9781631055577NiKohsChosenMichaelsNC (15 page)

JeWal
sneered, readjusting his considerable girth in the chair. “I think when the
station opens, there will be an adequate amount of shops, artisans, and other
entertainm
ent available. But the Xaxonian side will
reign superior to yours.”

“JeWal,
let’s not be so hasty,” admonished the smooth voice of DuKah. “After all, we
haven’t seen everything yet. We will let the patrons of the station decide
whose side is the most desir
able.”

“That’s
very noble of you, DuKah.” NiKoh forced friendliness into his voice, though he
despised both men. “I did not expect such gallantry from you.”

DuKah’s
green eyes glittered. “My dear NiKoh, you have not spent nearly enough time on
Xaxa. Did yo
u not find your short stay last year
hospitable? You have been recently widowed, have you not? I would be more than
happy to provide you with a personal tour of our, shall we say, special
services for selected guests?”

“That’s
quite all right. I did find m
y stay enjoyable, though
you’ll forgive my agitation at what my sister experienced.”

“Will
you stop it?” SaLie shifted in the bed. “For the last time, this was my choice.
If you’re going to sit there and insult DuKah, please leave.”

“No
insults were
thrown.” NiKoh held up his hands. “I
need to check on Mother anyway. SaLie, if you wanted to get out of helping
KiRah and DaTil move, all you had to do was refuse. Going into labor was a bit
extreme.”

His
sister laughed, then clutched her swollen belly. “O
h,
this pain is worse. NiKoh, get the nurse…” Her voice pitched into a shrill
wail.

NiKoh
bolted from the room and grabbed the nurse, who assured him she was headed that
way, then returned to the waiting room.

“What
is it?” ReNei put her knitting aside and
stood up. “I
sense her pain. Is it time?”

“I
think so. The nurse is in with her.”

Thirty
minutes later, ReNei stilled her needles. “It is done. I sense her relief and
joy.”

NiKoh
continued to pace, and soon the doctor came through the door. “SaLie has
delivered a fine baby boy. Congratulations.”

“Can
we go see her?” NiKoh hugged his mother, then wiped her tears. “Mother, what is
it?”

“SaLie
has indicated the babe resembles DuKah. She is very happy.” ReNei leaned her
head against her son for a brief mome
nt, then pulled
away and adopted a regal stance. “I wish to see my daughter.”

“Certainly.”
The doctor held the door for them.

NiKoh
trailed ReNei, his heart heavy. With OkVei off to the space station in a few
months, BeSai’s miscarriage, and now a Xaxonian
grandson who would have to be raised on another planet, he knew his mother was
disappointed there were no grandchildren to spoil. Upon entering the room, he
was startled to see DuKah holding the child aloft. “What are you doing?” He set
down the bundle on
the sink.

“Shhhh…”
admonished SaLie. “It is some sort of custom on Xaxa for the father to offer a
blessing within an hour of birth.”

JeWal
sat in the chair by the window, his face devoid of any emotion. DuKah looked
jubilant as he returned the infant to t
he small bed.

“May
I?” ReNei held out her arms. DuKah hesitated, the placed the bundle in her
arms.

ReNei
turned to NiKoh, who looked in wonder at the small, wrinkled face of his
nephew. A tinge of green circled his tiny head, and the waxy, long-shaped nos
e and bushy brows certainly favored those of the icy
military leader. ReNei cooed at the infant, her smile lighting up her entire
face. She carried him back to SaLie and placed him in his mother’s arms.

SaLie
stared at the little face. “We have plans to ma
ke.”

DuKah
smiled. “The others will be jealous, since all have failed to provide any
progeny thus far, but my mother will provide a good home for the child.” He
smoothed SaLie’s tangled hair. “You did well, delivering a strong, healthy boy.
I shall reward
you well.” Placing a kiss on her
forehead, he slid his hand down the side of her face. “Get some rest.”

“What
will you name him?” NiKoh stopped him. “What do you mean, your mother will
raise him?”

“It
is their way, NiKoh.” SaLie’s tired voice reached out t
o him. “Since DuKah has no Primary, my role is not child rearing, thank
gods. I never could stand whiny brats who cry at every little thing. As soon as
the doctor lets me know I can resume my normal activities, I’ll be thrilled.”

DuKah
turned. “Rest. We’ll
talk in the morning.” To NiKoh,
he narrowed his eyes and stretched his lips in a cold smile. “As Xaxonian
custom demands, the child will be named in eight days hence. Do not try my
patience, TriJupian.” He brushed past him. JeWal followed.

Once
the door c
losed behind him, NiKoh chuckled. “JeWal
looks so defeated. Good for you, SaLie, for not giving birth to an ugly
amf’bin
of his line.” Sobering, he took his
sister’s hand. “Do you not feel the least maternal toward your son? Don’t you
fear he will be mistr
eated by a jealous caregiver?
You heard DuKah. Your son needs to be with his mother.”

“No,
he doesn’t. MaLor will take good care of him, since he will be the firstborn
son. I spoke to her early on. Yes, she is disappointed DuKah only bestowed on
me the tit
le of Secondary, but this won’t prevent her
from taking good care of ours. I would make a lousy mother, NiKoh. I hated
having to watch BaRok and KiRah when they were small, though KiRah was content
with coloring books and was easier to handle.” SaLie withd
rew her hand and reached toward her mother. “Do not be
upset, Mother. It’s better this way.”

“If
it has been decided, then so be it.” ReNei kissed her, then straightened.
“Come, NiKoh. She needs her rest.”

