Kate and the Kraken by Honey Phillips
Chapter Seventeen
Kate stared at the results of her experiment, her pulse racing. Could it be that simple?
She forced herself to go through the results again, then grinned and hurried back to the main house. A’tai was in his study as usual, but from the frown on his face, he was dealing with House matters rather than research for his paper.
“You don’t look happy,” she said as she entered the room.
“I’m happier now that you’re here.”
His smile sent a pleasant little ripple of warmth through her body.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Then come here and tell me.”
She went to him, but perched on the desk in front of him instead of sitting on his lap.
“It’s about the algae damage. I think I know the answer,” she said slowly. “Or at least I have a very strong theory.”
“What is it?”
“My understanding is that you recently started using powdered tigi shells in the nutrients used to feed the algae.”
“Yes, but I don’t see how it could be a factor. We started using them five years ago, and the algae damage didn’t begin until this year. And it’s a common practice. Most of the Houses have started doing the same because it’s an efficient use of resources.”
“It is, but the problem is that the tigi shells contain trace amounts of a bacteria which can harm the algae. It takes time—a long time—before it builds up in sufficient quantities to cause damage, but eventually it reaches the point where it overwhelms the algae’s natural immunity.”
He frowned thoughtfully. “Are you sure about this?”
“As sure as I can be under the circumstances.”
“Why has it not affected the other Houses?”
“Would they tell you if it had?” she asked dryly. She had gathered enough over the past few weeks to recognize the competition that existed between the Houses.
He shrugged. “Perhaps not directly, but only a few of them have shown any decrease in what they are offering for sale.”
“I would guess that the ones with less to offer are also southern Houses.”
He considered the matter, then nodded. “You’re correct. Why does that matter?”
“Because the warmer the temperatures, the faster the bacteria grow. It will affect all of them eventually, but it will take longer. You can see it on a smaller scale on your own farms. Remember how the beds on the sunny side of the bay have a higher occurrence of the damage?”
“Is the damage irreversible?”
“I don’t think so. In fact, I don’t even think that you will need to stop using the tigi shells completely. However, you won’t be able to apply them every year. It will take some experimentation to discover the appropriate frequency.”
A startled look suddenly crossed his face, and she raised her eyebrows. “What is it?”
“As you were talking, I thought it sounded familiar. I just realized why. Our people have farmed algae for many, many generations, and the process is described in some of the older scrolls. They always let a bed lie fallow every third year. We abandoned that process once we discovered more powerful nutrients, but perhaps they were right all along.”
“We have a saying back on Earth—those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” She smiled triumphantly at him.
He laughed and tugged her into his arms. “Unless they also have a very clever mate. Have you told Pulata?”
She shook her head, well aware that despite his concessions, he wasn’t happy with her working so closely with the other male. “I wanted to talk to you first. We’ll need to test the bacteria levels in the remaining beds. The ones with the highest counts will need to be harvested immediately and then left fallow.”
“Can they be cleansed?”
“Possibly. Although we would need to be careful to make sure we aren’t simply spreading the problem elsewhere.”
She tapped her finger against her lips, already considering possible solutions. He brought her attention back to him by removing her finger and replacing it with his mouth. He kissed her until she was clinging to him, then raised his head.
“I’m afraid this means we will have to return to the capital.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Even though he had assured her that he was doing everything he could to find her friends, she kept wondering if there were additional possibilities in a more populous environment. On the other hand, she was happier here on the island than she had ever been. And she knew he was happy as well. Would that change once he was back in the city and had to assume a more active role in House affairs? She strongly suspected he had come to the island in order to avoid just that.
“Why do we need to go?” she asked.
“I think it is a message best served in person,” he said slowly. “The other Houses will be suspicious, especially since this will impact their yield.”
“If they don’t monitor it, that will happen anyway,” she pointed out.
“I know. And I’m almost tempted to let them discover it for themselves, but it would not be fair to their people. Algae products form a large part of the diet for many of the poorer families.”
“Then I guess we’re going to Kapenta.”
“Yes.” He hesitated. “This means you will have to meet my mother.”
Oh, joy. Nothing she had heard from him, or Simea, had encouraged her to look forward to the prospect.
“What are you going to tell her? About us?”
“The truth, of course.”
“How do you think she’s going to react?” Based on everything he had said—and not said, she didn’t think it would be a positive reaction.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But she will have to accept the truth sooner or later.”
“Then I suppose it might as well be sooner.”
“I will arrange for some gowns for you.” He held up a hand before she could speak. “I’m sure you’re about to tell me to make them practical, but it will be necessary to wear more decorative clothes while we’re there.”
She sighed and nodded. “I understand.”
“And of course, you’re still welcome to go without clothing when we’re alone.”
The warmth in his eyes sent a resulting quiver through her system. “I’ll consider that option.”
Less than two days later,they stood together on the bow of his boat as they approached Kapenta. She gave a sigh of relief at the sight. Her stomach had not responded well to the trip, and she was looking forward to solid ground beneath her feet again.
She leaned forward eagerly to inspect the city. She wasn’t quite sure what she had expected, but it wasn’t these ornate and vaguely Mediterranean buildings. It reminded her somewhat of Venice, she decided, with the low-slung brightly colored buildings and the elaborate stonework. The city was strung out over a series of islands, connected by decorative bridges. Small colorful boats darted back and forth between the islands. Nothing about it would have made her think it was an interstellar port.
