directly from the armada’s database. But there is nothing off limits between mates.
Andi froze as the depth of what he’d done sunk in.
Ohlen had given her knowledge of his training maneuvers. His memories. His experience. Every fighting technique that ran through her brain. Like a library of books she was able to take down and thumb through. Hundreds of years’ worth of training. Hand to hand combat. Weapons. Stealth maneuvers. Missions he’d been on.
The dreams she’d had of running through the trees, of snow? They’d been his memories. With ease, she was able to access the knowledge of how to take an opponent to the ground. How to track someone through the woods. She knew she would be able to access those memories of him when he was a cub. Alone and wild. Andi had felt at the time like he’d been giving her a gift. It didn’t sink home until right now how truly monumental a gift it had been. Ohlen’s words came back to her, the night after Ethan’s death.
All that I am, all that I have, belongs to you.
She snuggled back against him and turned her face to the wind. Let it dry the tears of adoration that welled.
Andi tore her eyes off the plains and the approaching forest, to watch what he was doing with the controls. He had both hands on the console, fingertips pressed into some kind of gel pad. She could see minute muscle movements along the backs of his strong hands. The muscles in his forearms working, twitching really. The transport responded almost as though it was hooked directly into his mind via his hands. He had given her that too. His memories and the knowledge of what it was to fly.
Will you teach me to fly, too?
He leaned down briefly to nuzzle at her ear. Letting her feel the way his lips were curved into a smile.
-Your curiosity is joyous, my one. I will teach you anything you wish to learn.
Her curiosity to learn about how their technology worked was put on hold. Her jaw slackened at the sight of the giant opening in the mountainside. The gate Ohlen flew through to take them into the city beyond. As an engineer, she was blown away by the time and the skill it had taken to carve such an expansive, beautiful city into the stone. Ohlen proudly told her that this particular fortress was five times the size of the warship they’d just left. It was the primary residence for most of the people on this continent. The planet had five major continents, each with their own unique stronghold. This one was the seat of their ruling body. The seat where every other one of the fifteen planets was governed from.
There were couples and groups of Sarazens moving around the stone city. Most of them stopped to look and stare, but she was too busy gaping at the multi-tiered levels to give them much attention. Beautiful stone stairways connected each level. Looking like they had been hand carved by master masons. Despite the majestic beauty of the city, like the warship, every building was meant to function as a defensible perimeter. One layer at a time, all positioned to provide maximum protection for the inhabitants.
Ohlen flew the transport higher, straight for the far side of the huge cavern. The residence of their ruler, where they were to be housed. The five stories each had a balcony, three Sarazen’s high. Each one more intricately carved than the last. There appeared to be no other access points except for the one Ohlen was currently flying them into.
He took a deep breath once he touched down. Removing his hands from the controls to smooth over her. Like he was physically checking her to make sure she was alright. She beamed at him, eager to see more and he smiled right back.
Fourteen
They were shown to their quarters by an elder man, Ne’tare. She later learned he had been one of commander Tarek’s caretakers as a child.
Unsurprisingly, she was stunned by the space provided for her and Ohlen. He told her it
Andi froze as the depth of what he’d done sunk in.
Ohlen had given her knowledge of his training maneuvers. His memories. His experience. Every fighting technique that ran through her brain. Like a library of books she was able to take down and thumb through. Hundreds of years’ worth of training. Hand to hand combat. Weapons. Stealth maneuvers. Missions he’d been on.
The dreams she’d had of running through the trees, of snow? They’d been his memories. With ease, she was able to access the knowledge of how to take an opponent to the ground. How to track someone through the woods. She knew she would be able to access those memories of him when he was a cub. Alone and wild. Andi had felt at the time like he’d been giving her a gift. It didn’t sink home until right now how truly monumental a gift it had been. Ohlen’s words came back to her, the night after Ethan’s death.
All that I am, all that I have, belongs to you.
She snuggled back against him and turned her face to the wind. Let it dry the tears of adoration that welled.
Andi tore her eyes off the plains and the approaching forest, to watch what he was doing with the controls. He had both hands on the console, fingertips pressed into some kind of gel pad. She could see minute muscle movements along the backs of his strong hands. The muscles in his forearms working, twitching really. The transport responded almost as though it was hooked directly into his mind via his hands. He had given her that too. His memories and the knowledge of what it was to fly.
Will you teach me to fly, too?
He leaned down briefly to nuzzle at her ear. Letting her feel the way his lips were curved into a smile.
-Your curiosity is joyous, my one. I will teach you anything you wish to learn.
Her curiosity to learn about how their technology worked was put on hold. Her jaw slackened at the sight of the giant opening in the mountainside. The gate Ohlen flew through to take them into the city beyond. As an engineer, she was blown away by the time and the skill it had taken to carve such an expansive, beautiful city into the stone. Ohlen proudly told her that this particular fortress was five times the size of the warship they’d just left. It was the primary residence for most of the people on this continent. The planet had five major continents, each with their own unique stronghold. This one was the seat of their ruling body. The seat where every other one of the fifteen planets was governed from.
There were couples and groups of Sarazens moving around the stone city. Most of them stopped to look and stare, but she was too busy gaping at the multi-tiered levels to give them much attention. Beautiful stone stairways connected each level. Looking like they had been hand carved by master masons. Despite the majestic beauty of the city, like the warship, every building was meant to function as a defensible perimeter. One layer at a time, all positioned to provide maximum protection for the inhabitants.
Ohlen flew the transport higher, straight for the far side of the huge cavern. The residence of their ruler, where they were to be housed. The five stories each had a balcony, three Sarazen’s high. Each one more intricately carved than the last. There appeared to be no other access points except for the one Ohlen was currently flying them into.
He took a deep breath once he touched down. Removing his hands from the controls to smooth over her. Like he was physically checking her to make sure she was alright. She beamed at him, eager to see more and he smiled right back.
Fourteen
They were shown to their quarters by an elder man, Ne’tare. She later learned he had been one of commander Tarek’s caretakers as a child.
Unsurprisingly, she was stunned by the space provided for her and Ohlen. He told her it
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