Page 61 of Taken to Voraxia
“Oh…stars,” she curses. I squeeze her hand firmly and she quiets. Sheknowsnot to apologize. Sheknowsnot to interrupt. Sohexa, tonight she will be punished.
She glances at me out of the corner of her eye, bites her bottom lip, drops her gaze in contrition.Hexa, my little universe. Tonight, I will remind you of your lessons.I make very slight movements, though in my chest my Xanaxana purrs loudly enough to draw attention.
No one stirs but Krisxox whose evident discomfort leads him to shift on his werro root stool. He has never been comfortable in the war room. The few times he has been party to discussions taking place here were during the the three rotations war ended only three rotations ago. I had just been made Raku and the Niahhorru thought they could use the change in leadership to attack Xixix, one of the smaller planets within my constellation, and take it from me.
They were wrong. Krisxox had been key in devising the strategy we used to take down their largest battleships. He had been just as uncomfortable in the war room then as he is now. A total contrast to the human female seated beside him.
She waits until I meet her gaze directly and as I do, she holds it steady. She rises in a flourish, her skirts swirling in a wind created by her and felt by her, the center of its vortex.
All eyes are on her — even Krisxox settles as she stands. I understand then a simple truth I had not first believed: My Rakukanna did not invite this Svera to advise her out of fear; she invited her because Svera was the right choice. She is a born leader.
“Thank you, Raku and Rakukanna. You honor me by having me here. My Rakukanna and I did have a chance to discuss the Raku’s proposal and we agree that there are benefits to having interspecies couplings between humans and Voraxian and Dra’Kesh. We think the best way to approach this is to create safe environments where small collectives of humans have the opportunity to engage with Voraxians on your planets.
“We feel it’s best to reverse the dynamic that has been set by so many years of Dra’Kesh invasions. What I mean is that we would like to have humans visit the faraway planets, rather than bringing Voraxians to the human colony. This gives the dynamic of caged animals being perused.
“We also felt it best to show them places that look very different from the moon colony, and tour them as far from Cxrian and other planets where Dra’Kesh can be found. The memory of the Dra’Kesh still scars the human mind.”
Though Svera cannot see his face, I am troubled by the sudden splash of color to Krisxox’s ridges. They pale and though the color patterns are not identical to those of the Voraxians, I know Krisxox well enough to know he is disturbed by her words. I do not understand the color, but before I can grasp meaning, it is gone.
“By doing this, we make it seem like a penance that the Voraxians are paying, a sign of contrition for so many years of abuse. For the humans it will be like a reward, something decadent. On the tours of Quadrant Four, humans will have the opportunity to taste, see, and experience all that Voraxia has to offer, while at the same time being given exclusive opportunities to meet Voraxians of all kinds.
“The human process of courtship can take place on these extended visits without the humans feeling any pressure, and the Voraxians that have interest will have to undergo intercultural training, just like the humans will. The Rakukanna and I, with help from a Voraxian cultural expert and scribe, would be best positioned to collaborate on such a guide for both species.
“And I want to add that menandwomen will be party to these trips, if the concept is accepted. Human females are only half of what the human colony has to offer. We might find, if tested, that the human males and Voraxian females share equal compatibility. With the begrudging consent of our Lemoria, we have decided that natural engagement rather than testing is the correct course.”
She gives Lemoria a coy glance then and the seasoned healer flushes white in the ridges, even as Svera draws a pleasure expression from her mouth.
Svera continues, “The only remaining concern we have for this type of program is security — how we create safe, welcoming environments on the Voraxian planets without overbearing security forces and at the same time, without risk of any females taken by overzealous males. Another concern is selection — how we choose the humans on the colony to participate.
“Our Rakukanna would like to ensure that the women who have survived and the families of the women who did not, receive first right of refusal. I believe it would make sense to determine with the humans how to structure this arrangement. If permitted, I’m more than happy to travel to the human colony to act as liaison with the Antikythera Council that holds sway there.”
My Rakukanna chimes in. “I asked and Svera has agreed to accept a dual post as my advisor, acting as liaison between us and the human colony. I’m hoping it might be acceptable to set her up with her own accommodation on both.”
I nod. “More than acceptable. However, I still require that she have security at all times. At least for the foreseeable future.”
“It will be arranged,” Roth says, “I am aware that our chief general Krisxox should not be performing the duties of any xcleranx, and I am certain that we can find another to take his place. We could move Svera here to the capital…”
“If I may, Roth,” Svera says with a gentle, deferential raise of one hand. “I prefer to remain in Qath, if you all don’t mind. And one of the xcleranx, Tur’Roth, is based in the region and has been kind enough to offer to be my escort in Krisxox’s absence…”
Krisxox, who never speaks in the war room unless promptedor orderedsurprises me then. He balks savagely and leans forward onto his elbow so that he sits crooked in his seat.
“You mention Tur’Roth. Why?”
Without his translator, he forces Svera to repeat herself in Voraxian. She speaks ungainly, but well enough to be understood. I am impressed, and then I am further impressed when the little human rolls her eyes at Krisxox. Beside me, my Rakukanna snorts out laughter, which she utterly fails to conceal.
As the little Svera speaks, Krisxox’s hands curl into fists around the arm of his chair. He does not wait for her to finish before he spits, “I do not accept this.”
I watch as this small Svera’s body tenses. Her spine stiffens and she swallows audibly. She reaches up to her chest and clutches a series of pendants that dangle there in metal and wood. “I don’t think it should be your decision.”
Krisxox’s ridges flare red and I feel my own temper rise to match. My chief battle tacticianknowsbetter than this. His behavior here is unprecedented and unacceptable. To intercede here and without reason and withouthonor— she might be a traitor, but she has been summoned here by the Rakukanna and in our presence to behave as he does, it dishonors us all.
I open my mouth to speak, knowing it will be to cut into Krisxox. Before I can, Krisxox is spared by the fierce reversal of my grip on my Rakukanna’s arm, to her grip on mine. She squeezes.
“Svera,” my Miari says and her voice is placating, belying a calm I do not feel. “We are still new to this planet and Krisxox is among the more experienced fighters here. He was tasked with your protection. If he has an alternative solution, then maybe we should let him voice it.
“Krisxox, you seem to feel quite strongly about this. You will tell us now why this is not an acceptable solution,” she says, using a Rakukanna’s words and tone.
I am impressed. Nox. I am floored by her. I had not expected that she would be able to demonstrate this level of diplomacy — she is not a born diplomat, as I was being the son of my Raku before me, but here she is standing up to one of my fiercest warriors and…friends,whilecontradicting her own for the sake of her safety. My Rakukanna is correct on all accounts.
