Haven 4 AVOW - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,32

surely all peeved beyond reasoning as they worked still in the fields of Ph‘eel’s family’s farm.

“Ko’San, we have news of your brother,” an older woman’s voice announced on the tablet Ph‘eel held aloft for him to see.

Ko’San’s excitement at being called to his mate’s side crashed and burned at his feet as he realized his own mother was the cause of his mate summoning him. “Greetings, Mother.”

“Did you hear what I said, Ko’San?” his mother asked.

“Yes, Mother. I did. What news have you?” he asked, obligated to do so.

“He is still aboard that ship,” his mother snapped.

“Yes, Mother. He is a General, assigned to that ship. It is under his command,” Ko’San answered.

“It is an embarrassment to our people. He does not serve our family, he does not serve our people! Instead he serves a military that is not even associated with our day-to-day welfare,” his mother grouched.

“The Cruestaci keep our planet safe, Mother. He serves their military, which in turn is serving us,” Ko’San explained. He’d had this same conversation each time his mother remembered how humiliated she was at Lo'San leaving them, and turning his nose up at their entire way of life. He didn’t care much what his brother did. He was very thankful Lo'San had left them. It cleared the way for him to be chosen as Ph‘eel’s mate in his stead. He’d always desired Ph‘eel, even as a younger male, and was thrilled when Lo'San had refused her, leaving him to be her next choice, after a suitable period of time, of course.

“I do not wish to hear of your opinions on the matter,” his mother snapped. “Ph‘eel, I would think you would have taught him better by now,” she said, changing the focus of her attention to Ph‘eel.

“He is usually much better opinionated,” Ph‘eel responded.

“Is there more? I am needed in the fields,” Ko’San said, irritated that he’d been called to answer yet again for the behavior of his brother. He’d loved his brother once upon a time, and been thankful that he’d refused Ph‘eel to follow his own path, but what he hated, and what had become a growing resentment was that Ph‘eel, and his mother, always seemed to find a way to make him pay for the sins of his brother. No matter how loyal he was to their family, no matter how he stood at Ph‘eel’s side, no matter what position she found herself in, he was always reminded that his brother had humiliated her and their family. Then they’d both made it abundantly clear that they were each reminded of Lo’San from time to time when they looked upon him. He couldn’t help that he looked almost like a twin of Lo'San.

But the nail in the coffin of his resentment toward his brother had been when Ph‘eel had called out Lo’San’s name when they were mating. It didn’t happen every time, but it was often enough that he no longer believed her explanation that he’d heard her wrong. He knew she’d said Lo’San, not Ko’San and that was the part that made him angriest of all.

“Yes, there is more. He has taken a mate. He thinks to mate with one of the Cruestaci! How can he conceive of such a thing?!” his mother said, as though she was flabbergasted at the mere thought.

“He has been disinherited by our family, Mother. He is no longer on Eschina, and no longer affects our family or anyone living on Eschina. Why does it matter who he mates, or what he does? He is no longer of our people!” Ko’San said, his voice rising with his anger.

“Ko’San! Do not speak to your mother in such a way! It is dreadful behavior that I will not tolerate!” Ph‘eel said, rising to her feet.

Ko’San trained his gaze on his mate and simply stood there, waiting to see what he’d be accused of next. It seemed that more and more Ph‘eel was holding him responsible for his brother refusing her claim, and his mother blamed him for Lo’San leaving the fold of their family.

“We’ve decided that it would be to our benefit to visit Lo’San aboard his home. As you’ve stated, he is in somewhat of a position of power, and we should pay homage to that at least. One never knows when it will be necessary to access his position,” his mother said tactfully.

“There is nothing he can do for you, that I can’t do!” Ko’San objected.

Ph‘eel leaned the tablet against the window sill so that