Page 50 of Expecting The Unexpected

“Yes. Something isn’t right. I would think that with the news of a Caliph that has found his Viata would bring the people out in droves. We told the Caliph this was a mission to bring hope to his people, not having any around is disconcerting,” Hron stated in aggravation.

Throg exited his vehicle and looked around. He didn’t notice anything out of order, except the fact that there were no other Nakaka in sight, other than the three men standing in front of the mansion-style home. “Anything, Nas?”

“No. All seems clear to me.” Nas answered, exiting his vehicle that held Groth and a few other guards.

“Mennen?” Throg asked.

“Nothing, all clear.” Mennen stated, but continued to look around as he exited the vehicle and opened the door for Hron.

“Torro, keep Spencer and Petree here, until we give you the all clear. If anything goes down, I want you to get them the fuck out of here, and get back to the clutch house,” Throg ordered.

Hron started up towards the house, “Good evening, gentlemen. I’m Caliph Hron of the Loihi clutch house.”

“Caliph Redmen of the Brais clutch, and this is ancient Urr and Blinn. We are pleased, if not a bit confused to meet you.”

Hron looked around, “Odd, I understood that you were informed that my Viata and I were coming, to bring hope to the Nakaka of the Brais clutch house, as we are going to do with the Nakima, Dorson and Mur clutch houses, and any others we can gain an audience with.”

Caliph Redmen snorted, “Viata. We have not had a Viata in over two hundred years. Why would the gods start gracing us with one now? I did not want you coming to our lands and spreading such nonsense.”

Hron’s brows rose. “Is that right? Ancient Urr, Ancient Blinn, have you not been in contact with my fathers.”

“We have,” both men replied.

“Did they not tell you our glorious news months ago?” Hron asked, knowing the answer, since he and Throg had been there when the call was made.

Urr nodded, “They did. However—”

“They do not run my clutch, Caliph Hron. I am the leader, and I am the one to decide what is true and what is not. I have met with my advisors, and we believe that proof is what is needed, not just to blindly trust words thrown about. Tell me Caliph Hron, why would the gods bless you? Why would they choose the youngest son of the ancients to be blessed with a Viata, and not someone like myself, eldest son of Jacot and Izu, gods rest their souls.”

“I do not know, Caliph Redmen. All I can say is with sacrifice came blessings,” Hron stated, with that regal tone and pride Throg loved hearing from him.

“Blessings? That is plural, not singular. What other blessings were you granted that the rest of us have not been?” Caliph Redmen asked rudely.

Throg had to give it to Hron. Redmen was a rude prick that needed to be taught lessons in manners and respect, for not just another Caliph, but for the ancients themselves. However, Hron smiled, and acted as if Caliph Redmen was anything but an ass. “Oh, yes, blessings for sure. We are expecting our first chickpea.”

Redmen’s eyes widened. “You lie.”

Those words brought out the anger in Hron. He might look past the rudeness to him, but he would not stand by and allow another to outright call him a liar. “I’m going to consider the shock I just gave you, Redmen, but do not push me. I do not now—nor have I ever—lied. I didn’t lie about my Viata, and I damn sure am not lying about a chickpea being born to my clutch. I thought, as the Caliph of Brais, you would want to show your people that we now have a chance... a real chance to live again. That love will find us all once again, and life will reproduce as it should. Our people will grow in numbers once more. The Nakaka shall thrive, and live as we once did so long ago. However, if you’re going to be rude and disrespectful to not only the ancients of our kind, but to myself as well... you can go fuck yourself.”

With those words Hron turned, snapping, “Throg, we are returning to Loihi.”

“Caliph Hron, please wait!” Urr said, rushing from the doorstep to Throg’s Caliph.

Before the man could actually get to him, Throg stepped in front of Urr. “Do not touch him. I respect your position, Ancient Urr, but he is under my protection, and although I respect who you are, I will defend Caliph Hron against any and all. It is my duty to the gods.”

Hron had stopped and turned to Urr, “What is it, Ancient Urr. As Throg said, I respect who you are, but I do not have time for games.”

Urr shook his head, “This is no game. I have no doubt you have found your Viata. We have said as much to Caliph Redmen, but you must understand, it has been so long. So many have lost hope... they fear hope and then to be let down... it’s not easy... and now to hear that a chickpea will be born to us once more... it’s glorious news and... to some... well, to some... they will be wary. You can’t blame them for that, Hron. Hope and loss brings destruction. Maybe not physically, but mentally... well, mentally is a completely different thing.”

Caliph Redmen approached, “I did not mean to disrespect you, Caliph Hron. Please, we wish to meet your Viata, and have the Nakaka prepared to have our first chickpea.”

“Spencer is not Nakaka. He is shifter and the Viata of Throg,” Hron stated.

Redmen’s eyes widened, “Shifter? Viata? I thought the Viata was yours?”

“I have a Viata, and two of my clutch have been blessed with their own as well. That’s why we are here, Caliph Redmen. We wanted to show... to prove to the Nakaka from all around the country, that our Viatas are being returned to our people,” Hron stated.

“And this... shifter... the one you say is pregnant? You have brought him as well?” Caliph Redmen asked curiously.