Starlight Gleaming Ch. 19

Tensing at my examination, she closed her eyes briefly, and with closure of her eyelids, her eyes vanished amidst the black face paint. When they re-opened, the effect emphasized her eyes. I could see her anxiety. This was our first outing with her in civilian clothing.

"Do I look all right?"

I took her hand into mine. "More than all right. You are the image of beauty, Island Girl."

Beaming, she relaxed, and in that smile and twinkle in her eyes she revealed her inner beauty. "I'm so glad! Mack and I worked hard to make me look good for you. Thank you for your help, Mack!"

"You did the selections," Mack said. "I was just there for moral support."

"Is this makeup safe for kissing?"

"Somewhat?" Cholan offered. "I'll try not to get it on your uniform, Commander."

Leaning over, I gently kissed her lips. "We'll do the best we can, then. Have you eaten yet?"

"Mack did. I insisted she eat. I waited for you."

"It's really late, Cholan. I wished you would have at least snacked."

"Then we'll both have a good appetite. You didn't have anything after lunch either, did you. Your other women told me I was supposed to take good care of you."

"Then we should both make sure we have a good dinner."

Karmek dropped us off at the front entrance to the Officers Club. I thanked him, and he saluted before driving off into the night. We waited for Haytam to park, and I asked Cholan to check on my neckerchief. She straightened it, and then we entered.

Inside the dim foyer, there was a lounge to wait for available seats, a coat-check on one side, and across the way a narrow hall leading to a larger lounge for drivers and servants to snack and wait in comfort.

With a nod from me, Mack and Haytam headed for the lounge.

Holding out my arm, Cholan placed her hand on it, and we walked to the one of the hosts standing at entrance to the main area. I introduced us, and then said that I wanted four meals, two to go and two for my guards in the lounge, producing my card for the costs. "We're meeting with Commander Brenaka and his wife. I want to cover their meals and drinks as well as our own."

"Certainly, sir." He ran the card through the reader, returned it and made notations on his computer screen. "I'll see to your staff personally. Please follow me, Commander Kandikan."

The place was large, with room for probably a thousand people, and over half the tables were occupied. Winding our way through, we eventually made our way to Commander Brenaka and his wife.

Rising as we approached was a tall, he was a clean-shaven man with a short grey hair and about twenty years my senior, dressed in a Ground Service Class A uniform. An older woman, wearing a jaguar-print blouse, black skirt, with a wide, embossed belt remained seated.

Brenaka and I shook hands. Then he bowed to Cholan. "Always a pleasure to meet a beautiful lady. With whom do I have the pleasure?"

"This is my date, Cholan Yakalme," I said.

He gave her a short bow, then kissed the back of her hand.

Cholan blushed furiously as she grinned, immensely pleased with the courtesy.

He moved next to his wife. "This is my love and helpmeet, Lady Jolee Brenaka."

Since she remained seated, I knelt before her, lightly took her hand and kissed the ends of her fingers. Because she was seated and he outranked me, it was appropriate that I went to a lower level than her, paying respect to his House by showing deference to his wife.

"I had no idea you were so young and handsome," she murmured as she slowly took back her hand.

We took our seats, and a server provided menus. Selections were made, and after drinks were served, I made sure to thank the commander again for his assistance with our transportation issues as well as for his patience with my tardiness.

By way of explanation, I said, "One of the reasons for our trip here was to pay off the indenture contract for my aide, Sergeant Sowitwee. He is a good man, and has fought beside me, repeatedly showing his loyalty to me. I paid off the contract, but in the process discovered that the holding company broke several Imperial commerce laws. Today I discovered that they were also using slaves to do Merchant and Guild work in violation of Imperial law. After the contract was completed, my aide and I went to pick up his father, and they tried to murder the man right before my eyes. I warned them about seeking any reprisals, but I doubt it will take. I arrested the man using the slaves and turned them over to Imperial Security. The slaves have made claims they were kidnapped from other parts of the Empire and trafficked here, and Imperial Security is verifying that now."

Lady Jolee fanned herself. "That's scandalous. And monstrous!"

Cholan nodded in agreement.

The commander looked at me in approval. "That's a good enough reason to be a little late."

