“I’m sorry,” Vulpes says as he’s walking past me.
It takes me a second to register that he’s said anything, let alone realize what he said.
“Sorry for what?”
I’m hauling some framing lumber and trying to push it into position, and it’s being a real pain in the ass.
“I never treated you very well. But you’ve brought peace where none existed, and you’ve proved your willingness to work. And to sacrifice yourself for others. That’s a noble quality in a person of any species.”
“Yeah. Guess I did. Pick up the end of the beam, would you?”
He does as I ask, and slots it into place for me with no effort whatsoever. Easy for him because he’s four times as strong as I am.
There are dozens of warriors around, all working at the rebuild. It’s going up really fast, and even better than before. There’s a stone reinforcement around the lower regions, so if anybody tries to set it on fire, it won’t burn. The top part is still wood, but it is reinforced and painted, and… well, it really looks more like a fortress now, because this is where Equs and I will reside after our wedding.
We’re building a house. And we’re doing it with all our friends. Just like ancient television shows where people built houses and everybody watched them do it.
“Thanks,” I say. “That’s nice of you to say.”
“It’s not nice of me. It’s a simple truth, one I should have admitted earlier.”
“Not going to disagree with you,” I say, simply. “I accept your apology though.”
“Very gracious of you,” he says.
“That’s me. Gracious. Bold. Brave. And soon enough, your queen. That’s not the reason for this sudden apology?”
“It is not,” he growls.
“I’m just fucking with you, buddy,” I say. “Let’s get this next beam.”
And that’s what we do.
There are no further arguments to be had. I’d say there are no tensions at all, but the tensions now exist outside the king’s residence and are focused somewhat more around the city. I intend to pay as little attention as possible to the whole matter. Civilization is a rough prospect, and blending tribes who have historically hated each other is always going to be an absolute shitshow. It’s just the best shitshow outcome out of all possible shitshow outcomes. Does that make me callous, selfish, and completely irresponsible? Maybe. But I’m a horse breeder who was captured by an alien king, and not a diplomat.
At the end of our labors stands a fortress which also doubles as a stable. A grand tower rises toward the heavens, seven layers of floors leading to a grand suite at the very top for Equs and me. The floor directly below has six bedrooms, all of which are reserved for offspring who do not yet exist. Below that is Vulpes’ suite. I suppose he deserves that. Below that are further suites for generals and soldiers, and then there’s a level with kitchen and feast hall, and then a library and planning chambers, and greeting chambers, and things of that nature, and below that are the servants and the stablehands, and at the very bottom are the sprawling stables themselves, spread out in four ranging directions, two dozen stalls in each of them. Then there are the yards, more than double the number there were before. The pastures have been re-fenced in post and rail, painted white because that’s how I used to have it at the home I have now all but abandoned. I have sent messages home to my family, but there is no guarantee they will get them any time soon.
I will be wanting to travel back to Earth as soon as we are married. There are a thousand plans whirling around in my head. Aliens aren’t actually allowed on Earth, in case they accidentally conquer us all, but I think I can probably sneak Equs in somehow. Maybe I’ll shave him and put a mask on his face. Or maybe there’s some kind of human suit out there.
“This is the way to do it,” Equs declares. "Every time life tries to tear you down, build back twice as strong and four times as large.”
I could not agree more. We are going to make a great many things, he and I. We are going to breed a most exquisite line of horses that will persist long after we are gone. And we may very well breed the odd alien person cross too, who knows.
Fourteen
Blaire
It is our wedding day. I am doing wedding things. A wedding is happening to me. The entire population of the city, and many of the Eponites have shown up to cheer us on, which I think is pretty nice of them. I suppose it’s to be expected, but I didn’t expect it.
I am nervous. I don’t know why, because I have tried very hard not to wind myself up about this grand display. Perhaps some of my nerves come from the fact that it’s very possible that someone will try to kill us because they think this is our happy day. Jokes on them. This isn’t my happy day. This is the day I have to get through in order to have all the happy days yet to come. There’s a good eighty percent of me that wishes we were out on distant plains, a long way from any of these crowds.