Thread: The Space Between The Stars (A Corsair/Mim Adventure)

Yusra allowed herself snigger at John's juvenile double entendres. It was a tense evening, after all, and he was trying. Not that trying made her like him any, especially not after the reception, but she wasn't so petty as to not laugh. He sounded surprised, though, perhaps even shocked when she informed him of their marriage traditions. That surprised her a little he seemed the sort to have done all of the research he could on their culture. John described the way the nobility of the Hyades conducted their affairs--literally affairs, it seemed--and that the people accepted it where they would not accept polygamy. But it is polygamy by another name, Yusra argued with a frown. The difference is honesty, transparency, and a clearer line of succession. Your brother would not been robbed of his birthright, for instance, under our system regardless of politics he would have been recognized as the king's eldest child and rightful heir to the throne. The ascending king--you, in this case--would then have no cause to worry about a usurper with an equally legitimate claim to his throne. They see such things as primitive holdovers from the early Colonial Era, when plural relations were necessary to deepen the gene pool. His smile, apologetic or not, was highly inappropriate to Yusra's mind. Primitive? Her head snapped to look at him so quickly she pulled at some of the skin on her back, blood leaking from one or two of the cuts. If we are to rule both nations, we would need to carefully consider the impact any such actions would have, John continued, seemingly oblivious to her quickly rising temper. Well then it is only fair to inform you, she said through gritted teeth, that I do not intend to forgo my people's customs for the sake of yours. Package it however you want that they will swallow it, but I will take other husbands. I shall ensure that your child is my firstborn so that he will enjoy the inheritance rights accorded by both our customs, but I shall not turn my back on my own culture. Bomani had apparently recognized it and came to John's rescue. His appearance and compliments not only redirected her attention but served as a gentle reminder of her temper. His bowing, first to John, then to John's bow, then to Philip, then to Philip's bow, brought to mind an ancient toy she had seen a picture of once, a little figure carved into the shape of a bird weighted on one end so that it would bob back and forth as though bending to drink from a glass. The thought made her smirk, but she said nothing as the men exchanged pleasantries. She exchanged a look with the bodyguard at Philip's bow, wondering at the sign of respect from royalty to a layman, but said nothing. Hyadean ways were not their ways, after all. When they sat Bomani took his place at a discreet distance behind the princess, scanning the area for sudden movements and suspicious characters. When the king began to serenade the couple he chuckled at Yusra's assessment. I like it, he mentioned, mostly to be contrary. Of course you do, Yusra snapped. You like vexing me. You are very vexable, my queen. Aren't servants not supposed to speak to royalty? she mentioned over her shoulder in Stellaran, winking at him. Or at all? You are part-Hyadean now, Your Highness, Bomani poked back, speaking the common language for the first time in the prince's presence, and they would not consider you royalty. He laughed and dodged as she playfully flung a napkin ring over her shoulder at him. Fortunately, the screens missed it. When we are on the screen again, she muttered to John, I'm afraid you must gather all of your courage and kiss me like you're in love with me. Her betrothed was up to the job, apparently. With only a moment of hesitation he leaned in, stroking her cheek and cupping the back of her head as his tongue slid over hers and her hand cupped the back of his neck carefully, avoiding his recent wounds which reached the bottom of his hairline. It wasn't, for Yusra, an explosive first kiss. His hands were cool and he tasted not of foreign spices but of no spice at all. There was no heavy breathing, no teeth scraping at lips or wandering hands, very little heat though it seemed at least from an outsider's perspective genuine enough. John Harker was, she could say, very much technically proficient, and she supposed that passed for passion where he was from. The man knew what he was doing, but Yusra decided that if the same trend carried to the bedroom she may have to teach him to loosen up a little if they were to get on in any form. I think I may have found the courage, he whispered with a grin. It was the first wide, genuine grin Yusra had seen from him and it was...well, it was cute. Boyish, really, but not in a bad way, and annoyingly contagious. She cast her eyes down as she felt her lips tugged into their own grin. Perhaps there is yet a warrior within you, John Harkness. It was a slant-ways compliment, but one nonetheless. She looked up when Bomani cleared his throat and muttered 'incoming.' A pair of twin boys appeared seemingly from nowhere, materializing twenty feet away in order to get a running start. Yusra slid from her seat and bent to receive them, grunting as she caught them and picked them up. Binti! Binti! they cried, hugging her without regard to her injuries and offering their congratulations. Aya! Kutomba! Yusra cried out, wincing and almost dropping them. My back! You are too old to be carried, both of you! They were, indeed, a little old to be carried at eight or nine years old, but she did so anyway. Binti Yusra is the strongest woman in the world! one of the boys declared to John and Philip, not at all shy in front of strangers. In the universe! the other corrected. These are my best boys, Yusra explained, setting them down and taking her seat, biting her lip as her back twinged, Andikan and Jabari. She gathered them in affectionately, showering their faces with kisses as they protested and tried to pull away. Oh I see how it is, she said, feigning hurt. Not to old to be carried like babies but too old for kisses like men. She folded her arms across her chest as they protested that they were men. Then prove it! she challenged, sticking her face out to receive their kisses on her cheeks. Good, now sit while your father finishes his... performance. She sneered distastefully and gestured to nearby chairs. There was a scuffle over one which was apparently better than the other despite being identical and she rolled her eyes. These are the heirs apparent to the throne of Betelgeuse, my brother Adjatay's eldest sons by his second wife, she explained. Ay, tssp! She snapped to get the boys' attention. This is my fiance Prince John and his brother Sir Philip. To her irritation, John was instantly dubbed Mjamba Yohana. But of more interest to them was Philip. Mjamba Philip, Jabari asked, scooting his chair over to the elder prince, Binti Yusra says you're Mjamba Yohana's brother...but you are Pleidan and he is a mzungu. You aren't really his brother...are you? Yusra internally cringed at the question, but didn't correct him. It was Adjatay's job to discipline them her job was to be the cool aunt, fill them with sugar and give them a puppy then send them back to their parents. To her ire, Bomani took it upon himself instead. It is rude to ask people about their parentage, he said in a low voice, leaning in momentarily. And the slaughter is about to start. He gestured to the stage. Adjatay had taken a transporter to the side of the courtyard opposite his sister and now nobility danced in a circle around a bonfire on the stage. With a flash and a roar the fire was gone, replaced by an enormous lion. It isn't real, Yusra assured the foreigners. No animals have been intentionally murdered in the Pleides system for millennia all of our meat is bioengineered in laboratories. A lion hunt was part of our marriage ceremony thousands of years ago on Old Earth. A man had to kill one and bring back its paw hanging around his neck and its tail tied to his spear to prove that he was a man who could provide for his wife. Over the centuries? She shrugged. It became a whole-village thing, more or less, and now with plenty of manufactured food there is no need to kill a real lion, so we don't. The symbolic hunt remains, but that is all it is. Ay, tssp! She pinched Andikan lightly, making him complain when he had to put away his game. Pay attention, she admonished. This is your heritage, and it will be your rite of passage too some day.