“And what work haveyoubeen up to?” Thyra challenged Kyvar, who still lounged lazily against the table.
“Well, I’ll be leaving tomorrow with some warriors for the cliffs of Shyga.”
“What’s there?” I looked up from the page I was reading.
“Predators. The cliffs swarm with predators during the times of breeding and birthing of the vorilh and it’s important to keep their numbers down and the vorilh safe.” Another bite disappeared into his mouth.
“Are the vorilhlike livestock?” I wondered if I’d seen the animal. Oddly, I hadn’t seen anything I could identify as a domestic pet.
“Oh no. We don’t kill or eat them. They are fliers, and when they have their young they produce the richest milk in the galaxy. We collect milk from them and it sells to luxury skincare chemists, some pharmaceutical companies, and the makers of those galaxy meal replacement bars. The milk is the reason they taste so good.”
So that was the reason behind the calculations and alien culture studies specific to business contracts that they’d had us doing. They were expanding.
“That’s amazing.” I said sincerely. “On Earth we have birds, but they’re not classified as mammals. They lay eggs and don’t produce milk. The only thing I can think of that’s remotely close would be a bat. How big are vorilh?”
Thyra tapped a tablet and brought up a hologram of one. It was huge, with orange and yellow ombre feathers and the face of a bird, but a long tail that seemed almost reptilian.
“They’re very docile, and they are loving parents. They mate for life and you should see the babies. It’s a long process when the female is birthing so the male brings her food and leaves with dew on them. He grooms her feathers and cares for her. And their babies are so precious. They come out tiny, with soft whitefeathers and the most darling faces.” Thyra smiled at whatever memory she was speaking of.
“I would love to see that.” I said. What a wonderful experience it would be.
“That won’t be happening.” Arrazyl’s icy voice made me jump. He stepped out onto the balcony with us, his eyes hard. “Most vorpyr are not allowed near them, let alone outsiders.”
I pasted on a blank expression, not wanting him to see the hurt I felt. I shouldn’t have been surprised. A moment of gentleness from him didn’t mean he’d changed how he viewed me. How he viewed myspecies.My chest ached and I looked away.
“Arrazyl.” Thyra sighed out his name, lips tilted down.
I felt the gazes of Vuldrex and Kyvar. I shifted in my chair, wanting to get away from the uncomfortable atmosphere. “Thyra, can you tell me about your festival?”
“Oh, yes!” She brightened. “We have it every year. Vorpyr come from the other territories for it. There are many different games and competitions and food. Oh, the food is so good. Vendors come from other territories to sell their food, so we get options we rarely have here. And many other things are sold as well, especially since everyone typically gets gifts for Lusadrylduring the festival.”
“Lusadryl?”
“It’s a holiday where families celebrate new life and each other and all they have. Gifts are given and time is spent specifically with the ones you love. Do you not have a holiday like it?”
“It sounds like it’s very much like a mix of our Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It’s not a holiday every single culture on our planets celebrates, though. And it’s in the winter, not summer.”
Her wings rippled. “Ugh, why would anyone celebrate winter?”
I laughed. “You don’t even get winter here.”
“But I’ve been to my brother’s territory and it gets freezing there. There’s a reason I chose to live here with Arrazyl.”
“You have another brother?” I couldn’t help glancing at Arrazyl. He was scowling.
Thyra started to answer, but Arrazyl interrupted, “that’s enough information.”
I refused to drop my gaze to the floor, but I focused on the activity I could see on the other cliff, not able to look at him. Heavy steps came close.
“I’ll take you back to your house.”
I stood without looking at him. I gave Thyra a big smile, hoping she didn’t notice that it didn’t reach my eyes. “As soon as I get the downloaded documents I’ll start looking into that contract.”
“Ok. And I’ll take you with me to help set things up so you can see what I mean about the festival. It should be a nice break from work.” Her expression was apologetic, but it was hardly her fault Arrazyl had suddenly decided to remind me of my place in his world.
“I look forward to it.” If Arrazyl would allow it.
Each step away from the table felt heavy and I couldn’t bring myself to look at Arrazyl as he walked just behind me, distinctly replacing the line that I had thought with hope had become blurred between us. There was no mistake, I was his captive, his enemy. A lead weight settled into my chest and refused to budge.
