Nine
Catherina
“Lady, Caterina, may I have a word with you? In private?” Geller, one of the Hedordian males asked as the Hedordians and Fires trickled in our meeting room.
I’d been working with them for about three weeks, and we were making good progress. I was pretty sure there was already some mating going on, and I could see couples beginning to pair up, but there had been no talk of bonding or children. Fire women weren’t exactly known for their maternal instincts and I knew there would be no children without bonding. On Fire, the males were as involved in child rearing as the females, and no Fire woman would willingly become pregnant and raise a child alone.
“Of course, Geller.”
I looked around but there was no place in the room where I thought we wouldn’t be overheard. I took his arm and tugged him out of the room and down the hall to an adjacent room. We entered and I closed the door.
“What can I help you with?” I asked.
Geller shook his head. “These Firaspatciti women. They’re impossible.”
Uh-oh. I didn’t like the sound of that. “How do you mean?”
“I know you have been instructing us to embrace our differences and find strength in them, but the Firaspatciti, they’re too…”
“Too what?” I prompted when he trailed off. “Geller, what you tell me will never leave this room,” I continued when he didn’t answer. “If I don’t know the problem, I can’t address it.”
“They’re too much like men,” he finally said, his mouth hardening.
“How do you mean?”
“There is no softness in them. They are demanding and aggressive. They don’t ask, they order. And when mating…” He paused and shook his head.
I knew this was a sticking point, but this is the first time the Hedordians have come right out and said so.
“Do the others feel the same way?”
“Yes. Some more than others of course. Only Torruy has no complaints.”
“Have you asked him why?”
“Yes.”
“And?” I prompted.
Geller’s lips went thin. “During his first mating with Vularra, she so enraged him that he hit her. We don’t treat out women that way and we warned him not to do it again.”
“Has he?”
“He said he hasn’t, and Vularra has defended him, but she often appears to have been handled… roughly.”
I smiled. I appreciated that the Hedordians treasured and protected their women, but it seemed that Torruy had finally figured out the key.
“What does that tell you?”
“I won’t hit a woman, not even for you Lady Catherina.”
“There are other ways, Geller. Are you and Peralut mating?”
He looked down and didn’t answer, but his silence said volumes. They may be mating, but Geller, at least, wasn’t happy with the results.
“You don’t have to hit Peralut, but so long as you allow her to push you around, she isn’t going to respect you.”
“I don’t!”
“No?”
“No!”
“May I give you some advice?”
“That’s why I wanted to speak with you.”
“I want you to start treating Peralut like a stubborn horse… uh… a… what animal do you have on Hedord that you have to train?”
“A vult is an animal that we use in competitions and for pleasure. They are beautiful, graceful animals, but can be willful.”
“Perfect. Treat Peralut like a beautiful but willful vult. How do you bring a vult into line when it is being willful?”
“With a firm hand. You have to command the animal and remind it that you’re its dominant. But Peralut isn’t a vult.”
“No, but it’s what she wants from you, Geller. She wants to know that you are capable of standing at her side if things go hell.” He looked at me strangely, clearly not understanding the reference. “Sorry. If things go badly.”
“I won’t beat her, Lady Catherina.”
“Do you beat a vult?”
“No…,” he said slowly, drawing the word out, “but sometimes you have to get rough with… the… I’m not sure I’m comfortable treating a Peralut like I vult. She’s not an animal.”
“All I’m saying is, show her you’re not going to allow her to push you around anymore, okay? You don’t have to hit her. In fact, don’t hit her. That sends the wrong message to her. I want her to respect you for who you are, not make you into a Fire. But the next time you’re alone and she starts giving you a load of shit, don’t take it from her.” I smiled. “Treat her like you would a well-trained vult that simply had to be reminded you’re in charge. Use that firm but gentle hand on her.”
“I’ll try.”
I grinned at him. “Trust me on this. Next time you and Peralut mate, or whoever you mate with, I want you to throw her around and fuck her good. Do you know what that means?”
He smiled. “I have a general idea.”
“Good. You can do this. I think you and the Firaspatciti are a good match. You share many of the same traits, but you both have to adjust your expectations.” I paused. “Anything else?”
“No.” He swallowed hard and looked at me, his eyes troubled. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for this. Treating a woman so…”
“It’s what she wants, Geller. She wants you to prove to her you’re worthy of her. Once you have her respect it’ll become much easier. Like a vult, once she understands her place and yours, that your strong enough to protect her weak side as she will protect yours, she’ll respect you. When that happens, not only will she stop testing you, at least as often, but she will be willing to fight a pack of wild keggars for you. You just have to earn her respect first.”
“And I do that by…”
“By not putting up with her shit anymore. She’s testing you, and you’re failing.”
“A vult, huh?”
