Chapter Six
N anny looked around and said, “So, what do you want to buy? I have tons of currency. Literally.”
“I think I want to buy things for my cousins. Can we do that?”
“Sure. Let’s head to jewellers’ row.”
Abil smiled and linked arms with Nanny as they eased through the crowd of locals.
They stopped for fruit, and then, they were in the jewellery section.
Abil looked at Nanny. “I can buy anything I want?”
“Of course. I am acting as your family here, as Mbrak did on the station. We are your family. This is part of your dowry, and gifts for the family are often included.”
“Well, then, I should do the socially normal thing.” Abil took a deep breath and began looking into the shops while Nanny munched on sliced fruit.
Abil looked at her friend after the eighth shop. “Help.”
Nanny grabbed her and hauled her into the shop they were looking at. “Mal, this is my little cousin and your future empress, Abilathara. She is looking for gifts to send back to her cousins, and I just know you are going to provide the best.”
Mal straightened, and his skin darkened with grey and silver over his cheekbones. “Of course. Jeweller to the new empress is a heady thing.”
Nanny sliced another piece of fruit and took a seat on one of the couches. “Then, don’t fuck it up.”
Abil laughed, and Mal grinned. “Have a seat, Your Imperial Highness. I will bring the display pieces out, and you can choose what you like or ask for changes. They will be ready in a few days.”
Nanny munched more fruit and handed Abil the occasional slice as the soon-to-be empress made a list of all her cousins on the station and chose presents for them all.
* * * *
A bil looked at the total on the list, and Nanny put the fruit and small knife away and said, “Right, Mal. You know we are going to be making sure that those minerals are all high quality and correct. I will spit them out on your doorstep if you try and undercut the quality.”
“Of course, Madam Nanitha. Your discerning taste is not in doubt.”
Nanny grinned at Abil. “I chewed up some sub-standard samples and melted them in the shop of Gabiette, two doors down. I have a bit of a reputation.”
Mal shuddered. “Right. Well, thank you for your patronage, Your Highness. The balance will be charged to Madam Nanitha’s account when it is delivered.”
“How long?”
“A week? A few pieces on your list are in stock with the others. I will confirm the purity of the metals and then proceed.”
Abil stood as Nanny did, their tea set left behind. Nanny looked at Mal. “Get to work.”
He laughed. “Yes, Madam.”
Abil smiled. “That was fun. How much more time do we need to kill?”
“Three more hours. We are heading to the fabric merchants. Brace for more tea.”
Abil giggled. “Okay.”
They stormed the fabric merchants and the leather merchant, and by the time all of the orders were placed, they were out of time and on their way to the palace once again.
They were laughing and giggling, having gotten more than tea at the leather merchants, but it had led to some hilarious choices for her cousins. Mbrak was just going to shake his head.
Nanny chuckled. “You know if they are wearing these outfits, they are going to be gone in the first shift.”
“Yes, but they will be pretty when they dive out the airlock, and that counts for something.” Abil smiled.
Nanny laughed, and they giggled their way past security who eyed them warily, and they snickered as they continued to the dining room where Yorath was waiting for them.
He caught Abil and said, “Oh, dear. Imbibing with the merchants?”
She beamed. “We did fun stuff and bought fun stuff for my cousins.” Abil looked up at him and smiled. “You’re pretty.”
He blinked and then grinned. “Thank you, Abilathara.”
Abil frowned. “Now you say it to me.” She punched his arm.
He barked a laugh. “You are gorgeous, little one. A little drunk but gorgeous.”
He swung her into his arms and said, “Lady, please come with us.”
Abil waved at Nanny over Yorath’s shoulder. He was shaking with amusement, but it wasn’t mean. She could feel the difference now. A servant held a chair for them, and she smiled brightly at them, and they smiled in return.
Nanny moved past them and had to sit at the far end of the table. Abil frowned and turned her head, seeing six new faces that were looking at her with amusement. Well, five were looking at her in amusement, and one was looking at the place where Nanny was propping herself up on her elbows with her hands supporting her face.
Abil chuckled.
Yorath smiled. “This is taking a strange turn. I thought to introduce you to more of your relatives, but it seems you imbibed a little.”
Nanny raised a fist in the air and shouted, “More shopping,” before subsiding back into her previous position.
Abil smiled. “We may or may not have been in the leather merchant area for an hour and a half. They really were friendly.”
“I’ll bet.” Yorath cuddled her in close. “These are your parents’ grandparents.”
Abil turned and stared at the two couples. “You are? What about Mbrak?”
“He is about ten generations removed. He’s the first drake in your line. He had a child every hundred years for a while until he was sent to the station. He is a very old drake.”
She snorted. “Tell him that to his face. I dare you.”
Yorath and the others laughed.
She was introduced to them, and their names blurred, but she saw her father’s grandparents. They were silvery blue, like Yorath’s people. Her mother’s grandparents were icy green, like her hair.
“Why didn’t you come to get me when they found me?” Abil asked either couple.
