Daughter Of Ethos: Deadly Betrayal Book 5 Read online

  Hawk asked. ‘Brother, what can I do to help?’

  Reeve shrugged as he had seen his brother do. ‘I am a Battlemaster and have warred for many yentas. I was second to our brother The Elite, since before I was birthed. Now I am unsure what place I should hold in this new Armee.’ He took a breath and murmured. ‘I feel I have no value. It is an uncomfortable position I find myself in.’

  A growl of such anger was heard in the room as Rage’s voice rumbled across their minds. Do not allow those feelings to enter your needar my large friend. Your value is as a member of our Pride. Remember, our Beloved works hard to make us believe that we all have value. We will find your new position and you will make it your own.

  Hawk said. ‘I second that sentiment.’

  ‘As do we all.’ Marlo confirmed.

  Reeve looked at the large Prowler and nodded. ‘Thank you, my friend. I rescind what I said, it still leaves me with no position.’

  My friend, we will work on this together. Rage assured him, and the others agreed.

  Reeve nodded as Darby took his hand. ‘We will get there, my mate. It just takes time?’

  ‘I know my heart.’

  ‘Alright,’ Marlo stated, ‘we will see what can be done. But for now, Rage you will see to the Prowlers and discover their hesitation in helping with the kits.’

  Believe me, I will, we are to have a meeting to clear up the misunderstanding. Which is what I choose to call it?

  Fanharr said demurely. Thank you, my mate.

  Which lightened the atmosphere even more, when everyone laughed at her tone.

  FOURTEEN:

  Esther said to Melody. ‘Well, my girl, that leaves you.’

  ‘It does, does it?’ She said as Coraan stiffened beside her.

  ‘My Melody does not need any of you to arrange her life for her.’

  ‘Oh wing man, you know nothing.’ Netta told him. ‘Of course she does. We need to know what she intends to do. She is either Tocho or Commander and unfortunately doing both has not worked, has it my sister?’

  Melody sighed as she told Netta. ‘I hate you right now.’

  Which made most of the people present laugh. She frowned at Netta and said. ‘But in saying that, Miss, I have it all together.’ Which earned her a snort from Netta. ‘It is not working, but I refuse to let her go… let you all go without me and yet my life needs to be here as well. I will have to decide, I know, but it is so very hard.’

  Helen agreed and everyone could hear the sympathy in her voice when she said. ‘And yet the Stars say you have to choose.’

  ‘I know.’

  Marlo said. ‘They seemed to think no matter what you choose, you are important to the Universe.’

  Brenda bristled a little at that. ‘We did not need the Stars to tell us that.’

  ‘No, of course not.’ He assured her.

  Netta grinned at the couple then said. ‘Your gift needs to be trained Melody, and as a Warrior you know without honing your skills they diminish.’ Netta’s eyes were serious as she asked. ‘Unless this is what you want?’

  Melody closed her eyes. ‘I do not know, maybe I do.’

  ‘I see.’ Netta felt sorry for her sister, she could see how confused she was. ‘Well, if I may give you some unsought for advice.’

  Melody opened her eyes. Coraan was relieved to see they held a smile. ‘Unsought… as if that would stop you, so hit me with it. An expression, my love.’ She said to Coraan when he tensed.

  Netta grinned. ‘I say explore your gift, it was given to you for a reason and not to be trapped on world. I believe you are meant to go out and find Prowlers and mates for our people. To seek the ones that are hidden or those without a voice.’

  ‘And I think,’ Esther said, ‘your gift was given to you. So you can command others to show them the way. We need matches and we need them quickly.’

  ‘Oh... oh! Coraan, this is exactly what you have being saying.’

  ‘It is.’ He folded his arms and sat back. ‘It seems I was incorrect, sometimes family knows best.’

  They looked at him with surprise and Darby snickered. ‘Someone has been watching vids.’

  ‘I neither confirm nor deny that.’ He stated and Rage laughed.

  Kerol smiled. ‘I have an idea.’

  ‘And what would that be, my friend?’ Netta asked as she grinned at him.

  He raised an eyebrow as he stated. ‘It seems to me we are overlooking a solution to the problems.’

  Marlo asked Kerol. ‘Really, and what would they be?’

