He shrugged as the ship landed. “As you can imagine with all the knowledge they’ve acquired,” he undid his harness and rose, “they are not a stupid people.”
I matched his steps as we headed toward the back of the ship. “Are they going to help us is the question?”
“My brathers met a mated Kinsian pair during the rebellion I told you about before.”
I shivered as I thought about those gray-beasts and bug-men. They were officially on my shit-list for almost killing Tor. “What side were they on?”
The ramp opened, and we headed planet-side. Tor took my hand in his as we descended. “The couple aided my brathers for many cycles and helped the rebels.” He patted his daggers beneath his vest with his free hand. “Still, don’t let your guard down.”
“Didn’t plan on it.” I rolled my shoulders, preparing for our mission. “But that’s some comfort.”
I’d studied the details of the planet, but I was not prepared for the sight before us. The Prism Palace was aptly named with soaring towers that refracted the light of the enormous orange sun. Rainbows danced between the towers as if they were living beings, dancing on the winds.
“It’s incredible.” I breathed deeply, the scents of jasmine and lavender floated on the air.
An alien couple bounded toward us, the pale-yellow Calia of earlier, and a banana-hued larger person next to her. The taller one had copper hair but the same huge, rounded eyes. When they reached us, Calia spoke, “Allow me to introduce Lorn, my mate.”
“Greetings, travelers. It’s a pleasure to have new guests.” His voice was an octave deeper than his partner, and he had a more angular bone structure, but in every other facet of their appearance they matched. Even their clothes, which consisted of flowing dark green tunics and pants complimented one another.
“Thank you,” Tor bowed once more. “Jane and I are humbled by your welcome. We are in search of a rare item that will aid our peoples, and we hope you will help us in procuring it.”
She hid her smile behind her hand, pretending to scratch her nose. Tor’s all-business, direct approach was so like the bossy commander she first met. But in their shared time together, she’d seen a whole other side of him.And I think I like both.Warmth suffused her at the thought.
“Of course. The Rhonar are an honorable people.” Calia’s bow mouth created a heart-shape when she smiled. “We are happy to be of service.”
“That is most kind of you, indeed.” He placed his fist to his sternum, an action that showed the highest form of respect for the Rhonar. “We seek ergamite.”
Lorn waved us to walk on the path leading to the palace. Golden in color with square blocks, it reminded me of a fictional road from a storybook, but I couldn’t remember which. “Now, Commander,” the Kinsian male began, striding beside his mate, “you must understand that we will help you in any way we can, but we have strict rules when it comes to those who seek at our sanctum.”
“But it’s not for us alone that we’ve come,” I interjected. The research I studied had shown Kinsians craved knowledge—and sensual pleasures, but I couldn’t see how that was relevant in this situation. But they also regarded the lives of all species as most sacred. “The ergamite ensures the safety of our peoples. It’s for our very survival.”
I might have been stretching the truth a tad. But if we didn’t get the ergamite, then our negotiations would fall apart. A ripple effect easily leading to the downfall of both the Rhonar and humans.
Calia patted my free hand as she walked on my left. “Do not fear, Captain Jane. You will have the chance to earn what you need.”
“Earn?” Tor asked. He held my other hand and squeezed it gently in silent warning.
“Yes.” She clapped both hands together this time and let out a high-pitched squeal. “Oh, it’s splendid! It’s been so long since we’ve had a couple seeking at our door. I am sure the fates will choose well for your tests!”
I blinked. Had I heard that right?
Tor beat me to the question. “What tests do you mean?”
“You must wait and discover what the stars have in store.” The Kinsian female’s enigmatic answer was of little comfort. But it drew an end to the conversation as we arrived at a set of double doors, marking the entrance of the palace. The door panels stood like two giant sentinels with deep symbols carved into their diamond-like surface. Calia held her arms extended out and said, “Amiara.”
The doors swung open, revealing a golden carpet draped over a stone black floor. The path of golden bricks matched perfectly with the interior carpet, so that only the doorway marked where one ended and the other began. The effect created an endless line that linked the outer world with the inner. I noted this absently as we walked, and Calia picked up the thread of my thoughts.
“Marvelous, is it not?” She asked me when we headed inside. “The way our outer and inner lives are brought together.”
“It is,” I agreed readily, wanting these aliens on our side for whatever was to come. “Did your people create all this?”
“Not exactly,” Lorn chimed in. “It is more accurate to say we formed it out of the universe’s desires.”
Tor did a poor job of covering a skeptical vocalization with a cough.
I side-eyed him as we continued the trek into the palace. “How do you know what the universe wants?” I asked in a more neural tone.
“Well, my Earth friend.” The Kinsian male grabbed a handful of dust from a side bowl and threw it high above his head. The fragments scattered on a light breeze, creating glittering light wherever they landed and illuminating our path forward. “The wishes of the stars are all around you. You have but to look for them.”
