Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Meals were delivered to Draikis and his mate’s quarters at the direction of Elder Soparo. He may have been an old priest, but he had been young once, and not always a member of the order at that.
It was a gesture that did not go unappreciated.
A full two days had passed before the couple, now fully bonded in every respect of the word, finally stepped out to rejoin daily life, the pair refreshed, invigorated, and very much in love.
The glow about them was noticeable to all, and even the most ardent and vocal of opposition seemed to have softened to Ella’s presence.
At least almost all. Totaxxis was still in a foul mood, but that was pretty much his status quo long before the human had ever arrived.
Ella and Draikis made their way to the dining hall.
A hush fell over the room when they entered, but unlike prior occasions, this time they were met with little nods of greeting, if not outright salutations.
It would take time for the brothers to fully digest this paradigm shift, but this outsider, this female, no less, had presented not only her own defense, but an incontrovertible challenge to their laws, all backed by their own ancient texts. The most sacred of their rules.
Many were actually embarrassed that they’d so long followed strict guidelines in error.
A committee was formed to track the erroneous translation that had started the Norvalians down this path.
Not to punish or chastise those responsible—they were long dead—but to document for future generations and prevent such a mistake from happening again.
Elder Soparo rose from his seat of honor and gestured to the couple to join him. They approached, noting that two seats had been held open for their eventual return.
“Thank you, Elder Soparo,” Draikis said, pulling out Ella’s chair for her.
“It is my pleasure.”
“Really, thank you. It means a lot,” Ella added.
“You more than earned it. Now, please, eat. I’m sure you must both be quite famished.”
The lovers took him up on the offer, indulging in a considerable amount of revitalizing food, taking their time, savoring every bite as though they’d never quite tasted such flavor before.
And with their newfound heightened senses, thanks to Ella’s unusual reaction to the pigments and her mate’s linked Infala, they truly hadn’t.
Gradually, the diners cleared their places and exited until only the elder and his guests remained. Soparo sipped his sweet dessert wine, a look of relaxation on his face that Draikis hadn’t seen in ages.
“You seem well,” he noted.
“The drama is over. You know how I hate discord in our home, Draikis.”
Ella blushed. “It was my fault. I’m really sorry about that.”
“Nonsense. You were the victim of both circumstance and the Raxxians. And while the road was perhaps a bit treacherous, you’ve come out the other side in flying colors.
In fact, I have spoken with the elders of the other houses and relayed what transpired here.
Naturally, they didn’t believe me at first. But when I showed them the evidence you presented at your hearing, each and every one of them changed their tune.
You’ve effected real change, Ella. Be proud of that. ”
“I guess I am. Still, sorry for the trouble.”
“Water under the bridge. Of course, some of the brothers remain dubious about a female among the ranks, but there is no risk of reprisal from any of them. Not even Totaxxis, though he may take a bit longer to come around. With your Infala bonding, you two are starting fresh, and that means that you are no longer bound by your vows, Draikis. You may leave the order.”
Draikis’s cheeks darkened with a flush of emotion. “Thank you for the offer, Soparo. But we will stay. This is my life, and it shall remain so. But now I will live it out with my partner. My mate.”
The old man smiled. “I had hoped you would feel that way. And, while very new and very unusual, there is an offer I wish to make on behalf of senior Norvalian leadership. Ella, though no one is sure how long it has been since a woman has been allowed in the ranks of the order, we offer you the opportunity to join the Norvalian Sect. Not as a priest, but as something new. A reformer of laws and scholar of the ancient texts.”
“Uh, what exactly does that even mean?”
“It means, if you are interested, we are offering you a position of the highest honor, working alongside archivist Nilkis as the first female Norvalian in millennia, tasked with studying the ancient texts in detail to see what else might be missing. What other mistakes may have been made. Your unusual translation rune’s power is undeniable, and Nilkis agreed you would be a valuable addition to the order. ”
Ella looked at Draikis. His barely contained smile was all the encouragement she needed.
“I’ll do it.”
“Fantastic.”
“And thank you, seriously. It means the world.”
Elder Soparo reached over and rested his hand on her arm.
“You’ll make us all proud, I’m sure of it.
Now, as for the other item on the agenda.
You are now two sharing the lodgings meant for one.
As a result, it is only right you be afforded larger accommodations.
It may take a little time, but we can modify—”
“If it is okay with you, Elder, I think Ella and I already know the perfect place to move into, if you approve.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“That’s the last of it,” Ella said, scooping the load of personal items from the floating dolly cart they’d been using for the move. “You have the shelves set up?”
“I do. Bathing facilities and cooking area have all been activated, the cleaner bots have swept the entire place top to bottom, and the door works properly now.”
Ella gave the door a little push. Indeed, it swung easily.
And, truth be told, she was kind of glad they’d been able to keep the abandoned chapel’s original manual door.
In a world of all this high-tech stuff, it was soothing having something low tech like that.
Grounding. And, while the door was old-school, the newly refreshed chapel still possessed plenty of modern upgrades now that it had been deconsecrated and converted to housing for the new couple.
The light still danced where the sun’s rays entered, but a sliding cover could still the effect if they ever needed, though they both thought that would be highly unlikely. But best of all, one other key feature remained intact.
“You’re sure it’s still totally soundproof?” Ella asked, sealing the door behind her.
“I’ve been assured it is,” her love replied, a wicked grin on his full lips as he pressed them to hers. “But I think we need to verify that for ourselves, don’t you?”
Ella dropped the box in her arms, wrapping them around her man.
“We do,” she said, her Infala glowing with happiness. “And there’s no time like the present.”