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KALON
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Chapter Sixty-Eight: Linak Am Tula
Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Tarvashal, upper residential district, Fennec's estate
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Luna and Fennec’s screaming match is muffled through the door. Looking around the estate, I see gold-plated statues and paintings lining the walls. One of the statues is of him I realize, though the muscles seem to be exaggerated. The twins that he was with eye me cautiously, I can feel them sizing me up like a warrior does to another warrior, this makes me more watchful of them, in their eyes I can see my own eyes. The eyes of one who knows the depths of suffering and was made stronger for it.
“Follow.” One of the women says.
There is no reason to not follow, so I do. If only to seem compliant. I still have not gleaned enough to survive in this city. They take me to a room larger than the hall my tribe lived in, it is filled with fabrics and different outfits. Countless rolls of the fabrics are on large rollers with hundreds of half-made bundles of clothes.
“What is this place?” I ask them, taking in the sights.
“Fennec’s…” she pauses for a moment, the one with the blue left eye “Hobby room.”
“Hobby?” I ask. The word is strange. I have never heard of a Kuwathi having a hobby besides…
“Do you have any hobbies?” the one with the blue right eye asks me as she encircles me, studying my frame carefully.
Raising my shackled hands, I also raise an eyebrow as I say “Surviving.”
The first one lets out a strange squeal of a laugh, covering her face for a moment as she regains composure. The second does not seem to find what I said humorous, she shoots the other one an irritated look.
“Do you have a name?” the blue left-eyed one says.
“Yes.”
Her jaw flexes, I know she wanted it, but raising my shackled hands again, I give her another eyebrow raise. Ulima should not give freely when a bargain can be made.
The second one squeals again much to her serious sister’s displeasure. The serious one lets out a long sigh, nodding to the more playful one. She smiles at me as she holds her wrist device over my cuffs, a metallic thud resounds as they slam to the floor. Stretching my wrists now and moving more freely, I walk around the room, studying everything in detail. Searching for anything I can use as a weapon, should I need more than the blades hidden on my person.
The serious one taps her foot loudly, much like Fennec did.
“They call me Kalon,” I say finally, after making her wait just a little bit longer.
“How did you meet Luna?” the serious one asks.
“Among my people, it is considered rude to not return a name,” I say, shooting her a glance. It is a two-part statement. One that asks for their name and potentially discerns if they are Kuwathi.
“I am Ralia.” The serious one says.
“I am Salia.” The playful one says.
Even their names are similar, the most different thing about them seems to be their personality. She did not give any indication of whether they were Kuwathi, so I decide to try something else.
“Linak Am Tula,” I say in the old tongue, glancing over as I move between the rolls of fabric.
“We are not Kuwathi, we are Arasha, though not from your world.” The playful one Salia says, her sister looks upset at the revelation.
“Salia.” The serious one Ralia says sternly, her face hides the fluster well, though not well enough.
“Is Fennec your master?” I ask Salia, she seems to be easier to take information from.
“He is…” Salia begins, tilting her head and stroking her chin as though thinking deeply before answering “Our employer.”
So, they are not slaves, are not Kuwathi, and are not from this world and have freed my bindings, a fair trade for a name. Judging by his attire and his many possessions Fennec must be very wealthy. How can a Kuwathi hold so much wealth and employ those who are meant to be above them? I have never heard of such a thing before. Everything I have seen since coming to Tarvashal seems abnormal.
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“You never answered my question.” Ralia says, looking at me sternly now, with her arms folded “How did you meet Luna?”
A simple question, one that Luna will likely tell them anyway if they are actually allies. However, I do not know if they are allies, so I must be evasive. She may not want them to know she crashed on the surface and was involved in whatever battle occurred in space. I should not potentially give something away that my ally…
“He saved my life after I crashed,” Luna says from the doorway.
Spinning on my heel, I see her and Fennec standing at the door. He leans against it, an irritated expression on his face as he looks down his tinted glasses at me.
“You…” Ralia says, giving me a softer look now “Well, I am sorry for how I…”
“Don’t apologize,” Fennec says rolling his eyes, coming closer to me now.
He stops only a pace from me as he encircles me as Ralia did. Though I feel more vigilant of his stare than hers.
“If she has offended, she should apologize.” Luna protests, giving Ralia a look.
Ralia looks to Luna and then Fennec. Salia the playful one lets out a little suppressed giggle from behind me.
“I am sorry, Kalon,” Ralia says, giving a small bow.
Fennec lets out an annoyed sigh. Ralia apologized after her employer Fennec said not to. Is it because Luna told her to? Does Luna’s word have more weight than his? What is the dynamic here?
“Well, now that we’ve got that off our chest, will you two stink factories please for the love of the gods bathe your nasty…” Fennec begins.
