Chapter Ten #2
Nodding, I braced as the shuttle settled, then punched the button to open the hatch. With our departure so close, I was impatient to begin the journey back to Morrakan, and that began with getting back to the ship.
As soon as the seal on the hatch released, I smelled her. Fruity, floral, and sweet. A hint of musk.
Laced with the bitterness of distress and the thick scent of illness.
Only Jorath’s presence prevented me from storming off the shuttle to hunt down the cause of her upset, but I could guess the reason behind the bitter tinge as soon as I spotted the little group.
Serenya stood at General Hale’s side, arms wrapped around her middle, head down. Her cheeks weren’t as flushed as the last time I’d seen her, but the wind was cool, and she could have taken more of the meds she’d used to bring it down when I was at her house.
I stalked towards her, the general’s brows lowering as I brushed past him without acknowledgment. Afraid I’d hurt her with my claws if she reacted poorly to my touch, I used my knuckle beneath her chin to lift her face until her glazed eyes met mine.
“Veyrari, are you well?”
He brow crinkled and her pupils flexed as she tried to focus on me. Her tongue slipped out to wet her cracked lips before they parted for her to speak.
“It’s been… a rough night.”
It was a struggle to keep from snarling, and I barely stopped my tail from whipping at her father when he tried to interrupt my focus.
“My daughter’s things were apparently already taken to your ship, and Rowena’s are being loaded now. Why don’t we wait on the shuttle?”
I’d never realized how whiny he seemed. For a warrior, even one his age, a little bit of wind shouldn’t be an issue.
Ignoring him, I kept my eyes locked on Serenya.
“Are you ready?”
I felt the tremble that passed through her body even though she kept her expression neutral. She didn’t look around or hesitate, but that tremor gave her away. She was trying to be brave, and the others wouldn’t be able to tell, but she wasn’t as prepared to leave as she seemed.
“Yes.”
No one had moved despite General Hale’s suggestion to board the shuttle, but once I pulled Serenya’s arm through mine and took the bag she tried to cling to, they fell in line behind me, with Saed bringing up the rear.
The Qy’shaeuhl was the closest to my height, but that was where our similarities ended. His slim build and feathered features made him more alien to me than the Humans, and the way he tilted his head to look around only made him seem more like the birds I’d seen on Earth.
We didn’t have anything like him on Morrakan. Feathers would be poor protection from the sand carried in the winds that scoured the surface, and his large eyes would be a liability.
Another problem I needed to address when Serenya’s mere presence was distracting me.
Once everyone was aboard the shuttle and the door sealed behind us, the flight crew gave the all clear. They’d finished loading Rowena’s things, and we were in the air by the time I had Serenya settled and had taken a seat beside her.
I didn’t miss the way Jorath watched me and then copied what I did with his female. Nor did I miss the way the general glared, likely irritated that he was no longer the one in charge.
“The Zeydrassk is the flagship of the Morraki fleet, a dreadnaught designed for deep space travel as well as war. There are seven levels. The top is the dravok, the command center, and is restricted. The second level is where Jorath and the other ranking members of the crew reside while onboard. There is an observation deck you will have access to, but the archives and personal quarters are off limits unless you are invited.”
Considering the two women were likely to remain in their quarters the whole time if the scent of illness coming from them was anything to go by, I shouldn’t have had to give the speech, but I wanted General Hale not to have any excuses if he was caught where he shouldn’t be.
Humans had space-faring ships, but theirs was nothing to ours, and I knew the general wanted details about our technology.
Considering the Qy’shaeuhl was as far above us as we were above the Humans, if they hadn’t shared their knowledge, I wasn’t going to allow the general access to mine.
“The third level is guest quarters, meeting halls, and a private mess for meals. Rooms have been prepared for you there, and you will have free access to the entire deck, but anything lower is dangerous. The barracks, hangers, core, and prison pit, are off limits to outsiders.”
Saed cocked his head before dipping his narrow chin.
“Acceptable.”
The Qy’shaeuhl were hard to read, but General Hale’s interest was obvious.
“Prison pit? Why would you have that on a ship?”
I leaned back in my seat, forcing my muscles to relax into a casual pose.
“You were a warrior, were you not? You should know what talren upon a ship traveling through space leads to, even amongst the most disciplined warriors. They get bored, and the pits allow them an outlet when they don’t have access to the Veyr’vokkar.”
The wrinkles in the flesh above his brows deepened as if he were confused, but the spark in his eyes said something else.
“Vey-or-voh-KAR? What’s that?”
I narrowed my eyes but answered the question.
“Veyr’vokkar. The closest translation would be Blood Spectacle. It is a trial by combat, sometimes entered voluntarily, sometimes used as punishment. Many warriors enter it to find honor and glory.”
The look on his face and the way his focus slid to Serenya had me suspicious of his motives, but when I glanced at the woman to my side, she had closed her eyes, and her head was resting on the seat behind her as if she hadn’t heard us speaking.
I saw his glare from the corner of my eyes, but Serenya was my first concern.
“Do you need anything?”
Her eyelids fluttered, the pale blue of her irises a thin ring around the dark pupils. A spot of red had developed on her cheeks, but her tan skin had a pale cast to it I didn’t like.
“Just for the trip to be over before my stomach fully rebels.”
I didn’t quite understand what the shuttle flight had to do with her stomach or how it could rebel, but I checked our location on the monitor just in time to see the light flash.
“Just a shyret more. We’re docking now.”