“You do the same eyebrow communication as your son.” Jace pointed to the arched brow.
That had her other eyebrow lifting. “I see.”
“I have a feeling you guys are a lot alike!” Jace hoped that was true.
“My son…” High Councillor Nova Voor’s eyes slid over to Khoth, who stood there looking for all the world that he did not await her judgment, but Jace was pretty sure he was bracing himself internally for something unkind to be said. “My son has many good qualities that I do not possess. For example, I am not so patient as my son, however. I cannot be, Jace Parker. I am responsible for all of the Illumen Alliance.”
Jace had several pithy replies he could have made–would have made–if she’d been mean to Khoth. Not to mention being blocked from the Storm Spike had him irritated. Plus he was tired. But she was the High Councillor and, maybe more importantly, she was Khoth’s mom. So he bit back words he would regret and smiled at her. The best bet was honesty. That seemed to work well with Khoth. She might be harder-edged than her son, but he was betting that they shared more than just the elaborate eyebrow-raises and the same high cheekbones.
“Before this afternoon, you didn’t even know I existed,” Jace pointed out. “Before a minute ago, you didn’t know that the Osiris could fly again.”
“Meaning?” she asked. Both eyebrows were lifted high.
Khoth’s eyebrows were drawn together, also in confusion. Jace could tell though that he was relieved Jace was being polite.
“Meaning that neither you–nor I, for that matter–could have possibly formed any plans around the current situation. We couldn’t possibly be relying on each other for the present moment or the near future,” Jace told her, though that actually wasn’t true on his side. He had been thinking of what he would do when she arrived. “We should get to know one another. Not jump to conclusions or rush to make plans.”
High Councillor Nova Voor was silent for a long moment. Then there was the faintest smile on her lips. “I see. That is logical on one level.”
“I need time–we need time–to figure all of this out,” Jace replied.
“That figuring out requires me to understand all of the Osiris’ systems, not to mention Gehenna’s,” she said. “And, of course, to understand you. The Pilot.”
“No, that’s what you want to know,” he continued on amiably. “But there’s a lot to figure out outside of that.”
He gestured in a stirring motion between her, him, Khoth, his parents and the General.
High Councillor Nova Voor stood straighter and crossed her arms at the wrist behind her back. Yet again another Khoth move!
“Before you, Jace Parker, humanity has had little to recommend itself to us,” High Councillor Nova Voor told him.
General Intoshkin’s face purpled. “Now, look here–”
She continued, “But, clearly, we overlooked something for the Osiris chose you as the Pilot. It is like the Altaeth themselves shining a spotlight on a species. So who are we to look away?”
Jace was not comfortable with this. It seemed so wrong on so many levels. But she was an alien. She had different belief systems. He was sure that he would learn things that repulsed him just like he would believe things that would repulse her, but he, somehow, had to keep an open mind and a civil tongue.
“I’m not some pinnacle of humanity, High Councillor. Humanity is good and bad. Just like every species, I imagine. But what I’m trying to say is that–even without me being the Pilot–humanity has always had something good to offer you and the Alliance,” Jace told her.
She merely inclined her head. He didn’t know if she believed him or not, but she wasn’t going to say one way or the other.
“You are correct that we have much to discuss and I wish to discuss it starting now,” she finally said.
His shoulders slumped.
“Mother… High Councillor,” Khoth quickly amended, “much has occurred today for Jace--”
“Do you think he would welcome you pointing out a weakness?” High Councillor Nova Voor asked.
Khoth blued.
Jace was pleased when his mother spoke up, “Khoth’s consideration for Jace’s well being, both mental and physical, has been incredibly appreciated.”
Khoth’s head was lowered but he glanced over at Jace’s mom.
“I see,” High Councillor Nova Voor said, but he wondered what she did see.
Jace was just as quick to defend him as Khoth had defended Jace. “Actually, I’m grateful for the out. I am exhausted. And I’m in no fit state to talk to you as I should. You can call it weakness, if you want, but I just call it reality.”
