Changes
We flew back to the suite from the spaceport, Mahrayne held in Kelapa's arms as usual. I wondered, idly, whether we'd be able to teach her bukuujutsu, but given how low her ki was it seemed unlikely. Still, it might be possible. I filed the thought away for later consideration.
Landing on the balcony, we watched through the windows for a moment or two before entering. The scene inside was... perfect. Whole again.
Zha'tiisaan had commandeered a good quarter of the common room, and - with 'haabron and 'zhasaan following closely - was practising the new dance moves Mahrayne had shown him yesterday. Ti'aasaan sat on a large cushion nearby, watching and applauding, four hostlings climbing over him, Zha'miiron clinging to his neck, Zha'haarak behind him, comb in hand, restoring his hair to its customary dozens of tiny plaits. Zha'haabron knelt to one side, deep in conversation with 'leesaan, Buahan and Kobis listening in: behind and to one side of him Radittsu had Ti'ani and Le'leen by the hands, helping them to stand: they were both trying to walk. Hijau had 'raadiin on one shoulder and Kiraz on the other, all three in animated conversation. Gh'veen was struggling resignedly with a double armful of hostlings while Zh'leet prepared a huge beaker of the fruity stuff for Ti'aasaan.
Family. I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned to the others, grinning.
"Prepare to be rompled..."
It was nearly half an hour before the brats had calmed down, and by then Mahrayne was hot and flushed, hair all over the place after the hostlings had pulled off the bands and played with it, climbing all over her while 'tiisaan tried to persuade her that he needed another dance lesson right now... Kelapa was sitting cross-legged, completely bemused as 'raadiin and Kiraz had squeezed into her lap and were cross-examining her about what she did in the Guard, how many fights she'd been in and how many she'd won, and whether she was a better fighter than Hijau. Ti'ani and Le'leen had stumbled across the room, pulling Radittsu with them, and tumbled into my arms. I grinned up at the captain.
"You are going to make such a wonderful father!"
He smirked.
"That might be sooner than we thought, too..."
I felt my jaw drop.
"What!?"
His eyes twinkled.
"I'll explain later. For now, it's mealtime. Let's get through that first, all right? We need to hold some sort of family council this afternoon. We've a lot of things to discuss."
That was only too true. And at that moment two palace servitors wheeled in trolleys piled high with platters full of meat and fruit...
An hour later, with everyone pleasantly full and the younger hostlings dozing off where they'd sprawled indiscriminately on platform, cushion or lap, I rose to my feet and grinned around the room.
"I'm not going to make a speech..." I glared at Kelapa, who'd let out a small cheer. She winked at me, and I smirked back.
"...but I want to officially welcome Mahrayne to the family. She's joining us in the capacity of Royal Tutor - and secondary Nanny, assuming she doesn't object! - and she'll be staying with us in the suite, at least for the time being."
Everyone murmured a greeting, smiling at the Hassinan, who blushed charmingly. 'tiisaan wrapped his arms around her waist from his perch in her lap and kissed her cheek, beaming up at her.
"Also for the time being, Kelapa will be joining us as Mahrayne's personal guard."
Kel waved a hand, eliciting a hissing giggle from 'raadiin. Zh'leet frowned.
"Isn't it going to be a bit crowded in here?"
I nodded. "And that brings me on to my next topic. I've discussed it with his Majesty, and he's agreed we need more room. He's given over the top two floors of this wing solely for R'ren'nkh'ia-jin use - I'm going to try and find out about a more efficient form of heating, but installing it might have to wait til later in the year. For now, the suite next door is a mirror image of this one: I'm going to see if its possible to have the adjoining walls removed so the family's space is doubled."
Kel inclined her head.
"I'm sure the four of us could just blast the walls down. And ki-burn any rough edges."
I chuckled.
"I'm sure we could, but I'd rather we didn't make the building collapse."
She stared at me blankly, and I grinned.
