Page 65 of Ahelno
“Yes, mate,” Dakleth said, eyes still shining blue.
He stood up, and I rearranged his skirt so his erection wasn’t so obvious. It looked like he was wearing a loin wrap underneath, and that helped rein the monster in. I tried not to think about that as we left the room and headed towards the music room. The King nodded at me as we left.
When we got to the music room, I instructed him to sit on a cushion while I settled on the piano bench. The calmest music I could think of was Pachelbel’s Canon in D. It would have beenmore compelling with a full orchestra, but even stripped down to a single piano, the piece carried a quiet, aching beauty.
A memory slipped into my mind as I played. I had taken an astronomy class during my freshman year that met at the university’s planetarium. At the beginning of each class, we would sit in the theater under a huge dome. The lights would dim, and a recording of Pachelbel’s Canon would play as the planetarium projector depicted a time-lapsed sunset that eventually faded into the night sky. A lot of students fell asleep before the stars ever became visible. I chuckled at the memory.
I had spent many nights when I first got to my village in Ptekennan staring at the night sky. The constellations weren’t any that I recognized. I had learned so many in that astronomy class. After several classes indoors, we moved on to using actual telescopes on the roof of the planetarium to pick out other celestial bodies - Venus, Mars, the occasional meteor shower. The hazy, white glow of the Milky Way. I was so proud when I went home for winter break and pointed out Cassiopeia, Taurus, and Orion and his hunting dog to my Dad. Here on Ptekennan, none of it was the same. If the stars or constellations had names, I didn’t know them. It seemed like wasted knowledge. So much of me felt useless here on this planet. I would never see my stars again.
A tear slid down my cheek as I played. I was having a moment of melancholy. I knew it would pass. They were few and far between now, but every now and then a song or a scent would trigger a memory from Earth, and I would break down. It was times like these when I missed my parents the most.
“Andie, no, mate,” I heard Dakleth say softly. I had been solost in the music and in my thoughts that I had forgotten he was here with me. He moved to sit on the bench next to me. He was so large it was almost comical, and I hiccupped a bit as I sobbed. He pulled me into his lap and wrapped his arms around me.
“What’s wrong, my love?” he asked.
“Sorry, I’m just feeling a little homesick,” I said.
“It is a beautiful song, even if it did make you cry,” he murmured into my hair. “Cry all you need, love, I will hold you.”
I didn’t want to argue about the whole love, mate, friendship status. It felt good to be held. I let myself go, sobbing into his chest. He murmured soothing words and rubbed my back as I clung to him. He didn’t rush me. Didn’t try to tell me that Ptekennan was a better planet or that he would make it better. He just let me cry as long as I needed.
I was a snotty mess by the time I got myself together. The Ptexari didn’t have kleenexes unfortunately. “Sorry,” I said, wiping my eyes and my runny nose. “I need to go clean up.”
Still holding me, Dakleth made his way to the replicator and requested a towel. I grabbed it and wiped my face and blew my nose in a most unladylike fashion. It was almost enough to make me laugh.
“Better?” he asked, gently setting me on my feet.
“Yes, thank you. Sorry about that. I was just having a moment.”
“There is no need to apologize,” he said. “You helped calm me down. I merely returned the favor.”
“Yeah, so about that…” I began.
“I know,” he sighed. “I lost control. It should never have happened, but when that piece of filth casually spoke ofsharing you with his partners as if you were some sort of sexual plaything, I blacked out.”
“Yeah, that was pretty egregious,” I said. “Not enough to kill him, though. Or start a diplomatic incident.”
“You are worth any sort of diplomatic incident,” he declared firmly.
“I’m not sure your father would agree.”
“You are probably right,” he said. “I do not look forward to facing his wrath.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen your father angry,” I said.
“He hides it well,” Dakleth said. “I wish I had as much control over my temper. Kashtinela takes after him more. He says that I remind him more of my mother. She was a passionate female.”
“Well, if you’re feeling more yourself, I think I’ll head home,” I said.
“I shall accompany you,” he said.
“Normally, I’d say yes, but I suspect you need to go make amends with your father.”
“On the contrary, I think my father would suggest that it is best I remove myself from the Palace for a day or two,” he said.
“I hope you’re not suggesting you stay with me!” I said. Uh uh. No way.
“Of course not. I will go back to my estate. Technically, it is your estate, but I assume you have no objections?’
