Page 56 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
Lord C’don glowered, but he didn’t have a death wish, so he let it go.
Sadie fixed Xane with a stern sort of look.
Xane shrugged. “You might think he is on our team, but I know better. Vipri are a duplicitous breed.”
Lord C’don was outraged. “Just like a Rtaharion to besmirch his betters. It never fails! All you stupid, uncultured oafs are quick to spew outdated stereotypes.”
Sadie squinted at that bigoted way to call out bigotry. “Maybe we should all be accepting and nonjudgmental about each other’s cultures.”
“Maybe you should show me some respect, since I’m the smartest, best-looking, highest-born person here.” Lord C’don retorted. “It’s only fair that you two hooligans follow my orders. Why, I have half a mind to leave you behind when we blast off of this rock.”
“It’s Sadie’s spaceship.” Xane reminded him. “You follow her orders or you stay on this planet forever. Ask me which choice I’m hoping you make.”
“Lord C’don, are you sure you can get the ship in the air?” Sadie asked, before another argument broke out and the Vipri was turned into a feather duster.
“Obviously, I can do it. Once Jynn is safely aboard, we’ll all fly out of here, never to return.” Lord C’don went back to poking at the blinking controls. “And hopefully never to see you two again, shortly thereafter. You are certainly not invited to my palatial estate. You’ll have to go to your own squalid homes, while I luxuriate in crystal blue pools.”
Xane rolled his eyes, not concerned about the uninvitation.
Sadie didn’t want to go sightseeing on Lord C’don’s duck pond-y homeland, either. But she also didn’t particularly want to go back to Earth. Not without Xane.
He twined one of Sadie’s curls around his thumb and gave a contented sort of sigh when she leaned into his touch. “I have further considered your ideas on ‘caring’ and concluded that you made some salient points.” He announced, like it was big news.
“I had a feeling my lesson would open your mind.”
He missed her dry tone. “Although Rtaharions do not havewordsto express our feelings, we have a culture ofprotection. There is rational evidence of this. We have legions of men to guard our weak and our homes. We have family groups. Respect our elders. Mourn our losses. Clearly, that must mean we care for others.”
Sadie was a little impressed he’d put that all together. He reallywastrying. “I think you care for your brother.” She agreed. “And he cares for you. He gave you that medallion thing.”
Xane nodded, like he was on the verge of a real breakthrough. “I believe it was a sign of Hathgarr’s affection, not his pity. He did not want to lose me, because I am important to him.”
“So maybe Rtaharions are just as emotional as everybody else?”
“No. We’re not nearly as whiny and illogical as other species.”
So much for the breakthrough…
“Wecanfeel caring emotions, though.” He continued, and his eyes stayed on hers. “I know this for certain, because I feel them for you.”
Her mouth curved into a smile. “I feel them for you, too.”
His chest expanded in a relieved, excited sort of breath. “Good.”
“Can you two stop fawning all over each other?” Lord C’don demanded. “It’s unseemly and distracting.”
Sadie looked up at the ceiling, refusing to give in to the urge to hit him. Repeatedly. “Are you done setting up the ship?”
“Yes, all the systems are ready for takeoff. What else would you have me do?” He made it sound like they were forcing him to work his feathered fingers to the bone.
Xane kept his attention on Sadie. “You know, we still have time to find different pilots.”
“Would you stop with that? Lord C’don needs us, and we’re going to help him.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s Christmas and on Christmas you have to be nice to all your annoying relatives. It’s tradition.”
“I’m not related to you lower organisms!” Lord C’don scoffed indignantly. He was like a little, yellow Ebenezer Scrooge.
