Page 27 of The Prisoner's Gambit
All manner of aliens were out in numbers. The differences in their physiology was so great that Maureen had to fight to keep her jaw from dropping open at the sight of some of them.
Tall, short, and every color imaginable was part of the daily life here. And while a great many were bipedal, that didn’t mean they were humanoid in appearance. Not by a long shot.
Some possessed scales, while others had multiple sets of eyes. Some species even had theirs on moving stalks. And limbs? Just one pair of human-looking arms and legs such as hers and Bodok’s were the exception rather than the rule.
There were a few races who had appendages resembling tentacles of some sort, but it seemed that differing numbers of fingers, arms, and hands, were the most common variation.
Hair was also not only wildly varying in color and texture, but was sometimes not hair at all. Wiry shafts stuck out like porcupine quills from one person they passed, while a trio of rather loud friends on a shopping excursion sported brightly colored feathers atop their heads.
One thing was universal, however. Their runes and connecting tattoos. Now that she could see them up close, Maureen noticed that while everyone whose skin was exposed enough for her to see possessed the tattoos, there were subtle differences in the designs bonded to their flesh.
“Bodok, why are their tattoos all different?” she asked quietly.
He looked to make sure no one was within earshot. “It is a cultural thing. The Skrizzit all use the same runes, but there are variations that are found within each race.”
“A Skrizzit?”
“The one trained to apply the designs. Anyone can make lines, but the runes are special. It took many generations for their functions to become clear, and it requires much study to become skilled in their application. It is that skill that can make all of the difference between a decent rune and a truly powerful one.”
“And they’re all using the same ink?”
“Pigment. Yes, though with variations. Not all varieties of the plants harvested for their pigment grow on nearby worlds. Most will trade for the shades they lack, but for some it is either too great an expense or not worth the effort. That is why you will see varying colors and highlights. Partially the artist’s design, but also sometimes because of circumstances beyond their control.”
“Huh,” she said, seeing the art on people’s bodies with fresh eyes as they walked by. “But didn’t you say the runes change? It’s a living plant extract, right?”
“Yes, but it is only the Infala that changes. The initial rune grows and changes, forming a new rune bonding a mated pair. It even occurs between different species, on rare occasion. It is the most powerful rune we possess,” he said, his spirits falling.
Maureen heard the shift in his voice and winced. “Oh, shit. Yours is damaged. I’m so sorry. That was insensitive of me.”
“You mean no ill,” he said, pulling himself from his momentary funk.
He nodded toward a pair of pale, red-skinned quadrupeds walking toward them. They wore no upper body clothing and their gender was not readily apparent. What was, was their affection for each other as they walked close to each other.
“You see there? On their upper torsos? Matching Infala, though you could tell just by observing their interactions.”
She had noticed how there was an almost palpable connection between the two but didn’t realize at first what it was. Now it was all making sense. They had a living, symbiotic organism inside of them, both drawing them together beyond simple pheromones and affections.
“It’s remarkable,” she mused. “But what if you don’t have one? Like, I don’t,” she said, squeezing his hand tighter.
He smiled, his silver eyes shining bright with joy as he squeezed her hand back. “Not all who pair are bound by an Infala,” he said. “But we most certainly make the most of things regardless.”
Maureen felt a flutter of the happies in her belly, a warm glow rising through her chest. Yes, he most certainly made the most of things. And she was looking forward to finding out just how much better they could get.
She watched the other paired couples as they walked, keeping her head down and her body covered as Bodok led her deeper into the city. With a little practice, she was able to tell the bonded pairs relatively quickly. It was hard to describe exactly what it was, but something made them seemmore. A complete unit comprised of two beings.
It was a lot to think about. So much so that she didn’t realize they had arrived at a potential destination until Bodok came to a halt, tugging her hand to stop in front of a building.
It looked like most of the other run-down structures in this part of town, but this one had numerous crates piled up outside, some seeming to have been there for some time, judging by the dirt accumulated on them.
“What are we doing?”
“This looks promising,” Bodok replied as he surveyed the crates. “It will require a bit of negotiating, undoubtedly. Stay close, and speak as little as possible. The sort who run these types of establishments are a wily bunch, always looking for an exploit to squeeze a few more credits from you.”
“Got it. Don’t give them any ammunition, so to speak.”
“And remain covered at all costs. You lack the runes.”
“Right, I understand. That would be a problem.”
