Journeys pt 1
A few days after the visitors from R'ren'nkh'ia had arrived, the hot and sultry weather had broken with a vengeance. In the middle of the night everyone was woken up by an enormous thunderclap, followed by tearing rain that sounded like a rock-fall. Mahrayne was jolted out of an uneasy dream and it had taken her a few seconds to process the fact that the roof hadn't caved in. She'd stumbled out, naked, onto the balcony, drawn by the heart-stopping, primal ferocity of the weather, not hearing Kel's testy direction to 'shut the fucking door'.
After that initial explosive torrent, the rain settled into a steady, cooling downpour that beat gently over her head and body. Mahrayne stayed out there for hours, sitting cross-legged on the balcony, watching the lightning flicker through the heavy, rolling clouds. She wasn't alone in her rapt fascination of the storm; Radittsu and Kobis were on the main balcony, also naked, their manes plastered to their bodies by the rain. And Jeice? The little hash'shavven was there too, floating several feet above and out from the balcony, his eyes closed and his arms raised to the storm, a look of ecstasy suffusing his face.
It was cooler over the following days than it had been for ages, and Mahrayne found her energy returning somewhat. She still tired easily, but at least she wasn't pervaded by that enervating listlessness that had made her simply want to sink into sleep and never move. And to her immeasurable joy she was able to dance again, feeling rested enough to give Bri'seiyis and the other musically inclined zn'hre short demonstrations of Hassinan bell-dancing. Jeice had been there too, and Mahrayne'd screwed up her courage, determined to dance 'properly' (i.e.: naked) in front of him. The hash'shavven had to be aware of her discomfort and Mahrayne was grateful when he didn't subtly tease her as he tended to do. 'tiisaan, on the other hand, had been completely unselfconscious about showing off the version of bell-dancing he and Jeice had been working on. Mahrayne found her embarrassment rapidly subsumed by her intrigued curiosity at the manouveurs the little zn'hre could put his penis through. 'tiisaan had developed an amazing, to her, control very quickly - what was he going to be able to do when he was older, and could he teach that to Ti'aasaan? The thought made her shiver…
It had rained solidly for days on end, which was wonderful for Mahrayne, but was aggravating the zn'hre, forcing them into heavier body-suits, and Tane and Dari had been spending a lot of time with Zha'haarak trying to keep the prince's discomfort down to a manageable level. Leteetza too, had been more short-tempered and snarly than usual, easily outstripping even a pregnant Hassinan for prickliness. The little female seemed to view Mahrayne's interest in her pregnancy as a personal insult and Mahrayne couldn't understand it. She was happy and excited for her friend, there was no need for the Saiyan to growl at her every time she approached! More than once in the past few days, Kelapa had whisked her lover away out of sight of Leteetza when it looked like the little female was nearing the end of her limited patience.
"Why do you go so soppy when you see Leteetza?"
Mahrayne sighed: how to explain the beaming, idiot grin that wreathed her face whenever she looked at the little female. Leteetza should be pleased that was all it was - Mahrayne thought - at least she wasn't being squealed at any more.
"I've always been thrilled to see a pregnant female. It's something that makes me feel - I don't know - warm, excited, happy." She grinned at Kelapa. "Before coming here, the only pregnant females I saw were Hassinan and they were all, or very nearly all, taller than me. To see someone smaller than me pregnant is just - so - cute."
Kel stared at her for a moment then the warrior fell about laughing.
"Oh, fuck - " she said wiping her eyes, "you'd definitely better not tell 'teetza that! She'll skin you!"
Mahrayne sighed. "But I don't understand why she is so prickly about it."
"'teetza's very independent, she hates being mothered."
"I don't mother her exactly, do I?"
"No, but you make a fuss of her and she's not comfortable with it."
"Do all Saiyan females dislike being fussed over when they're pregnant?"
Kelapa shrugged. "Don't know, not had much to do with any, but we're not a very cuddly race to begin with."
Mahrayne looked at her skeptically. "I don't know about that! From what I've seen in the suite - "
"That's in private," Kel interjected with a grin, "between close friends and lovers - family. You won't see that amount of cuddliness in public."
Mahrayne thought about it. She hadn't seen many Saiyans being affectionate with each other in public, and those that she had - notably Leteetza and the Saiya-jin-no-Ou - had been very discreet. Even Radittsu and Zha'haabron, at the various feasts and public events she'd attended with them, hadn't been as demonstrative with each other as they normally were when they were amongst the family.
Interesting. Were the Saiyans naturally a reserved race? Or did it have something to do with their pride - or preserving their dignity? Did they consider demonstrating the softer emotions in front of others a weakness?
"'rayne!"
Mahrayne blinked then smiled at Kelapa, belatedly realising her lover had been trying to speak to her.
"Sorry, I was - thinking." She turned curious eyes on the warrior, "When you were on Hassina, were you uncomfortable with the way the females behaved with each other?"
"A little." Kel confessed, "But I already knew you were affectionate and not worried about showing it, so it wasn't a complete surprise seeing all those females groping each other."
Mahrayne laughed. "We don’t grope!" She smirked at the look on Kel's face. "All right, maybe we do, sometimes. But it's very different in the female's quarters - we all live and work so closely together all the time, touching each other is just another way to communicate. The physical contact is comforting for us, reassuring."
