Foreboding
Radittsu refused outright to even consider Zha'haabron's joining the combat - not that that would have stopped the king from doing so - but as it happened he had other matters to worry about at home…
"Zk'viss?"
Zha'haabron looked up from the report from Gh'heegonan he'd been scrolling through and into Ti'aasaan's pale golden eyes. The little zn'hre looked worried: the king took his hand.
"What's wrong?"
"'zhasaan…"
Zha'haabron frowned. He'd thought the little dreamer was managing his abilities well - he'd certainly not been aware of any difficulties. Then again, the hostlings had all become very self-reliant, preferring to deal with their problems themselves.
"Share with me."
Ti'aasaan moved into his Ssii'iin's open arms, settling himself against the strong body and relaxing in the safety of the king's presence.
"It may be something simple - but knowing 'zhasaan, I think not. His… dreams, forevisions, whatever they are, have become more disturbing while Le'leen has been away. He's having problems staying… 'grounded' I suppose is the best way to describe it. 'miiron is helping as best he can, but he doesn't have 'leen's power."
"Disturbing in what way?"
Ti'aasaan shifted uncomfortably.
"I don't know. He refuses to share them."
Which wasn't unexpected. None of the family would do anything that might hurt or worry Ti'aasaan - or Zha'haarak for that matter. Zha'haabron frowned pensively.
"And the effects?"
"He's not eating properly, or sleeping well… Zk'viss, could you speak with him?"
"Of course I will. How long has this been going on?"
"Not long. Five days, I think."
"Very well." Zha'haabron eased the little zn'hre from his lap and rose to his feet. "Is he in the suite?"
"Yes. Zh'leet's trying to get him to eat."
Zha'haabron sighed silently. That wasn't going to help anyone: he knew how stubborn his sirelings could be. Setting his monitor on hold, he gathered up Ti'aasaan and walked from the diplomatic corp's main building.
'zhasaan was standing at the balcony window, gazing out, conspicuously ignoring Zh'leet. The old brood glanced over her shoulder as the two older zn'hre entered, and gusted a sigh of relief.
"Heh, perhaps you can get him to listen to sense!"
Zha'haabron bowed his head gravely.
"We will certainly try."
Zh'leet hovered for a moment, then beckoned to Br'yaan, announcing too brightly,
"Well, I have a market expedition planned. We'll be back in a couple of hours. Maybe more…"
The king nodded absently, laying strong hands on his sireling's shoulders.
**Come speak with me**
'zhasaan turned, head lowered.
**Papa… I'd rather deal with it myself…**
**I know, zk'vissin - but you aren't dealing with it, obviously. Let me help this time. Then next time you will have a better idea of what to do**
Shadowed golden eyes gazed up into the king's face.
**Must I?**
**I think it would be best**
'zhasaan sighed and allowed his sire to lead him over to the sleeping platform, cuddling into the powerful cool body as he'd done as an infant.
**Will you *open* to me?**
A hesitant nod. Zha'haabron kissed the top of the foreseer's head.
**Then let us begin…**
It wasn't the easiest of 'gifts' to live with, Zha'haabron thought wryly, *centring* himself within his sireling's mind. 'zhasaan - with Le'leen and 'miiron's help - had sorted the future memories into categories (although Zha'haabron couldn't work out the rationalisations for the seer's prioritising… still, as long as it worked for 'zhasaan…), making the whole thing much more manageable. There were still areas he chose not to examine, as they didn't impinge directly on the immediate family. But what was worrying him at the moment was the fact that his fore-memories of the next year or so were shifting, changing, almost drifting. Yes, he knew that to some extent the future was fluid - well, not static, anyway - but this was too close, and too… jerky. It left him feeling desperately uncertain, almost dizzy. He didn't know what to make of it, or how to handle it, and without Le'leen here to ground him he felt lost.
Zha'haabron cuddled him closely, concerned. Much of what he'd seen was incomprehensible to him, though he *knew* 'zhasaan was wholly familiar with it, but he recognised enough to worry him. There was violence in the near future, affecting them all in some way - even Jeice? Yes, the hash'shavven figured in the fore-memories, somehow. But the details - time, place, main players - all of these were blurred, indistinct, and 'zhasaan hadn't been able to pin anything down.
And for the first time he actually wanted to be clear about the details. So far the young seer had refused to divulge what he saw; as he said, he was terrified of changing the future…
**But you can see that the future changes, shifts, whether you speak out or not. I believe that the larger scheme will remain unchanged, regardless of our attempts to change it… And of course, you cannot know whether the futures you see are the ones that will be because you tell us what is to happen…**
'zhasaan frowned.
