Chapter 9 #2
"I've stationed more warships around the system. Our men will continue to watch and listen into the Sri’thaen movements."
"Good. Keep me updated. If they make any moves towards us, I want to know immediately."
"Of course." Khaazai informed him.
"And good luck with your wife, cousin. I hear things may not be going in your favor." His cousin sounded amused at his expense.
"With my sister now on my side, I feel confident I can win her over." Khaazai growled. "When this year is up, she will be mine. Make sure you haven’t bet too much money against me."
"I enjoy your confidence, but don't get cocky, cousin.” The emperor warned him. “I think the money I betted will be just fine." The emperor chuckled before ending the call.
Khaazai leaned back in his chair. His cousin's warning still rung in his ears.
Don't get too cocky. He would do his best, but he also knew the magic this home possessed.
His father had built it for his wife. A gift to win her over during their courtship.
He hoped the home would sway Zahra as it had his mother.
"Brother?" Vera popped her head inside the office.
"Yes?"
"Your wife and her friend have been settled. They stated they were hungry. I suggested a lunch out in our gazebo. Will you join us or do you have work?"
"I will join you.'' Khaazai rose from his seat.
"I informed my men to keep the interruptions minimal, but I may have to leave if they message me." Hopefully the Sri’thaens would give him time to finish courting his wife. He didn’t need to be drawn away right now.
The countdown was on with only three months left before she would return to her people.
“So, brother." Vera began as they walked into the hallway side by side. "What was it that drew you to this human?"
"I can't explain it,” Khaazai confessed, "I've laughed at others who believe in the concept of true love... yet father and mother always claimed it was love at first sight. That they were destined for each other."
Vera let out a pleased growl. "They'd be the first to declare you've fallen in love."
"She is strong as well,” Khaazai continued as he imagined Zahra in his mind, “and dedicated to her work. Together, with her by my side, I have no doubts we could raise another fine generation for our family name."
"Then I hope you the best, brother. If I can ever do anything, let me know.” She placed a clawed hand on his arm. "You deserve to be happy.”
His sister didn't need to voice it for him to hear the warning in her words. He needed to be careful with his heart and feelings. His wife could very well leave at the end of her year with him… and she could take his heart with her.
They exited their home through a back door and walked over a paved path through the gardens. The gazebo had been placed in the center of the garden to give a person three hundred and sixty degree views. With the gardens his mother had planted, they were quite the view.
As they neared the gazebo, he spotted Zahra and Holly already sitting on the cushions.
"Khaazai." Zahra greeted as he and his sister entered the gazebo, leaving the light drizzle behind them. When Zahra made to rise, he held up his hand, stilling her.
Then Khaazai took a seat beside her, making sure their arms brushed in a gentle caress.
He’d get as much time with her as he could.
The countdown to win her heart had begun, and Khaazai wouldn’t yield.
Their eyes met, and he swore he noticed her eyes widen ever so slightly as a jolt of pleasure rolled through him.
"I've thought of a most wonderful idea." Vera interrupted the moment.
Stifling a growl of annoyance, he glanced over at his sister.
"A game!" Vera announced with excitement.
"A game?" Holly echoed. “What kind of game?”
"Yes, I brought a pad out earlier with some questions on it, and I thought it might be a great way for us all to learn a little more about each other. Who would like to start?" Vera asked as she glanced between everyone.
Khaazai couldn’t help the nagging suspicion that his sister was up to something. A pad she had brought out earlier? Sounded like a set up to him, but he’d trust her for now and see where it went.
Zahra grimaced.
"I'll go!" Holly raised a hand when no one responded to Vera.
Vera grabbed her pad off the ground, booted it up, and then said, "The first question is, if you’re feeling down how do you cheer yourself back up?"
"Well, that’s easy, ice cream." Holly beamed as her eyes darted between everyone.
“They might not know what ice cream is.” Zahra offered when Vera and Khaazai glanced at each other.
“It’s a sweet treat that comes in a frozen state.” Holly explained.
"Next one is for you then." Vera turned to Zahra. "What do you like in a male?"
He watched Zahra's eyes narrow on his sister. He got the feeling she also smelled funny business where his sister was involved.
"How come I get a harder question than Holly?” Zahra complained.
"These are random. I assure you." Vera promised, but Khaazai heard an undertone of amusement, and he wasn’t so sure his sister was telling the truth.
Zahra's lips turned down in what Khaazai had learned was called a frown. He found human facial expressions to be most interesting. His people expressed themselves through tone of growls, grunts, huffs with some other body language, but not many facial movements.
"Come on." Holly prodded. "You can 't pick and choose, Zahra. Sometimes the question might just be harder."
"Yes." Khaazai agreed. "You must answer the question asked."
Zahra turned her frown on him, and his chest rumbled with amusement.
"Fine." Zahra glanced around when she found no allies. Another amusing human trait. Glancing about as they thought of something. "I guess I look for someone trustworthy, motivated, interesting to speak with, and attractive."
"You forgot sexually compatible." Holly laughed.
Zahra glared at the other woman. "Wasn't part of the question."
"Khaazai." Vera turned to him.
