Chapter 11
Tahk
I had been traveling the stars for three sunrings before landing on Hugund, the Orders outpost.
It had been erected and floating amongst the debris of their moons for millennia. It was said the Order’s chosen planet was lush with life and had that of the most beautiful colors in all the galaxies. The Dahk had never seen it, the planet long dead before we ever knew of the Orders existence. Their outpost now was grander than most planets, built of the purest stones, and the toughest metals. It was circular and just as large as any planet. Millions of species resided on Hugund along with the Order and its armies.
An Order emissary and his guard met us at our docking station and escorted us to a group of rooms held for me and my Dahk guard. He was Xixin. Tall and muscular, but not quite like their warriors. His fur was combed away from his sharp features, and his fangs were filed sharp along with his claws, but he did not wear the Xixin warrior garb. A much calmer Xixin to their normally chaotic males. Royalty.
We waited now to be summoned. The Order would not be moved on their meeting time. It frustrated me. I had wanted to move the meeting up, but I could not deter from delivering Uthyf to Home World, and then the Council would not hear of moving the meeting up closer, not even by a sunring as I had requested. Selfishly, this did not bother me too much. I had needed that time on Home World with my mate. Had I left as soon as delivering Uthyf, I would not have had the chance to deliver my mate to Ilyndahdus. Nor would I have been able to comfort her and receive her forgiveness.
I was grateful I had not left her still angry and heartsick. But the humans suffered for my selfishness. Every moment the Council waited, more humans perished, and their species survival became more perilous. The Vitat would have been defeated easily had they allowed us to aid them. The loss was pointless. A waste.
The Vitat were strong in numbers, billions clustered throughout the stars, but their strength was no match for my Dahk. They wanted the human's sun and would harvest it if given a chance. Fihk and Dahk One were all that was standing in their way. They would inhabit the Earth while harvesting its sun, and they would enslave the humans they did not consume. Taking both the sun’s energy and the remaining humans back to their hive Queen as sustenance for the hive.
The Council fed my impatience with their silence. We waited far too long for their summons, but when it came, I waited not a moment before following the Xixin to the Council room. I had been to Hugund only once before. My Commander, before he perished, and the Old King rose me in his stead, had business here that I was not privy to. I was high in his ranks, but he took none with him to his meeting with the Council. I did not follow his lead. Ryt and Dao followed me now, along with a small crew of warriors that had traveled with me from Earth. They would wait outside the Council doors, but Ryt and Dao would stay by my side.
The Council was made of seven seats, but it was not always this way. Many remained empty, several species awaiting the Council's invitation. Aryx had not gained it when he took the throne. His father’s seat remained among the empty. Though dozens of species were members of the Order, only seven now spoke for them until another would join them. In times of the Old King, nineteen seats were filled. The Council seats were often only filled by a species ruler which made meetings very difficult to schedule. Not all could travel without ample warning. The head seat was the only to remain on Hugund. Viytenus had sat on the Council, ruling his species from afar for so long, no one knew how he came to gain head seat. He was Bour, his species just as mysterious as he. The other six seats were taken by the Xixin King: one of four Kings. They ruled as a brotherhood, each having their own places in the Kingdom.
The Yuwak held another seat. A female ruler. Though it was difficult to see for she held no gender defining features on her slick body.
The Polizinth Leader held another alongside the Owirden Lord, they were allies. The Guhuvin King held the sixth, and the Juldo Master held the seventh. I glared at him as I entered the room. His mechanical eyes whirred wildly as he watched me shrewdly.
There were too little seats held now. The Council was upheld by the Order law, to govern for all species.
Be Just. Be Fair. Be honorable.
It was not so with so little species heard.
“Commander Tahk.” Viytenus boomed from the center seat in the grand room. His chair on the tallest dais.
“Viytenus.” I bowed. This was the first time we had met. I only knew it was him by the Bour ruling Jewels atop his smooth crown.
“I was saddened to hear of your Commander’s passing.” His flat mouth spoke the words, but his pale face did not show any regret for his role I believed he played in my Commanders end those sunrings ago. “Though he chose well in his successor.”
“Aryx rose me.” My Commander did not choose a successor. His end was quick and unexpected. Viytenus knew this.
“Ah, so he did. Aryx has passed on as well? Is that why you are here in his stead?”
I gnashed my teeth. They knew of my King’s assassination. He toyed with me. I had never had the patience for politics. “I am here on behalf of my new King, Uthyf, and the humans.”
“We are aware.” This from the Xixin King. His feline eyes roamed my stiff posture, his furry brow lifting. “Why do you seek to aid such a species?”
“He has mated a human.” The Yuwak ruler scoffed, her flat mouth pressing down in displeasure. Her unseeing eyes sealed shut behind the gems of her species.
I clenched my jaw. Aryx had told them. I did not know why. He was to seek them for aid, not reveal my stake in the matter. I had not realized he had time to speak to them at all before his death. From my understanding he had been assassinated just after scheduling the meeting. Did he truly have time to disclose about my mate to all of the Council members? I did not believe so, so how did they know? Unless Aryx told them before I spoke to him. But why?
“Yes, Aryx has informed us.” The Xixin King observed me curiously. “We were not aware it was possible for your species to find a Pythen mating among another species.”
“We were also not aware.” I gritted through my fangs. I had not anticipated them being so aware of my mate. This did not make sense. Why would Aryx inform them of this?
