20. I was her human, and that was that.

TWENTY

I was her human, and that was that.

School resumed, life went on, and had I known I would hate everything about being landlocked, I would have hidden on board Waldren’s ship and lived the rest of my life as a starfaring stowaway. I would have reduced myself to hiding in Waldren’s quarters, latching on to him, and refusing to let go.

Taking my death horses with me would have been a challenge—and would still be a challenge, assuming I could escape the grounds long enough to make it to the spaceport. The requirement to care for Plague and Pestilence offered some hope of escape, assuming I could give the staff the slip.

In the weeks following our arrival, Plague had healed, and she defined what it meant to be jealous.

I was her human, and that was that. She tolerated Pestilence, and given some time, I’d have to worry about caring for a baby death horse. Fortunately for my sanity, one of my professors had done research on the species, which had been registered before the doomed colonization attempt.

Plague would carry her foal for sixteen months, and the little one would enter the world ready to take over the universe. According to the information sheet, my mare would be capable of space travel until twelve months into gestation, after which we’d be landlocked until her foal was four months old.

At four months old, the foal would be weaned.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much information available on their natural lifespan.

Death horses, officially known as equus ferus carnivorus, had been developed specifically for the colonization attempt, and the first generation hadn’t been given the time needed to expose their complete life cycle.

If I wanted to leave Cremora Delta, I would need to do so within the next six months.

At least I wouldn’t have to worry about the tree cats. A zoo had expressed interest in learning about the species and wished to handle all breeding efforts. In exchange, I would be given a pair of female kittens, assuming the zoo was able to domesticate them.

At current estimate, it would take at least ten generations to convince the stubborn furballs to cooperate with humanity.

The morning following the completion of the class cycle, armed with more certifications than any one homo sapiens needed, I fled to the stables carrying several saddlebags, a common enough occurrence nobody questioned my activity. Should any of the staff spot me, they would make the assumption that I meant to spend my free day with Plague and Pestilence in the pasture. At dinner time, they would begin searching for me.

Rather than lunch and my botany journals, which I used to register and study Cremora Delta’s offerings, I had everything of importance, including my baubles, my books, copies of my certifications, my link chips, and everything else I needed to run away to space.

Thanks to Viva, I had access to my money, the knowledge needed to pay off the first viable ship capable of hauling my death horses, and the designation of my target world, Veloci Major.

The last I’d heard, I’d been registered to join the brawl scheduled to take place on the world, and I meant to be in attendance to fully enjoy the festivities. I’d arrive several months early, and I’d spend the time evading Veloc, working with my animals, and otherwise enjoying the freedom to come and go as I pleased.

I even planned on a voyage to a shiftgem world to see if I could learn more about the shard embedded in my brain.

The situation vexed the Deltans.

The stone I carried could, at its whim, deactivate any other shiftgem to cross its path. It only did so when it perceived a threat to me. It could stop resonance in its tracks with ruthless efficiency.

An engine mishap during one of my lessons had revealed the stone’s secret. Rather than a potentially lethal detonation, every stone in the room had gone dormant.

I’d made it halfway across the Veloc’s hunting grounds before a pair of Crimson Crests managed to track me down and promise the shiftgems had been contained and wouldn’t be exploding. I’d faced a week of therapy after that.

The therapy hadn’t gone as well as anyone would like, but we’d learned something important.

If my shiftgem crystal could stop resonance, it would—and it had an admirable range.

Had the stone been with me before the accident on Schwana Major, the crash wouldn’t have happened in the same way. There was a chance the ship might have died in orbit without entering the atmosphere, allowing everyone to be saved.

I did my best to ignore that fact, something I would need more therapy over in time. Even if I could change the past, I wouldn’t.

When I stopped to think about it, I was content with the course I took with my life.

To keep Plague happy, I saddled and rode her while making Pestilence carry my bags. The stallion handled his duties well, and unlike the mare, he showed no sign of being bothered by my decision to ride Plague.

Plague had learned to handle my sessions with Pestilence with grace, although she leveled the mare stare our way if she felt I needed to hurry up and work with her instead. Overall, I enjoyed the animal’s jealousy.

Waldren had Palta.

I had a pair of oversized wolves disguised as horses. I couldn’t think of them as dogs; neither animal aimed to please, and while trainable and readily domesticated, they retained a wild edge I adored.

Like me, they desired adventure.

Experiencing new things revitalized us all.

As I always did when taking my death horses out on a ride, I left through the gate closer to the school and followed the path to the road surrounding the campus. Once to the road, trees blocked the view of those who might want to keep track of what I was doing.

I popped off the coverings for my links, removed the chips, and put them in their case, disabling their ability to track me at their leisure. I’d begun that scheme two weeks prior, claiming I enjoyed the quiet while on my ride.

If someone attempted to monitor my location using my link, they would see the chips go offline and assume I had pursued some peace.

Pleased with my precautions, I headed for the woods the Veloc used as their hunting grounds. If there were any on the planet, they’d find me soon enough.

