That will make it easy to find us.
They do not know where you are on the continent—don’t show her the colony map.
“Perhaps we can sit down over dinner, with our people, and I can show you a map of the other continent.” Alisha says as if this is her land and she is the one being generous. It is a chance for the leader to save face, instead of being taken off guard by the news that there are other people on the forgotten continent.
The leader narrows her eyes. “Is your mate a banished warrior?”
I don’t bother translating the question aloud. I tell Alisha silently. There is no point when the truth cannot be hidden. “I am. And like my banished brothers, I am glad to see the continent of my birth once again, but I do not wish to live here. I have been chosen by a Pilot.” I use the English word because I cannot translate it, and I like the way it sounds as if it is an important title. “My home is across the sea.”
“But you came here to hunt banished.” It’s not quite a question or an accusation. The leader wants it to be a statement, as if she understands what is going on.
Alisha nods in agreement. “We give them a chance to contribute to our colony.”
“You want warriors, and my warriors want mates,” the leader says.
I do not like where this is going. Alisha mutters a soft curse.
“Since I interrupted your mating celebrations and hunt, I will offer you three warriors and will keep your three women.” The leader smiles.
Alisha’s grip tightens.No, she can’t keep them.
We are outnumbered and cannot fight our way out of this. It may be the only thing we can do.
I cannot leave them. The colony will send soldiers.
We will need to convince them not to.
I don’t know if the colony will listen, but I do know that fighting today will only make things worse and may result in our deaths. Which means the colony will lose a ship, a pilot, as well as their people. They will then come seeking answers.
“Are your women not allowed to choose a mate?” Alisha asks.
I glance at her, because she knows they do, but at her nod I translate.
“Of course they do,” the leader sounds offended, and I do not blame her.
“How can I be assured that my women will be given the same respect?”
The leader smiles, but it’s cold. “They came here to hunt a banished warrior. What I can offer is far better. There are second and third sons with trades who are eager to be chosen by a mate, of any kind.” Her lip curls.
The last bit is an insult, suggesting that humans are lesser. And that by taking banished warriors as mates, they know they are lesser.
“You are assuming your second and third sons want a human mate. And that human women want to live in your tribe. We give people the choice of which tribe they want to live with.” Alisha rests her free hand on the ship. “No one has chosen to leave.”
It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that the humans have technology that the Honey haven’t even dreamed about. And a hint that life in the colony is better than in a tribe. For me it has been, but then I never had a tribe. The colony has given me security and a home…it is me who felt as though I had no place and offered no value. Perhaps it is because I never had a tribe that I did not understand what it is like to be part of one. Living with my banished brothers was all about survival, avoiding other warriors, finding enough food and stealing clothing and equipment. Living in a colony is very different as there is enough as long as everybody does their small job.
“Tell me, why did you not take a human mate if you have so many men?” The leader presses.
“Shit,” Alisha whispers.
Tell her you don’t want children, and that human men are lazy lovers.
Alisha presses her lips together and tries not to smile.I can’t say that.
Well, you need to say something, and the truth is a bad idea.
Though I’m not sure the truth is believable… after all, who would choose a mate as part of a plan to rescue people? What kind of warrior, even a banished one, agrees to that kind of plan?
The kind who figured that his life was destined to be short and why not take the risk.
