Chapter Four
Harwin’s wrap dress made getting into position easy, and the baby didn’t have any hesitation to take care of his needs.
Zelda went through colostrum and different types of milk. When Harwin learned that if she had a girl, her milk would be chemically different, she was stunned.
They talked her through it a few times, and Zelda confirmed that the cries would be different and that she could identify her baby by little shirts or anything it had worn.
They spent close to an hour with Harwin learning how to hold and how to break suction. “Be glad they aren’t born with the fangs.”
Harwin shivered. “Oh, yeah, those. Is Orex a biter?”
“They all bite.”
“Oh, is he a drinker?”
“I have no idea. I have been in his bed for two days, one of them asleep.”
Harwin chuckled. “The adaptation?”
“Yup. I am fighting a nap right now, actually. We had a quickie in an alcove on the med floor.”
Harwin chuckled. “You seem very comfortable with him.”
“Funny story. There was a woman who thought that just because she was comfortable with sex, she was Hmrain-compatible, so she presented herself to him as such, and I was still numb from being tranqed after I went nuts looking for my daughter. I was processing and ended up in colony admin.”
Harwin blinked. “And then...”
“Marta agreed that she wasn’t the Hmrain-compatible in the shipment. She had basically turned grey. So, he cancelled the contract.”
“And then he snagged you?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I found out the destination for Aretta’s pod, and then I leaked a transmission that there was an unclaimed Hmrain-compatible on the colony world. So, a day later, I had my ride.”
“Wait, you baited raiders?”
“Yup, and then I killed them all and shoved them out the airlock. I was wounded, but Orex came after me and got me into a healing unit before he tried to negotiate. Wait. I was talking to you.”
Harwin nodded. “Yes, you were. You didn’t look good.”
“I wasn’t. Nasty infection. Raiders don’t wash their hands.”
Harwin curled her lip. “Eww. How long is he going to do this?”
“Twenty to thirty minutes a pop. If you get annoyed, pop him off or switch from left to right. On the plus side, you are a Hmrain consort, you can walk around with your tits out all day every day. Anyone who complains deals with Ra.”
Ra’s voice came around the corner. “And I will be delighted to deal with them. How is he?”
Harwin disengaged the infant and blinked as he fell asleep. “Great. Just like you. Drinks and passes out.”
Ra walked into the study, and he took up a lot of the room. “Harran Harwin is a good name.” He looked at Zelda, “I have asked Orex to remain here for a few days so that you may speak with your sister, and then he can bring all of you to Sanctuary Base in Birun’s sector.”
“Uh, I don’t have extra clothes.”
Ra looked at her in astonishment. “I have fabricators. Your daughter very helpfully let Orex know that you had a hobby and part-time job.”
“Oh, no.”
Ra grinned. “I am looking forward to seeing it.”
Zelda made a face.
Harwin checked the baby. “What is he talking about?”
“I danced a bit for extra money at ren faires and other events.”
Harwin grinned. “Did you jingle?”
“I jingled a lot.”
“Cool. Will you dance tonight?”
“Yeah, about that. Orex really likes looking at me, and we haven’t finished our acclimation. I need someone to watch out for Aretta.”
Harwin frowned. “Why?”
Ra chuckled. “He’s in the phase where we normally would spend a week with our new consort. He might grab her and haul her away, so she wishes to make sure her child is safe. We have another guest arriving, and I believe she may be of assistance.”
Zelda smiled. “Well, I will apparently be here for a few days, so I should go find somewhere to hide.”
Harwin grinned. “No hiding on Aten. Do you need any particular style of clothing? I can show you the catalogue.”
“Spend some time with your mate and baby. Make sure that you eat and drink a lot of water. What you consume becomes his meal, and he looks like a hungry little dude.”
Harwin glanced toward the door. “So does he.”
Zelda turned and saw Orex. “Ah, Hello, Overseer.”
“Have you finished your tutorial? Cori is offering to take Aretta to the new village, and I think she would enjoy it.”
Zelda’s heart melted when she realized that he hadn’t just said yes. He was respecting her as a mom.
She walked out to where Cori was standing with Aretta.
“Mom, can I go with Cori to the new village? There are other kids and teens and families there.”
“Okay. Go. Cori will have you back in...”
“Three hours.” Cori grinned. “Ra or Harwin can send a signal, and I will bring her right back.”
“Okay. She used to like shopping but doesn’t have a credit chip installed.”
Cori grinned. “It will be my treat.”
“Don’t say that. She’s a champion shopper.”
