Lawked Flame (37 page)

She caught him off guard by bringing him into the
conversation. “What?”

“
Would you have accepted the offer of a human
Kee if you knew one day there would be a need to
separate?”

He gazed at her, she knew the answer. “No. I would
not have.”

She returned her gaze to Clotho. “Exactly, no one
would have. If I had been given a choice, I wouldn’t have, either.
And that’s what makes this so fucked up. Mother Nature is playing a
game with our lives and we don’t like that. She knew that was an
option all the time and never revealed it to anyone, or did
she?”

Clotho shook her head vehemently, tears pooling in
her eyes. “Oh, no, Mistress, she never told me. I would have told
the Master right away and I know he would have refused. This whole
situation is a disaster and I feel responsible because I did not
foresee this happening.”

Khayden turned away. In two long centuries, this was
the second time he had seen the older woman cry. The first time had
been over the death of his parents. Alayna patted her hand, while
eying him.

He shook his head. Trust was easily broken and hard
to repair. “Is there anything else you remember from the
conversation? Anything else that would help us make our plans on
how to go forward?” Alayna asked.

“
I am unsure what she plans to do about the
Frejyn, she did not say.”

“
Can she do anything to stop the Lawkmerians
from leaving?”

Khayden stiffened at the question, wondering why he
had not thought of it himself. Just because he controlled the
portal didn’t mean he had control; the access was on Earth.

“
No, she cannot. Although I got the feeling
she was not ready for us to leave. As I said, there are some
elements here that she would like help with.”

“
You mean the rogue Geleet?”

“
Yes, Mistress. For some reason, she was very
concerned about them. It makes no sense because most of them are
destroyed and they lost their portal.”

“
Maybe she knows more than she was willing to
share with you. But I have another question.” Alayna said, glancing
at him before turning to Clotho. “How does she see a partnership
between the Lawkmerians and herself? What is she bringing to the
table?”

Clotho frowned. “Table? I am unsure—“

Khayden snorted, he had admonished her time and
again on her short-cut words.

After throwing him a haughty glare, she smiled at
the older woman. “What I meant to say was, what is she offering us
for this partnership?”

Clotho shrugged obviously trying to figure out where
the question was going. “I guess the opportunity to continue living
here.”

“
But we are revolutionaries, we have regained
our planet. Tell me what is she offering? Because we can now return
to our home.”

She winked at him and stared at Clotho. The two
women stared for a few more minutes, and then his former Gramier
smiled.

“
I will discover this for you.” She moved to
stand.

Alayna covered her hand, forcing her to remain
still. “Call her from here. Tell her we are here and you have
relayed her comments. Then ask her what she wants from us and what
she is willing to give in return.”

Khayden watched her for a moment and then turned to
Clotho. “I will clear a private pathway for you.”

Clotho nodded, reclined in her seat and closed her
eyes.

Since he was monitoring the conversation, he knew
the moment she made contact. The fact that she went limp in her
chair was also a good indication.

Alayna started to speak, but he waved her down. He
wrote “blank your mind” on a piece of paper and slid it across the
desk.

She nodded and looked up at the ceiling.

While not actively eavesdropping, he did monitor the
connection, hoping to pick up some of the conversation, but could
not. Together, he and Alayna waited for over an hour for Clotho to
return to them. He was getting concerned when she finally stirred
and opened her eyes. The connection was still live. He stopped
Alayna from speaking as he waited to hear who would speak, Clotho
or the Good Mother.

“
You no longer trust your advisor? Pity, she
is a good woman and you misjudge her loyalty. She was a worthy
advocate for your race.” The deep pitch of her voice surprised him,
and from the look on his Kee’s face, her as well.

Khayden replied, “Nevertheless, an ambassador cannot
have divided loyalties.”

“
True. I would have her remain here, but she
says you will not permit it.”

“
No.”

“
Are you attempting to bait me into offering
an exchange? I assure you that would not work. The Kee will remain
here until her parent dies.”

This time he could not keep the surprise off his
face. Bartering between his Kee and Gramier had never entered his
mind. He wondered just how close Clotho had become to Nature’s
Mother.

“
So we have been told. What I want to know is
why? And not that 'justice being repaid' excuse, either. Do not
forget I am well versed in the ruling of a race of people and I
know that is an easy matter to ignore.”

For a moment, no one spoke. Then Clotho became
animated again. “There may be a time when your assistance is needed
again.”

Khayden scoffed. “And holding my Kee hostage will
endear me to assisting you? Why did you not just ask for
assistance?”

“
The cost may be too high.”

“
Like the cost to the Lawkes? You did that on
purpose. I wonder, what excuse you would’ve come up with if he
hadn’t helped my mama?” Alayna asked.

“
Ah, she makes a fine Kee, does she not Master
Lawke. What price would you pay for her?”

Pissed, Alayna reached for Clotho.

Alayna
! he called
down their link.

Snarling, she stopped and retook her seat.

“
Her worth is not what is on the table. While
I appreciate your assistance, I think you should know, she is part
Lawkmerian and your hold is not absolute.”

“
I am aware of how your unlocking process
works. But her heart is now and will always be human. If you
attempt to change that, she will die.” Clotho shivered. Khayden
thought she must be trying to break the connection.

“
No. My Kee is a large part of me and will
live as long as I breathe, with or without a human heart. What you
forgot to factor in is Alayna only needed your consent to leave
immediately because her body has not completely transformed. But it
is changing. Once that changes, she will be as I am.”

He ignored the wide-eyed glare from his Kee. They
would talk after this negotiation was done. After all, she had set
it in motion.

