Page 42 of The VaDorok's Unexpected Mate
“I believe that this time it is going to take Zalla some time to recover from all of that,” she teased. “You just had to speak everything in front of half of the tribe.
He grunted and scowled back at her. “She was sufficiently warned the last time she tried to play games with my future.”
“She loves you, Kull. Naturally, she wishes to see you happily mated,” Tev pressed, but he shook his head.
“If that was the case, then she would have been pleased to welcome the mate I had chosen and happy to be a good second mother to Katie, not attempt to manipulate ulukskinon again.”
Tev sobered at his words and nodded. “Are you really going to try to change the mate-challenge laws of the tribe?”
He nodded. “It is past time for them to be abolished. For generations, such ridiculousness has been allowed for the sake of our females’ pride, and all it has done is create more pain.”
“For the challenge against an established ulukskinon, I would agree. But Kull, the right to testing is something that has been long-standing with the tribes since before off-worlders came and began mingling with us. There are too few matings.”
“Who is to say that this is preferable for life?” he growled. “If we fail as a species, then we fail, but we aren’t going toaccomplish anything by trying to force matings. Ulukskinon cannot be forced. If someone is already mated, even if it is a pleasure-mate, they should be allowed to enjoy it in peace without the females of the tribe trying to push their way into their lives. With more off-worlders finding us, we should see it as more potential opportunities for growth and just allow for nature to happen rather than cling to these outdated methods of force.”
“I agree,” Borax rumbled, startling him.
He had not even heard the male approach with Vidok. Apparently, his argument with Tev had drawn more attention than he realized, as a number of males and females were openly watching. Nor had he realized that Tev had gently maneuvered him into the vicinity of Borax and Vidok rather than in the direction he had intended to go.
His gaze shot to the female, and she smiled smugly. He gritted his teeth in frustration at having been so effortlessly maneuvered by her, but he had to admit that he also had to thank her if this accomplished what he wanted.
“Borax,” he muttered in greeting with a short nod of respect to the male. “I did not intend to disrupt the entire gathering with this.”
The chief held up a hand, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “You did not say anything that did not need to be said. My thoughts have been dwelling on the same matter for some time. I have been reluctant to act in the past, but seeing that these traditions are becoming more of an issue, and are now disrupting the peace within our tribe, then it is time that these laws are abolished. If Zalla attempts to orchestrate a challenge, I will stand with your decision before the tribe.”
Kull’s shoulders sagged with relief, the tension within him draining from him. “Then I am relieved of my worries. Thankyou. I should find Katie and inform her so that her first gathering is not disrupted any further with such worries.”
Vidok smiled and nodded toward where there was a small cluster of VaDorok milling about with their human mates. “I believe you will find her with the other humans.”
Murmuring his thanks, and with a nod of appreciation to Tev, Kull jogged over, eager for his ulukska’s company.
Chapter 32
Katie grinned as she watched Trish spin the basket carefully between her hands, its beaded tassels swaying with the movement, while her male, Ladox, held up a slightly larger and less ornate basket. He glanced down at the smaller basket skeptically and sighed.
“Ulukska, this basket is far more practical. What could you possibly put in that?” he grumbled.
“Hush, it’s cute,” she replied. “I could put all kinds of small things in it while still being able to enjoy the basket holding them.”
He grunted in reply but tossed an almost accusatory look in Kull’s direction. “I do not recall seeing you make such small, frivolous baskets before.”
Kull shrugged. “Having a female around has broadened the scope of the horizons for me. Why not make something that might appeal to a female who may wish to keep her ornaments or other small belongings in?”
“I never believed you to be that interested in what females enjoy,” Ladox replied. “But if it will please Trish, here is my token so that you can find something for your mate.”
He placed a small carved stone on the low table that they had erected and departed with his mate as she happily carried her treasure away. Katie picked up the so-called token and peered at it curiously.
“Is this some sort of currency exchange?” she asked. “I thought everything was a matter of barter.”
Kull glanced at her quizzically and nodded. “It is. Privately, among ourselves, we directly trade goods, but we incorporate a different system for gatherings. All of us keep a bag full of tokens that we may redeem with each other. Eventually, thetokens make their way back to their owners. Those that are not redeemed may be kept until the next gathering. Here this one is mine so you can see the difference,” he said as he handed her a token from a pouch at his waist.
She lifted it up so that both tokens were held side by side and inspected them. Although both bore deeply scratched markings that she couldn’t decipher, she could definitely see the difference between them. Handing Kull’s token back to him, she turned Ladox’s token around slowly in her hand. Smooth and flat it had to be a small river stone of some kind. She turned to hand it back to Kull as well, but he curled her fingers around it and gently pushed her hand back.
“You heard Ladox... it is for you to spend,” he replied gruffly as he picked up a half-woven basket and began weaving more grass straw into it.
“But I couldn’t,” she protested. “You are the one who made everything here, not me.”
“Are you not cutting and sewing leather?” Kull asked, not even looking up from the basket he was working on. “Besides, between my mother and Ren, word has spread that we are pleasure-mates. If I do not make an appearance of doting on you, it will bring unnecessary attention to us.”
