The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances by Kevin J. Anderson Page B

wheat, while humans walked alongside, carrying baskets on their shoulders to gather up the grain. They worked well together, telling stories and jokes, each trying to comprehend their counterparts.
    “What sort of answers?” Chrysta asked.
    “My father is intrigued to know the possibilities of humans interbreeding with various Ildiran kiths. You and I should not be the only ones. The Mage-Imperator would like to encourage human interbreeding with Ildirans.”
    “I didn’t need to have my arm twisted,” she said with a smile, “but you can’t just command it of our colonists. I have no objections, so long as the people choose to do so.”
    His expression showed he was completely serious. “From a scientific standpoint, mixing our various kiths with your human DNA could benefit both of our races.”
    “Hybrid vigor.” She nodded, contemplating. “I can sense that our child will be wonderful. You and I are so much alike, destined to be partners . . . but frankly, we don’t find all Ildiran kiths as attractive as you are, my love. In fact, the soldier kithmen, the diggers, and workers look . . . brutish to us. Some might even say monstrous.”
    The Dobro Designate was troubled. “I am surprised to hear this. We see them all as Ildirans. Most kiths breed with their own kind, but there have been many successful mixtures. The form of the body is just an adaptation to circumstances.”
    “I’m just warning you that there will be resistance among some of the Burton colonists, and you can’t force them.” Her eyes sparkled, knowing how much joy Rekar’h had brought her. “But I will express my encouragement. If even a few of the people agree, they will provide examples to show that these partnerships can be viable. Then others will be more willing to follow.”
    Chrysta gazed at all the people working together. Her mood soured as she spotted a man with a drooping black moustache and long dark hair wrapped in a purple bandanna. During their time here on Dobro, Ramirez had begun on his best behavior, terrified she would execute him as an example, the appropriate punishment for mutineers as recorded in the Burton ’s ancient maritime records. Chrysta had been true to her word, but she had never stopped watching him.
    Rather than accepting his second chance with good grace, Ramirez had begun to complain again. She’d heard reports that he was trying to convince others that she had led the settlement long enough and should be overthrown.
    She would have to nip that in the bud. Dario Ramirez needed a reminder.
    “I know someone who would make a great example for others to follow—someone with experience leading movements.” She gave a quick snort, liking her idea more and more. “Plenty of weak-willed ones have done far worse things at his encouragement. Now he can be useful as a new kind of trailblazer.”
    The Designate looked curiously at her. “Are you certain?”
    She raised her chin. “Bring your female soldier kithmen—the strongest, most powerful ones—and I’ll take care of the rest.”
    Even Chrysta shuddered when she saw the monstrous females who came forward: muscular, with severe features, broad shoulders, and thick claws. Tufts of hair grew from their ears and chins, and their brows were heavy. They looked like ogres. Perfect.
    She led them to Dario Ramirez, who worked with a small crew installing tiles in a drainage ditch. Ramirez pressed a hand to his back and wiped his brow, watching the labor more than getting his own hands dirty. His companions stopped working as they saw Chrysta, the Dobro Designate, and the female soldier kithmen approaching. Ramirez looked up with a nervous smile. “What? What do you want?”
    She had long since stopped worrying about unrest among the Burton ’s crew. The mutiny had been a temporary insanity, best forgotten. Their diligence during the colony setup proved their repentance, and Chrysta simply didn’t speak of the matter anymore. But she had not