“
I sense you believe what you are
saying.”

“
No, what you sense is the truth. You were
never told everything about my people. Now you understand why. This
is a temporary hold you have on my Kee. Whichever comes first and
then she is free to leave.”

“
I can forbid you to stay.”

“
No, you cannot. Rather than waste time on
idle threats, tell me what you want and we will consider it.
Otherwise, this conversation is over and we will continue as we
have, with the exception of offering any assistance.”

Now that they no longer needed Earth as a place of
refuge, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. Glancing at his
Kee, he smiled. She was angry on his behalf. Never once did she
think he would leave her. Instead, she had come up with a practical
solution that in his anger he had missed.

Finally she spoke. “There are more creatures here.
These are more dangerous because they can hide in plain sight. They
look like humans, but they are destroying resources. They have
formed an alliance with those you defeated.”

Alayna’s brow furrowed. Her decision to help was
clearly written on her face. She looked at him and nodded. They
would discuss it later.

Alayna cleared her throat. “To be clear, you expect
us to wade into dangerous situations to stop your enemies from
stealing your resources.”

He smothered a laugh. The way his Kee asked the
question made the whole idea preposterous, even though he knew she
had already decided to help. That set up the question of why? Why
would we do such a thing? He waited to hear the answer.

“
Yes, and I have no real answer for why you
would do such a thing. Other than to help contain the problem so it
will not spread to other planets.”

“
You can do better than that and you know it,”
Alayna challenged.

He reclined and allowed his Kee the reins, she was
in her element.

“
What would you have me say or do? There is a
problem. I want you to fix it.”

“
Not without compensation. Relax the ruling on
my ability to leave.”

“
No.”

“
Yes. Give me something. Perhaps I can stay
for a month at a time and then return for two. That would
work.”

“
What’s to stop you from returning? Within a
short period of time, you will be beyond my control. A month is too
long.”

Alayna winked at him. “Too long? Our son will be
Lawkmerian. Khayden has to spend time in Lawkmeria. His people need
him in order to survive. You cannot condemn an entire race to
extinction simply to fight shadowy creatures on your behalf.”

“
Perhaps if you commit to fight a certain
length of time, regardless of how long you are required to remain,
I may be amenable to allowing you to leave now and stay for a month
at a time as you suggested.”

“
You know I cannot personally commit to stay
and fight, but if you are requesting a small team to track and
destroy your enemies that might be something we can agree to,”
Alayna said, watching him shake his head.

He would prefer to stay than have that albatross
around their necks. They had a country to run, and he would not
commit to stay here to fight for Earth, when humans could never
assist them.

“
How long would you agree to stay?”

Khayden knew the Good Mother would want them to stay
until the threat passed, but Earth attracted varied groups of
aliens. Some peaceful, some not. There was always outside conflict
that manifested into wars and pestilence. He looked at his Kee, she
wanted to come home with him now and that pleased him. The monthly
rotations were temporary and something he would handle.

“
Ten Earth years, but we reserve the right to
leave earlier if this particular enemy is eradicated sooner.
Understand, our team will not focus on other threats, just this
one.” This time he winked when Alayna stared at him in
surprise.

“
What if the problem is not corrected by then?
Will you renegotiate?”

“
It depends on the circumstances.” What he
meant was, if he still needed the rotation for his Kee, they would
renegotiate.

“
What if the rotation was a month on and a
month off, would that guarantee a renegotiation of the
terms?”

His brow rose as he looked at Alayna. Interesting
offer. Especially since he had no idea how long her complete
transformation would take. It could be months or years. Besides
there was the lifetime of her mother to consider as well.

“
I can agree to renegotiations, but nothing
more. It may well be that we refuse to continue at that time. Do
you agree to those terms?”

“
Clotho suggested her young Mistress take her
place as the Lawkmerian Liaison, I can see why. But you will be
absent every other month. I request you allow the former Gramier to
remain in her position. I assure you, she has never betrayed you.
Quite the contrary, she argued admirably in your defense. I took
advantage of her lack of knowledge in some areas and pressed
forward my own agenda. With your return to Lawkmeria, that has
changed and you no longer have an obligation to me. I would
consider it a great favor if you reconsider.”

“
According to the agreement we just made,
Alayna may leave for a calendar month and return for a calendar
month, and then leave again. That agreement has nothing to do with
my former Gramier,” Khayden said, adamant.

“
That is why I requested you do so and would
consider it a favor.”

Alayna stared at him until he turned in her
direction. She nodded her agreement. It went against everything to
reward Clotho for what he considered her betrayal. But the look of
excitement in his Kee’s eyes went a long way to assuage his
temper.

“
I will see to it as soon as you release
her.”

Chapter 25

Alayna and Lorenzo watched the final battle for
Lawkmeria. Her heart swelled with pride as Khayden and the other
Lawkes mowed down the Geleet with stealth and precision. A blaze of
blue fire zipped in and out of buildings, corralling those who
thought to hide from Lawkmerian justice. The fight lasted most of
the day. By the evening, she was tired, but refused to sleep until
Khayden returned with the some of the Lawkes. Lorenzo stood to
leave, and grabbed his shopping bags.

“
Why not wait? Benicke’s going to return with
Khayden, and then he can help you carry all those bags home,” she
said.

They had gone shopping earlier, and she'd decided to
purchase maternity clothes when she saw the awesome selection in
Jordan Marsh, the department store in the Harven. Although she
thought it weird, since three weeks ago there had been no
pregnancies in two hundred years.