Policy
Zha'haabron was leaving Vejiita's public office as I arrived after a couple of hour's research - about the only thing I was up to until my leg and collarbone had finished healing. The prince didn't look happy. In fact, he looked distinctly unhappy. I changed my mind about lunching with the King and fell into step beside the prince, frowning. He didn't seem to realise I was there.
"Uh, my lord?"
He nodded, distantly, not looking at me. "Leteetza."
"Is there something wrong, my lord?"
He halted, his head lowered, and sighed very quietly, then turned to gaze down into my face. Tendrils of emerald hair escaped from the hood of the rich black fur bodysuit he'd chosen for today. I frowned at his tense expression, the anxiety in his beautiful eyes.
"Is it Radittsu?"
He inclined his head. "In a way."
"Is it something I can help with?"
He considered the question for a moment, then gave me a tiny, lop-sided half smile.
"Maybe you can."
"Then perhaps we should go somewhere warmer and discuss it?"
He bowed slightly, one gloved hand ushering me forward. "Lead on, little warrior."
He cupped a beaker of hot mulled wine in his still-gloved hands and sipped appreciatively.
I'd opted for the smallest of the official reception rooms; it was warm and cosy, and while not private, it was somewhere we weren't likely to be disturbed. Zha'haabron had curled up in a deep, comfortable armchair, pulling his fur cloak around him despite the fire burning cheerfully in the hearth. Personally I felt hot just looking at him, but it was the height of the cold season, and he really had no defence against the chill, and even though the room itself was warm, outside the palace it was well below freezing.
I took a gulp of my own wine and watched the emotions play across his face, flattered that he felt enough at ease with me to allow me to see past the cool, imperturbable façade he presented to the world. After a moment or two he sighed and gazed at me.
"How much do you know of the political situation on my homeworld?"
I wasn't entirely sure how to answer him. Between the database, the news service, Vejiita in unguarded moments and one particularly voluble Thinker at the library, I knew a lot more than I was really supposed to about an awful lot of things, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea to let him know that. I inclined my head.
"Why don't you enlighten me?"
He was succinct, giving me a comprehensive and quite detailed idea of what was happening on R'ren'nkh'ia, the uneasy peace between the north and south, the infighting and jockeying for status and position that was a regular feature amongst the ruling clans, his sire's desire for a united world (under his own rule, of course. Though Zha'haabron seemed to think that was a good idea. Apparently he was one of the better, more liberal rulers). There wasn't all that much I didn't already know, but it was very interesting hearing his own slant on matters. I frowned slightly.
"So what does this have to do with Radittsu? Or you, come to that?"
He rested his elbow on the arm of the chair and propped his head on his hand, staring into the fire.
"Vejiita has ordered me to use my influence with some of the other chiefs to persuade them to join my sire's cause."
I nodded. "Well, that does make sense, I suppose."
He glanced at me, his eyes coldly amused. "Do you know how he wishes me to do so?"
"Uh, no..." And from the look on his face I wasn't sure I really wanted to. He closed his golden eyes, emerald lashes brushing his cheeks.
"What do you know about the physiology of my type?"
"A little. Enough that I was very worried for Radittsu for a while."
His eyes flashed open. "Indeed. Then I must thank you for not interfering."
I shrugged. "There wasn't really much I could do except warn him. But it was fairly obvious you weren't going to hurt him. It seemed best to let you sort things out yourselves." I saw no reason to enlarge on my doubts and fears. After all, everything had worked out, exceptionally well...
He smiled - a warm, genuine smile, quickly gone. "He thinks very highly of you. I begin to see why."
I risked placing a hand on his arm. "If there's any way I can help, I will."
"I thank you." He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Those of my type are rare. We are considered desirable as mates." He frowned to himself. "No, that's not quite what I mean. We are zn'hre. Offspring sired or hosted by us are intelligent, strong, powerful, with great potential, regardless of their type. That makes us valuable, particularly to R'ren'nkh'ia-jin rulers, although we are most often seen as a threat rather than an asset. Our position is - precarious. In the past, we were little better than slaves, kept captive to ensure that only chiefs had access to us, that the lower castes could not use us to produce offspring that might threaten the rulers."