Next, I set about satisfying his curiosity about Styen. I regaled them with the story of Commander Orchid coming to High Guard to root out corruption and her desire to protect the widows and children who were blameless of criminal misdeeds, and to see them safely removed from the war base. To ensure their safety, Bilan, with his family and some of his men accompanied the refugees, and to protect my brother Bilan and his family, I sent along Styen.

"When the ship was outside the range of the Imperial Navy patrols, the perfidious captain and his crew changed direction, immediately setting sail for the African slave markets. They imprisoned Bilan and his men, then began separating and molesting the women. Becoming aware something was amiss, the redoubtable Styen eluded capture, and hurried first to ensure the safety of my brother's family, only to see two of the crew enter their cabin. Inside, Bilan's young sons tried to defend their mother, but what could boys four and six do? They knocked the poor boys down, injuring the eldest, and they captured my brother's wife, Rana."

The commander listened grimly. Jolee fanned herself, and Cholan was following along.

"The scurrilous fiends began ripping off her clothes, when Styen burst in, killing both of the scurrilous fiends in seconds. After seeing to the safety of Rana and the boys, he went in search of where Bilan and his men were imprisoned. Killing another of the crew, Styen freed my brother, and armed, they began retaking the ship. Together, the valiant six took on all thirty-five crew. One of Bilan's men was killed and two more were injured, but they successfully took the ship and returned to their original destination of Tohingo."

"Oh, my!" Lady Jolee said.

"I would have loved to have seen them in action. It must have been glorious."

"When I next saw my brother, he thanked me earnestly. He said that without Styen, it was probable the women, children, and servants would have been sold into slavery in Africa. As for my brother and his men, they would have likely ended up prisoners of the Atlanteans or the Aesir. Styen was a hero, and my nephews call him uncle."

"It's a good tale and it sounds just like my old sergeant," the commander remarked. "But I'm curious. You and this captain don't share the same House name, yet you call him brother."

"We're blood brothers. I have pledged myself to protect him and his family, and he has pledged to do the same for me and my family. He's amply repaid that act of trust many times since. During that same visit, we learned there was a plot to kill my father. Both Styen and Bilan helped thwart the assassins. My mother was critically injured, but we managed to get her to medical care in time, and I'm pleased to say that she's fully recovered. Styen took out two of the would-be assassins while Bilan and I took out the third. That may not sound impressive on our part, but the third assassin was a male draconian and he was incredibly strong, and he was shielded from weapons. It was originally planned that Styen come live with me and help protect my family, but instead he's actively protecting my father."

"Blood brothers. Now that's Styen talking. A lot of Warriors don't practice that type of ritual anymore. It's considered old school, and too sentimental. He taught you the Warrior's code of honor, too, I bet. I thought so. A toast, then," Brenaka said, lifting his glass. "To Styen Topangiti, warrior and hero, and the best Fight Master in living memory!"

The ladies and I lifted our glasses. "To Styen!"

We finished our drinks to complete the toast.

I paused a moment, waiting for the alcohol to hit. Janetta has called me a pansy-ass when it comes to alcohol, and I think she's right. I think she and Zinja both could out-drink me, and even though Zinja's almost two inches taller than I am, they're both smaller in body.

The commander saw my reaction, but was too polite to comment.

"Thank you for the thrilling stories, Lord Kandikan," Lady Jolee enthused. ""It was almost as if I had been there myself. You have a gift for storytelling."

"He does, indeed," the commander commented.

"Please, call me Ranji."

"Honored, Ranji." Brenaka said, "My given name is Six."

"He's very good, isn't he?" Cholan chimed in. "He reads stories to his daughters almost every night he's home. We all gather around and listen to him. He makes voices for the various characters, too. It's better than watching a video."

Lady Jolee sat up straighter. "You have children, too? How old are they?"

Since my return, I kept photos of my girls and the women who shared my life with me in my wallet and on my laptop. However, I resisted the impulse to pull out their pictures. "Sisi is almost five and Mina is turning three."

"What? How old are you?" she demanded.

"Jolee!" her husband admonished.

"I know it's rude," she said, "but he looks so young for his rank, and to have children, too? I must know, Ranji. How old are you?"

"I'll be twenty-three this year," I answered quietly.

