Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) (24 page)

The room they entered was a huge square. The ceiling soared three stories above her head. Opposite her was a high bench with five chairs behind it, and a cleared area in front of it. Rows of seats surrounded the room on the other three sides.

Thorn led Daria to the cleared area in front of the bench. There were two three-foot round pads on the floor. He led her to one of them. "Step on this and stay there."

She examined the pad then complied. The room looked like a courtroom on Earth, except the suspect, her in this case, didn't sit at a table with a lawyer.

"Has my father told you about the testimony sensor?" Thorn asked.

"Testimony sensor?"

"Yes. The plate you're standing on. It's a sensor. If you lie, we'll know it."

"It's a lie detector?" she asked, staring down at the pad beneath her feet. She wasn't sure she liked this, as it was a violation of her rights. Wasn't it? "Is it on now?"

"Yes."

"Ask me a question." Daria looked up at him, and saw him grin before he asked her age. "Thirty," she said, and immediately heard a soft beeping sound coming from the direction of the high bench.

"Ask another one."

Before he could, Eirik and the other Council members entered the room and took their places behind the bench. Thorn joined his parents and Soren in the first row of seats behind her. Ronin and Dag sat behind them. Daria faced the bench and studied the men behind it. Eirik sat in the middle with two men on either side of him. They all wore the same serious expressions. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself for their questioning.

The man to Eirik's right introduced himself as Ruler Thorson then asked her to state her name and age.

"Daria Zane. I'm twenty-six."

"Explain the events which happened on Earth that brought you to us."

Taking a deep breath, Daria began explaining her job and the call she'd received about the missing women in the D.C. area. She described the men who had killed Emma and told them how she'd been forced to hide from them until she'd decided to contact Ambassador Eirikson."

"Tell us how you got aboard the Invincible."

Daria recited her actions on the day she'd left Earth.

Afterwards, the Council members conferred with each other for a few minutes.

"Daria Zane was it your intention to spy on us when you boarded the Invincible."

"No. "

"Explain this notebook to us." Thorson held up her notebook as he spoke.

"As I told you, I hid in one of the vacant quarters and I didn't have anything to do to pass the time. After I met Dane and Dev Thornson, I asked them to bring me some books and viewing discs to pass the time. I took the notes out of habit."

"Did you take them with the intention of writing about us for your newspaper?"

"Yes," she told them, knowing if she lied they would know it.

"Even though you knew we had forbidden this?"

"Yes, but I was hoping to receive permission from Ambassador Eirikson for the articles." She held her breath, then sighed with relief when the buzzer didn't sound.

Thorson smiled knowingly at her, then asked, "If you had not received permission would you have written the articles anyway?"

Daria thought for a moment, then told them, "Not if he made me promise not to write them or tell anyone about Zarronia."

When the buzzer remained silent, Ruler Thorson sat down and conferred with the other Rulers. After a few moments, he stood and said, "Daria Zane, there will be no charges of spying."

Daria had never been so relieved in her life. Smiling, she thanked them. She glanced at Eirik, wondering if she should leave now. He smiled at her, then stood.

"Daria, we have a problem we're hoping you can help us solve."

"If I can help you, I will," she said, puzzled. What could she do that they couldn't do for themselves?

"We've decided that it is time to begin informing your people about our planet and our lives. We need someone intelligent to help us. Someone who knows and understands the people of Earth. We believe that you are that person."

"You do?" she squeaked, as excitement rushed through her.

"Yes. We want you to begin 'reporting' from Zarronia. We want you to describe our planet, our homes, and our lives."

"That's wonderful," she said with a small excited laugh. She was going to make history and be the first reporter to write about another planet from that planet.

"There are three conditions," Eirik said.

"Yes?"

"First, you will not, in any way, refer to the fever or our need for compatible females."

Daria nodded. "I agree."

"Second, the people of Earth are not to be told that we only have sons."

"Yes. I agree."

"Third, everything you write will have to be approved by the Council before it is sent to Earth."