Her father’s grandmother said, “Mbrak insisted that he educate and raise you. He sent us progress reports, including the references to your clipboard.”
Yorath murmured, “What was on it?”
“Oh, just reminders of how to be human. I kept forgetting. So, it said things like stand up, don’t hiss, smile, ask questions, be calm, you are wanted, you are loved. ”
Yorath looked sad, and she heard Nanny sniffling. “I am so sorry, Abil.”
“You didn’t do it. You weren’t even there. I knew I was loved with you. It was what was needed to keep me focused on playing human.” She wrinkled her nose. “It worked until it didn’t.”
Nanny sniffled. “I am sorry.”
“Don’t be. You taught me to fight, and that was important. I was nearly kidnapped three times when I was little, and I bit my way through my bonds and called Mbrak for help each time.”
Yorath held her tightly. “He didn’t mention that.”
“It was years ago. They didn’t get me off the station, and I had to add only bite when necessary to my list.” She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “That was sensible. My drake is bitey, too.”
He chuckled. “I know. I have seen the recordings that the raiders sent out to keep others from your path. You nearly got them.”
“Yeah. I missed... them.”
He snorted. “There were others that you found?”
“Ships stick in your teeth.”
Nanny snickered. “Try swallowing them whole.”
“I think I need to keep you busy learning your new worlds, Abil.”
“My new worlds?” She looked up at him and knew she had a silly smile.
“Yes, how many people are on this world right now?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Two billion, three million, seven hundred fifty-eight thousand, nine hundred twelve. Thirteen. There was a baby just born.”
He grinned. “Pardon for not understanding sooner.”
Her mother’s grandmother asked, “What did you not understand?”
“She’s a collecting drake. My people are now part of her hoard. So, it is very good that we are going to marry as I want to be included in what she considers hers.” He smiled and stroked her cheek.
Abil looked at his dark hair, golden eyes, and slow smile. He was already hers. He belonged to her drake way back in the simulation. That reminded her of something.
“Which side has wings? I am curious which side of the family has wings.”
Her mother’s grandfather raised his hand. “It is from my side. Our son married a human, and she bore our granddaughter, who had you. My ancestress took in a dragon, and the wings come every two generations. I am guessing they come naturally to you?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded. “His gift to us.”
She shrugged. “Thank you. I just wanted to know. Are we eating now?”
Yorath chuckled. “Yes, we are. Nanitha, have you met Orwon and Rikian?”
Nanny looked up and cleared her throat. “No, but they are staring at me so hard their gazes are colliding in the middle.”
Yorath said, “Orwon is the one covered in tattoos, and Rikian is the other one.”
The folk at the table laughed. Abil watched as Nanny blushed.
* * * *
N anny could feel them looking at her, and she wished she was off eating an asteroid or something. Orwon was smiling at her. And Rikian had a calm expression.
The tattoos mentioned were tendrils that crept up Orwon’s neck and wrapped around the edges of his jaw and hairline. His clothing rose to the base of his throat, and the collar of his formal tunic rode along the base of his neck.
His arms had the same blue-black marks as the rest of him, and she knew that whatever they were, they were not tattoos. They were moving.
Rikian chuckled. “You seem to understand about Orwon, so I will contact Mbrak and see if he has a lady who enjoys the finer things.”
Nanny blinked.
Orwon smiled. “It is for the best.”
Rikian laughed. “I value my life. He’s been around longer than I have, and until he saw some of the files on you, he had sworn he wouldn’t find a partner.”
She looked at Orwon. “What files?”
He grinned. “You are a planet eater.”
“That is a gross exaggeration.” She mumbled. “I just ate one dwarf planet.” She shrugged. “It was rogue anyway.”
Orwon grinned. “I am sure it was. What did you do with all that energy?”
“Got bigger.”
He laughed. “Do you have wings?”
“I did. I don’t anymore.”
“Would you care to go for a walk with me before dinner is served?”
She opened her mouth but was stalled by a parade of servants bringing in place settings and food.
It wasn’t the way things were normally done in a palace, but the servers were improvising around an unprecedented roomful of drakes.
Nanny sat and watched Yorath angle Abil so she could eat her meal with some decorum, and she smiled. They were vibrating with the same frequency. It was lovely.
Orwon lifted his cutlery. “What are you seeing when you look at them?”
“They are humming at the same frequency.” She smiled and tried to find a starting point on her plate. “It is a very good thing.”
“You can see that?”
“Sure. I always know when drakes or dragons and some other species match. My eyes see the frequency.”
“So, your little friend—”
“Cousin.”
“Right. She has found her match?”
“Yes. I don’t need to stay close now.” She speared a vegetable she didn’t recognize and started eating.
He nodded. “That is good. My home is a distance away from here, and it is larger, so density is required. Something tells me you won’t have an issue with that.”
Nanny looked at him and kept poking at her plate. “Why would I worry about that? I don’t know you. First, I have to see my parents and check on them. They are gonna be hella old right now, but I need to see them and ask them why they sold me to Zenim.”