"That explains a lot." Kel said wryly.
"Would you rather I kept my distance sometimes?" Mahrayne asked seriously. Kelapa smiled at her lop-sidedly then pulled her into a hug, wrapping arms and tail tightly around the Hassinan.
"No. I like having you so close that all I can smell when I breathe, is you."
Mahrayne giggled and snuggled closer to her lover.
"And you Saiyans say you're not romantic…"
Mahrayne waited at the spaceport for the transport from Hassina to arrive. Apyo and Kel were with her, and Buahan, the little princess having been excused the morning's lessons so she could meet Pirum. The muruanian, Ordiff, and members of his family were there to meet Peruro and Dignusia - Mahrayne exchanged friendly greetings with them - and Manzano and some of his staff, plus some warriors Mahrayne didn't recognize, were there to greet the Hassinan Lead Speaker and his delegation.
Buahan was almost beside herself with excitement.
"Do you think she'll like me, 'rayne?"
Mahrayne smiled down at the young female, and stroked her mane.
"I think so, Buahan, you're very likeable."
The transport arrived and its passengers finally set foot on Vejiitasei. The Lead Speaker was the first to disembark, followed by his staff then a visibly curious and eager Pirum, standing between Peruro and Dignusia. The young Hassinan spotted Mahrayne almost immediately and she squealed and dodged past the more sedate males, throwing herself into her older sister's arms. Mahrayne, laughing, hugged and kissed the child before presenting her to an impatient Buahan. The little females regarded each other for a moment then Pirum spoke in an awed, strangely shy voice.
"You are so beautiful!"
Buahan beamed and hugged the taller female.
"Welcome to Vejiitasei, Pirum. I am so glad to finally meet you!"
Ordiff formally introduced himself to Peruro and Dignusia. The females smiled, stepping forward eagerly to meet the wood-carver and his family. Peruro spoke briefly to Mahrayne, telling her that she and her lover would be going straight to the alien Quarter with Ordiff but they would be in contact soon. They'd better be, Mahrayne said wryly, otherwise they were likely to find themselves being stormed by two impatient Saiyans determined to get their beads set! Peruro chuckled and asked Mahrayne to convey a message to her potential clients, asking for at least a few days to settle in before she consulted with them. Radittsu and Hijau wouldn't be pleased with the further delay but at least Peruro was on-planet now.
Before the group could leave, Zyelenyi detached himself from the diplomatic contingent and came over to speak with the alien females, informing them politely that they would need to register themselves with the diplomatic corps within a few days. Mahrayne stood back and watched the interactions; Dignusia wasn't entirely comfortable talking directly to the Saiyan but Peruro and Zyelenyi were definitely sizing each other up. Mahrayne frowned, she'd have to have a talk to the females, make sure they understood about Saiyan possessiveness - and warn them of the high possibility of pregnancy. She smirked a little at Peruro's, and Zyelenyi's, undisguised interest in each other; Mahrayne thought it might be prudent to talk to Ayva about 'contraceptives' for the Hassinan as soon as possible.
Mahrayne was relieved to see that Astolan hadn't been included on this trip, but then, the Lead Speaker wasn't stupid, and given the vengeful nature of some Saiyans it would have been simply foolish for Mahrayne's father to come here. Manzano stepped forward to greet the Lead Speaker, the dignified males inclining their heads politely towards each other, exchanging a few words before the Hassinan were escorted to a waiting shuttle. As he left, Marldus acknowledged Mahrayne with a nod and a small smile.
Mahrayne grinned down at the two young females who were holding hands and chattering away to each other - they seemed to have easily gotten over any reserve they might have had. She glanced up at Kel and Apyo.
"Let's get back to the suite, yes?"
Apyo put Mahrayne down on the balcony a moment before Kelapa arrived, a wide-eyed Pirum held securely in her arms, Buahan flying alongside. The young Hassinan's face was flushed with excitement as she gushed her thanks to the warrior.
"Oh, thank you, Kelapa-sama, that was - " Pirum floundered, she wasn't fluent in either Common or Saiyago yet, especially when she was so thrilled she would have been incoherent in her own language, " - dezag'hil gebbeh merouyieh!"
Kelapa looked at Mahrayne quizzically.
Mahrayne grinned. "She said that was something she'll never forget."
Pirum clutched one of the warrior's hands and gazed up at the tall female.
"Please, can we do that again?"
"Sure." Kel grinned down at the child. "But let's get inside for now, I think it's going to rain again."
Mahrayne thanked Apyo then followed the others inside. She almost tripped over Pirum who had stopped just inside the door and was staring at Dari and Tane.
"'rayne!" in her astonishment Pirum reverted to Hassinan, "they're twins!"
The ki-healers were treating Zha'haarak; they looked up from their work and smiled at the gaping female.
"You must be Mahrayne's little sister - " Tane began.
" - that we've heard so much about." Dari finished with a soft smile at Buahan.
"Pirum," Mahrayne put her hand gently on the child's shoulder and smiled at her, "this is Dari and Tane."
Pirum recovered her composure quickly; she grinned at the pair. "Hello."
"Saiyan twins are not like ours." Mahrayne told her sister gently.
