Page 53 of Her Alien Savior
“It would be my pleasure, Riley of two worlds. The saying is, on your lips I share with you the fate of the stars. It is commonly used towards those we hold respect and honor for, and we wish they keep our names in good standing, as we are not offered to give our names freely to many of higher standing than us. It is wise for you to remember this when visiting the Galactic Authority within the palace.”
The basic customs of the trill were offered in some of the training courses, and it was known you didn’t offer your name unless they offered theirs first, but I didn’t truly think about the dynamics of it between the trill in their own culture. It was obvious that as a guest of the trill that humans were supposed to give extra respect and wait to be offered a name. But this new information put into perspective that Ma-Lex thought of me as either equal or less than his own standing. He did offer me his name, which now I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or bad thing. When offered a name it meant they thought you were worthy enough to have a conversation within the future and would need their name, but also an offering of a name meant by default they didn’t need your permission to give their name. My mind spun around the concept of the trill culture and their respect dynamics. Ma-Lex seemed nice enough, so I wouldn’t push the issue, but I didn’t like the idea of humanity being considered less-than.
We arrived at a large dome-like structure made of reflective glass that looked like oil-slicked ice that glimmered like a rainbow after the rainfall. As we approached, a section slid out for us to enter, and there were columns everywhere and an opened ceiling to the green sky with yellow clouds. There were frosty walls that led to what I assumed were different rooms for meetings and whatever else the council needed. I thought of the building similar to a city building on Earth, a gathering place for diplomats, perhaps similar to what the White House in America was before it was turned into a museum.
“These are the halls of the council. Over this way we have a welcome chamber for visiting species outfitted with a download center for your informational needs. A diplomat will be in attendance to assist you and can offer a guide for your stay on Trillume, or if you’d like my own assistance to guide you around the districts, I will remain here until you are ready to be escorted.”
“She is escorted already,” Direl interjected and his shoulder epul were on full display, larger than any warrior I had ever seen, but not as pronounced as they were when I fought him in Rakture.
Right, I thought, remembering that it wasn’t common for humans to be unaccompanied. I guess I should be thankful that humans were watched closely and kept protected, but it was odd. If I had a weapon on me, I’d feel a lot more comfortable. One thing the trill and necia had right was humans were squishy, and we didn’t come equipped with self-defense like most species. Even predators on Earth had more defenses than a human. We were only considered top of the food chain because of our tools.
“It is in the eye of the goddess that we see. I thank you for your assistance,” I thanked and dismissed the guard.
He touched his temple and walked backwards until he disappeared behind the entrance. It was then I heard voices down one of the halls and followed it when another trill came out to guard the door. She stared at me for a moment before she said under her breath, “What stars have brightened by the goddess? Would she have been so confident to bring the human with her?” She lifted her hand to make sure she knew that I knew it was me she was talking about. “Human, your escort has already entered the halls of the Galactic Council. Did you care to join her?”
I lifted a brow at her with confusion. Did she not see I had Direl with me? She wasn’t using any greetings with me like the guard had, so I didn’t add any proverbs in my reply, but kept speaking Trillix, “Honor the name of who you speak,” I asked for clarification of what escort she was talking about, if not for the one beside me.
She scoffed and narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you not escorted by the warrior General Nen-Le from the House of Vomxel of Necias Prime?”
Not wanting to be lured into some other situation, I had to be sure we were talking about the same thing. Direl had warned me that it was possible we’d run into her here. The trill’s yellow-green eyes watched me as I approached, and she opened the door for all of us to enter without her answering me. I could hear voices down the hall, and it opened up into large chamber with a circular opening in the ceiling, I quickly looked around to see the room was filled with floating images of aliens of different species, and if they weren’t floating like ghosts, I would have thought they were actually in the room. Ahead of me was Nen-Le and I sighed in relief. If she was here, we made it on time.
The closer I got I could make out what she was saying, “Do you honor our laws?”
One of the images of a trill floating above our heads in white robes with neon green embroidery that made her look very official and intimidating glided down to answer, “Think this through, General Nen-Le. This law you are requesting puts the council in a difficult position with the necia treaty. Perhaps we change the terms to first blood?”
There was a murmur of some agreement of lesser stakes among the images in the room.
“Council Florn Rel, are you afraid of a human challenger?”
A crease between the trill’s eyes was the only indication of her displeasure, as she maintained a fake smile the whole time. “What you are asking does not include me at all. Queen Roknir gave her title to her daughter, and as you are well aware she has been missing for quite some time and has not taken her place in the chambers of the Galactic Council Alliance. Though I am part of the council, I no longer hold the title as Head of the House of Rel to meet your duel. That was passed to my son and he stays with the Earthlings managing the planet. Even two Dan Stars is not enough risings for him to arrive in time.”
“Let her duel,” another voice from above spoke.
“Honor the duel, Council Florn Rel,” Nen-Le demanded. “Or are you afraid of my mate? Riley of House of Vomxel will duel for our tribe. If you do not choose a warrior, you will forfeit title for title.”
“Your Riley ofEarth,”she said pointedly, “has no authority to request a duel, and even with your support she has no rights to necia laws. You have no mark to prove she has any claim in your tribe as your mate. Let’s say the right to challenge was granted by the council, is it not customary for the human to say so herself. Is that not the human behind you? Is she claiming rights to duel?”
Nen-Le grumbled and whispered to Direl, “You should have come alone. I was handling this.”
I smiled politely and gritted through my teeth in reply, “Perhaps if you weren’t signing me up for a death match, I’d care about what you had to say.” It was obvious to me she was claiming I was her mate and that I would be dueling for a place on the council. But it didn’t make any sense. She couldn’t have known if I would show up or not, and accordingly to Direl, this law was put into motion weeks ago. Why was she here now arguing with the council?
“Let the human speak,” the Council Member Florn Rel said, “Is it your wish to duel for your tribe?” She approached and her hand reached out to pinch my cheeks, but Direl’s arm epul extended in defense, getting between us.
“That is close enough,” he stated. “You have no gloves to touch a protected species.”
“Right, Earthlings are so fragile, aren’t they. Fine, I will submit my vote to honor the duel since you have finally brought the human, and it’s obvious she has the mark of a necia mate.”
“Not her mate,” Direl corrected.
“We have shared blood,” Nen-Le defended her claim and I was tired of people speaking for me.
“Scan her,” the council member demanded, and a medic rushed from the sidelines with a disruptor in hand.
The trill medic placed a pinky to their forehead and motioned to the disruptor. “This will feel like a gentle vibration, unless you resist. Please offer me access for a comfortable scan.”
I nodded and when he waved to me, a soft buzz warmed my implant, and I accepted with a blink.
“Data confirmed as Ashley of Earth, and her D.N.A. is marked as mated with a necia.”
