Alien's Bride: Lisette by Yamila Abraham

at
him.
    “ You may state your argument
Elentinus,” number one said.
    “ It is our lot to follow the
will of the druid in the highest seat no matter what the cost. Even
if that cost is the extinction of one of our races. Druid Archment
decreed that Etikens may not breed with those outside their caste.
If we pardon Prax-Denay we set a precedent which will make all
humans part of the Etiken caste. My dear wife Maritza is not a
member of the lowliest caste of our society.”
    “ You’re behaving unusually
repulsive today, Elentinus,” Matoranis said.
    “ My devotion to our faith is
not unusual.” He turned away from them. “The love I have for my
wife is well known also. She is not an Etiken. Therefore, neither
is this woman.”
    “ I’m an Etiken by
marriage!”
    Three of the council members
gasped.
    Number four clapped his hands together.
The elderly man wore a gleeful expression. “An
exception!”
    Number one and two laughed with him as
though this were a private joke.
    “ Yes, you see,” number four
said, “the humans aren’t of any caste, but surely they can marry
into a caste.” He looked around at them. “If we don’t allow this
then the Etiken will go extinct. It’s no longer blasphemy if we
allow humans to marry into a caste.”
    “ I’m putting this to a
vote,” number one said.
    “ Wait,” Elentinus
said.
    “ Shut up, Elentinus,”
Nayjoor said.
    “ Humans shall be allowed to
marry into the Etiken caste. Agreed?”
    Numbers 1, 4, and 7 (Matoranis) lit up
at once. Then 2 and 6. Elentinus was leaning back with his arms
crossed. Nayjoor sneered at him and hit his button to light up
number 3. The moment he did Elentinus jolted forward and hit his
own button.
    “ Well,” number one said with
a raised brow. “It seems it’s unanimous. Humans shall be allowed to
marry into the Etiken caste. This decision shall be retroactive to
allow Prax-Denay’s marriage.”
    Lisette leapt into his arms with a
squeal of joy. Prax-Denay hugged her off her feet and spun with
her. His face became wet with tears. Lisette was so happy she
couldn’t stop laughing.
    “ If there are no other
matters than we shall adjourn,” number one said.
    “ I have one more matter,”
Elentinus said.
    “ Oh, please,” Nayjoor
said.
    “ What is it?” number one
said with a twinge of annoyance.
    “ Since human women are by
and large our only remaining breeding partners, and since this
council has just made it legal for those human women to marry into
the Etiken caste…”
    “ Get to your point, if you
please,” Matoranis said.
    “ I would like Etiken
castration to be outlawed.”
    The others looked at him in
shock.
    “ It is no longer necessary
to continue the practice to ensure the druid Archment’s decree is
followed. It’s barbaric and should have ended centuries ago. It
would be asinine to continue doing something so vile and damaging
to our fellow Dak-Hiliah just for the sake of
tradition.”
    “ Oh gods, yes,” Prax-Denay
whispered.
    Number one blinked a few times. He
leaned back. “I see your game, Elentinus.”
    “ We all do,” Nayjoor said.
His face had darkened with anger.
    “ If you object to my
proposal then state a valid reason why.”
    The cheery council member at
number four perked up. “Well, I can think of one reason. Eak-Rizot
is going to be fuming mad that the next guy who has his job gets to
keep his scoligel .”
    Matoranis and number two
laughed.
    “ Castration shall further
more be outlawed. Agreed?” number one said.
    Elentinus pressed his button at once.
Matoranis, number four and number two followed. Number one pressed
his button then stood and walked away. Number six did the
same.
    “ I won’t be manipulated by
you again, Elentinus,” Nayjoor said.
    Lisette stood on tip-toe to whisper
into Prax-Denay’s ear. “It’s going to pass six to one,
right?”
    “ All votes must be
unanimous,” Prax-Denay whispered back.
    “ Doesn’t Rolf-Tem have a
little brother who wants to