Chapter Seven #2

Nessa looked at Kiddel. “So, should I creep to the kitchen or something?”

Two of the Hmrain at the table looked her over, and one of them surprised her. She knew that face and the study in greys. She was wearing that silver bastard on her back. “Yeah, I am going to head to the kitchen.”

A familiar voice called out to her. “Hey, Nessa, right?” Two tall human women walked into the light. They had been tucked in the shadows.

“Harwin?” Nessa grinned and walked over to grip the woman’s forearm. “And you would be Kris?”

“I am. Sorry. We are still on duty.”

The green-scaled woman called out. “Girls, please, enjoy yourselves. It isn’t often you have a chance to speak to one of your own.”

Nessa smiled. “I thank you, Lady.”

“Merchant, child. Address me as merchant.”

“Yes, Merchant.” Nessa smiled.

Harwin moved them into a corner of the room while keeping an eye on all the doors.

Nessa asked, “You are bodyguards?”

Kris nodded. “Yes. Madam Yorness was very happy to find a matched set of us. She likes the idea of matching bodyguards.”

Nessa grinned, and they started chatting. Harwin looked behind Nessa, and she said, “My lord? Is there a reason that you are staring at my friend?”

“It appears that she has a portrait on her back. A portrait of my trading partner.”

Nessa didn’t turn around. She spoke over her shoulder. “Ah, I am a big fan.”

Harwin laughed.

The second Hmrain was moving and said, “What in the hells?”

Nessa said, “If it offends you, don’t look, my lord.”

Harwin was snickering.

Nessa felt a curious finger stroke the tattoo exposed by the dress. “My lord, I am a free woman and not here to be pawed.”

“That was a single finger. A paw would be different, and I would not be clutching your back.”

Nessa slowly turned to see the monochrome Hmrain. “I am far beneath your notice, my lord. The tattoo was forced on me after an abduction. I had no choice in the subject matter.”

“What class are you?”

Nessa shrugged and saw Yasku bringing Cassandra back, carrying her carefully. “Most say I have no class. Lord Yasku, is Cassandra okay?”

The Hmrain looked dazed. “My consort is growing wings.”

Cassandra looked irritated. “Yes. My blessed event is a set of Hmrain wings and a seriously slowed metabolism. If he wants kids, he’s going to have to work hard to beat the century mark that ends our contract.”

“I will endeavour to do my best. Your cycle is reduced, not eradicated.” Yasku chuckled against Cassandra’s cheek. Her irritation seemed to have burned off his worry.

Nessa chuckled. “Well, that seems like a time-consuming project.”

Cassandra sighed. “Nessa, shut up.”

Nessa laughed.

“Yasku, I wish to gain information on this particular female. Do you have her codes?”

Cassandra looked at him and snorted. “Oh, tattoo guy. Right.”

Yasku looked around. “Kiddel, can you bring up Nessa’s codes?”

Nessa watched her friend understand what was going on. “No. Yasku, you can’t hand her over to the guy in black and white.”

Yasku snorted. “First, we will find her rating.”

Cassandra sighed. “Her rating is a solid three twelve, and she has people skills, but the girls will be pissed if she leaves.”

Nessa looked at her friend and sighed. “Well, at least you are here to watch over them again. Wait, is this what the khimerion is doing to you?”

“The fifty grams embedded in my skin? Yes. It’s combining with Yasku’s contributions and rewiring me.”

Yasku sighed. “Well, my mineral is used in all regeneration technology. I just didn’t think it would work on its own.”

Cassandra looked at him, and they shared an understanding look as she said, “It’s not on its own.”

He smiled. “No, I suppose it isn’t. We should check on that again.”

Nessa watched her friend’s cheeks warm under all the makeup.

Cassandra kicked her legs idly. “Really? The med chamber wasn’t enough?”

He looked at her as if she was crazy. “No. It was not. I am saturating myself with your output.”

