Authors: Maureen O. Betita
“It destroyed the flutterbees. I imagine it would have a cumulative effect on any who took it for an extended length of time.” He suddenly sat up straighter. “Oh! He attempted to dose Cameron. I’ll have to watch for side-effects.”
“Why are you certain he attempted to use this poison on the librarian?” Thandin tilted his head at the doctor.
“She felt odd after touching the books he’d left for her. Kharmon discharge wouldn’t normally make fingers burn. Though I don’t know the long term effects of the poison, perhaps it would,” Daniel mused. “He had a vial he tried to force her to drink. I was unable to remove it after he fell, not wishing to disturb the soil.”
“Lies!” Honi screamed. “There was no burning from his essence! I should know!”
Daniel said nothing, but stood. “Do you wish to testify, Seamstress Honi?”
“Yes, let us hear from the seamstress,” Thandin agreed. “Daniel, will you take a seat while Honi testifies?”
“Certainly.” Daniel sat to one side. He felt his eyes drift closed and wondered at the languid feeling rising up his spine. He shook his head, intent on focusing attention on the seamstress. Teemin appeared pleased to have her on the chair. Daniel felt his cock grow erect and shifted his tunic to cover the situation. He had a vision of Cameron and Tendar, in the water, and smiled.
Cameron frolicked in the water with the other women for nearly an hour. They insisted on showing her how to ride the small waves and she enjoyed herself. When they began to seek more than just games, Cameron swam deeper. She’d always been a good swimmer and her guard simply waved from the shore. She’d left him to finish off the feast Pindari had sent.
Calm water filled the bay, soothing her body and settling her spirit. Again, she felt an odd sort of contentment floating in the water. Her hand rose and held her right breast, the nipple taut. She sighed.
“Sweet Cameron,” a sigh rose from the water. She wasn’t surprised to feel Tendar rise from behind her. She glanced at the shore, but the guard was enjoying the attention of the human women. Tendar kept his head low in the water. “Float, sweet woman. Let me touch you as you float.”
“Oh, I missed you,” she sighed. “Won’t you get in trouble?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He skimmed beneath her, his fingers busy touching, pinching, inserting themselves in the soft, warm places where she needed to feel him. She spread her legs, eyes tracing the clouds in the sky as he filled her. He kept her from sinking into the water as she climaxed.
He spun her about, his face just above the surface. “Cameron, Daniel has spoken of the bond we build?”
“Yes, and I want this, Tendar. To know you and Daniel as part of me, always. I don’t fully understand, but I trust you will tell me what I need to know.” She smiled as he floated next to her, invisible to the shore. She slid hands around his penis, small fingers running down to stroke the place he called his second mouth. His back arched, face sinking into the water. She just smiled as bubbles rose from his open mouth. She knew he wouldn’t drown.
He could scream and cry out under the water, all but putty in her hands. At last, she relented at a shout from the guard. She waved at him and looked into the water, at Tendar. His eyes were wide, full of longing and love and she smiled. “I have to go.”
He rose just enough to speak to her. “I know. But I am near you. I can feel Daniel, feel his relief. Soon.”
“I thought so,” she whispered, bent as if she were diving down to strip the hair back from her face. He seized her and kissed her, then urged her back to the shore, as he swam back to where he’d entered the water.
As Cameron reached the shore, she was unaware of the glow dripping off her body with the water. Her guard glanced out to the sea, slightly suspicious. He saw a glint out at the horizon and studied it.
“Early in the season for dragons,” he mused. Cameron slid back into her tunic as he focused on the glint. The sun was nearing setting and the odd glint disappeared. He turned to Cameron. “You enjoyed the bay.”
“Yes, very much. I would get too cold in the waters of Earth.” She smiled, then yawned.
“I have heard that from others.” He gestured back toward the estate. “They will not hold a hearing this evening. Thandin has a small library, just a matter of some shelves. You are to have access. He will join you.”
“Wonderful.” She strode back with confidence. The heat of her encounter with Tendar traveled up her spine, spreading out to each limb with a gentle power. Hunger rose and she hoped Pindari had been part of the meal preparation.
When she joined Thandin in the library, he glanced at her, then quickly looked away. He strode to a window, inhaled deeply to calm himself before addressing her. Cameron sensed his unease and said nothing, just walked to a bookshelf and examined the titles.
At least, Thandin turned back to her. “You must learn to hide the essets better, Librarian.”