"I understand there's this thing called structural integrity. It has something to do with making sure walls that support floors and ceilings remain strong enough to carry on supporting them. Manzano's found me a couple of 'architects' who'll come and check things out. We'll get the work done as soon as possible. Until then we'll have to manage as best we can." I smiled round at them all. "It won't be too bad. We've enough spare rooms to accommodate Mahrayne, we now have the playroom for the brats to wear themselves out in, instead of driving us demented in here, and tomorrow we're going to organise the rooms where they'll be taking lessons."
Mahrayne gazed at me enquiringly, and I nodded.
"At the end of this corridor there's a long room with lots of windows and a hearth at either end. We're going to install a whole load of computer terminals in there, linked to the Library and with their own comm units." I frowned at Mahrayne. "I need to talk to you and the Thinkers who'll be helping with lessons, but we'll do that later." Turning back to the rest I grinned at the brats. "It's going to be exciting! You'll be able to have proper lessons at your own terminals."
'raadiin and Kiraz looked distinctly underwhelmed, and 'tiisaan pouted up from Mahrayne's lap. I laughed and ruffled his hair.
"It's all right, little 'un, you'll still have your dance lessons. We'll have sitting down type lessons in the mornings, and moving about type lessons in the afternoons. How does that sound?"
The brats thought about it for a few minutes, then nodded, more or less enthusiastically. Kiraz scowled.
"I won't have to dance, will I?"
"Not unless you want to."
"Or do the sitting down lessons?"
I nodded firmly.
"Everyone has to do those. Your papa wants you to be properly educated: that means learning with your mind as well as training to fight."
He crossed his arms sulkily: I anticipated a few problems there... Still, I'm sure we'd overcome them.
"Leteetza?" It was Zha'haarak's gentle voice. I smiled at him.
"Might I... Would it be possible for me to join the lessons?"
I glanced at Mahrayne, who smiled brightly and nodded at him.
"Of course! We'd be delighted to have you! And perhaps," she added slyly, "you'd be able to keep our two little warriors in check."
Ti'aasaan laughed.
"In that case, perhaps I ought to come along too!"
Mahrayne beamed.
"You're more than welcome!" She smirked at Kelapa. "Anyone else?"
Kel looked horrified.
"Not a chance!"
Mahrayne twinkled at her, murmuring, "Maybe I can change your mind..."
I smirked and got back to the matter in hand.
"Right, so, mornings we'll be in the learning room, then back here for a meal, then afternoons in the playroom. I'll be helping out there, since Mahrayne can't fly, and the babies will come with us: Mahrayne has some fun ideas for things for them to climb on and play with. Once they start bukuujutsu you older brats can help out. When the weather warms up we'll start going outside in the afternoons again - and maybe eat out there too - but for the moment we'll be mostly indoors. Any questions so far?"
There were none, and I nodded.
"Very well. Now, as you must have realised by now, this year is Moonyear. That means that the non-Saiya-jin amongst us will need to be offworld for..." I glanced at Radittsu, who scowled.
"A maximum of 310 days around high summer."
There was a sort of startled silence, then a confused and agitated babble of young zn'hre voices. I raised my hands.
"I know, I know, it's a pain in the arse, but we've no choice. It's just not safe for you to stay here." I glanced down at Mahrayne. "I'm afraid that means you too."
She stared up at me uncomprehendingly.
"What's Moonyear?"
I blinked.
"You don't know?"
She shook her head. From the corner of my eye I saw the hostlings shaking theirs, too, gazing at Zha'haabron and Radittsu in bewilderment. I sighed.
"Fine. I guess I'd better explain it now, then. Now, although it's only visible once every seven or eight years, Vejiitasei has a moon..."
"...So you see, it's dangerous for anyone who isn't Saiyan to stay on the planet."
There was a stunned silence, then Zha'tiisaan burst into tears and grabbed Mahrayne tightly around the neck.
"SHWAH!!! I don't want to turn into a big monkey!"
And I realised I had perhaps not made it quite as clear as I could have done.
"No no no, 'tiisaan, you won't change into a big ape, only Saiya-jin do that. Honestly."
He peered up at me, lips trembling.
"You promise?"
I stroked his hair, smiling.
"I promise."
"But that's not fair!"
I sighed. 'raadiin, of course.
"Why can't I be a big monkey? I could squish people then."
