Kwarq by Nikki Clarke

Author:Nikki Clarke [Clarke, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Kwarq

Amina is nervous. I don’t have to reach out to her to feel this. Her hand quivers in mine as we step through the door to my home. I hold her firmly to reassure her of my earlier promise that there is nothing surprising waiting for her here. In response, she steps closer to me, but does not hide behind me. She’s being brave. Pride swells in my chest. She always impresses me, my lehti.

Inside, my parents stand back in the entry way. Normally, they would rush to greet me, but now that I know Bati made Amina’s discomfort with unannounced contact known, I believe this is only for her benefit.

I sense the moment Amina’s eye’s fall on my parents because I hear her audible sigh of relief. She was no doubt expecting to see two beings with tentacles or acid spitting fangs waiting for her. Instead, my non-tentacled, non-acid fanged parents stand with patient smiles across from us.

“Dahni.” My mother steps forward. I release Amina’s hand and meet her half way, being sure to stay in front of my lehti as I sink to my knees and lift the hem of my mothers dress to kiss it. She places her hand on my head, holding it there as we experience the lehti’an. After a moment, she steps away, and I rise to my feet.

“Kwarq, you have returned home, finally. I thought perhaps you meant never to come back.”

My father says this in our tongue and moves in front of me to clasp me behind the head and bring his temple to mine. Through his touch, I feel his worry as well as his curiosity. In fact, the entire room is awash with curiosity. It radiates from everyone, including Ah’dan, who is never curious about anything.

My parents look to me, and then their eyes flicker to Amina, who’s standing awkwardly behind me. I move back to her side.

“Amina, it is good to meet you, my dahnai. Please feel welcome in our home.” My mother looks as if she would like to move forward to greet Amina properly, but she holds herself back, clasping her hands in front of her. My father inclines his head, politely.

“Dahnai, I am Quth, and this is my lehti and partner Mahdi. We are so very happy that you and our son have found each other.”

He also moves to step forward, but I raise my hand, respectfully, halting his progress.

“Father, Amina does not like—“

“Oh for goodness’ sake, Kwarq, you’re making me seem so damn rude!”

To my shock, Amina pushes past me and walks up to my mother. Standing on her toes to compensate for the height difference, she wraps her arms around my mother and pulls her into a hug.

“It’s really nice to meet you, and I just want to say that I don’t mind if people touch me. I just mind if men touch me without my permission. They tend to take liberties.”

My mother’s tinkling laugh fills the entryway as she squeezes Amina back. My mother inhales over Amina’s shoulder, and her eyes spring open to meet mine.

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