Apprehension crawled over his skin, what question did Vera have in mind for him, because he knew for sure her questions were not random.
“How do you imagine your future?"
After several rounds, both Khaazai and Zahra begged for a reprieve. It'd gone from simple questions to an interrogation. Leaning in, Khaazai whispered into Zahra's ear, "May I show you the gardens?"
"Sure." Zahra rose with Khaazai. “I could use a break from the game that’s evolved into just you and me answering questions.”
"Where are you two going?" Vera asked, complete innocence in her tone.
“To escape you in case you begin your interrogation again." Khaazai said truthfully. Even though he’d learned a lot about Zahra, he was tired of the constant questions as well.
"Me?" Vera held a clawed hand to her chest in mock innocence. "Interrogation?"
"I think you three now know more about me than anyone else." Zahra mumbled with a shake of her head.
"Enjoy your escape then.” Vera said sweetly. This had probably been another plan of hers. Khaazai wouldn’t put it past her. She’d probably picked a game she figured would drive them away, together, giving them some time alone.
Khaazai presented Zahra with a crooked elbow, which she accepted by slipping her hand into the crook as he guided her out of the gazebo.
When they left hearing distance, Zahra commented, "I think your sister wants to play matchmaker."
"Do you think?" Khaazai feigned ignorance of his sister's motives.
"With those questions?” Zahra snorted. “How many kids do you want? What do you want in a man? Do you think of settling down? On and on they went, and can I mention how none of the same questions were asked of Holly when she was asked a question?"
“Hmm." Khaazai rumbled as if he was thinking on her words. "I suppose you're right, but can we blame Vera? Perhaps she likes you and wishes to keep her new sister-in- law."
"She barely knows me." Zahra argued.
"After the questions she asked, I doubt that's true anymore."Khaazai joked
Zahra laughed and the musical sound washed over him in pleasurable waves.
After a few moments in silence as they walked around, she eventually commented, "The garden is gorgeous." She bent to examine a dark yellow flower. The petals were beaded with water from the light drizzle, more of a mist today.
"My mother's handiwork." Khaazai said as he pointed to the flower.
"Where is she?" Zahra asked as she examined another flower.
"Both of my parent's perished in a shuttle accident many years ago."
"Oh," Zahra straightened and glanced over at him. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
"They lived a good, happy life and created this beautiful home that their descendants could enjoy." He waved a clawed hand at the home standing proudly over the immediate land.
"How old were you? If I may ask?" Zahra inquired as they moved further into the garden.
"As my wife, you are welcome to ask what you'd like." Khaazai said honestly. "I was a young male, but already in the military. My sister, however, still lived at home. It took her longer to come to terms with their deaths. She railed against the gods for how unfair it was."
"Gods?"
"Yes, we have the god of death, life, the sun... although the sun god is less worshipped in these space faring days."
"Any others?"
“Other gods?” Khaazai growled with laughter. “Yes, I believe we have nearly a hundred gods, but the only ones worshipped regularly would be the gods of life and death, as those affect our modern lives the most."
"Do you believe in these gods?"
Khaazai's chest rumbled with amusement. "Not so much, but I remain respectful of them all the same. We have temples for them all over our cities. I would be happy to show them to you, if you’d like."
Zahra smiled. “Yes, I would like to see them. Although I’m not religious myself, I’ve always enjoyed the detail invested in religious monuments.”
“Then I will take you to see them. I find the sun gods temple to be the most beautiful of them all, but each is stunning in its own right.”
Zahra turned her face up to the sky, the small droplets of rain catching on her eyelashes. "Depending on which religion you celebrate, we've got a few gods as well. But like you said, as we began exploring space, I think it became... less important?"
"Space has a way of occupying your mind like nothing else." He agreed. “Once you fly where the gods are supposed to dwell, you start to question it.”
“I was the first of my family to join the military.” Zahra volunteered some personal information.
“My mother and father work on a mining station with my brother and sister within Earth Alliance space. My father was supportive, but my mother worried I might end up dead. It caused some tension between the two of us.”
"Has she seen you fight?" Khaazai wouldn’t be afraid for Zahra’s safety if she picked a fight. Zahra seemed to have a good head on her shoulders and knew how to fight a stronger opponent.
Zahra laughed. "No, and I’m glad for it because if she did, she'd probably faint with fright."
"It is uncommon for females to join our military. Yours?"
"Not uncommon.” Zahra shrugged a shoulder. “I mean males outnumber females, but we're there. We've had our fair share of great female generals as well."
Khaazai rumbled with his approval. “I am trying to change our way of thinking. I believe we should give any female the chance to join our military, and if she's able, I believe she should be offered a place amongst our soldiers."
Zahra cocked her head. Her brown eyes watching him. Studying him. "You support women joining the military?"
"I do.” He cocked his head to the side. “You find it hard to believe?"
"Not hard to believe." She turned away and walked to one of the three small ponds in their garden. "But there are still some people who believe women shouldn't be a part of the military. Too weak. Body and mind. Unable to make the tough decisions, blah blah blah." She waved a hand in the air.
"Which is why we should encourage females to join.” Khaazai continued. “The only way to sway doubter’s minds is to show them.”
"Agreed."