Page 39 of Hainn

Jezari shuddered and changed the subject. “What about MARL? Did we get what he needed?”

“Daegan’s sent me a couple of updates today. You know there’s no love lost between him and MARL so of course the AI is being irritating. He said a few of the components were degraded?—”

She snorted. “After 10,000 years? You think?”

“And some of the items Daegan’s team brought up he says he has no use for but yes, he did finally admit the module he was in need of was salvaged. It seems to have been damaged by the crash to a small extent but he told Aydarr and Jill he’d be able to work around the problem and regenerate himself.” Hainn shrugged. “Or words to that effect. I’m not an engineer, just a healer.”

“You’re not just anything,” she said heatedly on his behalf. “Don’t run yourself down to me, mate.”

“I love your ferociousness in defending me.” There was a long involved kiss before Hainn resumed his status report. “MARL wanted to take all the equipment we brought up and go off by himself to work but Aydarr and Jill said absolutely not. Aydarr insisted Elianna and her two top techs be allowed to observe and assist as appropriate so they’re all cloistered in a new room MARL’s created adjacent to Aydarr and Jill’s quarters, working hard. And now you’ve heard the extent of my information about yesterday. Aside from you no one was injured or had any trouble with the dive and no one is ever going down there again. Especially not you.” He bumped noses with her. “I’m going to be angry retroactively for quite a while knowing you put yourself at such a risk, diving to that depth alone, repeatedly.”

“On reflection I’m not sure I understand it myself,” she said, trying not to visualize the cold dark depths of the lake. “I think it was a combination of the lady’s compulsion on me and also after my experience of nearly dying, then spending a year in recovery, I felt as if it didn’t matter what I did, you know? I’d cheated death, with a lot of help, and I could keep thumbing my nose at it. I was numb, in some ways.” She studied his face as he watched her intently. “Until you. And now the baby of course. My attitude towardslifehas completely changed.”

“Good. I may need repeated reassurances,” he said with a grin but sounding serious. “I’m not planning to lose you to any harebrained stunts like those dives. You have to take me with you on any wild excursions you decide to undertake.”

“Deal.”

They took a shower together, which became quite involved and messy but fun, and then ate from the containers Sandara the chef had sent over via messenger earlier in the day while Jezari was asleep.

“She’s in our pack, you know,” Hainn said as he ladled out seconds of a pasta dish for both of them. “When the war ends and we move home to the South Seas, she comes with us.”

“Lucky us,” Jezari replied with total sincerity.

Congratulations on your mating and welcome to the pack,Daegan said in her head. By the way Hainn sat up straighter she was sure the Alpha was speaking to them both.Are you two recovered enough from yesterday to attend a meeting in an hour with Aydarr, Jill, Flo, myself and Timtur? We need to make the plans for your lady of the lake. She’s unsettling to everyone and Aydarr wants the honors done for her as soon as possible. We all acknowledge it must be conducted in the proper way, as you will direct.

Goddess give me strength,Jezari thought, keeping her sentiment to herself.She reached for Hainn’s hand, anchoringherself with her mate’s touch.Of course. We’ll be there. The admin building?She hoped she’d only telepathed her question to Daegan and not every Badari in the valley. By Hainn’s approving nod she guessed she’d managed.

Aydarr’s cave. Refreshments will be served as well to celebrate your accomplishment yesterday and your mating.

And Daegan was gone from her head. Jezari took a deep breath. “An hour? Seven hells, we’ve got to get to the Daughters’ residence so I can put on more presentable clothing than this borrowed tee shirt of yours.”

“Keshara sent over a whole container of your stuff,” Hainn said, slapping his forehead. “Sorry, I forgot in the press of…other things.”

“I forgive you but right now I’ve got to be all business, no time for distractions.” She freed herself from his embrace and went in search of the aforementioned container. She’d have to remember to thank her sister and former Alpha for taking care of her needs.