They both looked at me quietly for several seconds.

His wife spoke first. "You must have some very powerful friends, Lord Kandikan. I'm an officer's wife. I know that aiguillette on your left shoulder means you are also Priest Caste."

"No! His rank wasn't given to him," Cholan objected. "He's worked hard. Yes, he has friends. Good, loyal people. When he came to High Guard, he found all kinds of stealing going on, and people were getting hurt, too! He also reported it when men tried to get all the women warriors thrown out of the service by means of the Drug Plot!"

"Drug Plot?" Lady Jolee exclaimed. "What is that? I've never heard of such a thing."

This, of course, led to Cholan explaining how she'd noticed the new so-called birth control drugs looked different and her suspicion about the change. And Janetta's request that he look into the matter for the sake of Cholan and Ixma.

This in turn led to questions about who these other people were. Which in turn led to a discussion of the neckerchiefs and my desire to protect Ixma, and then the other women of Janetta's flight crew. And Cholan mentioned the Protection Order that was now in effect across all of High Guard War Base.

I think Lady Jolee's reactions mirrored that of my mother. Two-parts scandalized, one-part admiration for a man who would stand up and deliberately act to make protecting women an official policy, one-part disbelief, and one-part feminine curiosity about how one man lived in the same home with five women that he was regularly bedding.

The commander said nothing, but it was obvious he was amused.

Lady Jolee got up for a bathroom break, and invited Cholan along.

While they were gone, Brenaka rose, too, saying he wanted to ask my guards a few questions in private.

"Feel free," I told him. "They're the best gauge of whether what I'm doing is right and worth pursuing."

Pushing back in my chair a bit, I slouched, feeling full from my large meal. Glancing around the room, I watched men and women enjoying themselves, some even dancing to the band. There was a large dance floor, and they must have been amplified, because even over this distance, I could plainly hear the musicians, yet the music was not so loud that it was hard to hold a conversation. The wooden dance floor and the nearer tables were open to the second floor ceiling and there were balls of glittering lights high above us.

On a hunch, I stood and moved closer to the dance floor. Sure enough, stepping past the tables and stepping closer to the dance floor, the volume rose considerably.

Curious, I looked around, and then noticed the many support columns had artistically designed base reliefs on them. Approaching one, I ran my fingers over the surface. It wasn't wood but rather a soft, slightly pliant surface, and I realized it was acting as a sound baffle. Not enough to drown out the music, but enough to allow those tables under the lower ceilings more privacy. Looking around, I noticed more of these baffles scattered throughout the dining area. Most of the diners were chatting and in some cases laughing, but their conversations didn't carry very far.

Impressed with the acoustical design, I returned to my seat, nibbling on a piece of cheesy toast. Soon enough, the women returned. I explained that the commander had gone to speak with Mack and Haytam. Curious, Lady Jolee rose and went off in search of her husband.

Taking Cholan's hand in mine, I kissed it. "Are you having a good time, Island Girl?"

I couldn't see her blush under the makeup, but I'd seen the look on her face often enough. Cholan didn't blush often, but when she did, her face didn't hide the fact at all.

"I am," she said happily. "She had a lot of questions, and was concerned about whether we were happy. I assured her all of us love our life with you."

"Would you like to dance with me?"

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, could we?"

I chuckled as we stood. "As long as you promise not to laugh too hard at my clumsy efforts."

"I would never!" she protested.

"I'm teasing." Leading her through the tables, we moved onto the dance floor.

Maybe a score of couples were already there on a dance floor wide enough for ten times that number.

Zinja knew some folk dances and Calia was versed in some classical styles. Cholan really was a good dancer as well, knowing many East Island dances as well as many styles currently popular among people our own age. She went through the steps simply, mindful to let me keep up, then effortlessly added some extra flourishes.

Too soon that one was over, and we waited. A few moments later, a new song began, and she led, showing me the steps, and I had a great time. It was wonderful, too, seeing the huge smile on her face as she moved and swayed before me, adding in the occasional clap and whirl with the sway of her hips, her eyes inviting me to seek more from her.

