Page 72 of Sway's Peace
She chuckled. “They must all be very happy to see you.” Then, to his eternal gratitude, she did exactly as he asked. She got in the way, stepping forward, putting herself between them and speaking to Veesway, using that same polite, chipper, customer service voice she’d initially had when they first met. “Well met, Veesway. I’m Grace. That is, of course, Captain Tanin, and his mate Garnet. And behind us is a friend of ours, Loyalty. Thank you so much for welcoming us into your Song.”
Veesway released Sway and, like Vweet, his expression settled from ecstatic delight at seeing him into one of calmer kindness.
“Well met, Grace,” he responded, finally speaking in Standard. “You and your crew are welcome here. So long as you keep to our rules, of course.”
“Oh, I’m not-”
“Thank you,” Tanin said, interjecting with casual authority before she could deny being part of their crew. Sway was grateful for that. He was already having a hard enough time greeting these memories from his past. He didn’t think he could handle his present fragmenting at all, even just in distinction of their positions. “We have your delivery ready. We just need to confirm payment, and I’ll return to get it. Sway and the others will be staying in the meantime.”
“Of course. He is most welcome.” Veesway gave him another smile. “I’ll have a room at an inn reserved for you.”
Sway’s expression didn’t change, but that offer didn’t sit right. It sounded like he was only speaking to Sway, not the others.
“Thank you, but no,” Tanin said, interjecting before Sway could decline. “I’ve already reserved rooms for my crew. We’ll be staying together.”
“Ah. I see. As you wish.” Veesway inclined his head. “My excitement got the better of me. It’s not always that we can say we managed to welcome a lost one home. I would love, Sway,” he whistled his name properly again, “to hear your story.”
“It’s not really one I like to think about,” Sway said simply. Which wasn’t even a lie. He and the others had moved on, so why revisit their lives on Rik-Vane? However, he didn’t have such an aversion to his own memories that he needed to avoid speaking of them. That wasn’t why he tried to block them out. It was, however, a convenient way to avoid divulging anything to these people.
Veesway’s face contorted with sad understanding. “Naturally. Forgive me for asking. However, you simply must let us throw a celebration for you tonight. As I said, it’s not often we can successfully welcome a lost one back. Let my people enjoy this moment. It comes too infrequently. I know we did not help in your retrieval, but I know it would make them happy. You could sing for us. I know we’d be delighted to have your voice join our Song.”
Sway wasn’t sure he was comfortable with that idea. “Thank you. But I was taken a long time ago. I was still a child. I don’t really remember much of my culture. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to sing properly.”
“All the more reason!” Veesway held out his arms. “If you have forgotten your culture, we must do that much more to remind you. To re-teach you. It would be a great pleasure. Please.”
Sway didn’t want to. This meeting already was too much. Staring right into his father’s face, speaking directly to him, was overwhelming. His chest still hurt from the song of welcoming he’d been sung when he arrived. He didn’t think he could handle anymore.
But he nodded. Agreeing.
Veesway cocked his head. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a human gesture,” Sway said, giving Grace another look. Taking strength, again, from the way she smiled, stepping closer into his side. “It means yes.”
“This is a human, huh…” Veesway looked her over carefully.
And Sway had to, again, resist the urge to shove him back. To get him away from her.
Why was he feeling the urge to do violencenow? Veesway wasn’t going to hurt her. His expression certainly wasn’t lustful or amorous. If anything, he just seemed confused.
So, why was Sway threatened? Why was he suddenly protective over her? They weren’t going to hurt her. He already knew that. But still…
“Are you mated?” Vweet asked, smiling as he looked between them. “That would be exciting. Has there been a human-farasie mating yet?”
Sway’s jaw tightened. He didn’t know how to try mating her, but he didn’t want to admit as such. He didn’t want these males anywhere near her or this topic anymore.
But he apparently didn’t need to speak at all. Understanding crossed Veesway’s face and, switching back to whistles, he asked, “Do you not remember how to mate, lost one?”
Sway’s temper was a fire licking at the back of his throat. He had to work to remain calm as he responded, still speaking Standard, “I do not. Grace and I were going to try to figure how we might mate together.”
“We can teach you,” Veesway whistled, unbothered by the fact that they were talking to each other in two different languages. “You can re-learn. And the, er, small one can learn it for the first time. I’m sure we can try to teach her our ways.”
Sway didn’t want Grace to learn their ways. She was perfect the way she was.
“Sway.” Grace was pulling on his hand. “What is he saying?”
“He wants to teach me how farasie mate,” he said softly. It wasn’t really a secret, but it was something that he really only wanted to share with her.
She started to smile, but then bit her lips, stopping herself. “And you? Do you want to learn it from them?”
