I woke up feeling wonderfully sore, but disappointed that Olix had already left again. Not only was my man an early bird, but I’d also discovered that Andturians only needed an average of five to six hours of sleep to be fully rested. Many were content with a measly four hours. When I came out of the house, I was shocked to realize that I had slept in well past noon. To my dismay, the visiting clans had already left before I could give them some fresh mushrooms to take home with them.
To make matters worse, the chatter on the plaza all but crushed me. It had been stupid of me to think yesterday would have finally made them see the light. Instead of incentivizing them to embrace farming, yesterday’s success had galvanized them into crafting even more goods for the next market, with bigger and bolder designs, considering some of the requests of the customers. With the Bosengis being the biggest spenders, they were all talking of crafting more premium items—jewelry, weapons, and even the type of sarong and togas the bipedal, axolotl-looking species wore.
While I’d been sleeping, the Crafters had been drafting some undeniably gorgeous sketches. The Hunters were cleaning and polishing bones, horns, hooves, and claws, or tanning the hides that would be used by the Crafters. Olix was personally working on a massive pair of tusks. As most of the younger and stronger Gatherers were missing, I could only assume they’d gone to mine ore or cut timber.
The warm smiles everyone cast my way when I emerged from the house made me feel horrible for failing to share their enthusiasm. It didn’t make sense to me to waste the incredible wealth of the lands they owned to craft trinkets to sell to tourists.
Andturians had no ambitions of enriching themselves. They chose to live a simple life. They only wanted comfort and the ability to meet the needs of their people. Farming was more in line with that mentality. On top of that, not only would it solve all of their food problems, it would also give them the credits needed to acquire the technology that would allow them to remain on a level with the rest of the planet.
“Sister!” Luped exclaimed, walking towards me along with Olix.
The expression on their faces immediately had all of my senses in full alert, especially when a number of the Crafters also gathered nearby. I cast an inquisitive look at my husband before turning back to my sister-in-law.
“The clan discussed while you were sleeping,” Olix said. “Yesterday, you received a lot of orders from the Bosengis, and the clans really loved your mushrooms. Since you have already used most of the space in your two sheds for your mushrooms and reezia berries, we were thinking you might need a bigger shed. If so, we would be happy to build it for you.”
My jaw dropped.
“We could make a more modern design,” Luped said enthusiastically. “Instead of you trying to adapt to the existing building, we could create one specifically designed for your needs.”
“And with the Bosengis saying they want to fly here once or twice a week to buy your fresh berries—and anything else you might add in the future—we could build you a permanent store near the landing pad,” Olix said with a grin. “It could have vertical cooling units so that you could slide the trays in like shelves instead of stacking them.”
“That way, on the days you want to rest, you could only fill the units with the berries you want to sell, and one of the elders could handle the store for you,” Yamir added.
I felt overwhelmed. This was what I had wished FOR THEM! To grow large enough quantities and varieties of produce that they would set up a permanent market that people would fly here to buy either raw produce, or processed ones like jams, pickled vegetables, and flour, to name a few.
It broke my heart that they still considered farming an ‘off-worlder’ activity, but not something a true Andturian would ever ‘lower’ himself to do. At the same time, it deeply moved me to see how the whole clan had rallied to do something like this for me.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” I replied, tears pricking my eyes. “I’m incredibly touched that you would consider going to so much trouble for me. No one has ever done something like this for me. That is beyond generous. I’m speechless.”
“It is no trouble at all,” Luped said with a dismissive gesture. “We’re all pretty excited!”
“You are a valued member of our clan,” Olix said affectionately. “Andturians always do for each other when needed. The only thing you need to say is yes, my Susan.”
“We have already done some sketches of what the shop could look like, unless you have a different idea that we would be happy to build instead,” Yamir said, showing me on a datapad a breathtaking concept made of wood and stone.
The detailed sketch even hinted at the bas-relief sculpting that would be done in both the wood and stone to beautify the building. Inside, a large, ornate counter divided the front and back of the store. The front had a series of low benches serving as a waiting area, whereas the back had a generous number of vertical cooling units and shelves for whatever other products I might decide to sell later.
“This is absolutely perfect,” I whispered, my voice trembling from emotion.
“Then it is decided!” Olix said with a toothy grin. “You will describe to Luped your dream shed—or rather greenhouse—and we will build it, too.”
And just like that, the non-Crafters among the clan ended up devoting the greater part of the next couple of weeks building my new and improved workspaces.
With the insane proceeds I had made from the first market, I bought myself my dream all-in-one tilling-seeding-weeding-and-transplanting machine. It arrived five days later, the same day that I picked my first harvest of portobello mushrooms. They were as big, if not an even bigger success than the oyster mushrooms. Had they not seen me prepare them with the same spices as the warbull, they wouldn’t have believed they weren’t actually eating some sort of steak.
