CHAPTER THIRTEEN

When Ginny and Tigh arrived—late, as was becoming usual—to the state dinner, it was to find everyone already there, waiting for them. Ginny intercepted a few knowing, teasing looks from her crew while some of the men looked downright envious as she noticed their gazes locked on Tigh.

They made their way to the dais through the throng standing in respect. When they sat, so did everyone else. Ginny was used to a certain amount of military precision and the accolades due as captain of her own ship, but this was several steps above that, though Tigh was a lot less formal once they all sat down. He encouraged everyone to eat, drink and be merry, but Ginny still got the feeling a lot of the men were watching her and her crew with a weird mixture of fear, respect and, in a few cases, repressed hostility. But to a man, the warrior priests spread strategically around the huge room gave off a totally different vibe. They seemed invigorated, vigilant, and eager in a way she couldn’t quite explain, but it felt protective to her, which was reassuring.

Ginny tried to keep an eye out for her crew, but most seemed to be well entertained by the men sitting around them. The high priest was sitting next to Henny and Hansa, sharing conversation from time to time, mostly about Henny’s family history and fighting tradition. No big surprise there. But seated next to them, farther down the table, truly was a surprise. Krysta had the full attention of Xeer, one of the men Ginny had gotten to know a little aboard Tigh’s ship, though she’d had no idea there was any interest in that direction. In fact, Krysta was one of the few women who never spoke about men or seemed the least bit interested, but that looked to have changed, now. She laughed with Xeer more freely than Ginny had ever seen Krysta behave, and Xeer seemed to be well and truly smitten.

Tiggy was chatting with a trio of older jit’suku men, and Sally had taken the seat next to the dowager empress. The two women talked quietly, and Ginny knew Sally’s natural reserve led her to sit back and watch while the former empress’ age probably held her back from more boisterous participation in the feast. They were good company for each other, for the moment. Ginny shot Sally an inquiring look and received the ‘all clear’ hand signal in return. As she thought, Sally was enjoying her talk with the elderly woman, which gave her the added chance of watching the proceedings without really needing to participate in a more vocal way.

Cat was sitting with Councilor Torm, probably still keeping an eye on the old man who’d taken the poisoning a lot worse than the younger crewmen. But Torm had included a few younger men in their small group, and they were talking medicine when Ginny managed to overhear a few snippets of their conversation. Justina and Penny both had a contingent of younger jit’suku men vying for their attention near the end of the huge banquet table, and were enjoying the attention from what Ginny could see. That left her mother, aunt and young cousin, who sat together, garnering a great deal of attention, though few men dared to speak with them.

“Why are they staring at my mother and aunt like that?” Ginny asked Tigh in a whisper when she had a chance to speak to him privately.

Tigh looked up, glancing around unobtrusively. “I think it’s probably a combination of factors. First, they are twins. Jit’suku females can have twin males, but never twin females. It is a rare, once-in-a-century happening among my people. To see two identical women isn’t something they’re used to. Also, one of them is your mother. They’re probably afraid of offending either one of them, and thereby offending you. It wouldn’t be good to start off on the wrong foot with the new empress—or her mother—now would it?”

She chuckled as he teased her, but she knew there was some element of truth in his words. “I didn’t know that about female twins being so rare here. Do you think it’s wise to parade them around together? Doesn’t that sort of remind everyone that we’re human?”

“My love,” Tigh brought her hand to his lips for a brief kiss, “there’s no hiding the fact that you’re human. They’re just going to have to get used to it. The sooner the better, is my belief.”

“I guess you’re right, but I can’t help but worry that I’ve made my family targets by bringing them here.”

“Perhaps, but they would be targets in your galaxy, as well as here, now that you’ve been identified as my mate. Better that they’re here, under our watchful eyes. I don’t think my brethren among the Zenai will let any harm come to any female associated with the Velkir, and you are their leader.”

Ginny chuckled. “I think Henny is in charge of the whole Velkir thing now, don’t you?”

Tigh looked down the long table to where Henny sat talking to the high priest. “Not necessarily. She is almost certainly the teacher foretold in our prophecies, but she does not lead the Velkir. That is your duty, and one you have performed for years already. Your crew look to you for direction, Ginny. You will still fulfill that role, even though you no longer operate within the confines of a starship. Your ladies love you as both leader and friend. I would hazard to say, you are part of their family, as they are part of yours.”

“You’re right.” Ginny regarded him with tears in her eyes that she refused to let fall. “You’re more perceptive than I gave you credit for, Tigh. Forgive me. Most human males would never have realized how close we are or put it just that way.”

