Natt lay with her head on Basque's shoulder and her arm across his chest. She pressed her naked body up against his as the hand going across his chest played with his hair and occasionally stroked his ear.

"I just can't believe Harnel would do that."

"I should have warned you."

"So, you knew?"

"Well, I didn't know he was making a deal with a Yani behind our backs, but I'm not surprised."

"He said he's been angling for it for a while."

"Again, not all that surprised. I've known him for years."

"He said he'd never betray commoners."

"To him, he's not betraying anyone."

"You don't actually believe that, do you? He'd have to be selling himself all the lies if he thinks that Julvie would get with him without him betraying the commoners."

"Well, commoners and nobles hardly ever do what you and your class have done. You get oddballs like me from time to time, but I was a Class D kid. I might as well have been a commoner."

"And now those Class D kids are being shut out. He's locked his hall doors, and Reianna couldn't even get in to tell her friends to just meet up anyway."

Pulling away from him, Natt rolled out of bed. It was still light enough for Basque to admire her nude form.

As she walked over to the dresser, Natt said, "Well, the cafeteria opens soon, and they can meet up in the hallway. It won't be forever."

"What are you doing?"

Natt opened a drawer. "It's winter. I'm cold. Your body heat isn't enough anymore."

"Oh, thank goodness. I didn't want to say anything about your icicle feet. Which, honestly, are colder than anything your country's thrown at me."

She threw a pair of socks at him. "I'm going to hold that comment against you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Ice feet from here on out, loverboy."

He held up the socks.

"Yeah, those are for now, but just wait. Ice when you least expect it." Natt pulled her robe closed and tied the sash.

Holding her arms out, she turned left and right. "It doesn't really look like a Hianbrun robe, does it?"

"Too thin. Sleeves are too narrow—"

"I wasn't looking for a commentary, Basque." Natt slipped back into the bed and resumed her previous position.

Basque held up the socks again.

"Of no. I was just barefoot on the floor. This is your treat!"

Her feet touched his legs, and he jerked them away. "Hey now!"

The feet followed him.

"Hey!"

Natt giggled.

Basque threw the covers off and grabbed one of her feet. Taking the bundled socks apart, he slid one onto her foot.

"Mmm. I think I'm going to have to have you dress me every time."

After putting her other sock on, he ran his hand down her smooth leg. "Do you shave your legs?"

"No. Do Hianbrun women have hair on their legs?"

"Yes and no. They do, but they shave it off."

"Why?"

Basque let go of her leg and rolled on top of her. "I don't know. Same reason the men from my country have long hair, I guess. Just what we find attractive. Why does your country have so many hair colors?"

"There are some historical records that say it's from the system, but we're not really sure. Have you been out to the museum at the wall?"

"Yeah. I saw the photos."

"So we know that our ancestors for the most part had mostly variations of brown hair from dark black like yours to yellows like Fawna's. But there are also photos around showing people with more vibrant hair colors, though theories say that our ancestors used to artificially color it."

He kissed her lips.

She slapped his back. "Again?"

Another kiss.

"I just got dressed."

He kissed her neck.

"Mmmm. Fine, but you dress me again after."

Basque lifted his head up. "If I have to do that, then you might never get dressed. You drive me wild."

She pulled his face to hers.

After, Basque did dress her, but instead of a third round, they went back to cuddling instead.

"Natt, can I ask you something a bit personal?"

She was silent for a heartbeat. "I guess?"

"I know that medical benefits are tied to ranks, but you used to be a duchess, almost an archduchess. What rank would you have to be to fix your eye?"

She pulled away from him. "Fix my eye? My eye can't be fixed, Basque. It's gone. Just like if a Yani had eaten one of my arms or legs. Things that are gone are gone."

"No, they aren't."

Natt sat up. "What do you mean? Yes, they are." Her tone wasn't playful, and he could hear the anger building in it. Basque regretted bringing the topic up, but knew he couldn't back off now.

"I lost a hand to a Yani once."

She stared at him. "Don't fucking lie."

"On my first mission. It swallowed my hand and the dagger I was holding."

Natt didn't speak.

"Rakelle, the medical expert with us, I was her first case. Took about two weeks to grow back and become functional."

"Are you saying I could have my eye back?"

"In Hianbru, it would have been grown back as soon as you got back from the mission."

"I could have my eye back?"

"Would you want it back?"

Natt jumped off the bed. "What sort of Yani question is that? Of course, I want it back! You know how horrible my life has been since I lost it!"

"Would getting your eye back get you back your nobility?"

Basque's question calmed her, and she froze. "I…have no idea, actually. I'd be able to hunt again, so I don't see why not."

"I…I can ask Rakelle. She doesn't leave for another month. Maybe she could grow it back before she goes."

Tears rolled out from Natt's good eye.

Sitting up, Basque stretched his arms out. Natt came back to him, and they curled up together.

