His mother looked around the room, and one by one the other exalteds found interesting spots on the floor or the walls to study.
“Profit is a more honorable pursuit than assuming we understand the mind of Divashi,” Jeheni said.
Regi's mother smiled at him. “Perhaps. But I do not think that profit is a more honorable pursuit than making sure that our fellow Kowri have not suffered some mechanical failure that requires our assistance.” She walked over to the blue crystals and touched the wall so that they flashed. “I will always choose to vote in favor of helping my fellow Kowri.”
There was an uncomfortable shifting and then Kowri moved. A few went to the yellow section, but far more followed his mother to the blue crystals, voting to let Jeheni’s resolution flow past and continue with pursuit.
Regi hoped that meant they would soon catch up with the ship that had stolen Dante and Ter.
From Jeheni’s glare, it was clear that the Kowri hoped Regi would soon drop dead. No matter. Regi had endured the distrust and hatred of far more powerful individuals. As long as the exalteds on the ship voted to continue the pursuit, he could ask for no better outcome.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Regi waited until they were alone in an isolated corner of the temple park before he spoke to his mother. “Thank you for arguing in support of my position.”
“I will always support you.”
A year ago, Regi would’ve assumed she would put her goddess first, but since learning the truth of his birth, he wondered if he knew his mother at all. “Surely you wouldn’t support me in every circumstance.”
“I might not agree with you, but I would always make my decision based on what I believed served you best. You are my child. And I'm sorry that you ever doubted the depth of my love.”
Regi wasn't sure what to say. Growing up, he had felt irrelevant to his mother's life. Even though he knew better now, the truth didn't sit easily in his brain.
Minait puffed out her cheeks. “Your fathers always understood. Even when both of them were hungry for a child to bring home, they never made demands. And when I did choose to defy my goddess and keep you, they knew I would have to earn back my goddess’s favor unless I wished to suffer an excess of her first blessing.”
Regi could imagine his fathers mourning the loss of every child Minait turned over to other families. From a young age, he’d known they wanted more children, and both had leapt at any chance to care for the offspring of those adults too distracted by a difficult pregnancy to care for older children.
She continued, “Those first few years after your birth, I worried that my need to serve an angry goddess would undermine my marriage and one or both of your fathers would seek another wife. But to my shame, it never occurred to me that you would feel neglected. I suppose I thought the depth of my feelings would be communicated without words. That is proof that even exalteds can be great fools.”
“Being named an exalted has not made me any wiser,” Regi agreed.
His mother offered him a gentle smile. “That is true of all of us. Do you have any idea why the other ship may be entering such isolated space?”
“None. I only know as much as you do, but I would assume the hand of Divashi has forced them onto the path.”
The silence that followed was heavy and awkward, and Regi studied the pebafri herd. It was small–only a half dozen adults and two foals. He wondered what Ter would say if the exalteds on the other ship allowed him to see such a large area he would judge as useless. He would find many creative insults, and then the exalted would question the wisdom of punishing him as one would a Kowri.
His mother spoke again. “Can you explain the relationship you have with the oddly shaped female who followed you?”
“Vk? She is a member of my security team. Of everyone who works for me, she is the one I trust the most.”
“Excellent,” his mother said. “I am happy that you have a partner you can trust.”
Regi gaped at her choice of words. “‘Partner’?” Regi's ears tucked back, and he told himself to avoid taking offense on Vk's behalf.
Minait stood taller. “I'm not bothered that you have chosen companionship from amongst those you spend time with. Infact, I am very impressed with Vk's loyalty. Over the years, I have learned that is the most valuable trait in a partner.”
“She is not a partner.”
Minait’s ears dipped, a sure sign of her frustration. “I understand that she is physically displeasing in a way your huuman is not, but she is still worthy of that title.”
“Of course she’s worthy,” Regi said, “but she is not my partner. Dante and I have begun to negotiate any potential partnerships, but I would not dishonor Vk with that term.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Why do you object to the idea of Vk as a partner?”
This was the oddest parental conversation Regi had ever suffered through, and he had a long history of difficult discussions with all three of his parents. “We've only been speaking for weeks after years of estrangement. Must we discuss this?” He did not want to get into an analysis of different species and their various cultures, needs, and expectations.
“If you believe that I would disapprove of a partnership because she is not Kowri, then yes, we must discuss this.”
