The elder silenced them both. “The council will deliberate, and we shall make a decision as soon as possible. Meanwhile, you’ll be asked to remain in the tents assigned to both of you,” he explained in a firm tone.
Vrak and Kahm nodded, and a couple of guards accompanied them to a tent next to the one where Aliyah was being taken care of.
“What do you think will happen?” Vrak asked Kahm, pacing the place.
“I have no idea. It’s obvious the elders had no idea what was going on. They really don’t like having other species in their territory, and that could play in your favor, but we never know with these people.”
“I won’t let them take her away from me, no matter what,” Vrak stated, standing in front of his friend.
“I totally understand you, and you have my support whatever happens,” Kahm assured him.
“You shouldn’t be here, my friend. This can bring you more problems than you bargained for. You should be home, taking care of your wife.”
“She’s well taken care of. Her parents finally arrived, and she’s in heaven,” he informed his friend.
“That is great news.”
“Yes, it is. Selena is a lot calmer now that her mother arrived, and she’s fully enjoying her pregnancy.”
They chatted during the rest of the night, both too restless to even try to get some sleep.
When the morning finally came, they were brought some food and informed that the council would present their final resolutions in an hour.
“How’s Aliyah? When can I see her?” Vrak asked the guard.
The man frowned. “I have no information on the female. You’ll have to wait,” he replied, with a cold tone.
“You have no idea how much I want to get out of this place. These people live by very different standards, and that’s getting on my nerves,” he muttered to his friend when the man left.
“I know what you mean. I feel exactly the same, but there isn’t much we can do if we want to preserve peace.”
“I’m well aware of that,” he assured him, with a deep sigh. “But it doesn’t make things any easier.”
Back in the healer’s tent, Aliyah slowly woke up. Though she was feeling much better than the night before, her back still hurt a lot. She wanted to go home, but she wasn’t even sure she would be allowed to. That simple possibility sent a shudder of dread rushing through her body.
She would never accept any decision that would force her to stay in Sumitera with Zag. She would rather die. She wanted to trust Vrak and his determination to keep her at his side, but could she really trust that?
He had never told her she meant anything more than a fling for him. After all, they had been through, he could have decided he wanted nothing more to do with her. It would kill her, but she had to keep that in mind.
“Ah, you’re awake. May I get you something to eat?” Glynoy asked her, taking a seat next to her bed.
“I’m not very hungry,” she confessed. “What happened with the council’s meeting?” she asked, with a slight frown.
“They still haven’t announced their decision,” the woman replied.
“Have they been discussing this the whole night?” she asked, surprised.
“No, not all. Both parties were heard, and the council suspended the meeting while they reached a verdict.”
“What do you think will happen?” Aliyah asked, a bit tremulous.
She shrugged. “The elders are mad at Zag for acting behind their back, but he’s their best hunter. They might want to keep him happy,” she explained.
“No matter what happens, I’ll never become his wife. I simply can’t.”
“Women don’t get to decide that amongst our people,” Glynoy warned her.
“You’re forced to marry men you don’t like?” she asked, with a deep frown. There had been a time on Earth things had been like that. But that had ended centuries ago when men finally accepted women had the same rights as they did.
“Our parents choose our husbands. If you’re lucky, they might ask your opinion on the matter, but most women meet their husbands at the mating ceremony,” she explained, with a resigned tone. “If your parents die before you become of age, then the council will make the selection for you,”
“That’s terrible. You should only join your life to a man you know you’ll be able to love and respect.”
“Most of us find love and respect in our marriages. I have to admit there were some terrible failures, but they are not the common rule.”
Aliyah nodded, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to accept a marriage like that. Not anymore.
When she had signed her contract back on Earth, she had been naively optimistic about the whole thing. She hadn’t given much thought to the man she would be marrying, especially when she hadn’t even been able to choose him. She had hoped for the best, sure anything would be better than living on Earth.
Now, that she had fallen in love with Vrak, she knew she couldn’t accept the idea of another man touching her and making love to her. The simple thought of that sent chills of disgust down her spine.
“And when the children come along, you discover the deepest kind of love in the universe, and nothing else matters,” Glynoy continued.
Aliyah’s face became somber at the other woman’s words. “I’ll never know that,” she muttered.
The woman looked at her startled. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t have children. My planet was destroyed by the wars, and in one of the attacks, my city was attacked with chemical weapons. One of their side effects was the sterility of both men and women,” she explained.
The woman was shocked. “And knowing that the Cetians accepted your request to become a Mail Order Bride?” she asked, surprised.
“I have no idea if they know about it or not. They never asked about it,” she explained.
“Barren women are not allowed to get married, in our society” she retorted, with a worried expression.
Aliyah let out a grunt of protest. “That’s not fair. What happens to them?”
The woman’s cheeks changed color as if she was embarrassed. “They live to serve the tribe’s single males,” she muttered. “I need to tell this to the elders. They need to get this information,” she added, leaving the tent, without giving Aliyah the chance to say anything else.
Not sure she should have mentioned it she jumped out of bed and paced the tent, oblivious to the pain in her back, too worried about what might happen now.
Vrak already knew she couldn’t have children, but perhaps these people were able to convince him she was damaged goods, certainly not worth fighting for.
The woman took a lot of time to return to her tent. Aliyah had tried a few times to go after her, but the guard outside the tent wouldn’t let her go. Despite the fact she was only in a tent, the place only had one way out, and unless she trashed the fabric it was made of, she was as good as in a prison cell.
By the time the woman came back, she was ready to climb the walls.
“So, what happened?” she asked, anxious.
“I explained to the elders what you had just told me,” the woman explained.
“And? What did they say?”
“They will notify Zag about your impediment, and they are sure he will give up his claim on you,” the woman replied, shaking her hands, nervously.
“That would be perfect. It might end this situation,” Aliyah said, letting herself fall seated over the bed.
“But it could also make the Asloran warrior give up his claim, too,” she warned her.
Aliyah rubbed her forehead and sighed. “He already knew that,” she replied. “But I guess he could change his mind.”
“That would be terrible.”
“It would, but I could always go back home if that were the case.”
Glynoy shook her head. “If they both give up their claim, the tribe will claim you, and you’ll be forced to serve the tribe’s men,” she informed her.
She jumped out of bed, startled. “They can’t do that.”
“Of course, they can. They are the authority here, they can do whatever they want.”
“No. I won’t let them,” she let out a small cry.
“I’m afraid there isn’t much you can do about it,” she said, with a scowl.
“I have to talk to Vrak, can you make that happen?” she begged.
But Glynoy shook her head. “I can’t. I’m not allowed anywhere near their tent. And even if I managed to get there, the guards at the door would stop me immediately, and I would be apprehended and possibly punished.”
“Oh, god, no, please forget my words.” She could still feel the pain on her back from Zag’s punishment.
“Have faith, we have to hope for the best.”
“Yes, you’re right. Vrak wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble to give up now,” she pointed out, with more hope than certainty.