The Anialwch Connection
Chapter 4
When Donte and Rianne arrived at the Groot Thuis, they took the lift to Pieter and Saskia’s residence. Saskia met them at the door with a welcome smile. She took Petra from Donte’s arms and told them to join the others.
Quade welcomed them first and eyed the badges on Donte’s uniform. “Let me give you a word of advice. If you fall in the lake, take the jacket off before it pulls you to the bottom.” He grinned. “Did you leave any badges for anyone else?”
Warmth shot up Donte’s neck so fast that it was painful. “I probably shouldn’t have worn the uniform….” He started to take the jacket off, but Quade stopped him.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you, son. I was only teasing you. It was my awkward way of saying I’m proud of you.”
“Leave it on.” Kenyon said, and grinned. “I think it’s dragging you down to where you’re shorter than me.”
Donte laughed. “Well, in that case….”
Rianne slipped her arm through his and when he glanced down at her, she lifted her brows. “I haven’t met some of these people.”
He smiled and looked at Sima. “This is President Sima…” he introduced Sima to Rianne and then Mai. He glanced around the room. I believe you know everyone else.” His gaze passed over Damian, Akira, Neirin and Celyn…coming back to Celyn. She smiled at him, obviously pleased by the surprise on his face. She wasn’t simply a pretty little girl. She was a jaw-dropping beautiful young lady. Instead of the robe she had been wearing earlier, she was dressed in a pink dress that announced a shapely figure.
“Celyn, you look stunning. What happened to the little girl?” He shook his head in wonder.
Celyn giggled. “I’m almost fourteen now. I’m not a little girl.”
She wasn’t, and that was a fact. Suddenly the idea of cultivating a working relationship with Celyn seemed reckless. This was the little girl who thought she had a prior claim on him. He knew how he was going to talk to the ten-year-old girl he remembered. Celyn was now a complicated teenager. He had some refiguring to do.
When Rianne cleared her throat, he became aware that everyone was watching him. Blood rushed to his head. “We’re going to go downstairs and welcome the other guests as they arrive.”
In the hallway, Rianne spoke to him in a voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t forget. You’re still mine for six more years.”
Donte looked down at her, startled. She smiled up at him, a twinkle in her eyes.
“I don’t know how you can joke about it.”
She shrugged. “It hardly seems appropriate to scratch the eyes out of a 13-year-old princess.”
He laughed. She was right. What could they do about it? They might as well joke with each other. There was nothing to be gained by getting upset.
“Yes, it would be much more appropriate if you wait until she is nineteen.”
She squeezed his arm and giggled. “The look on your face when you realized everyone was watching you. What were you thinking?”
He grimaced. “I suddenly realized the logic I was going to use on her was four years old.”
She smiled up at him. “You should probably take some teenage girl lessons.”
“Do you know where I could get those?”
“I think I know a woman who would be glad to teach you – assuming you would do her certain…favors.”
He grinned. “Anything…as long as you don’t object.”
They reached the lift and he moved on. “Let’s take the stairs.”
Her brows lifted. “Ooo, the stairs. Good idea. Nobody uses those.”
He laughed and grabbed her hand as he took the first step. “Come on. Let’s get this evening over with so we can go home.”
“Not so fast. I’ve got a new romp I want to teach you.”
Chairs and tables had been laid out and a few colonists were rushing around, trying to place cloths on the tables. Donte and Rianne grabbed a cloth and started on the end table, working toward them. By the time the guests arrived, the tables were ready. Rianne helped them put bowls of fruit and snacks on the tables while Donte joined Quade and their guests.
Gradually the guests of honor began to arrive and Donte introduced them to all the leaders. Most of them had been under his command, so he knew their names. Fane and Mateo were two of the captives from Anialwch and Lochfowk who had joined when they heard Donte was going. Tabia was a female Mascot from Nyumbani who had been inspired by Akira’s dedication as a nurse. She had started her training as a nurse in Lochfowk and completed it as a doctor aboard the Baigh. Donte made a point of telling Akira that.
He introduced each of them to Rianne and Petra, amid ribbings about being a proud papa. Everyone knew who they were, but few had actually met them.
As Donte finished introducing Gerritt, he turned to the others. “That’s all of them, I think - nine total.”
“Ten.” Kenyon corrected.
Quade looked at Kenyon and smiled. Donte glanced around, trying to figure out who he had missed.
Kenyon pointed at Donte’s chest and grinned. “You are number ten.”
Donte grimaced. “Oh, I forgot.”
Pieter shook his head as he turned away, as though he thought his grandson was a hopeless case.
Donte and Donica had started the celebrations with a song in the past, but since Donica wasn’t there, one of the colonists suggest he sing a patriotic song with one of the servicewomen. His voice was not new to the troops. He had often played music and sung with them. He motioned to Nieke and she joined him without hesitation. They sang the first song of the evening and turned the entertainment over to the musicians.
