After dinner, I walked towards the balcony. I thought about what the Grand Elder has to say. Chiva? What does that mean?
"Troubled thoughts?" Raj'ah asked, joining me on the balcony.
"What does the Grand Elder mean about my Chiva?" Raj'ah looked at me and smiled.
"It's when the female or a male compete their first hunt."
"First Hunt?" I asked.
"Yes." Raj'ah answered.
"I have to be a member of the clan to do it?"
"Yes and no." Raj'ah explained.
"You really don't have to be a member of the Clan to to do the first hunt. But if you do pass your Chiva, you will become one of us."
"I don't think I'm worthy..." Raj'ah looked at me.
"You are worthy, young one to the Grand Elder."
I smiled at Raj'ah. He is right, I got to believe in myself to prove to the Elder that I am worthy.
"I'm going to get washed up."
I left Raj'ah and went inside. I was about to go to the bathroom when I saw someone going upstairs. I decided to take a closer look and to my confusion, I spotted an Yautja with a long pipe. Quietly, I went downstairs and went to see where the pipe is going. I observed and to my horror, the pipe is pointed at the Grand Elder. Horrified, I ran towards the Grand Elder and before the Grand Elder could react, I went in front of him just in time. Crying in pain, I turned my head and saw that a dart hit my shoulder. Blood leaked from there as the Grand Elder looked in surprise. I collapsed on the ground when the guards came running towards the Grand Elder while Raj'ah and Rai'eka ran over towards me.
"Alex!" Raj'ah cried, holding me in his arms.
"Find the Yautja and bring him to me!" The Grand Elder ordered his guards.
Several guards left while the Grand Elder looked upon me, moaning in pain, and trying to stay awake.
"You...saved...my...life..."
"Had..." Before I could say anything, she blacked out.
"My personal healer will save your friend, Arbitrator Raj'ah." The Grand Elder said to Raj'ah, who is holding the young girl in his arms.
Raj'ah got up with Alex in his arms and handed her to the Grand Elder's healer named Fer'ah.
"Fer'ah, take our Ooman guest and get her healed up right away." "
Yes, Grand Elder."
Fer'ah bowed to him and quickly took Alex to the healing chambers, with Rai'eka following the two.
"I'll go and find the assassin." Raj'ah bowed along with the other Arbitrators and left the palace while the Grand Elder is whisked away by the guards towards his private chambers.
I woke up a few hours later and looked around. I remembered saving the Grand Elder from an attempted assassination by an unknown assassin. Trying to get up, I felt a hand pushing me back down on the bed. I looked and it was the Grand Elder who is sitting next to me.
"Easy, young Ooman." The Grand Elder explained.
"You are hurt."
"Where's Ra...Arbitrator Raj'ah?"
"He is resting."
"The assassin?"
"They brought him in, and executed him. He's a bad blood."
I nodded and sighed.
"Why did you save me?"
I looked at the Grand Elder.
"Huh?"
"Why did you save me?"
"You were so kind to me after we met that you helped me ease my nerves, unlike Clan leader, Kai'ro who mistreated me badly..."
"Ahh.." Grand Elder smiled down at me, patting my head.
"You did an honorable thing, young one." I looked at him and smiled.
Fer'ah walked in and smiled at me before bowing to the Grand Elder.
"Greetings Grand Elder, Cetanu."
Grand Elder Cetanu bowed to her while Fer'ah checked on my shoulder.
"Your shoulder is healing up really good. I injected the serum into the blood stream to eliminate the poison. Usually for a Ooman, the white blood cells would attack the serum, but instead it cause the white blood cells to get stronger and eliminated the poison."
I nodded, kinda understanding the concept. The healer unwrapped the bandages and the clicked in approval.
"The wound is healed up. Come take a look."
I got up and went to the mirror, and to my surprise, there was no scar on my shoulder where I got hit.
"You get to go home with the Arbitrator right now, he's waiting for you."
"Thank you honorable healer." I bowed.
"Young one," Grand Elder Cetanu smiled.
"Please join me for some breakfast, you and Arbitrator Raj'ah."
"Sure." I smiled.
She and Grand Elder Cetanu left the healing chambers and met up with Raj'ah who was sitting outside.
"Alex..." He went up and hugged me.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes." I nodded looking up at him.
Raj'ah held me for awhile until Grand Elder Cetanu cleared his throat.
"Join me for breakfast outside in the court yard." Raj'ah nodded and looked at me.
"Healer Fer'ah will give you some new clothes to replace your dress that was stained with your blood."
I looked up at Raj'ah and he nodded. Healer Fer'ah escorted me to another room while Raj'ah is alone with Grand Elder Cetanu.
While walking towards the gardens, Raj'ah about the Ooman girl. He almost lost her three times in a row. Those badblood oomans, Kai'ro and now a near assassination attempt on the Grand Elder. His heart began to beat a different rhythm than his own. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her since he rescued her, and yet he doesn't have the heart to do so.
"My boy," he said placing his hand on Raj'ah's shoulder.
"I can sense that you have feelings for this girl."
There was no point, Raj'ah can't deny his feelings any longer.
"I do have feelings for this young Ooman, but I can't be falling for her."
"Why is that?"
"It's the way my parents raised us. I became an Arbitrator to find the bad bloods-"
"to avenge your family's death?"
Raj'ah sighed.
"I can't be putting Alex in danger, Grand Elder. That's why I can't make her as my mate."
They arrive at the gardens where they sat down.
"What does your heart tell you?"
"..." Raj'ah thought of an answer, but couldn't answer this one.
"When you and Rai'eka were pups, after I took you two in and became your Nyrak'tara, I always taught you two to listen to your heart. This Alex is a very special ooman, no wonder you chose her as your lifemate."
Raj'ah looked up at him. "How-"
"When I saw that the necklace that your father gave to your mother was gone from your neck, I had a feeling that you chose your lifemate. It didn't matter to me that your lifemate was from another planet."
Raj'ah looked at his adoptive father. He does have a point. However, he can't put Alex in danger just because of his status as an Arbitrator. Then again, he is falling for the girl whom he saved twice before.
"Alex can't be waiting forever. When she completes her Chiva and if you don't mate her, she will be choosing someone else." Cetanu warned him before they saw Fer'ah and Alex come out of the palace.
"Here she is." Healer Fer'ah And I came out wearing a ocean blue tube top with a brown long skirt and on her feet were her sandals from last night.
"Thank you, Fer'ah." Grand Elder Cetanu smiled as Healer Fer'ah left the gardens. Raj'ah looked at Alex. She looks so beautiful. Yet, his heart is beating with confusion and mixed emotions.
"You look lovely, young Alex."
"Thank you, honorable Elder." I smiled and sat down next to Raj'ah.
"Where are you from, young one?"
I began my story of how I was born to the day that Raj'ah saved me from the male human traffickers.
"Those male oomans have no respect for the females don't they?"
I shook my head blinking back my tears.
"I am very fortunate that you are alive and that's what counts right?"
I nodded and we took a seat. The servants brought out the breakfast and served it on our plates.
"Now let's eat."