful as any Dramok's. The tiny beings who weren't held in Resan's and Oses' arms or clinging to their backs…and Betra's as well, he realized as seven-year-old Nayun grinned at him over his shoulder…obediently quieted and stepped aside to allow passage into the home.

"No army was ever so intimidating," Oses chuckled as he moved forward. "Hello, Shalia. It's good to see you."

"And you. All of you." Her gaze slid lit briefly on Resan, who managed a slight bow. He had the excuse of being buried in tots to hide any lack of respect. Her regard quickly moved to settle again on Betra. "It's so good to have you back on Kalquor."

"It's wonderful to be here." The presence of the children and his clanmates kept him from adding with you .

* * * *

Shalia was true to her word. Two of her in-laws and a Kalquorian Matara named Hina, who was close to Clan Seot so as to be considered a family member, arrived soon to take all but Shalia's five children away.

The greeting room, where Clans Seot and Resan gathered, became relatively quiet. After the hellos had been spoken and general updating had been accomplished, which took nearly an hour, Dramoks Seot and Resan fell into a discussion about the latest news of the pandemic sweeping Kalquor.

"We're doing our work from home with the exception of Larten, who isn't working for the foreseeable future."

"The training camp has closed down?"

"No, but since my Nobek has a clan, and more importantly children, he's been put on paid leave. The trainers who aren't clanned or fathers have remained at the camp, as have the young men. No one can go in or out until scientists have found a vaccine or cure or whatever it takes to return us to normal."

"Is it driving Larten crazy?"

"He's using his down time to teach the kids to swim and various survival activities. It helps exhaust them and keep the crazy to an acceptable level. Evelyn doesn't have many social activities yet, but the other four are feeling the effects of isolation."

"My grandmother's village has thus far been unaffected. They need to do a culling of the overpopulation of senilows, but hunters have to pass stringent health tests to be allowed in the area. Perhaps your clan would enjoy joining us for a few days of hunting?"

Seot's handsome face lit. "Thank you. We'd love to get away, if only for a few days. Our medical records are up to date. Whom should I contact to get the process started?"

Meanwhile, Oses and Larten were deep in conversation about the Darks and their alleged takeover of the Galactic Council. "Their fleet is being terribly aggressive," Betra's clanmate told his fellow Nobek. "I wouldn't let Resan or Betra off the ship for a single second while we were evacuating our people. GC security was yanking people out of line as we were boarding the shuttles, forcing them to submit to searches after they'd already been cleared. Seizing their belongings. It was hard not to confront the bastards, but we were under strict orders to avoid trouble when possible."

"Can you see the Darks?" Larten asked.

"No, but I've heard rigorous meditation can effect changes in the brain so its activity matches that of those possessing the natural ability to detect them."

"Really? How interesting."

"I've increased my practice in hopes of gaining the ability."

"I will as well. I'll also contact the training camp where I work to check if they're aware of it. We need to add every tool possible to our arsenal."

Imdiko Cifa was unavailable to converse much, for which he profusely apologized. He was kept busy chasing the children, who were in a state of high excitement because of the visit from their uncas. Nayun continuously brought in artwork to show off, then left it scattered on tables and the floor until Cifa ordered him to return it to his room. Six-year-old Jordan was similarly busy toting in doll after doll, which she gave to the guests to babysit. Cifa apologetically relieved them of the toys. Ejia, who was four, ran around the house on stocky little legs that moved faster than they should have. Distant sounds of objects crashing to the floor sent Cifa hurrying from the room to fetch the boy and bring him back, only for Ejia to sneak out again while his father chased another child.

Betra regarded his Imdiko counterpart, his respect growing as it always did. Cifa was cheerful throughout the mayhem. When anyone started to rise to assist him, he waved them to their seats. "I've got it, go ahead, I'll catch up on everything later."

Anrel was content to sit next to her uncas in turn, snuggling at the side of whomever she deigned deserved her attention at a given moment. Her first stop was Betra, and he hugged the girl he'd known from birth. Her gaze on him was adoring, and he fell in love all over again. Her answers to his questions about school and friends were ready but brief. She seemed content to simply bask in his presence as Shalia sat nearby and updated him where Anrel fell short.

"Are we really hunting at Grandmother's?" the girl finally interrupted. "Even though the virus is so bad?"

"We'd like to. We'll take the precautions necessary to keep you healthy," Betra assured her.

"Good. I've been cooped up with these children too long."

Betra and Shalia exchanged a glance. He noted her biting her lips together as she had a habit of doing when she was trying not to laugh.

He grinned. "I guess it's tough being the oldest."

"You're lucky you're an only child."

"Anrel," Shalia remonstrated.

"Oh, I love them, Mom, but they're such a chore sometimes."

The girl excused herself to sit next to Oses, who curled an arm around her and greeted her with a delighted smile.

"She's nine going on nineteen," Shalia snickered quietly to Betra. "How I'll survive when she's an actual teenager, I can't imagine."

He chuckled. "Remember when she was a newborn? So tiny and fragile?"

