Sarai, стр. 33

Eled thentook it upon himself to chime in helpfully, “Jamie, some of thewarriors will think you are ownerless.”

“And they’dbe right,” Jamie roared. “Nobody owns me.”

Exasperated,he tried to unhook the bands, but to no avail.

“That won’twork, Alekyn-sarai,” Eled was trying to be helpful again. “Thebands can only be opened by someone who isn’t wearingthem.”

Jamie losthis temper and swung his hands aggressively towards him. Eleddodged the blow, which landed on Bram standing beside him. Bramstaggered back and collided with Tig, who stood his ground andstared narrowed-eyed at Jamie.

“Alekyn,your sarai is misbehaving,” he said repressively.“Again.”

Jamie glaredat him and then at Alekyn. “I’ve told you before, humans don’t liketo be chained up. Unhook the bands now.”

Alekynsnorted. “Enough, Jamie — you wanted to see the king, but I don’twant to risk losing you in a challenge. The bands stay on whileyou’re in public.”

Jamie’s facereddened. “Take them off now.”

Alekyn shookhis head, sighing internally. His sarai had a real problem withsubmission. He tried again, saying slowly as if talking to a smallchild. “The bands have to be linked, and because we are going tothe palace where there will be many warriors, the bands will needto be joined to this.”

He produceda fine chain and proceeded to attach it to a small eye on the hook.For a moment there was a deathly silence, and then Jamie hissed,“Take it off now, right now! If you don’t, you can kiss goodbye anynotion of me ever cooperating with you ever again. I’ve told youbefore I will not be chained and hooked together in public like acriminal. Do you understand me? Plus I won’t tell you how toapproach the humans and that means your pardmates won’t ever findtheir sarai. “

Alekynglanced at Tig, who stared back at him, face now pale, eyebrowsraised. “A word privately?” he suggested. His pardmates noddedquickly. They retreated to the end of the ship.

Five minuteslater, after a frantic whispered conversation of which Jamie,craning his ears, heard only fragments — “He means it… he won’thelp unless …” — “We can’t let the humans die” — “I want my ownsarai, Alekyn, just not one as bad-tempered as yours…” — That wasBram, still rubbing his chest. Jamie grinned — and then Alekyn wasunhooking the bands.

“You willstay close to us, Jamie,” he said sternly. “Do youunderstand?”“

“Sure, no worries,” Jamie smiledsweetly at him and Alekyn felt himself melt. His sarai had himtotally wrapped around his little finger.

___________________________________

THEY LEFTTHE LANDING FIELD and with Alekyn holdinghis hand and Bram, Eled and Tig sticking close walked briskly alonga paved promenade lined with shops filled with exotic and beautifulthings. It was very like Altas in that respect, except Seft seemedto have even more aliens wandering about, but these were dressedformally and looking self-important. According to Bram, Seft’sspaceport included a void gate to the PanGal hub, a huge, heavilyguarded satellite at the center of the universe, so the place wasfull of diplomats and politicians, which probably explained theself-importance and air of privilege.

As in Altas,Jamie was the subject of a great deal of interest. While initiallyJamie was absorbed in studying his surrounds, eventually as theywalked through the crowds along the promenade leading to the palaceentrance he became aware that small pools of silence were growingand expanding around him and his pard.

It seemedworse than Altas, but he thought that might have been because ofhis heightened self-consciousness. Almost everyone seemed to stopand stare at him, and he began to feel acutely uncomfortable at thewhispers and covetous looks. Several Naferi, obviously known toClan Furis, approached the pard to ask questions ofthem.

That wasokay up to a point, but then a tall red-haired Keinyn, accompaniedby another Keinyn and a Naferi wearing a Naferi Starfleetcommander’s uniform, actually reached a hand out to touch his hair.Jamie flinched away — this was the first time since the attack onhis farm that he’d been anywhere near a Keinyn and he felt nervous;it would be a long time, he felt, before he could see a Keinyn andnot feel anxious.

Alekyn’s hand immediately went tohis sword. The Naferi commander stilled his companion’s aggressiveresponse with an easy gesture and then swung into a smart salute.Alekyn immediately responded, as did his pardmates. The Nafericommander smiled, though Jamie noticed it didn’t reach hisclose-set yellow eyes.

“Myapologies, Major Alekyn, Lord Smarx has seen many humans but, likemany of us, is fascinated by their beauty. I must say, sir, Icannot blame him.”

The Keinynstepped away, nodding, but his gaze remained fixed on Jamie. Italmost looked as if he was licking his chops, thought Jamie, like ahunting dog. He felt the sour rise of bile in histhroat.

Allies ofthe Naferi and members of PanGal or not, there was somethingoff aboutthe Keinyn, he decided.

Alekyn bowedhis head stiffly and the commander continued smoothly, “Your littlehuman is gorgeous, Major Alekyn. I saw many of them on my trip toEarth with the delegation. A stubborn but attractive species — wecouldn’t convince them to be sensible and accept our offer of aprotectorate. Still, at least this pretty thing is here. You’vebanded and formally claimed him? I can see he ispregnant.”

Huh? Whatthe hell did this guy mean by discussing Jamie as if he wasn’tpresent? Alekyn squeezed Jamie’s hand, stilling the words fightingtheir way to his lips.

“Greetings,Guesta. This is my sarai, Jamie Munroe.”

Jamieimmediately offered his right hand to Guesta who stared at it as iffascinated, but made no attempt to take it.

Then helaughed, the sound brittle and sharp. “My word,” he brayed, “he’sforward, isn’t he? You’ll have to train that out of him,Alekyn.”

Jamie pulledhis hand back quickly. “He won’t be training anything out of me,”he snapped. “Alekyn doesn’t own me. “

The yelloweyes staring at him were amused. “The bands you wear suggestotherwise, little human.”

Alekyntucked Jamie’s hand under his elbow, pushing him slightly behindhim. “Commander Guesta, my sarai is new to Naferi and our customsare unlike his own.”

Jamie felthis anger growing. Was Alekyn apologizing for him? He bridled andthen felt another gentle squeeze of Alekyn’s fingers against hisown. He subsided in time to hear Alekyn add, “I will formally claimJamie after we have visited his family.”

“Oh?” Guestasaid smoothly, “I don’t think so, Major Alekyn —