[The Princes XXIII] [Promises] “How is he doing?” asked Captain Kerin, Fox’s boyhood bodyguard and Captain of his Black Guard. “Still hasn’t gone back into the water, and it’s been three months,” replied Fox. “The longer he waits the deeper the fear of the ocean will imbed itself into him,” said Kerin. “I don’t think he’s scared of the ocean,” explained Fox. “I think it’s more that he was so excited to meet a Carinian and the first ones he met were criminals.” “That was unfortunate,” said Kerin. “He told me he wants to be a Black Guard and make sure it never happens to anyone else,” said Fox. “Did you explain to him you have to be a Carinian?” “I did, don’t worry, he’s a boy and will find another interest.” The two men continued their walk along the beach and talked about the future and the past. They talked about Ryota, the children, the island, and even told each other a few good natured jokes. The tide was low and some Carinian children and Fox’s children were up ahead playing a game of ‘Jump the Krak’ne’ with a squid trying to do nothing but scoop up some sand crabs for lunch. “The children are getting along,” noted Fox. “Most of the local Carinians are grateful for cleaning out the criminal element,” said Kerin. “There was a reason this island was never built on.” “Lets hope Ryota doesn’t blame the Carinians for the actions of a few criminals,” said Fox. “He’s keeping secrets from you,” said Kerin. “I saw him sitting on the beach with a Carinian girl, just about around his age too.” “Oh, well then, I believe the situation will resolve naturally on its own,” replied Fox. Ryota stood ankle deep in the surf and watched the waves for Tage’Ce to arrive. She was supposed to be here already, what was taking her so long? Her house wasn’t too far off-shore, he kind of knew where, and he had his body suit, but… he hadn’t been back in the water since… but… he wanted to see Tage. He had been sitting on one of the big rocks looking out over the ocean when he first met her. She had boldly emerged from the water and walked up to him and sat down and started wiggling her fingers at him. He had been on Carina long enough now to know that the wiggling fingers were the native language of the Carinians. They had talked for a long time, though neither of them knew what the other was saying, and they walked and ran and played on the beach. She made jokes that he laughed at, somehow he just knew what she was trying to say. She tried to get him to go in the water but he refused to go any further than his knees. Maybe she was in trouble, maybe some of the bad people were still around. Ryota stood up on the rock and scanned the waves. Was she in trouble? Maybe he could find her house. She had pointed the direction, and drawn a map in the sand. He could find it. Ryota walked further into the water, he couldn’t think about himself now, she was in danger, he was sure of it. The water lapped around his legs and he looked down at the swirling surf. I can do this, do it… I’m not a coward… do it… now! Ryota ran, splashing through the water, as fast as he could and dived under the waves. He had to hurry, she was injured… dying… he knew it. She wouldn’t be late unless it was serious. The body suit transferred oxygen directly into his blood but that wasn’t enough, the lungs wanted to keep working despite what was being absorbed through the skin; the breathing tube on the hood also provided oxygen and the necessary function of allowing the lungs to continue to pump air. Ryota activated the fins on the body suit and swam for the bottom. He could stay under the water indefinitely with the body suit, well, not quite. There was still the psychological need for the surface; he was a mammal. The village wasn’t far, maybe less than a mile off-shore. The hood mask was amazing, he could see so clearly with it. The village was a collection of domed structures gathered chaotically together between two coral reefs; at least to his eyes it looked just thrown together. Ryota forgot his urgency to find Tage and drifted for a moment in the water staring at the strange village, it was so alien. This was another species, another world, what was he doing? He had talked with that Black Guard Captain, Kerin’Sar, and knew he was genetically compatible with this species, but still - he was chasing an alien girl. No, it had nothing to do with that. She was his friend and she was probably in danger, maybe… maybe not; in the deep cold water he was thinking a little more clearly. She was fine, she had just been late, but he better go make sure, just in case. Ryota swam towards