"I'm afraid so, at least for now. We need to rebuild Darlam?—"
"Let me assure you that for that endeavor, too, you will have the full support of the Pandraxian Empire. Whatever you need." He offered. "I'll leave some troops to keep out any other vultures who might want to pick on Darlam's bones."
I didn't like the idea of Pandraxian troops close by, but I also knew that, for now, we would need all the help we could get. The emperor was right; once word spread, thousands of people would come. The best-case scenario would be that most would come just out of curiosity, but there would inevitably be some who would seek to exploit Darlam like the Ohrurs had.
"That is very generous, thank you." Again, it was Zaarek who spoke for us.
"And this must be Nock, the most famous holostreamer and my personal favorite," Emperor Daryus strode forward. Zaarek groaned. I would have expected Nock to glow right in front of us, expected his small chest to expand, and pride to fill his features. I even expected him to throw anI told you solook at Zaarek, but none of that happened. Instead, he stared dumbstruck at Alice’s friend, Daisy, who also beamed at him, “I’ve watched all your holostreams. You’re a legend and a genius. I know this is asking a lot, but would you be willing to help a newbie? Give me some pointers?”
She placed her fingers on his arm. Nock opened his mouth to respond, but not even a squeak left him. He tried again, and we all stared at him, bewildered. Or at least bewildered until the first mating marks began to move up and down his arm.
“Oh, what is this?” Daisy asked, clasping one hand over her arm, where the same mating marks spread.
Nock, the little Kred, seemed to grow right in front of us; he moved forward with a determination on his face that matched a Space Guardian about to terminate someone. He grabbed Daisy by the waist. “MINE!” He yelled, in a voice so deep it didn’t seem to be his. Then he kissed her.
All of us expected the human female to push him away; that’s what it looked like at first. I was ready to interfere, but she slumped against him like one of those females in the movies Alice made me watch. I think they called itswooning.
Dazed, she stared at him when he finally let go.
“Mine!” Nock repeated.
An unintelligible acknowledgment came from Daisy as if she had been struck dumb, but the haze in her eyes left no doubt that she was as fascinated with Nock as he appeared to be with her.
“That must have been one hell of a kiss,” Zoe exclaimed wistfully.
“You’ve been holding out on us, Nock,” Sloane laughed.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Zaarek stared at Nock.
“No pain?” Nova asked.
“Doesn’t seem fair,” Sloane agreed.
“Hannah?” Alice turned to our High Priestess.
“I don’t know,” Hannah looked thoughtful, “but I can’t shake the feeling that Zapharos has something to do with this.”
As if on cue, I thought I heard a deep laughter inside my head, but before I could react, it was gone. Damn Arkhevari.
* * *
Nock broadcasted his holostreams soon after the entire party left—after he showed us what he had put together, of course. It was impressive, not in his usual style at all.
"I didn't think the Kred had any respect in him at all, but that was… pretty good," Zaarek said.
"Pretty good?" Nova raised an eyebrow. "Come on, it was great. And you better tell him that, too."
"Tell me what?" Nock entered, munching, as always, on his Oreos, which had quickly become his entire nutrition intake. "Lady Silla brought them. I think I'm in love," he grinned.
“I’m not sure if I’m more in love with Nock or the Oreos,” Daisy said, following Nock and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I think these are better than the real thing.”
Nova boxed Zaarek hard in the ribs, and after a grunt, Zaarek mumbled, "Your holostream was pretty good." Nova boxed him again. "Alright, it wasgreat!" he elaborated, widening his eyes and silently pleading with Nova to quit boxing him.
"Really?" The Kred beamed, "Thank you! That means a lot coming from you. Thank you, Zaarek."
Nova raised her eyebrows at Zaarek again in aSee,I told you soway, and I turned my face so my brother wouldn't see me snicker.
"Good job," Raasla grunted, taking Zoe by the hand, rising. Ready to leave for the night.
