Page 9 of Temple

“When armed men show up at my door, I generally go along with them until I determine what is going on. So, what is going on?”

He came to her, took her hand, and settled her in the chair next to his.

“We are arriving at Zell’s world in fourteen hours. It is time for you to be given your briefing.”

“Is dinner still included?”

He grinned. “Yes, and a last game of Tekko.”

“Excellent. Begin the briefing.”

The captain nodded, and the lights in the room dimmed to show the last consort of Zell. “She was lovely, soft, shy, and frail. Her family offered her to Zell, and she was surprisingly compatible. They had centuries together but no children. When she faded, he was broken, got his affairs in order, and moved to the tower to sleep.”

“So, he’s in the tower.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

She nodded and had given up trying to get him to call her Sage on day one. It wasn’t appropriate, and her rank at the companion temple was Mistress, so that was what she would be addressed as going forward. At least as long as she remained a companion.

She learned about the first consort and all of her virtues. Zell had loved her. That was certain. He had watched over her for her lifetime, and when she faded, he retreated from his worlds and only communicated every few decades to keep things moving in the direction he chose.

Sage nodded. “Interesting. Well, I am not going to win. I can tell you that. I am not cute or demure.”

“Zell’s tastes may have changed.” The captain frowned.

“Not that much. Based on the appearance of the previous consort, I am as far away as you can get. She was tiny; I am not. She was graceful, delicate, and reed-like, and I was designed for reproduction and plenty of it with nice, sturdy males.”

“Yet, you are a companion.”

“I am trained to be a companion. I haven’t kept anyone company yet.” She smiled and looked at the image of Zell. He was tall, but all Hmrain were tall. His skin was the colour of old blood with black designs carved into it. The Designers had not spared shock value. His wings would extend to span her old farmhouse. They were designed for long-term gliding in the persistent winds of his worlds and strong enough to cut through the atmosphere to gain altitude. No tail was visible, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have one.

His hair was dark pewter and was usually kept in a ponytail with a few shining bands around the braids from the front.

His features were gorgeous, but that was a given. All Hmrain were stunning to appeal to the maximum number of species so that the new species would be attentive. She sighed and tuned in to what the captain was saying.

“While he was devoted to her, he never appeared to get stronger. For the next consort, the population has been sending out assessors to choose candidates.”

“Right.”

“Did you know that in the last five years, six Hmrain have selected someone of your species?”

“No. Well, I found out when I was in training at the Temple.”

“Do you know why that is?”

“We are basic. Our minds seek pleasure or pain, and some of us are more in tune with that impulse. That leads to us letting that same energy out, and that is what the Hmrain want. They want our output.”

He nodded cautiously. “That is correct. For a few decades, there were concubines in the tower in a large set of chambers. The pleasure they generated was enough for him for a while, but there were two deaths, and he banished them.”

She nodded. “I see. Heavy drinker.”

“Yes. You will be given the west chambers, and you will be asked to do whatever comes naturally while you are there. If you force yourself, he will know.”

“I understand. How long will I be up there?”

“A lunar cycle, so thirty days.”

“I can keep myself busy that long. Is there a routine they want me to keep to?”

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