"We're not?" Tane asked curiously.
"Hassinan twins are very rare." Leteetza, who'd been watching all this from her place at the terminal, spoke up.
"Our last pair were born over five hundred of our years ago." Mahrayne added, "and the pair before that were born almost three hundred years previously - I think - we have no surviving records from that time."
Leteetza chuckled. "Saiya-jin twins occur a bit more frequently than that."
"Our twins have special significance for us," Mahrayne explained to the interested healers, "they're always identical, and we believe they are one soul - spirit - in two bodies."
Dari smiled softly at her twin. "That's lovely, isn't it?" Tane shrugged, smirking, and turned her concentration back to Zha'haarak.
"What are you doing?" Pirum had moved to stand beside Dari and was peering closely at the female's hands as they rested on the gentle zn'hre's hip.
Leteetza arched an eyebrow at Mahrayne.
"She's as nosey as you are."
Mahrayne grinned. "Yes, though she probably has less tact."
The little female groaned feelingly and buried her head in her hands.
Dari explained - briefly - to the curious child what it was she and her sister were doing before Pirum's attention skipped to Zha'haarak, Ti'aasaan, the infants and Jeice. Why were their skins different colours? How old were the babies? Was this a bed? It was very big - how many people slept here?
Mahrayne, chuckling, led Pirum away and showed the child into her and Kelapa's room.
"Does Zorun come here?" Pirum asked.
Mahrayne ignored Kel's snort. "No I go to him, he has rooms elsewhere in the palace."
Pirum frowned. "Will I be sleeping with you, or - " she glanced shyly at Buahan.
"You can both sleep in here if you like." Mahrayne offered, glancing at Kelapa. The warrior rolled her eyes, but didn't object.
"That's a good idea!" Buahan enthused, "That way we won't get woken up by the little brats jumping on us."
Mahrayne smiled; the children's early morning tussles on the sleeping platform could be enough to make anyone want to sleep by themselves.
Pirum's single - but bulging - bag of luggage was soon delivered to the suite. Buahan followed as the young Hassinan dragged Mahrayne by the hand into her room. Pirum rummaged through the bag, tossing robes and jewelry about as she searched for something. She smiled triumphantly and heaved a fabric wrapped bundle out from its nest of clothes and handed it to her sister.
Whatever it was it was very heavy. Mahrayne carefully unwrapped it - the older Hassinan bit back a sob and sat down abruptly on the edge of the bed.
"Oh - Pirum…"
Her little sister had given her a flattish chunk of rock, twice the size of her hand, one side of which was clustered with brilliant red-orange gems that glowed like the heart of a fire.
"Do you like it?" Pirum said a little anxiously, "I know you loved the Ember Caves - I thought you might like a piece of them."
Mahrayne wordlessly grabbed her sister and hugged her tightly, kissing her thick, silver hair - then she frowned and held Pirum at arms length.
"Where did you get this?"
"The Effodio's said the area was safe." Pirum was mildly defensive.
"Pirum!"
The young Hassinan grinned cheekily. "But you do like it?"
Mahrayne was inarticulate with exasperation, then she laughed and hugged Pirum again.
"I love it. Thank you."
Pirum had brought other gifts for her sister as well.
Tzegh, the lead Korijin female, had given her two data chip 'books'. One was a compendium of old or obscure Korijin tales, in Kori-go, Mahrayne noted with delight, and the other was full of images of Kori including a large selection of the province that Tzegh came from. Nonnia had made for her a colourful baby-sling - the traditional wide sash a new mother used to hold her child close to her body while leaving her arms free. Mahrayne traced the patterns formed from tiny, semi-precious beads and colourful threads; her tertera had probably worked on this in secret as Tella wouldn't have been happy to see a reminder of the shame her daughter had brought her. There was also a thick bundle of letters, Mahrayne put those aside to read later.
She smiled at her sister.
"Let's put your clothes away. There's plenty of room on my shelves…"
Buahan and Pirum were sitting closely together on the floor, deep in discussion, when the rest of the children returned from the morning's lesson. Mahrayne watched from the side-lines, curious to see how Pirum coped, ready to intervene if it looked like her sister was getting overwhelmed. She needn't have worried. Pirum took it all in her stride, not in the least bit fazed by the curious and eager children - happily asking and answering questions in her less than perfect Common. Buahan, however, was a different story. The princess wriggled closer to the Hassinan, until their thighs were pressed together, glaring at anyone who came within touching distance. Just for good measure, she wrapped her tail around Pirum's waist. The message was clear - Pirum was her friend and she wouldn't take kindly to anyone else trying to get too close. Mahrayne sighed. Oh dear, here was more evidence of that Saiyan possessiveness. Well if there were any problems they'd deal with them as they arose.
Late afternoon and Pirum and Buahan were in the relative privacy of Mahrayne and Kel's room, sprawled together over the older females' bed watching the rain sweep over the palace gardens.
"… and it's not fair!"
Buahan had just finished ranting to the Hassinan about the tragic turn her life had taken, being given away to some male she'd never even seen before. Pirum didn't know what the fuss was about and said as much. Buahan glared at her friend, her lovely golden-brown eyes brimming with tears.
"You just don't understand! You have no idea what it's like being treated like - like an object!"
