The Lereni Trade, page 9
"Listen to her, Karik. I know we had our differences, but your world can be free…if you forego your revenge. Your father and brother will be honored in the freedom of your world." Krissa held her breath in the lingering tension thick in the room.
Until Karik released Salos and the guard withdrew his weapon. He stepped back from Salos and looked down at her and the Inari.
"You know too much," he said with a warning glare at Torik, the one who had told her about Karik's reasons for being so driven to save his world. "But you're right."
Salos rubbed his throat and cowered away like a wounded animal.
"Go." He waved them away and the guards retreated.
Salos's scowl shifted to the Inari. "Take her! Leave."
Finally. But there was one more thing: "And the Lereni?"
His eyes threatened her.
"And the Lereni?" Ramini repeated.
"They will be free. Leisil is theirs." He spat the words as if bitter in his mouth. "Our occupation was a waste anyway. They are too savage to control."
"You will sign that for the Salnouan Kiitrak?"
His hands balled into fists, but he made no move to harm them. "It shall be done."
Ramini lifted her head with a look of victory glinting in her eyes. "As Leisil is not a member of the Salnouan Kiitrak but is involved," Ramini said to him, "you may be present as advisors only. If you seek to petition the alliance for membership, I will stand by its approval."
"We would appreciate that, Elousar," Karik said. "But what of the Onduun?"
The crook of a smile told Krissa all she needed.
"For the safe-keeping of the chancellor's daughter, I believe it's safe to say that Leisil will have at least one ally to stand by them against retribution from the Tah'Na."
Krissa looked up to see Karik's reaction and caught a hint of a smile teasing at the corner's of his lips. "This would be acceptable."
Chapter 12
At last, Krissa stood in more appropriate attire, a simple jumpsuit that covered her completely, courtesy of the Inari. The negotiations had been frustrating, but in the end, Premier Salos had conceded to the terms in witness of the Inari mediators.
Krissa returned with the Lereni to the ship that had brought them, the ship in which she had learned about herself, but now a second ship sat next to the small cargo vessel on the landing platform.
After a quick farewell, Korr and Theen disappeared up into their ship.
At the base of the ramp, Karik hesitated and turned to her. "Thank you," was all he said. Uncertain what to say, she could only nod. He said nothing more and followed the other two inside, leaving her alone with Torik.
She stood before him under the lights of the landing platform and the stars in the night sky.
"Your world will be free," she said to break the awkward silence.
"Yes. Because of you."
"No…Maybe a little. The Inari can take most of that credit. But you were the one who let me find the true me. Your kindness is something I can't repay."
A sad smile stretched up his face but faded quickly. "I saw a being who was frightened. I know that feeling after losing many in the occupation of Leisil. Like us, you are a survivor, even more; you were alone on a strange world."
"But you are kind. The others were always suspicious."
"I am weak."
"No. It takes more strength to not let their abuse harden you. I know." Her voice lowered upon the memories of all the rejection she had suffered.
"That is why you are stronger than you believe," he said.
"Like you. You stood up for me, and that is something no one else has ever done."
At the faint hiss of air, she turned to see the ramp of the other ship lowering.
"The Onduun."
Not yet. She wasn't ready to leave him, but she wanted to learn everything about what she was and where she belonged.
"I won't forget you." Krissa flung her arms around him, afraid to let go after finding someone who made her feel welcome. His embrace made it more difficult to leave.
"I will remember you always."
After a brief squeeze, she eased away. "Thank you, Torik, for everything."
The clang of metal on metal drew her eyes to the ramp now resting on the platform, a bright light blazing from the interior. She held her breath in anticipation of what might emerge, what she might be under the human skin she had worn as long as she could remember.
What stepped from the ramp wasn't what she expected. Two hooded figures in gray cloaks hiding them proceeded to take up posts on either side of the base of the ramp. From their head to toe robes, she couldn't make out details, but she breathed easier to see that they were humanoid.
The final figure stepped down into the full light as something ethereal. Although bald with a flat face encompassing large, liquid blue eyes and a small line of a mouth, the figure was more attractive than the Inari. The light gown barely hid the faint glow of the white skin beneath, much as the gown Krissa had worn when presented to the Tah'Na. On the slender form beneath, she made out no distinguishing gender characteristics and only a fold of skin at the waistline where she would have expected a belly button. At the lifting of the gown, she realized it was made of four transparent membranes attached between several tentacles in pairs evenly set about the body. The alien was naked but extraordinary.
