Page 19 of A World Enough

As she stepped up to the car, her escheal appeared from behind her and opened the door.

She was tall with a lanky body that was deceptively strong, bright pink skin, and ridges around her completely hairless head. On her back was strapped an archer’s weapon and a thin, sharp lance.

Ninti got in and waited for Kartog, her escheal, to join her.

“Are we leaving tomorrow, my Goddess?”

“You need not call me that in private,” Ninti said.

An escheal was an Abnobian god’s most trusted servant, and sometimes their sexual partner, but not always. They knew all the Abnobian gods’ secrets—that their godlike powers were in fact gotten through technology and genetic manipulation. The price of that knowledge was that the only way they left service was through death.

“No matter whether you believe yourself a god or not, you will always be my Goddess, my love,” Kartog said.

Ninti smiled and stroked her fingers down her deep pink cheek, power glowing from her fingertips, making Kartog groan.

“I do not deserve you, my love,” Ninti said.

That last line could get them both killed. Fortunately, Ninti could soundproof them.

Although they could have sexual relationships, Abnobians were forbidden from loving any other being. They were brought up in a manner that hardened their hearts. Love made weak gods, according to the forefathers and mothers of their race.

Having emotions or empathy or love made making cold, hard decisions harder. But there was another reason the Abnobians were forbidden to love.

Abnobians weren’t made by chance sexual couplings. Genetic material was taken and combined artificially to create the best warriors, the best scientists, the best administrators.

After they were hatched on their birthing planet, they were trained to be cold gods.

Kartog kissed Ninti’s hand tenderly. “You deserve everything, and I am unworthy, but I will forever try to please you.”

They kissed long and deep, Ninti’s bright glowing power emanating from her lips, so it appeared as if they were melting into each other.

Ninti pulled back. “Later, my warrior. We have a great many things to do.”

Kartog gave her a half smile. “If you insist.”

The sun was finally down, and the dark sky had brought the cold air on Oipra. It was welcome at first, but Brogan and Camber soon started to shiver. Brogan would have shifted to wolf for the warmth of her coat, but the silver cuffs didn’t let her.

“You look cold. I’ll make a fire,” Camber said.

“Don’t on my account. I’m fine.”

Camber sighed. “Oh, cut out that ego. You’re shivering, and I am too.” She began to rummage in her bag.

“Won’t the flames attract people to our position?” Brogan said.

“This Earth where you come from must be backward in its technology.”

“Our tech is just fine. At least we don’t have whole planets in servitude,” Brogan grumbled.

Camber pulled out a black oblong device, the size of a remote control. She pressed the side, and a globe of light surrounded them and then became see-through.

“Temperature twenty-five, please.”

The heat enveloped them in their little bubble.

“This is amazing. I like to be warm,” Brogan said.

“Yeah? I thought you big, tough alpha wolves could withstand anything.” Camber smiled.