The Vulpirans' Honor: The Soul-Linked Saga (10 page)

“Honey,” Michael said.  She looked down at him, seeing the weariness in his brown
eyes. 

“Yes?”

“I’m going to go lie down and rest in just a moment,” Michael said.  “But first, I
need you to trust me when I tell you that the Vulpirans are honorable.  I would never
put our safety in anyone’s hands if I was not absolutely certain they were to be trusted.”

“All right, Michael,” she said with a sigh, giving in.  For the moment.  “Come on,
let me help you into bed.”

“If you will allow us,” Vikter said.

Honey stepped back.  It would be ridiculous to refuse their help when they were so
much bigger and stronger than she was.  A few minutes later Michael was lying on the
bed, his shoes off, asleep almost from the moment his head hit the pillow.

When they returned to the living room, Honey hesitated, uncertain what to do next. 
Should she ask them what had happened?  Ask them to leave?  Ask them to vox Aunt Berta
for her?  She had no idea.  She seemed to be having a difficult time concentrating
with the Vulpirans there.

What she did know was that the tension radiating from the three of them was increasing
her own tension.  Apparently they didn’t like her, though she didn’t understand why
since they knew nothing about her.  Nor did she understand why the knowledge hurt
her.  What difference did it make what they thought of her?

“Dr. Davis,” Vikter said after a long, uncomfortable silence, “I would reassure you
that what your husband said is true.  We will never betray his confidence.  Also,
I would have you know that we took Michael to the infirmary before bringing him home. 
Doc gave him a thorough examination, and said that all he needed was a few hours of
sleep.”

Honey relaxed a little at that.  “Thank you, Consul Vulpiran,” she said.  “That helps.”

“Is there anything else we can do for you?” he asked.  “I see that you have no ground-car
at your disposal.  We would be happy to address that matter for you, if you like.”

“That would be very much appreciated,” Honey said.  She’d been prepared to decline
his help until he said that.  She felt so isolated all of a sudden, with Michael unwell,
and Nica at Arima House, and no way for her to contact Aunt Berta, or go to her. 
She studied the Vulpirans for a moment, trying to make up her mind about them.  In
spite of their tension, they were offering to help, and Michael trusted them.

“At the moment, Nica is at Arima House,” she said.  “I’ve no way to contact Aunt Berta
to let her know what’s going on, and I don’t want to leave Michael alone for the time
it would take me to walk there to fetch Nica myself.”

“We will inform Arima Berta of the situation at once,” Vikter said.  “We’ll also procure
a vox for you so that you’ll have some means of communication while you are here.”

“I have a vox,” Honey said.  “It’s just programmed for Earth, and I haven’t taken
the time to have it reset.  Nor has Michael, as far as I’m aware.”

“There is no need,” Vikter said.  “It will be far easier for each of you to have a
separate vox for Jasan, and leave the others as they are.”

“Thank you,” Honey said, feeling relieved.  They might not like her, but they apparently
liked Michael a great deal considering how helpful they were being. 

***

“I’m confused,” Lance said as they walked away from the guest house toward their ground-car.

“About?” Vikter asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat. 

Lance took the back seat and Hunt got into the front passenger side.  Only after Vikter
engaged the engine did Lance answer his question.

“Michael and Honey,” Lance said.  “They seem to care a great deal about each other. 
Michael speaks of her with respect and liking, and Honey was clearly very distressed
by his condition when she saw him.”

“Your point?” Hunt asked.

“I saw not a single sign of deeper affection between them,” Lance said. “She examined
him as a doctor would, but she did not touch him as wives generally touch their husbands,
or as Arimas touch their Rami.  Didn’t you notice it?”

“I did,” Vikter said thoughtfully.  “I also sensed her emotions.  She was, as you
said, worried, and concerned for him.  She was also afraid when she discovered that
we know about Michael’s psychic ability.  But I sensed no warmer feelings from her.”

“What are you saying?” Hunt asked, frowning at Vikter. 

