House rules, p.46
Hopling and Pouchling: Shikari Book Five, page 46
Hopling and Pouchling:
Shikari Book Five
Alma T. C. Boykin
Copyright © 2019 by Alma T. C. Boykin
Cover art: SelfPubBookCovers.com/FrozenStar
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
Contents
1. A Quiet Day at Home
2. Generational Changes
3. Passing a Torch and an Inspection
4. Every Weapon is Always Loaded
5. Gifts and Seasons
6. Blame Sufficient for All
7. A Ball and a Blade
8. West and North
9. Stones and Stampedes
10. Unwanted Guests
11. Danger on the Ground
12. Ancient Dangers
13. Stampede into Peril
14. Justice and Forms
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Alma T. C. Boykin
1
A Quiet Day at Home
"Moooother!" The wail rising from the hallway outside Auriga "Rigi" Bernardi-Prananda's office pierced the walls of concentration Rigi had developed over the past six years. She saved her work file and stood, turned and stepped into the short corridor. "I'm hungry!" Rigel Solomon Prananda complained. He stood with one hand on his backside.
"Indeed? And did you look in the pass-through for your school snack?"
He sniffed, then sniffed again, dark eyes large and innocent-looking.
Rigi walked past him to the half-open kitchen door. She caught a glimpse of Nahla, the third-Stamm cook, standing with her back to the door, ears almost flat, one broad hind-foot tapping the floor with irritation. A strong scent of //annoyance/relief// undercut the scent of food. Nahla had managed to catch Rigel before he contaminated anything. Rigi returned to her son.
"Did you look in the pass-through, Rigel?"
"No, ma'am." He studied the floor, hand still on his rump. "I went into the kitchen because something smelled good and I'm hungry."
Males are always hungry, Rigi marveled to herself. Rigel, Rigi's older brother Cyril, her husband Tomás, his scout partner Kor... "Then go look in the pass-through, please. You know better than to go into the kitchen without asking first. You might break Stamm by accident and then Kor and the others would have to go without their suppers." Which would also be a gross waste of food and an insult to the Creator and Creatrix, but he was too young to remember that.
Rigi led her son up the hall to the dining room, and held the door to the little hallway between kitchen and dining room open. Rigel darted in, found the nibbles-table, and filled a plate. She selected two rusks and a pair of vegetable sticks, then sat at the table with Rigel. He prayed quickly, then set about devouring the food so fast that she was not certain he used his hands. "Young man, manners."
He slowed down and eating more like a human and less like Slowth the wombow gobbling moon-pea hulls. After half the plate of food disappeared, he looked up at her. "Mum, why do we have to worry about Stamm? Mrs. Carlsen says that humans have no Stamm and that it is unfair."
Rigi caught her eye-roll before it started. Nor did she sigh. "Is it unfair that humans have no Stamm, or that Stamm is unfair?"
He ate another rusk with nut-paste. "That Stamm is unfair, ma'am."
Rigi reminded herself that one should err on the side of charity and patience. She'd grown heartily tired of Mrs. Carlsen's refusal to understand the ways of the Staré of Shikhari. "It may seem unfair to those new to Shikhari, Rigel, but the Staré have a good reason for Stamm. Kor is very different from Tal, isn't he?"
Rigel nodded quickly as he swallowed his next bite. "Yes, ma'am! Kor is complicated. Tal gets confused."
"Correct. Kor, or to use his full Stamm name, Korkuhkalya, is First Stamm, very high first Stamm. They remember far more than do sixth Stamm people such as Tal. But both are people, and you need to respect all people, even if they are very different." Although Kor's identical twin brother... Rigi scolded herself, although recently Tortuh had strained her past reminding herself of her duty to charity. Tortuh's behavior explained why Kor preferred to be thought outStamm and to act as a military scout and professional hunter. Tomás refused to speak of Kor's twin within hearing of the children, a precaution Rigi had decided was wise. They did not need to learn that sort of vocabulary yet.