  ‘Melody resigns her commission as second Commander and Reeve takes up the commission.’

  Helen smiled at Kerol. ‘Very clever. Melody, you would get the time to explore your gift and find out what else you can do with it.’

  ‘You could go off world whenever you wished without feeling guilty, that you are letting anyone down.’ Netta finished for Helen.

  Melody sighed, she knew she was going to do as Kerol proposed. But it was just so hard to let go of someone she had been for a greater part of her life.

  As though they were the only two people in the room, Coraan raised her hand to his lips, his eyes only for her. ‘I understand your thoughts, you think you will be diminishing who you are. You think Melody is the uniform she wears.’

  She smiled as he spoke what she believed so accurately, cupping his cheek she said. ‘I have been a Warrior since I was very young, it is all I am, all I know.’

  Helen went to speak, but Brenda placed her hand on her arm, silencing her words. Coraan smiled as he kissed her hand again. ‘And yet you are now a mate and bonded, a sister and daughter, friend and Tocho. So many Melody’s, how does allowing one Melody to go, diminish who you are?’

  She laughed and shook her head. ‘It does not, you are so very wise, my love and also right.’

  ‘I am, it is the wings.’ He smiled as she laughed again. Then kissed him right in front of everyone before whispering. ‘No, it is because you know my heart and needar so well.’

  ‘As you know mine.’

  She smiled and looked at her family and friends. They could see the clouds were gone from her eyes as she said. ‘Hawk, my Commander, my brother, will you accept my resignation?’

  ‘Sadly I will, you have forever been an inspiration and a loyal Commander.’

  ‘I am going nowhere, when you need advice, come see me.’

  He grinned. ‘I will.’ He looked up at his brother. ‘Brother, Melody has resigned. I find myself without a Second Commander, would you be interested?’

  Reeve’s face was grave, but his eyes sparkled with life as he inclined his head. ‘I would brother.’

  They both grinned like little boys as Darby squeezed his hand and Helen asked. ‘Melody luv, how can we help you with this gift of yours?’

  Jarrod said. ‘She needs to speak to my parents; confusion with gifts and discovering what a gift can do. Then deciding who and what type of training the gift needs is their specialty.’

  Marlo asked. ‘They are?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Melody smacked her forehead, causing a startled Coraan to ask. ‘Why did you do that?’

  ‘I forgot, I was meant to speak to Jarrod’s mother. Peyton told me she could help me.’

  Jorge nodded as he said. ‘That is true. I was there.’

  Melody pointed at him. ‘Do not mention my forgetfulness to Peyton.’

  Slyly, he asked. ‘What is in it for me?’

  Melody blew air out her nose and said. ‘We will talk later.’

  Jorge grinned as he whispered to Amelia. ‘I see chocolate in our future.’

  Which made her throw back her head and laugh.

  ‘Do you think your parents would like to set up shop?’ Brenda asked Jarrod.

  Trina was quick to explain the term to him and his brothers, who agreed. Jarrod nodded. ‘Most assuredly, they are bored and feeling superfluous.’

  ‘Oh, we cannot have that.’ Helen said with a shake of her head. ‘This is our fa
ult again. We have these wonderful, talented people here, and we are not utilizing them. How do we stop this from happening?’

  ‘We need a register.’ Willian responded. ‘We need someone to talk to people. To visit all the worlds and find people that are feeling undervalued and then decide how to help them.’

  They all looked at him as Brenda said. ‘You are right, and I have the perfect people to head that up.’ She turned to Harm. ‘Your cousin Varrain and her spouse, Luc. They asked me to find them work. Would you allow them to do this?’

  Harm grinned at her. ‘Dearle Brenda.’ They ignored Marlo’s growl. ‘I would not stand in their way, in any of our people’s way.’

  ‘Thank you, I will have them write a proposal and submit it. Now people, anyone you know who has ideas like this, needs to do the same. Submit them to Peyton.’

  Penny said. ‘I will make sure they are seen and acted on. One way or another. In fact, I will hire someone to look them over first.’

  Trina said, ‘I know of a perfect lady for that job, talk to me later.’

  ‘Will do.’

  Esther said. ‘Now to our present situation, we need to have her place cleaned. Ladies, we will need to see to that.’

