Gentle Chains (The Eleyi Saga Book 1) (32 page)

Chapter
38

Juhan’tr

“I want to do something,” Sadi says, and we stare at her. The staff was
dismissed after the immense brunch where the Senator’s life was celebrated, and
I dodged more free Eleyi than I thought possible to find on a planet other than
our home world. It’s late now, and Zoe is almost asleep, her head drooping
against Tin’s shoulder.

“The last time you said that,” Tin says slowly, “you bought a slave and
turned our lives upside down.”

Zoe’s eyes open at that, but Sadi waves it away. “Juhan isn’t a slave.
And I’m not forcing any of you to do this. I can’t. Now that Daddy is dead, you
will likely find other employment.”

The two bodyguards exchange a look and I laugh softly. Sadi’s cool gaze
comes to rest on me. “What?”

“They won’t leave you, idiot,” I say, letting all my affection filter through.
“Not when you’re in danger.”

She looks at Tin, then Brando, who stares back with blank impassivity.
For a moment, her psyche wavers, and I almost stand and go to her. Then it
steadies and she nods, blinking rapidly. “Fair enough. I want to take Daddy’s
seat in the Senate.”

I blink, startled, and she leans forward before any of us can form an
argument. “I could do it; you all know I could. It’s a game, and it’s one I’ve
always been exceptionally good at.”

“Sadi, it’s a game that gets people killed,” Brando says, gently.

“If you aren’t careful, yes.”

“When have you
ever
been careful?” he demands.

She ignores him. “Senatorial seats are often handed down through
families. I’m a natural choice.”

“Except,” Zoe says, “that you’re only twenty-three.”

“There isn’t an age requirement for the IPS. There can’t be, not with
the short-lived races.”

“We aren’t a short-lived race.”

“The Senate will never accept you, Sadi. They’ll treat you like a child
at best, an interloper at worst, and most often as a tasteless joke,” Brando
says bluntly.

“Unless”—she hesitates, and glances at me, her nerves spiking—“I do what
no one has done in over a hundred years.”

They fall quiet, watching, and I nod, slowly. “You want to bring the
Eleyi into the Senate.”

I lean against the doorway as Sadi has her face dusted again. She looks
impressive, in a professionally cut suit of ash grey with a purple blouse and a
silver crest hanging on a delicate chain at her throat.

Just enough to remind the devoted public that she is still the little
girl they fell in love with.

She catches my eye as the live feed begins, and she launches into the
speech we scripted together, through the long nights this past month.

-You can’t back down, not after this,-
I
say. And she allows a smile, a real one, not meant to toy with the emotions of
her audience, to turn her lips. A smile for me, a smile that reminds me of Sadi
when I first met her, six months ago, the lovely cursing whirlwind who rescued
me from a hell on earth, and set my feet to a path I could never have fathomed.

My Sadi, still there, hidden behind the quiet demeanor of Sadiene
Renult.

I turn away. We’ll leave soon, for Eleyiar, after she campaigns here.
But it won’t be long. They will be all too willing to support the daughter of
their fallen Senator.

Without really thinking, I reach, silently, for Chosi’le.

-I wish you were here, sister. It’s not right,
being free without you. And I do not know what to tell Father. Or Mother. What
do I tell them? How can I go home without you?-
I
pause, irrationally hoping that she will respond. Even knowing that she would
be punished, a tiny, selfish part of me hopes. Hopes she still cares. But there
is nothing, nothing but silence from the part of me where she should be. And an
ache, a pain that hasn’t stopped since she refused me on Pente, throbs in time
with my heartbeat, choking off every feeling but pain and guilt.

I left her there.

-Sadi says she is doing this for the Eleyi.
She’s not—she’s doing it because someone hurt her. And she’ll hurt them back.
She’s so young, and I know Brando is worried. But she will do what no one else
can. She’ll change the Eleyi.

I look back at Sadiene, quietly closing her statement. She’s officially
running for the Senate seat. And she’s starting her campaign here, on New
Earth, before leaving for Eleyiar. I close my eyes, forcing down the rising
wave of grief. I shouldn’t be going home. Not without my sister.