Rigel finished his snack, and Rigi ate the last vegetable stick. They set their plates on the human-dish tray beside the door. Andat would collect them when he had time and take them into the kitchen. Rigi and Tomás had spent the entire proceeds from one of her wombow portrait commissions on an automated dish-mover. All Andat had to do was set the dirty dish tray on the pad. A moving belt carried the dishes and tray into a scalding rinse. When that finished, any of the Staré could handle the dishes and put them into the main cleaner without breaking Stamm. At first Rigi had wondered if she were losing her mind. Then both Andat and Makana had spoken with her privately of their relief at the system. They no longer had to worry about Kor's dishes being touched.
Rigi sent her son to go wash his hands. He pattered up the steps to his room on the first floor. Rigi started to go back to her office, but heard the gate chime and turned toward the visitor room instead. Makana met her in the hallway. "Mistress Rigi, Mrs. Singh and Aedgar have arrived for Master Rigel."
She smiled at the gray upper third Stamm guard and household manager. "Thank you Makana. Rigel will be out in two minutes."
"Very good, Mistress." He hand bowed and she returned the courtesy. Then she gathered her skirts with one hand and hurried up the steps after her son.
"Rigel, Mrs. Singh and Aedgar are here."
"Goody!" He erupted from the wash room, hands dripping.
"Dry, please. You are not a spotted tree draper during the wet."
He slouched back into the washroom, finished his ablutions, combed his hair, then raced past her. He clattered down the steps and was pulling on his boots before she could do more than sigh. That had to come from the Prananda side of the family, she mused for the thousandth time at least. She intercepted him and made him put his jacket on properly, adjusted his sun shade, then followed him out the front door.
Capt. Singh's wife waited at the foot of the front steps, her son standing with her. As soon as Rigel bounded down from the verandah, Aedgar broke free of his mother's hand and the two boys began racing toward the waiting flitter. Penelope Singh shook her head, as did Rigi.
"Thank you so very much for taking him, Penelope," Rigi said, hand-bowing Shikhari-style.
Mrs. Singh smiled and touched her forehead and heart as she bowed in return. "My pleasure, Auriga. Aed behaves much better when he has some company, and I reminded the staff that they may discipline Rigel if needed."
"He's already gotten a forefoot this afternoon. I do hope he grows out of this phase before I find him tethered to the wombow shed without his supper." Makana had threatened once, and Tomás had given his permission for the staff to treat the children exactly as they would naughty hoplings.
Penelope Singh smiled and waved one graceful, slender hand. "They do. Just not always as quickly as one might wish. And there is occasional backsliding." She closed her eyes, revealing lush black lashes, then opened them again. "Even after they rise to captain."
"Or major, I fear. Again, thank you. I am in your debt."
The Singhs left and Rigi returned to the house. Makana closed the door, hand-bowed, and returned to his work space on silent hind-feet. Rigi slumped as much as propriety permitted, then looked in on Tamara Cassiopeia. The toddler slept, as did Andat. The high third Stamm male insisted on helping with the child, and Rigi didn't have the heart to refuse, even though Staré males generally avoided most hopling care duties. Once again Rigi wondered if he'd somehow heard the unkind rumor that the Pranandas could not afford a "proper" nurse for the children because of supporting him and Nahla. If so, she wanted to give that individual a piece of her mind for being so cruel. Andat had been invalided out of the military because of a poisoned bite that destroyed almost half the muscle in one shoulder, and he more than earned his wages and board, just as Nahla did.
Quiet. Restful, wonderful, tranquil calm filled the house. Rigi closed her eyes and savored the peace. She had three hours before Tomás and Kor were due back, and before Mrs. Singh returned Rigel. Thank you, blessed Creatrix, Rigi prayed. Thank you so very, very much. She had two hours to work without distraction before Tamara woke, and she'd best make the most of it. She wanted to make a batch of scents, but scent did not pay the bills. Art paid the bills. Perhaps she could synthesize some //harmless/polite// after the children went to bed, or tomorrow.
