31. Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Palathum

All the humans have been very busy the last few rotations. Busy and secretive. She knows it has something to do with hers and Utharium's marriage, but no one will tell them what is being planned.

She could put a stop to it, but the humans were so happy running around doing Iris-assigned tasks. They laughed and giggled as they rushed from place to place, often carrying something or with a cargo bot following close behind. When they saw her, their voices would drop to whispers and they'd hurry away. She'd be insulted if she didn't know they were worried about ruining her surprise.

She wished she liked surprises more.

"Palathum?" Utharium said, making her turn around and reclip her Ident to her belt. He came to a stop and sounded a soothing rumble. "Are you occupied with work at the moment?"

"Nothing that can't be delayed," she answered with a soothing rumble of her own. She had the urge to cling to Utharium, as the humans liked to do with each other. He was a little taller than her, and when she wrapped her arms around him, she could rub her scent glands on his chest. It was a constant urge around him that she rarely gave in to.

He stepped closer, invading her personal space. She automatically stepped back and came up against a support rib in the hallway. He shuffled closer and was now looming over her. His rumble went from the soft soothing sound to a deeper and more sensuous one.

"There's an item I'd like to show you back in our cabin," he said. They still weren't touching, but there was less than a finger thickness of space between them.

She breathed deep, pulling in his intoxicating scent. "Will I need to handle this item?"

Her question made him jerk, then slap hands to the support rib on either side of her head. His sensual purr got louder as he lowered his face. She waited for him to press his scent gland to her head, but he didn't. Instead, he put his lips over her cheek and licked a long, textured tongue over her scent gland.

She wasn't prepared for intense pleasure to spark through her, making her gasp. "Do that again," she begged, turning her face so he could get to the other side.

He licked across that scent gland, and her knees shook a little. Their bodies still weren't touching, but she fixed that. With a little jump, she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He straightened up and wrapped his arms around her, holding her just as tightly.

Pressing her cheek to his, she rubbed. Their bonding oil combined, making both of them moan.

A throat cleared.

"No!" Utharium growled at the interloper. "Go away!"

"You're in the hall," Captain Nomium declared dryly. "I know we've relaxed the rules on this ship, but public fornication might be a little far even for this crew."

Nomium's words pulled Palathum out of her sexual daze. Letting go of Utharium, she tried to drop to her feet, but he didn't release his hold on her.

"No," he whined, making her sound a rumble of amusement and then purr.

"Cabin," she reminded him. It was halfway across the ship, but they were both fast runners.

"Cabin," he agreed and let go so she could stand on her own feet.

"I was going to ask to speak to you, but I think I'll wait for you to summon me," Captain Nomium said as she turned to leave, her amused rumble loud enough to echo down the hall.

She heard Riff exclaim, "Captain Nomium, I've been looking for you!"

Then there was quiet.

At least until Iris came trotting around the corner.

"There you are!" she said, excitement lighting up her face. "I thought you'd be in command because the Thorm data arrived and Captain Nomium wanted to talk to you about it. I've been looking all over for you. Your Ident locator is turned off."

She'd turned it off to get a little quiet time, which was also the reason she was reading off her Ident in this rarely used hallway. Apparently none of her tactics were going to work this rotation.

"I'll go over the Thorm data later with you and the captain," Palathum said, edging back and pushing Utharium with her. "Let's plan to meet in about a mark."

"Three marks," Utharium countered.

"Three marks," she repeated.

"Oh no, we can't wait three marks," Iris said, rushing up to her. Taking her by the hand, the small human started leading her down a hall. "We have it all ready. You need to come with us too, Utharium."

"What do you have ready?" Palathum asked. Behind her, Utharium grumbled under his breath about someday having a domicile far away from everyone. She'd never thought of herself as an isolationist, but days like this made it a tempting lifestyle!

It didn't take them long to arrive at the closed doors to the bay most of the humans had been staying in since leaving the infirmary. There weren't enough cabins to accommodate everyone, so the crew set up panels as walls to create individual rooms for the remaining humans.

Palathum felt bad the ship wasn't big enough to provide everyone with accommodations, but every single human assured her that the bay was luxurious compared to Dandilow II or even the crowded infirmary.

Worry filled her. "Is there a problem with the humans? Have they become upset about being in the bay? Have you explained that it's only temporary and within forty or fifty rotations we'll be on a planet with plenty of temporary housing for all of us?"

"There's nothing wrong," Iris assured her as Grace came rushing down the hall.

"They're here!" she sang out. She grabbed Utharium and pulled him down the corridor to another set of doors leading into the bay. "You have to come in this way."

Palathum moved to follow, but Iris kept her in place. "You're staying with me."

"You're all acting oddly," Palathum pointed out. "Why the strange behavior?"

Iris took both her hands and gazed into her eyes. "You're like a sister to me, Palathum. It's going to be hard not seeing you every day, so I decided to do something special for you and Utharium. A lot of stuff is going to happen in the bay. You'll probably think most of it is silly, but all of it is meaningful to us humans. This is a gift from us to you, something no Talin could give you."