Pirum smiled and tenderly brushed a strand of Buahan's mane away from her face.
"Actually, yes I do." The princess snorted in disbelief. "I've been promised to my male since I was a baby."
Buahan stared at the Hassinan.
"I didn't have a choice either." Pirum went on reasonably, "None of our breeding females do really. I didn't even realise there could be a choice until Mahrayne came back to Hassina pregnant."
Buahan digested that information. "Do you know anything about your male?"
"His name is Rursus, he's a son of one of the councillors. He's in his twenties now - " Buahan scowled, " - he already has two females and will probably have more by the time I get there."
"You don't even get him to yourself?!" Buahan was outraged.
Pirum smiled. "We have many more females than males, it would be - silly - for a male to only have one female."
Buahan scented the Hassinan. "You're not bothered by this at all."
Pirum shrugged. "I don't think about it. It's just the way things are. I've grown up knowing that I'll be gifted to Rursus when I'm old enough."
"When will that be?"
"When I'm twenty - thirteen years time."
Buahan frowned. "Hassina time is different to ours…"
Pirum rapidly calculated the difference. "I'll be gifted in thirty-three of your years."
The princess gaped. "But that's ages away! I'll have been mated years before then." she said mournfully. Pirum reacted instinctively, the way she would with a Hassinan female, cuddling Buahan to her, stroking the smaller female's mane soothingly while Buahan sniffled into her shoulder.
That was how Mahrayne found them when she called them for the evening meal.
She smiled at the sweet picture the two young females made, cuddled up together on the bed. Pirum - Mahrayne could see - was well on the way to being smitten by the pretty little Saiyan. She wondered if Buahan realised that and if she did, how did she feel about it?
Mahrayne wasn't sure how her sister would cope bathing with Radittsu and Hijau in the room at the same time so she quietly offered Pirum the chance to shower by herself, or bathe later when the rest of the family had finished. The young Hassinan shook her head decisively and opted to bathe with everyone else. The Saiyan males were either showing a rare sensitivity - or more likely, Leteetza had spoken to them - but Hijau, Radittsu and their bondmates stayed in one of the pools, along with the infants, Jeice, Ti'aasaan, Kiraz, 'raadiin, 'fallon, Kobis and 'haabron. The rest of the hostlings splashed happily in the other pool with Mahrayne, Kelapa, Leteetza, Buahan and Pirum. Pirum was a little shy, and she avoided looking at the males in the other pool – except for the curious, sneaking little glances she couldn't help that left her with pink-tinged cheeks at some of the activity that was going on over there - but she approached the mixed bathing with nowhere near the same timidity that Mahrayne had shown initially. Mahrayne smiled - she should have known there wouldn't have been a problem, Pirum was a lot more confident, a lot less diffident, than she was.
It had been a long day for Pirum, the young Hassinan cuddled sleepily next to Mahrayne in the bath, rubbing gentle circles over her sister's distended abdomen.
"You're happy now, aren't you, 'rayne?" she asked, nodding thoughtfully at her older sister's beaming grin. "That's good. You never used to be happy."
At bedtime, Buahan grabbed Pirum's hand and tugged the little female into Mahrayne and Kel's room. The princess growled warningly at 'tiisaan as the young zn'hre made to follow them; 'tiisaan glowered - Buahan bared her teeth. They glared at each other for a moment longer then 'tiisaan turned sharply and stamped off to the family's sleeping platform, settling next to 'viirel with a sulky pout.
Mahrayne, busy convincing 'haavok and 'honee to lie down, saw none of this.
Pirum stripped off the light robe she'd put on after bathing, then clambered on to the bed next to Buahan.
"Why did you bother getting dressed?" the princess asked her friend.
Pirum looked uncomfortable and she spoke in a near whisper. "There are males around – it just isn't right to be undressed in front of them."
Buahan giggled. "It's just Radittsu and Hijau and Jeice, they're family, they don't count."
Pirum shook her head firmly, then she peeked at the princess through thick, silver eyelashes.
"Can I look at your tail?"
Buahan grinned and flipped her long, slim tail into the Hassinan's lap. "Because you are my friend."
"This is so soft…" Pirum said wonderingly as she gently stroked the length of the supple appendage. Buahan wriggled and sighed contentedly.
"That feels very nice." She rolled over onto her side facing Pirum, careful not to tug her tail out of the Hassinan's gentle grasp. "Tell me about Hassina…"
"Shall we go to bed?" Kel murmured to Mahrayne, stroking the Hassinan's cheek beads, as they stood outside their bedroom. Mahrayne shook her head.
"Not yet – give them a chance to settle down." She smiled, she could hear quite clearly the whispers and barely suppressed giggles coming from her room. "Though that might take a while tonight." Mahrayne grinned up at the Saiyan. "But we are intelligent creatures, no doubt we'll be able to think of something to fill in the time."
Kel smirked and scooped up a spare sleeping fur.
"I've got a few ideas but I don't know how much intelligence they need."
Mahrayne chuckled and pushed her lover towards the main balcony.
