Page 40 of Fated to the Alien Chieftain

He leans down to kiss me on the head gently. “This cloak is more than just a pretty gift. When you wear it, others will know, even outside clans, that you are a Chieftainess. Someone to be respected and heeded.”

“I’ll treasure it always.” I pull the cloak tightly around me. “Thank you, my Mortakin-Kai.”

Chapter 15

Krogoth

Teacher

Pebbles looks unbelievably beautiful.It fills me with longing and a fierce pride, the dark purple dress that highlights her voluptuous curves clings to her body in all the right places. Now her thick white fur cloak draped over her supple shoulders adds to her regalness and grace. My stunning Mortakin-Kis, the picturesque Chieftainess.

Such a wonder Clan Draxxus will have a Chieftainess again, not since the ‘Great Shame’ two hundred years ago has this happened. Other Clans may come for an audience just out of curiosity, to look upon her and no doubt assess the validity of our bond. That will be my chance to convince them to seek their own mates and start rebuilding our lost civilization.

The thought brings a smile to my face. I’ve come so far,we’ve come so far, my little human and me. Gods how I love her, the purest blessing from the divine. “Korgy, can you help me move this?” Pebbles asks, jolting me from my thoughts.

Pebbles is pushing with all her might against the Chieftainess chair, her face flushed with effort, appearing ridiculously adorable. “This thing weighs a ton!” she exclaims, straining. I smile at her incessant need to move furniture, recalling how she redecorated my battlebarge and home. I ease her burden, adding my strength to the chair as it slides across noisily until it knocks against my chair.

“Much better,” Pebbles declares, as she examines the two seats of authority that now rest side by side. “They seemed so far apart before.” She pauses, catching her breath.

“I like it,” I state, taking a step back, picturing what the audience’s view will be. “Yes, we’ll appear even more united,” I smile, turning back to Pebbles. “And it’ll be easier to pull you onto my lap.”

Pebbles sighs. “I’ll miss sitting on you in front of everyone.”

“You might find your new seat more comfortable,” I remind her, gesturing towards the gnarled, winged back, imposing chair. “You have yet to grace it with your beautiful form.”

“Indeed, one’s ass should grace the queen’s throne, one supposes,” Pebbles says in a haughty, mocking tone. The chair, while smaller than the male version, is still large for her, having been constructed for a female Klendathian.

She performs a short jump, grasping onto the armrests, pulling herself up onto it. “I feel like a child climbing into a high chair.” She scoots into her rightful place, adjusting her cloak. “How do I look?”

“Like the Chieftainess,” I reply before smirking, “A really tiny, adorable one.”

Pebbles exhales loudly, “I’m average height, goddammit.”

I smile at her protest, enjoying the familiarity of her objections. “Does it feel comfortable?” I ask, as I move to take my seat beside her.

Pebbles shuffles before speaking. “As much as a giant chair made from old roots can be. The cloak is helping, I think.” She turns, adjusting her cloak, having it rest like a blanket beneath her. “Not as comfortable as your lap, of course.”

I laugh. “You are welcome to come visit anytime,” I reply, patting my legs.

She smiles before looking out over the massive empty hall. Her face grows more serious as she takes a deep breath. “So, we’ll be sitting like this, and the room will be packed full of people staring right at me?”

I nod. “Yes, like the time you spoke so elegantly before,” I remind her.My poor Pebbles, so full of unnecessary doubts. I wish my words could mend her wounded mind.

Pebbles clears her throat. “Greetings esteemed guests! You stand before me, the great and powerful Roxy,” she says, in a haughty mocking tone again.

She snorts while I chuckle. “You think too much,” I say, crossing my legs over the arm of my chair, while leaning back with my hands crossed behind my head. “It’ll come naturally when you need it, because that’s who you are now.”

Pebbles stares into the distance, her face carrying a slight frown.I wonder what she’s thinking.If I had whatever strange ability she gained from the Mortakin-Tok, the answer would be revealed to me.

I still can scarcely believe it, but too many times now Pebbles has predicted my feelings and reactions to deny the truth any longer. She can read emotions... like the Goddess Machsin could. What does this mean? Maybe she really was sent by the Gods? Some strange unforeseen reaction because she is a human?

Her powers don’t appear to extend beyond this. She mentioned attempting other abilities without success.What if she can imprint emotions into people like Machsin could, and she’s doing it right now to me?A grimace creases my face. No, to think down this path is a road to madness.What if she’s reading my thoughts right now?I steal a peek at her as she sits innocently in her chair, still lost in thought. My sweet, terrifying Pebbles, I almost laugh.

It’s nice to have a moment to take stock of how far we’ve come, of what is yet to be done.Events have worked out in our favor. Zyraxis dead. The Council of Elders has cleared me of any wrongdoing. We have completed our Mortakin-Tok. Important first steps. Yet a long road lies ahead. I must convince the other Chieftains to throw off the oppression of the Scythians with Pebbles’ help, then together we can remove the War Chieftain peacefully, and break our alliance.

What the Scythians do after that is anyone’s guess. Who could say what the enigmatic species would do? If they attack us, we could ally with the Nebians and together crush them. There are many other species recently conquered by them who would relish the chance for revenge.If they could ever forgive us for helping the Scythians.In truth, I’d prefer peace. For too long, my people have bled. Our civilization is anemic, pale and sickly, as we dangle on the precipice of extinction. One more brutal war could tip us over the edge.

Another, more troubling, possibility gnaws at the back of my mind. The one threatened by Zyraxis of the War Chieftains return to Klendathor. I don’t doubt he contacted Gorexius, the despicable wyrm he was.

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