The flutter against my psyche is so light, I almost dismiss it. But then
it comes again, and with it, a familiar psyche, brushing like moth wings
against me.

-Don’t be sad, brother,-
Chosi’le
says, and I gasp, tears in my eyes as I slide to an ungraceful heap on the
floor. -
Support your lady. Do what our people need. I don’t need you to
rescue me.-

She’s fading so quickly I panic. -
Don’t leave me, Chosi,-
I beg,
clutching her psyche. I can feel tears on my face, and
her
wrapped around me—I can’t lose that. Not again. I don’t know
who I am without my sister.

I don’t realize I’ve Spoken aloud, until she responds.
–You are who you have to be. And I am doing
what I have to do.-

-I
don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be separated.-

A feather light touch of amusement drifts through her.
-Neither do I. But we are where we are—and
we will get through it. You promised.-

A swell of love, of everything that my sister is, wraps around me, and
she fades, leaving only the echo of quiet faith and enduring love.

Sadi is crouched next to me, her hand on my shoulder, and I see in her
worry the girl who flouted her father and bought a slave. This is the girl who
holds my future—my sister’s, my people’s—future, in her tiny hands.

And with the fading presence of my sister in my mind, I finally relax.
And put my hand in hers.

Read the end of Juhan and Chosi’s story in

Violent
Freedom

Coming Fall 2015.

Juhan’tr

I face the wide viewer window, staring out into
space as behind me, the vid interview wraps. Sadiene Renult-Harvine is running
for the empty Senate seat, and half the IPS is trying to get in touch with the
youngest senatorial candidate in the history of New Earth. Everyone wants a
sound bite, and a vid feed and a promise.

Everyone but me.

She wraps it up, and I’m vaguely aware of her
dismissing Tinnex to edit the vid before she strips off the classically
appropriate top and strides over to me. Under it, she’s clad in a ribbed tank
top, and practice leathers. Standard Sadi attire for space travel.

“They like seeing you with me, Juhan.” She says.
It’s very carefully not an accusation, or an order, and her mind is blank.

It annoys me anyway.

“I don’t care what they like, Sadi. You know
that. I’m tolerating this because there’s no other way without killing the
entire jakta.”

I still haven’t completely dismissed that
theory. Force will get Chosi back, and it is almost worth the hate I will see
in her eyes.

“Tolerating won’t win the election,” Sadi says
sharply.

-I’m not your pawn.-
 

She recoils, and I turn back to the viewer.
Space is slipping by, as we stream through the star spangled darkness. I can
feel the soft shudder of the ship, and know we’re pushing too fast. She’s doing
it because of me, because of my impatience and insistence. But I don’t tell her
to stop. I don’t tell her how unsafe it is.

We don’t have long, to make a move before the
IPS locates her. The satellite vid feeds will only placate the voters for a
tiny window of time. Then they will want her, in places where they can see her.
New Earth will want her on planet, and their closest allies will expect
negotiation meetings. She will be wined and dined across the universe, all to
court the vote that could. Might. Maybe.

It’s not a guarantee. There are no guarantees.
There is only the mad hope and Sadi’s insane plans.

How in the stars have I managed to get caught in
another one of those?

Glossary of People and
Places

Note on Eleyi Wings.

Eleyi have a given name (i.e. Chosi) and an appellation (le) that
denotes what type of wings they have.

Tr- double dragonfly wings.

Le- translucent moth wings.

Re- bat wings

De- Feathered wings, much like angel wings.

Ka-butterfly wings

People
:

Juhan’tr et Chentq
—Eleyi.
Dark hair and eyes, green, jewel toned dragonfly wings. Twin of Chosi. Where
Chosi pushes the Eleyi way, Juhan embraces it completely. A talented psychic,
he hides his strength. Taken by the Yalten, and bought by Sadiene Renult-Harvine.

Chosi’le et Chentq
—Eleyi.
Pale, with white hair and light eyes, translucent moth wings. Twin of Juhan.
She is argumentative and temperamental, and often fights. Taken by the Yalten,
and bought by Henri Argot.
Also called
Brielle.

