Terran Times 02 - Deal with a Dhemon (31 page)

Deal with a Dhemon

communication with several of the women who were trying to gauge Kassil’s preferences. Her com unit had been blinking like mad for the last two weeks.

“I don’t want them.” He moved his pieces again, all of his focus on the board.

“How do you know? You haven’t even met them. You have only seen their pictures.” Safra was scandalized. It was almost unheard of that a male would dismiss all of the females presented to him as candidates for his bride without meeting them.

“I know.” He let out a lurid curse as Brodin made his move and won the game.

“How do you know, Kassil? Have you met someone special already?” Valnal sat still for a moment. “Oh gods, it is the Terran. You want Samantha.”

The room fell silent. Brodin looked at once angry and scandalized. “Your mother is going to kill you!”

“No she isn’t.” Kassil smiled.

“Yes she is.”

“No she isn’t, I have already discussed this with her and she is delighted.”

“Delighted? Neola? She is happy that you want a new species?” Brodin seemed confused, as he could not imagine his Aunt accepting a woman that she had not approved personally.

73

Viola Grace

“With a grandchild in the balance, she will accept a rock if it will have me.” Kassil grinned at his friends and family.

“Samantha is pregnant? Oh gods.” Safra sat heavily on the settee, Valnal dropping down beside her.

“So that is why Etion was insistent that Samantha would not be a disruption to our household for very long. He knew.” Valnal looked stunned.

The race of Dhemons did not blend very well with other species. Safra had looked it up in the Dhema archives while they were waiting for Sam to arrive.

Eons earlier, the explorers of Dhema had gone to Terra to observe the primitives. The Enjel were already in residence disseminating information and technology indiscriminately, and a conflict of mammoth proportions ensued. They each objected to the plans that the other had for the new species.

War was declared and the fighting lasted for hundreds of years. Thousands of humans died in the crossfire. The remains of the battle were carried on in verse and song, both on Dhema and on earth. The Admar had finally stepped in and stopped the battle. They banished both races from the earth and set up the Alliance protectorate to keep more advanced races from taking advantage of the primitives.

74