“I’m sorry, sir. But I honestly don’t know how.” She sighed. “In the past, I was better at hiding. Ix is stripping the ability from me.”
“Breathe deeply, eat often,” Thandin advised. “I will see food is left in your room. It will help.”
“I will do as you suggest, Thandin,” She touched the books. “You have a diverse collection of fairy tales!”
“I live where dragons frequent. Thinkers would visit and generally bring a book. So few actually saw the dragons and left the books when they returned to their estates,” he explained. “Bandi says there is dragon sign on the water. You may be a fortunate one, Cameron.”
“They are coming?” She turned, excited at the prospect.
“It seems likely. The season is wrong, but dragon customs aren’t always discernible. I will speak to you of this afternoon’s revelations at the trial. Honi was deposed.” He sighed. “My father used her mercilessly.”
“He hurt her?” Cameron took hold of a chair and sat, considering the vile words he had spoken to her. “Is she going to be all right?”
“Your concern for her is laudable. My physician is examining her for any poisonous affects from Jefarin’s dabbling in poisons. He didn’t overtly hurt her, he just used her. As an informant to what was occurring on Tendar’s estate. He wooed her and fed her suspicions of you, how you were harming his son. She is a simple Kharmon and he fooled her completely.” Thandin took a seat near Cameron. “She stole your journal. But more seriously, she disturbed Jefarin’s burial site. She stole his dragon scale.”
Cam blinked. “I don’t fully understand the custom, but Daniel did explain to me that Ix would absorb Jefarin’s body so the body must not be moved. She moved him?”
“Did you see his position after the fall?”
“No, I heard the crack of his back.” She closed her eyes. “It was so loud.”
“Kharmon are tough, as you stated earlier today. It would take a great blow for his back to break. It was not your fault, Librarian. I am certain of that.” Thandin reached for her hand and held it. “The hearing will finish tomorrow. Teemin will contest the result, I have no doubt. He will have one final card to play. He can challenge Tendar to combat, contesting his right to oversee the library. If he sees the essets playing across your face, Saphiri and I believe he will challenge. If not for the library, for you.”
Cameron swallowed her fear. “Uh, make sure I have a big breakfast?”
Thandin chuckled. “Very practical of you. We will decide on Honi’s fate in the morning. The outcome regarding Jefarin’s death will be announced in the afternoon.”
“Honi broke a burial custom…what could happen to her?” Cameron recalled the female Kharmon with some softness. She had been helpful is finding nightclothes that were soft enough for Cameron to sleep in.
“She admitted to breaking a sacred trust. Much will depend on what Leon is able to discover regarding how much aphrodisiac my father used on her. She was truthful that she carried a concern that Daniel would deny Teemin Jefarin’s scale.” Thandin shook his head. “His letters sowed the seeds of distrust. I thought him too far gone in drink to be so clever.”
“Drunks aren’t always muddled.” Cam tilted her head. “You could tell she was truthful?”
“Lies carry a taste in the back of the throat. Saphiri and I prepared ourselves to know the truth. So, we see the essets clearly.” He gazed into her eyes. “Thinking of lying?”
“Can you tell if I just don’t speak?” She pulled her hand away.
“If you were carrying a heavy burden of guilt, yes. You saw Tendar this afternoon, that is plain. You don’t have to lie about it.” His eyes moved slowly from her eyes to her chest. “He is all over you. I know my brother’s touch. Don’t worry that I will tattle on him.”
She curled her feet up under the tunic, not sure what to say. Her mind flew, seeking another topic of conversation. With a start, she remembered her journal. “When do I get my journal back?”
“It is in your room now.” Thandin glanced up as the women from the surf entered, carrying trays of food. “Dinner is ready.”
“I’m starving.” Cameron quickly stood up, and stumbled, all but falling on Thandin’s lap.
He chuckled, then groaned. “Don’t let Teemin touch you tomorrow, Librarian. He isn’t a complete fool.”
“Uh, sorry.” She got to her feet with his help and together they sat to eat. As she ate, she became aware of her body, reacting to some signal. Her breasts ached, her nipples grew taut, her cunt pulsed with desperate longing. She dropped the utensil she’d been using as a sweat broke out on her skin.
Thandin watched. “Tendar is very confident. Here.” He held out a glass of water. “Drink and simply let it wash through you.”
Her hands shook too much. Thandin held the glass to her lips, helped her drink. He stayed with her as the sexual wave cascaded through her, waiting for her to recover before seeing dessert served. It saw her able to articulate again.
