Chapter 7
Tahk
I stood in the Kings Council room, scowling at the floor. My mate was angry, no, devastated. I had first thought she would welcome my consorts when she seemed to have no issue with my father’s multiple mates, but when she found out about my own multiple partners, she reacted fitfully. Like a scorned gypcat. Her little teeth bared and her eyes flashing with fury. That is until they flooded with wet. Then sadness overtook her once more, and I wished nothing more than to clear her face from any sadness. But I could not give her what she wished. My consorts’ Houses would have protested my shunning of them vehemently. Both of my potential matings had been matched by our first fathers. I had no desire to choose for my own, so my father had chosen for me.
What my Pythe did not know was that I felt no desire to touch another. I had suspected after not wishing for Filiya that would be the case, but when Nonya came to me in front of my mate, I was sure. I felt nothing for the female. But she had been a respectable consort. I could not shame her or Alyn by dismissing them so hastily. I would need to meet with their Houses. An arrangement would need to be made. But that was not the only issue, by not taking another mate I would bring Pehytohn more contempt from the Dahk.
It would not be easy on her here. She would be expected to bear many dahkling to make up for my having no other mate, which was very rare in female Dahk. If one could conceive, it was very difficult to do so again. I wanted dahkling, but not more than I wanted my yula. If she could never bear me a dahkling, this would not bother me. It would not urge me to another. I wanted only her. But other Dahk did not feel the same.
I would need to come to a decision soon. Filiya was right, my mate would not settle in our home with the others, and I did not have much time. I needed to head for the Galactic Order and procure an agreement for Fihk to aid the humans. My mate would see this. Her greatest wish was to save her humans. But I was filled with worry at the thought of using the reason to procure her submission. She would give it no doubt, but it would put her in a position in my House that would only drive her away.
Something must be done before leaving. I could barely leave her side as it was, the mating rage called to me, I could not stand to be parted from her, to leave to the Galactic Order with her holed up with my consorts would drive her farther away. It left only two options. I could find a new match for my consorts before leaving, or I could take my mate with me. But the second was no option at all. The Galactic Council would be outraged at the sight of her. Humans were not to be invaded by galactic law, and she would be seen as a grave offense against her planet and taken from me. I would not let that happen. She must remain here.
“Tahk,” Uthyf barked from the center of the room. He now sat on the throne, as his brother did the last I saw of him. “What say you?”
“What?” I growled, refusing to show the shame I felt that my thoughts had wandered.
“The Juldo assassin is believed to be a Shadow Born.” Uthyf scowled, he had grown into the position and had reluctantly dropped all reserve around me. I knew it was difficult not to bend to my command as he had done since being appointed on my Council, but my father was right about Uthyf. He was not as his brother. He did not so easily bend. Uthyf was commanding, a warrior, and a worthy King.
“He will not be so easily found, then.” I sighed and scrubbed my crown. We knew very little of the Shadow Born. They were once the Juldo’s greatest asset but had been hunted down by their own over the ages. Many Juldo were lost in the battle, but there were so few Shadow Born, and the Juldo themselves were a powerful enemy. Only they could have killed their own assassins.
Juldo once long ago gave their young warriors to their gods to be remade. Reborn into shadow and death. They were the greatest weapon in all the galaxies. It was said one Shadow Born assassin could bring down whole armies with little effort. Had so many still lived, we would be at a greater disadvantage against the new Master. But it was thought that he had none under his command. A Master from long ago had eradicated all of them. Or so we thought, one must have subsisted.
The King’s slayer would not be defeated easily. We would need our best. And I could not be here. I had already abandoned the humans. I needed to go to the Galactic Council. Uthyf knew this.
“Send Wohn with our best. He will find him.” It was all I had to offer. I would join the hunt after I returned.
“You will not go?” Laado, a member of the King’s Council asked, shocked.
“He will meet with the Galactic Council on behalf of the humans.” Uthyf dismissed the Council’s outraged shouts. “It is not up for discussion.”
“Is hunting our Kings assassin, not of greater importance?” Hull bared his teeth in fury.