“Don’t give me too much credit.” Tigh chuckled. “Most jit’suku men wouldn’t understand it either, but most warriors would have some idea. And the warrior priests, most certainly. Our training is deeper, more emotional than the others. We are trained to take all factors into consideration, including the relationship that often develops between a beloved leader and his men. Or, in this case, a remarkable captain and her crew.” He tipped his head to her in respect, and she did likewise.

“Speaking of remarkable, I can’t believe you were once one of these grim-faced priests, though I see the same spark of intelligence and observation in their eyes. Henny told me what she knew about your Zenai friends, but seeing them in the flesh is, I’ll admit, intimidating.”

“Never fear any Zenai, my love. You are Velkir. Each and every one of them would die to protect you and your ladies. For example…”

Tigh looked around the room, searching for something. His eyes lit when he spied one particular priest, and he stood, stalking down the table to everyone’s surprise. Ginny watched him head for the priest, who stood when Tigh reached him, a broad smile lighting his swarthy face. Tigh pulled the man into a huge hug and pounded him on the back, and the priest did the same.

Tigh brought him back to the high table, motioning Ginny to the back of the dais that was only a foot or so off the polished stone floor. The meal progressed in the hall as Tigh commanded his people to continue eating, but he dragged the poor priest away from his food and toward Ginny. She hopped down from the low dais to make it easier on the man, though like Tigh, he stood head and shoulders above her. She probably still would have had to look up, even if she’d stayed on the dais, she thought with a shake of her head.

“Ginny, my love, this is my good friend Tolo, warrior priest of the Zenai. He was promoted while I was away and is now a third-level novitiate, the highest level before taking vows. We trained together for many years on the mountain.”

Tigh kept one hand on the man’s shoulder, and it was apparent they were close. It was just as apparent that Tolo was uncertain how to greet her. She decided to take matters into her own hands, so to speak, by taking his hand for a good old human handshake. He looked at her with bemusement in his dancing green eyes but smiled broadly and returned the gesture.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“My lady, it is an honor and a privilege to meet you.”

He looked like he wanted to bow, but Tigh still had him by the shoulder. He shot such a worried look at Tigh that Ginny had to laugh.

“Please, I’ve never been called ‘my lady’ before. I’m more used to answering to ‘captain’. Considering you’re such an old friend of Tigh’s, would it be terrible if I asked you to call me Ginny?” She sent a questioning look to Tigh, hoping she’d done the right thing, but his wide grin said all she needed to know.

Tolo looked scandalized, but at least the bowing was forgotten in his shock. “It wouldn’t be proper.”

“Seems to me, we were never very proper, my friend,” Tigh chided. “After this circus is over, I want you to accompany us back to our rooms for a nightcap. We have much to discuss, and you are one of the few I can trust implicitly.” Tigh’s expression grew more serious, and Tolo forgot his discomfort. Ginny liked the glint in his eye as he stood facing Tigh. These men were clearly cut from the same noble cloth and knew each other well enough to not need a huge explanation when one needed help from the other.

“Jurdan will no doubt organize protection for you. I aim to be part of that group,” Tolo assured Tigh with a grimly determined look on his chiseled face.

“Meet us here when the meal is over, and we’ll discuss it more in private. I’m sorry I dragged you away from your dinner.” Tigh laughed, but his friend took his easy words as dismissal.

“Yes, my liege.” Tolo backed away, making a short bow as he left, and Tigh sighed.

Ginny took Tigh’s hand and squeezed. “This bowing and scraping stuff is going to get old really fast.” Her tone was matter-of-fact but elicited the desired response when Tigh laughed out loud. He turned, sweeping her into a brief hug, a smile lighting his eyes.

“You’re good for me, Ginny.” He kissed her cheek and set her away. “But you’re right. We’re going to have to work through this in the early days until our friends find their footing with our new status. It’ll be up to us to put them at ease enough to work with us, but still maintain the respect of the rest of our people. It’s a fine line my parents were able to walk successfully, though from what I hear, Elius swept away all their informality and instituted a lot of the bowing and scraping we’re seeing now. It’ll be up to us to change it back. I think we’re already off to a good start.”

Tigh helped her back up onto the dais with a solicitous hand. “If you say so.”

After the meal was mostly over, it was time for the speeches. Tigh had warned her that she’d be called upon to formally introduce her crew and family to the entire assembly. She didn’t mind. As a ship’s captain, she’d gotten used to speaking in public on the spur of the moment. She even took pride in the fact that she barely ever got tongue-tied anymore, though she’d no doubt said some really stupid things during her early days of command.

Tigh had introduced his circle of advisors and some of the palace officials first. The steward was an austere man who’d retired from soldiering to run the palace with military precision. There were others in the hierarchy of the palace that had been put in place when Tigh took over, such as Xeer, who’d been on the ship and now headed up the palace guard. A few others had performed different duties aboard ship and were now resuming their regular posts.

