Chapter 12 #2
"The assessment benchmarks have been met," Boradrith continued.
"The food exchange is working. The scientific collaboration produced results neither species could have achieved independently.
The diplomatic framework is drafted, reviewed, and co-signed by the council's chief skeptic.
" He looked at them both; king and father, weighing the same decision from two angles and arriving at one conclusion.
"The alliance is approved. Effective immediately. "
The words landed with a weight Marina felt in her bones. Approved. After nineteen days of data, debates, earthquakes, one confession in a hallway, and two people from different worlds choosing each other in a warm pool underground, the alliance between Earth and Dobromia was real.
Toren reached for her hand under the table. She took it. The bond flared; his joy, her relief, and the shared certainty that they'd done something worth doing.
"Thank you, D'Karr," Marina said.
"Don't thank me, thank the data." Boradrith stood. "And Marina."
"Yes?"
"Welcome to the family. Such as it is." He walked to the door, paused, and added without turning. "Breakfast is in the communal hall. Melessra adjusted the cave moss porridge recipe. I'm told it's improved significantly."
He left. The chamber was quiet except for the distant waterfall.
Toren looked at Marina. Marina looked at Toren. The obsidian walls reflected them; a human woman in a Weredragon tunic and a prince with rose-gold scales, sitting at a king's table with their hands clasped beneath it.
"Did your father just approve the alliance and invite me to breakfast in the same sentence?" she asked.
"He did. Political decisions get formal speeches. Personal ones get breakfast invitations."
"Your family is very strange."
"Says the woman who crash-landed on an alien planet and bonded with a dragon."
"Fair point." She squeezed his hand, and through the bond she felt his joy. It was bright and uncomplicated. It was the happiness of a man who'd been right about humans since he was twelve years old and who was finally being proven right in every way that mattered.
* * *
The communal hall was full. The earthquake had shaken the Colony's routines, and people were gravitating toward shared spaces, shared meals and the comfort of eating together.
Families, warriors, researchers, engineers.
There were two thousand Weredragons and eleven humans filling the stone hall with conversation and the clatter of utensils and the warm smell of food.
Marina and Toren entered together. Side by side, his hand at the small of her back, visible to everyone.
Heads turned and whispers started. Marina let them whisper.
She'd spent three weeks earning the Colony's respect through data, diplomacy, and earthquake rescue.
Anyone who wanted to question her relationship with Toren could take it up with Khrelan, who'd already signed the alliance, or with Boradrith, who'd already welcomed her to the family, or with Athena, who would simply break something.
Auren materialized beside them with the inevitable grin. "Finally," he declared. "Do you know how exhausting it's been watching you two pretend? I deserve compensation."
"What kind of compensation?" Marina asked.
"An introduction to your sister. A formal one. With context."
"The context being what? 'Athena, this is the man who exploded the tube worms and has been annoying you for three weeks'?"
"I was thinking more like, 'Athena, this is Auren, who saved your life during the Drog attack, flew you across a solar system, and whose persistence should be rewarded with a single meal together.' But your version works too."
Athena appeared, sat down next to Auren, and said, "I heard my name. What's he done now?"
"He's asking Marina to formally introduce us," Auren replied.
"We've met. You exploded tube worms on me."
"And I apologized multiple times in two languages."
"The Dobromian apology was better than the English one."
"Then I'll apologize exclusively in Dobromian from now on."
"Or you could just stop exploding things."
"Where's the fun in that?"
Peter arrived last, arm in the sling, and sat down across from Marina. He looked at her, looked at Toren, looked at the bond that was apparently obvious to everyone in the room, and said nothing for three seconds.
"You look happy," he said.
"I am."
"Good." He picked up his spoon with his good hand. "The porridge is better today."
Marina looked around the table. Toren beside her, his scales warm against her arm, Auren across from them, performing for Athena, who was pretending not to be charmed.
Peter, steady and gracious, choosing kindness.
Patel somewhere in the research caverns with Melessra, having forgotten to eat again.
Sorenson in the kitchen, inventing fusion cuisine that would change both planets' food cultures.
Eleven volunteers learning to live underground.
Twenty thousand Weredragons learning to live with neighbors.
The bond hummed and the waterfalls roared. The bioluminescent light turned everything golden.