"You don't need to give me anything," Palathum protested. "You've already helped set me free. What more could I want?"

A drop of water slipped from the corner of Iris's right eye. Palathum almost panicked until she remembered that sometimes water leaked from human eyes because they were happy.

"Are you sad?" she asked cautiously.

"I'm the opposite of sad," Iris said with a sniff. "I feel so much love for everyone right now I think I'm gonna burst!"

Decard popped a head out from the door next to them. "Iris, Palathum, get in here! We're ready to get started."

***

Utharium

He was grumpy and frustrated and trying very hard not to take it out on the sweet human who was ushering him away from Palathum.

"Could we do this later?" he asked.

"Nope," Grace answered with a laugh. When she pulled him into the bay, he was surprised to find that the movable panels had been rearranged and he was standing in a box.

"Is this a human custom?" he asked. "Should I meditate? How long will I need to remain here?"

"This way," Damascus said, moving one of the panels aside. "Sorry, Grace. I didn't realize they'd block access."

"What's going on?" Utharium asked Damascus. "I was engaged in an important conversation with Palathum."

Damascus sounded an amused rumble. "By the combined scent of you two, there wasn't much talking going on during this conversation. Try to be patient. The humans have spent a lot of time putting this together. You and Palathum can sneak off to fuck later."

Unused to speaking about taboo topics so openly, Utharium was startled enough by Damascus's words to be easily pulled from behind the panels and into the bay by Grace. Damascus disappeared as Grace marched him further into the bay.

"We had to go in this way because Palathum can't see everything yet," Grace explained.

Utharium didn't bother asking questions, it would probably only lead to further confusion. He let her lead him as he took in the changes around him.

All the panels, nests, clothing lockers, and storage containers had been pushed against the walls. Chairs were set up in neat rows with an aisle running down the center. At the far end was a short stage, easily mounted with one step.

Everything had been decorated, or he assumed it was supposed to be decorations. The humans had taken sheets from their nests and ripped them into long narrow strips. The strips were draped over everything. Some of the strips had been fashioned together to make large, fluffy masses that also decorated the aisle and stage. The stage had the most items around it, including repair scaffolding set up at the back. Several sheets were secured tightly across the scaffolding, creating a smooth surface.

A mural depicting a field of flowers under a soft blue sky was painted on the improvised canvas. As he got closer, he recognized some of the flowers as native to Talarian. Someone had taken the extra time to find images of flowers from his homeworld and painstakingly painted them on the backdrop.

If the humans agreed, he wanted to save the backdrop and have it treated and framed. He wanted to keep it forever.

As he was led down the aisle between the seats, he noticed that all the humans, except for Iris and Mia, were either sitting in the seats or on the stage. Almost all the crew, including Captain Nomium, were present also, although by the way they were holding their bodies, Utharium understood they didn't entirely understand what was going on either.

"You need to be up here," Grace said as she led him onto the stage.

Everyone had been talking in hushed tones until Grace faced the audience. She held up her hands and made a shushing sound. Everyone quieted immediately. Then she pointed to a group of humans seated at the far end of the front row. When they stood, Utharium saw that they were all holding instruments. Talins didn't have music or singing, but he was well traveled enough to recognize instruments when he saw them.

He'd expected a loud clashing sound to come from the instruments. The humans tended to be loud and colorful, so he thought their music would be similar. Instead they produced soft and sweeping music that somehow reflected the mural behind him.

As a child he'd been taught that only certain types of art were important. The style of buildings and ships were practical art. Mosaics depicting historical events set in floors or walls was an appropriate display of a family's heritage. Expertly crafted and decorated bowls and cups were perfect everyday art.

Murals of flowers or the melody of his heart brought to life by human hands wasn't something he was ever supposed to experience, let alone enjoy.

Now that he had been exposed, he would need more of this in his life. More color, more sound, more everything.

From some hidden spot, Mia appeared. Her hair was elaborately braided with more colored strips of cloth woven in and streaming down her back. She was carrying a bowl balancing on one hand and dipping the other hand in to draw out colorful confetti. With a big grin, she tossed the confetti into the air as she walked down the center aisle. The Talins in the audience all sounded loud, soothing rumbles, and a few of the humans made the "awwww" sound that often indicated they were witnessing something cute.

They weren't wrong. Mia was adorable as she enthusiastically rained handfuls of confetti down on everyone around her. When she ran out of the stuff about halfway down the aisle, she held the bowl to her chest and skipped the rest of the way to the stage. When she got there, she took up a spot next to Grace.

He could only hope that someday his child would be as joyful as this human cub.

Thoughts of their future children made him think of Palathum. He hoped they inherited her perfect coloring and strong will.

Next down the aisle were Iris and Merrick walking shoulder to shoulder, followed by Riff and Sima also walking shoulder to shoulder. As they reached the dais, they parted with Iris and Riff on one side and Merrick and Sima forming a short line next to him.

