Like the Romans, “Join or die,” seemed to be the most likely message, but as was the case throughout time, regardless of where in the galaxy, the winners wrote the history, and it told the storytheywanted to tell.
The smell of delicious food wafted to Ella’s nose, snapping her back to the task at hand.
Food.
She redirected her focus and her feet to the source of the delightful aromas, heading to the open double doors of the dining hall. She stepped inside and nearly stopped in her tracks. So many priests of the order were there, yet it was incredibly quiet, nearly all the men eating in silence, though those in more ornate attire were talking in low voices.
It was a bit odd, but ultimately it didn’t matter. What did was the promise of a satisfying meal.
Ella made her way to the serving area and took a plate, heaping a good portion of food from the communal dishes onto it, but not so much as to seem unladylike. She was a guest, afterall, and this was the first time most of these men had actually seen the woman living under their roof.
“Is this seat taken?” she asked, joining a group of young priests at their long table.
The nearest shook his head. The others just stared in what looked like disbelief.
“Okay, thanks,” she said, sitting down and digging right in. “Oh, man, this is fantastic. My compliments to the chef.”
The men said nothing, staring at their food, but mostly picking at it rather than eating. Ella ignored them as best she could. If they didn’t want to talk, that was fine. She had plenty to think about after studying the artwork in the corridor. Namely, that her home planet was decidedlynotin the Dotharian Conglomerate, and if that was discovered, who knew what might happen?
She’d been abducted, violently at that, and her arrival here was a result of that. She hadn’t corrected them in their incorrect belief that her world was a new addition to the realm. But Draikis had mentioned something casually that sat like a cold rock in her belly. A lingering worry.
“The Dotharian Overseer for the sector is away on business, and while Elder Soparo is the arbiter of most matters, in your case we do need the overseer to decide how best to help you, given your situation. Likely, he will arrange to have you returned to your home world.”
Draikis had been upbeat about that. He’d clearly meant to be reassuring, but his words were anything but. Ella chewed her food slowly, musing just how bad things could get, and fairly soon at that.
What if they try to send me home? Shit. I want to get back, but if that happens, they’ll find out Earth isn’t part of their realm. And from what I’ve seen, odds are they’ll try to conquer us. We wouldn’t stand a chance.
On top of her concerns for her home, Ella had some very real worries of her own. And those dangers were so real she could feel them in her skin, quite literally.
And the tattoos. They gave me a full set of these runes thinking I’d lost them in the fire. If they find out I didn’t have them at all when I got here, what’ll they do to me? I mean yeah, I have them now, but I think I broke their law, even if unintentionally.
The Dotharians, and their Norvalian Sect by extension, were sticklers for the rules, that much had been made abundantly clear.
I need to read their laws. No loose interpretations, much as I appreciate Draikis’s help, but I need to see the originals to know just how screwed I am.
“Hey, I was wondering. Where could I find a copy of the laws? I’d love to get a better understanding of them.”
The men turned and stared in unison, but none spoke. At least not aloud. The glares, however, spoke volumes.
“Sorry, was I not supposed to ask about that? It’s just there are a lot of formalities and aspects I’m not entirely sure of. I hope that’s not?—”
“You do not speak here, female,” an angry voice said from just behind her.
Ella jumped, turning to find Totaxxis scowling down at her.
Did he just call mefemale? Jesus, what an incel,she grumbled silently, wisely keeping the thought to herself.
“I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I just?—”
“You are not allowed here. You should not be within our walls at all. If it was up to me?—”
“But it is not, Brother,” Draikis countered, striding into the dining hall, a worried look on his face. “You know this woman is our guest, and she is to be treated as such.”
Ella felt the rune on her chest twinge, her breath catching at the sight of his chiseled features. Totaxxis was not so impressed.
“Perhaps,” he growled. “But females are not permitted to dine with the brothers. You know this.”
“Ido. Butshedoes not. She is new to our ways. Our rules.”