the village and wondered where he should start looking. The buildings had no pattern that he could tell. Which ones were living quarters? Or were they all? They must have stores, shops, factories, schools, but how did you tell them apart? The first building he looked at was similar to the one he had been kept captive in and he felt an irrational fear and almost turned away and fled. The door was something between a hatch and a door; he lifted a hand to knock on the door and realized just how dumb that was, sound couldn’t travel in water, could it? He was about to just try knocking when the door opened and a large Carinian looked at him curiously. The amphibian’s operculum, the hard bony gill flap, was a bluish color; okay, thought Ryota, this is a male, and he’s big, so he must be an adult male. Another amphibian, just a little smaller with a green operculum, floated in next to the male and watched; an adult female. Ryota made the hand sign for hello; he knew a few words in the Carinian native language, but not enough to actually communicate. The amphibian male didn’t respond, but just continued to stare at him. Ryota knew how to sign Tage’s name and tried that next. The male spread his hands out and Ryota guessed he was botching Tage’s name and tried again, this time slowly and deliberately. The female touched the male’s arm and the two signed to each other quickly and the male turned back to Ryota and pointed at another building. Ryota signed a thank you, or at least he hoped he did and turned to swim to the building the male had pointed out. Ryota was about half-way to the building when a group of smaller amphibians his size swam in around him and blocked his way; blue gill flaps, they were boys. The largest of the boys swam up to him and stared him in the face and bared tiny sharp teeth at him then shoved him. The shove really didn’t do anything, but Ryota got the message, these boys didn’t like him. Ryota shook his head and tried swimming around the boy, but he was more agile in the water and blocked the way easily. What the boy did next was disgusting to say the least. Ryota looked down at what the boy was doing and figured it must be a major insult among Carinian boys. Well, at least that solved the minor mystery of where Carinian males kept their reproductive organs, but it was more than he had really wanted to see. Ryota recognized Carinian laughing and the boys around him were definitely laughing at the insult this boy in front of him was making. Ryota kept calm and pointed at the amphibian and then made a gesture with his thumb and index finger indicating tiny, then pointed at himself and held his hands out far apart. The boys surrounding him doubled over laughing and the boy trying to insult Ryota opened his mouth with the tiny sharp teeth and lunged at Ryota. Ryota let the amphibian come at him and threw up one hand to grab his neck. The momentum rolled them both over in the water. Ryota knew he couldn’t fight a Carinian in the water and needed to end this fight now. The amphibians’ reproductive flap was still open and Ryota reached down and shoved his hand inside the amphibian and squeezed the first thing he found. The fight immediately ended and the boy curled up into a ball, the pain evident on his face. The boys surrounding them instinctually covered themselves and winced in sympathetic pain. Ryota squeezed one more time and the boy’s eyes rolled back into his head and then Ryota let go and let the boy slowly sink to the ocean floor. Ryota turned to face the other boys and spread his arms out in challenge. Ryota also saw several adult Carinians had gathered and watched the fight. The boys all shook their heads and swam down to retrieve their friend and swam off. One of the adult Carinians swam over to Ryota and nodded his head and then did the oddest thing. The adult Carinian held up a small necklace reproduction of one of those three pointed spears he had seen Captain Kerin and the other Black Guard wear. The Carinian placed the necklace over Ryota’s head and then just swam away. Ryota looked at the necklace, it was a pretty necklace and he liked it, Tage wore one just like it. Maybe it meant they accepted him because he stood up for himself. The amphibians were swimming around, but they seemed to be ignoring him for now. Ryota continued to the building that might contain Tage and floated in front of the door. He still had the same problem, knocking on the door wouldn’t do any good. How was he supposed to announce his presence? Okay, seriously, how did Carinians knock on a door? Ryota was starting to