Argot Jakta:

Henri Argot
--Pente native, a young
ja owner shaking utheArena circut. Dark brown skin, golden hair cut shortand
severe, sky blue eyes. Ruthless and emotionless.

Catelyn
—pet Eleyi of Henri Argot. Informs on other
slaves. Holds a special grudge against Chosi.

Hintu
--a dark gray draken.

Jemes
--Sinese. Humanioid race, with ink black skin,
pale blue eyes, and black silk hair. A slave in the jakta bound for service

Kevan
—Pente. A gladiator chosen to train Jemes. Lover
of Kristoff.

Krato
--the beatmast for the Argot jakta. Pente.

Kristoff
—Pente. Assigned to
mentor and train Chosi after the auction. He is a mix of brutality and caring,
and he devises a plan to keep Chosi alive.

Meinia
--a blue-black draken. Within the clutch, he is
the most hostile and distrustful.

Miwya
—the big black draken. The oldest and largest
draken, and first to trust Chosi.

Natsu
--a small grayish female draken.

Petyr’re
—Eleyi. Bat-winged.
Marked as fodder.

Prator Argot
—brother of Henri, his
second in command at the jakta. Vicious and brutal.

Primus
—the gladiator trainer at the Argot jakta.

Sora
--a speckled gray draken.

Xtan
--Yalten. One of the slavers who stole Chosi.

Sadiene Harvine’s Household:

Sadiene Renult-Harvine
—Human
native to New Earth. The spoiled daughter of an IPS senator. Owner for Juhan,
with a mad plan to achieve Eleyi rights.
Commonly
called Sadi.

Brando Miltar
--Senator Harvine’s head
of security. Young for his post, he was promoted after rescuing Sadi from
kidnappers. Native of New Earth.

Danick Renult-Harvine
—Human.
long time sitting Senator from New Earth. Staunch supporter of Eleyi rights,
known for his abolitionist views.

Janelle
--the severe medic for the Argot jakta. Thin,
sharp featured, she knows more about the jakta than most.

Larkin
--the chief of staff for Senator Harvine. A
small, bald man ruled by logic and the need to protect the Senator
.

Tinnex Watson
--the personal bodyguard
to Sadi Renult.

Zoelle Renult
--the younger daughter
of Dannick Harvine-Renulte, of New Earth.

Others:

Deevid
—Pente. Retired gladiator, now a weapons dealer.

Fendra’de
--Eleyi. A whore of
Cenktari. Her wings have been burned away during the volcanic explosion.

Jereth Romeil
--Pente. A senator in
the IPS.

Kel’taen
--Senator from Mar’et.

Kendal
--the male prostitute who serves Tali.

Madam Tali
--a Jentar madam.
Emancipated. Rules on Cenktari.

Xtenanya
--a Yalten slaver queen.

Zeke Pallen
--Pente. Arena manager.

Places
:

Eleyiar
—the home world of Eleyi. A water bound world,
with ancient sentient trees. The Eleyi live in the treetops, in small clusters.

Interplantary Alliance
—the
alliance of planets and star systems that rule the universe.

Pente
—a desert planet given to entertainment.
Renowned for it’s blood sport.

Ariede
—The seat of the Interplanetary Senate, it is a
place of wealth and influence and fraught with politics.

Bt
erean Empire
--a planet ruled by a
single emperor. Lush and verdant, it is populated bya long lived race.

Cenktari
--a volcanic planet.
Called the Scarlet Stain, it’s a planet given to prostitution. Not a part of
the Interplanetary Alliance, it is a place of depravity and largely ignored by
the IPS.

Ceren
--a minor IPS system. Settled by a small race of
aliens, fragile and delicate appearing. A system with very little political
influence in the IPS.

Crathia
--a out rim planet, inhabited by a brutal race
of humanoid creatures. Although a member of the Alliance, Crathia maintains
isolation and many sell themselves into military service or jakta’s for the
chance to fight.

