Chapter Twenty-three
Detodev caught himself humming a tune as he took soil samples in the east field early in the morning. He glanced at his surroundings to see if anyone heard him doing so.
The Nobek chuckled at his foolishness. So what if he was caught sounding happy? Someday it might feel natural.
It had been a few weeks since Wilkes and his group had been apprehended following the abduction attempt on Charity. Those surrounding the irascible woman continued to maintain a watchful eye on her, but there’d been no further attempts by Earthtiques to collect the bounty. Thus far, there was no word the Earthtiques had other operatives in the area.
He detected the hum of a hovercart and straightened from his crouched position in anticipation. As he’d hoped, Charity soon appeared in the row of young green cornstalks where he worked.
“Nice change on the hair,” he complimented when she’d stopped the cart and sat on its edge. “It suits your skin tone better. Is it your natural color?”
“It is, just like my mom’s. It’s great to be closer to my real self again.”
She tossed the dark brown mane and fluttered hazel eyes at him. He was still getting used to the change from the blue lenses she’d worn, but he liked her natural green-and-gold tinge.
“How’s it feel to be outed as a Nath?”
“It’s a relief, actually. I hated lying, even if it made me less vulnerable.” Her grin was bright and impossible to resist responding to in kind. She waved him over to sit next to her.
He did. “Did you finish the assignment that had you so worried?”
“Yes, and after two hours of fretting whether to send it in to my professor, I did. Keep your fingers crossed I haven’t flunked my first major project since transferring my credits.” She sighed dramatically.
“You probably aced it, Starry Eyes.”
Charity had enrolled at a Kalquorian university to continue pursuing her degree. She’d been approved as a remote studies student who’d been displaced by the war. She complained it was just as tough as the college she’d attended on Jedver, but Detodev could tell she enjoyed the challenge.
“Any word on your proposal?” he asked.
“For the observatory I asked the empire to build here on Haven?” Her grin spread wider, telling him she’d gotten good news before she shared it. “Kalquor and the university jointly contacted Haven and presented my proposal exactly as I’d written it. I was told they couldn’t improve on the pitch.”
“Did you caution them that the last thing they need to expand is your ego?”
Charity blew a raspberry and gave him a shove. “Haven’s governors and their science committees are seriously considering it. Governor Grisweld himself commed me this morning. He said my idea is not just valid, but exciting to the empire’s and Earth’s astronomy communities as well. They agreed Haven is in a prime position for a big-ass, badass observatory, so I’m hopeful.”
“In those exact terms? Governor Grisweld said ‘big-ass’ and ‘badass’?”
She shook her head as she laughed. “I enjoy this Detodev who gives me shit instead of freezing me out.”
“He’s all your doing, Starry Eyes.” Detodev focused on the matter he deemed most important. “It doesn’t sound as if you’ll be going anywhere else anytime soon.” He made no attempt to hide his delight.
“I guess not. You’ll have to put up with me for the foreseeable future.” Her smirk turned mischievous.
Detodev was perfectly fine to do so, and into the un foreseeable future as well.
He hated to dim her chipper mood, but it was important for her to share the bad alongside the good. “Any word from your father?”
He could practically hear the thud of her falling spirits. “I spoke to him this morning. He’s determined to give himself up to Earth to absolve Kalquor of suspicion where Copeland was concerned. He says one man is nothing compared to derailing the Darks’ determination to turn the empire’s allies against it.”
“He has a point. It doesn’t mean you aren’t hurting though.”
“I told him it wasn’t just himself he was taking down. He has daughters who have to live with the loss if he’s sent to prison.”
“How did he respond?”
“He believes he’s setting us free. He says taking all the blame and publicly absolving his children of any responsibility or knowledge of Copeland’s imprisonment might allow Hope and me to live normal lives.” Charity scowled at the cornstalks shivering and rustling in the light breeze. “As if we have the slightest clue how be normal. Hope sure as hell doesn’t, what with her running all over the galaxy as a spy to fight evildoers.”
“Any word from her yet?”
Charity shook her head. “As far as I know, she has no clue what’s going on. Dolgra checked, and no one’s heard a word from her and her clan in weeks. I’m scared for her. And my father. For all of us.”
Her lower lip trembled. Detodev slid his arm around her and pulled her close. He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him, and he kissed her fully, pouring all the love in his heart that had awoken for her.
He offered her the comfort he had to give. He held nothing back.
* * * *
Next day
Charity ignored the curious glances cast her way as she nestled in the curl of Detodev’s arm. She concentrated on the people standing before them a few feet away, lined up behind a satiny blue ribbon strung between a couple of poles. Her Nobek companion cast his ‘don’t-fuck-with-us’ gaze at the large crowd gathered on the sidewalk in the middle of Sunrise. Groteg, standing on her other side, wore the same expression.