**I… suppose not… Papa, what should I do?**
The king sighed.
**For now, nothing. If the visions settle, if you can *fix* on any specific incidents, please tell me. In the meantime, do you wish me to help you *shield*?**
'zhasaan shook his head, his face a little less troubled.
**No, papa. I can do that**
**Shall I recall Le'leen?**
'zhasaan bit his lip, obviously wanting to say yes - then shook his head.
**No… he's enjoying the break. He deserves it - don't worry him. I will be fine until he comes back, now we've spoken**
**Very well. But you will find me if you need me**
The seer sighed, relaxing in his sire's arms.
**I promise, papa. Thank you**
Zha'haabron kissed his forehead, then glanced at Ti'aasaan.
"I think it might be time for a meal…"
Meanwhile Le'leen and Ti'ani - and 'jau and Kinu - were having a fantastic time. They loved the old house, they loved the grounds, and the beach, and the jungle, and the pools… And Collee and her staff simply adored having them 'home': they'd have all been spoiled rotten if they hadn't had a keen sense of self-awareness.
Zha'haarak found it delightful, if a little puzzling. Hijau had smiled sadly as they sat on the hot sand, their personal guard hovering discreetly a little distance away, and watched the hostlings play aerial tag over the ocean.
"I think she's trying to make up for what happened to me and… Setela…"
The prince hugged him tightly. He knew the story, of course, and was deeply upset for his bondmate.
"It is a kind thought."
"I suppose so… Yes, it is. I can't really blame her. My mother was... bad. Uncontrollable. And very vicious. The staff were terrified of her."
"And Limau-sama killed her."
Hijau nodded.
"He was entitled to - one of the laws of Rumput. As far as I know it's never been repealed."
Zha'haarak nodded pensively. While the thought of taking life as punishment for murder made him distinctly uneasy, he could see the brutal logic of it.
"But all turned out well, in the end."
Hijau grinned.
"Oh yes. I met Radittsu, after all. And through him, you. What more could I ever have asked for?"
Later, after the rest of the household had gone to bed, Hijau took his bondmate back down to the beach; the night was still and warm, the sky cloudless and filled with stars, and they walked along the edge of the water hand in hand. The warmth and humidity of the island eased the zn'hre's hip noticeably, and he was in very little pain, for which they were both grateful. (Not that it would have been a great chore to have Tane and Dari shuttle down to the island, but they were spending time with Vinas at the moment: the Feeodoreean had recently approached them about becoming part of his medical team, and they were seriously considering saying yes…) Hijau's tail wrapped around his hips.
*I'm glad you like it here.*
**It is wonderful, zkai'da** The thought was a little wistful, and the Saiyan halted and pulled the zn'hre to face him.
*Would you like to live here, part of the time? The cold season is much shorter and milder here. And I can have the house remodelled to be warmer, well-insulated...*
Zha'haarak nuzzled his neck.
**I think I would like that, zkai'da. It is so very beautiful here… And the hostlings love it**
Hijau chuckled happily.
*Heh, yeah, they do don't they? Let me see what I can arrange…*
Collee was in tears when they said their farewells, four days later. The old housekeeper was on her knees hugging each of the children in turn, then turned her woeful face to Hijau and the zn'hre.
"It's been wonderful, sir. But far too short. Do you… might you come and visit again?"
The Captain nodded.
"Zha'haarak and the children like it here. There are some changes that need to be made to the house, for Zha'haarak's sake, but after that I think we may try to spend the cold season here."
Collee's eyes lit up as she pulled herself to her feet.
"Oh, that would be wonderful!"
Hijau smirked.
"I'll be in touch…"
On the steps to the house Lord Kurumi greeted Hijau, the prince and the hostlings with grave dignity, smiling as the children raced off to join their friends.
"I am glad you could visit, Hijau-san, your highness."
"Thank you for inviting us, Kurumi-sama." Hijau smirked as Zorun appeared - then blinked, his eyes wide, at the sight of the bruised bite on Ti'aasaan's neck.
Zha'haarak smiled widely as he hugged the little zn'hre.
**I had wondered when you were going to ask it of your zkai'da**
Ti'aasaan sighed contentedly, kissing the prince's shoulder.
**I have come home. It feels… right**
**I am happy for you**
Ti'aasaan gazed up into the gentle zn'hre's face.
**We have come so far**
Zha'haarak closed his eyes, joy bubbling up from within - for himself, for Ti'aasaan and Zorun, for Hijau, for the Ssii'iin and his bondmate… for the children, for the whole of their species. Sometimes it all seemed too good to be true.