Rigi returned to her art computer and sketch books. She compared her drawings of the Terrace Site with Kor's notes and Tomás's observations, triple checked the notes from the later studies, and then wrinkled her nose. The proportions were correct, but the illustration looked off, for lack of a better term. Not incorrect, just off somehow. What if she adjusted the foreshortening a touch? No, that was not the problem. Perhaps...
Half an hour later, Rigi signed the work and saved it to her drive, the completed work folder, and the code-locked off-site back-up she shared with her a unt Kay Trent. Now she could work on the drawings of the four-horned pseudo-sheep. She preferred drawing the native wildlife and archaeological sites. Wildlife did not complain about unflattering poses, or insist on four additional depictions, each slightly different, before they pronounced themselves satisfied. Rigi had already sketched the basic design for the illustration and she called it up, then began drawing the mammals. They sported creamy white fleeces—or did when they were young and/or cleanish—, and either six or four horns on their heads. The mammals lived in family groups of five, seven, or nine, always an odd number. She'd first seen them while exploring with Makana seven years before. The experts were still arguing over the relationship between the animals Rigi had found on the northern continent and the miniature version that lived on a small archipelago off the western coast of the northern landmass.
Rigi finished the largest of the five animals before she heard toddler feet in the hallway, and Andat's cautionary, "Miss Tanara, you must wait." Rigi saved everything and moved her pastels and styluses out of reach, then stood. She opened the door, crouching to catch Tamara.
"Wheeeee!" The little girl flung herself at Rigi. Rigi caught her, then stood, balancing her on her hip. If Rigel looked exactly like a copy of his father, square shouldered with black eyes and black hair, Tamara resembled no one so much as Tomas' maternal grandfather. She had his slight build, pale green eyes, and paler brown hair, with her mother's tan skin. If she continued as she was, she'd also have delicate features and feet, something Rigi already envied.
Makana appeared behind Andat, one ear tipped to the side. A faint //puzzled/mild concern// wafted past, and Andat turned to look at Makana. "Yes, Makana?"
"Major Prananda sent a message, Mistress Rigi."
That drew the attention of both adults, and Rigi gestured for Makana to continue.
"The major apologized for his tardiness, but he and Kor are dealing with a," Makana shifted from Staré to Common, "biological disturbance," he shifted back to Staré, "and will be delayed by at least an hour."
Rigi rested her fingertips on her forehead. "Very well. I do hope that they do not bring parts home with them this time. Thank you, Makana."
Both males puffed //amusement//, but neither said anything. They knew better. The other Staré still spoke in hushed tones about Rigi's loud and eloquent expression of dismay when her mate and his scouting partner brought home the head of a barely-dead "holy-terror bird" variant for her to draw without warning her. Rigel had suffered screaming nightmares for five nights after that. Or more precisely, the household had suffered Rigel's screaming nightmares for five nights.
"Foo pwease?"
Rigi smiled. "Yes, Tamara, you may have some food." She carried the young one into the dining room. Milk in a warmer, as well as several dishes of minced or mushed foods, waited for them. Andat no doubt had warned Nahla when Tamara awoke. And unlike her older brother, Tamara ate anything that did not move. This was not always a good thing, Rigi reminded herself as she secured the large bib onto her daughter and started spooning white-root into the small pink maw. They'd already had one scare with yellow berries, and Tamara had learned the hard way that some kinds of rose-hips were not eaten raw. Removing the prickles from a toddler tongue... Rigi understood now why her parents had raised her and her sister on Eta Toliman. The older colony world had fewer "interesting" native plants, and better-protected Earth plants.
"Ah-chew."
Rigi pulled the handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped Tamara's nose. "Bless you." Only then did she look at the white-root spatter now decorating the front of her dress. Well, this was why she wore washable clothes. White-root did not stain, thanks be to the Creatrix. Tamara got through the mushed moon-peas and minced pear-mato with ginter (for digestion) before she sneezed again. Rigi wiped her nose once more, then handed her the bottle. Her daughter drained it almost before Rigi could blink. "Young lady, where are you putting that food? Do you have a hollow tail?"
