“If you’re mad at Holian because he sent Myrum to Lorse, then you should be angry with me too,” Jinna said. “I’m the one who suggested it in the first place. I was going over Ossiso power structure and noticed that Lorse and Jishorn had the same family name. It didn’t take much research to find the connection.”
“You work with Holian?” Helmen asked.
“I’m the one who you were messaging with during our negotiations," Jinna said. “You drive a hard bargain, but your ship has a good reputation and was my top choice to get Myrum to Lorse and away again.”
“Did you know I worked on the ship?” Amina asked.
“No,” Jinna said. “I assumed it was entirely an Ugarian crew.”
Nalia tapped her Ident. The holo disappeared, and she clipped it back to her belt. “It's wonderful that you and Myrum bonded. I don’t know if I believe in the Living Universe theory, but you two finding each other makes me want to.”
Jinna clasped her hands in front of her. “I’d like to make a counteroffer. You and Myrum can return with us to Kalor. You’d both be safe and cared for. You would never need to worry about wealth again, and your life would be as busy and full as you wanted.”
Before Amina could respond, Helmen and Gis got between her and Jinna.
“Don’t threaten her,” Helmen growled.
Jinna wasn’t intimidated. Very similar to Holian, she was calm and cool no matter what was going on around her. Amina could see why they made a good match.
“I’m not threatening anyone,” Jinna said. “I’m extending the same offer Amina made to me.”
Amina gently pushed Helmen and Gis apart to stand between them. “I don’t know how you live in a place where you have no rights.”
Nalia let out an indelicate snort. “As if we have all that many rights anywhere. Unless you were lucky enough to have gotten into the Ilgorian Federation like you, humans everywhere have to live with less respect and the constant threat of being enslaved.”
“I should know,” Jinna said.
“There are some limitations to our rights within the federation,” Amina admitted.
“What?” Helmen asked, startled by this information.
Amina nodded. “It’s true. Humans aren’t allowed to colonize any planet by themselves. We’re only allowed to move there after another species in the federation has already established an infrastructure."
“I didn’t know that,” Helmen said.
“No one trusts humans absolutely," Amina said with a little shrug. “But the federation is the best place to be human, even with that rule. We are full citizens with rights.”
“And we aren’t,” Nalia said. “But I don’t care. My life is so much better with Derani. Even if we didn’t have this ship, I wouldn’t care.”
“I understand,” Amina said. She couldn’t think of many situations where she’d give up Myrum. “But listen, if you guys come across a human who doesn’t want to be a pet, send them to us.”
Nalia gave her a brilliant smile. “That’s good. Right now we take them to Kalor, but I’m sure some would rather be with you.”
Jinna gave her an approving nod. “It’ll be good to have a safe place outside the empire to send humans.”
Amina didn’t expect that she’d be making friends with these women and also be content for them to return to the Talin Empire, but life was strange.
“I think I’m ready to rejoin the Talins,” Amina said. “Do you think they're still in the galley?”
“I’m sure,” Jinna said. “Holian would want to give you all the time alone with us that you needed to feel confident that we’re right where we want to be.”
“Mission accomplished,” Amina murmured.
Chapter 35
One Solar Later
Myrum
