Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 124077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
The Monstrum Mother Ship wasn’t just a ship, as Taurex explained it. It was actually a living vessel, and the interior really showed that. Everywhere, growing on the walls and ceilings, were vines with multiple glowing flowers. They provided the illumination for the entire ship, and they came in many colors–gold and pink and pale green and deep blue and royal purple–it was beautiful to see.
The effect of the glowing flowers was magical, making Terra feel like she’d stepped into a Disney movie. She couldn’t stop looking all around her as she held Taurex’s hand and let him lead her through the alien ship.
At last they came to the Commander’s office. Taurex knocked on the door and a deep, purring voice said,
“Come in.”
They walked into a vine covered office lit with glowing golden blooms and Terra saw a huge alien male with the body of a man and the head of a lion. Commander Rarev was wearing a well-fitted uniform and he rose from behind his desk and offered his arm for a warrior’s clasp when Taurex came into the room.
The two males clasped arms and then Taurex introduced Terra as his “office manager and business partner,” which made her heart swell with pride.
“It’s very good to meet you,” Commander Rarev said to her. “As I’m sure you know, your partner is an excellent negotiator which is one reason I asked him here today.”
“What can I do for you, Commander?” Taurex asked, frowning.
The huge Lion Monstrum sighed and spread his hands on the desk.
“Well, we seem to have a problem. We’re almost out of kethra resin.”
“Kethra resin?” Terra asked, frowning.
“It’s a substance that bonds living to non-living components,” the Monstrum Commander explained. “And because the Monstrum Mother Ship is made up of both living and non-living parts, the kethra resin is vital to keeping our ship in good repair. Unfortunately, our supply is running low and there is only one other source of kethra in this universe.”
“And where might that be?” Taurex asked.
Commander Rarev made a face as though speaking the words hurt him.
“On Valeria Prime.”
Taurex winced.
“Well, that could be a problem.”
“Why? What’s the problem?” Terra asked curiously.
“The Valerians are notoriously hard to deal with,” Taurex explained. “They have strict standards which must be met before they will even meet for trade negotiations.”
“What kind of standards?” Terra said, frowning.
“Well, to begin with, they all have horns and so they will only deal with emissaries who also have horns. And the bigger the horns, the better,” Commander Rarev said.
“Oh, I get it.” Terra nodded. “No wonder you wanted Taurex to deal with them.”
“Yes–we do have other warriors who possess horns, but Taurex has the largest,” the Monstrum Commander agreed. He looked at Taurex. “Do you think you can make a deal with them?”
Taurex frowned.
“I will do my best. They are a finicky and exacting people–I must bring plenty of cut gems with me if I hope to conduct a successful negotiation.”
“I already have a large selection ready to go,” Commander Rarev said. Clearly he had anticipated Taurex’s needs.
“Is the matter urgent?” Taurex asked. “I was hoping to show my business partner around the Mother Ship for a little while. But if you need me to go at once, I must bring her back to Earth to be with her younglings and mother first.”
“No, no–we need the resin but not right this minute.” Commander Rarev made a shooing gesture. “Take a few days to show her our ship. Who knows? She might like it so much, she will consider making it her permanent residence.”
And he gave Taurex a knowing look that made Terra’s heart flutter. What was the Monstrum Commander implying? That Taurex might ask her to marry him and move up here? Or was she reading too much into a friendly statement?
Either way, she didn’t dare to ask and Taurex didn’t comment either.
“Thank you, Commander,” he rumbled, nodding as he rose to leave. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready to head to Valeria Prime.”
“Thank you–I’ll be sure the jewels you need are polished and displayed to show off their maximum trade value,” Commander Rarev said. He held out a hand covered in fine golden fur to Terra, who rose and shook it. “Please enjoy the hospitality of our ship,” he said in his deep, purring voice. “But do be sure to stay close to Taurex if you visit the Dark Side–we have Monstrum there who are not quite…tame.”
The way he said it sent a shiver down Terra’s spine–it almost felt like a veiled threat. But she only nodded and smiled and thanked him for his hospitality.
Before she knew it, they were leaving Commander Rarev’s office and Taurex turned to her with a smile.
“Well, shall we go see my domicile? But first maybe you’d like to visit the Market so I can buy ingredients to fix you a meal.”