"Okay then, but if he kills me, I'll come back to haunt both of you." She stepped forward to cheers from her crew, which drew the attention of everyone in the room, alien and human. “I’m not sure how to fight with a staff, but I’ll give it a good shot.” She informed Khaazai.
Khaazai widened his stance, so Zahra followed his lead. She figured even if she got soundly beat by him, she could at least take this opportunity to learn something about fighting someone with a wooden staff.
When he began slowly circling her, she moved in the opposite direction, keeping him in her line of sight. Then he lunged, thwapping her on the side of her thigh with the spear. She sucked in a startled breath as she drew back, putting some distance between them. He’d moved faster than her brain could process, and she knew she wasn’t going to have a shot. She’d be surprised if she even landed a blow.
Narrowing her eyes, Zahra tried to spot a weakness, but the man gave nothing away. He moved with a grace she could only dream of. They began circling each other, and then Zahrawent on the offensive. She lunged towards him, and he met her, blow for blow. Their wooden staffs echoed with sharp cracks.
With one smooth movement, Khaazai spun her fighting stick out of her hands, and she held them up in defeat, hoping he wouldn’t whap her with the spear again.
"You win." Zahra yielded. She wasn’t about to fight him in hand to hand combat.
A deep growl issued from his chest right before the room went eerily silent.
Zahra's eyes zipped back and forth as she tried to read the room. The aliens around them seemed frozen in place. Their eyes trained on Khaazai. As if they waited for something... something important? She knew she should have stayed in her room. They'd only just met this species, and she had no idea about their beliefs or customs. Perhaps she'd insulted Khaazai by yielding and they were waiting for her to apologize?
Khaazai cocked his head slightly as he took a half step closer to her. She met his glowing blue eyes ready for whatever happened.
"I accept your courtship.” He growled out in a voice that nearly melted her knees. Then he turned and left the training area.
Zahra blinked. Then his words hit her. Courtship? Wait, what? She turned and gazed back at her soldiers in a daze. "Does anyone happen to know what just happened? Anyone?"
Logan shrugged, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"I think you might be dating him, sir." Delilah sent her a thumbs up. "Congrats."
"How long until we get to the outpost?" Zahra swallowed harshly.
"A few more Earth days I think."
Good. She’d hide away until then. Then people who were trained in alien affairs could sort out this courtship mess. She just had to hang in there for a few more days.
Chapter 3
Zahra cracked her fingers and then her neck with a sigh of pleasure. She'd been given some leave as ambassadors worked on allying the Khuuz’eth with Earth. From what she'd heard they weren't anywhere close to a deal, but that wasn't her problem to handle. Nope. Not hers at all. She only had one more week of leave before she'd be placed on another Earth warship headed straight for the front lines, so she was doing her best to enjoy every single moment she could.
When Zahra's door chimed, she groaned from where she sat relaxing as she watched some stupid show on a pad. The shows they created these days. She rolled her eyes. Clicking pause, she set the pad on the seat cushion beside her and walked over to the door. It slid open, and she immediately saluted.
"Sir."
"At ease, commander. May I come in?" General Bohler asked.
"Of course, sir." Zahra stepped aside. "Please."
"Thought you might like to know there's talk about you keeping your new rank."
"Oh?" That was unexpected. She figured it’d be taken away. She’d filled a temporary position of need.
"I know." He held up a hand as a smile turned up one side of his lips. "It's not usual, but neither uncommon. Especially now when we find ourselves losing more and more fine men and women to the Sri’thaens.”
Zahra didn't know what to say, and by the time she figured she should say something, the silence had stretched out too long.
"But," General Bohler continued, "that’s only one piece of why I'm here to visit with you.” He took a seat, crossed a leg and threw an arm over the back of her couch. "Seems you've impressed this alien you met back on that dwarf planet. Our alien affairs team have been talking to Khaazai."
Zahra rolled her eyes. "Not like I tried. I kept my head down." For the most part. The practice fight in the training room probably should have been avoided.
"The emperor of the Khuuz’eth is willing to join with us in our war but only if you agree to continue on with this courtship." General Bohler watched her as he passed along this information to her.
"What?" Zahra couldn’t believe it. They wanted the courtship to continue? Did anyone even have any idea what that even meant? For her?