"Urp?"
Now Rigi did look at the ceiling. That behavior had to come from her husband's side of the family. Wait... what made the shadow in the upper corner? Something dark and furry moved on the decorative molding. It yawned, flashing sharp yellow teeth. Rigi grabbed Tamara and jumped away from the table to the far end of the room. "Makana, Andat, it appears that another marmoline has gotten in." She did not raise her voice. Much.
The two males bounded into the dining room. Andat had a low-power shooter in his forefeet. Makana spun and maneuvered until he was between Rigi and the creature. Rigi retreated from the room, Makana still acting as a shield. "Hizzt!" Thud. Makana pivoted again and jumped forward, past the table. Rigi held Tamara close, blocking her view so she couldn't see what was going on. Makana grabbed the thing. Crack!
"I will remove it." //Satisfaction/triumph// with a faint under-scent of //predator//. Makana nodded once as he turned toward the door.
Rigi eased her grip on Tamara before she accidentally smothered the child. "Thank you Makana, Andat. Well done, gentlemen." Andat had used stun, and Rigi couldn't see any damage to the ceiling or wall.
"Another marmoline, yes, ma'am," Andat informed her after Makana had marched out with the remains. He sounded thoughtful. "Too much moves for the season, ma'am. Small and large beasts are moving."
As she changed Tamara, Rigi considered Andat's words. He had a point, a good one, and a worrisome one. She made a note on her little idea pad beside her computer, then considered the weather and the hour. Rigel should be home soon. Mechanical footsteps approached, and she looked over to see Martinus, her m-dog, coming into the room. He'd finished charging and had an overcharge, if the movement of his tail told truth. That decided her. "Andat, if you have a moment, please set Miss Tamara's pen on the back porch."
"Yes, Mistress Rigi." He assembled the play pen with practiced speed, and Rigi plopped her daughter into it. He sat beside the pen on one side, Martinus sat on the other, and Rigi ducked inside long enough to change clothes. Then she put on outdoor shoes, grabbed Martinus's play-rope and led him around the back yard for a few minutes, working off her nerves and his over-charge. Marmolines looked small and cuddly, until they bit or clawed, and soiled what they didn't bite. Kor had lost part of one finger to a marmoline hiding in the carcass of a Peaty's draper, and Rigi had no tolerance for the beasts. This would be the third in the house or on the verandah in two months. Granted, many creatures moved at the beginning of the dry season, and their house perched just inside the bounds of the protective shielding in this district, but still... Andat's point bothered Rigi.
"Woof!" Martinus barked, eyes flashing to crimson as something large moved in the woods behind the Staré cottages at the end of the garden. Rigi backed toward the house as fast as she could without tripping. Martinus retreated as well, still facing the thing. The shape turned and moved toward them, crushing a bush, then pausing beside Kor's residence.
"Lothar, guard. Andat, my beam-rifle—" He handed it to her before she could finish, then bounded up the steps, grabbed Tamara out of her pen and disappeared inside as Makana burst out of the kitchen door with his own rifle.
Rwaaaaaaaahhhh! Rigi sighted and fired at the beast's chest as the juvenile wombeast bashed his shoulder against the Staré house, then lurched toward the main house. She had time to register the blood and something green oozing from below his right eye, then she fired again. Makana's shots hit the other eye. The beast traveled two more steps before thudding to the ground. Rigi lifted her finger from the trigger as Makana bounded to the beast, confirmed its death and waved the all-clear.
"No, Rigel, don't—Lord Shiva's flame, what happened?" Mrs. Singh stood at the end of the verandah, staring. Rigel stood beside her, jaw open.
"Thank you, Mrs. Singh. I apologize for the mess," Rigi said. She activated the beam-shooter's safety, slid her arm through the sling and snugged the weapon against her shoulder muzzle up. "I believe that the repulsor field in this district has developed a problem."
