Rebels of Vulvar (Vulvarian Saga Book 2), стр. 4
“Cooke has declared himself Dabar,” Phaerl said.
“Military administrator?” I said.
Phaerl nodded. “I’m surprised you know the term. It was a male term not spoken on Vulvar since the time of males ended over six-hundred years ago.”
“I had a thorough teacher,” I said.
Phaerl continued the story, explaining the Goddess Queens had refused to intervene directly. Through the Chief Priestess, they communicated it was the responsibility of mortals to tend to their affairs, to crush the rebellion, and to restore order.
“What!” I said. “My teacher told me the Goddess Queens could remotely destroy whole cities if they wish.”
“Yes, it is supposed to be so,” Phaerl said. “But, for reasons known only to the Goddess Queens, they declined to oppose Cooke and his rebels directly.”
Phaerl finished her story, telling me the part I found most distressing last.
“Our spies that remain in Nisa have sent word that Cooke has set his sights on Thiva,” she said. “He plans to attack and subjugate Thiva next.”
“Preposterous,” I said. “Does not Thiva have the largest garrison of warriors in the region. Such a plan could not succeed.”
“It might,” Phaerl said. “At the urging of the Chief Priestess, the council sent a detachment of our warriors to Nisa to put down the rebellion, to arrest Cooke, and to restore the city leaders. The attempt failed.”
“Failed?”
“The size of the rebel force was underestimated. A superior number of rebels came out of the city against our warriors, ready to give battle. The rebels slew in battle many of the warriors of Thiva. Then they killed or captured our wounded.”
“What is the plan now?” I said.
“Your mother has sent out a call to other cities to send reinforcements, but it will take time for more warriors to arrive. Each council must vote and approve the request for aid. Many cities are distant, and the march is long. If Cooke moves soon, the reinforcements may arrive too late.”
“It sounds like a difficult situation,” I said. “Yet, I see no reason the Goddess Queens sent you to tell me all this.”
“The Goddess Queens again require your service.”
“My service?” I said bitterly. “I can imagine nothing I might do to affect the circumstances you’ve described. Besides, what is it to me? It’s a Vulvarian problem.”
Phaerl seemed saddened by my harsh words.
“Are you no longer one of us, Tobias Hart? You once saved my life. And, I helped save your life in the caverns of Saba.”
“Phaerl, we have faced death together,” I said. “I remain loyal to you, my friend. And, to others of your world. However, I feel no allegiance to your Goddess Queens who used me and then discarded me.”
Neither of us spoke for a time. The silence grew awkward.
“With great difficulty, I have rebuilt my life here,” I said. “I no longer feel an interest in returning to Vulvar.”
“It is your decision,” Phaerl said. “The Goddess Queens granted you freedom. They will not drag you back against your will.”
“Good,” I snarled. “I regret you have wasted your time coming here. But, I decline to serve the Goddess Queens again.”
Phaerl nodded, disappointment etched on her face.
“What of Idril?” I said. “You promised to speak of her, yet you have not.”
“Yes, I will now tell you of Idril. She commanded the warriors the council sent to restore Nisa. Idril fell wounded in the battle, and the rebels took her captive.”
I leaned forward in my chair, holding my head in my hands. After gaining control of my emotions once again, I slumped back in the chair in resignation. Everyone I cared for on Vulvar was at grave risk, the woman I loved with all my heart held prisoner.”
“What is it the Goddess Queens wish me to do?” I said with a sigh.
Phaerl smiled and then explained the mission.
4
Back on Vulvar
Once again, I found myself on Vulvar. I awakened naked in a field of wind-swept spelta. Spelta is a kind of grass whose fruit is a head of edible seeds. The plants have long slender leaves, stems that are hollow, and tops of multi-colored flowers. When fertilized, the flowers produce the edible seeds. The Vulvarians grind the seeds to make millet. They use the millet for the staple crusty brown bread and to make the hearty but tasteless gruel often served at breakfast.
I rose slowly to my feet. I stood for some minutes to let my muscles and senses grow accustomed to the environment. I was aware again of the higher gravity of the planet. But, I expected my body would soon acclimate to it since I’d experienced it before.
Late at night, in some remote park lands near the Mohawk River, north of my home, I had again entered that silver disk, which was the ship of the Goddess Queens used for the missions of acquisition. The Vulvarian sun had not yet reached its midpoint in the sky. It was late morning.
To the east, I saw the bluish shadows of mountains in the distance. I guessed them to be the Emigas Mountains east of Nisa. From the position of the mountains, I gathered my bearings and knew the direction I must take to walk to the city.
Looking down, I saw the familiar shiny silver tube once again in place on my genitals. The tube is a device comprising two parts, a cylindrical metal tube that encases the phallus, and a metal ring that encircles the base of the phallus and the testes. In terms of Earth, it is a chastity device. Once a medical technician places the ring on a male and attaches the cylindrical tube to it with a magnetic locking device, the male cannot remove the device as it requires a unique unlocking tool kept by his owner. Vulvarians lock the tube onto all males used for breeding. It prevents self-pleasuring and makes copulation with a female impossible.
Touching my neck, I felt the