feel stupid just floating there and then had a brilliant idea. There was a rock lying on a ledge and he picked it up and banged on the door. The door opened almost immediately and a blue gilled adult male Carinian snatched the rock out of Ryota’s hand and pointed at the ledge next to the door where he had found the rock. The Carinian man then laid the rock down, then picked it up again and tapped lightly on the ledge several times before setting the rock back down. Then the man slammed the door. Oh, Ryota turned red, not an easy thing to do underwater. The rock was the door knocker, and you didn’t bang on the door, you tapped on the ledge. Ryota sheepishly picked the rock up and tapped three times then put the rock down. The door opened again, it was a green gilled adult female that answered this time. Ryota made the signing language movement for Tage’s name and hoped he was saying it right. The woman motioned for Ryota to come in and swam aside for him. Ryota swam inside and the woman closed the door behind him. The interior seemed dark at first until his eyes adjusted; the walls glowed with a type of greenish florescence. There was furniture, of a type, but it all seemed to be made from stone. Coral decorations lined shelves along the wall. A smaller amphibian swam into the room and up to Ryota. The amphibian had blue gills and was maybe six or seven, it was hard to tell, he just didn’t know enough about Carinians. The small amphibian boy made a cupping and squeezing motion with his hand and curled up in a ball and then started laughing. Ryota got the joke right away, the woman swam over and shooed the boy into another room. Then Tage swam into the room. Ryota’s breath caught in his throat and he stared at her. This was the first time he had ever seen her in her natural environment, she was so beautiful floating there gracefully, and the way her gills moved made the deep green markings seem, vibrant, alive. He wasn’t sure what it was, her green markings were a deeper green than the adult woman Ryota assumed must be her mother had. Ryota looked over at the two adult Carinians watching him and he lowered his eyes and turned bright red, again. The male adult swam over and lifted his chin up, signed something to him and nodded his head and patted Ryota on the shoulder. Ryota swore he would learn the Carinian language; there was just so much happening he didn’t understand. The man then lifted the necklace and looked at it, then nodded his head again. What was going on? The necklace must be really important. Tage swam over to Ryota and pushed past her father and hugged him, and then she lifted the necklace and grinned at him. Ryota thought she had the most beautiful white sharp little teeth. She signed something to her mother and father and then pulled him towards the door. Before they left, the smaller amphibian he assumed was her little brother swam back into the room and made a rocking motion with his arms and stuck his tongue at her. Tage made a dash for him and the little boy swam behind his mother for protection. Ryota already liked this family; they were normal and didn’t seem to mind that he was the alien here. Tage pulled him outside and they swam through the village with her pointing things out and trying to explain them. Ryota didn’t really understand most of what she was saying. Tage slowed down her signing and would point at an object and make a sign with her hands and Ryota would repeat it, now he was starting to understand. Ryota liked being under the ocean and realized he had lost his fear. He had run into some bad people, but that could have happened anywhere and with his father and the Black Guard clearing out the criminal elements from the area, he didn’t have to be afraid. They swam along the rippled sandy bottom of the ocean and Tage showed him the fish, the coral, the plants, and even a few old buildings he didn’t know what they were for. The seaweed beds were the most fun, they played tag through tall plants and Tage even found some that she pulled and ate. He had a hard time trying to eat the plant underwater, his mouth just wasn’t built to eat while submerged. Too soon the ocean floor banked up and they found themselves back at the island. Tage spit the water out of her lungs and spoke in the Carinian verbal language, none of which he understood. The two youth walked along the beach and Ryota screwed up his courage and held her hand. She didn’t pull away and he grinned and walked happily beside her. Ryota could see the docks ahead; there was a lot of activity there, more than normal. Carinians were