Smuggler’s Contubernium (Mea Lupus Series Book 1) Page 10

  “Good save,” chuckled Pollux.

  “What else have you learned?” They were both suspiciously silent before they exchanged a look. I knew their ability had nothing to do with telepathy but their innate quirks as twins almost made it look like they were having their own private chat.

  “Nothing else,” Pollux sighed.

  “Same,” Kastur’s slight frown was his only outward sign of irritation.

  “Then we see what we can get from our meeting later with Avidius,” I frowned into my cup of chai, “Assuming we don’t get bumped again.”

  “Ah, here we are, my lords!” Ahmed waved in a young girl no older than ten. He took the heavy packages from her arms and began laying out an impressive assortment of desserts. Many of them made from recipes I knew only because of our wide travels for work.

  “Roasted Pistachio balls from Tala 4!” Kastur squealed like an excited child and the little girl giggled.

  “I didn’t know wolves ate sweets,” she teased.

  “Well, this wolf loooves sweets! Maybe I should gobble you up too,” he teased right back.

  “Nooo!” The little girl laughed and hid behind her father. We all laughed as Kastur stomped after her around the small shop. My smile fell a little. He and his brother loved children. They had confided their fear of losing our mate to childbirth when we had first became a pack. It hurt to see my pack mates most suited to fatherly life have no children to show that side to except to the children of others.

  Kastur, Pollux, and I immediately stiffened our shoulders. We could smell other Mea Lupus, who were not Senate guards, approaching. While this wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, it also wasn’t normal to smell such a large group walking through the Senate. Ahmed looked up and gasped softly. He quickly snapped out his arm and hid his daughter behind him. I furrowed my brow in confusion.

  Kastur was the picture of indulgence as he shoved a sticky pastry in his mouth and chewed greedily, but his eyes were coldly assessing the group walking through the merchant area. Pollux was all bland calm as he sipped his lukewarm chai. I didn’t want to turn around so I relied on them to take stock of what had alarmed Ahmed. The girl shook in fear behind him and covered her mouth with her little hands. It was a practiced movement, like she had done it many times before.

  “Daughters of Menrva,” Kastur’s telepathic whisper was at complete odds with his happy chewing, “A Primus Pilus is with them.” Many of the old ranks and titles had fallen away or morphed over time but out of respect for Caesar’s favoured Tenth Legion the Primus Pilus was still used today. The biggest difference being any Mea Lupus ranked Primus Pilus commanded ten to one hundred times the amount of ships and people as their progenitors. They also answered to only two entities: the Emperor and the Mea Lupus Assembly.

  “Shit, they’re coming this way,” Pollux stealthily turned to see where the little girl had gone but she was nowhere to be seen. Ahmed stood single-mindedly wiping down counters and dishes like his focus on the task determined whether he lived or died. I forced my body to relax, I would question Ahmed later. I shut down the telepathic link and turned to the doorway as it was filled with the Daughters. The Prima Pilus, with her modern vitis on her hip, walked towards us as the rest faced outward, blocking the only exit.

  “Gaius Galeria,” her smile was sharper than a plas-blade, “everyone says you look exactly like your father when he was younger but I didn’t believe it until now.”

  “Primus Pilus, you honour me with your kind words,” I gave her a polite smile and put down my empty cup. She pulled over a stool to our table then unbuckled her vitis. It slapped down on the table as she sat forcefully on the stool, all with a friendly air as if we knew each other well. Her vitis still had the gnarled look of the traditional vine wood but its shiny black exterior belied its modern features that could put a full grown Mea Lupus on the ground, lying in a pool of their own piss, with one touch. “I apologise, Primus Pilus...?”

  “Faustina,” she left her vitis on the table and threw one leg over the other settling in comfortably as if she were at the head of her fleet and not on a beat up stool in a street vendor’s shop.

  “Please, Primus Pilus Faustina, let me get you something to drink. The chai here is exceptional,” I smiled politely and Ahmed raced over with a fresh cup. He quickly refilled all of our cups then raced back to his cleaning. Never mind that we were his only customers. “These desserts are also quite varied.”