“It bears thinking of, does it not?” The Juldo Master rubbed along his steel chin. “Perhaps, the humans are compatible with other species?” My father's words came back to me. Did the Juldo truly wish to procreate?
“Yes, I agree, the humans have been too far for our interference. They reside in some backwater sector. But perhaps we should look into the matter. Many other species could benefit from their capture.” The Polizinth leader’s amphibious eyes roamed the other members wildly.
“They are an intelligent species, not cattle,” The Guhuvin King sneered.
“Are they?” Viytenus chuckled. “They cannot defend themselves against the universes pests. The Vitat have not been able to overcome a species in millennia, yet they took the human planet easily.”
“Will you grant us your blessing in aiding them?” I thundered over their squabbling. I was done with this. I had come for one thing, not for them to discuss the usefulness of my mate’s species.
“Yes.” Viytenus waved one of four hands. “Aid the humans. But our interference will not come without a price.”
“The King is aware. We are prepared for you to seize our trading agreements in the dead sector until my King may renegotiate them with you.”
“No.” The Juldo Master grinned. “The King is not here to offer supplication. The cost will not be yours to accept.”
“He could not.” I bit back a sharp retort. “He lays his brother to rest.”
“He is now King. Such things do not come before his duties.” Viytenus glared. “We will contact him directly but even so; the cost will be the humans to pay.”
The humans had nothing to offer. I braced. “What do you ask of them?”
“Their sworn fealty to the Order. Do not look so alarmed Commander. The humans should be grateful. They will survive the Vitat and join a group of species far more superior to them.”
The Polizinth leader sneered. “They are lucky. They will benefit from such an alliance.”
“They have nothing to offer you for your returned protection.”
“No?” The Juldo Master shared a grin with Viytenus. “I believe they have much to offer.”
✽✽✽
I stormed from the Council rooms. Furious. What they asked was blasphemous. The Order had never acted so unjustly before. Not that I had ever been made aware.
Something was amiss. The Guhuvin King did not agree, and neither did the Xixin King, but their protests went ignored.
Dao and Ryt remained silent as we traveled back to the room. I charged in, my rage consuming me. My fists clenched, my claws drawing blood. I slammed them into the brittle wall of the room, caving holes into it.
A knock sounded at the door. “Answer it.” I gritted.
The Guhuvin King stood on the other side. “Commander.”
I bowed deeply to our ally, thumping my chest. “Tander.”
Tander returned my bow, the steel of his blades glinting from his side.
The Guhuvin were a peaceful species, but they were fiercely protective. Defending their planet with a ferocity that none dare challenge. His white eyes watched me carefully, calmly.
“I am here on behalf of the Xixin King as well, along with his brother Kings.” He watched me gravely, his arms crossed respectively, and his feathered wings folded in welcome.
I nodded to Dao. He moved aside, allowing the King entry and shutting the door behind him.
“Why are you here?”
“The Juldo Master called for a meeting with the Order Council before your arrival.”
“He is behind their actions against the humans.” I guessed, new rage consuming me. The Council had become corrupted by the Master. The King nodded. “Why?”
“I do not know. But he desires the humans for his own purposes.” Tander’s blue eyes glowed with the fire of anger only his species could produce. His fangs were retracted, but his jaw clenched tight to keep them from springing free.
“They cannot procreate,” I told him something he knew.
“No, not a true Juldo.” His eye held understanding, and something like alarm. But Tander was not one to show emotion often.
I stiffened. “No, he is not such a fool. Many will die. The Order will not allow it.” I wished to bite the words back.
“Not if Viytenus backs him.”
“Why would he?” It made no sense. Viytenus had been revered for his neutrality.
“He has not been himself for some time.” Tander looked up with a sigh. He used to be friends with Viytenus, alongside the Old Dahk King and many others. Since the Old King’s assassination, the alliances the Council was built upon began to fall apart.
“The Xixin Kings have discussed leaving the Order and the Council.” The King grinned wryly. “I must confess I have thought the same as of late.”
For Tander to entertain thoughts of leaving? It truly must be dire. “They are that corrupt you would leave and risk their retaliation?”
“The Xixin are a fierce ally to have.” He said pointedly. “I have others as well. The Order would not dare retaliate.”
“But you would not aid us in this?”
“No. I feel great sympathy for your plight and will come to your aid against the Juldo should they attack, but I will not reveal myself to the Order for the humans until I decide.” The King rubbed his chin. “Do not look so shocked Commander. It is best to study one's enemies up close.”
I sighed. “We will not allow the Order to succeed in this.”
The King nodded and bowed. “I wish you luck in your endeavor. I hear we are to stay for your counteroffer, but I must warn you, the Council has no intention of accepting any payment from the Dahk on the human's behalf. The Xixin King and I do not hold the majority vote.”
“I will still try.” I would comm Uthyf and allow him to deliberate before presenting the Council with an alternative offer. I did not truly believe the Council would be swayed, but I would not leave the humans to their fate.
“Very well. I will see you in the morn.” He turned but stopped. “King Aryx...” he stopped and took a breath. He clenched his jaw. “How is the new King?”
I looked at him strangely. He wished to say something of Aryx but stopped himself. “He has accepted the throne,” I said warily.
The King nodded once more. “Good tidings, Tahk.”
I watched the Guhuvin King leave. Silently contemplating all he said. “Comm the King,” I ordered Ryt. We had no time to waste.
If the Council did not accept a counteroffer, then we would be at war with them.