His face was emotionless, but there was both anger and anguish in his eyes, and I bit my lip.
"But - I saw you transformed. Your ki... You got so strong. How could anyone...?"
He smiled grimly. "My people have developed drugs to prevent the transformation, others to paralyse our... physical peculiarities, yet others to suppress ki. Very powerful drugs, with very - unpleasant - side effects. And there are a variety of physical goads and shackles that can be employed to keep us helpless during mating."
An image flashed into my mind, an image of Zha'haabron naked and helpless, a metal gag between his teeth and over his mouth and face, lying spreadeagled and bound to some sort of lightly padded metal framework while his body throbbed and trembled with pain as drugs coursed through him. A heavy scaly form thrust into him, again and again, grunting with the effort, hurting him. I stared at him, aghast. It wasn't a vision. It was a memory. Mating? That wasn't mating - it was rape!
"Who?" I whispered.
He gazed at me impassively. "My sire."
I was speechless for a few seconds. "Your sire??"
He shrugged. "It's by no means unknown on my world. He wished to keep our gene pool pure."
I struggled to maintain my composure. "How long?"
He frowned slightly. "I'm not sure. The drugs tend to distort time. Some years, I believe." He smiled at my expression. "It's not so bad, little warrior. I was treated well for the most part. And the offspring were removed before they could cause me any harm."
I blinked, not understanding. He inclined his head.
"Generally speaking, R'ren'nkh'ia-jin lay eggs, which are mostly cared for in nurseries. My type, however, give live birth. At least, the offspring live: the host dies - the young eat their way out of his body. Unless they are medically removed before they reach full term, of course."
I shuddered, closing my eyes in horror.
"That's... Why do any of you ever submit to it?"
He shrugged again. "It's an overwhelming physical need for my type. When it strikes we can't resist it. The stronger of the pair becomes the sire, the weaker the host. You obviously know that after mating the host eats the sire if not otherwise restrained?" I nodded. "It's partly to ensure that the host has enough protein to cope with the gestation period. And partly as revenge for the agony - and death - to come."
My curiosity had taken over. After all, he seemed fine with it - I could be too. I frowned.
"Does that mean that Radittsu may still be in danger?"
He shook his head. "He is not of my species. The bond we have is mental and emotional as much as physical - quite different. He is safe."
"You love him?"
He hesitated briefly. "I don't know."
"How can you not know?"
"I am not familiar with the feeling."
I blinked. "Uh, well, how do you feel about him?"
He frowned, considering, wrapping his arms tightly around himself. "I want - to protect him. To ensure no harm comes to him, ever. I would do anything he asks of me. Time spent with him is precious beyond anything I have known. I am truly happy when we are together - I feel... lonely when we're apart. His touch excites me. I find him beautiful."
"Sounds like love to me!"
He smiled gently. "Then I suppose I do love him."
I grinned. "Enough to put up with the cold season, anyway."
He chuckled quietly. "Indeed."
I sobered. "Right - so what bearing does all this have on what Vejiita wants you to do?"
"He wants me to... seduce susceptible chiefs into supporting my sire's goal of planetary rule."
My mouth dropped open. I know Vejiita can be cold-blooded when it comes to getting his own way, but this was too much even for him!
"The bastard. The unfeeling bastard! How could he do that to you? To Radittsu?"
The prince looked surprised. "It is a logical approach."
"But to use you like that! I mean - will you have to have sex with them?"
"Some of them, I expect."
I'd risen and was pacing agitatedly, as best I could given my injured leg. He was so bloody cool about the whole thing!
"How can you even consider it!?"
"Little warrior, I have no choice. One of the conditions for my being allowed to come here was that I do all in my power to better my sire's position on R'ren'nkh'ia." He smiled wryly. "I was even prepared to try to seduce Vejiita himself, had it been necessary."
I perched carefully on the arm of his chair and gazed down at him.
"This'll break Radittsu's heart. He adores you."
He sighed. "And therein lies my problem. How do I explain the situation to him?"