  Heather said. ‘She will not wake, the Star Child is keeping her asleep. Patty and I will see to her and her bedding.’

  Esther smiled. ‘Alright and the kits can you bring them here please Harm.’

  He did so and placed them in front of Esther. She looked inside the basket. ‘They have hardly grown since I left.’

  Kate agreed with a worried frown. ‘They have not, they should be bigger by now.’

  ‘The problem.’ Esther told them. ‘Is that, these sweet little bundles of joy, were birthed and hidden. Placed in storage if you will for many a yenta until the Star Child or whoever brought them to us. So they are enjoying the attention and the cuddles and having a Mama.’

  She picked each of them up and held them at eye level, their eyes focused on hers. ‘Little Tuarillians, you cannot stay kits forever.’

  Want to.

  Not grow.

  Stay baby kit.

  Mama likes baby kit.

  ‘Oh, we know Mama loves baby kits but have you looked around at who else Mama enjoys. She loves the bigger kits too. Have you seen how they play and find pleasant things to eat? How they are brushed by your Mama and their Mama’s. How they get the most enjoyable tummy rubs from your Mama Star.’

  No, we have not seen this.

  We want tummy rubs.

  ‘Also, if you grow bigger, Bacon will teach you how to scent and find many special treats. Scout will show you how to be sneaky and play hide and seek. Pepper will show you how to get treats from her Mama Helen’s kitchen. Jade will let you share her Mama’s cookies, and I have heard that Knife’s Mama makes the best chocolate Prowler cookies.’

  Netta polished her nails on her top as she said. ‘This is true, I have been told that, and not just by Knife.’

  What are cookies?

  We want cookies.

  Esther continued listing what they were missing out on by staying small kits, as though they had not spoken. ‘The adult Prowlers like Rave and Midnight will teach you to run through tunnels and what caves are and how to hunt in them. Rage will show you how to be scary, so you can protect Mama Star. The other Prowlers will teach you to jump and play in the buildings the two leggers built just for Prowlers to train in.’

  They will?

  Want play.

  ‘You can learn to play but sweet kits, you must be bigger and you must have teeth and eat actual food. Just like Bacon and Knife and the other older Kits.’

  Mama Star still love us?

  ‘Yes.’

  Big Rave like us?

  ‘He will.’

  We see great Rage and pretty Fanharr when we grow?

  ‘Yes, and he will teach you to growl and roar.’

  We grow Omperea.

  ‘Good kits and you must tell your Mama your names?’

  We think.

  ‘Alright sweet kits, sleep now.’

  Kay.

  Kay.

  She placed the kits back in the basket and smiled. ‘That should do it.’

  ‘Esther, you are a wonder.’ Hawk bowed his head in respect.

  ‘Pfft! Common sense, really. Now do we all know what we are to do?’

  They all agreed, and she smiled saying. ‘Well, let’s get to it.’

  Reeve said. ‘We will take the children to our home.’

  Fanharr said. We will take the kits for a day or two, while they start growing.

  Everyone got up and started to wander away, but stopped when Trina asked. ‘Rage she is staying right, they won’t take her now?’

  He inclined his head. Kailee Trina, mate to the Kail, they will not. She will remain with us.

  ‘Okay, that is good.’ She asked. ‘Now what are these titles, Kailee and Kail?’

  Rage looked at Jarrod. He is and always has been the Kail. She will have no other. He needs to assume his position, as do you sweet lady. It is time and we have many here who need their Kail and Kailee.

  Trina sat down again, asking. ‘Okay Jarrod honey, is there something you need to tell me?’

  Bewildered, Brenda asked. ‘I am sure we would all like to know.’

  Trina’s eyes were fixed on Jarrod as she waited for him to explain. Rubbing his hands over his face he said. ‘What Rage is not so subtly referring to, is I have ascended. In your language I would be called a king and as my mate you are a queen?’

  ‘Say it is not so.’ She said horrified. ‘I have no abilities.’

  Jarrod took her hand in his and kissed the ring of Adee adorning her hand. ‘Oh my one, you have the ability to heighten people’s emotions. You give freely of yourself.’

  ‘That is not a gift, it is just being Terran.’

