Chapter Seven
“The market here was designed to give the local farmers and producers an edge over the travelling merchants.” Minya walked at Yuul’s side. “They get the best positions and the larger sites.”
“Why?”
“Because the farmers and producers work the land and work with our people. They seek to keep their family and villages afloat. That needs to be rewarded.”
Yuul nodded. “Are there many aliens here?”
“Less than four dozen and that includes my mother and siblings, and you now, I suppose.” She smiled.
“I am more of a local than any of the djinn here. I was the one who passed on Dremarai’s invitation and helped your ancestors find a way to travel between worlds. I showed them the path.”
“And then you went to sleep.”
He inhaled and tilted his head back toward the sun. “I did. The djinn were close, but they were not what I needed; mind you, the humans were not precisely right either.”
“So, you had to wait until there was a blend that would suit.”
He shrugged. “I had faith that if the djinn were here, humanity would soon follow. The blend was inevitable. They are very attractive to humans.”
Minya snorted. “So my father tells me. He says that my mother flung herself into his arms, and she elbows him and mutters about his brand of hospitality.”
Yuul chuckled. “They still do that? It is a very encompassing custom.”
“We still do that. Fortunately, I have not yet been called upon to deliver it.”
“Very fortunate.”
They walked by one of the fabric merchants, and she toyed with the fabric on display. “You have not told me what you are looking for.”
He nodded. “I am looking for gifts for your family. Their welcome has been rather warming considering the circumstances.”
She stepped toward him. “You mean the acknowledgment of you as my mate or the other way around.”
He blinked slowly. “You know?”
“I have spent enough time off world to know that I don’t care for it and to learn about your species. There was an exodus of Drai who chose to sleep until their mates arrived, but you left before they did and sang softly to your female when she was within your territory. I wish I could say that I liked your home, but it is too cold for me.”
He held out his hand and pulled her toward him. “That place was temporary. I have another home waiting in a green valley with a lush and temperate climate.”
“That sounds tempting.”
“It is. I met with the avatar of this world last night, and all is in order. My home is ready when I want it.”
Minya smiled and looked past him to the stall she had in mind. “I think we can find everything we are looking for there.”
Yuul offered his arm. “Lead on.”
She wrapped her fingers around his bicep and walked him across the early morning traffic of the market. The shop that they were looking at had blades and steel work on one side with exquisite pottery on the other. It was a husband and wife shop, and they did amazing work together.
“Miss Minya! Good morning. Why are you up so early?”
Minya nodded and smiled at the vendor. “Morning, Master Merk, Mistress Keeva. This native of the dead zone is looking to find gifts for my family to honour their warm greeting. Yuul, this is Master Merk and Mistress Keeva, the best creative team in the market.”
Merk grinned, and Keeva nodded, bowing slightly.
“May we look at your booth?” Minya always tried to be polite.
Merk nodded. “Of course. Do you know what you are looking for?”
“Something for everyone.”
“Excellent. I think I can show him a few things.”
Yuul looked at her. “If you would like to do your own shopping, I am fine here for a while.”
Minya grinned. “I will. Thank you.”
She walked away from the stall while the potter and his blacksmith wife showed him their wares.
The flowers that bloomed during this time of the year summoned her with their heady scent. She went from the market area into a blooming jungle of living flowers in delicate pots.
“Miss Minya, what are you looking for this morning?”
Minya spoke quietly, “Liadra flowers, Morning Darkness, Evening Daylight, and some vines to decorate.”
“Of course. Anything else?”
She heard the rustle in the green and colourful aisles. “Nothing specific. I just want to feel like I am home again.”
“I will leave you alone then. It is good to have you home, Miss.”
She nodded, knowing that he was watching her, and continued her exploration of the flowers of her home.
Minya roamed through the flowers for what felt like an hour before she felt someone behind her. When she felt the hands on her shoulders, she lunged forward. “What the hell?”
She turned and saw her childhood friend, Halut. He worked at the stall across the way and must have seen her enter the portable jungle.
“Hiya, Minya. I am so happy to see you.”
He reached for her, and she held up her hand. “Please, stay back.”
“I thought that now you were back we could begin a courtship.”
“That is not going to happen. I have found my mate, and he isn’t you.”
“Don’t say that. I have always wanted you for a wife.”
Minya stepped back again and gathered herself. “You really don’t. Your family has always hated my mother and her offspring. We were friends, nothing more.”
She mentally apologized to her family for the charges she was about to incur.
“Were? We are friends. I love you.” He stepped toward her again.
That was it; she started to burn.
Her flames licked up her body, blue and flaring. She lifted her hand and turned her palm up. He reached out to touch her, and something changed. The flames in her hand went white.
