"I have not heard from Dhomhes--"
"That one, I know he's chosen someone, but I cannot recall who," she said. "At least, that is rumored. He has not reported anything publicly."
"Likely won't," Khalzin said. "Unless he has to."
Janae wondered who the female was. Dhomhes was the one with the long, slender horns if she recalled correctly. "I hope they are not having difficulties."
His mother glanced at her, then back Khalzin. "And Stron? What is his status?"
"You will have to ask him," Khalzin said. "He had not as of our tour this morning. As for Fiviel? Has anyone gone down to inspect and retrieve any survivors? He probably is down there. Alive."
"And you know this for a fact?" the priestess asked.
"I don't know anything for a fact, but I would like to gather all the data so that conclusions could be made. He could be alive down there."
"And there could be others from the Galactic Alliance. Humanoids are very determined, especially those from Trinity Alpha Prime," Janae said.
"Not likely." She glanced at Janae. "If he could not survive, knowing the threats, then none of your people survived either. So do not expect to find any."
Janae nodded. For she'd already assumed that would be the case. It still saddened her to hear it, though.
"Your optimism is legendary," Khalzin said. He shifted again and winced in pain.
Janae jumped to see if she could do anything for him, but he waved his hand to brush her off. Instead, she stepped back, feeling not so much like a mate but like a servant.
And she couldn’t help wondering if this was what it would be like? His servant, his submissive? And did she want that in her life?
"I have duties," his mother said. "I will report that you are alive and speaking to the Coalition."
"Have they discovered any source yet for these attacks?"
"We are digging into it; however, nothing has surfaced." She turned and started to walk out.
"Your attention is appreciated," Khalzin said as she walked out.
She didn't bother saying anything else except make that little noise as she walked out the door.
Janae glanced at Khalzin. "Is she always like that?"
He shook his head. "She's usually a lot colder."
15
Janae's eyes widened when he said his mother was usually a lot colder.
"She maintains her emotional distance a great deal. She takes her position as the Priestess of Light very seriously and does not like to show emotion when performing her duties." She was never an emotional mother, just one who knew her place in the world.
"That was her, emotional?" She got closer to his bed.
He smirked. "I cannot say I have ever seen my mother emotional. Supportive, yes. Emotional, no. She does not let herself get emotional. Probably why she and my father worked so well together."
"Is he not emotional either?"
"No, he has emotions. He, however, is a scientist and can usually find a way to justify them with science."
She blinked. "That sounds like a cold home to live in."
Her interpretation was accurate. There was a substantial distance between him and his family. Part of the reason he spent so long looking for his path and moving away from their expectations.