NiKoh
remembered the bundle he’d brought in. He un
wrapped a
bouquet of green roses and handed them to SaLie, along with a wrapped package.
“From ViShe.”

SaLie’s
eyes watered as she took the flowers. “You remembered. Thank you.” She inhaled
their scent, then handed them back. “See if the nurse can put thes
e in water for me.” Unwrapping the package, she held up a
miniature infant suit in bright colors. “Please thank ViShe for me. This is
beautiful.”

ReNei
agreed with her.

“I
will let her know.” NiKoh held open the door for his mother. Once back in the
waiti
ng room, he waited until ReNei spoke to the
nurse, collected her other belongings, then said goodbye and teleported home
.

*
* * *

GiNae
hummed as she went about her afternoon chores, and helped change the dressing
on a small
bitre
’s leg, which had been
caught in a trap.

“Okay,
what gives?” RaKel teased. “You’ve had a smile on your face ever since I
returned from the Agricultural District, plus you haven’t once griped about the
Maturity process.”

“I
don’t know.” She waited until the
bitre’s
owner had left
,
then stowed the bandages in the cabinet. “I overslept this morning, but woke up
feeling better than I have in weeks. I don’t remember any particular dream, so
maybe they’re over for now? One thing puzzles me, though.” GiNae lowered her
voice. “I woke up
nearly naked. I’ve
always
worn something to bed, and even with
the dreams, I’ve woken up with my nightshirt unbuttoned or around my waist.
There was no dream, and it was on the floor, along with my panties. So I’m not
sure what happened last night.”

“You
d
on’t remember anything?”

GiNae
chewed her lip and leaned against the infirmary sink. “The only thing I
remember is something about someone saying helping those in need didn’t mean
being a servant, or something like that.”

“That’s
strange.” RaKel shook her
head and moved back into
the office. “At least it seems to have improved your mood.”

“Maybe
this means I’ve reached the peak, and am over the worst of it?” GiNae followed
her.

RaKel
leaned back. “Do you want me to tell you, or would you rather it come fro
m your mother or your Chosen?”

A
sick feeling hit her stomach. “What aren’t you telling me?” She sat down
heavily in the chair.

“GiNae…”
RaKel wrinkled her forehead, then steepled her fingertips. ‘Going through
Maturity means sexual dreams about your Chose
n, then
meeting him and exploring your feelings. You’ve already told me you and he have
agreed you’re not compatible, and to go before the Elders. Now you tell me you
had no dream last night, but you awoke naked, later than usual, and in a good
mood. What
that tells me is, your Chosen helped you
through your frustration, but you were so deep in your dream, you didn’t wake
up and don’t remember.”

“I—we—he…”
Confusion, combined with shock and shame overwhelmed her. “What?” Tears filled
her eyes. “Am I in dang
er? What should I do?”

“Oh
honey.” RaKel came to her and put her arms around her. “It’s nothing to be
ashamed of. He gave you a gift. These dreams, they all lead to showing you what
being with a member of the opposite sex is like, and since yours is so muc
h older, he’s been taking his time, leading you through the
process, in order to ready your body. This is completely natural, and all women
go through this. Boys also, since men are not shy about passing on their
knowledge. Women, on the other hand, usuall
y wait
until their daughters come to them with questions, and then there are the lucky
ones, who learn with their Chosens at the same time. Be happy you have someone
patient.” GiNae felt her hair being stroked. “I know it’s scary, but when
you’re conscious
of it happening, believe me, you’ll
wonder how you ever managed to sleep through your first one.”

“My
first what?” GiNae sniffed.

RaKel
pulled back. “Go talk to your Chosen, GiNae. Don’t be shy, or angry with him.
Hang onto your good feeling, remember it
instead of
what you’re feeling now. Please? Promise me.”

How
could she possibly go back to the wonderful feeling she’d woken up with,
knowing it was something NiKoh had done while she’d slept? Maybe RaKel was
right, after all. Maybe it was time to embrace
what
was happening, instead of fighting it? A gift, RaKel had called it. So why
couldn’t she remember it?

“Okay.”
GiNae wiped her eyes and stood up. “I will ask him.”

“Good.
Go home and I’ll see you tomorrow or the next day.” RaKel winked.

Choosing
to wal
k home, GiNae collected her thoughts. The
kisses were pleasant, as were the gentle touches on her naked skin. The
frustration she’d felt the previous day was gone. Is that what RaKel had been
talking about? She looked around, then tentatively rubbed betwee
n her legs. Nothing, not a hint of sensitivity. What had
happened?

“So
what do I ask him? ‘NiKoh, did you undress me last night…’ ‘NiKoh, did you come
to me last night…’ or ‘NiKoh, please do whatever it was you did last night to
me again.’ Nah.” She shudde
red, kicking a rock out of
her path. “I just don’t know what I’m going to
say.”

Not
wanting to be caught talking to herself, she hurried home and took a wriggling
SkiRee from his pen and cuddled him close. GiNae made sure he had plenty of
food and water,
then carried him into the house.

The
heady aroma of pastries baking welcomed her. “What’s the occasion?”

ViShe
turned around, her apron smudged with flour. “NiKoh’s sister had her baby. A
boy. I’m surprised you don’t already know this.”

“Mother—”
GiNae beg
an, then sighed. “We aren’t as close as you
think we should be.”

ViShe
shook her head and turned back to the stove. “Maybe your reluctance to accept
him as your Chosen is hindering your ability to read him. I am sending these
over to ReNei.”