I grinned. “However you have to think of it. Just don’t be an asshole about it. Firm but gentle. I don’t know what a vult looks like, but from your description, I imagine it is similar to an Earth horse. Beating a horse until you break its spirit ruins the animal. You don’t want to break Peralut’s spirit.”
He nodded. “Yes, same with a vult. They are stupid but agreeable animals that many of us cherish. I have three. They stand about your height, with two large muscular hind legs and two smaller front legs. We use them to pull buggies for holidays and short trips when we want to enjoy the countryside.”
I grinned. I still thought of a horse, but now I imagined it looked like a kangaroo or something.
“Perhaps, you can give me a ride behind one of your vults sometime.”
He smiled back at me. “I would consider it an honor, Lady Catherina.”
“Anything else? People are going to be wondering where we are.”
“No. I will try to do as you suggest, but it’s not an easy thing.”
“Nothing worth doing ever is, Geller.”
-oOo-
“Tokalas, is everything okay?” I asked.
I felt on top the world but there was clearly something bothering Tokalas.
We were waiting on Peval to arrive before we stepped through the portal to Estaan. I was in a terrific mood. There’d been a breakthrough of sorts with the Hedordians yesterday.
Geller had taken my advice to heart and changed his mindset with Peralut. Yesterday had been our first meeting after our discussion, and he had arrived scratched up, bruised, and smiling. Fire women didn’t fawn, but Peralut was doing the nearest thing to it. She, too, looked like she had been used hard, with red marks and faint bruises covering her. From what I could see, it looked like it had been a long and hard-fought battle of wills, but the way they were both beaming, it appeared they’d reached a resolution they both felt comfortable with.
Best of all, everyone else noticed, Fire and Hedordian alike. Wanting them to share their experience, I’d split Geller and Peralut up and divided the room into Fires and Hedordians and encouraged them to recount their experience to their peers. The Hedordians were reluctant to talk among themselves when I hovered, so I spent most of my time listening in on the Fires.
Geller had impressed Peralut the previous night with his strength and stamina. During their evening meal, he made it clear he was done taking her crap and she could either stop or find someone else willing to put up with it. The issue had quickly escalated as Peralut pushed back. He’d refused to back down out of respect to her gender, has he had before, and when she’d questions his ability to match her, he’d proved her wrong. He’d thrown her all around the room, meeting every challenge she’d issued him, using his far superior strength to overcome her greater skill. That had led to them mating, and again, he’d bested her, leaving her gasping and out of breath.
She’d recounted in great and lurid detail how he’d taken her on the floor, against a wall, and in her bedchamber. She’d been delighted that, despite her best efforts, she was unable to overcome his massive strength, and they had mated with great vigor three times the previous night. The Fires were one and done when it came to mating, but Geller had rolled over her last night and she’d had to give her all to rise to the challenge he’d issued her, and she still couldn’t match him.
I’d smiled as I saw the eyes of the Fire women suddenly light up with interest and glance across the room at the Hedordians. I could see in their faces, that after listening to Peralut, the Hedordians were suddenly much more interesting. I expected there would be many bondings between Hedordian and Firaspatciti in the future. I was looking forward to our next meeting to see if anything Geller, in particular, had said sunk in with the rest of the men.
“No, my Lady.”
I’d originally thought that Fires couldn’t, or wouldn’t lie. I’d found out I was wrong, and Tokalas was proving it once again. “Tokalas… something is clearly bothering you. Is there something I can help you with?”
“No, my Lady. You tried.”
I frowned, trying to understand what he was saying. “I tried? Are you and Lurell not getting along?”
He looked down but said nothing as Peval entered. “My apologies for keeping you waiting, my Lady,” she said as she strode briskly into the room. “I was delayed.”
I smiled at her. “No apologies necessary, Peval.”
I nodded to the portal tech and he opened a portal to Estaan. Tokalas went through first, Peval and I following him a moment later. When we stepped on Estaan, I touched Tokalas on the arm.
“With me,” I said before turning and striding away to my tiny office. Tokalas and I entered and I closed the door as Peval took up station outside. “Now, tell me what’s going on. Is it Lurell?”
“No, my Lady.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s me. Lurell is a beautiful and desirable woman, one that I would gladly take as a bonded mate, but…”
“But what?”
He looked at me, a slight sadness creeping into his eyes. “I can’t give her what she wants.”
I looked at him, trying to decipher his words. “What she wants?”
“No, my Lady.”
I sighed. He was being so stiff and formal. “Can’t you call me Catherina anymore? Tokalas, I’m still your friend, aren’t I? Forget I’m the Lady and talk to me. I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me.”
“I’m not what Lurell is looking for.”
“In what way?”
“She wants me to return to Hedord to work the land with her. I… don’t wish to be a farmer, and she doesn’t want to be anything else.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “Is that all it is?”
“I think so, my… Catherina. She seemed to enjoy our mating, and I certainly did. I enjoyed her companionship a great deal, and she seemed to enjoy mine.”