Daria smiled, then nodded. She'd been expecting this condition, so she wasn't surprised by it. "Yes. I agree."

"Excellent! Until this situation with the Witvians is solved you may use the viewing screen in Ambassador Eirikson's home to gather information. Later, we will arrange for you to tour Zarronia."

"I'd like that. A lot," Daria said.

"One week from today we will summon you again. At that time, you will present us with an agenda concerning the articles you will write for us. We want you to begin with the geography and general wildlife of Zarronia."

Ideas were running through her mind. She'd write about the planet first, then begin narrowing the subject to specifics about the people. Absently, she nodded.

Eirik and the other Rulers hid their smiles. "Daria," Eirik called for her attention.

"Yes," she answered, absently, her mind on the articles.

"You are dismissed."

Blushing, she nodded, thanked them again and moved off the truth sensor. Thorn came to her, took her arm and escorted her from the building. Soren and Lia walked behind them, as Ronin and Dag took the lead. Looking at them, it finally dawned on Daria that they were there for her protection.

"Where's your father?" she asked Thorn.

"He has some business at the Council Building with Grandfather and the Rulers," Thorn mumbled.

"Concerning the Witvians and ZL3?" she asked.

"Yes."

Daria nodded, knowing that he wouldn't tell her anything more as he'd told her that it was now considered 'warriors' business' and she was out of it. Daria worried about Marie and her co-workers for a moment then reassured herself that they were alright as they were being protected by the Zarronians.

The Council's offer was a dream come true, and she could hardly wait to begin planning her writing agenda. Not only would she get to report on the biggest story of the century, but she knew that her friends would also know that she was alive as well. Would the people of Earth ever know about the Witvians, she wondered.

When the ZL3 had first shown up the police had suspected the Zarronians of distributing it and taking the missing women. Daria hadn't believed it as the females of Earth were more than eager to go with the warriors and travel to Zarronia. Even knowing they would never have any contact with Earth again hadn't deterred them.

When they arrived at the house, Daria hid a yawn behind her hand then excused herself. Before she could begin climbing the steps Thorn grasped her arm. "I want to talk to you. In the garden."

"Not now," she told him, sleepily. "I'm going to take a nap."

"You can sleep later. Right now we need to talk." He kept his voice low so Ronin and Dag wouldn't overhear him. As his mother stepped through the door with Soren, he said, "Daria and I are going for a walk in the garden."

Daria accurately identified his warning look. Peeved, she shook his hand from her arm and strode through the hallway to the back door and stepped into the garden. Thorn was right behind her.

"What's so important that it couldn't wait?"

"We need to talk." Thorn placed his hand on her back, urging her up the steps and into the arbor.

"About what?" She sank onto one of the benches.

"The Council's offer. You can't accept it."

"Oh, yes, I can. I'm not giving up the chance of a lifetime just because you don't like it."

Impatiently, he sat down next to her. "What will you do with your baby? Take it with you?"

"She, not it, and I'm sure there are females who work on Zarronia. I'll do what they do."

"They have family, mentors or friends who take care of their children. You don't."

"I'm sure your parents will help me make arrangements." She frowned. "You've made it clear you don't believe the baby is yours so I don't really think this is any of your business."

"I'm just pointing out the obvious, but you're right about my parents. For some reason they feel responsible for you."

Standing, Daria glared at him. "Maybe they just like me." She went down the steps then turned back to him. "I'll take care of my daughter and you can mind your own damn business."

"No cursing." He had to raise his voice so she'd hear him as she walked away. "I'm not going to tell you again."

Soren stepped out of the den as Daria entered the house.

"Your brother is a moron," she said as she moved by him.

"Finally, someone who agrees with me," Soren said, then chuckled. "Can I get you anything?"

"Uh, no. Thank you, Soren."

"What about some juice? Or, some fruit?"

Daria laughed. "Does everyone in the house know I'm supposed to fatten up?"

Smiling, he took her arm and escorted her into the den and seated her in one of the high backed chairs next to Ronin then left. She returned Ronin's smile then looked toward Dag who straddled a chair from the table with his arms folded along the back. She stared at him for a moment then mirrored his expression and his frown became a glare.