It stopped at the base of the ramp, long-fingers curling around the support strut. Blue eyes blinked at her.
For a long time, Krissa stared and neither said anything. Only by the nudge from Torik did she take a step.
"Um…hello?" she said in Lereni.
The center figure took a step towards her and stopped. After several seconds, long fingers reached for her.
Krissa looked back at Torik, but he only shrugged. Was this the Onduun or something else? Why didn't they speak?
"I'm…pleased to meet you."
Abruptly, one of those hands went to her head, the fingers lightly touching.
"I am very pleased to meet you, my child." The thoughts came without words, clear and concise with overtones of emotions. "I speak not these strange tongues."
Before Krissa startled back from the contact, the connection opened before her to reveal the truth.
She stared in disbelief at Naperi—the name coming into her mind in full clarity. An instant later, she gasped in realization that this was what she really was.
The one question that had plagued her since learning she was adopted was answered: "There is a new threat to all worlds. You were but a pouchling when I had to make a decision. Luckily, we survived, as did you, and our world is cleansed. You are safe, and that is what matters. Although the threat still exists, our home is safe, and now, so is the Starfire that was entrusted to me, which I entrusted to you." With her other hand, Naperi caressed the labradorite on Krissa's wrist. "Secure in its containment...It is time to come home, my Irilin."
The sense of identity with the name was strong from the mother she didn't know. A desire to have her be a part of that world flowed from the Onduun with a profound sense of belonging that chased away all the loneliness of Krissa's life.
"The humans will be rewarded for their service and the Lereni for your safe return. But you…you do not need to wear that form. You will learn to use your full abilities to defend yourself. And...I am sorry. You were safer there."
At that, Krissa pulled back and twisted to see Torik at the bottom of their ship's ramp, a sadness on his face that dragged down her mood, despite the excitement of meeting her true mother who she had wondered about most of her life. Although her heart ached to say good-bye, it was overjoyed to know she could belong to not one but two different worlds. More than that, she was accepted.
Krissa returned her eyes to her alien mother and put her head to the hand still hovering where she had left it.
"You may see your friends again." The gentle thought from Naperi put her mind to rest that she didn't have to say farewell forever to the Lereni.
"Show me what I am," Krissa requested.
*
Sign up to receive notification of pre-order availability of future books.
Check www.melanienilles.com for details!
* * *
Other Books by Melanie Nilles/M. A. Nilles:
DARK ANGEL CHRONICLES, THE COMPLETE SERIES (ebook):
Starfire Angels (Book 1)
Broken Wings (Book 2)
Crystal Tomb (Book 3)
Origins of Dark Angel (Book 4)
Forever Dark (Book 5)
Also available as individual ebooks and paperbacks
WHEN ANGELS CRY
(A Starfire Angels Novella)
SORIEL
(Starfire Angels: Revelations Book 1)
DECEPTION
(Starfire Angels: Revelation 1.5)
PHANTOMS
(Starfire Angels: Revelations Book 2)
SHARDS
(Starfire Angels: Revelations 2.1)
AT THE WATER'S EDGE
(Adronis #1)
BENEATH THE CRASHING WAVES
(Adronis #2)
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON: PROPHECY
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON: LEGENDS
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON: LEGACIES
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON: FIREBLOOD
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON: DESTINY
TIGER BORN
(Demon Age Series)
SPIRIT BLADE
(Demon Age Series)
A TURN OF CURSES
AWAKENING
(Shadow Realm Saga Book 1)
*
About the Author
Melanie Nilles grew up on a western North Dakota cattle ranch and farm and graduated with a degree in business administration from NDSU. She currently resides in central North Dakota with her family, cats, and horse. Her published works include the Starfire Angels series, Adronis series, and Shadow Realm Saga books. As M. A. Nilles, she publishes darker science fiction and fantasy, including the Demon Age series and the Starfire Angels: Revelations series. For updates, visit her website a www.melanienilles.com.
Melanie Nilles, The Lereni Trade
