Rhoe’s Request Read online

  “That was amazing.” She felt giddy. “I think that was as close as I will get to regular flight in my lifetime.”

  He looked at her in surprise. “Haven’t you been on a skimmer?”

  “No. We didn’t have one at my settlement. My first experience was during the trip here.”

  “You will need instruction on that as well. I can arrange it. It is far simpler than a fighter. No weapons systems to lose yourself in.”

  She blinked. “I would like that. Can I log one out of the motor pool?”

  “You can. You can even use a skimmer to travel to your home if you wish, once you get a weekend pass.”

  She perked up. “That would be great. Do you go home now and then?”

  “I do. We are assigned leave on a regular basis. I visit my parents, brothers, cousins, everyone. Do you come from a large family?”

  She blinked. “Um, no.”

  “I know your father is an excellent pilot, but you never mention your mother.” He was standing close to her, looking down with interest.

  She cleared her throat. “I was the result of a contract breeding.”

  He backed away sharply. “Oh.”

  Rhoe sighed. While her means of birth was widely accepted in her home, she knew it was not usually the shifter way. Swans ideally mated for life. Her father had judged the consequences worth the contract, and she had never lacked for parental love.

  “I think I should return to class.”

  He stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. “Do you know who your mother was?”

  She nodded. “I do. I respect her and her decision to bear me. She gave me a good life and an amazing father, though she could not be part of either.”

  “That is a very accepting attitude.”

  “When we are dealt a hand that was not of our choosing, all we can do is accept and move on. It is the choices we make that define us, not our origins.” She inclined her head.

  “Very wise.”

  “I will send your admiration to my father. He had this embroidered on every wall of my room while I was a teen.”

  They started the walk back to the corridors. “It sounds like he was prepared for your circumstances.”

  “He truly was. I never lacked for confirmation that I was loved and part of a community.” She smiled as soft emotions washed through her.

  “You feel it strongly.”

  His hint was taken; she pulled her shields around her. “I do.”

  “Have you ever travelled to any of the other settlements?” His tone was casual.

  “I have not. Halflings are not well received everywhere, or so I have been told.” She wrinkled her nose at the remembrance of being visited by one of her father’s cousins. The woman had been most unpleasant and had broken the hospitality agreement that she engaged in by insulting Rhoe in public.

  “Your kind are rare but beautiful for all of that.”

  She jerked her head around and stared at him, but Captain Hiiron’s eyes were straight forward, his jaw set.

  “Um, thank you?”

  “No thanks needed. You are what you are.”

  She returned to her navigation course and settled in with the other students. Her body tingled from the ride, and her soul was tingling for another reason. He had noticed her and spoke to her in a flattering manner. Back home, that would be the first step of courtship. Here, who knew?

  She took her tests and kept herself focused on her work. Her tests were in the highest percentage of her class, and she wanted to keep them there. She had a family reputation to maintain, even if she couldn’t talk about it.

  Days coursed past and the skyrunner weapons were put online. Captain Hiiron took her out for target practice, but he never commented to her about her appearance or family again.

  Eventually, all the cadets received leave for the annual holiday. Colonel Whisk called her into her office.

  “Yes, Colonel?”

  “Cadet Rhoe, you are doing well, and it is time for the holidays. You need to be with your father. Now, there is a shortage of skimmers for the direction of your settlement, so you have been granted permission to take the skyrunner. You will have to keep a pager on, but you will be able to show your father what you have achieved so far.” Her mother smiled.

  Rhoe squeaked and ran around the desk to hug her mother. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me. It was my suggestion, but the final decision was up to Captain Hiiron. He confirmed that you could manage the ship without any problems.”

  “And you both know where I will be if you need the skyrunner back.”

  Her mother laughed. “It wouldn’t matter. You and Hiiron are the only ones qualified to fly it. Now, go and take your three days. I am sure that your father will be delighted to have you home.”

  Rhoe smiled brightly and ran back to her quarters, gathering a few pieces of her kit before she headed to the hangar. She was going home.

  The gathering meadow next to the lake was wide open, so she set the skyrunner down. People rushed to greet her, and as she stepped out and engaged the locks, she was looking for only one face.

  “Father!” She dropped her bag and ran to him, holding him tight as he spun her around.

  “Rhoe! I have heard good things about your progress, but what the hell did you land in?”

  She grinned and took his hand, pulling him toward the skyrunner. “This is the ship I have been training to fly.”

  “They let you take it home?”

  She shrugged. “No one else can fly it, so there was little risk to my taking it.”

  A new voice said, “That is not precisely true, Cadet.”

  She looked over, and Hiiron was approaching, wearing a formal robe that swirled around him with every step. “Captain?”

  Her father grinned, “He arrived earlier and informed me that you would be arriving in a similar conveyance.”

  Hiiron shrugged. “Colonel Whisk ordered me to attend your settlement during this holiday break. She did not say why, but an order is an order, and there was something in her eyes.”