Another faster-paced dance, and we were ready to move back to the table for a short rest when it was immediately apparent this song would be another slow number. Cholan surprised me by producing a broad, thin scarf from a pocket. She shook it out, laid it over my shoulder, then moved in close. Comprehending, I drew her in, and she laid her head against my chest as we swayed slowly together, content with the close contact.

A second slow dance followed, so we remained, moving slowly in place. At the song's end, I lifted her face and as her eyes closed, I kissed her, long and slow. As our lips pulled apart, a single tear escaped.

"Cholan?"

"It's nothing, my lord," she sniffed. "I'm so incredibly happy right now."

"You're right," I murmured. "This is a night to treasure for always. I love you, Cholan Yakalme."

Her face nestled once again against my chest, she said, "I love you, too, my lord. So very much."

After the song ended, Cholan collected her scarf and we reluctantly made our way back to our table. Both of us yawned as we walked across the floor. It was getting late, and both of us had already had a long day.

The commander and his wife were at the table, chatting quietly when we arrived. I pulled out the chair for Cholan, and after she sat, helped her scoot in. Then I took my own seat again.

The commander and his wife exchanged glances before he spoke. "I'm not sure I know what to say, Ranji. Both of your troopers admit they have been in your service for a very short time. Yet what they told me is astonishing. Besides your bold Protection Order, you've instituted a bus program. Health care for dependents and child care as well as clothing and supplies to help working single parents. Both were quick to tell me you were the best officer they had ever known and were proud to serve in your command. The sergeant said you personally went out of your way to save her son, providing nano-tech medical services and refusing to make her pay for it. Why?"

"Why not? The child needed help and it was within my power to do something. Yes, I did it partly because I have children of my own. But it also makes sense. She has years of field experience, and she and the others just like her will work hard for me. Ultimately, however, I was taught that a good officer takes care of everyone in his command. That means I don't abuse them, don't waste their lives on stupid pride or personal glory, and when they are hurt, I look after them. That includes their families, too. Everyone in my unit is belongs to me. They are mine. I am personally responsible for every one of them. In turn, I am their officer, and I ask them to work hard and to apply themselves in the service of the Empire, and yes, I might even ask them to give their lives if need be.

"What was done to those women warriors was unconscionable -- the act of cowards. I say here and now, those men are traitors to their oath to loyally serve the Empire. Are you aware of the increased number of attacks on the Condors traveling to and from High Guard?"

He nodded solemnly. "It's not something many know about, but there have been discussions of what that portends."

"On the transport that took me back to High Guard less than two months ago, the entire flight crew were poisoned. Pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer. Dead. We were then hit by an EMP weapon, and when we nearly hit the water, an Atlantean corvette fired upon us. Only the quick actions of Captain Tlacotli saved everyone aboard."

His eyebrows shot up at that, but then he nodded again. "We are trying to increase security for the Condors. There have been other sabotage attempts we've been able to thwart. We're aware of the impact that has on High Guard. The Naval Service has been escorting more cargo by sea to help compensate. Unfortunately, we can't stop the alien attacks. Their tech is just too far advanced. Things could get rough where you are rather soon, Ranji."

"That's why it's important that we present a united front against our enemies. If there is division in our ranks, we will have a hard time even surviving, much less defeating any attacks that come."

Cholan's hand slipped into mine, and I gave her a comforting squeeze. Lady Jolee watched us quietly.

He picked up his drink and swirled the liquid around a bit before drinking down half. "Your youth had me worried at first. Even with Styen to help guide you, you're still a young man without a lot experience. Some other senior officers will see that lack as critical. But I can see in your eyes that you've already experienced a great deal, and more than many men decades older. You make good cases for all your actions. That bit about an officer and his men. Styen has certainly left his mark on you. Your attitude -- it's old school, but it's a tradition I approve of. About Styen -- he's not married?"

"No. I wish he would find himself a good woman to love him. He certainly deserves it."

"Such a man as he should have a dozen sons to carry on his name and his warrior spirit, and teach his impressive fighting skills to. I still have some inquiries I will make to my counterparts at High Guard. In the main, however, I'm satisfied. If you're willing, I'd like to see if you and I can pursue a real friendship. I will warn you, Ranji. There is an insularity here, both in regards to women warriors and to other branches of the military, but it's not insurmountable. You look tired. How long have you been up for?"