Charity was amused at how big a deal the townspeople of Sunrise made of a bakery opening. As promised, Mitag had turned it into an event. He’d seen to it his clients for upcoming celebrations had tried samples at sumptuous private tastings. He’d already secured quite a few catering jobs for Ilid’s Bakery. He’d strung banners everywhere he could get permission to fly them in the week leading to the grand opening. He’d even landed a newscast interview for the owners and their manager son about the new business on a vidcast. Another local vid station had sent a reporter to cover the bakery’s opening.
Charity’s revealed identity and her connection to Ilid had probably played a part in drawing a crowd as well. She was gawked at whenever she was in Sunrise, the woman who’d been a supposed traitor’s daughter and the Holy Leader’s last child bride. Because Haven consisted of humans who happily lived among Kalquorians, there’d been no overt hostility. In fact, quite a few residents had told her to let them know if she ran into any trouble. They were ready to help. It was a nice counterpoint to the rampant curiosity shining an unwanted spotlight on her when she ventured to be seen in public.
She thought perhaps Ilid’s Bakery would have excited plenty of interest even if Mitag hadn’t promoted it and its connection to her hadn’t been so notorious. This was Sunrise, after all. The occasional hilarious stage show aside, the residents had little to do except get drunk, have sex, dodge ronka and cow patties, and watch the grass grow.
Despite Charity silently poking fun at her surroundings, she did so warmed by affection for Haven. She’d never dreamed when she’d arrived she’d care for the planet itself…but she did.
Matara Diju cut the ribbon, and the bakery was officially open. Clan Codab, Ilid, and Mitag led Charity, Detodev, and the rest of Sunrise’s citizenry into the shop for samples and shopping. It boasted a coffee station in the corner, courtesy of the shop across the street, with which Ilid had successfully negotiated a trade agreement.
For the next three hours, far longer than any of them had anticipated, patrons crowded the bakery. Samples were wolfed down amid delighted praise. Having tasted Diju’s magnificent recipes and a few of Sara’s and Charity’s, a line formed at purchase station. There, Diju cheerfully rang up sales. The pastry cases, full at the start of the grand opening celebration, were emptied out, refilled, emptied, refilled, and emptied again as customers bought boxes full of goods. Ilid, Codab, Gruthep, and Jadel worked nonstop to bring fresh offerings. One by one, they announced what goods had sold out for the day. Charity couldn’t help beaming to see how fast the pies and cookies she’d contributed were sold. She and Sara were earning a percentage of the proceeds from their Earther recipes, another deal Ilid had negotiated like the freshly minted businessman he was. Charity smiled wider when he caught her eye from wherever he was working. His grin at the initial unqualified success of his family’s newest venture never faltered.
Smiles were all around, Detodev included. Charity didn’t miss how he gazed at Ilid and Mitag. His eyes shone with pride at their profitable grand opening when he wasn’t scrutinizing those who ventured near Charity. He insisted on keeping her at his side.
“I think our friends have found their true calling,” she told him at one point.
“Mitag’s talking up the place as fast as his lips can move, little as he needs to. Ilid’s directing the flow of sales and supply, and he’s answering questions as if he’s done this all his life,” the Nobek agreed. “Mark my words; he’ll own this bakery before five years have passed.”
“You’ll hear no argument from me.”
She beamed at her sweethearts. Mitag hadn’t given up on clan and love, and she was certain he’d soon win both. Ilid and Detodev had been forced to rethink their definitions of leader and protector. They’d managed to reshape their breed designations to fit themselves.
Despite her father’s continued absence, Charity knew she’d be all right too. She’d found no replacements for Borey, her mother Faith, or her sister Hope, but she’d forged an additional family. She gazed at Clan Amgar and their children with the love of a grateful foster daughter and sister. The members of Clan Codab, despite their returning soon to Kalquor, were also precious.
As for Ilid, Detodev, and Mitag…she couldn’t help but dream they’d continue to give her a reason to remain among the cow patties in Haven’s unexpected paradise.
* * * *
One month later
“It’s big.”
Ilid nodded at Mitag’s comment as he conducted the Imdiko, Detodev, and Charity on a tour of the rambling farmhouse he’d decided to buy…or rather, the house he and his parents had decided they would buy for him. He’d pay them back in the future. The near future, he believed. The bakery’s first weeks of business had blown the roof off their expectations.
If he happened to have clanmates who were successful in their own work to help him cover expenses…the situation would be even better. He wasn’t thinking along those lines purely for the financial bottom line. In fact, money had no bearing on his dreams at all.
I’m happy. It was sobering to realize he hadn’t expected to be so in the not-so-distant past.
Many of his problems were behind him. At least, it felt that way. The Darks remained an issue elsewhere, and there were no guarantees they wouldn’t somehow find a way to impact Haven in the end. The nightmares hadn’t bothered him for weeks, however. Having the companions he did gave him the strength to face an uncertain future.
“A lot of room,” Detodev agreed, bringing Ilid back to his surroundings. They’d reached the living room. It was bare of furnishings, but it had lovely paneling and a huge fireplace.
