He nodded, his face set in serious lines.“My people believe on occasion a fated mate will be granted to a fortunate individual by the gods.I never heard of it happening with a human but I knew the instant we were introduced you were a woman I could so easily fall in love with.And while we were working together, I did.But now in my attempt to do the honorable thing, I’ve brought utter disaster upon both of us.”
“Does this discussion have to do with the box you’re holding?”She pointed at the container gripped tightly in the coils of his tail.
He set the box on her coffee table as she watched in fascination.“Did you know my people are born of eggs?”
She blushed.“I might have done a bit of research when you were assigned to the office.”Nervously she ran her hand through her hair and focused on the box, licking her lips.“To make sure I could provide you the best support.”
“Of course.Your thoroughness is an attribute I admire greatly,” he said but his involuntary assessment of her other, more physical attributes was highly appreciative.With a self-conscious cough, he averted his eyes and straightened.“When clutches are laid at high born Houses, there’s a ceremony known as egg matching, whereby certain individuals are entered into alliances by their parents?—”
Amellia hadn’t seen any references to this ritual.Actually she’d stopped doing research after discovering the Zackmarune were egg layers.She’d done a little checking on whether human women could mate with a male from the alien planet, got discouraged by all the scientific mumbo jumbo and checked it out on an interstellar chat board, where she’d learned they could, and could even have children with a bit of medical intervention.None of the information helped tonight with this bizarre conversation.“Before they hatch?How do the parents know who to put with whom?”
“There are subtle markers on the eggs, which skilled priests can interpret through the use of sacred lanterns.The thing is, I was egg matched with one who became Sharshanna, a beautiful but spoiled daughter of another House.”He flicked a glance at her and smiled ruefully.“I fled my planet at adulthood and joined the Sectors military to escape our match truthfully.We’re long lived and there was plenty of time to be tail fasted.Honestly, she was such a schemer and climber, I hoped she’d manage an alliance with royalty and jilt me.”
Watching his face, Amellia was struck by the tension in his clenched jaw and the pulse beating hard at his temple.“But she didn’t?”
“Oh, she schemed and maneuvered with the best of them no doubt but hadn’t quite achieved her goals.I must explain in these modern times it’s common and quite accepted to sever the egg match once adulthood arrives.My taking the course of action carries no shame or dishonor for either of us.I think many people were probably surprised I’d waited so long to take the step.She’d certainly provided enough provocation.”
Reassurance seemed necessary so Amellia patted his hand.“I believe you.”
Hagan responded earnestly.“I wanted to be free to court you with honor.”
There was silence.Hoping to advance the conversation and get to the meat of whatever Hagan believed he needed to tell her, Amellia pointed at the box.“Is this what was delivered to the office while you were out in the field?”
“Yes.”He stirred the leaves with the tip of his tail, pulled out a coil of red vine and dropped it distastefully.“She took my actions badly.”
“How badly?”
“She’s cast a curse on us.”
Jaw dropping, Amellia couldn’t help herself and burst into laughter.“I’m sorry,” she gasped, trying to smother her amusement as Hagan blinked.“A curse?Really?And that’s what has you so worried?In this day and age I hardly think we need to give it a second thought, even if she did send you a funky old box full of rodent skulls or dead flowers or whatever.Unless she hired D’nvannae assassins too, we’re probably going to be fine.”
Hagan remained serious.“I could handle the assassins—let them try to get past me to harm you.But this curse—there’s nothing to be done.At dawn we’ll both die.”
An awkward silence fell.Amellia took a deep breath and rose from the couch.“I’m going to make us some coffee.I’ll even break out the good stuff, none of the synthetic caff beans, and then we can go over the details of this problem again.Are you hungry?I could throw together sandwiches.”
“Without fail you’re so kind and considerate,” he said.“I wish I’d gone ahead and courted you from the moment I first arrived.”
“I wish you had too,” she said before she could stop the words.“But cheer up, I’m sure we’ll be joking about this tomorrow night.I’ll treat you to dinner to celebrate.”
He shook his head, dislodging two more of the beautiful scales.Her cat emerged from under the couch to chase the shiny octagons as they bounced on the carpet.“We’re doomed.By this time tomorrow our families will be mourning us.”Slamming his fist on the table, he made her jump in surprise.“I wish I’d never brought this curse on your head.”
Amellia escaped into the kitchen, unsure what she could say to bolster his confidence.It was unsettling to see this imposing warrior so defeated.As she went mechanically about the effort of brewing real coffee, drawn from her tiny, expensive hoard, and making sandwiches, she turned the problem over and over in her mind.She vaguely recalled hearing once if a person believed strongly enough in a curse, they would die whether there was true magic involved or not.
He’s not well already or his scales wouldn’t be molting and he’s so shook up over this.She had no fear of black magic from another planet striking her down at the behest of a spiteful, jealous female.
But even as the thought crossed her mind, she remembered how handling the box had made her nauseous and the fact she’d become ill herself earlier in the evening, about the time Hagan was opening the box.No, no, no,I’m not going to think like this.I simply have to convince Hagan he’ll be okay and then wait for dawn to come and go without incident.
Amellia checked the situation in the living room and saw Hagan with his head in his hands, his tail uncurled and limp across the arm of the couch and realized no words from her were going to suffice.The sight broke her heart, as he was plainly in such black despair.Falling back on her organizational strengths, she decided to make a mental list of their options, starting with a trip to the emergency room.Maybe if Hagan could find out a medical reason for his flaking scales, he’d be able to relax.
Or we could go see Auntie Cheline.
Bracing herself on the counter, Amellia considered the option.Her mother’s oldest sister was a self-styled witch, claiming to have studied in the far-off mountains with ancient masters of the craft and certainly she excelled at making up herbal concoctions for minor ailments.Amellia had heard it said her aunt also dabbled in love spells and the like.
Taking out her handheld, she made a call.
“What in the name of the spirits are you calling me at this hour for?”said her aunt grumpily as the com link opened.From the tiny hologram, Amellia could see the elderly woman had obviously been asleep.“Is something wrong with your mother?”
“No, she’s fine.I uh I need your help, Auntie.”
