Page 9 of Fated to the Alien Hero (Warriors of Tavikh #7)

Evren

I do not like leaving Astrid alone, but this is my chance to search out the shefir and speak with him about this thing she calls divorce. Unsure where I might find him at this time—although most likely he is down near the training arena—I head there first.

Sure enough, he and Benham stand at the perimeter observing the kits sparring. Much has changed these last two seasons with the arrival of the humans. Scarred and prickly Benham, the biggest warrior in the entire village, is somehow mated to the smallest, quietest, and previously most fearful of all the human females. It is only recently that she has found her true voice and realized she has nothing to fear from any of us. The change in her since becoming mates with Benham has been remarkable.

They glance over at my approach. I lay my fist over my heart in a sign of respect and dip my head.

“Greetings, Shefir. Benham.”

Both return the gesture.

“Greetings, Evren,” Zander replies. “Is all well?”

“There is something I would like to speak with you on, if you have time.”

He claps my shoulder. “Always. Come, let us go to my tent.”

We climb the slope leading to the village and make our way toward his previous dwelling before he and London set up a bigger one to prepare for the arrival of their kit. He grabs the torch from outside and we enter. Scented livando bundles still hang from the wooden supports above. They are a reminder of his nene and childhood home. The chests that contained his personal belongings have been removed as well as the bed of furs. Instead, several chairs have been placed around a table that sits just beyond the fire pit.

Zander stabs the torch upright in the ground to offer us light and gestures for me to take a seat. I choose one of the backless chairs next to the large chair designated for him as the shefir. He does the same in his own.

“I have spoken to Astrid about the male at the settlement who abused her. The one she says is her mate from Earth.” I explain, although he’s already been made aware of who the vile male is. “She said the only way for her to be my mate is if she and the other male…divorce.”

“How does one go about getting this thing?” Zander asks.

“That is the problem. My keeshla said according to Earth law, they are bound together until one of them dies or through this process. Except it requires the aid of several people who may not even belong to the human settlement. She says that if they did, a divorce still may not be possible because they are no longer on their own planet.”

Zander is quiet for some time before he finally speaks. “Could his attempt at ending her life have been because he no longer wants to be bound to her, as she no longer wants to be bound to him?”

“I do not know. According to her, he has been violent with her many times, including back on Earth. If he did not want to be her mate any longer before they came to Tavikh, why did he not get this divorce then? Why come all the way to another planet together?”

The shefir rests his elbows on the table and sets his chin on his clasped fingers. “Perhaps those are the questions you must get the answer to first. I do not understand the workings of humans or their laws, but if neither your mate nor the unworthy male want to remain bound to each other, then it may be possible that is all that is needed, since they no longer live on Earth.”

Could it be that easy? Merely a matter of both of them standing before the human leaders and declaring themselves no longer bound? If they are no longer on Earth, then can they not create new laws? Tavikh laws?

“Thank you, Shefir, for your counsel. I will speak with Astrid and go from there.” I pause. “I worry, though, what will happen if the human male is not agreeable to breaking their bond. What if he demands she return to the settlement?”

Once again, Zander does not immediately reply. Although I am impatient, I do not rush him. He is our shefir for a reason. He always does his best to think through every situation before committing to a response.

“While I understand that, according to Earth law, she is his mate, this is not Earth. When a female’s life could be in danger, protecting her is more important,” he says. “If your Astrid does not wish to return to this male, then she will not. Deeka has spoken, and she is your keeshla . That is the law I am bound by. If he chooses to challenge you for her, so be it. He will not win.”

I am grateful for Zander’s support. “Thank you, Shefir.”

“Congratulations on finding your mate, Evren. It is the most wondrous thing that can happen to any Tavikhi. I did not doubt for any amount of time that Deeka would deem you worthy. It was always going to happen. Your nene and baba would be proud.”

Emotions swell. They have been gone for many, many seasons, and it was Zander who saw after me when they ventured onto the land of the goddess. Even before he became shefir.

“I only wish they were still here to meet my Astrid. They would love her.”

“They will meet her when it is your time to join our ancestors,” he tells me.

I stand and salute him before exiting. Zander has given me much to think on. As much as I want to travel to the human settlement this very moment, I will wait until I have spoken to Astrid. This is her future. She must decide, and I cannot make the decision for her.

The midday meal is about to begin, and Astrid has been resting since right before the sun hit its zenith. Since no one has come searching for me, I assume she is still within the healer’s tent. I make my way there and hope she is awake. When I reach it, I slap the door flap. Ever since Zara was injured, we have been instructed to always “knock” as the humans say, before entering.

“Enter.”

I step through the entrance and find Astrid awake, but still lying on the furs and Sage stands by the supply table organizing. At my mate’s smile, my soul light flares brighter. She blinks rapidly and her head jerks slightly making me pause. She cannot see that, can she?“Greetings, keeshla .” I close the distance between us. “Are you feeling rested?”