“But she wants you to return to Hedord to live, and you don’t want to go?”
“Yes. My place is here, at your weak side.”
“And you won’t change your mind?”
“No.”
“And she won’t, either?”
“No, I don’t think so. She speaks of fields of grain as I speak of a lover.” He gave me a small smile. “I’ve never been envious of a field of grain before.”
I giggled. “But other than her wanting to return to Hedord, you got along well?”
“Yes, very well I think. As I said, I would gladly accept her as a bonded mate.”
I nodded. “Would you like me to try to find another Hedordian, one that wasn’t so attached to their home?”
“I would gladly accept another. They have a certain honor in them, and I enjoyed her strength and determination, but I think it will be difficult. She introduced me to several of her friends and their mates, and all couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t want to come to Hedord. It’s as if they draw their life from the soil.”
“Are you and Lurell still mating?”
“No. Once we realized that neither of us could change, we decided to part to give each of us a chance to find what we wanted.”
“When?”
“Two nights past, when you were under our Lord’s protection.”
I nodded. When I was with Stevan, my personal guards got the night off as I was under the protection of his much larger contingent of guards.
“I’m sorry, Tokalas. I really thought Lurell was right for you. Don’t get discouraged. We have a saying on Earth, ‘there are plenty of fish in the sea.’ It means that if Lurell wasn’t right for you, there are plenty more women for us to try.”
“Perhaps I should simply accept my—”
“Station!” I barked, causing Tokalas to instantly snap to attention. “You listen to me, Tokalas. I don’t want to hear you talking like again. You are Firaspatciti! You don’t quit and you don’t give in! Ever! Somewhere out there is a woman that will feel lucky to have you. You are a good man, and Lurell’s loss will be someone else’s gain.” I softened slightly. “Stand ready,” I said, and he relaxed into a parade rest. “This was only our first try. Surely you don’t give up so easily.” He said nothing. “Speak.”
“No, my Lady.” I stared at him, saying nothing. “No, Catherina,” he amended.
“That’s better. When we get back to Fire, I’ll suggest someone else and we’ll try again.” Again he said nothing, and I sighed. “Rest, and speak freely,” I said so he would stop being so formal.
Fires never slump, but some of the stiffness left his body. “You’re sure there’s someone out there who would desire me as I am?”
“Positive.” He smiled slightly but he didn’t look convinced. “Tokalas, I want to tell you something, but on your honor, what I’m about to tell you shall never be repeated again, not even to me. Do I have your honorable word?” I asked, extracting the most scared promise a Fire can give.
“On my honorable word, my Lady.”
“Do you remember when you kissed me?”
“Yes, my Lady.”
“When you did, I wanted to mate with you badly. I’ve seen nothing that leads me to think I would have regretted mating with you. Even bonding with you. You’re good and honorable man. Any woman should be thankful that someone like you would consider bonding with her. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
He stared at me for a long moment then dipped his head very low, lower than I’d ever seen him do before. “You pay me a great compliment, my Lady,” he said, speaking to the floor. “I am honored that you think so highly of me. You have my honorable word that we shall never speak of this again.”
“Look at me, Tokalas,” I said softly. “Lurell wasn’t the one for you, but don’t give up hope. On my honor, I won’t stop looking until I find the mate that’s looking for you.”
He lowered his head again, though not as low as before, then looked back up and held my gaze. “I have faith in you. I know if anyone can do it, you can.”
I smiled. “It may take several more attempts to find the right person. Everyone makes mistakes, and I’m no exception. Don’t give up on me, Tokalas, and I won’t give up on you.”
He smiled. “I must be special. I’ve kissed you and saw you make a mistake. That’s not something most can say.”
I giggled. His humor was returning. “Yes, well, we don’t have to mention the second part, do we? It would spoil my reputation as a miracle worker.”
“Your secret is safe with me, my Lady.”
“I know that, Tokalas.” I sighed. “Now, how do you feel about helping me try to put some fire in these Water males? Maybe I’ll get Peval to help too. Nothing else I try to get through to them seems to be working.”
“Will I get to kiss Verery again?”
I giggled again. “Maybe. I think she might like that.”
He smiled. “I think I would like that myself.”
I opened the door and we stepped out, nodding to Peval as she stood at the ready in the hall. As I walked down the hall, I wondered if having Tokalas snatch Verery away from them would put some aggression into the Waters. I sighed. I asked Tokalas to not give up on me and that I wouldn’t give up on him. I wanted to say the same about the Aquallian men, but these Waters, they were wearing me down.
I stepped into the room and sighed again. A room full of beautiful people of the opposite sex, and what do they do? Congregate with their own kind. I didn’t blame the Estaans as much as the Waters. The Estaans, at least, seemed to understand and were eager to try new things. Somehow, I needed to reach the Waters and get them to feel the same way. But how?