Page 5

“When we get closer, I can analyze the atmosphere,” Lala said. “I can’t find any other information on the planet besides some obviously misfiled Elora Station document that keeps coming up.”

“What makes you think it’s misfiled?” I asked, grabbing my protective suit and helmet and then shoving myself into it in case the atmosphere wasn’t breathable for humans.

“Because it appears to be related to human brides and wedding customs.”

“Weird. Whatever. I’ve got my suit if the atmosphere sucks.” I buckled myself into the captain’s chair, then finished fastening my helmet.

Ahead, Zabria Prinar One grew and grew, like a spherical balloon being inflated ever-faster. Swirls of green, gold, red, and blue filled the viewscreen.

“Approaching Zabria Prinar One. Descent protocols engaged,” I said, the words booming inside my helmet. “Hold on, Lala. And you too,Lavariya.”

And you three, Jaya.

Was that my aunty’s voice inside my head?

Or mine?

I recognized my own voice when I spoke next.

Three fateful words.

“Prepare for landing.”

3

OAKEN

“This is for your own good, Nali,” I said, frowning at the defiant little creature. “You are a mountain gortu. You are meant to climb and jump. How will you return out to the wilds of the mountains without me, as you were always meant to do, if you won’t even bother climbing up to that little ledge above that boulder?”

Nali and I were on a hike – the first of many. We’d trekked out beyond my valley property further into the mountains. I’d hoped to find rocky inclines that suited her more than the boulders I’d dragged into her enclosure, but had not had any luck as of yet.

Nali looked at the ledge in question, then bleated at me from the grass between my boots.

“Absolutely not,” I told her at once. “I’m not lifting you up there again. That was strictly for demonstrative purposes. And, apparently, even that much was a mistake, as now you seem to think I will do it for you every time.”

She gave me a look that very much felt like it was saying,Won’t you?

“I won’t,” I reiterated. “You need to learn these skills and strengthen your legs. I need to strengthen mine, too. It is why we are out here.”

Instead of attempting to jump upon, or climb up, the side of the indicated boulder, Nali instead turned herself around so that her little upright tail was what faced me instead. Then, she let her legs collapse beneath her, settling into a shady place beside the boulder. As clear an indication as any that this training session was through nearly as soon as it had begun.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But we will be back out here again tomorrow, Nali.”

With every day that passed, I worried that she was missing out on crucial development. I didn’t want her to be unable to live in her native habitat because she’d spent too long in the fenced, grassy areas of my ranch.

But perhaps I was being too demanding. She was very young, and only recently transitioned to eating grass after the bracku milk I bottle-fed her. And though she did seem at least somewhat attached to me, I was not her gortu mother. Why should she bother to listen to me at all?

“I am sorry if I am being too harsh,” I said with a small sigh as I seated myself beside her. I stretched out my legs in front of me, rolling my stiff right ankle. “Perhaps I am not in the best mood today.”

I hadn’t been in the best mood since yesterday, when Tasha had informed me of the bride program changes shortly after her arrival with Warden Tenn. For one thing, the marriage trial period had been shortened from thirty days to only fourteen. This meant I had much less time to impress my future bride and convince her to stay with me once she arrived.

And that was onlyifshe arrived.

Because even more disheartening than the newly shortened trial period was the fact that Tasha seemed to think it would now be much, much harder to get human women to agree to come here at all. This planet’s status as a penal colony would be revealed to the potential brides before they decided whether to take a chance on a new life – and husband – in this world.

Which, of course, was ultimately a good thing. I did not truly want my wife to come here under false pretences and then be disappointed when she found out I was actually an incarcerated exile, even if I’d never actually killed anyone.

But still…