“I’m not sure,” Vikter said.  “Maybe things are not as they appear to be.”

They fell silent for the remainder of the drive, until Vikter turned into a long,
gravel driveway, and parked the ground-car in front of Arima House.  Like all Clan
Jasani, they were amazed by the very existence of such a place.  It’s creation was
due in large part to Arima Berta Falcoran, a woman who had earned for herself the
undying respect and gratitude of all their people. 

“Consul Vulpiran,” Berta said in surprise as the head housekeeper, Julia, showed them
into the sitting room where she sat reading to Nica.  She started to get up, but Vikter
waved her to remain where she was when he saw that the little girl’s eyes were closed
in sleep, her head leaning against Berta’s side.  Berta looked down at Nica, then
closed the book and set it aside.

“Please, have a seat,” she said quietly.  “I’m not sure where Merrick, Tor and Jerri
are, but I can vox them if you like.”

“Actually, we came to speak with you, Arima Berta,” Vikter said, taking a chair near
the sofa where she sat.  Lance and Hunt stood behind his chair so that they could
all speak quietly so as not to awaken the child. 

“Yes?” Berta asked as she lightly stroked Nica’s hair.

“Michael fell ill while examining our resident Xanti,” Vikter said.  “Doc examined
him and declared him fine, though in need of several hours of good sleep.  We took
him home, and promised Dr. Davis that we would come here to inform you of the situation
on her behalf.”

“How is Honey?” Berta asked.

“She’s fine, Arima Berta,” Vikter said.  “Concerned for Michael, of course, but she
examined him herself and seemed satisfied with Doc’s diagnosis.  Unfortunately, she
has neither a vox nor a ground-car at her disposal, so was at a loss as to how to
inform you, collect her daughter, and care for Michael all at once.”

“How thoughtless of me,” Berta said.  “I should have realized they would need a ground-car. 
And a vox or two.  I’ll ask Merrick to take care of that right away.”

“Please, do not trouble yourself,” Vikter said.  “We told her that we would provide
them with those items, and we would like to do this for his family.”

“Thank you, Consul Vikter,” Berta said.  “That’s very kind of you.”

“Please, call me Vikter,” he replied.  “Now, what shall we do about this little one?”

“She’s welcome to stay here, of course,” Berta said.  “I don’t have any of her things,
but Merrick can speed-travel over there for them.  My main concern is that I don’t
know how Honey would feel about it.”

“I don’t think she’d like it very much, Auntie Berta,” Nica said sleepily.  “
Mana
never likes me to stay without her for very long.”

“In that case, we’ll take you home,” Vikter said.  “Unless you would rather someone
else take you?”

Nica looked at Vikter for a long moment.  Then she turned her big, dark blue eyes
on Lance, then Hunt.  They remained motionless while she studied them, sensing that
she was seeing them with more than just her eyes.  Suddenly she smiled brightly and
sat up.  “I can go with you,” she said.

“Nica, why don’t you go splash some water on your face and wash your hands,” Berta
suggested. 

“Yes, ma’am,” Nica said politely.  She climbed off the sofa and started out of the
room before remembering her manners.  “’Scuse me, please,” she said.

Vikter, Lance and Hunt all smiled at the little girl, charmed by her. 

“Vikter,” Berta said as soon as Nica left the room, “I just wanted a moment to tell
you that I haven’t said anything to my niece about her being your Arima.”

Vikter’s smile dropped from his face at the reminder.  He’d completely forgotten that
he’d told Berta that her niece was their Arima at the airfield the day before.  “I
appreciate your confidence,” he said.  “At the moment we are dealing with the situation
as well as we can.  Under the circumstances, we would prefer that it not become general
knowledge.”

“I understand, of course,” Berta said.  “Neither myself, nor my Rami, will mention
it to anyone.  However, I would like to say one thing to the three of you.”

“What’s that?” Vikter asked.

“Do not give up,” Berta said. 

“Do you know something?” Lance asked.