However, even that didn’t convince the other clans to start producing some of their own. It created this really awkward situation where our neighbors wanted to trade for my mushrooms. But clans didn’t normally trade on that scale with an individual. Since every clan acted almost as a single organism, with everyone pooling their resources, in our case, it could have been trading mushrooms for ore with the Inosh Mountain Clan, or for polished stones from the White River Clan, etc. However, my vegetables were considered my personal property as I had ‘individually crafted them’ like any jewel or weapon a Crafter created was his or hers to reap the benefits of.
I eventually worked it out with them crafting fancy containers, baskets, wrapping cloths and papers for my jams, berries, and the other goods I started adding to the roster based on demand. To my shock, when I suggested that a long-term trade that would definitely help me would be compost, instead of getting brutally shut down for trying to con them into dirt digging chores, I got an enthusiastic response from all the clans.
Living close to nature, the Andturians were very environmentally conscientious, despite their limited understanding of responsible farming of the land. The Andturians naturally composted all of their organic wastes which they eventually disposed of in their fields. Between their compost and all the manure from their mraka herd, my needs for natural fertilizers were met.
The month following that first market was magical. Olix and I spent a great deal of time together, getting to know each other. As much as the mraka had initially traumatized me, I was growing more and more comfortable riding one on my own with that crazy saddle Kayog had given us. For now, Olix was only making me ride around open fields, while showing me the nearby landmarks and the general beauty of his world.
I was falling in love with Xecania, the Andturians, and their easy way of life. That play day, we’d ridden our beasts to a particular field that took my breath away. Lush, yellowish green grass spread as far as the eye could see beneath the bluest of skies where the three moons of my new homeworld hung low. A flock of birds was performing acrobatics above us in a mesmerizing dance. We dismounted and sat directly on the grass for a while to rest from riding the mrakas.
Olix talked about his youth, and how much time he’d spent here.
“Zoltar and I often came to this specific field to hunt moshins. They are furry little creatures that greatly resemble your rabbits but with flat tails and short, round ears,” Olix explained in light of my confused expression. “Ever since we could walk, my cousin and I knew we would be Hunters, just like Luped knew she would be a Builder. It is like a calling in our blood.”
Sitting between his legs, my back resting on his chest, I was slowly tracing the pattern of the scales on his tail, which he had recurved over my lap. Olix had taken to doing that often whenever he held or hugged me, embracing me with his tail as well in a way that felt wonderfully possessive. It was like he wished he had an extra pair of arms to keep me close and make sure I never went away.
I tilted my head to look up at him. “Do you still hunt here?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes, but rarely. We usually leave this field for the young to practice their hunting skills. It is a safe area, and it teaches them to coordinate their strategy, work on their speed, and learn to adapt to the escape pattern of their prey,” Olix said, excitement seeping into his voice. “We will bring the young here next week for play day, but not to actually catch anything. We will use a holographic simulation Luped has been working on. While moshins reproduce quickly, we do not want to put a strain on their population by hunting them too aggressively.”
“That’s really cool,” I said, once more struck by the extent of my husband’s passion for hunting. He would never feel such a passion for what I did. “So, all the children get to pick their profession?”
“Yes, although their calling usually manifests itself early on,” Olix explained. “By the time they are three or four, we usually know what they will want to do.”
“But…” I hesitated, choosing my words carefully, as I looked back at his tail to hide my expression. “Has a child ever been forced to go on a different path than the one that called to them?”
“No,” he replied without hesitation. His embrace tightened around me, and he gently brushed his cheek against my hair before plopping a kiss on top of my head. “You are thinking about Nosha.”
My head jerked back towards him, studying his features. To my relief, there was no anger or accusation there. I nodded, bracing for what he would say.
“Her parents are distressed by her fascination with your farming activities,” Olix confessed, matter-of-factly. “We all assumed she would be a Gatherer, like her grandfather Pawis. But since your arrival, she’s become obsessed with growing things.”
“I haven’t encouraged or incentivized her in any way,” I quickly replied.
Olix smiled, caressed my cheek, then leaned down to kiss my lips. “I know, my mate. We are all aware of it and are grateful you haven’t tried to influence her,” he said in a reassuring voice. “Continue as you are until her parents tell you otherwise. If the Spirits have decided that this should be her calling, then so it shall be. For now, she’s still very young and will be trained as a Gatherer. In three years, when Nosha turns seven, it will be her decision, and the people will honor it.”
I sighed with relief. Nosha was an adorable little girl who had been all but shadowing me from a distance since the day I’d transplanted my first sprouts. A number of times, I’d caught her carefully walking between the rows to observe, not disturbing anything. She’d been particularly fascinated by my watering and weeding machines. Since I’d acquired my upgraded model after the last public market, she’d been even more mesmerized. Nosha had the flame in her. I’d kill to be able to nurture it.