  Faustina slowly turned the hot glass on the table with the tips of her fingers. She didn’t speak. She looked at the glass of chai as if it were a puzzle to be solved or prey to be ripped apart. Her gauntlet chimed and it was only then that I realised she was wearing her tech suit under her red tunic. Faustina wore her black paludamentum with its gold and red trimming in a longer style that made the visible parts of her tech suit look like regular clothing.

  I sipped my chai and motioned for her to please try the desserts on the table. She only leaned back and gave me a coy smile. Kastur and Pollux wisely didn’t address the Primus Pilus. Getting away with wearing her Mea Lupus tech suit in the Senate was the least of what she could do. She was untouchable and this little stunt just rubbed in that fact.

  “I was just talking with your father the other day,” she sipped her chai and paused, making us wait on her next words. “He seemed tired. It’s strange that such a renowned Mea Lupus like your father hasn’t retired yet.”

  “My father lives to serve,” I laughed. I wasn’t about to let anyone use backhanded compliments to unseat my confidence or my father’s reputation.

  “And what father wouldn’t want to work so hard for his children’s future,” her smile became cutting, “I and my pack were recently blessed with a daughter, thank the Divine Couple.” She placed two fingers to her heart in respect. Her expression became sympathetic but her eyes were cruel, “It must be challenging for Gaius to not have any little grandchildren in his old age.”

  “Faustina,” her name was spoken like the crack of a whip but her eyes remained locked with my own. A second Primus Pilus in matching Daughter of Menrva paludamentum colours stood just inside the shop.

  She must have a similar ability to my father because none of us heard or smelt her before she appeared. This new Primus Pilus had eyes like cobalt glass and pitch black hair held back in intricate braids. They were both easily three or four centuries into their lives.

  “Revna,” Faustina broke away from our stare off and turned her head slightly to scoff at the other woman, “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it was rude to interrupt someone’s conversation?”

  “Toy with the boy on your own time,” Revna sneered, “We have work to do.” She spun on her heel and walked out. Faustina stood suddenly and sighed. Looking back at me she picked up her vitis and rapped the table twice.

  “Duty calls,” she winked and spun her vitis before slapping it into her hip holster. She walked out without another word and the rest of the Daughters followed behind her. I quickly relinked the three of us telepathically again.

  “Fuck me sideways,” Kastur shoved another tart in his mouth and shook his head.

  “What. The. Ever-Loving. Fuck,” Pollux stole the fruit tart Kastur was aiming for his mouth right out of his hand and chomped it down. If I didn’t know him any better I would say he was stress eating.

  “Ahmed,” I called out. The man’s shoulder’s tensed up before he shakily took a breath. He came back to our table but his smile seemed more forced than real. “Ahmed you know the Mea Lupus would never harm an innocent.”

  “I don’t fear the Mea Lupus, my lord,” he gulped.

  “But you fear the Daughters,” I stated.

  “No. No, my lord—“

  “Is it safe to come out now?” The little girls scared whisper made us all look over as she peaked out from one of the cabinets in the back.

  “Come here, little one,” Pollux said gently. She climbed down onto the counter and slipped silently to the floor below. Ahmed rung his hands
in fear and sadness. Pollux took her tiny hand in his, “A Mea Lupus would never hurt a child.”

  Her eyes darted up to her father’s.

  “I’m not afraid of wolves,” she said bravely, “I’m a good girl.”

  “Of course you’re a good girl,” teased Kastur as he tapped her on the nose. She smiled shyly and touched her nose. “And you have the most clever hiding spots.”

  “I’m very clever,” she nodded seriously, “that’s why the scary wolves can’t take me away.”

  “Are we scary wolves?” Smiled Pollux. She smiled right back at him.

  “No,” she giggled, “But...,” she looked up at her father for reassurance and he took her hand. “I’m ten,” she whispered her age as if it was the most important secret in the world.

