Takil began to doubt his own eyes. He had come to this club for years, and he had seen Qii and Amryi. He had seen how they worked together and cared for each other. “He loved you.”
“He was my brother. I don’t know what Rownt get up to, but trust me, there was nothing sexual there. He had a wife and children.”
Takil began to see the shape of the misunderstanding. Humans did tend to assume sexual connection where none existed. “Chilta is not sexual, but a Rownt would not serve as chilta for one genetically related.” The blood-relationship between Qii and Amryi complicated the issue. Takil had no idea how it might affect a palteia to never change allegiance—to go from the nest to a titled adult with the same person at his side. His heart ached for Amryi.
“But I thought a chilta was a dominant. That’s what the books say.” Amryi rested his hand on the chair opposite Takil and leaned forward.
“A chilta is one who cares for another.”
“Like a parent? No fucking way did you imply I’m a child.” Amryi crossed his arms over his chest. The gesture was familiar, but Takil only saw it when his Liam was angry.
Takil held his hands out with the palms up. “I am communicating poorly.” And he was showing his lack of experience so badly that he was pale enough to embarrass himself if any Rownt were to see him. “You are not a child just as the human who raised me is not a child. But Liam is a palteia. Ondry is a chilta.”
“Wait. You’re Liam’s son? Liam Munson? The Liam Munson? Holy fucking shit. We’ve had a celebrity in the bar. Qii would have given his left nut to put that on his flyers.” Amryi smiled, but the expression faded quickly. No doubt the loss of his chilta pained him still. Takil dreaded the day when one of his parents died because he knew the other would be inconsolable. Some said that the gods could not separate a true chilta and palteia and one would follow the other into death rather than live without the other. Takil feared that, but his parents had hundreds of years left.
“I’ve had a long damn day, and I don’t understand this conversation. Can you say what you have to say so I can go home?” The life appeared to drain from Amryi’s frame.
Takil’s heart ached for Amryi. He feared this palteia had found no one to serve. When Takil had first come to this club, Qii had welcomed him, but Amryi had guided him. He had smoothed the way for Takil to meet submissives and had laughed when Takil had made childish mistakes. When Takil missed his parents more than a Rownt with a title should miss the nest in which he had been raised, Amryi had felt familiar. He had reminded Takil of his Liam.
“I wish to know you have a chilta to see that you are protected. I wish to know you do not suffer.”
Amryi stared at him for a long time. “What?”
“I am concerned that you are well.”
This time the silence was longer. Amryi eventually sank into the seat across from Takil. “Seriously? That’s why you’re here?”
“Yes.”
“To check on me?”
“Yes.”
“Why do you care?”
Takil paused. The answer was so obvious that he should not have to say the words, but the question suggested he did. Humans were confusing, even for one raised by a human. “Because you are palteia,” Takil said.
Amryi blinked faster. Takil had no idea what emotion that might indicate, but the gesture was pronounced enough that it must have some meaning. Takil would have to ask his Liam what it meant. Another might feel embarrassment at asking a parent for information, but Takil would be a fool to ignore the resource available to him. And if he enjoyed having a meal with his parents more than most titled adults, that reflected on them, not on his status.
Eventually Amryi rubbed his hand over his face. Takil knew what that meant. Liam often did that when Takil acted foolishly. He had once disassembled the water filtration system in their bathing chamber to see how it worked, and his actions had necessitated stopping the ship to effect repairs. Liam had rubbed his face often that day.
“Humans care for all people equally,” Takil said, although he knew this was a Rownt generality which did not apply to individuals. “Rownt care for palteia and largely dismiss the needs of all others,” he explained.
Amryi laughed, the sound crisp and cold. “Qii did approve of the Rownt streak of mercenary. He was happy when Rownt came back to Earth because he said that any species smart enough to try to cheat his neighbor honestly was a species that could be trusted.”
“Qii was wise,” Takil said, although compliments did not sit well in his mouth. At least Qii was not alive to hear and take offense at a ye-ranked youngling daring to offer those words. Takil suspected Qii had been the equivalent of ka-ranked, so he would have every right to take offense. Amryi had a right to take offense in Qii’s name, but his wrinkles deepened and he took in another sharp breath. Distress. He was feeling distress. The pain made Takil wish to fight, but one could not fight death, not even to return a chilta to a palteia.
“I don’t know why you believe you have to worry about me, but I’m fine. I’m not one of these palteia you think you have to worry about.”
“You are palteia because you cared for Qii’s success more than your own.”
Again, Amryi gave a strangled laugh. It was a strange sound. “Yeah, I guess I did. I guess it never occurred to me that the old bastard might go and die on me.”
That was illogical. Ondry always said that when humans appeared illogical, it meant that they knew some fact that they had not shared.
“Rownt always care about palteia.” Takil might have added that they felt for palteia the same as they felt toward children, but that statement upset Liam, and Takil had learned to keep palteia and children far apart in his mind.
Amryi shook his head. “What do you want?”
