Page 69 of Relyn
“You have just got here. Let’s not talk about leaving so soon,” Kave said. “I hear you bring a gift to Etlon, far greater than imagined.”
“We can restart our species. Men, women, all Etlonian. We can take back what the Suhlik stole from us,” Bright said.
“With volunteers,” Nora prodded.
“Yes, of course. With volunteers,” Bright said.
Relyn spotted a familiar purple form in the crowd. He sighed. He was hoping to have a little more time to sort things out with Nora before Caldar pressed him into another mission. But if he was here already, Relyn was going to have to put his foot down and tell his mentor that his mate would have to come first, at least for a while.
“I believe it is time for a feast!” Kave shouted. Everyone cheered loudly and from somewhere music began to play. A terran female ran up to his mate and grabbed both her hands.
“I’m so glad you’re back. And look at you,” she said, giving him a head to toe glance.
“Meadow, this is Relyn,” Nora said.
“Well, I hope that now you’ve got your own hunk of man meat that you will reconsider staying. But that’s not what I wanted to show you. We have a few new arrivals.”
Meadow motioned them to follow her towards Caldar. Nora saw what Relyn hadn’t.
“Oh my goodness!”
Two Terran males stood next to Caldar, a father and son if Relyn had to guess.
“Marco!”
“Hiya Miss! Or Mrs. I hear,” the boy wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Relyn quashed the jealousy that came writhing up as Marco hugged Nora.
Caldar signaled for Relyn to step aside and the pair watched his mate and the boy engage in an animated conversation.
“I saw a few reports, put two and two together, and thought this might make a convenient wedding gift,” Caldar said. “The boy’s father was dying and I’d heard of your mate’s desire to return home out of concern for this youngling. Now she has less of a reason to return.”
“You knew I’d go with her.”
“We don’t need any more assets on Terra. They are an open book, most of the time. Petty intercontinental squabbles, politicians acting in their own self interest. It’s not hard to learn which Terran to pay off to get exactly what you want,” Caldar said.
“But now there’s no reason for her to return. I was looking forward to slitting the throat of the coward that nearly killed her. It wouldn’t take much to get a few Terran samples and-”
“Apparently, he’s already been taken care of by the local authorities,” Caldar said. “I’m sorry to ruin all your fun, though having a few Terran faces in your arsenal wouldn’t be amiss.”
Caldar was always thinking three steps ahead of everyone else.
“I was planning to request a few months leave,“ Relyn said.
“You haven’t even heard the briefing for your new mission, yet,” Caldar said.
“Unless it requires me to remain here or be stationed on Sangrin, I don’t want to hear it,” Relyn said.
“Zenik was a very good operative,” Caldar said, pointing at one of the green Etlonians in the crowd. “His mate is exceptional as well. She’s killed several Suhlik of her own.”
“I do not know Zenik, but he looks to be a fine Mahdfel,” Relyn said, wondering where Caldar’s point was buried.
“Get to know him. You will like him. I am going to broaden our training program. Between the two of you, I believe you have the skillset to surpass even my abilities. It would require you to remain here, however. I shall let you discuss it with your mate,” Caldar said.
Relyn was hoping that it wasn't such an easy guess that Caldar had made these plans too far in advance, but the way he disappeared into the crowd told Relyn that Caldar was already quite sure that he would accept the new task.
Relyn crossed to Nora who threw her hands around his neck.
