This foolishness is corrupting what a’sankhii are and how we are meant to serve,” he snarled, spittle flying.
The growl that broke from Rhyst echoed through the room as he leaped forward, his body coming dangerously close to ramming the other male.
“I challenge you, Vash, for the position as head of the a’sankhii! And to demand satisfaction for your insult to my mate.”
The male’s eyes widened, his orb spinning in confusion. “What do you mean by this? You are not an elder. An elder has always held the honored position as the head of the a’sankhii. You do not yet possess the experience and wisdom to lead!”
“In light of your decisions, I contend that you possess neither to dare such insult as you have,” Rhyst rebutted angrily.
“The challenge is not necessary,” Fa’suh interrupted. He stepped down from the throne, eyes fastened on Vash. “Vash is an elder, and as such he is respected and is no longer a warrior such to be able to fairly answer a challenge.”
Vash bowed his head with a fawning smile. “Thank you, my king. You will see that—”
“I am not finished,” Fa’suh snapped, startling the male. “You were right to assume that I have no problem making adjustments during my rule that may defy tradition, but changes in circumstances sometimes demand re-evaluation and judgment. In light of your dishonorable and traitorous actions, I am stripping you of the honored position of head of the a’sankhii.”
Vash’s eyes widened in dismay, and the king lowered his voice to speak in an earnest, forthright manner. “Let this decision not bring you any grief. It does not reflect ill on the service that you have provided during all the solars you have stood by my side, and by my father before me. I thank you for the service you provided. These circumstances merely require a different perspective.”
“The offworlders are going to destroy everything we have built within our civilization,” Vash muttered as his shoulders sagged and head bowed in defeat.
Cha’lii crept forward around Rhyst, her hand outstretched. Rhyst turned toward her, seeking to move her away from the male if necessary, his every muscle hard with tension. She gave him a look that told him in not so many words to keep calm as she stepped in front of him to address Vash.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t want to change your society. I think the changes that are here are things that have been brewing, as Ag’hana demonstrated. They’re small changes that could be for the better… but that isn’t my place to judge.” She hesitated, her lips pressing together. “I just don’t want my people to die. At this rate, whatever they’ve been exposed to is going to kill them, or they will die slower by starvation. I want to save my people—not hurt yours.”
Vash grunted, for the first time addressing her directly. “You may not wish to harm our society, but your presence will change us, whether we agree or not… But perhaps you are right that change was coming regardless.” He swept a hand through his mane. “I fear for what is to come,” he stated. “But thankfully whatever future we will see will no longer be under my authority. With your leave, my king, I would depart.”
Fa’suh inclined his head, and Vash spun away, stalking silently to the doors, exchanging no further words, his grizzled head held proud. At Vash’s departure, Fa’suh’s eyes fell sternly on Rhyst.
“I will not make the mistake of giving you an unearned station, Rhyst. Select five males from those on guard rotation and take a shuttle to escort you to the lower mountains outside of the boundaries of this colony. Take two droids to be certain you can maintain communication with the palace. Prove the sort of leader you can be…” His voice dropped off as an alarm sounded.
Rhyst’s tail snapped away from his body, the spines up tail and back rising at the ruckus. Within two steps, his body curled protectively around Cha’lii as his orb eye scanned his surroundings for any hint of danger. The king raced back to his throne, his hand grazing over his orb.
“Report!”
Rhyst could make out the weak voice from the short distance he stood away from the throne as the male at the other end of the transmission spoke in a rushed voice. “King Fa’suh’teln, a small alien scouting party has been spotted by the a’sankhii on guard. They are moving closer to the city as they press into the mountains.”