Chapter 29
Raevu
Things were looking up. There hadn’t been a single death threat in weeks. The Council had been surprised and thrilled to hear of Eva’s pregnancy so soon into our union, and they had passed an immigration bill allowing unwed Earth females to join jalkavaima complexes if they so desired—after getting a clean bill of health, of course.
The immigration bill also had a stipulation that jalkavaimas of either race could settle on a more permanent relationship if both the male and female were in accord with this.
When we passed the bill and coordinating treaty on to Ken Maeda and Earth, the response was overwhelming. Thousands of women were willing to become jalkavaimas to get off the overcrowded Earth. Some were willing to do it for just a couple of years until they could get established—or find a mate. Other human females, like Eva, were doing it only to help out our population. Many women were willing to have in vitro fertilization and have babies, but they didn’t want to formally become jalkavaimas.
The outpouring of support and generosity from the Earth women was remarkable to me. But I still had to take precautions. I was sure there would be some just like Acidi, opportunists and manipulators.
Provisos were placed into both bill and treaty that allowed for a zero-tolerance of criminal activity or suspected manipulation of information. A trial of peers made up of Grand Mothers, jalkavaimas—both human and Juhlian—and a few males would be held for those thought to be abusing the system, and those found guilty would be deported back to their former situations.
Eva, Maeda, T’ral, and I discussed the wording for the treaty quite carefully. Gods, Eva is fierce now! She had transformed into a confident, passionate proponent for both humans and my race.
Less than a week after I surprised Eva with her friends and adopted family, Willem and Linnea announced her pregnancy. Linnea claimed it was the Sopu fragrance that had turned the tides for them. Scientists were now working with the Sopu, suspecting that the sacred tree had an effect on Juhlian fertility, perhaps human fertility as well.
With the fear for Eva’s safety diminished, we decided she could move out and about amongst the community, if her Guard were vigilant. She took little Hope with her everywhere she went, and often took Amber, Jaylynn, or some or all of the other children as well. The sound of children’s laughter hadn’t been heard in these boughs in centuries, and now they rang with it.
It had a strong effect on my people. It offered optimism. Every man among us, be it warrior or eunuch, seemed to walk around with a smile on his face.
I was in such an optimistic mood that my guard had relaxed some. Fortunately, I had others looking after me. I was waiting for Eva to return with the children when I suddenly felt the Tovari tree’s disquiet.
“What is it, my friend?” I asked a bit distractedly. A fresh message packet had come in, and I was reading of the dispatch of Eva’s doctors to come to Juhl earlier than expected. She’d be thrilled with that news.
The uneasiness grew more pronounced, cutting through my bliss. I couldn’t shake it off or ignore it. I set down the data screen on the desk and walked over to the great trunk of the tree. I placed my hands squarely on the bark and asked again, “What is it? Show me.” I closed my eyes and concentrated on listening.
My anxiety grew. I could hear Hope crying and the little girls calling Eva’s name. I saw flashes of our quarters and the apartments of Ivy and Laura, all places where Eva would ordinarily be, burst into and out of my vision. In none of the pictures was Eva.
“She’s not there?” I asked. My heart started to pound with fear. Dread grew, and I wasn’t sure now if it was strictly from the tree or if it was mine. Where could Eva have gone? I thanked the tree for its message and rushed to our quarters. When I got there, I found Laura giving orders like a battlefield general.
“Mark, stop pacing and go sit down. Josephine, get me a cool washrag. Geoffrey, have you located Raevu, Willem, or Baelon yet? Trevor, go get the baby, please. You know how to change a diaper?” She was kneeling at the side of one of Eva’s Guard, who was blinking furiously.
Rage and alarm filled me. “What happened?” I barked.
“Raevu, thank god you’re here! We can’t find Eva. Ivy and Delan were knocked out cold. I have Jaylynn and Amber looking after Ivy, and Eva’s guard only just came to. He’s got a knot on his head the size of a baseball. I need Willem!”
“Where is Baelon?” I demanded, trying to make order out of the chaos at hand.
