Page 44 of Fated to the Alien Chieftain

A child?I would love to give Krogoth a little son or daughter. I place a hand over my womb, praying it’s possible. We’ve never used protection. Each time I’ve craved him to release himself deeply inside me, leaving the rest in the hands of fate. Curious, I delve into Krogoth’s thoughts and feel his desperate hope andslight worry. A smile spreads across my face as his emotions touch my heart, melting away any doubts.

“We are trying,” I say as innocently as I can. “It’s in the hands of the Gods now,” I finish, resulting in more cheers.

“And in the Chieftain’s massive balls!” Xandor calls out from the crowd, his face full of revelry. The crowd erupts into raucous laughter at his words. My skin heats with embarrassment, wishing I could kick Xandor in his balls right this second!

Krogoth laughs good-naturedly before speaking. “Never mind what my titanic balls may or may not be doing. The important thing to remember is Astraxius said it’s possible, and all his predictions we have proved correct.” His words elicit a hushed murmur through the audience.

“Where is this Earth?” someone calls out from amongst the crowd.

“Yes, tell us! I long for a Mortakin-Kis to warm my bed and share my burdens,” another calls out.

“Children playing in the woods again, can you imagine?” an older man with flecks of white in his brown hair exclaims.

Krogoth raises a hand for silence. “All the details have been passed via your consoles.” His voice grows stern. “For those of you who go, you must be gentle with the human females. Treat them with respect, for they are tiny, soft creatures.” He shoots me a playful smirk.Might kick him in the balls, too.

“But Rocks is as hard as arcweave!” Rylar interjects, smiling warmly at me.

“I had excellent instructors,” I nod graciously to Rylar and Xandor before adding. “But Krogoth is right, and we have spoken at length on this matter. Human women won’t understand, at least not at first. They don’t even know aliens exist and live totally different lives than us here. That is why the women must be brought to me, so I can help ease their minds and help them adjust to their new lives, if they chooseto stay on Klendathor,” I state, hoping they listen as thoughtful expressions paint the faces of many.

After a moment, Krogoth looks at his wrist console before speaking once more. “Ziroth and Morios, you bring a dispute before us?” He asks, pausing as two men step forward from the crowd, one tall with long brown hair, the other short and squat for a Klendathian, with short blonde hair. “Says here Morios, you believe Ziroth has cheated you out of profits from a trade?”

“That’s correct, Chieftain,” The tall one says, while the other smaller one scoffs loudly.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” Krogoth inquires, as he seats himself back in his massive chair.

Both men attempt to speak simultaneously, interrupting each other before they both stare bloody murder at one another. Krogoth holds up a hand, looking somewhat bored. “You first,” he states, pointing towards Morios.

“Thank you, Chieftain,” Morios says, giving a quick bow. “I raised a herd of the strongest brown boracks. The finest in all Klendathor—”

Ziroth bustles in, “Oh please, they were sickly runts!” he exclaims.

“Silence!” Krogoth roars with such force it stiffens my spine. “You will get your turn,” he glares at Ziroth, who looks to shrink even more. “Continue Morios.”

“Well, Chieftain, Ziroth here agreed to sell them on market for me at five thousand credits a head, with him taking ten percent for his troubles,” Morios states as Ziroth folds his arms and taps his foot impatiently.

“How many?” Krogoth demands.

Morios looks like a deer caught in headlights. “How many, what, Chieftain?”

“Boracks, you voiding fool!” Ziroth shouts at Morios before glancing back to Krogoth. “You see what I’ve been dealing withhere?” he asks bitterly, prompting Krogoth to raise a hand for silence.

“Oh, of course,” Morios says as his cheeks turn an even deeper red. “It was twenty head of boracks, Chieftain.”

I’m totally lost as soon as they mention numbers and percentages. My brain switches off. Mathematics was never my strong suit. Still, I lean forward, listening intently, taking my role as Chieftainess seriously, hoping others can do the calculations. Krogoth sits back in his chair, counting on his fingers.He looks so handsome and dashing, being Mr. Bossman.

“By my numbers, Morios, you should have received ninety thousand credits. And you, Ziroth, would have received ten thousand credits,” Krogoth states, looking between the two men. “So Morios, tell us what you received for your twenty boracks?” He asks, gesturing towards Morios.

“Only forty-five thousand credits!” Morios exclaims. “He cheated me. It’s plain as day.”

I gasp, as do many of the audience, at the shocking meagre amount. He only received half of the money promised, and even Ziroth glances around nervously at the reaction and tension building in the hall.

Krogoth frowns, looking at Ziroth. “How do you explain this?” He inquires.

Ziroth straightens himself and runs a hand through his blonde hair before speaking. “Morios promised me twenty of the finest boracks, but what he delivered were runts!” He blusters and scoffs, “He should thank me, that I was even able to get forty-five thousand for them.” He shakes his head. “But this is the thanks I get. Dragged before the Hall, wasting everyone’s voiding time.”

Who is telling the truth?Morios seems kind of naïve and maybe over estimated his herd’s value. But he appears old enough that he’d have the experience to know the value of hisanimals. Krogoth’s head rests on his hand, looking even more disinterested now.Maybe I should say something?

“Do you have receipts from your sales, Ziroth?” I ask, surprising myself.Do Klendathians even keep receipts?

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