"Prophets, it's hard to believe, isn't it?" Shalia's features softened as she regarded her daughter, and Betra saw the vulnerable woman she'd once been.

On the surface. Shalia had always possessed an inner strength he'd admired from the start. The strength she now wore on the outside as well, which asserted itself as the moment passed.

"Want to help me grab some food? Cifa and I put together a few platters before you got here, and he's busy corralling the wild beasts." Shalia stood and headed for the kitchen, apparently assuming Betra would follow her.

He did, dodging Cifa as the other Imdiko shouted "Excuse me!" Cifa darted after nonstop Ejia, who'd run in clutching what appeared to be a module from an entertainment system.

"This boy is definitely a Nobek," Larten sighed to Oses and the scowling Cifa as he caught the boy with one hand and took the component away with the other. "If he can't eat it, he'll destroy it. I wish we could have him tested earlier than they allow."

Chuckling, Betra continued to the kitchen. He found Shalia pulling platters of appetizers from the massive cooling unit. "What can I do?"

"Stick these in the warmer and press ‘start.' It's already set for time and temperature." As he did so, she assembled plates, napkins, and utensils on a tray. Smaller versions went on a separate tray for the youngest children.

"You're so organized." Betra moved closer, letting his admiration show through.

She laughed. "Don't tell anyone. They might expect it of me more often."

"There's no denying perfection."

She darted a glance at him. "Did you hit your head since I last saw you? You sound as if you have amnesia. You of all people should know better my many shortcomings." Her gaze skittered off, perhaps belatedly recognizing she'd alluded to the months they'd been intimate.

"You have none. Shalia, I—"

"What's going on in here?" Resan's tone was friendly and his expression frozen in politeness, as it tended to be when he was around Shalia. It was Betra he looked at, however.

The warmer beeped. Shalia swung the door open. She smirked at her old rival. "Snacks. I do have some social skills when it comes to guests, Dramok."

He actually chuckled at the jab. "You've learned manners? Wonders will never cease. Allow me and Betra to take the serving dishes to the greeting room while you arrange the platters. My Imdiko?"

Betra did his best to not wither under Resan's sharp stare. "Of course."

"Mother will be less than pleased at our lack of appetites at dinner," Betra sighed as they readied to leave an hour later. "But the hors d'oeuvres were too good to leave leftovers."

"Indeed," Resan agreed. "My compliments, Imdiko Cifa. And Matara. Speaking of your mother, Betra, we're due at your parent clan's home in less than an hour."

"You're leaving? Already?" Anrel appeared so crestfallen, Resan patted her back.

"Your grandmother Elwa is throwing us a party in a couple of days, as she always does when we make it to Kalquor. I'm sure she'd love to have you, bajoni kitama ."

"She commed to invite us today," Shalia said. "We'll be there."

"Of the children, only Anrel and Nayun are coming," Cifa sighed. "The little ones will be at their aunt's for the afternoon. I can hang out and talk to the adults for a change."

"Then there's the hunting trip." Oses winked at Anrel, who squealed in childish delight before she remembered she was acting grownup for her uncas.

"Plenty of opportunities to spend time with our sweetheart," Betra added. He kept his gaze on Anrel's shining face, mindful Resan was watching him.

* * * *

"That was a pretty little scene in the kitchen."

Betra paused unpacking the clothes he planned to wear the next day. The clan was in the guest suite that had once been his rooms as a child. Dinner and drinks with his parents had come and gone, and the men were turning in for the night.

He blinked at Resan in the wake of his Dramok's statement, though he knew exactly what he was talking about.

"What happened in the kitchen?" Oses asked, emerging from the bathroom. "Did you have a problem with the staff?"

"I refer to Clan Seot's home. Betra and Shalia were alone for a couple of minutes." Resan's expression was cold as he stared at the Imdiko.

"What? I was helping her prepare the snack trays. We did nothing wrong."

"No, but you hardly made your continued infatuation for her unnoticeable."

"It isn't infatuation!" The words were out of Betra's mouth before he could censor them. He scowled. "My feelings for her are what they always were. However, I wasn't inappropriate, and neither was she."

"No, she wasn't. In fact, I thought she appeared uncomfortable, thanks to you standing so close."

Oses' eyes narrowed. "You know better, Betra. We gave her up nine years ago because it was the right thing to do. We couldn't and can't give her what Clan Seot has. She chose a stable home, a successful career, and founded a foundation that's done Kalquor a great deal of good. And I, who continue to love her just as much as you, am happy to witness her accomplishing all she has."

"So am I! Are you saying I can't smile at her? Compliment her? An Imdiko presents friendship differently from a Nobek. Certainly differently from a Dramok, especially one who never liked her in the first place. I wish you'd remember that and stop overreacting."

The trouble was, he knew they weren't overreacting. Betra was having issues as he usually did, except this visit, he was finding it harder than before to rein in his impulses.

He saw in his clanmates' eyes they knew it too. Resan turned his back and stalked to the bathroom, but he had the last word. "Get yourself under control, or you won't visit her again."