Page 72 of Uprooted
“Things are done very differently here than the rest of the universe. So, I understand if it takes you a while. I remember being scared about being with Roman because of his title. I came from a little town and always felt like an outsider with all the glamorous and intelligent people surrounding him.”
“Yes, that is a big part of it. I don’t know anything about Aro’s role and what that means for us.”
“Our familial line has been a noble house since the last Tilak shifted into battleform. When Roman is ready to step down, Aro will take his place.”
I try to picture what Aro would be like ruling an entire country. The image makes me smile. He will be a great leader.
“And you’d be right there next to him,” she says. I’m not bothered by her presumption. It feels more like unwavering confidence.
“Even though I’m a human?” I ask.
“I can tell you that allowing outsiders to come for the first time was a controversial decision. There were those who have advocated for it for decades, and those who would stop at nothing to stay isolated. Roman took a very big risk to allow the EGA to establish research centers here. It’s time we join the rest of the cosmos and some beautiful multi-species babies would do just the trick. You’re Aro’s mate, and the reason he was able to summon his battleform. With time, you will be celebrated,” Rameera says with a wink in my direction.
“Ugh.” Kiera rolls her eyes at her mom’s mention of babies. It reminds me of my mom’s gentle prodding about my past relationships. I can already tell they will be two peas in a pod.
“Leaders on Earth hardly have any privacy,” I tell them. I pick absently at the cushion I hold in my lap.
This time Kiera responds. “You’ll get some of that here as well.”
“We tried to give you two a normal childhood. I know it bothered you more than Aro. He’s so unfazed by most things. And you coped with your beautiful rebellious spirit.” Rameera puts an arm around her daughter’s shoulders.
“Every job comes with its drawbacks. We all pay a price in some way. This job happens to come with the privilege to serve our people.” Rameera’s devotion to pt’Clanik is admirable.
“There is some freedom within the job as well. I’ve always loved traveling and seeing other cultures and ways of life. I act as an ambassador. Since you’re a biologist, I imagine you could spend your time on… biologist stuff,” Kiera offers up in the most endearing way. Another thing she has in common with her brother.
“Aro has told me a little about how delicate this ecosystem is. From the moment I stepped outside of the muradome, I immediately knew I would do anything for this world. To be in a position to actually do that is beyond my wildest dreams.”
“Elowen, you would be able to do something no one else has ever done. You could be the one person to show that outsiders could love and protect j'Tilak just as much as we do,” Rameera says.
I can tell they're trying to put all my worries to rest. Their support means a lot to me. Although I miss Aro and can’t wait for him to get back, I’m glad to have this time with his mom and sister.
“Okay, Mom—I think we’ve said enough. She’s going to feel like we are giving her the hard sell,” Kiera says.
I hold onto the warm mug like an anchor.
52
Elowen
“Come check this out.” Kiera invites me over with a pat on the seat next to her. I sit down next to her, the three of us huddled together as Kiera flips through images on a yuriOS.
“Look! Heto!” Kiera exclaims when she comes to a picture of a white, fluffy animal. It’s her, as a child, standing next to a waist-high rabbit with floppy ears. “I loved him so much!” She gushes over the image of her pet.
“That thing was a menace. It left droppings all over the house that your father would always seem to step in.” Rameera sounds less nostalgic about the animal.
“He’s cute,” I tell Kiera.
She flips through a few pictures of Aro and Kiera smiling brightly with their arms around each other, posing in front of a beautiful home surrounded by tall trees. The farther she swipes, the younger everyone appears. She pauses her scanning on a picture of Aro as a young teenager, tall and gangly. “Has he told you how I used to beat him up?” Kiera asks.
“Actually, he has. Although I didn’t fully believe him until now.” I snicker at the image. “He told me it took an entire battalion to teach him how to defend himself.” I peek over at Kiera. She looks proud of herself.
“He was such a softy he would always let me take the upper hand, even though he was always bigger and stronger than me,” Kiera says.
“Aro has always been our bright light. That’s what his name means and it’s suited him from the day he was born.” Rameera has a soft faraway look in her eyes.
“And Kiera means dark one. I’ve been proud to carry that mantle from the day I was born.”
“My parents named me Elowen after a type of tree back on Earth. Not as eloquent as ‘light and dark one,’” I tell them.