When it came Ginny’s turn, she stood to address the assembled men with only a little trepidation. She knew many of them from the voyage here, and if she was any judge of expressions, most of the rest were reasonably receptive to her and her crew. Regardless, she decided to keep the introductions short, sweet and to the point. She gave name, rank, and a brief background for each of her women that touched on their military careers but avoided anything truly sensitive about their personal lives. Ginny figured those things would come out—or not—at each woman’s discretion.

The crowd seemed already in awe of Henny, so Ginny felt free to tell them a little bit about her father’s dojo and accomplishments in addition to the regular fare. Henny was proud of her family’s history but reticent to speak of their accomplishments. Ginny had known the family almost her whole life and felt no such compunction. She missed the men of Henny’s family as much as she missed her own father and brothers, and she respected the knowledge they’d passed down to Henny and to her that had saved their lives more than once during the war.

Ginny saved the introduction of her mother, aunt and cousin for last. Her young cousin was only eighteen and visibly dazzled by all the masculine beauty in that hall. For a girl who’d grown up without male attention, this had to be a very odd situation, to say the least. Yet, she was handling it well.

“Amelia,” Ginny introduced the young woman first, “is my cousin. She was studying physical sciences at university before agreeing to come here. She’s eighteen years old, which in human terms usually means she’d have about six more years of schooling before she started working in her chosen profession. I’m hoping she can continue her studies here and find an occupation that is both rewarding personally and helpful to jit’suku society.”

Murmurs of approval sounded from the older councilors, and Ginny was glad she’d decided to tack on that bit of personal information. She only had her aunt and mother’s introductions to finish now, though in some ways, knowing that just their identical appearance made them extra noticeable among jit’suku, those introductions would be the most difficult of all.

“My aunt, Jane Kerlew-Johnson is Amelia’s mother, and as you can see, my own mother’s identical twin. The emperor informs me that twin females are incredibly rare among jit’suku, which we did not realize. Twin births of both males and females are not exactly common among humans, but apparently, more than it is here. In my case, not only is my mother a twin, but there is a history of twins on my father’s side of the family, as well, going all the way back to Diva and John Starbridge’s twin sons.” Ginny looked around the room to see how her words were being received. The eyes she met indicated a mix of surprise, interest and a strange kind of awe at the mention of her most famous ancestors.

“My Aunt Jane had a very successful psychotherapy practice back on our homeworld and has council certifications in both medicine and psychiatry.” Ginny waited for her aunt’s high level of education to sink in, glad when she saw indications that some of the men, at least, were duly impressed. “My mother, Janet Kerlew-Starbridge, is a medical nurse with training in botany and apothecary science.” Ginny took a deep breath. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of my family members and crew—who are my extended family—for pulling up stakes and moving to this new galaxy with me. They are brave and loyal, one and all, and they have my respect, thanks and love.”

Ginny sat, indicating she was through speaking. A polite round of applause sounded, and Ginny was glad she’d gotten through the formal part of the evening’s festivities.

Entertainment had been arranged, including a demonstration of agility by some acrobats and a hand-to-hand fighting exhibition put on by two of the Zenai novices who moved like lightning. Some musicians played background music, but there was no dancing, as there would have been in years past.

“I’m sorry our entertainments are skewed toward what warriors find interesting,” Tigh said at one point.

“I find it all interesting,” Ginny told him. “Don’t worry. Everything here is new and intriguing to us.” She sat back and watched the evening unfold, learning more and more about her new home and its people.

When the entertainments wound down and only the musicians were left playing soft music in the background, people started to take their leave. There didn’t seem to be any formal order to the end of the evening. Folks just got up and left when they felt like it, and Ginny was relieved to see that nothing further would be required of herself and Tigh in the way of formal declarations, speeches or gestures. The whole arrangement was very practical, and little by little, the tables emptied out.

Tigh turned to her and smiled. “Are you ready to leave?” he asked solicitously.

She nodded, noting that her mother and aunt had already left, as had some of her crew, though others were engaged in discussions that might go on for a while. She caught Henny’s eye, and a series of expressions along with a discreet hand signal told her that Hen would look after the stragglers and make sure everybody was safe for the night. Relieved to have Henny looking out for the few who remained, Ginny was ready to leave.

“It was a lovely evening,” she said as she stood from her seat.

“It was,” Tigh agreed, gallantly sliding her heavy chair back so she could step away from the table.

A small group of guards were waiting to see them safely to their destination. Ginny noticed that Tolo was among the honor guard that escorted Ginny and Tigh back to his private suite. Tigh left the rest of the men at the door but asked Xeer, Hansa and Tolo to come inside for a nightcap.