Dawn was breakingin a beautiful manner, with golden sunlight beginning to wash through the trees and mist rising from the lake in eerie shapes. The vista in the sky was mesmerizing, like a portal to another world. There were birds singing already and a fish leapt from the water to snag a bug and land with a splash.

Jezari took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air. She stood slightly apart from a group of Badari which included pretty much everyone who’d been in the planning meeting the other night. She also saw Ivokk’s mate Sandara standing with him as well as the three men who’d been Hainn’s team to bring the lady to the surface, and the men who’d been on Daegan’s team aswell. Aydarr, Jill and MARL stood at the forefront of the group, with Daegan and Flo right behind.

The men who’d brought the alien woman’s body to the surface were given the honor of unveiling her coffin, removing the sturdy nets woven for the purpose. There was a gasp as the lady’s face was revealed. Jezari hoped she never had to have to see the woman’s visage again and she had a sudden flash of terror Ilynnis would open her eyes and speak to them.

Steady,Hainn said in her head.She’s long gone and there’s no actual connection to your or your experience.A pulse of love came through the golden mate bond they now shared and Jezari let her eyes linger on his mate mark. She had the matching one on her shoulder as well, thanks to the goddess, and her happiness was complete as a claimed mate.

She nodded to Hainn but didn’t answer him as the next minute he and Timtur began singing a paean to the dawn and the promise of a new day. It was from the ancestral memory, slow and meaningful and she allowed the words to carry her along with them away from her fears. Gripping the flowers she carried in one hand even more tightly, she waited for her part in the ceremony they’d put together.

Badari had no tradition of burial because in the labs the Khagrish scientists disposed of terminated subjects. Since coming to Sanctuary Valley there had been a sad occasion or two for sending a brother into the afterlife and this service for Ilynnis was a version of those simple rites.

When the song concluded, she and Aydarr stepped forward from their separate positions, Jezari in the lead. She raised the bouquet of flowers as if to allow the woman to enjoy the perfume before laying them at the base of container. “You called to me,” she said, “And my people and I answered. We’re not blood of your blood but we ventured below into the depths to remove you from your endless captivity nonetheless. We’ve hadour own experience with unfair imprisonment, mistreatment and death. Now we’re free and we stand ready to restore your freedom as well, as best we can in our own way and with the guidance of our Great Mother. May your journey to your own afterlife be simple and may you find your loved ones waiting there for you.”

Jezari moved back a pace or two and Aydarr advanced. He touched one talon to the surface of the container and said, “As the Supreme Alpha of the Badari it’s my honor to assist in this task. As the Daughter has said, now it’s time to go to your own gods with my blessing and the goodwill of my people. Your tasks here are done, your burdens must be set aside, your time has passed.”

MARL floated from his spot at Jill’s side and joined Aydarr. Jezari took note of how his silver carapace sparkled in the sunlight. Whorls of pink, orange and purple color traversed his ‘skin’, accented by tiny turquoise spots which resembled butterflies. Obviously whatever components and power sources had been brought up from Nindjak’s crashed ship had been sufficient to restore him, whether to his original specifications or to a jury rigged set she neither knew nor cared. He’d told them last night he could open the container.

Jezari didn’t see what he did but suddenly a straight-line crack appeared on the surface front of the lady’s closed eyes and the two halves of the clear cover folded into themselves, leaving her exposed to the elements but frozen in her position. Jezari realized she was holding her breath and sent the goddess a fervent prayer to complete this task for them.

The breeze swirled around her and the container, ruffling the skirts of the garment the alien woman had been wearing. A flock of golden feathered songbirds swooped from the cobalt blue sky and flew in a circle with the now open container as thefocal point, singing furiously as they did so. Purple petals rained from thin air above, their celestial perfume intoxicating.

Her attention caught by a motion in her peripheral vision, Jezari turned her head to see the goddess standing on a high rock off to the left, her white robes motionless despite the breeze, her face in shadow as ever.

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