But even if she thought that, she saw a spaceship descend from the sky and land somewhere in the interior of one of the islands. Her heart skipped a beat. Despite A’tai’s assurances, she couldn’t help worrying that the slavers would come looking for her, or that the mysterious Royal Fleet would take her away from him.
A’tai put a reassuring arm around her waist, and she looked up to see him smiling down at her. “You’re safe with me, amali.”
“My heart knows that, but my brain can conjure up a lot of possibilities.”
“You know I have a remedy for that busy brain of yours.”
“Yes, but I don’t think this is exactly the place.”
“Perhaps not,” he conceded. “Although I could order everyone below.”
“Can you order everyone off the docks as well?” They were approaching a busy landing teeming with people.
“Actually, yes. That is the private dock of House Maulimu. This is the edge of our property, and the palace extends down around that curve and onto the next island.”
“Oh.” Her stomach fluttered as she took in the long, elaborate façade. Although most of the building was only three stories high, it seemed to stretch on for miles. Even though she had seen the castle on Ataian, and even though she was becoming familiar with the amount of work he did, most of the time they had been together, it had been just the two of them. Knowing that he was a prince intellectually wasn’t quite the same as seeing the full extent of his position.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come with you,” she muttered.
Her fingers knotted in the embroidered fabric of her gown, and he put a reassuring hand over them. “Then I would not have come either. I will not be separated from you, my Kate.”
His words made her feel a little better, but as the boat docked and he helped her ashore, she could feel the eyes upon them. Everyone bowed as he passed, but although he nodded his head in acknowledgment, he didn’t stop to speak to anyone.
They walked through a set of wide double doors into an airy, two-story hall. A wall of windows overlooked the sea, while open archways led off to the sides on both levels. People bustled around the space, but it was considerably less crowded than the docks, and she breathed a sigh of relief. A’tai stopped, and looked down at her.
“I think it’s best that I talk to my mother immediately. Would you prefer that I take you to our quarters first or do you want to come with me now?”
She was tempted to take the coward’s way out and avoid the visit, but she would have to face his mother sooner or later. It might as well be sooner.
“I’ll come with you,” she decided.
He pulled her against his side, and even though she was aware of more speculative glances, the familiar position made her feel more comfortable. She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
He walked briskly along a wide corridor, then through a series of increasingly elaborate rooms, most of them filled with Mafanan females, all of them richly dressed. The embroidered gown that had seemed so ornate earlier suddenly seemed extraordinarily plain.
“Who are all these people?” she murmured softly.
“My mother’s attendants. She doesn’t like being alone.” He shrugged. “She also sends them out to run errands and gather gossip. There is very little that occurs in Kapenta that she does not know about.”
“Does that mean she knows about us?”
“If she didn’t before, she did as soon as we stepped off the boat. Although she will undoubtedly pretend to be surprised.”
He proved to be correct. A flustered servant attempted to tell him that his mother wasn’t receiving, but A’tai ignored him and led her into a beautiful, spacious room. Every detail was exquisite, from the fragile decorative furniture in shades of pale pink to the beautifully woven tapestries that covered the walls. But all of it was designed to complement the female reclining gracefully on a couch carefully placed in an enormous bay window.
“I’m so sorry to disturb you, Mother,” A’tai said sardonically. “But since you have been demanding my return, I assumed you would want to see me immediately.”
“You really have no consideration for my well-being,” the female said in a faint, plaintive voice.
As they drew closer, Kate decided she would have recognized the female as A’tai’s mother under any circumstances. There was a distinct family resemblance, starting with the golden eyes. But unlike the warmth in A’tai’s eyes, his mother surveyed her disdainfully and immediately dismissed her.
Even her features were a more feminine version of A’tai’s, and Kate had seen enough Mafanan females to realize that she was extremely attractive. A long, shimmering gown accentuated her slender figure, and Kate suddenly felt short, dumpy and all too obviously human.
“Did you resolve the problem?” The female asked A’tai, ignoring Kate completely.
“No, but my mate did. Mother, this is Kate. Kate, this is my mother U’rsul.”
“I’m pleased to meet you,” she lied, sternly resisting the impulse to bob a curtsy.
“Your mate? What kind of foolishness is this? You cannot possibly be telling me that you have bonded with an offworlder.”
Despite U’rsul’s exaggerated shock, Kate decided she wasn’t in the least bit surprised.
“That is exactly what I am telling you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
A’tai sighed. “Mother, I did not come here to argue with you. Kate and I are bonded, and you will treat her with the respect which she deserves. Now, why was it so urgent that I return?”
“You know it really upsets me when you speak to me so gruffly.”
“Mother, we’ve had a long trip. Is there something we need to discuss or not?”
“We are having guests for dinner tonight.”
“That’s it? Another dinner party?”
“I have made certain… arrangements.” Her voice dropped meaningfully. “As we discussed before you left.”
“To which I did not agree, and which are now no longer relevant,” A’tai said firmly.
U’rsul assumed a martyred expression. “It’s far too late to change the plans without incurring a great deal of ill will.”
“We will just have to take that chance. Now I am going to take Kate to our quarters. When do the… festivities commence?”
“We are gathering for cocktails on the terrace at sunset.”
“Then we will see you there.”
He inclined his head, tightened his hold on Kate, and headed for the door.
“We need to talk before then, A’tai. Privately.” U’rsul called after them. For a female with such a fragile demeanor, she could certainly make her voice heard.
“I will try and find the time,” A’tai said and kept walking.