The stage was getting crowded, but Palathum wasn't even here yet. Although there was no danger, he started feeling a bit anxious.

As if brought forth by his thoughts, the main bay doors swept open and Palathum stood there. She was shoulder to shoulder with Damascus and the palm of her hand was resting on the back of his. The sight made him growl and tense his body, ready to jump off the stage and violently toss the other male away from his scent-bonded partner.

Little human hands on his upper arm caught his attention.

"Don't," Grace ordered with a surprising amount of force despite her low volume. "It's tradition that the bride has to be walked down the aisle by a family member. Damascus is family to her now. Her hand on his is for formality only. It doesn't mean anything."

"I don't like that formality," he growled and remained tense until they reached the stage and Palathum stepped up and Damascus took a long step away. Even though they weren't touching anymore, Utharium still showed Damascus his teeth in a clear threat display.

Damascus ignored him, and Palathum sounded a soothing purr.

"We are having a wedding," she whispered.

"What in the name of the ancestors is a wedding?" he asked, but then it hit him. It was one of the ceremonies Iris had made such a big deal about. "Oh! A wedding ceremony."

All annoyance vanished. The moment took on so much more significance than the humans being silly and odd.

This ceremony wasn't about cementing their marriage, it was a symbol of their new life.

"What do I do now?" he asked, anxious to show the humans and crew that he was eager to be a part of this wedding.

"Please face me," Grace said. He and Palathum turned to face Grace. She looked so much healthier and had regained a significant portion of her sight. It wasn't perfect, and she was effectively blind in low light, but she seemed overjoyed to be able to function in normal light conditions.

"As a community, it is our privilege to witness and celebrate the marriage of Palathum of the family Uriam within the Uriam clan to Utharium of the Jal family within the Tomok clan. What I'm about to say is the result of the combined efforts of the human guests and the Talin crew of Progress."

Grace took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and started talking.

"The universe is a cold, harsh place with no interest in our individual needs. Any flaw or fault is exploited by a system that will swallow planets whole or end an entire solar system in one brilliant explosion of a sun. If you're lucky enough to make it to the stars, the dangers only increase. No matter the size or strength of an empire, there are cracks to be exploited.

"No one is without weakness, and the only effective means to protect our weaknesses is to borrow strength from others. In turn, we lend our strength when needed. This is the most basic structure of most societies from the largest government to individuals agreeing to spend their lives together."

"Today we celebrate Utharium and Palathum. Yesterday they were individuals, today they join to be one. They must be ready to support each other through all things and face the universe with courage." Opening her eyes, Grace smiled at him before focusing on the audience behind them. "Who will speak for Utharium?"

"I speak for Utharium. I'm his friend," Iris said. "He's an honorable, kind, and attentive Talin. I know he'll always be loyal to Palathum and their children. No matter if their wealth rises or declines, he'll remain steadfast."

Utharium wasn't ready for Iris's words and found himself almost sounding a startled rattle, but he stopped when Grace called out again.

"Who will speak for Palathum?"

Damascus spoke, his voice strong and confident. "I speak for Palathum. I'm her family. She is a generous, dedicated, and devoted Talin. No matter if their wealth rises or declines, she'll remain steadfast."

"Do the communities and families accept this pairing?" Grace asked.

"We accept Palathum into our community and family," Iris agreed.

"We accept Utharium into our community and family," Damascus agreed.

"Palathum and Utharium, you've been accepted. Please face each other," Grace ordered. Sensing they were coming close to an end, Utharium turned to face his love. "Look deep into each other's eyes and repeat after me."

He gazed into Palathum's bright, deep-golden eyes, and suddenly felt everything calm around him.

"You are mine, and I am yours," Grace said.

When he repeated the words and heard Palathum match his tone and cadence, it felt as if they were one person. Could souls be joined together?

"I will stand strong when you need to rest. I will let you hold me when I need care. I will fill your earholes with my words and I will listen to your thoughts. Together we will survive and thrive. My body will act as a shield between you and all others. My strength and my loyalty are yours to command. I'll guard you 'til my dying day. If anyone thinks to do you harm, I'll meet them on the challenge field. We are as one, and I promise to always act accordingly."

By the time they finished speaking in unison, everyone in the bay had disappeared. Utharium's entire world had narrowed to Palathum. His heart was beating fast, and he wanted to hold her tight and sound a war rattle. It was as if he'd won an enormous victory.

Perhaps he had. He'd won happiness.

"I officially declare the two of you bound," Grace declared. "Normally humans say you can kiss, but I think saying you can scent bond would be more appropriate."

He only half heard the human's words. He was already wrapping arms around Palathum and drawing her close to his body. He felt her rub her scent gland on his chest at the same time he bent his neck and pressed a cheek to her head.

The humans cheered and the Talins sounded triumphant rattles, but he didn't pay them any attention. Everything important to him was in his arms.