It was dim and quiet in the suite when the females eventually came back in – quiet except for the muted sounds of love-making coming from behind the screen that separated the sleeping platform from the rest of the room. Mahrayne carefully pushed the bedroom door open and they snuck into their room. Buahan and Pirum had fallen asleep snuggled up together, naked on top of the light bed-covering, the princess's tail draped loosely over the young Hassinan's hip, her head resting on Pirum's shoulder.
"Awww - isn't that cute!" Kel murmured in Mahrayne's ear. Mahrayne giggled quietly, then yawned as she slipped out of her robe. She pulled Kel down beside her and grinned.
"We'd better get some sleep," she whispered, "these two will probably be awake before first light."
Kelapa groaned and wrapped herself comfortably around her lover in unwitting imitation of the young females.
"One of these days," she said grumpily, "I'm going to be allowed to sleep in."
The next day, 'tiisaan wasn't there for the morning meal and 'viirel looked evasive when Mahrayne asked him about his sire-sib. 'tiisaan wasn't in any danger - the family would have been able to sense that - but when the young dancer still hadn't shown up by the time the morning lessons were about to begin, Mahrayne started to worry. Ti'aasaan frowned, concerned as well: it wasn't like his hostling to disappear like this. Radittsu stood for long moments, unmoving except for his tail which swayed slowly from side to side as he *concentrated* on tracing the young zn'hre's ki.
"He's close but I can't pin him down." The big male rumbled irritably. "He's suppressing his ki."
"Shall I have a look for him, Rad-chan?" Jeice volunteered, "I can sense him through other means..."
Radditsu nodded sharply, and Jeice left the suite in search of the hostling.
Mahrayne allowed Pirum and Buahan to sit next to each other for the lessons with a stern warning that they would be separated if there was any mucking around. The young females, for the most part, complied, working steadily together and Mahrayne was pleased - but there was still no sign of 'tiisaan.
Jeice took Mahrayne quietly to one side when she returned for the midday meal: he'd found 'tiisaan hiding in Bri'seiyis's quarters. The hostling had snuck out of the suite early in the morning, apparently, leaving via the balcony so he'd avoid the guards in the corridor. Jeice told her 'tiisaan was very upset about something, but he wouldn’t say what - the hash'shavven suspected it had something to do with Pirum. Mahrayne hastily drank two beakers of the meaty glop - assuring Zh'leet she'd have something more solid to eat later - then set off down the hall towards the songwright's rooms.
Bri'seiyis showed her into the common room, indicating the quiet corner where the missing hostling was slumped miserably on a large floor cushion. 'tiisaan looked the picture of dejection, Mahrayne thought as she sat down next to him.
"What's the matter, jhatiludas?" she asked him gently. The dancer didn't look at her, or speak. "Please talk to me, 'tiisaan."
"Why?" he said with sulky defiance, "You're not interested in me anymore."
Mahrayne closed her mouth on her astonishment.
"Why do you think that?"
'tiisaan picked irritably at a loose thread on the cushion, still not looking at her, but she could see there were tears in his beautiful golden eyes.
"Now that Pirum's here you don't want me around."
"Oh, sinam," Mahrayne gathered her to him in a fierce hug, "you are very precious to me, I will always want you around."
The young zn'hre suffered the embrace.
"Then why didn't you let me come into your room last night?" he said petulantly, pushing away from her.
Mahrayne looked at him, puzzled.
"Buahan wouldn't let me in your room last night, and you - " 'tiisaan accused her, "didn't do anything about it."
Mahrayne blinked; she wasn't sure how the young zn'hre had come to the conclusion that she didn't want him around because the princess hadn't let him into her room, but…
"I didn't see Buahan do that, jhatiludas, and if I had I certainly wouldn't have let her get away with it."
'tiisaan's lower lip trembled as he looked up at her soulfully. "Really?"
"Yes, really," Mahrayne kissed the tip of his nose. 'tiisaan brightened visibly.
"Then I can sleep with you tonight?"
Mahrayne nodded, smiling as the young zn'hre bounced up off the floor. 'tiisaan helped her stand, then darted gracefully over to Bri'seiyis to say goodbye to the songwright.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Bri'seiyis-sama," Mahrayne said apologetically to the older zn'hre.
Bri'seiyis's azure eyes twinkled at her. "It is no inconvenience having 'tiisaan here, even when he's being… over-sensitive."
Mahrayne grinned and shooed 'tiisaan out of the songwright's room. If they hurried, there would be just enough time for the young zn'hre to have something to eat before the afternoon lessons; and she'd better eat something or else Zh'leet would strap her down and force-feed her...
Pirum had watched the physical lessons, awed and envious of the children's ability to fly.
"It's not fair!" she'd pouted to her older sister. Mahrayne, privately, agreed with her. The Hassinan were a very dull race compared to the Saiya-jin, R'ren'nkh'ia-jin and hash'shavven. They had no ki, couldn't fly, weren't telepathic or empathic… The most that could be said of the Hassinan was that they had good stamina, good cold tolerance and couldn't bear blank surfaces! Hardly the most exotic of racial traits…
The day passed smoothly and there were no more upsets - until bedtime. Pirum and Buahan were sleeping in her room again; Mahrayne had just got off to sleep when she was woken up by someone - snarling? Mahrayne opened bleary eyes to see 'tiisaan standing defiantly beside the bed while Buahan told him in no uncertain terms he wasn't welcome.
