Page 36 of Mazorium Buys a Human

The Talins all leaned in close, purring loudly, their eyes focused on my baby. I’d gotten used to being stared at, but I wasn’t prepared for them to remain silent. Everyone else made comments or asked questions, but these three stared at Nadia as if memorizing every aspect of her.

Mazorium sat down behind me, and I heard him do the smack-to-the-chest greeting thing. “It’s an honor to meet you, Station Director Gorum.” Then he introduced himself using his family and clan name.

The three Talins in the chairs staring down at Nadia didn’t even acknowledge that Mazorium spoke. Gorum stood up, pushed her chair away, then sat on the floor. The other two followed her lead. None of them took their eyes off my baby.

It was disconcerting.

I looked over my shoulder at Mazorium, but I could tell he didn’t know what to do because he was looking back and forth between them and me.

Nadia made an impatient sound. I busied myself with propping her up against some pillows next to me. Before I’d even finished, Gorum went down on her belly, putting her face right in front of Nadia.

“Hello, my name is Gorum. I’ve read that humans like to come up with nicknames by shortening proper names. If you like, you can call me Gor or Rum,” she whispered. Nadia focused on Gorum, interested in anything that moved. Gorum sucked in a breath. “Can you say Gor?”

“She can’t talk yet,” I explained, tense and ready to bat Gorum’s hand away if she reached for Nadia. I didn’t like how they hadn’t really spoken to Mazorium or me yet, only watching my baby.

Gorum didn’t acknowledge me and spoke to Nadia again. “Your kind is so small and delicate. Look at your tiny hands and feet. You’re so very helpless.”

“Mika is an excellent dam,” Mazorium said. “She took good care of her pup even when she had nothing and was waiting to be auctioned off.”

Again, Gorum ignored Mazorium. This felt very odd!

“It’s good we’ve taken to collecting your species,” she said to Nadia. “We have the resources and diligence to make sure you can grow up strong and happy.”

The door to the office chimed. The sound made Nadia turn her head, which unbalanced her body and she slipped sideways. The three Talins all made startled rattles as I picked her up and settled her on my lap.

“She fell over,” Gorum said, finally looking up at Mazorium. “She can’t even hold her own body up in a sitting position?”

“Not yet,” Mazorium said.

Gorum’s hands were on the pillow in front of her, clutching and unclutching the fluffy mass.

“She would need my constant attention,” Gorum said, going back to staring at Nadia.

“I’m prepared to assume more duties,” the Talin to Gorum’s right said. “We could also make sure both your home and this office are designed to accommodate a human pup.”

I grabbed Nadia up and held her against my chest at the same time Mazorium sounded a negative rattle. He grabbed me and moved me into his lap so Nadia and I were sheltered in his protective embrace.

“Under no circumstances am I selling Mika or Nadia.”

I expected Gorum to sound an angry rattle, but there wasn’t a single noise. She only sat up and regarded Mazorium with intense, unblinking eyes.

“I’ve already sent a complaint to the Committee of Pet Welfare that you’re taking these humans to an uninhabited planet with no Talin outpost or station within a rotation of travel. My uncle is an assembly citizen with many acquaintances in the Apogee Assembly. He can sway them to give me both your humans. If you agree to my terms, I’ll allow you to leave with the dam. You have two humans; I only want one.”

“She’s too young to be separated from me!” I cried, clutching Nadia tight enough to make her protest. I forced myself to loosen my hold as Mazorium purred soothingly.

“Do not speak to me,” Gorum snapped, finally looking at me. “I will train your pup to be obedient, unlike you.”

“You will not be training Nadia,” Mazorium said. How was he so calm when Gorum was threatening to take my baby? “It will take at least fifteen rotations for a member of the Committee of Pet Welfare to arrive here. I will be gone by then.”

“I’ll have them follow you to the planet,” Gorum said. “That will only delay my possession of the pup; it won’t stop me. It would be better for you to give her to me now and take a generous payment. Otherwise you’ll lose her later and receive no compensation.”

The emotionless way they were talking wasn’t helping to keep my fear under control.

“By the time they reach me, I’ll have already sent my father a message,” Mazorium said, rubbing my back soothingly.

Gorum sounded a questioning rumble. “Why would that matter?”

“Because Servant Citizen Nolnum wouldn’t approve of your manipulation of an oversight committee,” he stated.