Aretta grinned. “I will behave. I promise.” She lunged and hugged Zelda.
Zelda kissed her on the head, and they laughed and ran out of the pyramid.
Orex spoke softly, “You miss her and worry, but you let her go?”
“Of course. She is not in danger here, and she won’t recover parts of herself if she doesn’t get to stretch her soul out a little.”
He stroked his hands down her arms. “You have a lot of calm.”
“No. I am good at hiding panic. They appear the same to the outer viewer, but they feel different.” She looked over at him and smiled. “Our first time, there was panic, but it would not do me any good, so I stifled the panic and jumped you.”
He grinned. “You hid it well.”
“Well, I haven’t had to use that nerve since the first time I got you inside me.”
He pulled her back against him. “What kind of clothing do you need to dance?”
“Well, not a lot of fabric. Will you be all right with this?”
“How so?”
“Some Hmrain get a little twitchy when their consort is on display.”
“Will it upset your daughter?”
“I doubt it. She used to come with me to gigs all the time and watch me dance.”
“May I choose your outfit?”
“It needs to meet certain criteria.”
Orex grinned. “I think we can do that. The fabricator is this way.”
A shadowy figure crossed the floor, inclined its head toward Orex, and floated down the hall toward Ra and Harwin. Zelda tensed. “Orex, did you see that?”
“The Dyturan? Of course. With this many survivors, someone is needed to organize their attachments to the dead.”
“So, it isn’t creepy?”
“They deal with attachments to the dead. That is what they do. If you have issues with that, then it would be creepy to you.”
Zelda watched the floating figure. “What is the species?”
“Dyturan. They are always Dyturan. Come on, let us find you some designs you would consider suitable.”
She snorted. “More like ones that you are not interested in removing as soon as they go on. I am going to need several pieces.”
“Then, we shall find them. I confess to curiosity.”
“Why?”
“Because you are nervous to show me, but Aretta is excited to watch you, which means it is not sexually explicit.”
She wrinkled. “It isn’t. It is just dancing, and I think you have seen far more erotic things in your day. But we are still getting used to each other, and this is not designed to tease or play. Well, there is an element of play, but it is with the audience.”
He chuckled. “I will keep on top of my emotions while you perform, but I may haul you to our guestroom when it is over.”
Zelda smiled. “Fair enough.”
When they were in front of the fabricator, she stood in the scanner, and it measured through her clothing. Once her measurements were taken, she smiled and said, “I will need an outfit to wear tomorrow.”
He smiled and flicked to an outfit while holding a hand over her eyes.
She chuckled, and when he finished making his selection, she looked at the main menu and worked her way through the split clothing options.
She picked the layers she wanted and then got a few light scarves to act in lieu of her coin belt.
She tried to find something like it in base metal accessories, but there wasn’t anything.
“Aretta said you should jingle.”
“I can’t find anything that would make the noise.” A chill ran down her spine, and she saw the spectre from earlier. “Oh, I am sorry. Did you need something?”
An elegant, grey-skinned hand waved them away from the unit, long nails looking deadly. The creature tapped for a few moments and gestured to the screen. Chain bra covers, hand flowers, anklets, and the noisy coin belts were on the screen.
Zelda blinked as the grey robes glided away. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.” The voice was feminine, deep, slow, and amused. It spoke English.
Orex looked at her. “You are surprised.”
“It—she spoke English.”
“Yes?”
“But you said they deal with the dead.”
“Ah, they are gathered when populations die to channel the souls who wish to ease their loved ones.”
“What?”
“They let you talk to your dead. When their duty is done, they return to their homes or make another. They live alone, and they die alone.”
“What do you mean they are gathered?”
“Their physiology sets off alerts, and they are found dead and return to life when they are away from their original species.”
“So, she died?”
“Yes, now, which of these items were you looking for?” He looked over at the screen.
She absently stabbed all the pieces she needed and then frowned. “Do you think she could let me talk to my mother?”
“Of course, but Harwin will have the right of first speech. It is her right as queen.”
“Right. How long will it take to generate all of this?”
“Four hours. The metalwork takes longer.”
“Right. Okay.” She was blinking at the thought of seeing her mother again.
“Would you like to see the village?”
“I can do that?”
He took her hand. “We can do that.”
She nodded. “Yes, please.”
They walked back to the main entrance, where Orex picked her up, flexed his wings, and they shot skyward.
The sky was very blue, and the village had scooter-type vehicles coming and going.
Orex settled them outside the city, and they walked into the village, hand-in-hand.