Noven 90 – Etlonian Mahdfel Outpost on the Edge of Nowhere
Kave
It was the same dream that he always had that woke Kave. His mother held him. He couldn’t see her face, couldn’t even remember it. And then the warm stickiness of her blood. The whisper of her last words -I love you- until she had no more breath.
Kave remembered waking to that dream, night after night as a child, growing up in bunks stacked with other orphans. When it began to fade, he had actually worried that he would forget her. When he got older, Kave easily attained pictures of her and his father, but they were cold, ID photos, nothing more. Had she loved his father? There was no one left to answer his questions. His mother’s family had all been massacred and his father had also been an orphan.
At least it ran in the family.
Now the dream just filled him with a longing that had taken him a long time to identify. Now, especially seeing his entire camp paired up with mates, Kave knew the longing was to wrap his arms around a woman of his own, one that he would be willing to die for. One that would be willing to die for his children.
Kave slid out of the hammock where he’d chosen to sleep under the stars. He stared out at the long stretch of beach before him. There was no denying that Noven 90 was a tropical paradise. The weather was mild and temperate. The rain when it fell was like a warm bath. Food was plentiful in the camp and the forest beyond the camp was an ample source of fresh fruits and vegetables, of game and things to hunt. The biggest drawback or in some cases, the biggest advantage was the isolation. Noven 90 was on the edge of the known universe and after the Suhlik had fallen for their ruse once, it was practically guaranteed that they would never show their face again.
Kave stared at the moon as it came up over the ocean. The second moon would be up soon. Neither one of them had names. Perhaps that's what he would do, name the moon for his mate. She would like that. A whole heavenly body all to herself. Kave wanted her heavenly body next to his to be able to warm her with his own glow. To take on her own color and to plant his child inside of her. He longed for the nights which would not be long enough. Kave had always been alone.
He'd never had a father, as Athen had, to come and watch him train. Someone to be proud when he rose through the ranks. His first memories were of the warriors’ school, of the Academy where he trained, where he slept in bunks full of orphans. It had been a sheer coincidence that he was the same age as the young Prince Athen, the fifth son. That on the day Athen's father Etlon of Etlon had come to visit, Kave had managed to make an impression. There had been a scuffle between two boys and as the instructors were wont to do, they let the youths work it out themselves. Athen had tried to step into the middle of it, defending the younger and weaker boy as it became clear that the older warrior far outmatched his younger opponent. Seeing a chance to disgrace the young prince in front of his father, a second warrior joined in to put Athen in his place. Kave had stepped up with Athen and, without much thought, the two of them succeeded in systematically dismantling the attacks of the other two. There was no malice in either one of their attacks and because he had demonstrated the cool head of a warrior over the increasing anger and rage at being shown up, Etlon had requested his name.
From then on Kave had always been paired with Athen and he knew that Etlon had entrusted him with his son. As Athen’s brothers died, Etlon's interference became much more apparent. He began to irregularly demand reports and gave suggestions of what should be suggested to his son. Finally it was just simpler to send regular updates to his father. It helped manage the meddling. Kave didn't see it as much as spying on his friend and warlord, as much as saving him the aggravation of having someone else do it for him in a more intrusive manner.
Kave headed toward the edge of the force fence that guarded the camp and kept some of the more vicious jungle critters away from the delicate, fragile Terran women that littered the place. Now, during low tide, he needed only to wade in thigh-deep to round the corner of the fence. He fought down the deep seated wariness of an Etlon in water. The Suhlik, who couldn’t swim themselves, had bred it into them, possibly to keep them under control with something as simple as a moat around an enclosure. But Eltonians were afraid of nothing, if they set their mind to it, and a moment later, he was out of the water and on the jungle side of the fence.
Kave began a route around the compound that he often took to clear his head. He’d originally started it with the excuse that he was checking the fence and possibly some of his warriors slacking but now, he was starting to wear a regular path into the jungle.
Athen had bemoaned his lack of discipline, but Kave simply looked at it as a different leadership style. There was slacking, and there was slacking. As long as the slacking didn’t get anyone killed, Kave presumed it was good for morale. Honestly, Kave hadn’t seen a serious case for a while. His men, especially now, had an interest in camp security. They were all desperate to keep their mates safe.
Kave reached the edge of the force fence and took a left, up to Athen’s secret still. It wasn’t much of a secret to Kave, especially since he’d discovered Athen’s mate, Odette, caterwauling and fearing for her safety, had jumped in and realized a moment too late that her cries were of pleasure, not pain.
When Athen had returned to Etlon, he’d left no instructions to care for the kegs of fine spirits, and Kave saw no reason to let them go to waste. He continued to turn them and monitor their progress.
Athen’s secret backway into the camp also wasn’t so secret. Kave was a better spy than Athen gave him credit for. He slipped back through the blink in the fence and was just about to hide in the command center when a female voice called him back.
“Kave!”
He was tempted to pretend he didn’t hear her, but a moment later, a finger poked him in the back. If she’d been a warrior, she’d have a broken finger by now. He turned, trying not to glare. The Terrans seemed to find a frown terrifying. He had to practice in monitoring his facial expressions, so he didn’t scare his own mate in this way. He couldn’t stop the flush of murky green annoyance that fluttered over his skin.
Kave stared down at Skylar, a rather stocky Terran that belonged to Leif, one of his top warriors. She held up a dead flegan, a jungle squid that was considered a delicacy on Etlon.
“I need for you to have a chat with Leif.”
“Warriors do not have chats.”
“A talk. Look. He keeps bringing me these things.” She wiggled the tentacled mass at him.
“Delicious.”
“Yes, I know you think so, but I don’t like calamari.”
“Then tell him that.”
“But I already told him that I did.”
“So you lied.”
“I was being polite. But he keeps bringing them to me, and if I have to eat another one, I’m gonna barf.”
“Barf.” He squinted his eyes at her. The translator didn’t seem to know this word.
“Upchuck. Toss my cookies? Throw up?”
“Throw what up?”
“This squid! Vomit! I’m gonna vomit.” She gave the tentacles another shake.
“Then don’t eat it.”
“But he thinks I like it.”
“Because you lied.”
“Just talk to him and tell him not to bring me any more.”
She handed the flegan to him, and turned sharply. Kave had no idea why she had inserted him into her problem. If he had a mate, this would not be a problem. She would swoop in with an explanation and solve everything the way that Odette managed so splendidly when Athen was in charge.
Honestly, not finding him a match was a crime. Perhaps he should widen the search beyond Terran women. But the camp was literally full of them and another species wouldn’t be able to navigate them any easier than Kave. No, a Terran mate was the only solution.
Kave entered the command module and plopped the flegan down next to the console. It made a squishy noise and slid off the edge onto the floor with an even louder squelch. He couldn’t be bothered to pick it up.
Kave checked the status of his application, as he had at least twice a day for the past month. Nothing. There was nothing to do but wait, unless… There was an option. Generally reserved for the most elite and advanced Mahdfel. He’d saved the life of a prince. Etlon of Etlon had promised him a mate for his services. Why shouldn’t he exercise the option for himself? He keyed in the code and refreshed his application. He would now jump to the top of all the lists. Surely now, it wouldn’t be much longer.