Page 15 of Tara's Warriors

Phin’s whole body clenched in empathy as Karwin’s pain-filled gaze met his.

Karwin continued, “I blundered into her place of business and she was…she is so beautiful, Phin. Just like in our true dreams. I saw her, and I could no longer think. I could barely remember to breathe. My soul rejoiced, and I swear I could feel my spirit healing in her presence. And yet…she rejected me.”

“Rejected you how?”

Karwin ground his teeth, a flash of anger mixing with his guilt, grief, and self-disgust. “I followed the advice of the Earth Matriarch who explained the culture of their planet to us. I made what they call small talk, then asked her on a date.”

“And she rejected you?”

“Yes. She said I was too young for her, that she was a grandmother and too old to date me.”

Phin stood, his heart pounding as fear iced his veins. “A grandmother? Does she…does she have a mate?”

“No.” Karwin shook his head, then a little bit of happiness and bewilderment seeped through their bond. “Her mate died twenty-one years ago. But it does not matter. She still rejected me, and I do not understand why.”

“Pardon me?” a husky, feminine voice said from beside them. “But maybe I can help you figure out why your bondmate said no.”

Turning quickly, both Phin and Karwin bowed to the dark skinned Earth Matriarch. She wore black robes edged with blue, signaling her rank as an Earth Ambassador. These special Matriarchs spent their days on the Reaping ship, helping new brides and Warriors assimilate to each other’s worlds. For such a small planet, Earth had more cultures than most solar systems.

“Matriarch,” Karwin, as the ranking officer between the two of them, spoke first. “You honor us with your presence.”

The golden and smoky orange beads in the Matriarch’s long braided hair clattered as she nodded in return. “At ease, boys.”

Puzzled, they exchanged a glance before a Warrior with long black and green striped hair, dressed in the casual clothes of a mated Kadothian male, joined them with a bemused smile. “Myalyahmeans that you should be informal and relaxed with her. Treat her as a friend rather than a Matriarch.”

This was not an unusual attitude among Earth Matriarchs, which Phin found puzzling. “As you wish, Matriarch…?”

“My name is Jaz Brooks,” she said with a bright smile as her husband looped his arm around her shoulders. “And this is my husband, Xentix. You have my permission to call us both familiar.”

“An honor,” Phin and Karwin said with another bow.

Karwin placed his hand on Phin’s shoulder. “I am Karwin Ti’Mavi, and this is my blood brother, Phin Dobrin.”

“Nice to meet you both. Come.” She motioned them to follow her as she began to walk across the transport deck to one of the many branching hallways. “Let’s have this conversation somewhere a little less public. I know how you Kadothian males love to gossip. No doubt the videos of Karwin showing his dishonor are flying all over the place by now, with Karwin being a Captain and all. You got family?”

Confused, Phin followed the small woman as she led them deeper into the ship. The soothing cool gray walls slowly changed color as the lighting went from mimicking the small yellow sun that illuminated Earth to the glow from the massive sun that gave Kadothia life. Colors became richer, deeper, and Matriarch Brook’s dark skin took on a purple sheen.

“She is asking if…” Xentix said while he shadowed his wife, guarding her as was his right and privilege. “…your mother, fathers, and brothers live.”

“Yes,” Karwin answered. “I lost a brother in battle, but my other twelve brothers are still alive, as are my mother and fathers.”

Phin nodded in agreement as Jaz glanced over her shoulder to them before leading them onto a circular lift. “Same. I lost three brothers to battle but, thank the Lord of Life, the rest of my family is healthy and safe.”

“Amen,” Jaz murmured.

He instantly searched up the term Amen on his mental implant and lost himself for a few moments in learning about the Christian religion. Quite fascinating, and not too different than the teachings of the Lord of Life on the most basic level. Of course, there were cultural differences—the image of a man nailed to a wooden cross, suffering as a symbol of their religion, was a bit jarring—but it wasn’t a death cult by any means.

“Phin?” Karwin whispered into his ear. “We are here.”

Blinking, Phin returned his thoughts to the real world instead of receiving and processing information from his implant. They’d arrived at a simulation chamber, this one holding the long, silvery blue grasslands of the Northern Continent on Kadothia. A seating arrangement of cream chairs had been set around a tiled reflecting pond filled with real multicolored lizards. Thousands of such places existed on the Reaping ship, each giving the Earth brides small glimpses into their future world. While the grass in the distance was a digital illusion, the lush, gently waving strands around the seating area were real, and they bore the faintly peppery smell of their root system.

Pausing for a moment, he ran his hands over the feathery tops of the grass bordering the sand walkway leading to the chairs.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Jaz said with a smile in her voice as she took a seat and looked around. “Every day I try to visit a new simulation pod, and every day I’m amazed at something new. It is a great blessing to be able to experience such beauty.”

Xentix sat next to his wife and caressed her dark cheek with his pale hand. A smile curved his firm lips as he stared down at her. “Itisa great blessing to experience such beauty.”

Smiling, she gave her husband a quick peck on the lips before motioning to the chairs on the other side of the pond. “Have a seat, boys, and tell me about your potential bride.”

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