"What is the problem, Buahan?" Mahrayne snapped at the little princess, startling her to silence, "'tiisaan is as welcome here as you are! I am too tired for this nonsense and if there's any more of it you can go back to the family's bed - without Pirum!"
Kelapa had watched all this silently. She sighed, and wriggled away from Mahrayne, making space for 'tiisaan between them.
"Come on then, brat." she said wearily. The little zn'hre beamed and dove between them, nestling into his teacher with a happy sigh. Buahan, meanwhile was glaring at Mahrayne, who glared right back. Pirum, nervously caught between them, tried to reason with them both.
"'rayne? Bu-chan? It's late, please can we all go to sleep?"
The princess was the first to lower her eyes.
"This is a stupid thing to argue over," she grumbled dismissively, snuggling into Pirum. Mahrayne sighed and forced herself to calm, leaning over and briefly kissing both the young females goodnight before awkwardly turning over and doing the same with 'tiisaan – then exchanging a more prolonged kiss with Kel.
"I'll be with Zorun this evening, Pirum, and probably tomorrow night as well." Mahrayne said to her little sister over the midday meal on the fourth day of her visit. "Will you be all right here in the suite?"
Pirum beamed at her older sister. "I'll be fine. Bu-chan and Kel will be here and Ti'aasaan's promised to plait my hair for me."
Mahrayne stroked her sister's cheek gently and chuckled. "I've got some hair beads and bells as well if you'd like to use those."
"Yes, please!"
"I've been meaning to show the zn'hre how we use them, but I just haven't gotten round to it yet." Mahrayne smiled ruefully.
"Do you think Buahan would like to use them too?" Pirum asked hopefully.
Mahrayne shook her head.
"I don’t think so, Saiya-jin generally don't like things in their manes. She might let you comb her mane though," Mahrayne grinned, remembering the look on Radittsu's face as he suffered being groomed. "- if you're very gentle."
Zorun picked Mahrayne up from the suite a couple of hours before the evening meal. The big male smirked at her then flew them directly to his quarters without a word.
Mahrayne smiled warmly and kissed him by way of greeting. She was used to her taciturn mate's silences now and she no longer felt the need to talk twice as much to make up for it. In fact sometimes, like now, words were superfluous. She didn't need Zorun to tell her he desired her - that was evident by the hunger in his eyes and the softly possessive way his tail coiled around one of her calves. And Zorun certainly didn't have to rely on Mahrayne telling him she desired him, any Saiyan within scenting distance could work that out…
Mahrayne floated in a languid half-doze, oblivious to everything except the solid heat of her mate pressed against her back, of his arms under her belly and across her breasts cradling her to him, and the delicious feeling of fullness as he moved within her, tiny gentle thrusts that would be driving her mad if she hadn't climaxed a couple of times already. She sighed dreamily, shifting her hips slightly in time with his movements as she rhythmically carded her fingers through the soft, deep fur of his tail.
Zorun's teeth scraped lightly over his claim mark.
"Manzano's invited us to eat with him this evening."
Mahrayne jerked out of her hazy pleasure.
"What? This evening? Zorun!" she tried to struggle out of his embrace. "Why didn't you say something earlier? Now I'm not going to have time for a proper bath…" Mahrayne tried again to get out of her mate's grip before it dawned on her he wasn't letting her go.
"We don't have to attend." Zorun nuzzled her neck.
"Well I want to." Mahrayne said crossly.
"Why?" Zorun's thrusts became a little more purposeful.
"Because - " Mahrayne shivered and melted back into her mate's arms, "diplomats don't do things without reason and - " she moaned as his tail slid slowly over her groin, " - I want to know why Manzano's… what he's…" She lost the thread of her argument as Zorun's fingers found her sensitive little nub…
As it was, Mahrayne and Zorun arrived at Manzano's quarters in the Diplomatic corps building in plenty of time for the evening meal. An older Saiyan male, a servant judging by his deferential manner and the complete disregard Zorun showed him, greeted them at the door then led them down a short corridor in to a spacious common room. Manzano's quarters were quite large, Mahrayne thought as she curiously looked around her - she wondered if the diplomat had a mate…
Manzano, and Marldus, Mahrayne was surprised to see, stood up as the pair entered the room.
"Thank you for joining us, King's Guard - Lady Mahrayne." Manzano inclined his head to them in turn.
"Thank you for the invitation." Mahrayne said with a smile, then turned to Marldus. "It is an unexpected pleasure to see you here, Lead Speaker."
The Hassinan male inclined his head and smiled at them both. "I'm glad you could join us. You're looking well, perlhia."
Mahrayne dimpled but managed to stop herself giggling. "I am, especially now the weather is cooling down."
It was a very agreeable, very civilised evening. The food was good and if either of the diplomats had a secret agenda in inviting Mahrayne and her mate, it was well hidden. As they ate, the four of them chatted lightly about a variety of topics. Well, three of them chatted, Zorun for the most part maintained a watchful silence from his place next to Mahrayne, deigning to answer direct questions or occasionally adding a comment of his own. More than once Mahrayne turned to look at her mate to find him half-smiling at something she'd said and got the strangest impression he was proud of her.
