“Rhysa,” Cyra called out to her navigator as she descended into the bay. “While we’re here, if you get the opportunity, would you try to secure another transport job? I have to stay close to our?—”
“Dez isn’t going to run off. Even I believe him when he says he’ll come with us after a visit.” She narrowed her pink eyes. “I rarely trust anyone.”
“I’ll just feel better if I can keep tabs on him.”
“No hardship. I’ll take any excuse to rub elbows with the locals. Especially if they look anything like Dez.” Rhysa winked at Cyra and sauntered toward the exit where Blaize waited.
Dez and Veda had left earlier to work with the spaceport team to manage the canines. At Dez’s request, the facility provided them with a large, fully enclosed pen where the animals could exercise outdoors while still providing shelter. Cyra had questioned the cost, but Dez waved her off. Apparently, his sister’s royal status covered their expenses too. Worry weighed on Cyra’s shoulders. After all the chaos, the visit to Din’Gale was too easy. She’d have to remain on guard for the unexpected, because there was no possible way the detour to the cargo’s home planet would work out for her.
Dez led them to a small hovercraft that would take them to his home. The pilot flew between the cliffs. The dark grey rocks jutted out from the dense forest.
“Your planet is beautiful, Dez.” Veda said with a touch of awe.
“I loved it here.” His voice held a note of wistfulness, putting Cyra on alert. “This is the more wild side of the planet. Farther out, away from the deep rivers and jagged mountains, there is rich farmland. The forest has many delicacies I hope to share with you during our brief visit.”
“Food. Good food. I can’t wait.” Rhysa rubbed her hands together gleefully.
How would Dez ever be able to leave his planet again knowing he was going to a frozen planet to work in a mine? Cyra wouldn’t be able to do it. Although she’d given up her beautiful water planet for a metal ship. Maybe he wasn’t as close to his family as he implied.
The hovercraft zoomed into a dock on the top level of a series of circular buildings stacked like mushrooms on top of each other, each one smaller than the one below it. There were tubes radiating out from the bottom building, connecting other similarly configured buildings. The structures had huge windows all around much like the port where they’d landed. Were the buildings homes or businesses? Did they have entrances to the outside forest or did the inhabitants remain inside and only travel in the tubes? Everything about the planet intrigued her.
A group of people emerged from a nearby tube when the hover craft landed, answering one of Cyra’s questions. Two couples waited, an older and a younger. The older male appeared to be an aged version of Dez, but lighter gray. The younger couple wore fine, brightly colored fabrics with gems that winked in the sunlight.
“My family.” The reverence in Dez’s voice warred with the expectation of what it would be like to return to her own family. She doubted they would greet her with smiles and open arms. He embraced the younger woman who had run to him. Most likely his sister, the princess, based on the jewels she wore at her ears, neck, and wrists, to accent her fine, shimmering-green garment. She was stunning with light charcoal-gray skin accented with blood red markings. Her hair fell in a perfect black, silk waterfall down her back. The man by her side, her mate, the prince, was almost as tall as Dez, but not as muscular. He had dark, almost black, markings like Dez, and also had no hair. Dez’s parents were dressed more humbly than the royal couple. He clutched them close, taking each one in his arms, tears running down his face. His mother grazed her fingertips over his cheeks, his shoulders, his chest, as if she couldn’t believe he was real. She was an older version of Dez’s sister—her skin was just a little looser, her red markings a little fainter, and her hair had a bit of grey. She was still strikingly beautiful.
He broke away from his mother and turned to Cyra. “Captain Meajzur, may I introduce my mother, Azhume? Mother, this is the captain of the ship that will take me to my next assignment.”
Dez referred to his being sold to the mines as his next assignment. Did his family not understand that he was a slave?
“It is an honor to meet you,” his mother told Cyra bowing slightly but keeping her distance. Cyra couldn’t blame the woman who must hate her for taking her son so far away to a place that would more than likely kill him at a young age. Cyra tilted her head in acknowledgement and tried to push down the sour ball that bubbled up in her throat.
Dez continued with introductions, moving to his sister and then her husband and finally his father. He introduced her crew to each of them in the same order, starting with Veda and then Blaize and finally Rhysa. Cyra was sure there was some cultural message she was missing. She would discuss it with Veda later. All she felt from the group was kindness and acceptance—two things she didn’t deserve.
“We have prepared a meal for you in honor of your visit, brother.” The princess’s voice was warm and sweet. “Would you all please join us?”
Dez’s gaze shifted to Cyra. She gave a quick nod of silent approval. A note of tension Cyra hadn’t been aware of released in everyone but her. With Veda by her side, she followed the prince and princess through a passage in the lower level that led to the center of the structure. There was an elevator in the core of the buildings that let the residents move from building to building. Dez explained that there were no businesses in the residential zone. The businesses were located farther out between the green zone and the farming land. They rose to the top building in the stack and exited into what was obviously the home of the royal couple.
Finely carved furniture cushioned in rich fabrics filled the open space, seemingly carved from a huge tree. Cyra stepped out of the elevator and onto the polished light wood floors, partially covered by a handwoven rug. The bay of windows in front of her called her to admire the breathtaking view. Standing in front of the perfectly clear panels, it was as if she was still outside. An unobstructed vista led to a valley with more waterfalls than she could count. There must be a river below, but she couldn’t see it through all the trees. The birds—their variety and huge numbers—once again left her in awe. Din’Gale was paradise.
Dez’s mother, Azhume, approached her at the window. “I never tire of the beauty.”
“Having seen it in person, I can’t understand how your son left.”
Azhume smiled, her eyes crinkling her light gray skin. “We didn’t always live in the prince’s palace. Our daughter imprinted with someone beyond her reach. But since the day she was born, Dez never denied her anything.” The warm approval radiated through her words. “He’s always been very protective, especially of his little sister.”
“She’s lucky to have a brother that would sacrifice so much.” And a family that recognized it instead of expecting it.
“We’re all lucky. My husband would have taken on the burden if Dezmuhnd had not dissuaded him. He insisted that Daymuhnd must remain by my side to care for me.” Her voice trembled the slightest bit and a whisper of regret and relief rose from the woman.
Cyra said nothing. What could she say? When she’d left her family, it had been a selfish act to avoid remaining in her crowded home. She hadn’t done it for anyone other than herself. She was embarrassed when she thought back to what she had done compared to what Dez had done for his family.
“Come eat. You must be starved. Dez mentioned during his call that you and your crew have no chef and don’t eat well.”
The call Veda had insisted he be allowed to make. “It’s a long story.”
“You will share it while we dine.” Azhume held out her arm indicating the direction to go.
The food was amazing as promised and the conversation had flowed easily. There were four or five courses, Cyra lost count. Each dish was fresh and expertly prepared. She was so full she could hardly see straight. The wine they’d had probably wasn’t helping her eyesight either. No wonder Dez complained so bitterly about the food on the ship.