"Because you're R'ren'nkh'ian. You can't turn into a big ape. But you do have another form."
I almost wish I hadn't said it: Mahrayne, Kelapa and all the brats immediately stared at Zha'haabron, eyes brightly curious. He sighed and scowled briefly at me, then nodded.
"The zn'hre do have a defensive form, yes. It's not as big as the Saiya-jin ouzaru form, but it's still very effective. And it's controlled voluntarily - it doesn't need a moon."
'raadiin was bouncing up and down on Kelapa's lap.
"Show me, papa! Show me!"
He gazed at me, and I shrugged.
"You might as well, my Ssii'iin. We'll get no peace unless you do, and if the hostlings don't know about it yet it may be as well for them to be aware of what they'll be capable of in a few years time..."
He closed his eyes with a sigh.
"Very well. But I'll warn you all, it isn't pretty. Very powerful, but not pretty."
He slid out of his fur bodysuit - a sensible move, since unlike the normal suits it wouldn't stretch to fit his transformed body - and stood for a moment. Kelapa hadn't seen him naked yet - her lustful expression didn't escape me, and I kicked her as surreptitiously as I could. Zha'haabron gazed at each of the hostlings in turn.
**None of you must be afraid. I will never hurt you, no matter what I look like...**
And with a flicker, he assumed that powerful, ugly saurian form I'd only seen once before.
There was a sharp intake of breath, and for a moment I thought Mahrayne was going to faint, but she leaned against Kelapa - who was open-mouthed with shock - and recovered herself admirably. Surprisingly - well, it surprised me, anyway - the hostlings took it entirely in their stride. Apart from 'tiisaan's hissed, "Sheuush, papa! I don't think I want to ever look like that!" and 'raadiin's exuberant, "Yeah! Then I can really fight!", they watched silently, inclined their heads, and simply smiled at their sire.
Zha'haabron transformed back and slid into his bodysuit again. For a moment there was silence. Then Mahrayne leaned forwards.
"Your Majesty, how do you do that? It's fascinating. How much stronger are you? How long can you maintain that form? How..."
Kel thumped her shoulder, rather hard, and the Hassinan winced, realised she'd been babbling - at the king, no less - blushed furiously, ducked her head, and shut up. Zha'haabron smiled.
"I will be happy to explain what I know to you, but at a later time."
She peered up from under long eyelashes and smiled tremulously.
"Thank you, your Majesty."
Kiraz was regarding 'raadiin with wide eyes.
"You can do that?"
The hostling shook his head, pouting.
"Not yet."
"Can I learn to do it?"
Zha'haabron chuckled.
"I'm afraid not, little prince. But," he frowned at me, "it's possible that Ti'ani and Le'leen may have the ability. Or the ability to turn ouzaru. Or maybe both."
I shook my head.
"Or possibly neither. We just don't know at this stage."
Radittsu inclined his head.
"I think we'd better find out! And preferably before FullMoon."
I nodded.
"I'll have words with Vinas. He knows more than anyone about their genetic makeup." I turned back to the others, and Mahrayne tapped my hand.
"I understand why the family will have to leave, but what about the children's lessons? They'll miss so much!"
"That's what I need to talk to you about. I'd suggest you go to R'ren'nkh'ia for the duration but you'd never cope with the heat: it's bad enough for us, according to Radittsu... But we should be able to organise something via comm links. It won't be as good as having you teach in person, but at least it'll keep the routine going." I sighed and forced a half-smile. "Well, it will if we can get the time-differences for each world sorted out, anyway. We'll discuss it in detail later. I'm sure we can make it work."
She nodded, and I gazed around the room. "Right - anything else we need to talk about right now?"
Radittsu had been in *conversation* with Zha'haabron: he now rose to his feet, grinning, hand resting on his bondmate's shoulder.
"We're going to take advantage of the Ssii'iin having to be offworld to try for our own hostlings."
There was a sudden silence, followed by a riotous delighted clamour. Zh'leet startled them all by flinging herself at the pair and hugging them as tightly as she could - not easy given that Radittsu was standing and the king sitting. She pulled back a little and glared at Zha'haabron.