It was clear that Manzano and Marldus respected each other, and Mahrayne was also pleased to see what appeared to be a genuine friendship between the older males. She wondered, in the back of her mind, how the talks were going this time, if there was any resolution to the problems caused by the mining on Hassina. The terror she'd felt when she heard the Ember Caves had collapsed - that she thought she'd managed to bury under layers and layers of mundane, thought consuming stuff - began to stir. She realised, reluctantly, she had to talk to Marldus, though what she was going to say…
The opportunity came towards the end of the evening.
Marldus stood up and smiled at the diplomat. "I think it's time for me to leave, Manzano, thank you for your hospitality."
"Maybe we'd better go as well," Mahrayne glanced enquiringly at Zorun, who nodded slightly.
"You need your sleep." The big male smirked at her: Mahrayne smirked back. Sleep? Hah! That was the furthest thing from her mate's mind. But she had something to attend to first.
"Lead Speaker, can we accompany you back to your quarters?"
The Hassinan delegation were housed in the palace again, and the Lead Speaker had been assigned two first-class warriors as guards. The solid males appeared when Marldus exited Manzano's quarters, falling in silently behind the Lead Speaker. At the door to the Hassinan rooms, Mahrayne turned and smiled up at her mate.
"Zorun, may I have a moment alone with the Lead Speaker?"
He didn't look happy about it, but he nodded tersely and moved away, indicating, with a jerk of his head, for the two guards to come with him. Mahrayne knew Zorun wasn't entirely out of earshot; her mate stood there stolidly, watching them, arms folded across his chest.
Marldus was looking at her expectantly and Mahrayne floundered, not knowing where to begin.
"How are the talks going, Lead Speaker?" she spoke in Hassinan.
"Not as well as we'd hoped." Marldus murmured. "There are many words being spoken, but very little actually being said."
"Please, Lead Speaker," Mahrayne was quietly urgent, "you must make every effort to make them understand the danger."
He frowned. "We are doing our best, Mahrayne."
Mahrayne bit her lip, growing agitated - she was peripherally aware of Zorun paying close attention.
"What is it, daughter?" Marldus lightly touched her shoulder, concern showing in his silver-grey eyes.
"This is probably just my imagination, Lead Speaker, but," her voice dropped to a hoarse whisper, "I dreamt of Hassina's destruction."
If Mahrayne hadn't been so occupied in trying to control the wave of terrified despair sweeping through her, she might not have missed the momentary tremor that shook the Lead Speaker's hand where he touched her shoulder, or the sickly shock that registered on his face for a split second. She was aware however, of Zorun suddenly appearing at her side, growling threateningly at the older male. Mahrayne quickly got control of herself; she touched her mate lightly on his forearm, looking up into his angry and suspicious face.
"I'm all right, Zorun," she spoke in Saiya-go, "he's no danger to me."
The Saiyan stopped growling, but his tail lashed and he was obviously not going to budge from her side.
Marldus chuckled dryly and clasped his hands in front of his stomach. "You've always been accused of having an over-active imagination, Mahrayne." he spoke briskly in Common, "And aren't pregnant females supposed to be prone to vivid dreams? No doubt that's all it was - simply a dream." He smiled politely at Zorun. "I think Mahrayne is over-tired. I'll bid you good night." Marldus inclined his head and disappeared into his quarters.
Mahrayne stared after him, edgy and confused and angry.
The Lead Speaker had dismissed her and her fears as is she were some no-brain female scared of loud noises. Was that all it was - a dream? It couldn't be! Not when she felt this - whatever it was - so deeply…
Suddenly she found herself engulfed in the comforting warmth of Zorun's arms.
"What's the matter, 'rayne?" he murmured softly against her hair.
"I don't know!" Mahrayne burst out, wishing fervently that it would all just go away. "Maybe I am over-tired." She smiled tremulously up at her mate.
"Maybe." He kissed her cheek.
All of a sudden Mahrayne knew what she needed.
"Can we go to the glade, please?"
Zorun frowned. "It's raining again." He half-smiled wryly at the hopeful look on his mate's face.
"All right."
Mahrayne stood a little uncertainly in the centre of 'her' glade, face turned up to the rain. She'd never tried to trance without dancing before, but – she settled herself down on the wet moss – she doubted she could dance for any length of time at the moment. Oh well, it couldn't hurt to try.
It was easier than she'd thought.
Instinctively, Mahrayne turned her focus inward, tuning out everything around her, and there, just in the periphery of her vision was the familiar, welcoming darkness. She turned towards it eagerly, and sank into the depths...
... to emerge an hour later feeling calm, centered – whole. Mahrayne smiled softly at Zorun, who had waited patiently (she assumed) under a tree.
"Better?" he smirked uncoiling from his spot on the ground.
"Yes, thank you." Mahrayne watched him prowl towards her.
"Ready to go now?" He pulled her up off the ground and into his arms.
"Please." Mahrayne's eyes were shining as he scooped her up and flew them back through the steady rain to his quarters.
Since returning from Hassina - and the side-trip to Pankuzu - Mahrayne had divided her nights more or less evenly between her Saiyans. This pleased Zorun but it did not please Kelapa. The problem, of course, was that when Mahrayne was with her mate, they were by themselves, whereas when she was with Kel, the warrior invariably had to share her lover's time - and their bed - with at least 'tiisaan, but usually 'viirel, and others, as well. Mahrayne guessed that as the children got older they might be less inclined to climb in with them, but right now it was annoying Kelapa. They needed some time to themselves.
