Alien Vows by Carmen Webster Buxton

Author:Carmen Webster Buxton [Buxton, Carmen Webster]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780997989878
Publisher: Cracked Mirror Press
Published: 2018-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

A week after the visit to Fargaj, Dina left work early to do some errands on the way home. When the last one was done, she flew herself home, grateful for the luxury of a private flyter. Just as she walked into the kitchen, the com set lit up and Jared’s face filled the screen.

“Hello, Jared,” Dina said, dropping her bags onto the kitchen table. “I can see you’re calling from the office. Is something up?”

He smiled. “Maybe. Is Kuaron home?”

“I don’t think so. I just got home myself, and I haven’t been through the house, but his flyter isn’t here, and I know he planned to go see Kifarao and Juoam. Kifarao has been working on a sort of practice qatrah, and Kuaron promised to listen and give him some feedback.”

“Any idea when he’ll be back?”

Dina flicked the com to the security system display, then flicked back to Jared’s image. “He left three hours ago, so I would expect him back fairly soon. Should I call his personal com?”

“No, thanks. That’s the code I used, and if it rolled over to the house, he must have his com off. I have something to finish up here, and then I’ll head to your place.”

Dina couldn’t help wondering, as she put away her purchases, what it was Jared wanted to see Kuaron about.

A little over an hour later, the security alarm alerted her to Jared’s arrival. She activated landing clearance on the roofport for him and then met him at the door.

“Hello,” she said. “Kuaron’s still not back. Do you want to wait?”

“If I won’t be in the way,” Jared said.

“I’ll put you in the study, then.” She led the way and gestured for Jared to sit.

“Ooof,” he said, sinking into one of the huge upholstered chairs. “I’m always afraid this thing will swallow me up.”

Dina offered food and drink, but Jared declined both.

“How’s Yulayan?” he asked.

“She’s fine,” Dina said, sitting on the arm of the opposite chair. “Considering she’s going to marry a Terran and shut herself up at the observatory. She won’t go anywhere, and she takes all her classes by remote access.”

Jared shook his head. “She’s got herself into a pickle this time.”

“A pickle?” Dina asked.

“A difficult situation,” Jared explained. “I don’t know where the expression came from. It literally means a type of preserved vegetable.”

Dina waved away the reference. “So what’s so important that the Planetary Commander leaves his office in the middle of the day and comes out here to the suburbs? Is it something you can tell me about?”

“I think I had better wait for Kuaron,” Jared said. “I have something to tell him that I don’t want to record in a message. How are you doing?” he added, possibly to change the subject.

Dina let out a sigh. “I’m doing all right. In some ways, I’m doing better than Kuaron because I’m less invested in the idea that shahgunrah is necessary to a happy life. But in some ways, I’m just as worried as he is.

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