“Geez, that sounds horrible.”

“I see I will have to convince you.” Yasku nodded to those assembled. “We will return. She’s a little timid.”

Cassandra was suddenly outraged, and Nessa covered her grin as Yasku kissed his consort and carried her off.

Nessa looked at the folk she had been left with and suddenly wished that Cassandra was willing to have sex in public. Nessa was vastly outnumbered with one Hmrain getting closer to her.

The merchant hissed with laughter. “Lord Norl, please. The little creature is uneasy.”

He glanced at her as Nessa was easing toward the other humans. “Miss, you will not leave until we speak?”

She shrugged. “I will not leave until we speak.” She did not mention that technically they had just spoken. She finished her thought with, “You are here visiting?”

He shook his head. “Trading. I come this way every five years or so.”

“Oh.”

“The last time I was here, Yasku had just gotten a shipment of your people from the education station.” Norl shrugged. “I am guessing you were on it. Why didn’t he take you as his consort?”

“Well, our transport was delayed when we were taken hostage, and I got this tramp stamp.”

Harwin snorted.

Norl frowned. “I don’t understand the reference.”

Kris straightened. “Tramp stamp is the tattoo on her back. It is called that because the only person who could truly appreciate it would be behind her while she wasn’t clothed.”

The merchant chuckled. “Kris is my translator. Harwin is the muscle.”

Norl blinked. “Was this kind of mark common?”

“It was fashionable for a time, and then, it fell out of popularity, but the reference stuck.” Kris smiled.

He nodded. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.”

Nessa sighed in relief as Kiddel arrived and servants carried food and drink in. She moved quickly to the food and set about keeping her mouth full.

The merchant sat close and smiled. “Nervous about being a target?”

“A little. I knew I was compatible, but having the face on my back in front of me is disconcerting, madam.”

“Ah. Well, I appreciate your species and can understand the fascination with you.”

“Thank you. I have met many interesting people and species since my home died. Having the girls with me helped.”

“Girls?”

“Cassandra and I were the only adults with six adolescent girls. We got them through the dark and storms and then brought them safely to the education station. Cassandra offered her bond to the mines to keep us together, and Yasku’s mine took her up on it. We remained together, and I was their caregiver until this year when the last of them became an adult. So, I found a regular job and enjoyed chatting with people. My girls could still find me, but they were living their lives. One of them has already mated and had a baby. The others are probably choosing their starting points for the night.”

The two Hmrain were speaking quietly, and the human guards were standing casually but alertly near the food.

It was a tense snack time, but Nessa powered through.

* * * *

Cassandra scowled at Yasku. It was difficult, but she managed to look irritated. “I can walk.”

“I know, but I enjoy the feeling of you in my arms as I do the feel of you surrounding me.”

Nessa chuckled next to them. “Both adorable and rather lewd. Nice.”

Cassandra snorted. “Yeah, that is about right. At least nothing is sliding down my thigh.”

Yasku murmured, “That is because you kept it, kit.”

She grimaced. “That’s why my back is burning.”

“It looks like I will have to be diligent in providing material for your evolution.”

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Your people are going to think I am injured or worse.”

They were walking toward the Coybel square, where dancing was getting underway.

All of Yasku’s guests were coming along, including the humans.

Cassandra wasn’t sure what to do about the feeling of being stared at. She could figure out the smugness. Looking at Yasku was enough to make her feel exceptionally smug.

They had an elevated dais to sit on, and the Hmrain and the merchant took seats, leaving the Terrans to stand.

Cassandra looked at the folks lining up for the first dance. It looked like the males were responsible for attracting attention in the Coybel. They were wearing kilts and a strange sort of sandal.

“Kiddel used to be one of the primary dancers, but he was never able to land a mate.”

“Maybe he should be less picky.”

“He has scarring. His people’s females prefer a smooth hide.”

“Oh. How narrow-minded of them.”

