All three males jumped, giving her shocked looks. She immediately stopped that horrible, high pitched, out of tune noise. It was similar to their songs, sure, but it was not at all a pleasant sound. Sway did not even know humans were capable of making such noise.
Grace’s face burned bright red under their stares. She dropped her head, shoulders hunching in as embarrassment rode her.
But Sway’s heart fluttered lifted her hand and kissed her fingers, catching her eye. He gave her a smile. “That was absolutely beautiful.”
He felt rather than saw the other two males shoot him appalled looks. Even Grace gave him an incredulous grin.
“You don’t have to lie, Sway,” she chuckled nervously. “That was bad. I can tell that was bad. It was nothing like what you guys can do.”
“Yes, but you are not farasie. I don’t expect farasie songs from you,” he said gently. “And I wasn’t lying. Truly, I found it beautiful.”
And he did. It was a horrible noise. High pitched, far too breathy, and it wavered erratically along with the stream of air she’d forced through her tightly pursed lips. If he heard a farasie make such a sound, he’d assume they were in agony or dying. It was grating and harsh.
And still beautiful. Because it came from Grace’s mouth. Because that was the sound of her song. A noise humans clearly did not have cause to make very often. But she heard the sound from his people and tried to recreate it. He loved it all the more for that. If she wanted to make him listen to that racket for the rest of his life, he’d be rather pleased.
In a whistle so she couldn’t understand, Vweet whispered, “They do say that love elevates even the most toneless song to that of high art.”
“Vweet says love makes even the most toneless songs high art,” Sway immediately translated, even knowing that Vweet did not wish for her to hear. Because he would not let Grace be left out of the conversation happening right in front of her. “I personallydon’t understand what complaints they have. Sing for me again. I want to really appreciate it this time.”
She giggled, but, to his disappointment, didn’t indulge his request as she instead asked. “So, the female sings back. Is that the end of the bonding?”
“No,” Veesway answered immediately, sounding relieved. Like he was glad that Grace wouldn’t be singing again. He clearly couldn’t appreciate what Sway heard. “The song the female sings is the male’s mating trigger. The male then dances for his female. Displaying himself for her. That is the female’s mating trigger. There is generally a long period of singing and dancing, but it is up to the couple how long that period lasts. Could be a single mark; could be a full year. But when the male is ready, he will create a nest for the female. And when she is ready, they go into it together and seal the bond through sex.”
Grace gave Sway a coy look up through her lashes. They only had two rooms at the inn now. Sway could choose to stay with Loyalty, or he could go to her. It wouldn’t seal the mating bond without the proper triggers and steps needed for him biologically, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy each other regardless.
“That will come later, of course,” Veesway said, catching their attention again. “A courting process is not a quick event. It is meant to be treasured and valued every day. And, of course, Grace will need to learn about our people and culture. Are humans capable of being vegetarian?”
“Oh, er, yeah,” she said, not quite enthusiastically.
Sway frowned. He was an obligate herbivore. He physically couldn’t eat meat. Even the synthesized meat – which moral vegetarians could, and did, eat – was not an option for him.But the same wasn’t true for Grace. He’d seen her eating many things while on the ship, meat included. It didn’t bother him any more than his diet bothered her.
But the way Veesway spoke, it was like heexpectedGrace to give up meat. Like she might be in the wrong if she did not.
A thought that was confirmed when Veesway made a grunt of satisfaction.
“Good. I was worried that you might be carnivorous like that 108 you brought with you.”
Grace’s smile turned up to full blast, even as the glint in her eyes sharpened like a blade. “His name is Loyalty. And he’s currently inside a ratchi, and ratchi are not carnivorous. They’re omnivorous, in fact. Like myself.”
Veesway made a sound of disgust. A sentiment echoed on the other male’s face. However, Vweet quickly fixed his expression before he spoke.
“A thing like that has no place in our Song. But that is not important. He’ll be gone soon enough. I believe we agreed to focus on important things. Eefwan, would you like to help us in our mission? We would certainly make a place for you in our organization. I’ve been serving as second to your father for years. I would happily take you under my tutelage.”
“I have a job,” Sway said, even more disturbed by Vweet using his name than Veesway. He didn’t like that name. In fact, that name was dangerous. All his crimes were connected to that name. He couldn’t be called that. “And if it’s all the same to you, I prefer Sway.”
“Sorry?” Vweet actually looked confused, though he was the one who sung Sway’s name the proper way it was meant to be pronounced when they first met, so he obviously knew it.
“I go by Sway.” He looked at Veesway as well. “I would prefer to be called that.”
But Veesway was frowning. “Eefwan is your name. Your mother chose it for you. She spent many days thinking and debating over names before picking that one.”
“And I appreciate that. I do. But it is not how I am addressed any longer.”
“I don’t know that I can do that,” Veesway said, his eyes closed like he was bearing a deep, bone aching pain. “I have nothing left of your mother. I cannot give up the name she picked for you. She loved that name. It is what you have always been in my heart. That cannot change.”
Sway’s eye was twitching. Hedidappreciate that the name might mean a lot to them, but it did not to him. Sway was the name he picked in this new life. He wasn’t forgetting his old name. He certainly wasn’t disparaging it. He just couldn’t be that person any longer.
“What happened to her? Sway’s mom, I mean,” Grace asked, her hand squeezing his. Changing the subject before Sway could do something that might get them in trouble. Or end this meeting prematurely.
