WIP Wednesday - Clans of Europa: Tina

 

Excitement, then concern.

Fortunately, Tukui was no more than ten minutes later than usual. His handsome features, exuberant by nature, were avid with excitement. His wide-spaced eyes, purple like all Kalquorians, were positively shining as he walked into their quarters. While his smile came easily, he didn’t usually show his teeth the way he was at that moment.

Yorso jumped to his feet. “Is it true we’re getting a Matara?”

“Yes!” Tukui grabbed him by the shoulders and would have no doubt swung him around if there’d been room to do so.

The next few moments were filled with shouting and hugging in celebration. They could have been small children who’d been given a pet kestarsh instead of grown men. Osopa wouldn’t have given into such nonsense, but Osopa wasn’t there.

Why shouldn’t there be excitement at such incredible fortune?

Finally, they calmed enough for Tukui to pull out his personal com. “Our Nobek has been stingy with information. He barely dropped me two lines today, and only to say he had to concentrate on his job.”

“Considering his position and the fact he works directly with that hardass Commander Lidon, you can’t blame him.”

“I know, I know. It’s frustrating is all.”

“Patience, my dear Dramok,” Yorso reminded him, as if he hadn’t been on edge only minutes ago.

“He should be off guard duty pretty soon. Com, contact Osopa.”

“Osopa here.”

“How long until you’re available?” Tukui wasn’t yelling, but it was close.

“Hello to you too, my Dramok. My relief is here. I’m in the middle of updating everyone on how to handle things in my absence.” Osopa might have been discussing weather conditions, he was so controlled. Typical Osopa, to shield his feelings at such a momentous occasion.

“We’re coming down to the moon to have a look at potential lucky ladies.”

If Osopa had been composed before, he was downright cold now. “Tukui, that’s not the appropriate attitude. The women aren’t happy to see us. We’re invaders, after all.”

Tukui’s smile dimmed only a hair. “Well, no, of course they’re upset. We’ll be sensitive.”

Yorso crowded him to add, “Obviously. Stop being so gloomy, my Nobek.”

His tone forbidding, Osopa said, “If you’d spent the last hours dealing with weeping females and screaming children, you wouldn’t be in the best mood either.”

The vision of such cooled Yorso’s high spirits in an instant. Concern replaced elation. “Oh. But now that they know we won’t hurt them, they’re doing better, right?”

“They’re terrified. All the pretty words in the universe aren’t going to change that.”

Yorso gripped Tukui’s arm. “Maybe we should wait to meet them until they understand Kalquorians aren’t so bad?”

Tukui had deflated as well. However, his optimism had always been a stubborn characteristic, and it hadn’t fled despite Osopa’s warning. “They’re surrounded by Nobeks, my Imdiko. Our warriors aren’t the most comforting presence a scared female could ask for. No offense, Osopa.”

“None taken,” the clan protector sighed. “We’re at a loss as to how to soothe their fear of us. That’s without a doubt the realm of Imdikos. Especially given what they expect we’ll do to them.”

Yorso considered his research as his disquiet grew. “They’ve been told some pretty awful things about Kalquorians. Maybe an Earther Matara isn’t such a good fit for us.”

“If not an Earther, then who?” Tukui asked. “Do you think the handful of our own women who are left would look twice at us? By the time we’ve achieved sufficient rank, they’ll all be clanned anyway.”

He had a point. “Who knows how many Earthers will opt for clanning with us once the war is over? The Royal Council has already agreed there’ll be no more forced unions, even if we win.”

Though they had been his words, Yorso’s gut clenched as forced unions bounced around his brain. He didn’t like the connotation at all. But many of the Earthers on Kalquor had come willingly. Surely some of those on Europa would see the worth of three men who would conform to a Matara’s every need?

“It’s not the best situation, but we can’t turn down this chance for a female clanmate. It may be the only opportunity we get.” The way Tukui doggedly argued for it made Yorso think he was trying to convince himself as much as them.

Osopa’s tone had a note of defeat. “I can’t dispute that.”

“That settles it then. If we find a promising candidate, we can show her what a fantastic future she’s in for.”

 

Releasing in December.