“Enough,” Uthyf growled low. “I am not my brother.” He glared at each member with clear warning. “You will not remain on my Council by undermining my rule.”
The Council quieted, all but my father, who grinned wildly at the King. “My King, what of your protection? I should like to assign you a guard of my son’s command.”
It was a wise request. Uthyf himself was in danger. Not only of the Juldo but of his own Dahk. Those that would seize the throne for themselves. Uthyf looked to me for guidance in this. Not because he was unsure, but because he knew I would know the right course to take as his Commander.
I nodded, “I will see to it.” The Council shifted anxiously. Even now Uthyf was endangered by his own Council. Only my Dahk would be trusted to guard him. None would get close. Not even those here now. Uthyf himself would defeat any who tried, but my guard would not allow any the chance to die at his hand.
The King dismissed his Council. My father and I stayed behind.
“I will leave after escorting my mate home. A small crew will accompany me.” I told my King. “Yilt will lead your guard.”
Uthyf nodded and looked to Haytu. “Which of them do you know that conspire?”
My father sighed regrettably. “All of them. Though, Hull is behind what drives the others. He gains their support to take the throne.”
“He will fail.” Uthyf spat and stood from the throne. “My brother was a fool to have them on the Council. Even as he rose Klando and Jirt, his judgment was driven by that of Hull’s and the other’s influence, their plotting. My brother was far too gullible. He could not see them for the serpents they are.”
“Your father allowed his mam too much of a hand. She is too soft-hearted, and it weakened him.” Father sighed and ignored my warning growl. “Your mam was not so. She taught you to be a warrior, to serve the kingdom as her mate did. Aryx should have never been on the throne.”
“My brother may be a fool, but he still wished the kingdom well. You will not sully his name.”
“I meant no offense my King, but he has placed you on a perilous throne because of his actions. He did many great things for the Dahk, but he was no warrior. The Dahk need a warrior ruling.”
As much as I wished my father silenced, he was right. Aryx was no warrior, and the Dahk held little respect for him for it. Uthyf knew this for he did not reprimand my father again.
“I will not be here for Aryx’s rites,” I said to Uthyf in apology. I did not wish it so, but I could not stay. The Earth had been left too long without proper defense already. I only hoped Fihk managed to keep more Vitat from entering, to interfere where he could.
“I know this. The humans need our aid, as hard-minded as they are. We owe them nothing, save you, but I will not have my first command as King be to abandon a defenseless species. It was my brother's last wish to save them, and I will see it through.” Uthyf quieted a moment, studying Haytu. “Though, I wish to know what drove him so fiercely when his Council advised against it. He did not defer from their direction often.”
Haytu flushed and studied a claw. “We were made aware of their compatibility.”
“How?” Uthyf demanded.
I too wished to know. We had not seen any human on Home World or out in the galaxy, though we heard of their occasional slavery amongst other species. Their value.
“The Juldo Master has been seeking one. Our few allies left inside the Master’s army sent word. He knows of the human females ability to bear young of other species, and he seeks one for himself. Aryx hoped to form an agreement with the humans in order to bear an heir. It was a foolish hope, not only would the Dahk refuse to accept such an heir, but too many laws and obstacles of the Galactic Council would make it near impossible, but the need of an heir and his unsuccessful couplings drove him to interfere when word came of the Vitat’s plan to invade. Aryx believed the Master wished to capture a human for his own for other reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“He did not divulge that information, but if I had to guess, I’d say Aryx was wrong, and the Master wished to test it, see if it were possible to birth a Juldo.”
I scoffed. “Juldo do not birth young. They are made. As it has always been.”
Uthyf looked equally as doubtful. “Even if it were possible, the Juldo have no need of heirs. They gain the throne through challenge.”
“The New Master did not gain the throne through any challenge himself. You know this. He stole it through trickery and had another, perhaps more than one, challenge the Old Master.”
“Even so, it does not matter now. Aryx knew and sent us to save the human species so we may mate with them and gain numbers. Perhaps the last wise command from him. He would have faced great scorn suggesting such a change.” Uthyf gazed off, perhaps remembering his brother and wondering why he had not told him of it.