"You remember your promise? I get to look after you?"
"And nag, bully and cosset me - yes, I haven't forgotten..."
She kissed his cheek, beaming.
"Good. Oh, I can't wait..."
Radittsu raised his hands for silence. Well, a little more quiet, anyway.
"I'll be accompanying the family back to R'ren'nkh'ia for most of Moonyear, though I'll return for FullMoon. Hijau will take over while I'm away: Kyuri will second him."
Hijau stood and saluted, his eyes meeting Zha'haarak's: both looked dejected. I frowned slightly - I'd not realised their attachment had become so serious. Hijau sighed and tried to smile.
"And since the threat to the heirs is now over, and Kelapa's here to keep an eye on things, I'd better get back to my own quarters..."
There was a loud hissing wail and 'raadiin flung himself at Hijau, wrapping his arms and legs tightly round the startled Saiyan.
"No!! You can't go!!!"
Hijau winced, mostly from the volume of the zn'hre's voice in his sensitive ears, and tried to extricate himself.
"Hey now, I'm only going back to the guard barracks! Not far away."
A mutinous little face glowered up at him.
"Then I'm coming too."
"You can't - it'll be too cold for you."
'raadiin increased his hold.
"Then you have to stay here."
Hijau blinked and gazed at Radittsu for help. The captain glanced down at Ti'aasaan and Zha'haabron.
*Well, I didn't expect that.*
**Indeed** Zha'haabron frowned. **Is there any real reason why he couldn't stay? Move - ostensibly, at any rate - into one of the spare rooms - an outer one with a balcony, so he can leave in a hurry if need be? Installing a comm unit is the work of half a day, if that**
*True - but...*
Ti'aasaan gazed up at him, golden eyes pleading.
**It would make Zha'haarak very happy**
Radittsu glanced at the gentle zn'hre, cross-legged on a floor cushion with Zha'viirel snuggled in his arms, watching the proceedings anxiously, his whole posture eloquent of yearning. The captain sighed.
*Do I really have any choice? Would 'raadiin give us any peace at all, ever, if Hijau left?*
**Quite possibly not. And Hijau is a calming, steadying influence on Zha'raadiin. I will impress upon the hostling that Hijau is not his personal possession and has other duties to attend to, but will return here to eat and sleep. Assuming that your second is happy with the idea?**
Radittsu *flashed* Hijau a quick query: his eyes lit up as he grinned. The captain smirked at his bondmates.
*That's a big yes...*
Zha'haabron rose and paced to Hijau, grasping 'raadiin's wrists gently but firmly. The hostling tried to hold on to the Saiyan, but his sire was too strong and too determined. Once in Zha'haabron's arms he curled up into a little ball and sobbed: the king stroked his hair.
"Why are you crying?"
"'Cause he's going away..."
"Have we said that he is?"
Zha'raadiin hiccuped in mid sniffle and peered up at his sire.
"... umm... no..."
"Then why are you crying?"
Zha'raadiin wrapped his arms around his sire's neck.
"Papa, can he stay? Please?"
"And if I say yes?"
"I'll be good, I promise."
"You'll study with Mahrayne and Leteetza? Do as they say?"
"Yes. I promise."
"Hijau has other duties to perform. Important ones. He can't be here all the time. And he will want to be with Zha'haarak when he's here, too."
The hostling nodded.
"I know. But he'll come back here to sleep? He'll live here? Dadda Radiz says yes?"
"We all do."
Zha'raadiin hugged the king tightly.
"Thank you, papa."
Zha'haabron kissed him.
"Go and say thank you to Radittsu."
The hostling lifted from the king's arms and floated to the captain, snuggling against his neck under the heavy mane.
"Thank you, dadda."
Radittsu smirked and hugged the little one, then pushed him gently towards Hijau - who caught him, smiling happily, and moved to sit beside Zha'haarak, strong warm arm around the gentle zn'hre's shoulders.
Leteetza was beaming, watching the little tableau fondly. Well, it was even more important now to get the suite enlarged...
This evening's bath was going to be an awful lot of fun!
© 2002 March 1st Joules Taylor