The flames touched his skin, and he hissed, yanking his hand back.
Halut stared at her and tried to put the fire out, but it didn’t extinguish. His skin was burning, and he was shrieking.
A heavy beat above her caused her to look up as Yuul landed behind her, wrapping her in the wings that had just propelled him through the air.
Halut was on his knees, and as Yuul held her, her flames dissipated. She leaned back against his chest and sighed. “Sorry. Excellent timing.”
“I felt your distress. I will always come when you call.”
Halut stared at them, and his lip curled. “Of course. One alien calls to another. How long have you been screwing him?”
Minya winced. “That is rather crude. He and I have not done more than hug or hold hands.”
“Well, we were naked in the pool during some of that contact, but it would not be seemly to couple with her under her family’s roof.”
Minya chuckled. “From what I know of my parents, it is bound to be noisy at the least.”
Halut’s hand was charred but nothing a competent healer couldn’t fix. When he scuttled away, she turned and wrapped her arms around Yuul as far as she could. “That wasn’t what I expected.”
He held her while her tears wet his chest and the front of his vest.
“He was my friend. I have known him for twenty years. I didn’t know he had a romantic bent toward me.”
“You are easy to like.” He pressed a kiss to her hair.
She sighed. “Thank you. I know that is stretching the truth, but thank you.”
“Shall we head back to the palace?”
“I think that is for the best.” She chuckled, and with a few swipes of her hand, she dried her face.
“You are hurt.”
She smiled and tilted her head out of her shelter. “I will get over it. He was fairly insulting at the end.”
“That will help.”
Minya pushed away from his chest, and his arms and wings let her go.
She sniffed and looked up into his concerned face. “Let me show you the gardens at the palace. They are not as dense as this but still very pretty.”
“I think that would be nice. Do you have much to do before this evening?”
“No, I will just prepare to light the fires at sunset. The rest is just a big party.”
He offered her his arm again, and she led him out of the garden stall.
“No damage to your stock, Lokai. Good day to you.”
The farmer nodded and smiled. “Delivery as usual?”
She nodded and kept close to Yuul as they made their way back to the palace. A few of the vendors smiled and waved, but a few looked afraid.
“I think the word is out.”
“Do you mind?”
“Of course, I do. These are my people.” She sighed. “I am only hoping that Halut hasn’t poured too much poison.”
“Are you thinking that he has spoken against you?”
“He ran out of the garden stall with his hand charred, probably saying that I, or even you, attacked him. He has always been one to deflect the blame.”
“Will you have to deal with this?”
“I will. I will tell my father, and he will hold a public disgorging of the truth.”
“That sounds painful.”
“It will be. Truth seers are usually quite brutal if they are pulling the actual memory out.”
They walked together into the palace, and she steered them to the audience chamber.
Her mother stepped out and blocked her, “Come with me.”
Minya nodded and followed her mother. She let go of Yuul, but he followed her.
When they got into her mother’s office, Myka glanced at the spot on the floor as it glowed and then flashed to announced D’hai’s arrival.
“Are you all right?” Her father rushed to her and hugged her.
“I am fine, Dad. He just kept coming, so I made the fire hotter.”
Her father leaned back. “Yuul?”
“No. Halut. He came at me and wanted to lay hands on me, so I started by burning his hand, and then, the fire went from blue to white. He was on his knees screaming when Yuul arrived and helped me put the fire out. He shouted a few things about my parentage and Yuul’s origin and ran off.” Before her father could ask, she said, “I will use a truth seer. They can pull it out of me before the ceremony tonight, in the square, in front of everyone.”
D’hai blinked. “A truth seer?”
“Yes. There are already whispers, though I don’t know their content. The truth seer’s findings will be on record for anyone to view.”
Her mother’s mouth was tight, but she nodded. “I will call in a seer and offer that Halut’s family summon one as well. We will see this out in the next few hours.”
Minya smiled. “Thank you.”
Yuul put his hand on her shoulder. “I will submit to the investigation as well. I saw it all from the air.”
D’hai nodded. “Thank you. That will be most welcome.”
Minya turned to Yuul. “Would you like to see the gardens while we wait?”
He nodded. “I would. High Prefect Elite D’hai, will you send someone to fetch us when the arrangements have been made?”
Her father nodded. Her mother elevated her thumbs in encouragement.
Minya gave her parents a polite curtsey and took Yuul’s arm, steering him out of the office and into the halls.
“Why are we going to see the gardens?”
“Because I want to get some fresh air, and I want to remain accessible to my family.” She sighed. “I am home for less than a week, and this is a mess.”
He patted the hand she had wrapped around his arm. “It will come out all right.”
She looked up at his profile, and she absorbed the aura of calm he was putting out. She thought that he might just be right.