assume” he snickered in good humor, “it wasn’t a union imposed at sword point?”
“Sword point?” I mocked his insinuation.
After all, Adt, the son of Bel-loniea’s finest fencing master, Kigor Dorta, was an expert swordsman. He’d mastered and surpassed his father’s skill with the blade. He had taught me how to brandish weapons of Noomas during our training as officers for the war.
His quick smile responded to my words, but his solemn voice, bluntly changed the mood of the topic.
“What you must understand, my friends, is that the world faces great danger. Incredible as that seems we know this to be true. We were warned to limit communication with only those who could be trusted: especially the Mutis.”
Youi, who had been quiet, objected: “Surely they are aware of everything! They see the future and guide us! Without trust what is left?”
Sarleni’s rebuke was firm.
“Ju-bilee told us to be careful. Moyi warned us. We listen!”
“And they are worried the Kaminaean Mutis might have spies on the continent.”
After dinner Adt was eager to tell us about his audience with the Proctor. Their meeting in Romos’ garret had been brief.
“He listened to my report and promised to deliver the pouch to Andon Janis’ research facilities.”
All this time the women had been scrutinizing one another, politely reserved. I had been feeling the sharp bite of Sarleni’s commanding personality all evening. As she and Adt told of their adventures she had gradually relaxed and smiled tenderly at him.
“The Helandian contacts had sent a special force to retrieve us from the castle on the Kaminaean coast. They were responsible for arranging the meeting with your Proctor when we arrived in Bel-loniea.”
Sarleni turned towards me.
“My brother, Mahzit, was part of that team.”
She paused, keeping her eyes focused, unwavering on mine.
“I wish you to make use of him. He’s been to Kamina. He’s young and gifted.”
“Make use of him, for what?” I was annoyed by her bluntly commanding pronouncement.
She took a long breath; then continued, stubbornly ignoring my question.
“I believe you’ll be heavily involved with coming events, on a very high level. He will prove to be a valuable resource to your troops. I recommend you grant him a position under your command. Mahzit will be a beneficial addition to your staff.”
The smile on her face was generous enough to negate further objection. The process of assigning a Helandian warrior to my staff was a simple enough request to honor. Still I found her insistent tone to be quite puzzling.
“I’ll see what can be done.”
“Once our present duties and responsibilities are completed here, we’ll be leaving for Helandi. Adt must meet my family—and his own.”
Adt swallowed hard, adding: “It is incredible how my family ties are attached to those northern lands.”
Reminiscing and sharing family anecdotes filled the evening with lighthearted laughter. Though, we carefully avoided the churning unrest which was soon to be enveloping the world. But before we parted, we once again lapsed into the serious business at hand, silently recognizing the gray mood overshadowing us all. Only in the good-byes did we return to a more relaxed mood.
* * * *
Our flight back to the palace estate soared high above the city lights. Youi and I basked in the splendor of the triple moonbeams, happily enjoying this friendly view of the world. The potential uprising could not prevent the promise of the Three Moon Celebration, long anticipated by so many people who had come to Bel-loniea.
We wanted to absorb the beauty of this magical time. Even stripping the myth from the solar alignment of the moons did not diminish the glorious sight before us.
Youi leaned on me, her soft flesh soothing my troubled worries over the events we’d learned about that evening. Neither of us wanted to think about possible problems.
We snuggled for a long, deeply intimate moment, unmoving, just being close. Since knowing her I had learned the wonderful joy that comes when you’ve bonded with somebody special. Nothing can compare to the fulfilling contentment of physically connecting to your dearest love. I felt complete with Youi. Everything since my arrival on Noomas faded in comparison.
“The gods must be happy up there,” she mused. Youi was not enthralled with any particular religious cult, for she was strongly influenced by her father. Andon Janis had come to this world as a citizen of the Galactic Federation. He was a scientist. Youi’s grandfather, Proctor Romos, had educated her in religions and cultures common to Noomas, in order to prepare her for the position of royal Proctoress. She would bear the responsibility of providing sound wisdom and leadership, resolving any conflicts that might arise between citizens of their realm. Therefore, she was required to refrain from favoring any particular religious view.
The Proctoress was a product of mixed parents from two differing civilizations: one galactic; the other local. She had admirably cultivated a healthy respect for all belief systems, of which there were many.
My thoughts drifted away from gods, the Galactic Federation and interstellar leaps between solar systems. Youi’s presence, alone, enthralled me. Captivated by her nearness, I gazed dreamily into the night sky.
The moons illuminated the world and the heavens. Nobody could possibly deny the magical spell cast by the tri-lunar spectacle, a phenomenon occurring only once in many generations when the moons align in perfect symmetry. And then, for the remainder of the season, they will continually dominate the heavens, before their orbits spin away from one another once again.
Could there be some omen, some link, or some stellar significance to all of this coming together now? Fleeting questions quickly arose and faded for I had never given weight to prophetic nonsense.
“The legend is alive, some would say,” Youi was musing.
“Do you think it could be true?”
“Is there any reason not to believe?”
Our occasional talks about theories never achieved resolution concerning the folklore. I had always believed that legends were based on heroic deeds of human leaders retold over the generations, until they were gradually elevated to mythological gods.
Youi, knowing my bias, stroked my cheek gently in silent understanding.
“It is the way of our culture, and the duty of our royal position to sustain the ancient customs for our children.”
I frowned, half wondering if she might be saying something new. “What children?”
“Those yet to come, of course,” she giggled. “The rising of the three moons marks the most fertile of all seasons: a time when an especially gifted generation will begin.”
After a long sigh, Youi lifted her head and smiled mysteriously.
“Torlo, can you imagine the wonders that the world will experience from this day forward? All tri-lunar seedings will bring great rewards to those whose birth soon follows.”
One thing was for certain: the future would not come easy.
The light of the sky outlined her delicate features.
“Tonight we must honor the gods.”
“Right here?”
The idea of praying to some invisible beings of this or any world did not appeal to me. I had more selfish agendas nagging my brain involving male and female unions of a most intimate nature.
“It is enough to be together and happy, no matter what the gods of Noomas might favor. Assuming, of course, they