“As an exalted, I have every right to participate in decisions, and I am mature enough to avoid giving my opinion when my ignorance is too great. Surely you have noticed that I don't speakup every time you and exalted Regi have some disagreement, even when that disagreement exceeds the bounds of politeness.”
“‘Politeness’?” Bekdi barked the word out. “What do outsiders know of politeness? It is the rudeness of this outsider which has led to him being stripped of his adult rights.” Bekdi gestured toward Ter.
Ter blurted, “At least I am not so lacking in intelligence that I would kidnap another for failing to uphold my definition of politeness even when the other’s culture has no such definition.”
“The obligation to adapt is yours,” Bekdi said. “You chose to request entry into our space.”
Ter gave a bark of laughter. “Surely you are not so inbred or mentally deficient to believe that.”
Dante winced and felt a frisson of fear as Ter tried to aggravate the armed Kowri who had the ability to kill them before any senior members of the temple could prevent it. “Why is it that every truth you share is negative?” Dante demanded. If the other Kowri saw that he would confront Ter, it might improve his reputation and keep them both safe.
Ter blinked at him for several seconds. “What need have I to share truths that others already accept? I could say that I find you less annoying than most. I could say that Regi is a competent security chief. However, those truths are already known and I feel no need to state them.”
“Well, feel free to avoid stating any of your truths for a while,” Dante said. He suspected that Ter was so used to being smarter than everyone around him that he had grown a little too comfortable sharing insults. Maybe all his people were this rude, but Dante doubted it. However, that was a problem for another day. Right now, he had to establish himself as an exalted who had a right to be heard in the temple.
He turned back to Bekdi and his two sidekicks. “I want to meet the other exalteds. You can either show me to their offices or I can find it myself.”
“Do not order me around,” Bekdi snarled.
“Perhaps I should ask Divashi for help,” Dante said.
All three Kowri turned fluffy. “How dare you mock our beliefs,” Gior snarled.
Crap. That had not been Dante’s intent, and here he had criticized Ter for making their situation worse. “I do not mock,” Dante said softly. “My people believe in asking god for assistance, and now that I have Divashi’s attention, I do the same. I understand that inviting her into my life is inviting disaster, but I have enough faith in her and in my ability to survive that I’m willing to take that risk.”
Now the two shorter Kowri were studying Dante as if he were an idiot. Maybe he was. However, he didn’t know how else to convince them that he hadn’t meant to insult their belief.
Gior found his voice first. “Exalted, please do not draw Lady Divashi’s attention to our ship.”
Dante snorted. “I have a feeling she’s already watching.” He turned to Ter. “Are you okay waiting here while I introduce myself to the others?”
“I would rather go somewhere with fewer animals.” Ter eyed the pebafri herd.
The female Kowri said, “I will show you to your assigned rooms.”
“Make sure I have rooms in the same part of the ship,” Dante said.
She stared at Dante without speaking, and he had the impression none of these Kowri were impressed. It was like being back in high school with the other kids telling him he wasn’t special because his father was a senator. Only no one would dare say a word against Divashi. A goddess known for herpoisons was much scarier than a backward senator who made the world a worse place for everyone except himself.
He’d survived on Earth, and he’d do even better here because he had faith in Divashi to have his back. He walked past Bekdi and Gior and their nameless friend. If no one wanted to show him where the exalteds met, he would have to explore on his own.
Chapter Twenty-One
Regi's mother stood at the entrance to the temple sanctuary with its parkland and artificial sunlight designed to nurture both the sacred animals that chose to travel on Gavd ships and the Kowri who might choose the ship as their home.
“There she is,” Vk whispered. “How big are these ships?” She eyed the huge door behind Minait. Through it, the verdant grasslands made the air smell of mint and dirt.
Regi had forgotten how expansive Kowri ships were compared to the limited space on Coalition ships. Of course, the Coalition adjusted for the paucity of entertainment and nature by granting the crew leave on stations that had these features. Stations competed for dock fees by installing swimming lagoons and virtual reality competition spaces and a wide variety of eateries that appealed to the species serving as crews.
However, extended leave was not a Kowri tradition. They expected their ship to provide all necessary functions for Kowri to have a happy, fulfilled life. Perhaps that was because the Empire did not need to account for so many different needs. All Kowri required was access to nature, places to leave offerings for sacred animals, space to honor the gods, and competitive games.
At least in public. In private, they required privacy both within family groups and from family members. Kowri ships provided that as well. At one point, his people had taken pride in expanding their borders; Poque ships explored in every direction, and Kowri raised families without ever leaving theprotection of the Goddess of Wanderers. They had learned to make ships into homes.
“You came quickly,” Minait said.
Vk touched his arm. “Should I accompany you or wait here?”
“You can wait here,” Minait told her.