The Veloc enjoyed toying with homo sapiens bold enough to enter their territory. Rather than toy with me, I’d make use of them and secure a ride off Cremora Delta. It wouldn’t take much to convince the feathered murder machines to cooperate with me.

They enjoyed playing games, and the challenge I offered would add spice to their upcoming festivities.

At the lightest touch of my heels, Plague launched into a rolling canter, aiming for the forest hunting grounds. She enjoyed running into Veloc, and upon introductions, she insisted on playing with them. During the introduction process, I explained the rules of the mare’s game.

The Veloc won if they got on her back. She won if she jabbed them with her nose.

It had taken me a week to teach her not to bite her friends.

Luck was with us; within five minutes of entering Veloc territory, a pair of the feathered murder machines slinked out of the trees, bobbing their heads with their crests lifted. Both were white with yellow points and crests, and I wondered if I dealt with adventurous youth or the elite hunters. Reining Plague in, I swung off her back, and I chirped, hooted, and whistled at the Veloc, determined to introduce myself in their language—and warn them that Plague enjoyed playing with their kind.

Both listened, and when I finished, the pair cooed at me. The taller of the two said, in the standard trade language, “You are not a Deltan, I see. Deltans cringe, except for that one boy who has learned we won’t eat him.”

“You mean Delta?”

“You have met him? We seek to bring him back to Veloci Major.”

Right. The ceremonies and festivities to adopt him. I grinned. “Don’t worry about that. He’s eager to participate, so Viva will bring him at the appropriate time. There is no way he is missing a chance to receive gifts and watch you Veloc make fools of yourselves in an attempt to adopt him. But, perhaps, we can help each other. I need help getting off this blasted rock, and I’m more than willing to be showered with gifts and adopted into whichever feathered murder machine clan fights the hardest for me. Then that clan gets access to Waldren’s clan, as my second goal involves hunting him.”

“Hunt as in kill or hunt as in romance?” the Veloc asked.

“Romance. Killing him would end the fun far too quickly.” I gestured to Plague and Pestilence, who waited with admirable patience. “My death horses need to come with me, and I have claim rights on the next ten death horses to leave the failed colony world they live on.”

I’d questioned how I’d gotten the claim rights for the next batch of death horses, but I’d accepted with glee.

I loved the animals, and I would have an entire herd of them if given a chance.

Of course, with Plague being as she was, my ten new death horses would end up going to my future clan, and I’d hope I could raise up a little filly to join Plague’s herd. I doubted she’d accept an adult—but perhaps she would tolerate fillies that I could breed with Pestilence.

I would be inconsolable without death horses in my life.

“Excellent.” The Veloc exchanged looks, and they hooted and otherwise called to each other. While I had a long way to go speaking their language, especially without the assistance of my chips, I understood enough of the conversation to learn they were uncertain if they could transport my animals without difficulties.

“Plague and Pestilence are training for space travel. They can use standard quarters for a stall, and they will use a waste bin when provided with one. They have some etiquette issues we’re working on, but it’s hard to teach them those when we aren’t in space. They understand how to stall themselves in quarters, as that was a basic requirement. If you have a stall setup, they will ride in the cargo bay for landing and takeoff as long as they can roam the ship later. They’re quite intelligent.”

They had failed a few tests for having full sentience, but they had passed enough of them that they enjoyed special protections. Their home world would enter a protectorate, although I had no idea which race would oversee it. As I had been the one to discover their intellect, I would retain my claim rights, something Viva had arranged.

She felt if I worked with the animals, they would have the best chance of survival and a good life on any world suitable for their life.

As I would do far more than fly across the entire universe and pick fights with Veloc to keep Plague and Pestilence, I figured the woman had the right idea.

“I am Xaltri. My brother is Geltri. We belong to the Sun Feet.” The pair showed off their plumage.

One day, I might understand why Veloc siblings had similar names. “Yulgali and Fogali suggested the feet, tails, and hands fight over me, because I am more inclined to correct Veloc with wholesome levels of violence.” I hesitated, shrugged, and added, “And steal their baubles should they fail to defend themselves properly.”

“We have seen videos of your theft. It was a thing of beauty, especially as you growled and hissed at the interloping Veloc attempting to bar you from your prize. If you wish for us to showcase our prowess for you to be adopted, this is something we will do with much glee. Your spirit is a little bright for the crests and other similar clans. Although should your romancing of the Emerald Crest homo sapiens go well, you will delight your adopting clan, for Emerald Crest hatchlings are quite desirable. They have excellent coloration, temperament, and enjoyment of life—and members of my clan and similar appreciate that. All clans will end up attempting to display suitable prowess for your approval.”

I patted Plague’s neck and freed her from her hackamore so she could play with the Veloc. “Being friendly with my death horses is a requirement, and she loves to engage Veloc in her game.”

Both Veloc hooted their laughter, and without any further encouragement, they stalked towards Plague, who pranced in place and waited for them to engage.

It would take them a while to get on her back, as she was swift, agile, and determined to win. I went to Pestilence, dug through the saddlebag for their curry comb, and went to work rewarding the stallion for his good behavior.

