“In the north. Few people live in that area, but the people who do, enjoy nature more than technology. That’s why the table is so rustic, and we are outside in a forest.” He answered her but wondered if the Empire had broken her more than he had assumed or if she was, by nature, a humble person. Most Alliance women would assume they would be wanted, and the only one, but he thought of his father then and some of the arguments between his parents and thought, No, the Empire didn’t break her, this is her culture. A human man would have said something different to reassure her, but I can’t change who I am. He observed her for a few seconds in silence to make sure he didn’t need to do any more reassuring.
“Are all of these holographs based on real restaurants on the planet?” Ellie asked slightly uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her. She couldn’t begin to wonder what he was thinking about.
“Yes, we are very proud of our planet.”
“If I get the chance, I think I would like to visit them. All of them except the mountain restaurant.”
Valentin laughed, “To think such a brave woman would be afraid of heights.”
“You think I’m brave?” Ellie asked in astonishment. No one had ever thought she was brave.
Now, I’m back on track with her, he thought. “Of course, just because things didn’t work out the way you thought they would doesn’t make your actions any less brave. You set out into the unknown leaving everything you knew behind.”
Ellie had tears in her eyes, when she thought about how stupid she was trusting those smugglers to get her to the Empire safely. She wiped some tears away, “I’m sorry.”
Valentin was sympathetic, “Don’t be. It’s not easy to take risks.” How could I make her cry again? he chided himself.
“Or deal with the consequences,” Ellie replied evenly.
“Your mother knew what she was doing the entire time. She knew better than any other human taken by the Empire the price that would have to be paid.”
“I know,” Ellie said quietly. “But it doesn’t stop my mind from questioning what if I would have stayed on Earth? She’d be alive.”
“I don’t believe in destiny, but I do believe that your mother would have found another way to end her life. I didn’t know her, but it was obvious that she was different from the other women taken from the Dakota. She was never going to be content in the Empire. Only desperate people take the forget-me-not drug. It’s dangerous. And the fact that Imperial doctors gave it to her meant that they saw her misery and didn’t know how else to help her. I also know that many people thought she should have been set free, but the rumor was Admiral Tir wouldn’t allow it. He said that if he let Jane go then other people, who wanted to rid the Empire of humans, would find excuses to let you all go.”
Ellie was transfixed by Valentin’s words. She had never heard a well-informed outsider’s opinion on the matter, “I don’t know whether these words comfort me or not?”
“I didn’t want to talk about your mother again. But it isn’t right you should blame yourself. The Empire was slowly killing her, and everyone could see it.”
“But didn’t care enough to help her,” Ellie added thinking specifically of Jei.
Valentin followed her train of thought, “Maybe you don’t know, but when the forget-me-not wore off, it was Jei who told Admiral Tir she needed to be let go.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m Commander of the Nage Horde, Elloisa. It’s good to be well-informed of what is going on with the powerful Empire next door. Trust me, Admiral Jei is not your enemy. He wasn’t your mother’s enemy either, quite the contrary.”
“But you’re saying Admiral Tir is? I think they all are, aren’t they? I don’t even know anymore to be honest. I felt so sure of myself when I left Earth. Now I feel like I’ve been spun around with a blindfold so many times, I don’t know who or what to believe.” Ellie touched her hand to her chest, “But I feel guilty about my mother’s death,” the words were coming now like they had never come before, “and every time I see her statue in the religious shrine, I’m reminded of what I’ve done. No amount of praying or asking for forgiveness will change that. She died because of what she didn’t want me to see. And I took away her chance at happiness with Jei because of it. Had I not been there none of this would have happened. I’m sorry, I can’t believe she would be dead if it weren’t for my actions.”
“Just remember that it was Admiral Tir who forced Kara to marry him and who wouldn’t allow your mother to leave. It was the Empire who killed your mother, by Admiral Jei’s hand, yes, but he was forced. Make no mistake, not you and not Admiral Jei. The Empire at the helm of Admiral Tir is responsible for your mother’s death,” Valentin explained, realizing too late Elloisa wasn’t ready to understand this. “I’m sorry to have brought this up.”
“No, I’m glad you did. Even though, it’s awfully painful for me, it’s good to hear something different than what I’ve been told in House Rega or rather only what they were capable of telling me, even if I can’t believe what you say whole heartedly, at least it’s a different version.”
Valentin nodded.
Then they were quiet for a minute.
The computer came on breaking their silent reflections, “Elloisa, your fourth question is, does Valentin carry a sword?”
Ellie smiled, pleased for the distraction. She stood up and walked around the table to investigate Valentin’s outfit, shiny black trousers with a tight white matte shirt that was cut low, exposing the top of his muscular chest and tattoos with a mandarin collar jacket made of a dark maroon color. There was no sword, “No.”
“Correct. You have now earned your fourth course. Valentin, what is Elloisa’s favorite color?”
Valentin looked long and hard at Elloisa. He was remembering all the times he had seen her in the gossip columns from Alba and what she had chosen to wear. He wished that she would mouth the color, but she liked this forest restaurant, so he knew she wasn’t going to help him now. “Blue,” he answered hesitantly.
“Correct. You have now earned your fourth course.”
Their surroundings transformed again to a busy open market. Their dining table was in the center of it. There were people, sounds, smells, and food everywhere. It was midday somewhere at a marketplace and very lively. The food they were served were like skewers of chicken with a vegetable.
“This place is spirited,” Ellie commented.
“It is. I think this is in the south. It’s a farmers’ market. On Reima Two we like our technology, but we also like interacting with people.”
Ellie looked around, noticing that no one was wearing a sword openly, “On Reima Two do you settle things by duels to the death as you do in the Empire?”
“No. That’s why we don’t carry swords. Our judicial system has evolved. Matters are decided through a complex justice system.”
“But you can use a sword? So, there must be some kind of dueling? You had to use one in the Yoli race.”
“Yes, I’d be a fool if I couldn’t. I still have interactions with the Empire and at any time they can challenge me to a duel,” Valentin replied reminding her of the complex relationship between Reima Two and the Empire.