"How are you feeling, Daria," Ronin asked.

She crossed her legs. "Fine, thank you."

"Remember she's bonded to Thorn, Ronin," Dag said.

Ronin sent her a regretful grin then chuckled. "If I'd seen you first you'd belong to me."

"Somehow I can't see you as the settling down type," she teased. He was a handsome and charming rogue. The female he eventually chose as a bondmate would spend the rest of her life protecting him from the rest of the female population.

"Maybe you could have been the female to change that."

Daria laughed. "No way! I know when I'm out of my league."

Soren returned while they were laughing, gave them an inquiring look, and set a tray on a table. "Sounds like I missed the joke," he said while handing her a glass of juice and a small bowl of bite-sized bread rolls.

Dag leaned forward and snagged a tankard of ale for Ronin then took one for himself. Daria lifted a bread roll, sniffed it and took a small nibble.

"It's bread with herbs and cheese," Soren said.

"It's good. What button do you push on the processor to select it?"

"B2T6," he said. "Mother has posted a list of foods next to the processor for you."

"That's very kind of her," Daria said.

Soren smiled. "Are you pleased with the Council's offer?"

"Yes. Very pleased. I've been worrying about how I was going to earn a living on Zarronia." She smiled. "How is a person paid here?"

"In credits like on Earth," Ronin said.

"That's great. I'll be able to take care of myself and the baby." She took a bite, chewed it then asked, "How do you take care of elderly people?"

"They receive a pension and are valued as advisors," Ronin said. "You won't have to worry about taking care of yourself and the baby. Thorn will take care of you."

"I'd rather take care of myself. It's what I'm used to doing."

Thorn entered the room and pulled a chair up next to her.

She ignored him and asked, "What about orphans? How are they taken care of?"

"There aren't any orphans on Zarronia," Thorn said. "Children are protected and loved here. When a child is born, two mentors are chosen for him. If anything happens to his parents the mentors raise him."

"Who are Dane's and Dev's mentors?" she asked, glancing at him.

Thorn met her eyes. "Dag and Ronin."

The boys had two of the oddest godfather's she could imagine. One never smiled and the other one never stopped. "Who are your mentors? Yours and Soren's."

"Dag's father and Ronin's father."

"Does every child have two mentors?" she asked, wondering if she would have to choose mentors for her child.

"Yes. Even the foreigners who live on Zarronia are required by law to choose mentors for their children."

"So I'll have to choose two mentors for my baby?" she asked.

"No, Thorn will do it," Ronin said.

Daria didn't want to start another argument with Thorn so she changed the subject. "On Earth when a person works for the government they're paid with credits paid by the citizens through a tax system. Where do the credits come from that the Council uses to pay people?"

"Zarronia is a rich planet, Daria. We have resources here that are found nowhere else in the universe," Ronin said.

"But, aren't you afraid they'll run out?" she asked, thinking about the situation Earth was in after decades of waste.

"No," Thorn said. "The sources replenish themselves." When she started to ask him how, he asked her, "Weren't you going to take a nap before dinner?"

"Yes." Daria set the glass and bowl on the tray and rose. "Thank you for the food, Soren." After smiling at Ronin, and frowning at Dag and Thorn, she trolled from the den, her hips swaying from side to side.

Ronin watched until she disappeared. Grinning, he said to Dag, "You were right. She's the kind of female who can make a warriors' fever blaze."

Dag choked on his ale, as Soren jumped to his feet. "Ronin, let's go out into the garden for a moment."

Puzzled, Ronin glanced at him, then at Dag. "Why?"

"Sit down, Soren," Thorn said calmly. Too calmly.

Soren glanced at him, sighed and dropped back into the chair.

"Ronin, Daria is wearing my bands and you will not speak of her, at all, ever. Do you understand?"

"Sure, Thorn," Ronin agreed. "I didn't think you'd care since you haven't claimed her and you're not claiming her baby."