“Geoffrey’s trying to find out, but his communication channels are screwed up, and he isn’t able to reach anyone outside of these apartments. We’ve tried getting in contact with you and him with no luck. Frankly, I don’t know how you showed up just now, but thankfully, you did.”
Josephine scurried back up with a wet washing cloth. “Momma won’t wake up, Laura.” For all her strong voice, she had tears running down her cheeks.
“Help Delan hold this gently right here, baby. I’ll go check on her.”
As Laura pushed herself up to standing and moved to the next room, I moved to Delan’s side.
“Soldier, report!” I barked.
“My king!” His eyes struggled to focus, and he winced. “It was Aaromon and Acidi. No idea how they got past Acidi’s ban. They must have bribed someone. They approached the group we were in and claimed they just wanted to see the baby. I didn’t want to let them in, but my queen…” He stopped and closed his eyes.
“Eva probably pitied Acidi, as her pregnancy has made her more emotional and kind,” I finished for him. Curse it. I couldn’t even be angry at Eva for giving Acidi the benefit of the doubt.
“Yes,” he continued haltingly, “she invited them to come closer, along with the rest of the group. Eva went to go get the baby. I couldn’t keep all of them in my sight at the same time. Acidi followed my queen, and Aaromon stayed here. I heard a thump and cry from the next room and moved to see what it was, then I just felt pain.”
“Lie back down, Delan. Willem will be here soon.” I helped ease him back into a reclining position. “Geoffrey?”
“Sire, my wires and circuits are scrambled beyond these quarters. There is some kind of blocker keeping me from contacting anyone outside these rooms.”
I hurried to the doorway. There, I saw Ivy slumped down on the floor, one little girl at each wrist, silent and grave, as little girls should never be.
Laura stood up from her inspection. “No knots or hits. They must have given her a drug someway. I just don’t see how.”
Mark was sitting with a dazed expression. Trevor walked in with Hope cradled in his arms. She gurgled and smiled happily at him. He walked over to Laura and handed over his charge, then went and sat at his mother’s head and stroked her hair. His face was just as serious. Looking at him, I felt my rage bubble up dangerously.
No child should go through this, and neither should my mate. I’ll kill Acidi this time.
Willem and Linnea charged through the doorway and nearly ran into me. Willem hurried over to Ivy’s side and shooed the girls away from their vigil. He talked as he inspected, and his scanner beeped and clicked.
“Delan has a serious concussion. I’ve contacted the medical branch to come and get him. I’ve sent a message to Baelon, and he’s on the way up. As for the young lady, this is a knockout drug, a strong one. Probably not hazardous, but she’s going to be out for a while. Look for a syringe.” This last statement was directed at Linnea, who nodded and immediately started canvassing the room.
“How did you know to come here?” I asked.
“Linnea knew. She said something about the tree being agitated.”
“Yes,” I said, “the tree told me. I’m hoping the tree can help me find Eva. Help Ivy.”
Linnea swooped down on a small object halfway across the room. It was a mini tranquilizer syringe used on animals in labs.
“It’s just a tincture of Mellin sap. She’d have to drown in it for it to kill her. The brother’s doing, I suspect. He’s not completely callous. In short, she’ll be fine.” He gave the children a reassuring smile, and all five relaxed visibly, that terrible graveness going away. “She’s going to sleep for a couple more hours. I’ll get some saline into her, maybe that will flush it out of her system faster.” He typed some instructions on his data screen to the medical branch.
I went over to the tree trunk again. “Okay, friend. Everyone here is safe. Help me find Eva.” I placed my hands on the trunk and even leaned my cheek against the bark. I’d never been this scared in my life. I loved Eva and my life with her in it.
I adored seeing her smile and play with Hope. And the absolute love shining from her as she cradled that little one in her arms to feed her always made me smile. I didn’t know when her opinion had become so vital to me; I only knew that before I made a critical decision, I wanted her take on the situation—to know how she’d put those same pieces together. I wanted to touch her constantly, have her near me. I found myself reaching for her in the night to pull her up against me.
I loved her.
All this I sent into the tree. It sent me one image back—the landing platform, high above us.