My Telnari Prince

Chapter 8

Kel

Maybe I should have said something then? Should I say something now? Should she know? How do I even begin to tell her?

The sounds of the city around me got louder as we walked closer to the spaceport docks. Flying vehicles zoomed by, aliens jostled around each other as they maneuvered through the crowded walk, the smell of ozone and carbon fuels was thickening, and the wind had died down enough to make my skin sticky with sweat. Vee walked quickly in front of me, weaving her own pattern through the throng of bodies. I assumed she was attempting to keep from engaging with me about the kiss. I couldn't hide the fact that it had affected me. She was an attractive female, and she was already crawling her way under my skin like so many ants on a carcass. 

It took longer than I liked for us to reach the ship again, but it was a relief when we walked through the pilot's breach. Vee disappeared on the way to drop the clothes off in our room. Our room. I certainly wasn't going to sleep away from her. She would have to deal with it. AIDOS rose from the chair and the pixelated smile glowed green as her sensors noticed we were back. 

"How was your little expedition?" The soft smooth tones of her voice would never really be right to me. 

"We found what we were looking for, but it will take some time for the invitations to be finished. Enough time for us to eat something and change. The suns will be dropping low soon." I sat down in an open chair, tail flicking as I thought. The likelihood of any of the generals recognizing me was low, but still possible. What would I do then? How would I explain it to her?  How would I convince her that she meant something to me? Something more than the prized wives of champion battles? She was more than just... a trophy. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to tell her. She was the enemy. At least as far as my father was concerned. So why was her sheer determination so alluring? I recognize that my father was more than just a terrible figure in my life, but more than that he was cruel. A trait that had missed me and seeped into my brother instead.

"Well good. That should bring us to our next leg of our journey soon enough then." AIDOS sat back down in her chair and typed into the holographic com board. 

"Yes. It will. It shouldn't be difficult to get the information we need." Or I could just tell her, and we could go straight away, if she didn't kill me first. Which was entirely possible with her strength. Certainly it would be made worse if she had been as affected by the kiss as I was. There was no denying there was an obvious connection, but how deep did it run? Or was it the byproduct of her deep kiss? Was I infected too? I swallowed hard. Surely that was a possibility. I would need to have my blood tested to be sure. If I was infected perhaps the emotion and attraction I felt about her was merely a construct. A side effect to ensure her prey never got too far. Until I could find someone to test the general's blood, and then my own, they would be only that. Theories. It was enough of a possibility that I needed to be careful. I was becoming too emotional around her. A sign of weakness.

However, I was curious enough to see this little mission through. My father deserved this comeuppance, but I couldn't stand the thought of my brother ruling while I hid in the shadows. If I stood my ground then I would be openly declaring before all males that I was challenging them both. A statement that would prompt both my father and my brother to attempt to make me disappear as they had so many others before an actual challenge fight could be scheduled. I looked over at AIDOS. She was busy with star charts, mapping the most fuel efficient routes to the nearest ports. It was smart, incase we needed to make a quick getaway. So I left her to it. I needed to eat and get ready anyways. Once we got the invitations, then we were going to be incredibly busy. 

I fixed myself a bowl of hot noodles and sat down at the attached countertop bar to eat. I had gotten two bundles of noodles in my mouth when Murtagh came in with a grim look on his face. Murtagh smelled of oil and grime, he was covered in it too. He nodded his head to me before he stopped at the sink to wash his hands. 

"It's a wonder this ship is still flying, Kel." He grunted. "When's the last time it was maintenanced?" 

I chuckled and shrugged. "Dunno, a cycle or two?" 

Murtagh sighed heavily, leaning a hip against the counter.  "You really should take better care of your toys." It was a half hearted admonition, he looked tired. 

"What's wrong Murtagh?" I tilted my head at him, slurping another bundle of noodles into my mouth while I waited before setting my utensils down and setting my elbows on the countertop to give him my full attention. He looked around to ensure we were alone, then leaned over the countertop himself, bracing his forearms against the marble.

"The woman. You need to space her." His whisper, though soft, was unmistakable. He was serious, the firm set of his brows and mouth told as much. I tried not to gape like a fish and sat back to compose myself. 

"Space her? That will be our answer?" I said it low, my tone a bit heavier than I intended but it got the point across because Murtagh stood up straight. 

"She'll kill you Kel. She will be your end, then you will have no one to blame but yourself. She's sick. She needs to be put down, not allowed to traipse around the 'verse. Is she even infectious? Will she stay sane?" Murtagh's whispered questions grew thick with a chest deep growl as he got quieter. I couldn't stop my face from screwing up as he echoed my own thoughts. It was a concern, but if we tracked down the lab she was created in, then we could find those answers. Was I infected now too? I stood up, letting the stool behind me scrape mercilessly against the floor, causing a sharp screeching sound to permeate the silence that I let hang there. 

"I will figure it out. We may yet need her when we find the lab, and she may still destroy my father, then I will only have to put my brother down. Perhaps when the dust has settled, I can make some changes to how things are done. It won't be easy, Murtagh. I will need your help." 

Murtagh sighed, his shoulders slumping as he shook his head. "You'll be the death of us, but I will walk with you, highness." With that, he thumped his chest with his fist. 

Several hours later

Maybe I was thinking too far ahead? My breath caught in my chest as I watched her step down from the port ramp. She appeared every bit a Sarterian princess as I ever knew one to be. Was that even a possibility? The crystal seemed to think as much but birth rates with the Sarterian people were recorded to have been strictly monitored, surely a twin would have been recorded or even the whereabouts of a princess or some duke's daughter gone missing? How did she not know? She truly bore the weight and stature of one. 

"What?" She asked, patting her sides as she stepped towards me. She looked nervous, though I doubt it had something to do with the job at hand and more to do with the heels and dress.

"Have you ever worn formal attire, aside from the fitting today?" She frowned at me, one arm hooking her elbow.

"No... I didn't have a lot of reason to when I was younger." She sighed, and took the lead, stepping in front of me to do so. "Come on, we don't want to be late." I caught her arm and pulled her back to face me. She rounded easily, her eyes flashing with violence and a barely audible snarl emanating from her throat. 

"Easy killer, I got us some wheels. So to speak." I gestured over to the hovercraft I had rented for the night, complete with chauffer and Mage's fire for drinks. Something to nip for the nerves. She took in the vehicle, and nodded.

"Good thinking, we won't look the part without it." 

"I know." I opened the door for her, and closed it behind me once we got in and settled. Inside it was dark, the windows tinted heavily, a requirement I had requested due to the current emphasis on remaining unknown. 

"What's the plan again." She turned to me when she spoke, was this a quiz?

"Get in, figure out a way into that meeting, get as much information as possible, and get out. Simple." And figure out where this lab is that created you so I can get some answers too.