When I reach the gorja pen, I find Atox leaning over the wooden fence watching three young males, including his nephew Sojek, picking burs off the animals from a patrol that just returned.
“Kodex reported you mated the human female last night.”
“Yes.”
“I did not see the risha mount set up outside this morning.”
“She has a son, Atox. Back at the human settlement.”
“Vekk.”
“She wishes to return to him.”
“No one returns. Their males have blasters now. And possibly an alliance with the vints. They lied and cheated us, Verig. We cannot risk even a single female returning to the humans with intel about our numbers, position, weapons…anything.”
I knew what his answer would be as well as his reasoning, but still, it had to be said, so he would understand the situation.
“Your female will adapt in time. As Paloma did.”
His mate did not leave a youngling behind. Atox, too, has never known such loss. He does not understand that Tansey will never forget her youngling.
“How have you punished Baloq?”
“I exiled him for a year.”
“For trying to force Tansey to mate?” I am surprised Atox would banish one of his best fighters without trying another form of punishment first.
“For ignoring my orders. I will not tolerate disobedience. From anyone. One warrior defying orders risks us all. This goes beyond Baloq, Neld. This defiance is spreading like a disease.”
“Ryko,” I utter. Atox had banished the last male who had defied him, and yet that did not deter Baloq from disobeying orders.
“Yes, but he’s not my concern right now. You are. The female he tried to force is the same female you just mated, and now you tell me she will not agree to risha. I wonder what you will do next, Neld.”
I stifle the low growl starting deep in my throat, that he should question my loyalty. He’s never had reason to before. But Ryko and Baloq had never disobeyed orders, either. “She entered my furs last night of her own will.”
“But she refuses risha,” he says, as if this alone will drive me to behave like Baloq and Ryko.
“You question my loyalty?”
“I question your desperation.”
“I never wanted another female.”
“Including this one?”
I don’t answer.
“Find a way to convince her to perform risha. Then she will be under your control.”
“Tansey is determined to return to New Earth.”
“Baloq has been banished. She need not fear him.”
“Her youngling,” I remind him. “The bond between parent and youngling is strong. Very strong, Grak.”
“It was not for me or my siblings,” he says, his face turningdark. Even in this, memories of his sire, Narzik the Cruel, plague him. “Your female will adjust as Paloma did.”
His mate had a sire that mirrored Narzik the Cruel in many ways. Perhaps that is why the gods matched Paloma to Atox. But he cannot understand the bond between parent and child because he’s never experienced it. “What would Ossa do if males took Evve from her?”