“I hope you’ve hired a maid. Keeping a house of this size clean is going to be a career in itself,” Charity teased.
“Are you applying for the job?” Ilid couldn’t resist the playful jab.
She blew a raspberry. “Dream on. I’ve heard your mother complain what a slob you are. I already have my fair share of assignments, thanks to school.” Realization lit her face. “Oh, I get it. You bought an Amgar-size farmhouse so when you’ve turned one room into a pigsty, you can move to another rather than clean it up.”
Ilid laughed. She never failed to make him smile. No doubt it was part of why he loved her. He was unable to imagine the rest of his life without her. Or any of them.
The moment had arrived to proclaim his intentions. “Actually, I chose such a big home so I can accommodate a nice, old-fashioned clan of four. It has space so we can each have a private office, plus a couple left over for any children who come along.”
“ We ? Children?” Mitag’s voice was choked by hope as he gazed at Ilid, his heart in his eyes.
The Dramok looked from one prospective clanmate to the next, nervousness jittering in his belly. He was too anxious to dare to interpret their wide-eyed expressions, save Mitag’s. “I’d like to promise myself if the three of you if you’d have me as your Dramok. You’re welcome to move in right away and make this your home before we formalize our clanship. Detodev, if you wish to farm the acreage that’s part of the property, you’re welcome to do so. As my Nobek, it’ll be yours as much as mine.”
“Why wait to formalize it?” Charity demanded. “Why can’t we be a clan now?”
For a moment, the air left Ilid’s body. Of his prospective clanmates, he’d thought she’d be the most reluctant to consider his proposal.
“Yes, Ilid. Why wait?” Detodev’s voice was soft, wondering.
They wanted it. They wanted him as their Dramok. It took a moment to swallow the thickness in his throat before he could reply.
“I’d prefer we meet Charity’s father and sister first. I think it’s important we win their approval.” He chuckled. “You three have my parent clan’s endorsement. I see no need to consult Mitag’s former guardians—”
“Thank the ancestors,” the Imdiko mumbled, but his face shone from joy.
“I assume you aren’t concerned about us earning your parent clan’s esteem either, Detodev.”
Detodev had admitted his high-ranking parent clan hadn’t hidden their disappointment in their pacifist son who’d lowered his horizons to remain on Haven as a hired farmhand. Ilid had the feeling they wouldn’t be impressed with a bakery manager or an event planner who’d come from a notorious family either.
“Hell, no. We barely speak once a year, and that’s more than enough for me.” The Nobek laughed at the idea. The surprisingly rich, bass sound rolled through the air.
“So it’s down to Charity’s family.” Ilid smiled at her.
She groaned. “The story of my life. Write it on my gravestone: she died waiting for someone’s approval to live as she wished. When will the fact I choose something be good enough?”
“Does that mean you’ll promise yourself to me? Once I talk to your father and sister and earn their consent, will you be my Matara?”
She took his hands in hers. “I’ll be your Matara. Yours and Detodev’s and Mitag’s.”
Mitag damned near squealed his delight.
“Though it means living on Planet Farm Hell?” Detodev teased.
“It’ll soon be Planet Astronomy Heaven,” she informed him loftily. “When they visited, Kalquor’s scientists and the university board were suitably impressed by my presentation and the incredible views an observatory will offer here. While you’re mucking in the manure, I’ll be dancing among the stars.”
“Hence the name Starry Eyes.”
Charity sobered and looked at Ilid. “Seriously, I’ll stay for you guys, observatory or not. Yes, my future Dramok, I promise myself to your clan. With all my heart and all my love.”
His chest felt ready to explode. He glanced at Mitag.
“I promise myself to you and our clan.” The beaming Imdiko blinked hard, as if warding off tears.
Ilid turned to Detodev, who wore a more serious expression. The Nobek nodded. “I promise myself to our future clan. I call you my Dramok, my Imdiko and my Matara now. You’re clanmates in my heart.”
Ilid spread his arms wide. The wondrous beings who’d become his life gathered close. The men wrapped their arms around him and each other, putting Charity in the middle as the rightful center of their existence. She snuggled between them, kissing them in turn.
They stood there for a long while, simply holding the joy they’d found, the promise of clanship and a future. Whatever it held, good or bad, at least they’d be together. Ilid sighed to feel the torment he’d borne dissipate.
“I have a bottle of excellent leshella at my place.” Mitag broke the silence at last.
“You do? You’ve been holding out the high-end stuff?” Charity accused.
He eyed them, blushing. “I put it aside ages ago. You know I’m a romantic. I was saving it for the day I was asked to clan. A promised clan is worth opening it now, isn’t it?”
“It absolutely is,” Ilid agreed. “I’ll buy us another bottle for the big day itself.”
They left without finishing the tour of the house. They were too eager to celebrate the more important event of having found love among the fields and pastures of Haven.
* * * *