  Rhand nodded. “There is always something in Whisk’s eyes. She always knows more than she is telling.”

  “Of course, you were on duty when she entered the planetary defense corps.”

  Rhoe was bemused; her homecoming was a little skewed after three months away.

  Lagala laughed, “Well, let’s start the party. Our little egg is finally home!”

  A cheer went up, and friends and cousins surrounded her. She was urged to her home and into some festival clothing. It was time for a party.

  “I hope you do not mind, the captain is staying with us.” Her father was in her room as she finished brushing her hair.

  “I do not mind. Mother has told him that there is to be no fraternizing between the ranks.”

  Her father grinned, “We are all equal here, Rhoe. What I want to know is what do you think of his being here?”

  She looked at her father and considered her words. “I think that during the holidays, there is nowhere better to be than in this settlement.”

  He stroked her hair. “Well, little egg, that is what I thought you would say. Welcome home even if it is for a few days.”

  “Father, you have not called me little egg in years.”

  “I have not missed you for years. The longer you have been away, the more I have missed you being little and close to home. You are still my little girl and more so with every day you are away.”

  She brushed tears from her eyes. “I miss you too. Now, who is entering the water races?”

  They walked out to the common areas where Hiiron was helping the other young men erect the scaffolding that would support a number of events and banners. Rhoe had her arm through her father’s, and they spoke quietly while they walked.

  “You are staring, Rhoe.”

  She blushed and blinked. “Was I? I have just not seen him out of uniform before, he looks…t
aller.”

  Her father laughed. “Taller, huh? He is a decorated pilot, comes from a large family and enjoys shifting on his days off. He also is fascinated by your skills and very interested in finding out the identity of your other parent. You have not told him.”

  “I have not.” She smiled as Jeeka ran up to her and gave her a red rose. “Thank you, Jeeka.”

  “My sisters says that you can have a whole rosebush if you keep bringing men like that home.” Jeeka blushed and ran back to her sister. A gathering of teen girls were watching Hiiron and giggling.

  Rhand was laughing. “It seems that you have brought a popular attraction to the settlement.”

  “I didn’t bring him. Mother ordered him here.”

  “She would not have done that without reason. I have been convinced for a very long while that your mother can see through time. She said that I would see her again on the day that I took you home, but since I knew she was planning another contract child, I took my wounded soul and I brought you home to fill my heart.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, she speaks very warmly of you too, Father.”

  It made her smile to see the flicker of hope on his face.

  “Father, do you know the circumstances of the second daughter?”

  “She never told me. I haven’t spoken to her since the day I brought you home.”

  “I have done some digging, and when that didn’t turn up anything, I simply asked her. My half-sister has a full family. She has two parents who were unable to bear a child. Both parents were in planetary defense, so she offered one of her eggs to them and carried that child to term. She has never had a relationship with the other father aside from a clinical intervention.”

  “She wasn’t his lover?”

  “No. I am guessing she was yours?”

  He didn’t answer, and it was answer enough. He may have had a breeding contract with her, but Colonel Whisk was his mate, and his heart knew it. Rhoe smiled sadly.

  “Well, from what Hiiron has told me, his family is fairly conservative. No luck for me there either. The flightless swans are not much in demand.”

  Her father stopped them in the centre of the crowd. “Don’t be stupid. Hiiron has already asked me for your hand the moment that you are out of the planetary defense.”

  “You are selling me off one part at a time then?”

  He snorted and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I can’t keep you all to myself, so I will begin with allowing him a bid for your hand. We will negotiate for the rest of you later.”

  She was tugged away by the young women who wanted to know all about the men in the corps and how they looked out of uniform.

  The young men were all gathered around Hiiron and asking him about the ships.

  It was quite the start to the celebrations.

  Rhoe sat next to her father as the shifting competitions began. The women were first, changing from dark and pale skin to dark feathers. The rest of the competition was a swim to the far edge of the lake and back.

  The winner was given a necklace, and she admired it happily.

  The coordinator organized the men, and those wearing clothing dropped it.

  Rhoe couldn’t help it; she memorized every line of Hiiron’s body, every mark and birth line that nature had gifted him with. His hair was braided tightly down his back, and the heavy cable hung to the base of his spine.

  She didn’t even see the other competitors as they lined up and shifted into swans, sailing swiftly across the water and back.

  Hiiron beat the nearest male by two yards. He shifted back into his walking form and picked up his robe. When he covered the muscle and sinew that filled him with grace, there was a regretful sigh from the ladies in the audience.

  The rest of the events were a blur leading up to the midnight feast and the dancing. As was tradition, Rhoe and her father started the dancing, and after they had made one round of the dance floor, other couples joined in.

  Rhoe returned to her seat and stifled her yawn. She had been up since dawn, and while she loved being home, she was exhausted.

  “Dance with me?”

  She looked up to see Hiiron was standing at her elbow.

  “I am a little tired. I don’t know if I will be a good partner.”

  “I have seen you behind the controls of your ship. I trust your balance.”