“It would be beneficial, although, not many Dahk would support it. Off-world mating is frowned upon already.” Haytu smiled grimly at Tahk in apology. He hadn’t needed to. He spoke the truth.
“Perhaps why he kept it from me. He worried I would not support it.” Uthyf murmured pensively.
“You have followed the Dahk way, my King, it was not a careless thought. Would you have supported him?” Haytu boldly asked.
Uthyf would have looked ashamed if his face were not so stiff with anger. “Dahk are Dahk, mating any other would pollute our origins, but our numbers are low, the climates aiding in the dwindling life. I would have seen the intelligence of such an endeavor and supported him. If we are to survive, we must increase our numbers.”
I stiffened at the ridiculous view in opinion. Dahk and humans were different, yes, but we had not survived our dying yula by not evolving. We must evolve in these beliefs as well. Any dahkling my mate and I created would be Dahk but also human, but they would be a gift nonetheless as any young should be. Uthyf’s way of thinking was ancient and stifled. I was glad to see he saw the prudence in his brother's ideals even if he did not agree with them. My anger must have shown through for Uthyf sighed and apologized. “I mean no offense for your mating, Commander. You are my closest friend as you were to Aryx, I feel nothing but happiness for you. In the past, I have thought only of the Dahk-way as I was raised by my first father. Not as Aryx did of growth, his forethought was perhaps a boon from Josyd’s interference. Though, even Aryx could not have anticipated a true mating with the humans. This has made me think past my own prejudice.”
Yes, Uthyf would make a fine King. I knew this witnessing him reconsider his own folly beliefs that would stifle our species. A great King acted for the greater good and used new knowledge to benefit his Dahk. Uthyf saw this early on, and it was a good sign he did not hesitate to alter his thoughts for his Dahk.
“All Dahk will see the new way in time. We must change our beliefs and prejudices if we are to prosper and defend our home. A true mating will entice many.” Haytu bowed and left the room.
“Fihk will be waiting for word from you, do you intend to send him aid?” Uthyf asked, once again referring to my judgment.
“He has my fleet with him. I have full faith in his capabilities. However, I do fear he will not handle negotiation with the humans well. He is calmer than Olynth, but the two of them together do not handle ignorance well, and they fuel the others’ irritation. My Council will be no help. I believe it may be wise to send a negotiator, perhaps Dyadus.”
Uthyf nodded. “I will inform him to be ready for travel as soon as you return. What of the human warriors?”
“Gryo has them in the vats, most of their injuries should be healed in a few sunrings, though Hyctoor will possibly take longer due to the scrap impaling him.”
“Perhaps they will accompany Dyadus back to Earth and aid in the negotiations.”
I did not think Vivian would agree with her mate returning, but the King had no reason to worry over such things. “Fihk does not have the time it would take for any to travel, I intend to send word to him immediately upon gaining their agreement. The humans will cease to be if we wait much longer.”
“I agree, they cannot wait for Dyadus’ arrival, but perhaps he can aid them in other ways when he does arrive.”
“If we gain agreement from the Council the humans do not need to be informed, we will simply interfere and save them from themselves,” I growled, irritated they had not cooperated from the beginning, placing innocent lives in harm's way. Killing Bryahn and the others. There were a few humans I did not mind perishing in the fallout. I would slay them myself if given the opportunity.
“Why did Aryx not send a skilled negotiator from the beginning?” Uthyf mused to himself. I had no answer. We should have anticipated the complication from the beginning, but the humans were unpredictable and self-destructive. It was the trait of a young species, too young. The humans were not far from achieving many advances in space travel. How could they be so far developed in those areas, and so underdeveloped in others?
“What will you do in my absence?” I asked him, much needed to be done with the humans, yes, but the Kingdom was in danger on many fronts. We had a war developing with the Juldo, and an assassin that will no doubt return for the new King if the Master wished to cause conflict in our Dahk, and the conflict that was already brewing for the throne.