Yasku looked down at her. “Your people barely attend the Coybel events. This turnout is exceptional.”

She looked around, and it seemed that every Earth-born person who was single was in the audience tonight.

Betsy was wearing soft grey, and she scampered over with a grin. “Auntie, your makeup is holding up.”

Yasku stroked Cassandra’s hip. “We thoroughly tested it.”

Betsy laughed. “Let me know if she needs to appear for anything else. I have been studying many makeup techniques, Lord Yasku.”

The other nieces came and sat near the dais, and the dancing commenced. It was impressive, but Cassandra found it difficult to concentrate. Yasku slid his hand under the minimal skirt and did an excellent job of distracting her.

When the dancers finished, so did she. Her nails dug into Yasku’s arm, and he crooned softly into her ear, “There you go, kit.”

She looked into his eyes, and their kiss was soft. They were distracted when the call of “Traitorous whore!” sounded. Wings surrounded her, and she was plunged into darkness.

There was a strange sound, and Harwin tutted. “Uh-uh-uh. Not nice to ruin a party.”

Yasku lowered his wings and said, “She is a very good bodyguard.”

Her brother was upside down, with a knife in his hand, and he was twelve feet above the crowd. Harwin was standing in her tunic and leathers, one hand controlling his motions.

Cassandra looked at Harwin. “That’s new.”

“It isn’t wings, but it is something.” Harwin was calm. “Lord Yasku, where would you like him?”

Kiddel walked forward. “I will manage him.”

Yasku looked at Cassandra. “What will you have done with him?”

“Him and my bio-family off-world and sold in a new bond auction to a new world under a new Hmrain.”

“Yes, Lady Cassandra.” Kiddel was ready, and when her brother came down, her sibling was disarmed and bound, and her sister-in-law tried to attack Kiddel from the shadows. Harwin plucked her out of her stampede, and she whizzed her around until she was silent. Harwin settled her down next to her husband, and she was cuffed as well.

Yasku set her down carefully, and Harwin came to her and nodded at her overseer. Cassandra knew a handoff when she saw one.

“Harwin, where did you learn to do that?”

Harwin chuckled. “Me and Kris were in an accident. They put us in a high-powered repair unit that had manual species settings. It wasn’t set for us, and there were... changes.”

“How far are you from paying out your bond?”

“About three years.”

“What are you going to do then?”

“There are some archaeological teams that have interested me. I always loved the idea of uncovering the past, and it holds true here as well. There is so much more here to rediscover, and ancient civilizations are plentiful.”

Cassandra asked, “Do you want to have your bond paid so that you can live out that dream?”

Harwin looked at her and slowly smiled.

Madam Yorness came forward and looked at Harwin. “Well... fuck.”

They laughed, and when they looked at the Coybel again, Cassandra’s relatives were gone, and the dancers were forming up again. Betsy was standing and talking shyly with Kiddel, and he was looking startled.

Cassandra smiled. “As soon as I get to a tablet, I will send the funds to Madam Yorness to clear your bond, Harwin. Make sure that you start shopping for new jobs in your spare time. Sorry, Madam Yorness.”

The reptile merchant sighed. “Fine. Consider her transport to the world of her choice my gift to you, Harwin. I am not going to find another one like you.”

Harwin smiled. “I hope not.”

Cassandra smiled and stood as Yasku walked to her and held her tight. He murmured, “You choose good friends.”

“I am glad you think so. I am buying out Harwin’s bond.”

“I will do it. She saved you and put a bit of fear into the population as they don’t know how many of you can do that.”

Madam Yorness sighed. “Well, I have had her for a few years, and when we run into her people, they are always surprised that she and Kris are theirs.”

Kris muttered, “Me, too. I haven’t felt human since our transformation event.”

Cassandra frowned. “If you aren’t human, what are you?”

Yasku looked down at her. “The same as you. She is now something else.”

Cassandra looked at him and then the women around her, and she had to admit he wasn’t wrong.