As he rejoined Rianne, he glanced at Pieter. Pieter was scowling at him. He wasn’t surprised. It was bad enough not to have his granddaughter present, but for Donte to start the celebration with a colonist in her place…. Donte smiled at him and turned to Rianne.
She looked up at him. “Donte, that was rebellious…” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “And so clever.”
He laughed. He didn’t select Nieke because she was a colonist. He selected her because she had the best singing voice. Anouk was a Mascot servicewoman, but she couldn’t carry a tune in a pouch. He wasn’t trying to be rebellious, but he wasn’t going to choose Anouk simply because she was a Mascot, either.
When the music started, Rianne grabbed Donte’s hand and led him to the open floor. Facing him, she took his hands and they watched her feet. “Take one step this way, two steps back….”
Donte stepped back two steps and so did Rianne. She looked up at him and grinned. “Let me rephrase that. I take two steps back and you take two steps forward.” She tugged him toward her and he took two steps. Since they weren’t moving together, his steps were longer and he came up against her.
He grinned. “I like this romp.”
She lifted her brows. “I like it too, but not in front of everyone.”
She stepped back again, still holding his hands. “Follow me.” She went through a series of steps. “Do you remember that?”
He nodded.
“At the end, you twirl me and lift me by the waist….”
“I hope I don’t injure my back.”
She jerked her chin up and looked at him, smiling when she realized he was teasing her. She wrinkled her nose at him and punched him in the stomach. “Pay attention.”
He laughed. “I think I’ve got it.” He took her hands and began to romp with her.
She fell into step with him and smiled. “I have missed you so much.”
Other couples watched them and began romping with the same steps. At the end of the tune, Donte looked down at Rianne. “Since this celebration wasn’t given for us, we should probably mingle?”
She gave and exaggerated sigh. “I suppose so.” As he turned away, she cast one last comment over her shoulder. “Don’t forget who you’re going home with.”
Donte grinned and left her with a smile on her face.
His first romp without Rianne was with Mai. It was awkward romping with her because she was so much shorter, but she appeared to enjoy the romp.
When the next tune started, he spied Rianne romping with Beier. He hadn’t noticed when the man arrived. He turned to see Celyn watching him from across the room. He started across the room toward her but before he got there, Kenyon stopped beside her. She walked beside him to the open floor and gave Donte one last look. He shook his head and smiled as he turned away. The expression on her face made it clear that he was supposed to be jealous.
Sima was talking to Akira and Quade when he joined them. Sima looked up at him and smiled. “That was some romp you and your mate were doing. It looked like she was keeping you in line, though.”
Donte rubbed his stomach and laughed. “Someone has to. Would you like to romp with me?”
Sima lifted her brows and looked at Akira. “You are my witness. He asked.”
Akira looked up at Quade and blushed.
Sima’s brand of humor was often off-colored. Donte had no doubt that if he would cooperate, the romp would turn into her interpretation of the word, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen and she was only teasing him. He had no idea why, with a colony full of Mascots, she was so impressed with him. President Sima was an attractive woman who could probably have her pick of the men; which, come to think of it, might be the draw. He was unavailable.
Donte took Sima’s arm and pointed at one of the romping couples. “Let’s do what they’re doing.”
She wrinkled her nose at him, her eyes twinkling with humor. “Oh, so that’s what you meant.”
He shook his head and chuckled, escorting her to an open area. He stepped behind her and put his hand on her waist, but she turned to face him. “Like you were romping with Rianne.”
He took her hands and they began to romp.
“That’s better.” She said, giving him a sly smile. “I like watching you.”
He changed the subject. “When your term is up next year, what are your plans?”
She shrugged. “Rest, enjoyment and maybe some travel. It will be nice not to have every second of my waking hours consumed with worry.”
“You’re not concerned about the way things will be handled when you leave?”
She sobered and looked into his eyes. “There is nothing I can do about it. I can only trust that other leaders will have some kind of influence.”
The tune ended and he took her arm. “I’ll do everything I can, but I’ll need the support of others.”
“You’ve got mine. Surely you know that.”
“I appreciate that.”
Donte left Sima with Akira and Quade. Once again, he searched for Celyn, but she was still with Kenyon. As he started back toward the others, the steady gaze of a young woman caught his attention. When he met her gaze, she looked hopeful. He lifted a hand to her in invitation and she smiled, joining him with the others in a romp.
“I’ve never romped with a Mascot before.”
It was a strange thing to say. He looked down at her as he swung her around. “Does it matter? Are we so different?”
She gazed up at him. “You are.”
He frowned. “How?”
“You looked at me as though I were a person. Most Mascots never look me in the eye. I’m a mere colonist.” She blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to burden you with something like that.”
“Actually, I’m glad you shared that with me. I hadn’t thought about it. It’s important to look people in the eyes, isn’t it?”
She smiled; relaxing in his arms. “I think so.”
Was that what made people feel differently about him, not pheromones? Eyes could reveal much about the mood of a person. They also held the truth about whether they could be trusted.
At the end of the romp, he took her arm and led her back to the others. “What is your name?”
