Page 4 of I Married A Syllen

Thankfully, both males nodded.

“We will disable them right away,” Kayog replied. “We only set them up to make sure that you remained safe until your awakening. It would warn us if anyone unauthorized dropped by. However, we would like to leave a communication device with you so that you can reach us whenever you need to.”

My frown deepened, a hefty sense of unease washing over me.

“We do not want off-worlder technology in our society,” I said cautiously. “We can communicate over long distances with our veris.”

“Only with other Edocits,” Mares rightly interjected. “We want you to have this for when you need to communicate with non-Edocits. Or if your contact person is out of physical range.”

“You never need to use it,” Kayog swiftly added when I remained extremely reluctant. “It is merely if there is an urgent call for help or if you require assistance with anything.”

I pursed my lips and pondered. As much as my natural instincts screamed for me to decline, logic dictated that I should agree. The Goddess only knew how things had changed over the centuries of the Long Sleep. Offending or shutting out our only true allies wouldn’t be wise. Better to have a way to contact them if necessary than slapping myself with my own tail later for declining should the need arise.

“You may never have to use it,” Mares added in a reassuring fashion, echoing Kayog’s words. “But it will make me feel better to know that you can contact us without problem as I will soon leave Mazeria to go to a different world.”

As I begrudgingly accepted the small device, the trees rustled and flowered. I peered over my shoulder to see Nym and Drannor exiting the chamber before entering the water. My heart soared with happiness at seeing my friends. I chuckled at the look on Mares’ and Kayog’s faces. It made no sense to me that they should be so mesmerized by our mere existence.

“How many off-worlders are here now?” I asked as my Osheos reawakened their limbs in the water.

“There are many,” Mares replied in an apologetic tone. “But not on Syllen lands,” he added quickly in light of my displeased expression. “We have established very strict rules to keep them away from your villages, farmlands, and hunting grounds. Anyone who is caught breaking those rules will be immediately banished from the planet on top of paying a hefty fine. So far, it has not been a problem, and everyone has observed the rules.”

“For their sake, I hope so,” I said in a slightly menacing tone. “We will fight—and kill if necessary—any intruder.”

“They will not intrude,” Mares promised.

As we spoke, Kayog tapped the glass of his own armband for a few moments, before looking up at random locations around the trees and mountains surrounding the basin. My eyes widened as small devices barely bigger than a nut flew out of their hiding places and came towards us. Mares extended his open palm, and they carefully landed on it before he put them inside the leather bag dangling at the end of the strap crossing his chest.

“That’s all the spying eyes?” I asked.

Both males nodded.

“There are no more cameras,” Kayog confirmed.

“Thank you,” I said, surprised by how much I genuinely trusted those two males.

Nym came out of the water first, and marched towards us with determined steps, her long tail swaying lazily behind her. She was beautiful and graceful as always, her fluid gait hinting at the lethal hunter that lurked deep within. Her amber eyes—the same golden color as her skirt—sparked with curiosity as she examined our guests.

Drannor hoisted himself out of the water and hurried after her. The same curiosity burned in his bluish-green eyes, which were a slightly paler color than his own skirt. Despite both looking healthy, the duller hue of his greige skin and of her coppery complexion screamed at the lack of sun exposure. In a few days, they would recover their full glow.

“Welcome back, my Osheos,” I said warmly as Nym closed the distance between us.

I placed my palms on her shoulders, and she did the same with mine. We pressed our foreheads together, and the veris on our heads extended to briefly intertwine in the intimate greeting one only exchanged with family, close friends, or people you shared a deep bond of affection with. It was brief. I released her and repeated the gesture with Drannor.

“It pleases me to see you both well,” I said before waving at the two off-worlders. “As you can see, we have guests. Mares, Kayog, this is Nym and Drannor, my first warriors.”

“Greetings, Brother Mares, and to you, Birdman,” Nym said, touching two fingers to her chin. “I recognize you.”

“Greetings, indeed,” Drannor said, also touching his chin. “The Mothers spoke fondly of you during the Long Sleep.”

“We are honored to meet you,” Kayog said.

“Very honored,” Mares replied with great emotion again.

These off-worlders were so silly.

As soon as Nym and Drannor closed in on Kayog, I raised a hand in an arresting gesture, anticipating what would follow.

“No!” I exclaimed with a hint of amusement. “Off-worlders must give consent before you can touch them.”