The table got quiet, and Nanny kept eating.
Abil whispered, “Nanny? They sold you?”
“Yup. That is how they afforded that little temple in the hills. They sold me to the royal family when Zenim expressed interest. They didn’t defend my age, my lack of interest, or care about his cruelty.” She kept eating with focus, stabbing her food.
She finished and looked up to see everyone else staring at her. “Emperor Yorath, is there dessert?”
He blinked. “Yes. Would you like two?”
“Please.”
He raised a hand, but the servant nodded and was out the door before the order could be issued.
Abil was staring with a pale complexion. “Nanny, I had no idea.”
“No one did, but the royal family, and they were interested in keeping things quiet. That is why I ran for so long and tried to become what they told me I never could.”
“A drake?”
She snorted. “Powerful. As was evidenced when I flattened Zenim into the courtyard. I could have crushed him easily, and he knew it after about a minute. I could have waited for them to fly and chased them into the stars, eating them in one crunch of my jaws.” She sighed. “I could have followed them home and consumed their palaces and population, but those actions would have caused the drake council to hunt me down and either destroy or restrain me. Either would be unlikely, and more would die.”
Orwon smiled. “You are that confident in your abilities?”
“No. I am that sure of them.” She sat back as the plate was removed and dessert was slid in front of her. Both of them.
She smiled and kept eating, finishing dessert well ahead of her dinner companions.
She sat and sipped at her water, the buzz of earlier long gone.
Orwon asked, “So, you like shopping?” He continued eating.
“I am good at it.”
“I am guessing that you are good at everything you put your hand to. Do you still need gems and jewellery?”
“Need it? No. I don’t consume it anymore. Now it’s just pretty.”
“Do you wear clothing or shift into it?”
She smiled. “Both, but I like clothing that comes off at the end of the evening.”
Orwon smiled. “Me, too.” He finished his meal, and a dessert was placed in front of him. He looked at it and slid it over to her. “Here you are, my lady.”
“Thank you. Presumptuous, but thank you.” She lifted her spoon and glanced at him. “Are you sure? It’s really good.”
“I don’t consume food that frequently. It would be lost on me.”
She grinned and went for her third dessert. He watched her with a soft smile that turned into a grin when she sat back and looked around as if scanning for more. When she realized what she was doing, she put her hands on her lap and sat quietly.
Rikion chuckled. “It seems that you live up to your reputation for appetite.”
“Not a great thing to say to a lady, but yes. Once I started consuming, the hunger grew, no matter which form I was in.” She shrugged.
Orwon smiled. “Would you like to go for that walk to settle yourself and interrogate me?”
“Sure. I know a nice path by some cliffs. I hope you have a good sense of balance.”
She smiled brightly. She nodded to Yorath. “With your permission, Your Imperial Highness?”
“Please. Go hike. Just remain in condition to dance at the wedding tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? I thought it was three days from now.” She scowled.
“Well, as the important guests are already here and preparations are underway, tomorrow it will be so that I may have time with my empress as soon as possible.”
Nanny smiled at the startled Abil. “That sounds excellent. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
Yorath chuckled. “Take the dark star for a walk and keep him from scaring the locals.”
“I can do that.” She started to rise, but Orwon moved behind her, held her chair as she stood up, and then offered his arm to her.
She swallowed and slid her hand under his elbow to hold him, and she saw it. They were the same frequency. Of course.
Orwon cocked his head. “You look startled and resigned at the same time. It is an interesting combination.”
She snorted as they left the room, and she winked slowly at Abil as they passed, making her giggle. It always worked.
When they were out of the dining room and pacing down the hall toward the entry to the palace, Orwon asked, “What was with the wink?”
She smiled. “When Abil was little and I was in the form with my broken wings, she would silently ask me how I was feeling, and I would answer with a slow wink. It made her smile every time, and I used it sparingly or when she needed reassurance. Here, I used it for recognition as she would not recognize my main form and certainly not my biped forms.”
“She never saw it?”
“No. The form I was using at the time was the only one small enough to be considered appropriate for contact with others. I regretted it as soon as the meteors struck, and I was unable to cover the vessel, but Mbrak had told me to use it so that I wouldn’t scare the family.”
“Understandable.”
“I failed as a guardian to them.”
They were walking out of the entryway and into the evening air.
“You kept her alive and nurtured her instincts even if it wasn’t the socially acceptable set. Her drake is very prepared for space and had no issue in navigating her way to her mate.”
“But her parents...”
“How large was the meteor shower?”
“It pelted the ground for a week. I kept my body between the rocks and the shuttle during every fall.”
“The parents should have navigated around the storm. Most would. As they were headed here, was there any reason for them to go through it?”
She sighed. “It saved them two days of travel with a toddler.”
“So, you have already done the math.”
“A thousand times.”
“Which way are we going?”
She pointed to the left, and they walked toward the well-worn path that would take them to the overlook.
He nodded, and they kept walking, silent for a few minutes while she wiped the tears from her cheeks.