“Weja.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth. “Thank you for the romp, Weja. It was delightful and informative.”
Donte glanced around to see if Celyn was available yet. She saw him looking and turned away. Quade and Akira were romping together and Mai was romping with Gerritt. A hand clasped his and he turned to find Nieke smiling up at him.
He smiled. “Shall we romp?”
She followed him to the open floor and they began to romp. Her back to him, she looked up at him over her shoulder. “It is nice to see you enjoying yourself. I wasn’t sure what you looked like without a book covering part of your face.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
“No. You were great.” She looked up at him. “Actually, I was supposed to tell you to meet some of us in the commons after the celebration. It’s about The Prophesy.”
“Us?”
She smiled. “Men and women – Mascots and humans, as you call us – from Vlaktes”
“Do you mind that I call you human?”
“You can call us anything you want; it’s the separation that we don’t like. I know you believe Mascots and colonists are equal, but calling us humans creates a division line; us and them.”
“Good point.”
When the romp ended, he escorted her back off the floor. “I think I’d better save a romp for Celyn.”
Once again Celyn found another partner. He had no doubt that she was deliberately making herself unavailable. He wanted to ask Rianne how to handle the situation, but catching her without a partner was as difficult as Celyn – probably for the same reason. They were easily the best-looking women at the celebration.
He rejoined the others and took Petra from Saskia. “I didn’t mean to leave you burdened with Petra.”
Saskia gave him a mock scolding look. “Donte, my great granddaughter can hardly be classed as a burden.”
Donte laughed. “I suppose not, but you should be able to have some fun too.”
She looked around and sighed. “I’m enjoying simply watching everyone. You are such a graceful romper.”
Donte lifted his brows. “Would you romp with me?”
She looked at Petra. “Who would take care of her?”
“I will.” Quade came from behind Donte and lifted Petra from Donte’s arms. “Now you have no excuse.”
Donte led Saskia to the floor and began romping with her. She looked up at him. “I haven’t done this in years.” She glanced around. “I thought Celyn wanted to romp with you, but I haven’t seen that yet.” She looked up at him. “Did I miss it?”
He groaned. “I think she’s avoiding me.”
She smiled. “She is quite taken with you.”
He nodded. “I don’t know what to do about her. We need to practice working together but I’m afraid that’s going to be a problem.”
She laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. She has a fancy for you. That isn’t unusual for girls her age and handsome men older than them. She’ll get over it as she matures.”
He hoped so, but they didn’t have much time left to learn. If she acted like this all the time, they’d never get anything done.
Donte took Saskia back to the others after the romp. When the final romp was announced, he glanced around the room, looking for Rianne. It was traditional that the last romp was saved for a mate or someone special. It wasn’t actually a rule, though. So, when Celyn finally came to him, he felt obligated to romp with her.
When he placed one hand on her waist, Celyn covered it with hers. Instead of letting her other hand lay in his, she gripped it. Otherwise, Celyn was a smooth romper. She sensed his steps, even when he intentionally changed them. She never faltered, smoothly transitioning from one kind of romp to another at his will. It was eerie. When he twirled her around and lifted her, he realized that people were watching them; stepping back and giving them room to romp unrestricted. The music increased in tempo, but she followed his steps effortlessly. Soon the music was so fast that they were the only ones left romping. They dipped and twirled and stepped, always completely synchronized, no matter what crazy step he tried. He was relieved when the music stopped.
He led her back to Neirin. “Where did you learn to romp like that?”
“I don’t know. It simply came to me. Isn’t that wonderful?”
It wasn’t wonderful, but if she enjoyed the romp, he was glad. “Thank you for the romp.”
He turned and searched for Rianne. She was standing alone, staring at him. He was in trouble, for sure. It was bad enough that he had used the last romp with someone else, but he had made it a spectacle in the process. Rianne was the best romper in the colony and he had shamed her with a teen who had never romped before.
He joined Rianne and put an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him. “What was that all about?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Let’s talk about it later. I’m supposed to meet some people in the commons – about The Prophesy.”
“Right now?”
He nodded. “She said after the celebration.”
Her brows shot up. “She?”
He smiled. “Would you like to go with me?”
She shook her head and gave him a seductive smile. “No, I’m afraid I’d be too distracting.”
He grinned. “There is no question about that. Will you be waiting with Pieter and Saskia?”
“Yes…if I don’t get a better offer.”
He laughed. “Don’t forget who’s taking you home.”
He turned and found Pieter watching him with a reflective expression. Did he hear about the meeting, and did he disapprove? He would wonder why he wasn’t invited. Donte glanced around for Kenyon and found him talking to Celyn again. Maybe he could keep her occupied. Right now, he would like to have Kenyon join the meeting, though.
He touched Rianne’s arm to get her attention. “I’ll be back after a while.”
He caught Kenyon as he was walking away from Celyn. “There is a meeting in the commons that I would like you to attend.”
Kenyon nodded. “Lead the way, brother.”
Soft Science Fiction