The afternoon after she'd returned from Zorun, while Kel was on duty, Mahrayne asked Leteetza if it would be all right for Kelapa and herself to borrow one of the spare guest suites for the night. The little female shrugged and said she couldn't see a problem, adding with a smirk that they might like to eat and bathe there as well, really make the most of it. Mahrayne had been a little hesitant in telling Pirum her plans, not sure how her little sister would feel about being left in the suite without her again - but Pirum wasn't Chumie and she didn't need her older sister's constant attention. 'tiisaan too, wasn't bothered, the little zn'hre understanding that sometimes partners needed to be on their own. After all, he said graciously, Kel was as much Mahrayne's mate as Zorun was, they deserved time by themselves too - then he added, quite seriously, that he was happy for them to do as they wished as long as his dance lessons weren't disrupted. Mahrayne, to her credit, didn't burst out laughing at his unconscious, regal, condescension, her amusement only betrayed by the quirk of her lips as she thanked the young dancer for his consideration.
Kel returned after her shift, tired and a little grumpy, to be immediately seized by Mahrayne and dragged out of the suite.
"What are you up to?" she asked, narrow eyed, as Mahrayne showed her into the small suite.
"I thought it would be nice for us to be alone for a while," Mahrayne said with a sunny smile. "Would you like to eat first, or bathe?"
"Neither." Kel smirked, reaching behind Mahrayne's neck to undo the clasp that held her delicate, wrap-around robe together…
Mahrayne sat lightly astride her lover's hips, fondling Kel's tail, while the Saiyan got her breath back. They'd made love, then bathed, then eaten, then made love again and Kelapa looked happier than she had since their holiday. Mahrayne grinned at the warrior then leaned over to retrieve something from under the sleeping platform.
Kel scowled as Mahrayne set the small box down beside them. So far, the Saiyan had resisted using the sex-toys, protesting that fingers and mouths and tails had been good enough for centuries, why use these things? Mahrayne pointed out that there was nothing wrong with a little variety in love-play and the zn'hre loved using their toys - to which Kelapa had snorted derisively and said yes, well, they were aliens. Mahrayne smirked at her lover; Kel's resistance was slipping, she knew, especially since observing Mahrayne's reactions when she'd used them on herself.
The Hassinan smiled encouragingly at the Saiyan.
"Come on. Just once - "
"If you say 'for me' I'm going to hit you!"
Mahrayne laughed. "All right, I won't say that."
Kel lay there scowling, her tail twitching as she considered.
"Oh all right."
She sighed resignedly, her hands dropping from where they'd been resting on Mahrayne's hips to fall limply by her side as she gazed stoically at the ceiling.
"It might help if you could lie there a little less like a sacrificial victim." Mahrayne said wryly, chuckling at the glare her lover bestowed on her.
"Just get on with it."
Kelapa was obviously prepared to be unconvinced by the whole experience.
Mahrayne smirked, she'd see about that.
To Kel's poorly concealed surprise, Mahrayne didn't immediately select one of the carved toys and shove it straight up her, starting instead by kissing and nipping at the Saiyan's throat, moving slowly and lovingly down her strong body, slipping off of her so she could nibble at the particularly sensitive line between Kel's navel and pubic bone. When Kel was thoroughly aroused again, Mahrayne gently urged her over onto her stomach, getting the Saiyan to tuck her knees under her. The Hassinan played with her lover's tail, stroking the soft fur and licking around the sensitive skin at the base until Kel was quivering with lust.
While she'd been teasing her lover, Mahrayne had enclosed the slimmest of the sex-toys in her palm, warming it slightly before using it on the Saiyan. Now she pressed the rounded tip of it against Kel's anus, scratching her nails lightly through the fur on the Saiyan's tail while she gently worked the toy into her lover's body...
Kelapa let out a startled yip, and froze, her tail gone rigid.
"Shall I stop?" Mahrayne asked with concern. Kel shook her head frantically and wrapped her tail tightly around Mahrayne's wrist.
"Again!" she grated out, panting. Mahrayne grinned and pulled the rod out slightly before pushing it back in. Kel yipped again, then groaned lushly, her whole body shaking as she clawed at the sleeping fur. Mahrayne worked the little toy slowly back and forth, watching, amazed, as Kel descended into incoherency. Mahrayne mentally measured the length of the toy, estimating that the tip was - internally - somewhere near the base of Kel's extremely sensitive tail. Hmm, there was likely to be a high concentration of nerves in that area… Mahrayne made a mental note to find out more about Saiyan physiology.
Kelapa was keening softly, a sound Mahrayne had never heard her make before, the noise increasing in pitch as the Saiyan approached orgasm. Then suddenly, Kel convulsed with a low cry, collapsing sideways to lie shuddering on the bed.
Mahrayne cuddled her lover, gently kissing her face and stroking her back as Kel came down. Finally, the Saiyan's breathing evened out and her eyes fluttered open, though it was several seconds before she could speak.
"'teetza has got to find out about this…"
© 2002 July Amanda Mullane
