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I reached for my long braid and brought it over my shoulder, my fingers fiddling with it. It always gave me some kind of comfort. Funny thing was, Father said my niece Amalia—who he’d also considered his daughter—had a similar nervous tell, but with a lock of hair.
“I was wary of Oracles, especially enslaved ones. Why would they tell us the truth instead of deliberately sending us to our doom out of vengeance? But as much as she disliked us, Venya never lied. We had a mind-reading Veredian with us anyway to confirm the truth of her words.”
I turned back to face Ravik, relieved that his gaze remained focused. Devoid of any disappointment or disgust, he stared at me full of curiosity.
“As always with Oracles, she gave me three possible outcomes to my no longer helping improve the technology used in my father’s fortresses. In all cases, the Sisters and Korletheans would attempt to escape, one resulting with heavy casualties all around, one with failure and one with success. However, in all three cases, it would also result in the Veredian species becoming completely extinct within the next hundred years. But if I continued to help, every outcome resulted in the survival of our species. So I did.”
Ravik looked at me with sympathy. Rising to his feet he closed the distance between us and took my hands in his.
“Then you did the right thing,” Ravik said softly.
“Did I?” I asked, my eyes flicking between his. “I doubt my Sisters will feel the same the day they find out—and they will. My father enslaved and force bred them for nearly three generations, and then sold their daughters, partially with my help. Would you forgive that? Because of my last name, they took a major leap of faith welcoming me among them.”
Ravik cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs caressing my cheeks. “They will be angry, and then they’ll get over it once they realize you tried to save them… and did. You have already proven your loyalty.
I snorted. “Yeah, by betraying my baby brother and turning him over to be executed by the Xelixians.”
“He was an evil man,” Ravik argued.
“NO! He wasn’t,” I said, my throat tightening, and tears prickling my eyes. “He was a lost little boy, hurting and lashing out at the world because of his parents’ abandonment. And Veredians—especially my mother—were to blame. His mother was Xelixian. She abandoned him when my father chose my mother over her. My father left Varrek on Guldar to be raised by nannies and tutors because he didn’t want to upset my mother by flaunting his son from another woman before her. Varrek never fit in on Guldar with his grey skin and strange eyes inherited from his mother. But still, Guldar somewhat accepted him. That’s why he dedicated his life to being the ultimate Guldan, and abusing Xelixians and Veredians.”
“It was his choice, though,” Ravik countered, gently. “His actions couldn’t go unpunished.”
“I know, but…” I heaved a sigh. “I got to know him on the journey back to Xelix Prime after I captured him. We’d never met before. He was the most brilliant mind I’d ever encountered. A true genius. Technology, science, medicine, nothing fazed him. Together, we could have accomplished amazing things. I actually considered freeing him before we landed.Hetoldmeto not even think about it. Things would be worse for all of us if I did.”
“An Oracle had warned him?” Ravik rightly guessed.
I nodded. “I probably couldn’t have gone through with it anyway. Either way, I’d be betraying a sibling; my Veredian sister Aleina, or my Guldan brother Varrek. His final words to me were that he wished we’d met sooner. Things might have turned out quite differently. And I think so, too.”
My throat tightened again with sorrow, remembering my brother’s beautiful, exotic face. His final look towards me held no resentment or condemnation, only a calm acceptance and a sliver of regret.
Ravik kissed the tear forming at the corner of my eye, and I gave him a trembling smile. Inhaling deeply, I swallowed my growing sorrow, refusing to dwell on a past that couldn’t be changed, and that I probably wouldn’t even if I could.
“I didn’t mean to turn into a weeping wreck,” I said with self-derision. “There’s actually a point to all this. Varrek did a lot of terrible things to Veredians and Xelixians, but in the end, they were key elements into finding the cure to Veredian infertility. What I did ensured the continuation of our species.” I held on to his wrists, his hands still cupping my face. “And what you did set in motion the revolutionary changes you’re bringing to Braxia. Terrible things must often be done before great things can happen. Forgive yourself, Ravik, like I’m trying to forgive myself, and focus on the battle ahead.”
“My little bird,” he whispered before pulling me into his arms.
His lips pressed between my horns, and I cuddled against him, feeling safe and cherished in the warmth of his strong body wrapped around me.
The door chime startled us. I couldn’t tell whether seconds or minutes had passed.
“Open,” Ravik said, releasing me.
The door swished sideways, revealing Tagar holding a pretty box.
“Ah yes,” Ravik said, walking towards his loyal bodyguard. “Thank you.”
I didn’t miss his questioning look to Tagar, who responded to the unspoken question with a nod. Intrigued, I watched the door close behind the bodyguard as he left the room. Ravik approached me with a relaxed smile before handing over the box to me. Surprised, I raised an inquisitive eyebrow. My fingers caressed the delicate lattice work on the flat, rectangular, metal box.
“You got me a present?” I asked, disbelieving.
Ravik’s stunned and then embarrassed look revealed that such an idea had never crossed his mind. Although feeling a slight disappointment, it didn’t surprise me, nor had I expected such from a Braxian.
He cleared his throat. “Hmmm, no. It’s a gift from Clan Leader Grumar’s daughter, Vela.” Ravik explained.
I slightly recoiled in surprise. “Clan Grumar? With the stones?” I asked.
He nodded.