  “Zara, will you help me close up the shop for today? We’ll go home early and I’ll get you one of those ice treats you love so much,” Ahmed cupped his daughters face and poured all his love into his voice.

  “Thank you, abu!” Zara raced back to the kitchen area and started cleaning up.

  “What is she talking about?” I asked. His face fell and he looked over his shoulder to make sure his daughter didn’t overhear us.

  “I and my wife sold everything we owned to move to New Rome,” He took in a fortifying breath, “the majority of our funds were spent to pay smugglers to take my daughter and wife safety from Tala 4 directly here where I was waiting.”

  “What does that have to do with scary wolves and Zara being 10 years old,” Kastur’s serious face momentarily threw off Ahmed who blinked at his apparent personality shift.

  “The Daughters of Menrva are the scary wolves,” I provided.

  “Yes,” he nodded and cleared his throat, “Every 10 years they would come to Tala 4 and other frontier worlds and take volunteers.” He spat the last word in disgust. “Far as I could see they never asked any questions as to how the local government determined who’s daughter between the ages of 10 to 15 were chosen as volunteers.”

  “Volunteers for what?” Asked Pollux in confusion.

  “The Gauntlet Program,” I breathed. If that’s how they were conducting the already controversial program than no wonder Ahmed was terrified.

  “I don’t know what they called it,” Ahmed’s voice was heated. He regained some of his earlier courage, “We called it The Culling.”

  “Why,” asked Kastur warily.

  “Because our daughters rarely came back,” Ahmed’s terror filled the small space and had the hair raising on the back of my neck, “We were assured that after their time in the program most of the girls opted to make use of their new skills and live on more central worlds if they hadn’t become Chosen.”

  The Daughters of Menrva were a semi-religious sect that was founded by the very first female Mea Lupus. It held massive political and religious power. The Gauntlet Program was their controversial answer to the decline in mate-pack pairings and low birth rates. It had been in operation for the last 100 years. The fact that it had any kind of success was the only reason it hadn’t been shut down. My father abhorred the program.

  “You’re safe here in New Rome,” I held his gaze to make sure he understood that, “But if you are ever concerned for your safety or the safety of your daughter, reach out to me or my pack.” I tapped on my gauntlet and Ahmed’s comm cuff chimed.

  “My lord, I can’t possibly—“ His eyes rounded in shock, the payment for the food included a tip that was more than enough for him to purchase a small domus in a nice neighbourhood.

  “We appreciated your food,” I nodded and we all got up, “as well as your candour.” His comm cuff chimed two more times as Kastur and Pollux left their own sizeable tip. Ahmed sat there dumbstruck.

  “Plus, we’re stuck here for at least another few months and I’d rather eat your food if I have to brave the bowels of the Senate,” winked Kastur. Ahmed laughed and wiped away stray tears.

  “Anytime, my lords. I was a well respected restauranteur on Tala 4, I can make much better food than this,” he laughed.

  “We’ll hold you to it,” Pollux patted Ahmed’s shoulder companionably. He waved to Zara who dutifully was placing dishes in the cleansing unit. She smiled and waved at us as we left. We smiled back then walked out the door.

  Our faces became carefully blank as soon as we left Ahmed’s stall. The Senate had eyes and ears everywhere. We had gotten exceptionally lucky that Ahmed’s street food style stall hadn’t attracted any other customers. What we learned had ice crawling through my veins.

  “That’s got to be it, Gaius,” said Kastur.

  “The Mea Lupus Assembly would never approve of expanding the Gauntlet Program,” I replied, “My father would never allow it. He despises that program, says it’s a perversion of Menrva’s Divine Gift.”

  “You know the Daughters have enough power to bypass the Mea Lupus Assembly and get the Emperor’s approval if the Senate agrees to the expansion,” argued Pollux.

  All three of our gauntlets chimed.

  “Avidius canceled our appointment and requested another date to reschedule,” I said in a bored tone, “Let’s head home.”

  I called up my transport drone and we waited in silence on the cold platform. We knew better than to have any kind of serious discussion out in the open. I had also shut down the link because my own thoughts had become chaotic. The knowledge we had gained today was disturbing but something about it set off alarms buzzing like hornets in my brain.