“He swims with Daniel. How much they love you, Cameron. It is impressive. I expect when the three of you come together next, the essets will soar into the sky.” He sat back, studying the ceiling tiles, each depicting dragon flight.
None had ever seen dragons fly. Not for centuries.
*****
The next morning arrived with a slight cloud cover. The ocean appeared frosted. Cameron stood on the balcony, aware of the warm air rushing over her skin. It felt like storm weather.
Not just on the outside!
Her hand stroked at her bare breast, remembering the dreams of the night before. She’d see Tendar today. And Daniel. She felt certain of it.
Thandin had said she could witness the discussion of Honi’s betrayal. She finished off the fruit left for her and then sat to a hearty breakfast. She wanted to understand why the friendly seamstress had turned against her. Bandi escorted her to the hearing room, and they sat in the back. Honi sat on the stool, shivering.
“That is Leon,” Bandi whispered in Cameron’s ear.
The dark skinned human was speaking to the conclave, “Following Physician Daniel’s direction, I tested Honi’s skin, blood, frills and essence. A small hive of flutterbees reacted, but not with the frenzy Daniel had described. I separated several of the females to ascertain if they were more or less sensitive. The females exposed longest, became extremely lethargic and easily handled. I actually held one on my hand, stroked her back, something they generally do not allow.”
“What do you deduce from these experiments?” Thandin asked.
“Honi was infected, and was made extremely suggestible. We have spoken of this and she understands.” Leon touched the seamstress on the shoulder.
“I don’t understand. Not really,” Honi all but whispered. “He was a good lover. Spoke of making me his new wife.”
Cameron sighed, feeling sorry for the female.
Parlani stood, near the lower benches. She held up a journal. “Seamstress Honi, you were sadly used. I was delayed because I stopped first at Teemin’s estate. I searched through Jefarin’s room and found this.”
“You searched my father’s room?” Teemin reared to his feet, fury obvious in his stance and volume. He tore down the steps and reached for the book. “You dare?”
“I am the eldest of my clutch, as was Jefarin.” She tucked the book next to her chest, meeting Teemin’s stare. “You did poorly not to seek answers at his residence. He kept this journal. An accounting of his experimenting with the aphrodisiac. Seamstress Honi is not the first he abused.”
“Teemin, we will examine this journal. Thank you, Parlani, for being clearheaded enough to search out answers.” Thandin took the book from his aunt. He opened it, turned several pages. “This is his hand. It is the old language.”
“He always preferred the old words,” Daniel’s voice came from the front row. Cameron felt her heart suddenly leap; she hadn’t realized he was there. She licked her lips, her skin broke out in a sweat.
Bandi swept an arm around her shoulders. “We should leave.”
“Fuck,” she whispered, burying her face into the Kharmon’s chest. “Help me?”
“Yes.” Bandi helped her stand up and they turned toward the door.
“What is she doing here?” Teemin shouted, noticing the movement in the upper tiers. “Seducing her guards? Bring her down!”
“Librarian Cameron expressed concern over Honi. I gave her leave to attend.” Thandin waved at Bandi. “She has permission to come and go as she wishes.”
“No! She shakes! The librarian is a carrier of this poison!” Teemin surged toward the stairs. Daniel moved to block him and was shoved aside; he had bought time for the rest to intercede. Pindari, Saphiri, and others stood between Teemin and the departing librarian.
Teemin blinked, focused on his hands. Then stared at Daniel with sudden awareness. He shuddered, took a step backward and sat next to his uncles.
Pindari helped Daniel stand. “Warn Tendar!” Daniel whispered to Pindari. “Teemin knows.”
Pindari simply nodded, holding Daniel through the surge of deep lust that finally threatened to swallow him. Knowing how near Cameron had been triggered his body so strongly, he barely heard the testimony continue. Parlani shared more of what she’d read, Thandin scanned the journal and confirmed her testimony.
Saphiri was distraught to hear that Jefarin had spent years wandering with Howard, and so had discovered the aphrodisiac nature of a plant the human found interesting. The plant also synthesized the toxin that dulled the Thinker ability. Jefarin had been fascinated and wooed the human. He’d left Howard at the outskirts of a human settlement, near death. Saphiri ran from the conclave, demanding a message be sent to her estate.
Thandin stopped reading from the journal, and met Honi’s eyes. “It is obvious you were poisoned. You were complacent to a degree that must be addressed and reparation must be made. When this conclave is dismissed, you will return with Saphiri to the jungle and help with Howard’s recovery. You accept?”