Eckon 2—
a member of the
Interplanetary Alliance. Neighbor to Renlarte.

Faculatas
--one of Spiro’s moons.
Unlike it’s planet, Faculatas is habitable, and the seat of education across
the Alliance--home of bordering schools and universities, as well as the elite
Academy.

Geurin
--a planet used by slavers for auctions.
Anything can be bought on Geruin--an army, or a queen.

Hubri
--the capital of Pente.

Ludie
--a swamp world. Populated by a reptilian race,
hairless with a thick scaly skin and slited cat eyes. Traditionally a silent,
dangerous race.

Luern System
--a minor IPS system.

Mar’et
--a minor IPA planet valuable for trade and
location along the space routes.

New Earth
—settled by human
refugees when Earth was overwhelmed by it’s population and pestilence.

Renlarte
--member of the
Interplanetary Alliance. A hostile planet. Known for their undefeated military and
the refusal to allow Others on their planet. The Renlarte are a psychic race
whose gifts fade as they go through puberty. The adults are androgynous.

Sine
--a small life sustaining planet with twin suns.
It holds no sway in the IPA, but is protected by law.

Yalten
—a wet jungle planet inhabited by an insect
race.

Terms
and Races:

Beastboy
—the slaves dedicated to
training and caring for the wild beasts in a jakta.

Centuriad
—the Century of Peace
celebration, hosted by the IPS.

Ceruia
--a small race of creatures who specailze in
beauty and appearance. Renowned for design and cosmetic skills.

Common
—the language used across the IPA.

Consuls
--the three child rulers of the Renlarte who
rely on their psychic skills to rule. They are called by their office titles:
Zentra, Tentra, Kentra.

Cybertulres
—the vidfeeds that
report gossip and news.

Draken
--native of Pente, a creature of smoke and fire.
Psychic abilities often make them seem incorporeal. Live in large nests and
families, in the mountains.

Eleyain
—the language of the Eleyi people, mostly
telepathic.

Eleyi
--the race of winged pacifists who inhabit
Eleyiar. Human ancestors.

Emancipation
—when a slave, typically
in a jakta or brothel, earns their freedom through patron gifts.

Fodder
—the name for slaves who will die in the arena,
used to bait the crowd and prolong matches.

Holostim
--a simulated situation
used for training.

Honored Dead
--the name given to
glads bound to an upcoming arena match.

Hukron
--Native of Secion 83. Scaly, spiked quadruple
reptile. A natural paralyzing venom coats the spikes and teeth.  

Hurkya
—a long staffed weapon with a curved hook.

Imperium
--a strategy game of
army, politicians and Emperor, popular within the aristocracy.  

Jakta
—the personally owned gladiator training houses
and stables. A respectable jakta will also house beasts for arena matches.

Ja
—the title given to the owner of a jakta

Keechei
--a liquor made on Pente, distilled from a rare
desert flower.

Kuduva
--a martial arts used by cage fighters on Pente.
Savage and difficult to learn, relies heavily on methodical forms and the
ability to weave them together

Leen
—the personal deep space craft of Sadi Renult.

Lemils
—a plant native to Eleyi. Staple food for the
Eleyi.

lynn
oil
--native
of Eleyiar. The sweet oil produced by the bitter lynn fruit. Commonly used in
cooking in ethnic dishes.

Myeteran
--a bug eyed race.

Other
—name given to any race other than your own.
I.E. Yalten and Pente are Other to Eleyi.

Others
--a term used for alien races not your own.

Patrons
--people who bet the most, and invest in their
favorite jaktas in exchange for privileges and access to gladiators.

Pentese
--language native to Pente.

Premtha
—large, vicious wild cats. Lives in large
prides, led by a female.

Prime Director
--the supreme leader of
the Renlarte.

Producers
--the ruling body on
Pente.

Sevenday
—a IPS standard week.

Speak
—when a Eleyi communicates telepathically.

Taken
—the term for Eleyi who are captured and sold
into slavery.

Tryen
Curso
--a
strong blue liquor. Enhances emotion.

Wilding
--an untamed gladiator or beast used in the
arena