Chapter 52
GILLIAN
There’s a buzz on board the ship as we see land up ahead. Dalox’s chosen continent couldn’t be more different to the one we’ve come from, the rocky shore giving way to a golden tundra. The windows are crowded with excited Sarkarnii who are pointing out various things to each other.
“I was never a jungle Sarkarnii,” Dalox rumbles to me. “Our planet had areas with vegetation, but you had to be a Haisarkarnii to like the damp and warm.
“You like your aquium, don’t you?” I ask, recalling the sauna like nature of the hot water.
“That’s different,” Dalox replies. He doesn’t elaborate.
I guess males are males no matter where you are in the universe. He presumably doesn’t like wearing pants much either. Like Deus.
Deus has become a little more animated since we crossed from the sea to the land. He’s hanging back from the females, giving them worried looks. I wonder if he is as concerned as Dalox was that a return to this continent might put them at risk of the sickness which killed all the other females.
Although my new friends seem to be pretty robust and excited rather than apprehensive.
The ship swiftly covers the distance between the coast and the mountains which preceded the desert which leads to the starfish like compound of the Sarkarnii. It seems like the engines are holding up, despite this thing looking like it hasn’t flown in a decade.
I’m trying not to think about it, not least because I remember flying on Dalox’s back through the cave system to his hidden quarters. It wasn’t the easiest of passages.
We rise up over the jagged mountains and then drop with a stomach churning lurch to the desert below. All the Sarkarnii cheer when they see the settlement ahead. I see in the distance a number of smaller craft, and Dalox growls under his breath.
“I have been unable to get the comm to work. Chances are the warlords will consider this ship a hostile one,” he says. “I hope it holds together as this won’t be easy.”
“Do you need me to do anything?” I ask.
“Hold on.” Dalox reaches out an arm which almost seems telescopic, grabbing me and plonking me on his lap. “Without you, I cannot concentrate,” he adds, his nostrils flaring as I wriggle on his lap. “Stay with me, little spark.”
His arm wraps around my waist, and before I can say anything, the ship flips over, and we descend down into a deep crack in the desert. I can’t help but squeal slightly as for a moment it is completely dark, before lights come on and ahead there is a huge pillar.
“Dalox!”
“Relax, my mate,” he rasps in my ear. “I have done this a thousand times.” The ship swings to the left, skirting the column of rock by what seems like inches. “See?”
There’s a scraping sound which sets my teeth on edge and a rumble of rocks over the hull.
“Okay,” Dalox says. “I’m usually in my Sarkarnii form, not a flyer.” He steers to the right and the noise diminishes.
I keep my eyes fixed on his face for the rest of the trip, partially to make sure he doesn’t take his eyes off what he’s doing, but also because I don’t think I can watch. As the ship slows and then drops down to the landing area with a hiss, Dalox finally looks at me.
“I preferred it when I was riding you,” I say to him.
“I’d have preferred it if I was riding Dalox too,” Deus grumbles as he pushes himself out of his seat.
“Where are you going?” Dalox growls.
“I don’t have to be down here, do I?” he says.
“You are to come with me to the clan hall,” Dalox orders.
“You forget, Dalox,” Deus snarls. “I am no longer part of your fleet, and I do not have to take your orders.”
He moves rapidly through the throng of Sarkarnii to the rear of the flyer as Dalox’s growls follow him.
“Nevver,” Dalox snarls. “He didn’t follow orders when he was part of my fleet.”
“It’s up to him how he handles his return.” I sigh. “And it’s up to us to handle the return of females to your settlement.”
Dalox hauls in a breath and lets it go slowly. Smoke curls out of his mouth and nostrils as he contemplates the Sarkarnii on the landing pad ahead of us.
“This is going to be interesting,” he says, lifting me onto my feet. “As it was when the humans first arrived.”
“You had a fight over the humans?”
“Not a fight as such,” Dalox rasps. “All things on Vorostor belong to me, save for those which belong to the other warlords. We had a discussion and my decision was final.”
Now I am curious, but curiosity will have to wait. It’s not like the Sarkarnii can spend the rest of their days down in Dalox’s lair.
We disembark into the chilly air of the cave and lead the Sarkarnii through into the living quarters he has fashioned for himself.
“We will go up to the neutral sector now,” Dalox says, looking around for Dyris and Dyoti. “Before anyone decides to follow us in here, which will only lead to disaster for them.”
“And only nearly disaster for us,” I mutter.
I give Dyoti and Dyris a wave over to us.
“Where did Deus go?” Dyris asks.
“Deus does what he does,” Dalox grumbles. “He has his own sector here. Presumably he has gone back there. What his brother will make of it, I do not know.”
Dalox activates a console on the wall as the Sarkarnii mill around, some taking up residence in the cushioned pit. Dalox eyes them balefully.
“The sooner we get this over with, the sooner they can be elsewhere,” I point out.
“I will advise my warriors to call a clan meeting,” Dalox says. “Once I know it is going ahead, we’ll attend. That is me, my mate, and you.” He nods at the two Sarkarnii. “Providing you are authorized to speak on behalf of the females.”
“We can speak as well as any of the others,” Dyris says.
“Then it is settled.” Dalox nods.
“I’ll stay here,” I say. He gives me a sharp look.
“It makes sense. We shouldn’t just abandon everyone the moment we get here.
It’s disorientating enough just being here.
I’m a familiar face, and the last thing you want is a sudden appearance of everyone,” I point out.
“And you can keep me updated via this.” I tap the console.
“If it’s settled, I can arrange for everyone to go to the surface. ”
Dalox rumbles deep in his chest.
“I do not want to be without you,” he says.
“I’ll be right here.” I put my hand on his broad chest. “I’m not going anywhere, and this is the safest place for me anyway.”
Dalox huffs out a perfect smoke ring.
“I will return for you, my mate. And then I will dance for you, to show all of Vorostor you are mine.”