"I've been putting off my visit to see the others for too long. After Reianna's trial, I just couldn't stand the thought of looking at Eder, the head ambassador. I'll go this weekend and see if Rakelle will do it for us."

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Natt pushed her face into his chest. "Thank you, Basque."

"I love you, Natt."

Her arms squeezed him to her in response.

"I'm not fixing your girlfriend's eye for you, Basque."

"What?! Why not?!"

Rakelle messed with medical equipment and looked at things in vials and petri dishes as she walked around the room. He knew she was taking notes about her observations in her interface.

"'Why not'? Are you really serious?" She didn't look at him.

"Of course, I am."

Rakelle sighed and looked at him. "Basque, I helped the kids because I felt responsible for dragging you here, and you being stranded."

"And then dumping me." He pulled out a chair from one of the desks and sat in it.

She turned back to her task. "Yes, and then dumping you. Plus, they're kids. But I'm not going to give away medical secrets just to make the hot piece of ass you're sleeping with hotter."

"Is that jealousy that I hear?"

"Ha! You wish."

"I'm not asking for aesthetic reasons. She's an incredible hunter."

"Sucks for her."

"Rakelle."

Curling her hands into fists, Rakelle pressed them down on the table as she closed her eyes and sighed. Her eyes rolled as she opened them back up. "Basque. No. Final answer. En-Oh. No."

"Can you at least tell me why?"

"Sure. One: they don't have the tech. Their medical practices are about a century behind ours, and that's a bargaining chip we can use."

"For what? Their education system is just as lacking. What does Eder even want with these people?"

"Two: it's an intensive procedure that I couldn't sneakily do, even if I wanted to."

"I've got a place we can go where no one would notice, and I trust the guy."

"You mean the fiery-haired man you gave technical plans to?"

"Yes. They're good, trustworthy people."

"Three: if she's good enough to earn your praise, I'd rather not have her fixed when this turns ugly."

"When what turns ugly?"

"This whole…whatever we're doing here thing. You've been holed away in that so-called academy, but from what I see, negotiations aren't going well."

"Oh? Eder's not doing that well?"

She stopped fiddling around. "I'm not sure the story that was reported after first contact is true."

"What do you mean?"

"I've got a Kruamian assistant and he was telling me—"

"He?" Basque raised an eyebrow.

"Why does everything have to be about sex with you?"

"Because everything is about sex with you."

"Yes, I've fucked him. But it's not like you have room to talk."

Basque leaned back in the chair. "Fine, get on to what your loverboy was saying."

She rolled her eyes again. "Yes. As I was saying, according to Freginald, Eder's discovery fleet didn't sail into people waiting with open arms like we heard."

"Freginald?"

"Basque! Do you not know what that means? It means that Eder forced his way into Kruami. We're not diplomats so much as an invading force. That's why Eder agreed to have you on."

Basque put his hand over his mouth and considered what Rakelle said. One reason his mother had backed Basque was that she was sure Eder, the Eagle's third chair, wouldn't agree to Basque's selection.

He and Eder never liked each other personally, then, in addition was Basque's position within the Tigers. No, the only reason Eder would have wanted him here was in case things did go bad, he'd want Basque's strength.

"Why would he lie, though? It's not like he wouldn't be discovered."

"Even most of the Kruamian population don't know the truth."

"How do we know that Freggie is telling the truth?"

"Xelac."

Basque raised an eyebrow. "Xelac? He backed up your boy-toy?" If anyone would know the truth, it would be the lead historian. And as an Elephant, he wouldn't mince words.

"Yeah. You can go ask him for more details about it."

Basque stood up and went to lean on the table where Rakelle was still working. "I do have some questions for him."

"Good, then go bother him and let me get back to work."

"You've not stopped working since I've been here."

She looked at him. "You made me roll my eyes more times than I can count."

"Well, let me make you do it again. Considering we're an invading force, does it really matter if they know we can fix eyes and whatnot? Wouldn't that just make us seem all the more intimidating?"

Rakelle's mouth fell open. "I'm not rolling my eyes at that. Who are you and what have you done with Basque?"

"I've been here for months now, and I can easily count on one hand how many good things I've discovered here, and I can't even begin to list all the Yani-shit that I've been covered in. Like just the other day, a guy I quite liked stabbed me in the back."

"He what?!" Rakelle pushed away from the table and ran around to Basque.

"What are you doing?"

"Hurry up and take your robes off. I don't trust the low-level garbage they use here."

"No, he didn't physically stab me. It's a Kruamian expression meaning to betray someone."

Rakelle put her hand on her chest and let out a breath. "Thank goodness. Don't do that. Don't use their weird body words."

"Sorry. But, no. He was someone I quite liked, and in order to get into bed with some pink-colored Yani, he's not letting his class train with mine."