Radittsu lay naked and uncovered on the bed, trying to sleep and failing miserably. His chest and back were healing - albeit slowly - and had reached the stage where everything itched. And he couldn't find a comfortable position to lie in. Which meant he wasn't getting anything like as much sleep as he really needed... He sighed, gingerly raised his arm and laid it across his eyes, then winced as something stabbed through him.
Just a nerve, he insisted to himself.
He shifted cautiously onto his side, then rolled back almost immediately as his ribs complained. He pushed himself very carefully upright and sat cross-legged, his forearms resting on his knees, breathing lightly.
This was ridiculous! He'd been hurt much worse than this in the past and healed more quickly! What the hell was wrong with him?
He sighed, then winced as pain lanced through his lung. Lowered ki was part of it. He couldn't train until he was healed. And it didn't help, of course, that lovemaking was almost impossible at the moment. Oh, Zha'haabron had been perfectly happy to stay on the bed, straddling his bondmate's hips and doing all the work, but even so the exertion had left Radittsu breathless and grunting in pain, which had badly frightened the prince. Now he'd only agree to make love when the Saiyan was so aroused he hurt, and even then he'd only allow Radittsu a fast, purely physical release - intensely unsatisfying in comparison to their usual blissful fulfilment.
And Zha'haabron seemed - distracted. Bothered about something. He'd tried to play it down, but they were too close: his apprehension came through clearly. At first Radittsu had been worried it was something to do with their relationship, but Zha'haabron was patently very happy with him and their bond. He insisted that whatever was troubling him wasn't important, but obviously it was. They needed to talk, and soon.
Radittsu's head had started to ache. He rubbed at his forehead and hauled himself carefully from the bed, easing into a heavy robe and stepping out onto the balcony for a breath of cooler air - and immediately grabbing for the stone rail as a combination of thick ice underfoot and howling blizzard nearly laid him prone. Frustrated, he made his way back into the suite and returned to the bed, nodding to the prince's aide as he carried in several platters piled with meat. Lunchtime. Where the hell was Zha'haabron?
"Would it help if I spoke to Vejiita?"
The prince shook his head. "I think not. This is a political matter. Our wishes are of no consequence."
I frowned. "I can see why an alliance with the Saiya-jin is good news for your people - but what does Vejiita get out of it?"
Zha'haabron inclined his head, expression pensive. "I have not considered the question... Access to our planet's resources? R'ren'nkh'ia is a rich world."
I shook my head. "I wouldn't have thought so. We don't usually set much store by physical wealth. And Vejiitasei's own resources are quite considerable. Do you have any significant technology?"
He shrugged. "Nothing unusual. I don't believe we have anything you do not already possess."
"So it has to be something else." I scowled, wracking my brain and coming up with nothing. Trying to second-guess the King was an exercise in futility - I'd have to ask him. I shook my head.
"I'll see what I can find out."
At which point, my stomach grumbled loudly. Zha'haabron smiled.
"Would you care to join us for lunch? I'm sure Radittsu will be wondering where I am."
"I'd love to, my lord. And would you like me to tell him?"
He shook his head. "No, that's something I must do myself. Though it might help if you were present..."
Radittsu glared at me. "Did you know about this?"
I laid a hand on his shoulder, not too surprised when he shrugged it off. He grimaced as the sudden movement started him coughing, jarring his ribs and hurting his lung. Zha'haabron sat behind him, wrapping his arms gently around the big male's chest and holding him until the spasm stopped. I reached for Radittsu's hand instead, holding it tightly in both of mine.
"No, I didn't. Believe me, I'm appalled by the idea."
Radittsu leaned back against his bondmate's chest, pale, exhausted. He'd obviously not been sleeping well.
"You can't do this." he whispered. Zha'haabron laid a hand against his lover's cheek, his expression anguished, though Radittsu couldn't see it. I dreaded to think what was passing between their minds right now.
"I have no choice."
Radittsu covered his face with his hands, head slumping forward. In the face of his grief I changed my mind about lunch and rose unsteadily to my feet.
"I'll see if I can speak to Vejiita. But I can't promise anything."
The prince nodded absently as I left the suite, his attention on his bondmate.
"I will come with you."
"It will cause you distress."
"I know that. What about you? Will it distress you too?"