“Enough,” Luna says, slamming her hand on one of his large spools of fabric, cracking the stand that holds it.
“Was that really necessary?” Fennec asks incredulously “I don’t go to your home and break your things.”
Luna walks slowly backward and kicks another with so much force it snaps the rod holding it in half and sends a cabinet full of supplies tumbling across the floor.
“How do I smell now Fennec?” she asks him.
“Like a rotten…” he begins, veins on his forehead bulging.
She picks up a roll and throws it against the wall, smashing a silver-encrusted vase. Fennec lets out an offended gasp.
“You savage!” he roars.
“How do I smell Fennec?” Luna asks, moving to pick up another.
“Wonderful,” Fennec says through clenched teeth.
Something is strange as I feel my face, I think I am laughing. Luna looks at me, having heard the laughter and she gives me a grin.
“Right, where are the slagging showers?” Luna asks, suppressing laughter of her own now.
“Take them,” Fennec says to Ralia and Salia, rubbing his temples now.
He follows her commands and lets her break his possessions without consequence. Is Luna above him? She must be. Either that or he is afraid of her strength, but that doesn’t seem to be it either. I am still not entirely sure who is in charge here or what their relationship is.
***
The estate was much larger than I realized before, the winding halls are a little confusing, but I am fairly certain I could retrace my steps if needed. Looking around, I try to take note of anything interesting. I have done this thing they call showering many times but I am surprised when I see the room for the showering in this house is larger than the one my tribe had. I do not understand the need for so much space, you could wash thirty people at a time easily with space to spare if you wanted. The floor grates are plated gold, the walls a white marble. A few paces above the entire ceiling is covered in nozzles that spray warm water down in a mist at me, the temperature I find to be agreeable as I lather myself in soap. The scent from the soap is… beautiful, unlike anything I have smelt before.
The grime falls from me in chunks as I wash it away, I recall the events since I met Luna, it all seems like a dream. So many new things to remember, so many things I have questions about. The black ooze of grease that stained my hair runs through the gold-plated grate. Something is strange of late. I find my mind drifting towards the Cursed Edict when it is not occupied. Is it mere curiosity? Pressing the thoughts away now, I quickly finish scrubbing until my skin burns from it.
After a few more minutes I finish and walk out into the room where the twins Ralia and Salia wait with towels for me. Luna is waiting with them, she looks at me now, her mouth open in shock as she looks down and then back up. Her face flushes quickly.
She spins around facing the wall as she says “I’ve told you before that you can’t just walk out naked Kalon.”
“This happens often?” the serious one asks as the playful one giggles.
“Yes… I mean no, it’s not like it sounds.” Luna says, flustered now.
“My people do not shy at nudity,” I say, repeating to her what I say each time it has happened.
“As I’ve told you many times, mine do,” Luna says, grabbing one of the towels and throwing it at me.
I do not understand why she is making a big deal about it. Ralia turns her gaze from me, but Salia the playful sister does not fluster as she helps me dry off, giving me a smile and a… wink I think. Strangely, it makes me less cautious of her.
Looking around, I see that my clothes are gone, my eyes grow wide as my heart thumps harder.
“My clothes?” I ask them, but really, I am wondering where my blades are. Why did I not take one with me? Why was I so foolish?
“Your blades are being cleaned by a machine as are your…” Ralia’s face scrunches up “Clothes, if you can call them that.”
My eyes shift around, looking for anything I can use as a weapon.
“I can clean my own blades.” I protest, feeling even more naked now without them. Vek, how was I so stupid?
“Relax, you are safe here Kalon.” Luna says, though she still does not look at me, even with a towel wrapping my waist “Fennec said he would make you an outfit as a gesture for Ralia’s rudeness.”
My eyes narrow, I have not known him long, but it does not seem like something he would do.
“Now move along please, I would like some privacy,” Luna says, pointing to the door.
Leaving as she requested, I walk through the halls behind the twins, only wearing a towel, Salia the playful one moves to my side now.
“What you said earlier, what does it mean?” she asks. Her sister shoots a curious glance but tries to hide it.
“Linak Am Tula?” I ask.
She nods, studying now the scars upon my body with great interest.
“It means, those who deceive die first.”
Salia lets out a giggle, brushing my arm, making me less concerned with her again. Her playfulness is not shared by her sister.
“Why would you say that?” Ralia the serious one asks me, there is caution in her tone.
“A Kuwathi would have reacted to such words.” I say, looking back at her “Your lack of reaction told me your truth before your lips did.”
She rolls her eyes, looking forward now. Her hand is close to her side, I can see the outline of a blade pressed tightly against her skin under the fabric.