“I will weed out the traitors and hunt my brother's slayer. The armies must prepare for war. This was the Juldo. I have no doubt. They seek to destroy us. We must be ready.”
“Agreed. We cannot afford to have Dahk One far from Home World long.” It was much to settle on the shoulders of a new King. But it could not be helped. “What of our allies?”
“I will send word. The Guhuvins will request a personal meeting, as well as the Chutary.”
“Do not the let the Guhuvin soft-bellied Captain refuse.” It was out of line for me to demand a thing from my King, but Uthyf had been under my command and on my Council for many sunspins. We would both be adjusting to the change in circumstance and position.
He nodded and turned to the door. “I will have the battleship ready for your departure. Do not take long, the Galactic Council expects you in three sunrings.”
I thumped my chest respectively and bowed, leaving my King.
I would travel in most of that time. It did not leave long to settle my mate in her new home. It did not leave much time to speak with my consorts’ Houses. I would need to make haste to accomplish it all.
Haytu waited outside the doors for me.
“Son, you leave for your House now?”
“Yes,” I replied curtly. I had no more care for talking, I sought my mate, whether she wished it or not.
“I thought it strange you had not shared the Dahk way of taking multiple mates, but I should have anticipated it. The humans are not the first species to find such practices eccentric.”
“She was upset.”
Haytu snorted. “I could have gathered that from her shouting, Son.”
“Do not mock me. She was already angry I took her from her Earth, this will only cause her more pain, and me more torment.” I snarled, hastening to the staircase.
Haytu sighed, “All females struggle at first. She will come around to our ways.”
“There is no need. I intend to release my consorts and not take another.”
Haytu choked, “You what?”
“My Pythe will not be happy sharing.” I grinned to myself. It would cause many disgruntled opinions in the Dahk, but I found myself rather pleased that my yula wanted me to herself. I wanted her to myself as well. I could not be upset she did not wish another to touch me when I would disembowel any who dare touch her. She was mine alone, as I was now hers.
“Tahk! No, you cannot.” Haytu growled and grabbed my arm, halting me.
I did with a snarl. “It is not your place to say.”
“You do her no service bringing such hatred from others. Your consorts’ ire alone will stifle her settlement here.”
“I will not let that happen. If I keep them, she will never be mine again, and I do not want them.”
“What about dahkling? You would deny your First Mother this? Me?”
I sighed and scowled at him. “Who is to say Pehytohn will not birth many babes?”
“You know to conceive is difficult on Home World. Our climate deprives us of the proper environment. Gryo had assured me humans are far more fertile, but it may still be difficult.”
“Father, I will not have my mate’s love kept from me because we refuse to relocate to another habitable planet. If she conceives, it will be my greatest happiness. If she does not…she is mine, and I will be just as content.”
My father paled and stepped back. “What is this? You would discard our cultures for her comfort? It is not done. How are the Dahk to accept her if she causes you to abandon your ideals?”
I stepped into him threateningly. “Have you not thought of what she is? She is my Pythe. We have not had such a mating in many sunspins. She is a miracle, you cannot hold our mating to the standards that are in practice now. You must think in the old ways. We did not have multiple matings then. Perhaps it is as it should be, one Pythe for a Pythen and no other.”
He watched me a moment, driving my impatience and anger high.
“Very well.” He grinned reluctantly. “I will support you in this, but your mam will not.”
He was very pleased with the idea of my mam scolding me. He was growing bored on the King’s Council.
I left him and rushed up to the second floor to my mate. I followed the long corridors to where her rooms would be. I only wished she was there now, and not still cowering behind my second, whom I would be speaking to before I left. And if Wohn continued to badger me and interfere where he was not permitted, he would find himself enduring the retirement he avoided.
My mate and her reservations were no one’s business but our own. I would not allow another to come between us again. If I found her turning to another Dahk, there would be punishment for both her and the fool, as Ryt and Dao now knew as they tended to the injuries I inflicted upon them for their interference.
I needn’t have worried. My mate was in her rooms―as well as my consorts.
I growled in rage.
Not another would come between us be they male or female.