Zha'haabron moved to face Radittsu, cupping his face in his hands, thumbs wiping at the tears trickling down the Saiyan's face.
"More than you can know."
"We could leave - take your ship and go somewhere he'd never find us."
"Do you really think your king would forgive such an affront to his pride? He'd hunt us down no matter where we went. And our deaths would not be quick, or clean." He leaned forward to briefly lick at the Saiyan's neck, then forced a half-smile. "Besides, I wouldn't enjoy life as a fugitive."
Radittsu choked back a sob. "How can you joke about it?"
The prince sighed. "Rhoi'i'dat'hzziu... It is a matter of using my body and allowing it to be used. It has happened to me before, many times - at least this time I will have a measure of control. But know that my heart and my soul are yours - no-one else can touch them."
Radittsu swallowed, gazing into Zha'haabron's eyes, and raised a hand to touch his face.
"I love you."
"I know."
The big male pulled his bondmate close, ignoring the pain as he held him against his chest and stroked his hair. Then he sighed and sat back a little, brushing away his tears with the back of a hand.
"Very well. If it has to happen, let's at least work out some way to minimise the damage. Tell me how I can best protect you while we're there."
It was very late when Vejiita returned to our rooms. I was still dressed, resting in a chair by the fire with my aching leg propped up on another, and he paused at my side, an expression of surprise on his face.
"I had thought you'd be asleep by now."
"I wanted to speak with you."
He stretched, kneading at the back of his neck. "It can wait until the morning. I'm tired."
"I'd rather talk now."
He frowned down at me, then sighed and seated himself on a stool.
"Very well. I'm listening."
"I spoke with Zha'haabron earlier."
He rose and headed towards the bed. "Goodnight, little warrior."
"Gods damn it, will you listen to me!"
He turned to face me, expression cold. "This matter is none of your business."
"Why not?"
He stared, nonplussed. I risked continuing.
"Zha'haabron deserves better than to have you use him for your own political purposes. And Radittsu is my friend. He was weeping when I left them. Do you have any idea how much this will hurt them both?" He looked startled, and I laughed shortly. "I suppose not. You've never loved anyone. You wouldn't know what it feels like."
I struggled out of my chair, wincing as I put weight on my leg. "Tell me something. How would you go about finding a new Companion? Because I'm not sure I want the job any longer."
He was silent as I limped from the rooms, though whether from shock or sheer disbelief that I'd go that far I couldn't tell. I found a guest bedroom in an adjacent wing and spent a cold and miserable night wondering exactly what I intended to do next.
I finally slept restlessly for a couple of hours: something was nagging at me, something from the conversation I'd had with Zha'haabron, but I couldn't quite pin it down... I awoke soon after dawn to find Vejiita standing at the bedside, arms folded over his chest, glaring down at me.
"You've made your point. Let's talk."
I scowled up at him. "You'll listen?"
"Yes. Don't expect me to do anything about it, though."
"Oh, I wouldn't be stupid enough to do that."
"Sarcasm ill becomes you." He sighed and softened. "You're in pain. Will you let me carry you back to the suite?"
I thought about refusing, but my leg throbbed and my collarbone was aching: the temperature in the room was close to freezing and I was so stiff I could barely move. I nodded, reluctantly, and he wrapped me in the bedcover and lifted me carefully into his arms.
Back in our rooms he settled me in a chair by the fire and poured hot fruit juice into a beaker, handing it to me as he seated himself facing me. I sipped in silence for a minute or two, wondering how to start. He saved me the trouble.
"Did Zha'haabron tell you the consequences of his refusing to co-operate?"
"He just told me he had no choice."
"And what did you assume from that?"
I frowned. My first thought had been that Vejiita would separate the prince and Radittsu, perhaps sending Zha'haabron back home. But it wouldn't exactly be diplomatic to mention that right now.
"I didn't really think about it."
"Then allow me to enlighten you. He would be recalled, forcibly if necessary and either returned to slavery or executed, depending on how lenient Zha'geekaan - his sire - was feeling at the time."
I could feel myself gaping, and he smiled grimly.
"Make no mistake, Zha'geekaan is determined to rule, and will stop at nothing to achieve his aims. Even if that means the death of his favourite."