  She bit her lip and slid her hand into his. “Your own risk, Hiiron.”

  He smiled. “I am willing to take the chance.”

  Once on the dance floor, they moved together, swaying and shifting against each other.

  Hiiron broke through her fascination with the feel of him against her. “You have grown up in a strong community.”

  She smiled. “That is one word for it. The women are all my aunties and cousins, real or assumed. There is no privacy here, but there is a lot of love.”

  He chuckled and bent to press his forehead to her shoulder. She heard a gasp, but she mimicked him, with her head to his shoulder. Swan courtship was officially started.

  They remained on the dance floor, twisting formally in moves that came naturally to her.

  Hiiron smiled, “Just like watching you fly. There is no thought, just action.”

  “Is that a good thing?” She was walking with her arm around his waist and his across hers, their pace slowly moving them in the centre of the floor.

  “It is the best thing.”

  Rhand walked next to them and cleared his throat. “Everyone else has gone to bed and there is no music. Time for bed. Separate beds.”

  Rhoe blushed, and she paused with her arm around Hiiron’s waist. “Alright, Father. We are on our way.”

  Hiiron shifted his grip until he had his arm wrapped around her back, and he walked her toward her home.

  At her bedroom door, he pressed a kiss to her lips that ceased when Rhand cleared his throat. “Goodnight, Rhoe.”

  “Goodnight, Hiiron. Pleasant dreams.” She backed away and closed her door. Rhoe exhaled sharply and fanned her face with her hands. If she was going to have to put up with five years of courtship, she was going to go up in flames. So, why couldn’t she get the grin off her face?

  She wore festival clothing for breakfast and was halfway through her hot cereal when a sharp sensation speared through her collarbone. It was the pager.

  Hiiron sat up at the same time, and they both got up and ran.

  Rhand caught up with Rhoe on her way to the skyrunner. “What is it?”

  “Attack on the base. I am guessing that I know why the colonel sent our ships away.”

  “You can’t go into battle. You don’t have the training yet.”

  They were at her ship, and she palmed the hatch. “I suppose I will have to learn quickly then.”

  He grabbed her arm. “Rhoe, you can’t do this alone.”

  She looked up when she heard the whine of the other skyrunner. “I am not alone, but he will be if I don’t get my ass in the sky. Please, Father.”

  He looked at her, and he must have seen the determination she felt. “I am on my way to the base. You are not in this alone.”

  She gave him a quick hug and stepped into the skyrunner. “See you there, Father.”

  Headset in place, she sealed the ship and lifted off. “I am right behind you, Hiiron.”

  “Good. I thought you were going to finish breakfast first.”

  She smiled at the voice in her ears and mind. She set about catching up with him, and her lighter weight and faster reflexes had her next to him in no time.

  “There are four ships, they have attacked the base and crippled the hangars.”

  “Understood.”

  They had fifteen minutes at top speed to get to the base, so she warmed up her weapons and cleared her mind. She was going to fight on instinct.

  The incursion ships were swarming the base, blasting randomly. Rhoe took the ones on the left, Hiiron took the ones on the right. The skyr
unners did their job, their weapons systems worked with precision and fragments of the alien vessels scattered across the defense base.

  Pain was rippling through Rhoe, and it was not hers.

  A one-man ship settled near the wreckage of the hangar. Rhoe set her ship down next to it. “Father!”

  “I feel her too, Rhoe. This way.”

  Rhand forged his way through the wreckage, and Rhoe was right behind him. She helped up a few staff members who had been knocked down when the rubble fell, but her focus was on the pain that she was feeling. Her mother was quite the broadcaster.

  They made their way into the administration wing, and she heard her father’s cry. “Yedana!”

  She heard the response. “Rhand, what are you doing here?”

  Rhoe entered the colonel’s office and watched as her father lifted chunks of rock off the colonel’s form.

  “Rhoe, I will lever this up, you pull her out.” Rhand started to move the stone, leaving Rhoe to run forward and rescue her mother.

  Yedana hissed with pain as she was pulled free of her prison. The moment she was free, Rhand dropped the rock and picked her up. “I have waited a long time to hold you again, Yedana. This was not how I had envisioned it.”

  He carried her out, and Rhoe was about to follow when Hiiron rushed in. “I just saw the colonel. Are you all right?”

  She blinked. “Of course I am. Why?”

  “She told me to check on you.”

  “Oh. Well, my father is taking care of her. I am hoping that she will be fine.”

  “You are close to the colonel, aren’t you?”

  The pain that her mother was feeling was swamped by a tenderness that bordered on heat. “Way too close.”

  Despite her mother’s injuries, Rhoe knew that her parents were making out. Part of her was intrigued, but another part of her reared its head. “Ew.”

  Hiiron looked at her as if she was a little insane. “Help has arrived. Every near settlement has brought in supplies and medics.”

  “Great.”

  “That means we have a moment alone.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, using the ruins of the building to hide them as he pressed her to the wall and ravaged her mouth.