  We climbed into the transport drone and waited for our gauntlets to confirm that everything was secure. Any other day and I might have been more lax about security, but now more than ever I felt the need to safeguard anything we might discuss. My protective instincts were at high alert.

  “Gaius your eyes,” Pollux frowned as he tipped his chin at me.

  “I’m not the only one,” my voice was a rough low growl. The twins turned to each other. Kastur’s mostly blue, green eyes were reflective like his brother’s mostly green, blue eyes.

  “I feel like I’m ready to tear someone apart,” Kastur’s deep gravelly voice was barely recognisable. He looked down at his hands and flexed his clawed fingers.

  “What the fuck is going on, Gaius?” Pollux stared at his own clawed fingertips.

  “I don’t know. Something’s tripped our protective instincts,” I answered.

  “We’re not young pups, Gaius. We don’t get accidentally anything at our age,” chided Kastur.

  “I don’t know what to tell you,” I could feel my anger and defensiveness growing.

  “We’ve all been around Daughters before,” interjected Pollux, “maybe not Primus Pilus but...”

  “Something Ahmed said about them not asking questions and girls never returning home is driving me up the wall,” I added.

  “It’s controversial and I’m outraged at the implications but this,” Kastur sucked in a heavy breath of air, “this feels different. It feels...”

  “Personal,” I growled.

  “Extremely,” rumbled Pollux.

  We didn’t say anything else as we all worked to regain our composure before we got back to my family’s home. We had already eaten, which was good because by now we had missed the evening meal. The transport drone descended and we stepped out to the fresh familiar scents of home. And to my father Gaius, waiting at the landing area.

  Kastur and Pollux nodded in respect then hurried past when he made no motion to engage them. My father turned and walked into the nearby garden. I felt a familiar sense of childhood dread. If I had done poorly in my studies or my instructors had spoken with him he would lead me into this garden to have a talk with me. It was my mother’s favourite and usually served to calm us both.

  “You spoke with Faustina and Revna today,” he stated.

  “I think it was more Faustina spoke at me, and Revna came to fetch her wayward companion so they could get back to whatever they were doing.”

  “Mmm,” he looked at me and patiently waited, as he
always did.

  “They’re trying to get Senate approval to make the Gauntlet Program universal across the Imperial Union, aren’t they?” Shock and respect flashed across my father’s eyes.

  “I’m sure that’s their ultimate goal,” he nodded his head approvingly. “Menrva knows they have all the power they could want already,” he mumbled.

  “Are things that desperate?” I barely breathed the question for fear of the answer.

  “The knowledge of Divine Mates used to be a closely held secret,” he sighed, “but that was only so people didn’t see the bigger secret right in front of their eyes.” My father was referring to the fact that only Divine Mates or fated mates and their packs could have children. We not only couldn’t get Mortals pregnant, we could’t get each other pregnant without our love match.

  “People are starting to notice,” I said grimly.

  “They started noticing 100 years ago when that disgusting program was started,” he scoffed. He shook his head, “I can’t even fathom how long Menrva waited for Caesar to be born. Much less being forced to standby and watch him be murdered.” My father’s train of thought was giving me whiplash. What did the Gauntlet Program have to do with the Divine Couple? “Sometimes I think Menrva wanted children so badly with the one She loved that She never wanted us to take love or children for granted either.”

  “You think She made us this way on purpose, that She wanted us to eventually die out?” I asked in disbelief.

  “No,” he looked at me with the frustration of a parent asking his child to be smarter about a complex situation. He sighed, “Lucius is the devout one. Julian would probably laugh at me for saying this but... I have faith.” We had stopped walking and were standing near a gurgling fountain.

  “The Daughters see this as a test of our resourcefulness,” I attempted.

  “The only thing the Daughters are testing is the Divine Couple’s patience,” he growled, “If they’re lucky, they produce 5 Chosen every 10 years from their ‘program’. But what’s the real question, Gaius?”