“I know we’ve never talked about kids yet, but what will happen with ours?” I asked carefully. “I know they will 100% look Andturian, but I would want to pass on part of my heritage to my children.”
This time, Olix made me turn around to face him, sitting on his lap, with my legs on each side of him. His large hands gently caressed my back while he stared me in the eye.
“Our offspring will know about both our cultures,” Olix pledged. “If they show a natural desire to learn your trade, I will not stand in their way. Every clan member has the right to choose their destiny and to thrive according to the path the Spirits have laid out for them.”
“Even though your people have a low opinion of my trade?” I insisted.
“My people hate what farming was under the invaders,” Olix explained. “You are showing it to us under a completely different light. It will take time, but mentalities will evolve. That said, remember that Andturians were never farmers, even before the Vaengi came here. It was never a calling for us. Some people grew a few things, more as a hobby than anything else, and we also grew spices. I know what you keep hoping in your heart, but you are only setting yourself up for disappointment. Only the Spirits know what future generations will do. But for now—”
A beep on my com startled us. Although I always carried it with me, I hardly ever got any calls, except from Luped telling me to get out of my shed and come eat, or to come see the advancement of my new greenhouse or of the shop.
The message on the screen made me frown.
“What is it?” Olix asked.
“It’s from your mother. A human from the Conglomerate just showed up at the shop,” I said, tension oozing out of my voice. “I bet he’s pissed about the complaint Luped and I filed.”
“Probably,” Olix replied, his face hardening in a way that was both frightening and strangely sexy. “Let’s go greet him.”
My husband was always even-tempered and gentle, but a predator lurked beneath his sweet demeanor. I couldn’t help but find that to be quite the turn on. Olix got up, holding me before setting me on my feet. We hurried to our mrakas—my man helping me onto the back of mine that was way too high—then raced back home.
A little less than ten minutes later, we reached the village. A shiny, top-of-the-line, personal shuttle with a massive logo of the Conglomerate sat on our landing pad. To my surprise, a gorgeous human male waited for us by the entrance of the shop. A number of villagers had gathered around, staring him down. The man looked completely unfazed, shrouded in a veil of self-righteousness and overconfidence that made me uneasy. I didn’t doubt for a minute he was here to bully us.
Olix hopped down from his mraka, before the beast even came to a full stop, with a deftness and grace that made my chest swell with pride. For the first time, I was truly seeing the predator in my mate. His muscles rolled beneath his shiny scales as he prowled towards me to help me down, although his gaze remained locked on the human. The slow swaying of his tail reminded me of an ominous pendulum, ticking down to the moment Olix would unleash his beast.
It was sexy as all hell.
After he put me on my feet, I took my husband’s hand, and we approached the intruder. The obvious relief from our clan hinted that things had been getting heated. The man observed us as we closed the distance with him. His gaze lingered on our clasped hands, his face unreadable as he gave my mate an assessing once over, before turning back to me.
“Ms. Jennings, I’m glad you were able to come so quickly,” he said with a seductive smile. “My name is David Lord, Division Director with the Conglomerate. But please call me David.”
Under different circumstances, I’d probably be drooling before this hot piece of a man. Tall, the right level of muscular, polished appearance, the face of an angel with the sinful smile of a sex god, and the type of sexy, manly voice that would have any woman’s girly bits stand to attention, he likely left a trail of exploded ovaries on his path wherever he went… except here.
“Hello, Mr. Lord,” I said, ignoring his request. “Jennings is my maiden’s name. It’s Mrs. Nillis now. And this is my husband, Olix Nillis, Clan Leader of the Monkoo tribe.”
Although his plush lips stretched into an apologetic smile, I didn’t miss the slight hardening of his stunning hazel eyes.
“I stand corrected, Mrs. Nillis,” he replied.
“What are you doing on our lands, Mr. Lord?” Olix asked.
“I’m here to discuss the disloyal practices here at your village,” the male said, gesturing at the store with his head, “as well as some defamatory comments and inaccurate claims filed against us by your mate, who no doubt doesn’t realize her misunderstanding of the laws,” Mr. Lord added, in a patronizing tone that made me want to punch him in the throat. “The Conglomerate wants to file a lawsuit against Ms. Jennings… apologies, Mrs. Nillis, but I asked them to stay any procedures until I had a chance to discuss the matter with your mate and your people. As you can guess, these can get extremely costly.”
That fucking snake! His words had on the clan the exact effect he’d been hoping for. The last market had given us some breathing room. But a costly trial would destroy all that we had achieved or hoped to accomplish in the future.
But his words didn’t work on my husband or me.
“I dare them to sue us,” Olix replied, taking a threatening step towards Mr. Lord.
