CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CAPTAIN INEQ SHUN
Finally, I could breathe again. Everything seemed to be perfect. We had defeated the head of the opposition, but we still did not know what plans he had put in to play before we defeated him. It seemed that the Aeriwanas really were eradicated, but only time would tell. But for now, there was peace between the opposition Draqua and the Draqua of Kelon. It was perfect timing because all I wanted to do was be with my human and take care of her and nurture the offspring inside of her.
It was all perfect for me, but there was still trouble, and Alexandra was very upset about it. The problem with Camilla was really weighing on her. I felt a need to fix it because I wanted her to be happy. Her happiness was my happiness, and so I would have to devise a plan to breach the gap between the two human friends.
“Any luck with Camilla?” I asked Commander Roan as we worked on the outside mechanics of my ship.
“Not if you call her not speaking to me at all lucky,” he said playfully.
“Anytime I don't have to hear your annoying voice, I feel that I am lucky,” I joked.
“Very funny, Ineq. Maybe it is my voice driving her away. I cannot get two words in with her. It is very frustrating.”
“I understand. Alexandra is feeling the same way. They have known each other a long time. They are almost like sisters,” I said.
“Yes, almost like us,” he said.
“Oh come on. Don’t get all sentimental on me now.”
“You’re right. I’ll reel it in,” he laughed.
“But maybe I should talk to her. She does not hate me. Maybe I could at least get her to listen to some words I have to say about the whole thing.”
“Yeah? That might work. What choice do we have anyway?”
“I will do it for Alexandra. If Camilla ends up giving you a second chance, then that will just be a bonus.” I teased.
“Great, can you go now?”
“I'm working here.”
“I will finish the work for you. I am anxious.”
“Fine, I will go try to find her now. Don't stop until the ship is spotless.”
“You got it, Captain. You'll be able to see your ugly face in the reflection when you return.”
“My reflection is extremely handsome, and don't you forget it.” I left him to work, and I went in search of Camilla.
I found her with a group of human females. They were teaching her how to fish with a large casting net. She was smiling and having a good time; that was a good sign at least.
“Camilla, may I have a word with you?”
“Captain, it is good to see you again. Of course. You did rescue me after all.”
We walked away from the group of women.
“It wasn't just me that rescued you. The commander petitioned the king every day to try to get a mission to go get you. He wanted to go on his own. He almost died you know.”
“What? When?”
That day in the market when they took you. He tried so hard to defend you and get you back, and the Aeriwanas beat him almost to death. When I found him, there were four of them on him, beating the shit out of him. It was bad. It was really bad. When we got to the ship, the Aeriwanas were coming after us. We were outnumbered. I made the decision to leave. I knew that if we did not leave, we would be killed and Alexandra would be captured too. I made the decision to leave and come back to Kelon for reinforcements. But when we got here, the commander was very badly wounded. It took a long time for him to heal. When he first woke up on the ship, he could barely move, but he was insisting on going back for you no matter what. I ordered him to stay put, and he eventually passed out from the pain.
She gasped. “I had no idea it was that bad. Oh my God.”
“Yes, and once he was healed, he tried to get the king to let him go on a mission to go get you, but the king would not grant it because of the risk. The day that the siren went off, the commander came to me saying the king allowed him to go get you only because we were all going on the mission anyway. He was very focused and determined to find you. I have never seen him go after something so passionately before.”
“That might be, but that does not excuse what he did. I assume that you know? That you know about him and Alexandra?”
“Yes, I do. When I found out, I was so angry, I went after the commander. We got into a very bad fight, and I had to be pulled off of him. I did not speak to him or her for a long time.”
“So I am right in being angry,” she said.
“Of course you are. But eventually, I let it go. Eventually, I changed my mind about it all.”
“Why? What changed?”
“I found out that Alexandra is pregnant. She carries my child. We have had the test done to prove it; it is mine.”
“Oh my God! Alexandra's pregnant?”
“Yes, she is. She is very happy about it but also very scared. She could use a friend right now,” I said. “And her sadness about you is not good for the baby.”
“Oh my god! She must be very scared. Oh my god, Alexandra,” she said.
“But there is something else. You cannot blame her. When this happened, it was after I brought her here. I was very busy with my work and trying to figure out how to get to you. Because of that, I did not speak to her for almost two weeks. I visited her at night to watch her sleep, but she did not know that I was there. She thought I had abandoned her. That was what drove her into the commander's arms. So it is my fault too. The commander was also in a very bad way. He was recovering from having been beaten almost to death and then in despair with the king not allowing him to go get you. It was just all the right things at the right time for it to happen. But there is nothing between them. It is obvious.”
She was quiet for a long time. She was thinking things over.
“Thank you, Captain. I want to get back to learning how to fish. Go to Alexandra; she needs you.” Then she ran off to join the women again. My work was done, I had done all that I could. I only hoped that my words got through to her.
On my way home, I remembered my promise to Alexandra. I flew out over the meadows and picked several large flowers. Then I flew back to the hut she now shared with me.
“Delivery for you, Alexandra,” I said walking in.
“Oh, they are lovely! Thank you, Ineq,” she said and gave me a kiss. She took the flowers from me.
“I talked to your friend today,” I sat at the table.
“What? You spoke to Camilla?” she said excitedly.
“Yes,” I said.
“And what happened? What did she say?”
She came to me and sat on my lap.
“She didn’t say too much, but she did listen. I think she will come around soon.”
“Oh, thank you!” she covered my face in kisses. I laughed.
“You’re welcome.”
“Now, will you come to dinner with me in the communal kitchens? You have been avoiding it long enough.”
“You noticed huh?”
“Yes, I did.”
“It is just I wanted Camilla to be able to go there and not have reason to leave. She shouldn’t be up in her hut alone. So I made myself scarce,” she said.
I sighed. “Well, I think you have given her plenty of time to make friends and enjoy it. Now it is your turn too. Lisa has been asking about you, and I am running out of excuses.”
She laughed. “Fine, all right. We can go eat dinner in the communal kitchens. But I’m warning you: with that much food, I won’t know when to stop. I am so hungry all the time.”
“It is fine. I will keep bringing you food until you tell me to stop. That dragon inside of you is famished. Let’s go.”
She smiled, and we walked out together from my hut. We took the massive spiral stairs inside the tree and into the village.