“No remarks about how I could've stayed closer had I not been foolish enough to leave the Empire?” Regi’s back was stiff. Dante noticed the other Kowri were keeping more distance today, but they still had their watchers at the edges of the spaceport. A pair of Kowri even sat on pebafri.
Regi’s father gave him a sad look. “I assume that would not improve our relationship.”
“It would not.”
“Then I choose to protect my relationship with my son over the pleasure of making any statements which may or may not be true,” Pertin took a step backward.
“Silence is not your normal strategy. Are you learning to be political from mother?”
“Gods forbid,” he said quickly. “I still prefer my wood to most sapient creatures, Kowri and outsiders included. However, I am willing to make more of an effort for those I care about.” He smiled at Regi, but then tilted his head to include Dante.
Dante opened his mouth to introduce himself, but Regi spoke before he could. “I wish I could believe that this meeting was simply about a father and a son reconnecting.”
Pertin sighed. “It appears you are the one who has inherited your mother’s suspicious nature.”
“I have grown into a logical being who can see truth when it appears three feet in front of his nose. You would not have risked the wrath of the temple by coming here unless you had a purpose.”
“The gods have blessed you with more logic than most,” Pertin said, but instead of answering the question, he turned to Dante. “And this outsider. Do I have a relationship with him that I should tend?”
“I don't believe we've properly met. I’m Dante.” Dante stuck out his hand, angling his right hand toward Pertin’s right hand. He stared at it for a moment before he mirrored the gesture. As soon as their hands were close, Dante took Pertin’s hand in a handshake. “This is how my people greet one another.”
“Curious,” he said, but he didn't seem offended by the gesture.
Regi moved to Dante’s side. “By asking if you have a relationship with him, he is asking if we are in a committed pair-bonded relationship,” Regi explained. Heat rushed into Dante's cheeks, and he stared in shock at Regi’s father.
Pertin huffed in amusement. “I am not so old that I cannot remember what my son looks like when he finds someone interesting,” Pertin said, “nor so political as to avoid the obvious because others believe they are better at keeping secrets than they are.” He glanced at Regi.
“I am being honest when I tell you that you have misunderstood the situation and now embarrassed Dante.”
Pertin’s ears pushed forward. “Have I?” He touched his thumbs to his temples. “Then I apologize, Dante a’Divashi, formy inappropriate assumption. I suppose I do rather assume that everyone will find my son attractive and interesting. It’s the prerogative of a parent to assume their child superior to all others.”
Dante looked at Regi with thinly veiled panic. He was not prepared for the type of parent That would push them to the altar. Homophobic screamers scared him less. “Um, I think Regi’s great... at security. He’s a great security chief. He found the pirate ship when it was hidden at the edge of a black hole by looking at data, which is... um... great.”
Regi put himself between Dante and Pertin. “Did you come here to embarrass Dante and myself?”
“No, of course not. I may enjoy your embarrassment since I have been denied that entertainment for some time; however, I am not so petty as to seek out such opportunities. I came to discuss your mother.”
Regi stiffened. Dante wondered if it was some sort of rule that all sapient creatures have difficult relationships with their parents. Regi’s voice was calm, in opposition to his body language. He had already been stiff, but now the hair on his arms stood on end. “Has she decided that all outsiders must die?”
“Do you think so little of your mother that you assume she would act so precipitously?” Pertin appeared shocked.
Regi stuck his elbows out. “Yes, I rather do.”
Pertin took a long breath. “I am unsure what has happened to convince you of your mother’s ill intent, but she only means the best for you even when her actions are ill-conceived and counterproductive.”
“‘Ill-conceived’.” Regi snorted, but then the energy leaked out of him. “This is an old argument, and one I would rather not repeat on an endless loop. Is there something specific you would discuss with me?”
“She is not against your position,” Pertin said in a hushed tone. “You know how she feels when others attempt to tell her how to midwife.”
“She has made that clear,” said Regi. Dante ached to rest his hand against Regi’s back in silent support. However, Pertin’s comments about their relationship made Dante hesitate. He wasn’t family. And he didn’t want to give Pertin more ammunition to manipulate Regi into a commitment he didn't want.
“Your mother is equally adamant that she has no business interfering in others’ tasks.”
“Since we have no God of outsiders, who would she elevate to that position?”
“I believe she thinks these matters should be handled logically and she would give preferential treatment to any solution offered by Gimi since she is the exalted of Onidba, Lord of logic. That is good news, is it not?”
Instead of looking relieved, Regi seemed even more worried. “It could be good news; however, I am suspicious that the news is ubiquitously good given that the temple has those like Bekdi. And Bekdi is the exalted of Gavd and justice is his domain.”
