Neutral Space(30)

She sighed, “Last I knew he was on Aran.”

“That’s a wasteland. Why is he there?”

“To live in harmony with Kelta is what he told my father, but personally I think it’s so no one bothers him,” I grunted, wondering if he’d be happy to see us. I went up to the cockpit to lay in the new coordinates and find a trade ship nearby. The closest on the new route was a week away. But Aran was another week and a half past that. When I told Kheda, she seemed a little disappointed but said it was all right. “So what do we do in the meantime?” she asked.

“You’re going to find a way to get controls to the cargo hold while I make room down there.”

“The cargo hold for what?”

“Combat training. You don’t really want to kick my ass in the middle of the kitchen, do you?”

“Interesting choice. I guess we would have had more options if we were married.” She teased.

“You never stop, do you?” She shook her head “Then I guess the question is: once we’re married, will you ever let me out of bed?” She shook her head again.

By the time I changed and moved around boxes to make space, Kheda had primary controls and audio fed to the cargo hold. It would be enough to warn us of any ships in range to fire on us or hail us. So far we weren’t being followed, but we couldn’t take any chances.

She came down the steps in a skin-tight black one piece with her hair slicked back. She checked for adequate space then moved in beside me. “I never thought I’d be doing this.”

“I bet you’ve said that a lot since you met me.” She smiled easily.

We started off slow as she showed me technique. It wasn’t so different from what I already knew so I picked it up quickly. She made me practice the same moves for hours before she was persuaded that I was ready to spar with her.

I was nervous, to say the least. Not only was this Major Trekes but I saw her drop six men including two Kelsairans. She moved to kick me in the chest, and I blocked. She tried to punch me, and I stopped her. Another punch blocked, and another kick. It was all I could do; she was too fast for me. Then, I saw an opening and tried to kick her, but she dropped me with a punch before I knew what was happening.

Kheda offered me a hand up, and I accepted. “Good.”

“Good. I didn’t touch you?” I scoffed.

“But I only hit you once. Some Kelsairans can’t manage that. We’ll keep working on it, but you have to move faster.”

“I’m never going to win a fight if I can’t hit my opponent.”

“And who are you going to fight, Jackson?” She put her hands on her hips.

“Someone has to have your back. You can’t do everything alone. You may be good, Kheda, but there’s always a chance they’ll get a lucky shot.”

“Always worrying,” She put her arm around me.

“Kheda I love you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“All right, then; we go again tomorrow.” Kheda kissed my cheek.





Chapter 12





A



week's worth of travel and combat training brought us to the trade station. By the time we reached the station, I still wasn’t able to touch Kheda. At least I was able to try now without getting hit. She merely blocked everything I threw at her it impressed her, but I still wasn’t happy.

Kheda poured through her journal when we weren’t training. Nothing inside it was useful. The only thing that we had the mysterious list. She got off the ship first, and I followed a short while later. I was sure to seal the door. I had the list I’d made as well as the necklace Aya gave me. It took several shops before I found one that sold them.

The Kelsairan behind the counter stared at me. I wandered around in the human jewelry, then the telaithan and finally ended up in the Kelsairan section. There was a blue and gold necklace there that I knew Kheda would like. I asked the owner to see a black one beside it first. He lifted it out of the case unhappily mumbling something. I eyed it over briefly and acted like I was going to walk away. Then I asked about the blue one. He brought it out not much happier. Then he really grumbled when I asked how much.

“Do you know what this is?” He put both hands on the case with an ugly scowl.

“A gift for the girl I’m going to marry,” I said calmly, and he eyed me for a moment before calming down.

“This is a dangerous thing; my people don’t like such unions.”

“It’s not up to your people. Will you take an even trade?” I pulled out the necklace Aya gave me and laid it on the counter.

His eyes lit up. “Where did you get this?”

“Her brother,”

“This is a finer piece than the one you picked. Come on, let’s see what we can find.” He waved me over to a different section.

He helped me pick out a necklace for Kheda that I knew she’d love. He took Aya’s piece as an even trade. I’m sure if I’d have mentioned Aya’s name I could have gotten more, but then I’d have risked revealing who I was with. The shop owner wrapped it in a small cloth pouch so I could hide it from Kheda and I went on my way. I got the rest of the stuff on my list and a few new shirts before heading back to the ship.

I was stopped on the way to my port by two Kelsairans. Both of them were taller than I was and wanted to cause trouble. I tried to move around them. They weren’t going to let me through. “I have no quarrel with you. Let me pass.”