Zorun wrapped his arms around them both, kissing Ti'aasaan's hair.
"Lord Kurumi has had a meal prepared for us."
"Then it would be discourteous of us not to enjoy it!" Zha'haarak pulled back a little, eying the King's Guard appraisingly. Zorun had… mellowed was the word that came most readily to mind. The big Saiyan was relaxed, gentle, the stress that had marked him for so long almost gone. It was very good to see. He smiled and gestured to the house.
"Let's go in, then."
'jau watched his parents making love, then watched further as papa let Zorun-sama fuck him, noting the differences in the way the Saiyans behaved with their bondmates and with each other. It was very interesting…
Just recently 'jau had found himself… wanting Kinu to touch him, stroke him. Yes, of course they slept together - always had, cuddling around each other - but now the little hybrid wanted more. On the few occasions he'd risked touching his bondmate, nothing much, just a light stroke of his tail across the half-Hassinan's groin, Kinu had either not responded or laughed, saying it tickled. 'jau knew that Hassinan took much longer than either Saiyans or zn'hre to mature. He also knew that he himself was far too young to have sex yet. Or rather, he had thought that before Ti'ani and Le'leen went into shizun. Now… well, no-one knew when it might strike. And the thought of his first experience being with a strange alien made him feel cold to the core. He couldn't bear that. He'd rather risk conceiving and have Kinu… service him. Except that of course maazi and papa wouldn't allow that.
So - he supposed - he'd have to talk Kinu into having sex before he reached shizun.
He wished he had someone to talk to about it. 'ani and 'leen didn't want to, not yet. They were still feeling a little *raw* after their first shizun. But perhaps he could talk to Zha'haabron when they returned home. Oji would know what to do. Oji knew everything!
Relaxed, revived and happy, the group arrived back at the shuttle port late in the evening of the last day of their downtime, and flew to the palace - arriving to find 'fallon's second labour in full flow…
Le'leen glanced at his twin: Ti'ani nodded, and both hybrids slipped surreptitiously off to their respective side-rooms to find their mates. Let 'raadiin deal with this - it was his problem!
'jau and Kinu, on the other hand, were fascinated, Kinu cuddling his bondmate from behind, tail instinctively stroking over 'jau's abdomen.
*Doesn't seem to hurt 'fallon much, does it?* Kinu didn't sound too convinced. 'jau ruffled his tail fur, making him shiver.
*Our bodies are made for it, zk'aida. It only hurts a bit, and not for very long.*
*All the same…*
'jau twisted to hug him.
*Still want your sirelings. When the time comes.*
Kinu shivered and hugged him close.
The battle for Zaisan ended sixty-seven days after high summer. It had lasted forty-one days, killed over a thousand of the Alliance forces (including thirty-two special squad warriors), slightly less than two thousand of the Karilun military (including all except a handful of the five hundred Warui-jin mercenaries), and had ended in a very uneasy truce between the Alliance and the Karilun, who had not been at all happy to find themselves faced with a previously-unknown and unsuspected rival Empire. Manzano was organising a diplomatic team to meet with representatives of the Karilun Empire on a neutral world, but right now Zha'haabron didn't care. Radittsu had been injured - not too badly, the medics hastened to assure the high king, whose image on the monitor was flickering back and forth between his normal and defensive forms, but he would need a substantial downtime for rest and recuperation on his return. Zha'haabron read the list of his bondmate's injuries and paled. Substantial was right…
He distracted himself, for the moment, in negotiations with Manzano, seconding a mixed group of R'ren'nkh'ian warriors as back-up to the now-permanent Saiyan force on Zaisan. Somewhat to his surprise most of them were happy to go to the forested world: apparently word of the rich hunting and plentiful water there had reached R'rehn'nkh'ia.
And then finally the Lizard in the Night came home, bringing the wounded in advance of the returning troops, and Zha'haabron was there to oversee the transport of his bondmate to the medical centre…
*… sorry, zkai'da…*
The king took the big hand, newly scarred and weak, into both of his own, gazing down into the pale face.
**There is nothing to be sorry for. You came back to me - what more could I ask?**
Dark eyes twinkled as Radittsu gestured feebly at his lower body, encased in a healing cast.
*Not going to be much use to you for a while…*
Zha'haabron kissed him.
**That is not important. The main thing is the medics say you will make a full recovery. And we know you will be stronger than you were before**
The Saiyan nodded feebly, his eyes closing.
*That's the only thing that makes it worth the pain…*
© 2004 April 24th Joules Taylor