"That's…the most benign betrayal that I think I've ever heard. Are they eight-year-olds? Wait, pink Yani? Is that the woman who was throwing herself all over you?"

"Yeah. I thought Harnel was a good guy. He even helped me get together with Natt."

"Wait. So, this Harnel guy gets together with the pink eyesore after he pushes another woman on you?"

"Yeah."

"Totally the plan. Despicable."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, think about it, Basque." Rakelle went back to work. "He's got his eye on pinky. She's all about you. If he can get you together with another woman, he can swoop in and do…whatever it is he did and make himself seem all heroic or something."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"What's even dumber is that it seems to have worked."

Basque wandered over to the door. "Thanks for that really cheerful thought."

"Where are you off to now?"

"To talk to Xelac and Eder. I was supposed to go months ago, but couldn't be bothered."

"Good chat. Come see me again before I leave."

"Oh, I'll be back soon to take you to fix Natt."

"Ha! I told you, no more unauthorized operations for me."

"Well, then I'll just have to get authorization."

"Like Eder would ever grant that."

Basque put his hand on the doorknob. "Why do you think I'm going to go see Xelac?"

"Be nice to Xelac."

"Aren't I always?"

Without looking away from her work, Rakelle waved, then shooed Basque off. He smiled, left her office, and made his way through the large mansion that had been given to the Hianbrun delegation to use as their home and offices. Basque was the only one not using it.

As he walked through the halls, Basque reflected on his conversation with Rakelle. If Eder did break protocol by forcing his way into Kruami, that would give Basque a leg up in getting Natt's eye fixed. But first, he needed Xelac to give him something concrete he could use to hold over Eder.

Could it be true, though? Some of the reactions he'd seen would make sense, then. Billiam's fear. Krill's hatred. Would Krill be one of the "few" Kruamians who knew? Yasher would have known for sure, and he was pretty stand-offish.

What did Eder want here? Or maybe it was the Eagles. I hate politics, Basque thought as he knocked on Xelac's door.

"Come in."

The room was a mess. Books and loose paper covered every surface, and stacks of them littered the floor.

"Hey, Xelac."

"Basque-Shr! What a pleasant surprise!"

"You can drop the title."

Standing from his chair, Xelac went around his desk and took the books out of one of his guest chairs, and put them on the floor. "Sit, sit."

Basque waved his hand. "I don't want to keep you too long, though."

"Nonsense!" Xelac sat. "You're the one with the most contact with our hosts. There's so much I want to ask you."

Holding onto the back of the freshly cleared chair, Basque paused, then sat. "Fine. I'll let you know whatever you want. As long as you're willing to tell me some things in return."

"Oh? What are you curious about?"

"Did we invade Kruami?"

"Yes. Yes, but the Lion condoned it."

Basque's eyebrow went up. There went his bargaining chip. "Why?"

"I'm not exactly privy to the decisions of our leaders, but look here." Xelac pulled out a map. "This is Kruami. We suspect there's more civilizations up this way," Xelac traced his finger up north along the coastline, "and if we do organize trade with any of them, Kruami makes a good staging port for the return trip."

"I thought we were going to establish something on our own."

"Again, information that I don't have access to, but I'd guess that the Eagles convinced the Lion that it would be easier to subjugate Kruami."

Basque tsked. "That's so like them. They should be rats, not eagles."

"Enough about that, though. Tell me about their schools."

The two of them spent the next hour talking about the differences between the teaching methodologies and the classism that Basque had to deal with. Xelac was specifically interested in the classism, as, for the most part, the classes didn't mix in normal society.

Through it, Basque felt like he was giving just a basic report. From their training methods to the finer details of the battle tournament that Xelac didn't pick up on, Basque explained it all.

Then, Basque got to Reianna's powers and what happened to the dress.

"Wait. What do you mean, it started flickering?"

"Exactly that. It grew and shrank and flashed odd colors."

"Extremely fascinating. Do you think I can meet this girl and have her show me?"

"I don't see why not, though we'll have to do it somewhere private." Basque explained about Natt's experience with the commoner mage and the threats Krill made.

"How revolting, though what I wouldn't do to get my hands on those records. Imagine wasting a life, a mage on top of it, like that. Quite barbaric. Their evolutionary pattern post-integration is very interesting. They—"

Basque held up his hand. "Don't want to know, nor do I care."

"It may help with your classes."

"I doubt it. Anyway, I've got to go see Eder and try to convince him to allow Rakelle to operate on a fellow teacher, though it might be a little hard since I was planning to use the invasion against him, but if it's sanctioned…"

Xelac stood with Basque. "The invasion was sanctioned, but him offering to change your assignment wasn't."

"Say what?"

"Your extension to five years."

"Kruami didn't ask for it?"

"Yani, no. Eder basically forced you on them."

Basque clenched his fist. "That son of a Yani…" Basque wasn't sure he could keep the upcoming talk with Eder non-violent.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.