His favourite? I felt sick. "But... Zha'haabron could just stay here! Surely we're able to protect one person!"
"The terms of the alliance preclude any such action. And I have no wish to involve the Saiya-jin in what could easily become a war. You have no idea how ruthless Zha'geekaan is."
"Are you afraid of him?"
"No. But the alliance is - important."
I leapt on it. "Why? What do the Saiya-jin get from it?"
He frowned, hesitating, and I held my breath, then sighed in frustration as he shook his head.
"I am not prepared to share that with you. Yet, anyway."
"But..."
His expression became cold and fixed, and I shut up.
"It's settled. Zha'haabron has agreed to the plan. I understand it's not that unusual on R'ren'nkh'ia. I'm considering sending Radittsu with him."
I snorted. "Just try stopping him! Though whether he'd be able to cope with seeing his love with someone else... Of course, that might wreck the whole scheme." I grinned as I imagined an angry Radittsu charging into a chief's bedchamber at a delicate moment. To my amazement, Vejiita chuckled briefly.
"Yes, that could cause problems, couldn't it?" He sobered. "It might be best if we change his rank for the purposes of the visit. I want you to find out how the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin status-system works. He should be accorded a position whereby Zha'haabron becomes his consort. I want it to appear that he has a measure of control, that he can graciously allow the pleasure of the prince's company to the chiefs - even if he really has no choice in the matter. I also want Zha'haabron's activities to be restricted to the male rôle." He smiled briefly. "I'm sure none of us want the complications of a R'ren'nkh'ian pregnancy."
I nodded, hunting through what I already knew of the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin.
"I think I know what would work. I'll have to check the database though. And I'm sure Zha'haabron will be able to help me. I may need to contact one of the original onworld researchers, too."
"Do so. Then," he paused and gazed at me, "I want you to coach Radittsu in his new rôle."
I stared at him. "Me?"
"You. I can think of no-one better qualified."
I grinned. Then I scowled at him.
"Now why didn't you just talk to me about this in the first place? It would have saved me, and them, an awful lot of grief."
He regarded me for a moment, frowning very slightly. "It would have, wouldn't it? Perhaps I will do so in future."
I took his hand. "I can be useful, you know, my lord. I've learned a lot, and I'd love to see my researches put to some real use." I pulled myself to my feet. "Speaking of which, I'd better get to the library..."
He caught and lifted me, carrying me over to the bed.
"First you will rest. You cannot work properly when you're tired."
I would have argued, but a sudden wave of exhaustion left me feeling limp, and I settled into the bed with a sigh of relief. I gazed up at the king as he dropped the insignia over his head.
"What are your plans for the day, my lord?"
"I suppose I'd better speak with Zha'haabron and Radittsu before I do anything else."
I grinned. "It might be a good idea."
He nodded, and turned to leave. At the door he paused and looked back at me.
"One last thing. I do not appreciate being threatened. Please do not do so again."
I gaped as he closed the door quietly, then swallowed. Then lay back, smiling at the ceiling. He must be mellowing: I think that was the first time he'd ever said 'please'!
Vejiita had just left. Radittsu lay back, gazing at the prince, eyes startled.
"Do you think Leteetza had something to do with that?"
Zha'haabron smiled. "I would not be at all surprised."
The Saiyan sighed and relaxed. "Well, it's going to make the whole experience a lot easier. For both of us."
The prince curled up against his side, head on his chest, one arm across his stomach. Radittsu wrapped an arm around his prince's shoulders and hugged him tightly.
"I like the idea of being your consort."
"You do?" Radittsu kissed his forehead. "What does it involve?"
Zha'haabron raised his head and smiled at his bondmate, eyes twinkling. "You'll find out. In the meantime, we have to get you well." He frowned. "And fit. You will need to spar with someone less powerful for a while, until your ki recovers."
Radittsu groaned. "What a humiliation! You're right though. At the moment, Leteetza would be able to take me out with one hand behind her back!"
"I've no doubt we'll be able to find someone suitable. I'll speak with Leteetza."
Radittsu pulled him back into a hug.
"I can see interesting times ahead..."
© 2001 Joules Taylor