“No, I’m afraid I have no specific information for you,” Berta replied.  “Remember,
I only met them yesterday myself.  I just have a feeling that things are not as they
seem.”

“I said the same thing just a few minutes ago, Arima Berta,” Vikter said with a smile.

Berta nodded in satisfaction as Nica returned, her cheeks pink and the hair around
her face damp.  “I’m ready,” she said.

Vikter stood up, watching as Berta bent down to hug Nica before giving her a kiss
on the forehead.  “Tell your mother not to worry about dinner tonight.  I’ll take
care of it.  And tell her that I will be down to visit tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, Auntie Berta,” Nica said.  “Thank you for letting me stay here today.  I had
fun.”

“You’re welcome, sweetie,” Berta said.  “Now, off with you before your mother starts
to worry.”

A few minutes later Vikter and Lance sat in the back seat of the ground-car with Nica
between them, while Hunt took the driver’s seat.  Vikter was careful to adjust Nica’s
seat belt just so, and snap it into place. 

He had never in his entire life been responsible for a child, not even for a moment,
and hadn’t stopped to consider that before offering to take Nica home.  Now that they
were alone with her, he realized how enormous the responsibility was.  It was no simple
thing at all.  What if he hadn’t adjusted the belt correctly? What if the buckle wasn’t
snapped firmly into place?  What if Hunt drove too quickly and had an accident?  Not
that any of them had ever had an accident before.  Their reflexes were far too good
for that.  But one never knew.  And Nica was not Jasani.  She was human.  A very tiny
and delicate human, and infinitely more vulnerable to serious injury than they were.

“Drive slowly, Hunt,” he said, “and be careful.  No accidents, please.”

Hunt turned to look at his brother in surprise.  Then his eyes fell on Nica, and he
understood.  “Yes, very slowly,” he agreed, shuddering at the possibility of causing
harm to the little girl.  Suddenly he wished Vikter were driving instead.

“May I ask you something?” Nica asked Vikter as Hunt put the ground-car in gear and
began to inch slowly down the driveway.

“Of course,” Vikter replied.  “What would you like to know?”

“What’s the animal called that you turn into?” she asked. 

“We call it a
vulpin
,” he replied, hiding his shock.  “On Earth it’s closest relative would be a fox.”

“Oh,” Nica replied.  “I think I know what a fox is.  Aren’t those little dogs with
pointy noses?”

“Yes, that is correct,” Vikter replied.  “We look a bit different than that, but it’
s close.  Now, may I ask you a question?”

“Yep,” Nica replied at once.

“How did you know we turn into
vulpin
?”

“I’m not suppose to tell about that,” Nica said, her smile fading as a worried look
entered her eyes.  “
Mana
and
Dodi
wouldn’t like it if I did.”

“That’s all right,” Vikter said.  “We do not want you to disobey your parents.”

Nica let out a small sigh of relief, then frowned.  “Can I ask you something else?”

“Yes, you may,” Vikter said, smiling.  The child was precocious, but in a very sweet
way.  

“When you guys marry
Mana
and turn her into a vul...vulpie, will I get to turn into one too?”

Hunt hit the brake in shock, but as he was going about a foot an hour, nobody really
noticed it.  Besides, Lance and Vikter were busy staring opened mouthed at the little
girl between them.

“Did I say something bad?” Nica asked in a small voice as the men continued to stare
at her in silence.

“No, not at all,” Vikter said, shaking his head slowly.  “But I am curious, Nica,
why do you think we will marry your mother?”

“Because you will,” Nica replied matter-of-factly, relaxing when she realized they
weren’t angry with her.

“What about your father?” Lance asked.

“
Dodi
isn’t going to marry you guys,” she said seriously.  “He’s going to marry someone
else, but I can’t see who.  It’ll be a long time away from now.  So will I?  Turn
into a vulpie, I mean?”

“Why don’t you go ahead and call us foxes,” Vikter said.  “And no, I’m afraid you
won’t get to turn into one.”