Astrid nods. “I am, thanks. Did you get some rest? You were awake just as often as I was.”

“Tavikhi do not need as much sleep as humans.”

“Still, I don’t want you feeling tired, so that you’re distracted while out hunting and get hurt,” she says.

Warmth fills me at her words. I love that she cares what happens to me. I cradle the side of her head. “I will take care so that I do not get injured. You have my vow.”

“Thank you.” Astrid leans into my touch for a single beat of my heart, but then she draws slightly back. Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, I drop my arm to my side.

“It is nearly time for the midday meal. If you are feeling up to it, I thought perhaps we could eat at the central fire with any other tribespeople who have remained inside the village.”

“I’m still going to be sore whether I keep laying in this bed or if I move around, so I might as well get up.”

“Would you like another dose of burim root before you head out?” Sage asks.

Astrid shakes her head. “If that’s the stuff that tastes like shit, I’ll pass, but thank you. The con of making me so sleepy outweighs the pain relief benefit at the moment. Maybe later, though, if that’s okay?”

“Of course. Just let me or Kyler know when you want some, and you’ll get it.”

“Thank you.” She swings her legs over the side of the platform, and I offer my hand to help her down.The drop is a little ways since the beds are built Tavikhi-size and not human-size.

Once she’s steady on her feet, we walk outside. The sun is hidden behind what the humans call a cloud, but it is still a pleasant day, with a warm breeze that blows in from the bari field. The scent of the meal flies with the wind, and I breathe in the delicious aroma.

“I spoke with the shefir about this divorce. He offered some counsel that I would like to speak with you about.”

Astrid stumbles slightly, but manages to right herself before I can assist. “You did? When?”

“While you were resting. He has been our leader for many seasons and I trust him with all things.” Zander follows in his baba’s footsteps. Djentar was a great leader. His son is an even better one.

“What did he say?” she asks in a wary tone.

I glance around at the small number of people who travel toward the central fire as well. Astrid and I should speak privately. “Would it be all right if we discussed it after we ate, when we are alone?”

She appears to want to disagree, but finally she nods. “That’ll probably be better.”

“All will be well, keeshla . You shall see.”

Astrid smiles, but it is clearly strained. We arrive at the fire, where the midday meal is already being served and join the short line of people who wait to get their food. I observe my mate while she, in turn, observes the village. We encountered a few people earlier when we walked from the training arena to the food stores tent back to the healer’s tent. Not as many as have gathered, although it is about half of the total number of Tavikhi and humans that live here.

The ones who aren’t here are hunters, out searching for meat to bring back, while others are scouts and patrols that protect and watch our borders for any potential intruders. Zander increased their numbers after the Njeri attacked and kidnapped one of the human females at the end of the cold season.

The more people who arrive, the closer Astrid moves to my side, and the more uneasy she appears. I bend down so I may speak quietly to her without being overheard.

“Is something wrong? You appear unsettled.”

She glances up at me. I could lose myself in her eyes. “I’m just not used to being around this many people anymore. I don’t want to do anything wrong.”

“There is nothing you can do wrong, I am sure of it. But if you are uncomfortable, we can return to the healer’s tent and eat our meal in there.” My mate should not have to spend any time being worried.

“No. I need to learn how to be around people again,” Astrid says. “I want to make friends.”

“Then you will make friends.”

“You don’t know that.”

I pause because there is a hint of…irritation? “The females here are all friends and sisters. I am sure they will welcome you as their newest friend and tribe sister.”

We move forward in line, but when I glance back, Astrid has remained behind and she stares at me. I return to her. “Is all well, keesh ?—”

“Please stop calling me that. And please stop trying to make everything sound perfect and so matter-of-fact. Like you know all the answers, and nothing could possibly go wrong just because you declare it.”

I am taken aback by her words. But I am more taken aback by the way she braces herself the moment she closes her mouth. As if she thinks I will punish her for her outburst.

“Forgive me, kee —Astrid.” I am not sure what has stoked her anger. “I did not mean to offend you.”

She blows out a breath and slowly shakes her head. “Grady would pretend everything was perfect, when it wasn’t. He would state something like it was fact and I was just supposed to believe him. Well, I don’t trust perfect. I don’t trust blanket statements as though that’s the end of it. Not anymore.”

Astrid places her hand on my arm. “I really want to trust you, Evren. I do trust you. At least as much as I can trust anyone. But when you try to make it appear as though everything is perfect, I question my judgment.”

My shoulders drop in defeat. I have done a disservice to my mate. “You are right. Nothing in life is perfect and I should not make it seem as though it is so. Thank you for being honest with me regarding your feelings. I would ask for your forgiveness. If you grant it, I shall strive to do better.”

“I forgive you.”