But there’s no time for sightseeing. Now, there’s only survival.
“Which way?” Stacy calls out in her shrill voice.
“My house has allies! That way!” Diana points again. The Aurelians can’t speak our language, but they can understand directions when they’re as simple as a pointing finger.
They set off at an incredible pace, and we’re hauled down the street in their arms – Diana and I in Forn’s huge biceps, and the orphans in Darok’s strong grasp.
Fine ladies and gentlemen leap out of our way as we sprint down the street. It must look like the Aurelians have kidnapped us all, and are stealing us away with them.
Diana slaps Forn on the back, and he suddenly stops in his tracks, realizing that she’s trying to communicate, not assault him.
We’re all deposited roughly onto the cobblestones.
Astonishingly, the Aurelians have been running at a full sprint all this time - but they appear barely even winded by the exertion.
Together, we stand in front of a towering townhouse, guarded by a large set of ornate doors.
Diana strides up and beats her tiny fists against the door. The door opens, and a middle-aged woman with a tight bun gives Diana a look of concerned recognition…
…then she take one look at the three Aurelians, and promptly faints.
Hadone rushes forward, grabbing the woman before she can hit the ground, and we all pile in through the open doorway.
I slam the doors shut behind us.
Suddenly, our breathless escape is at a pause.
I pant wildly, staring around the large entrance hall of this beautiful building. It’s a two-story apartment in one of the richest neighborhoods of the Capital – but inside there are no ostentatious decorations like in Lord Aeron’s gaudy manor.
Instead, books are strewn everywhere, along with papers and pen. A winding staircase leads to the second story, where a nobleman with a fine, white beard suddenly appears.
The white-haired stranger doesn’t look the least bit concerned that his house has been invaded by a triad of Aurelians, or that his servant is lying limply in one of the alien’s giant hands. He’s more concerned about our rescued prisoner.
“Diana! By the Gods, I thought the Viceroy had you!”
“I’m safe,” Diana gasps. “Thanks… Thanks to them!”
She gestures towards the three Aurelians, but is still unable to look at the three warriors.
The white-haired old man nods, and stands peering down at us.
I’m astonished. I’d have expected a nobleman of the Capital to be yelling for his guards right now, but instead he looks at the Aurelians with wonder rather than fear or hatred.
Finally, the nobleman strides down the winding steps, leaning his weight on the banister. Hadone sets the unconscious servant down gently on a chair, then steps closer to me. The old man doesn’t look like he’ll pose a threat, but the Aurelian is still taking no chances.
I expect the old man to introduce himself to us, or to speak more with Diana. Instead, he opens his mouth and starts speaking in the same, guttural language as the Aurelians.
I blink. With all the chaos of the day, this manages to be the most surprising thing yet. Even more shocking? Forn talks right back to him!
I’ve never seen anyone as excited as the nobleman. He’s practically jumping up and down with glee at being able to speak to these Aurelians in their strange tongue.
What is going on?
The three Aurelians and the old man speak rapidly, while the rest of us look on in wonder. I glance over at Diana, and she just shrugs.
“He’s been researching Aurelians for the last forty years,” the noblewoman says, her voice barely a whisper. I look over at the nearest opened book and recognize the anatomy of an Aurelian drawn out on the pages.
Whoever this nobleman is, he’s obsessed with this alien species.
The nobleman stops mid-sentence, then looks over at the orphans and I. Blinking, as if he’s only just noticed us, the white-haired old man murmurs: “How rude of me! Allow me to present myself.”
He straightens up:
“I am Lord Tenderfoot. Please, please – be welcome in my home.”
I glance over at the servant who’d answered the door – still slumped and unconscious on the chair Hadone had gently laid her on.
“Oh, she’ll be all right,” Lord Tenderfoot reassures me. “Tera is always fainting at the slightest thing. Just give her time and she’ll be up and about again.
As if on cue, Tera stirs, blinking, and opens her eyes. She looks up at the Aurelians like she can’t believe what she’s seeing right in front of her.
“Forn tells me you traveled from the burnt city,” Tenderfoot speaks to me. “Barl, I presume he meant. My God, the tragedy. Did these Aurelians help you out of there?”
There’s a dark edge of grief to his voice, and I realize that the Lord Tenderfoot has been crying. It’s as though the tragedy of Barl has touched him personally. The old man pretends to scratch his cheek and brushes a tear from his eye.
I nod. “They did. In fact, they’re the only reason we’re all still alive.”
Lord Tenderfoot smiles. “You’ll find I don’t share the same sentiments as the rest of the Capital towards Aurelians. Besides, these are not your regular Aurelians.”
“I’ve done intensive research on this subject matter. Legends tell of tribal Aurelians, living far away on a primitive jungle planet. They travel through portals to take their fated mates back to their planet and continue their species.”
I was planning on defending the Aurelians against whatever prejudice the nobleman might have. Instead, all eyes turn to me and I blush as everyone realizes the same thing.
The Aurelians must have travelled here for me.
Then embarrassment turns to anger.
Wait one Gods-damned minute! If these three think they can just snatch me up and take me for… reproduction… Well, they’ve got another thing coming!
“What’s a mate?” Tod asks innocently. I glare at