After the men settled that while Xeer was in charge of the palace guard, Hansa would resume his leadership of the imperial guard. It was the imperial guard that would work with Tolo, who was heading up a special group put together by Jurdan, in order to provide close bodyguard coverage for the imperial couple. Hansa seemed glad of the help and not at all put out that the Zenai priesthood was going to be more active in this imperial household than they had been in the past.

The division of labor was easy to sort out. Xeer would secure the buildings and grounds with his forces. Hansa’s group would be providing the visible deterrent while Tolo and those priests assigned to the special group would be guarding Tigh and Ginny from the shadows. It was during this discussion that Xeer revealed that Elius had run the palace guard down to a skeleton crew both by his policies and his actions.

“I didn’t mention it before,” Xeer admitted, “because we’re recruiting as fast as we can, but our current numbers aren’t anywhere near what they should be. And, with new recruits, it will take time to be certain of their abilities and assign them where they’re best suited.”

“Good. Keep doing that,” Tigh told him approvingly. “You must see to the rebuilding of the palace guard as quickly and securely as possible. With Ginny and her ladies living here, protecting the palace is vital. Hansa and Tolo can worry about babysitting me and my bride, but perhaps they can lend you some personnel until everything is as it should be.” Tigh clapped Xeer on the shoulder. “I hope the three of you can work together on this. I didn’t expect the Zenai would step forward with such an offer, but I am happy to accept it. It sounds like, right now, we can use all the help we can get. Protecting the women is imperative to the future of our race.”

A significant glance passed between the men that Ginny let pass. They probably were still thinking of her and her ladies as helpless, but if push came to shove, they’d all be fighting, not sitting back, waiting to be rescued. Still, she wasn’t about to disabuse them of the notion that she might need a little extra looking after. She could handle herself in most situations, but she knew the men wouldn’t see it that way.

Plus, she was pregnant. She’d promised Tigh not to do anything too risky in her condition. If having Zenai priests as bodyguards made him happy, she’d do it. At least while she was pregnant. After that, they’d renegotiate.

Tigh, Hansa, and Tolo got into detailed discussion about how they would work the bodyguard schedule and duties, so Ginny took the opportunity to speak somewhat privately with Xeer. She’d noticed the way he’d been looking at Krysta throughout the dinner, and while Ginny wasn’t usually much of a meddler, Krysta was special. Most of the crew thought of her as a shy little sister, and Ginny wanted to make sure Xeer understood that Krysta was somewhat…not exactly fragile, but her feelings could be delicate.

“I noticed you were talking with my friend, Krysta,” she said to Xeer, watching his reaction closely.

“She is a very intelligent and interesting woman,” he replied, without missing a beat. Ginny liked that response.

“I’m glad you think so. The thing is, she’s usually very shy, but she didn’t seem to have any problems chatting with you. I’m curious. Do you have any interest in her? Because I think she has one in you, and I’d hate to see her disappointed if you’re not serious.” Ginny decided to just lay it on the line since these warriors seemed to respond well to plain speaking.

“My lady.” Xeer looked insulted. “I would never hurt her in any way. I believe she is my mate. I only wait for her to get more comfortable with me before I prove that belief to her. I didn’t want to scare her off, for I sensed she was not used to dealing with men and particularly not a male who was interested in her as a woman.”

Ginny was surprised by his astute evaluation. “You’re very observant. I’m glad to know you’ve figured her out and won’t rush her. Krysta is…” Ginny struggled with a way to say what she wanted without insulting her friend. “Well, she’s a little different, Xeer. She didn’t have the typical experiences most young women of our generation had growing up.”

“Rest easy, my lady,” Xeer said. “We’ve spoken of her differences. It is something we share, to a certain extent.”

“Really?” Ginny was surprised and a little alarmed. If he had cybernetics, it was because he’d been irreparably injured at some point in his life. She didn’t like thinking about the massive trauma that might cause someone to have to replace a limb with a cybernetic one.

Xeer nodded. “I have several implants, though I received them later in life than your friend, Krysta. Still, I do understand what she went through physically, and I have a good idea of the psychological issues that come with the affliction we both share.”

Ginny touched his arm, moved by his candor. “I didn’t really mean to pry, Xeer. Krysta is…special. I’m glad you can understand just how much.”

“If the Mother Goddess so decides, I will share my life, my hearth and my strength with Krysta. I’ll do my best to protect her and court her in the human way, since I don’t believe she would respond well to the normal jit’suku methods.” A devilish smile lit his face, and Ginny was glad this understanding man might just be the one for Krysta. She needed a special guy, and Xeer showed every sign of being just the right one.