Page 37 of Mazorium Buys a Human

I might not know the difference between a servant citizen father and an assembly citizen uncle, but it was clear by Gorum’s rattle that Mazorium’s father trumped her uncle.

“I didn’t know your father was on the Apogee Assembly,” Gorum said, her hands grasping a pillow so tightly her claws ripped the fabric.

Rocking back to get his legs under him, Mazorium stood up with me and Nadia still held in his arms. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be documenting everything that happened here, and if you attempt to take Nadia away, I’ll submit it to my father. He’ll see that your action receives the appropriate retribution.”

With that, he turned and walked to the office door. Behind us, Gorum and the others didn’t move, but they started talking quickly in low tones.

I didn’t like it. The only reason they wouldn’t be following us to continue talking was because they had other, more nefarious plans.

The office door slid open for Mazorium and we almost walked into a delivery bot. It swiftly moved out of our way then made its way into the room. Probably the food for our dinner.

I watched over Mazorium’s shoulder and saw it get stymied by the pillows. Gorum and her “friends” were talking and completely ignoring the upset, beeping bot.

Ithorum rushed to walk at Mazorium’s side. “That didn’t go well.”

“You knew that was going to happen,” he accused, his calm demeanor cracking to show irritation.

“I suspected,” Ithorum said.

“When I refused, she threatened me,” he said, sounding confused. “Why would she do that? It’s incomprehensible. If I didn’t have a powerful father, she might have succeeded.”

“She rarely hears the word no.” Ithorum put a hand on Mazorium’s arm and stopped us. “We need to be cautious. She won’t accept that she’s lost.”

I felt Mazorium tense up. “What do you mean?”

Ithorum lowered her voice, as if worried the vid captures along the corridor might hear her. “She will force the issue. Even before she invited you to join her for a meal, she would've had several plans in place. I’ve never seen her fail to get what she wants.”

That was bad. I looked up and down the corridor to realize it was far too empty. When we walked through before, Talins were standing in all the doorways. Now there was no one. There wasn’t even anyone walking from place to place.

“Did Gorum end the administrative workday early?” I asked.

Ithorum sounded a rumble of agreement. “Yes.”

Mazorium sounded a confused rumble. “Why would she do that?”

Oh man, Mazorium really didn’t understand how this worked! If he was upset over how Gorum had threatened him earlier, he wasn’t prepared at all for what she had planned next.

“Can you keep us safe?” I asked Ithorum, ignoring Mazorium’s question.

“No,” Ithorum said. “I was reassigned to escort a group of Ossiso once you were in Gorum’s office. If I leave soon, I’ll make it, but I can’t escort you back to your ship. I’ll lose my position and reputation.”

I understood. I didn’t like it, but I understood.

“Please don’t let me keep you,” Mazorium said. “You’ve been excellent at your job, and I’m thankful for your help. I’ll write a letter of commendation to your superior.”

The way Ithorum sounded an annoyed rattle told me she was as frustrated with Mazorium’s lack of concern as I was.

“We’re going to be attacked!” I said, making my voice as loud as I dared. “Gorum couldn’t buy or threaten you into giving her Nadia, so she’s going to steal her.”

“No, she wouldn’t,” Mazorium denied. “Outright theft? That’s only for the lowest of Talins. The most dishonorable who’ve been cast out of their family and clan. She's of a high rank within a notable family and clan. Her uncle serves in a clan assembly. She’d never debase herself with an act like that.”

How could he continue to think this way when she’d already threatened him? It was endearing but also so damn aggravating.

Ithorum addressed me. “Get to the primary corridors quickly. Nothing will happen while you're surrounded by bystanders. These secondary corridors are where the danger is.”

I nodded. “Can we call for help?”

She let out a quiet, sad rumble. “You can, but it won’t go anywhere. If I know Gorum, she’ll shut off the relays and the vid captures.” She pointed down another hallway. “Take the long route. They won’t expect it and will have to look for you without the help of the monitoring equipment. That’ll give you a good chance.”