Galtan had noticed her mirth, despite Amelia’s attempts to hide it.
“What amuses you? I intend to get more suitable clothing for you, but this will have to do for now.”
“Nothing.” Apparently that answer wasn’t going to fly, lavender eyes stared unblinkingly at her. Amelia sighed. “I look like an actor in a porno.”
The man’s brows bunched, “What is a ‘porno’?”
“Are you serious?” Amelia stared at him her mouth agape. Is this because they have slaves?
Chapter 3 … A Dark Word of Glittering Gems
Before taking Amiilya beyond the safety of his home, Galtan had found a delicate loop of gold wire. She had watched him curiously as he had bent one of the ends in order to secure the other. Unfortunately, she realized that it was a brand of ownership when he had hooked the small tag he had received from the auction house on the loop.
“Where are you planning on putting that?” Amiilya’s voice had been careful when she had asked.
“You have pre-existing holes in your ears; the loop should be small enough to fit comfortably.” Galtan had noticed she had looked relieved at his answer before she took the loop and tag from him and hooked the ring through the lobe of her ear.
“Where did you think it was going,” he couldn’t help but ask.
“Other women were having piercings put into various places…”
“No, Alahi, I have no intention of putting more holes in your body than you already have.”
“Well, I am happy for that.” She said simply. A pensive expression crossed the woman’s beautiful face.
“What is it?”
“Just curiosity; and its eternal aim to kill an otherwise harmless cat.” Galtan cocked his head to the side and stared at the woman.
What in all of the stars does that mean?
“What are you curious about?” He hoped that his own confusion would be clarified in the course of her explanation.
“Oh. I was just wondering where we are going.”
Galtan contemplated the woman, internally shaking his head, he hated to think what another being would have don had she asked them that question. He would have to keep a close eye on her. Amiilya was obviously an intelligent woman; Galtan just hoped that she would have the practical sense to refrain from being obviously independent outside of his home.
“A clothier first. After that I have to check in at the Pavathi .”
“That one didn’t translate…” his human interjected. Galtan searched for a way to define the Pavathi.
“Pavathi is the name of the center of the military governance here, on Amirak-Ren.”
“Oh, ok. Do you work there? I mean, are you a member of the planet’s military force.”
“As I explained earlier, I am the Lord Commander of the Armies of Amirak-Ren.” Galtan was carful in his phrasing – he suspected that his human was of the impression that his title was one of several, not an exclusive title.
“Yes, but that is a title. Titles on Earth can mean many things,” Amiilya stared at Galtan a moment. “Is that not the case here?”
“Amirak-Ren is a planet greatly run by military forces – there is a monarchical family, but they are rarely involved in the actual day to day management of the planet.”
“Meaning,” she pressed. Galtan sighed, but realized that it would be in both or their best interests to take care of the explanations now, in private.
Perhaps if I am upfront, I can convince her to play the role of the submissive human slave.
*
Galtan was presently staring Amelia down – the stare seemed more contemplative than forbidding, so she waited. He seemed to be weighing alternatives. Is military service that secretive on this planet? Galtan heaved a sigh when it seemed he had made up his