Page 76 of Warrior
Daicon’s question turned our conversation toward more pleasant subjects over a bottle of valat, the dark red sweet wine made from a berry indigenous to the Vaktaire home world. I tried to enjoy myself, ignoring the heavy knot in the pit of my stomach and the sense of dread creeping over my body.
Taking the children to Tau Ceti was best for them. I knew that. What I didn’t know was how I was going to say goodbye.
Especially to one.
Chapter 19
Ewok
If he had to be stuck somewhere, it was a nice room. One wall hosted a bank of windows where he could gaze upon the vastness of space. A long table sat in the center, surrounded by four smaller tables. Ewok knew it was the Chieftain's private dining room. He’d been here before—when he and the others waited to see if George could save Daicon, the night they celebrated Daicon's healing, and another time when Daisy and Daicon gave the younglings news of the families awaiting them on Tau Ceti. After that, each youngling visited the dining room privately with Daisy and her friend Emmy to video chat the family they would call their own.
Except him.
Ewok didn’t hold any hope that his presence here would be another celebration.
He’d heard from Cuietsu earlier in the day that Emmy said no more families were available on Tau Ceti. Plus, tray after tray of his favorite treats covered the long table. All the good stuff, so whatever brought him into the private dining room wasn’t good.
Ewok wandered to the window, staring into space as if he could discern Tau Ceti from the twinkle of a million stars.
He knew what this was about.
He was a Kerzak.
He never knew what that meant before coming on board the Bardaga. He wasn't the only youngling in the mine covered in fur, but it wasn’t really about how he looked. It was the way everyone thought he would grow to behave. Some of the crew told stories about the Kerzak a species… creatures known for bloodthirstiness and violence—enemies of the Vaktaire. One of his kind had even tried to kill the Chieftain's mate Emmy. No one on Tau Ceti wanted to invite a Kerzak into their home. People were afraid of him.
It didn't matter that Ewok didn't want to be like the rest of his species. He wanted to be a warrior like Daicon, known for his skill, honor, and courage. He wanted to help people like his kida.
Ewok's stomach hurt as he pondered the two of them. He'd learned about the human concept of love from the Earth videos on board—Kerzak had nothing like that. What he had was a near-crippling ache when he thought of parting from his kida and the warrior. He would do anything just to stay on the ship to be near them.
He'd done his best to be a help to Bartuk, but unlike George, Ewok didn't possess any skill useful to a warship. He didn't understand piloting, navigation, or engineering, and wasn't big enough to offer himself as a warrior.
Perhaps they would take him to a space station and offer him as an apprentice there. Ewok knew how to work hard and was strong for his size, but he worried that beings on the space station would be as fearful of Kerzak as humans.
The swoosh of the opening door made him jump. From the smiles his kida and Daicon wore, it didn’t appear they noticed his unease.
Daisy stretched her arms wide, and Ewok rushed into her embrace, relishing how safe and cherished she made him feel. He loved her hugs and mourned the idea they would soon end.
Daicon's hand landed on his shoulder as he wrapped himself in Daisy's embrace. His gaze lifted upward, catching the two of them staring into each other's eyes. They were true mates. Ewok felt happy for them, despite feeling slightly grossed out by their face smushing. A human custom that George said was called kissing. It looked uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Daisy loosened her grip around his shoulders, her gaze dancing between Ewok and the table. "You didn't eat much. I asked Orzon to make all your favorites.”
Ewok issued a shrug. "I'm not all that hungry."
“I am,” Daicon chuckled, aiming for a handful of besserat, a salty/sweet pastry.
Daisy's laughter tinkled like bells as she rolled her eyes at Daicon. "You have such a sweet tooth."
Daicon crammed a pastry into his mouth before playfully swatting Daisy’s backside. “It’s because you’re so sweet.”
“Behave,” Daisy rolled her eyes with a laugh.
Ewok watched the exchange with a mix of pleasure and pain. He felt truly happy they had mated, but the idea of never seeing them again made his heart clench and ache.
“Sweetie, you know we’re going to arrive at Tau Ceti in a few days,” Daisy turned her attention from where Daicon decimated the tray of pastries to him.
Ewok mustered a nod but kept his eyes averted, terrified his kida would recognize his heartache. It would make her sad to know how he felt; he would do anything to spare her pain.
"We wanted to talk to you about what will happen once we get there.”
