Neutral Space(22)

“That’s how you thought of that name so quickly.” I grabbed her and stole a kiss it was the first since she confessed. She kissed me back and lingered in my arms. “What was that about someone loving me?”

“I do, but you won’t hear me repeat it until you say the same.” She pulled away as if she were mad at me and sat down at the controls.

“Kheda, who’s Kelta?”

“Our god.”

I looked at her surprised. “I never heard you call him by name before.”

“We do not speak his name in front of outsiders.” She looked down then at me.

“But I am an outsider.”

Kheda took my hand, “Not to me, Jackson. Over the past few months, you’ve shown more devotion to me than any of my own people.”

“Kheda…” I was going to tell her I loved her then, but the mood was all wrong. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. “thank you.” I said stupidly then cursed myself.

We landed at the edge of a lush forest beside a small house. There was a vegetable garden growing out front and some kind of vineyard on the hills north of the home. An older woman came outside. She was as tall as Kheda with the same blonde hair and blue eyes. But her hair was longer and fell in a braid down her back. She wore a white dress that blew in the breeze. A man came out and stood beside her. He was big, even for a Kelsairan, and was nearly seven foot tall. His hair and eyes were both dark, and he looked like he’d just been discharged from the military. I stared at Kheda worried.

“That’s just uncle Tam. He won’t hurt you but let me go first to warn them.” She moved ahead of me.

“You have to warn them?”

“How would your family respond?” I nodded then understanding. She ran out to greet them, and her uncle scooped her up like she was still a little girl. Her aunt hugged her as well happy to see her. They looked at her then peered around to the ship. Kheda waved me out. I took a deep breath and went to meet them.

“He’s big for a human, Kheda,” I heard her uncle say.

“I thought the same of you when I saw you,” I said in Kelsairan and surprised him. “I hope we can be friends.”

Her uncle smiled “This one’s funny,”

“I’m Jackson,” I said introducing myself.

“I’m Tam, my wife Sai.”

“Well, come on in dinner isn’t going to cook itself.” Aunt Sai ushered us in.

Uncle Tam grabbed my arm “I’m going to show him the vines.” He called to his wife.

“You behave,” she called back.

Tam took me to the hills, and I was surprised to see grapes growing. “Where did you get these?”

“The original plants were brought before the war began. I’m one of the only Kelsairans that can make wine. Granted, our tastes are a little different from yours, but the Kelsairans like it just the same. I get quite a premium.” He sat down in the dirt and waited for me to do the same. “What kind of trouble are you two in?”

“You don’t want to know I think it’s better you not get involved.”

“What did you have to do to escape Kras?”

“Kheda didn’t think you would know.”

“Sai doesn’t, but I have a monitor in my workshop. I saw her trial, and I’m assuming your Jeep.”

“Sir, nothing happened between her and me.”

“I know,” he pulled off a grape inspected it then popped it in his mouth. “I know my niece better than that. Besides, that recording was horrible. So how much trouble are you in?”

“A lot, Kheda stands convicted of treason.” Tam nearly choked on another grape. “The army was killing human civilians, and she wanted to put a stop to it.”

Tam nodded. “That’s my niece. What are you going to do now?”

“Find her brother for a ship and money then retrieve some papers she thinks can help end the war.”

“Do you really think so?” He tilted his head.

“No, but what choice do we have?” I didn’t think she had a chance in hell of ending the war. We didn’t have any other options though so we had to try.

“Ah, I see now. You know there are others that have made it work despite the war.” He sat back.

“Others, but not the Major Trekes,”

“She is just Kheda now.” Her uncle pointed out as he got up. “Come on let’s go see where Aya is.”

Her uncle found out where Kheda’s brother was by searching the entertainment news and we headed back to the house. It was just in time too Kheda, and her aunt were setting the food on the table. “Can you eat Kelsairan food?” her aunt asked.

“I’m willing to try it; it looks wonderful,” I told her. Aunt Sai looked to Kheda and smiled.

“You two go wash up. I know you’ve been playing in the dirt.” Aunt Sai scolded us as we tried to sit down.

Her uncle showed me where I could wash up, and I asked if he had a razor, of course not, Kelsairans didn’t need to shave. He did give me an extremely sharp knife that made quick work of my beard. I came back out, and both women smiled in approval. I tried a little bit of everything and had no idea what I was eating although I liked it all. Kheda watched me close wondering how I would react to particular dishes. I’m confident she thought I’d hate it. Her aunt seemed pleased though, and her uncle was jolly company. We laughed throughout dinner and well past dessert.