  ‘You are a ray of sunshine.’ Brenda told her. ‘We love you, dearle. There is not one person who does not.’

  ‘There are people who wish to be you, to have what you have, what you command in others.’ A smiling Jean confided.

  Bewildered, Trina looked around at the others who were smiling in encouragement. ‘What is that?’

  ‘Courage and happiness, just being near you causes our hearts and needars to lighten, to become bolder. If that isn’t an ability then I do not know what is?’ Alexx replied as the others nodded in agreement.

  ‘Look at you talking to the Star Child as though they are just regular people, calling them grandpa.’ Melody said with a grin.

  Trina blushed. ‘Oh well, yeah, now you say that, it does seem reckless.’

  ‘No, my one, it is just you.’ Jarrod told her.

  Darby said. ‘It is what makes you… you. Trina, who is not Netta and is loved.’

  ‘Oh Darby.’ Trina’s eyes teared up.

  Seeing the tears, Darby hurriedly explained. ‘Kailee is a term of respect, as is Kail. So wear them well, you both deserve the honor.’

  Malchol told them quietly. ‘What Jarrod is not telling you is that every Elder strives to reach this honor. Our histories state that in the lifetime of Yanarah, only two Elders have ever ascended to Kail.’

  Telfor gazed at his brother as though he had never seen him before and said reverently. ‘My brother, we are proud of you.’ Then he and Malchol both bowed deeply to Jarrod and Trina.

  Jarrod inclined his head. ‘We thank you both.’

  Melody asked. ‘So who gives these honors to you?’

  Jarrod sighed. ‘Only the Star Child at the request of their Son or Daughter can bestow the honor.’

  Trina asked. ‘So is that why we received the rings?’

  Jarod nodded thoughtfully. ‘I am thinking it is so.’

  ‘You did not know when you got them?’

  He looked into her eyes so she could see the truth of his words. ‘I thought it could be possible, but Peyton never said anything so…’ He shrugged.

  ‘You just forgot about it.’

 
; ‘Yes, something like that.’

  Esther said quietly. ‘You should know they are ordained positions. Given to those the Star Daughter and Star Child feel warrant them, as Avana and Melody were gifted with theirs.’

  Melody raised her eyebrows. ‘I have a title other than Tocho?’

  Brenda nodded. ‘Of course this is Maikonia.’ Which caused everyone to laugh.

  Melody asked. ‘So Esther what is it?’

  She smiled. ‘Tivna, on Earth we would say priestess. Tivna is as close to that as the translation can get. So your title is Tivna Melody, as Avana will be known as Sevna Avana.’

  ‘I see, so it looks as though I am taking that alternative career path after all.’

  Coraan asked. ‘Is this what you wish to do, Melody?’

  ‘It is not what I expected to be doing, but I am okay with it.’ She grinned up at him. ‘I am surrounded by people who love me. Another title to add to my name is a bonus.’

  ‘I am so not bowing to you, Miss Cat Whisperer.’ Darby told her as she walked by her with Keylan in her arms. While Reeve carried Rayvan over his shoulder.

  Melody picked up Draykin and said. ‘You will, if I deem you worthy too, Miss Data Drive.’

  ‘And they are away.’ Brenda laughed.

  ‘It was sweet while it lasted.’ Helen looped her arm through Coraan’s. ‘Come winged male. I have food for you.’

  ‘You know I have a name?’

  ‘And I have food, so hush now.’

  ‘Yes, Ma’am.’

  ‘You learn fast?’

  He smiled. ‘So I am told.’

  ‘Oh, he went there?’ Brenda said as they left the room after the bickering Melody and Darby.

  Hawk lifted Hope from the couch as he and Karen followed after Darby and Reeve. Trina was heard questioning Jarrod and his brothers as to how Esther would know about ordained people as they stepped into the lift.

  Before Jean, Zenerra and June stepped on to the lift, Esther called out to the three. ‘Oh ladies can you stay for a moment please.’

  They turned from the lift and walked to where she and Netta sat. Jean asked. ‘Lady Esther, what can we do for you?’

  ‘Ladies, it has come to our attention, we have neglected the three of you.’

  Puzzled, they looked at each other, then Netta and finally Esther, Zenerra asked. ‘How is that possible?’