Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“If Anna starts having trouble breathing or seems to be in any distress, Bespeak me right away,” she had instructed Nora’s mom. “No matter where I am on the ship, I’ll come running.”
Knowing that her little girl was in good hands was the only thing that allowed Nora to go on this quest. She wasn’t sure how long it would take to get the Flower of Healing or even if she and Xarex would even be able to get it at all. She only knew she had to try—it was her last hope to cure Anna’s Pulmonary Crystalosis.
Suddenly, a voice came over the long-range shuttle’s com-link.
“Kindred vessel, you are cleared to land,” it said in a mild, neutral tone which made it impossible to know if the speaker was male or female. “Please set down at the coordinates we have provided. The One who Cares for All will be waiting to meet you.”
“Thank you—beginning landing sequence now,” Xarex replied. He looked at Nora. “Hang on—time to land.”
The landing went smoothly and before she knew it, Nora was following her new husband out of the shuttle and into what looked like a tropical rainforest.
“Oh, it’s beautiful!” she murmured, looking around the small clearing where they had landed the long-range shuttle. Most of the vegetation was green but not any color of green she’d ever seen on Earth. There was a metallic, almost golden shine to the leaves and vines she saw all around them. That must have been what made the whole planet look like a giant emerald from space.
There were lots of colorful flowers too—most of them in deep jewel tones like ruby red and sapphire blue. Again, they had a kind of golden shine that made them glimmer in the reddish sunlight.
Xarex was looking around too, but in a guarded way, she saw. His silver eyes were narrowed, scanning in every direction as though he was looking for threats. He kept her protectively close to his side and after a moment, Nora realized he was guarding her.
The realization made her feel special and protected. Her ex had never even bothered to walk on the outside of her when they were out on a sidewalk together. And Nora was sure if they’d ever been attacked, he would have run off and left her to fend for herself.
Things couldn’t have been more different with the big Kindred. Xarex was alert and protective, ready to guard her with his life, just as he had promised in his wedding vows to her.
For the first time, Nora began to feel sorry that their marriage was going to be so short-lived. As soon as she got a cure for Anna, she would have to let the big Kindred go. She knew from bitter experience that most men didn’t want to raise someone else’s kid. And it wouldn’t be fair to tie Xarex down when he—
“Hello. I am the One who Cares for All. Please give me your names and let me know if you are currently in your male or female cycles.”
The warm, neutral voice came from the leaves and the trees in front of them. At first Nora thought whoever was speaking was standing behind a rather large plant. But then the plant came towards them and she realized it was actually a person whose skin coloring blended in with the leaves around them.
She thought “them” because she couldn’t immediately tell if The One Who Cares for All was a male or a female. They had green skin with a golden tinge and braided hair that fell to their shoulders. The long garment they wore—which appeared to be made of leaves—was too shapeless for her to tell if they had breasts or not.
But then, maybe the people of Primus Nine didn’t have secondary sexual characteristics, she thought. They were, after all, aliens. Even their language sounded funny—like the rustling of leaves. She was glad she’d gotten a shot of Translation Bacteria so she could understand them.
“Hello, I am Commander Xarex from the Kindred Mother Ship and this is my bride, Nora,” Xarex introduced them. He put an arm protectively around Nora’s shoulders as he spoke, keeping a watchful eye on the person who had greeted them.
“Ah yes, it is very good to meet you.” The One who Cares for All inclined their head in a kind of half bow. “But could you tell us, please, whether you are in your male or female cycle at the moment?”
“Um, I don’t know about cycles but I’m a female,” Nora offered.
“And I am male,” Xarex said.
“Ah, I see that the male of your species is much larger than the female.” The One Who Cares for All sounded interested. “Tell me, do you change sizes when you change sexes?”
“Actually, we’re not the same species, though our species are sexually compatible, which allows us to intermarry,” Xarex said. “My people, the Kindred, have been calling human brides for over fifteen cycles now.”