Pestilence loved the brush, and he would stand still for hours and enjoy every stroke.

Sure enough, Plague played her little heart out, exhausting herself to the point that Xaltri, whom I identified solely by size, managed to scramble onto her back. He immediately praised her and petted her neck, careful of his claws. His coos won him her appreciation, and she turned her head to cuddle with the feathered murder machine.

With the game finished, I put her hackamore back on, made sure to praise her again, and decided I would walk so we wouldn’t tire her out further. Once on the ship and she had her quarters, I expected she’d conk out, lying on the floor so she’d be secure enough for takeoff.

Training them to lie down for takeoff had cost me my sanity, but upon hearing ‘takeoff positions,’ they would drop to the floor and wait until the all clear was given to stand back up.

“So, about a ship getting out of here,” I prompted, standing between my animals and giving them plenty of slack on their lines so they could sniff at the plants and otherwise satisfy their curiosity. It meant I’d have to wait for them here and there, but tired death horses would not cause a fuss during the boarding process.

I hoped.

“There might be a ship capable of taking you off world from here, but the pilot is rather cantankerous.”

I narrowed my eyes. While Viva could be cantankerous when things went wrong, there was only one pilot I could think of matching such a description with any association with the Veloc: Waldren.

“Waldren’s here?”

The Veloc hooted their amusement, and after a few moments, Xaltri bobbed his head. “His ship underwent some refittings, and the parts he needed were here. They are being installed, but he is having some trouble with his shiftgems. Likely a mounting bracket issue.”

Mounting brackets would ultimately be the leading cause of mechanics losing their tenuous grip on sanity. “His ship is broken, he’s stuck in the spaceport, and he has to get a specialized mechanic?”

“You are qualified to do the work. We have seen your certifications. You have natural aptitude and drive. We were unaware homo sapiens could learn with the rapidity you have, but it will be good for young Waldren to be partnered with someone who will always challenge him.”

“To be fair, I spent a decade at a school that taught me all the foundations. I just managed to apply the foundations in a swift fashion.”

In reality, I suspected my old school had been slow to release us from their educational crutches to squeeze every last credit they could out of us. That reality had pained me, but I accepted what I couldn’t change—and their methods had resulted in my rapid graduation from numerous certification courses.

Then, having learned about the Veloc, I eyed both of them in open suspicion. “You didn’t break his ship on purpose, did you?”

“I wouldn’t call it breaking . I would call it the clever replacement of key components in such a way someone lacking in certification will not be readily able to handle,” Geltri informed me in a solemn tone. “And as this world boasts the best certified mechanics for these sorts of systems, it forced him to limp his ship here.”

“How was it limped?”

“He went with a towing escort, and the ship itself was lowered to the planet’s surface using a gravitational towing system.”

Both Veloc snickered over Waldren’s misfortunes.

I had to clear my throat to keep from laughing at the thought of a bunch of feathered murder machines forcing the poor man to Cremora Delta to get specialty repairs. “Which systems did you break?”

“Most of them. If it wasn’t mandatory to provide life, it has a gremlin pestering him in some fashion or another. The changes done to his ship were carefully recorded, and if you manage to bring all his systems online, it will count as your application for master certification. Then you will need to do six similar level repairs to earn your new level of certification.”

“You Veloc are sneaky,” I praised. “The school knew I would run for the spaceport at the first opportunity.”

“They expected for you to flee the day before yesterday, and they marvel at your patience. They also caught you preparing to flee, but as you managed to offer viable excuses, they did not feel a need to mention they were aware of your activities.”

Damn. “I should have started several months ago,” I grumbled.

“That might have helped, but only a little.” Geltri petted Plague, and as the death horse seemed to appreciate his attention, I tossed him her reins. “Was she truly wild before you got her?”

“She was. They’re pretty smart—much smarter than the horses rescued from Earth. Fortunately for my sanity, they can cohabitate the same pasture with Earth horses. Even better, Pestilence had zero interest in mounting the Earth mares. They wanted to try cross-breeding. He wouldn’t even acknowledge them when in season. He certainly acknowledged Plague!” For three days, I’d accepted that Plague and Pestilence had one interest, which had involved procreation. When the animals hadn’t been actively mating, they’d been cuddling together and refusing to be separated, not even to go into their stalls for the night.

As such, they’d shared a stall, much to the frustration of everyone except for me.

Pestilence adored his Plague, and what Plague wanted, she got. With that understanding in mind, I’d allowed the animals to have their way while the Deltans struggled with the concept the death horses couldn’t be fully controlled.

“You will turn the clan lucky enough to win you upside down,” Geltri predicted.

“And what about Waldren?”

“You’ve already done that. He’ll be fine, especially once he sees how you have blossomed upon being given the opportunity. Just throw one of us in his direction, and he will relax. He understands the fine art of tossing Veloc.”

That he did. “Are you volunteering?”

Geltri hooted his laughter. “You are welcome to try. But will you succeed? We will learn the truth of that soon enough.”