arriving from the ocean, and he could see an odd amount of ships arriving by air and landing at the airfield that was being built. Squish ran up to them first and handed a fistful of flowers to Tage and grinned at Ryota and ran off. “What was that all about?” asked Ryota. Tage leaned her head against Ryota’s shoulder and then gave him a playful push. Ryota could have floated away on air, he had never had a girlfriend before and this was awesome. He didn’t care if she was a different species, she was beautiful and exotic and she liked him. Mono and Leta found them next and Mono gave Ryota a pat on the back and congratulated him while Leta gave Tage a big hug. “Okay, seriously, what’s going on?” asked Ryota. Mono gave him an odd look and started laughing. “Don’t laugh at the poor boy,” Leta scolded her blood-mate and turned to Ryota, “you will do fine; it’s just so beautiful I think I’m going to cry.” The two Cormons didn’t offer any explanation and rushed off saying there was so much to do and not much time. Ryota was even more confused. “Come on,” said Ryota. “I need to find my father and see what’s happening.” Tage followed Ryota up the beach to the Ava Bachen, which was the center of all island activity, at least until some real buildings were put up. Ryota saw his adopted father, Master Fox, and walked up to him with Tage. “Well, you certainly lit the ocean on fire,” said Fox seeing his son. “Oh, the fight,” replied Ryota. “Am I in trouble?” Captain Kerin was standing with Fox and the two men looked at each other and laughed. “I told you he wouldn’t know what he’s done,” said Fox. “Can’t stop it now,” said Captain Kerin, “at least not without starting a planetary war and enraging the Carinian people to riot against the Kitsune.” “I’m sorry,” said Ryota. “I’ll apologize and do whatever I can to make up; I didn’t mean to hurt him.” “You are your father’s true son, in spirit if not blood,” said Captain Kerin. “You did mean to hurt that boy; you are as brutal as your father when you fight.” “Am I going to jail?” asked Ryota. “Oh most certainly,” replied Captain Kerin. “A jail of your own making, but most enjoy that jail.” “Huh?” “Son, Tage was promised to mate with that boy, but she’s been spending a lot of time with you and he was jealous and then saw you looking for her, and he challenged you,” explained Fox. “You could have just swum away, but you accepted the challenge and beat him, you are now promised to mate with Tage.” “I can’t mate!” said Ryota. “I’m thirteen.” “Oh course not,” replied Fox. “You won’t actually mate until after the wedding.” “Wedding?” Ryota looked around wildly at all the people running around making preparations. “The wedding isn’t today,” said Fox. “Today is the promise ceremony, you will promise to each other and the wedding will be in a few years.” “But… but…” “You can not back out without starting a war,” said Captain Kerin. “This is a very historic day; you are the first off-worlder to marry a Carinian.” “But… no… why?” “You won the hearts of the Carinian people with your month of heroic captivity, then you went looking for a Carinian girl in the ocean instead of just standing on the beach like an off-worlder, then you fought for her.” Captain Kerin lifted the necklace at Ryota’s neck and held it. “You don’t know what this is yet, but it means the Carinians have accepted you as one of them,” explained the Captain. “You are a Carinian citizen now and you will promise to Tage.” “Sorry, son,” said Fox. “You got yourself caught in another world’s culture and you can’t undo it, and it really isn’t much differant than arranged marriages on Kitsune, don’t you like Tage?” He did like Tage, more than anything and dropped his head in defeat. Two hours later Ryota found himself standing next to Tage’Ce and her parents on the beach while a High Priest of the Ocean Temple gave a long speech about promises, and hope, and future, and the uniting of two worlds. Ryota spoke the words of promise and he and Tage’Ce were bound together in a promise for the future. Ryota watched Tage out of the corner of his eye while the High Priest finished saying whatever he was saying, Ryota had stopped listening to watch Tage. She really was the prettiest girl he had ever met, and she made him laugh and smile. You know what, thought Ryota; this isn’t so bad, what could go wrong? The ceremony ended and Tage gave Ryota a big hug and smiled - then pushed him away and stepped back. “What’s wrong?” Ryota was concerned. “I’m proud of you, son,” said Fox coming over to pat him on the shoulder. “You are doing the right thing.” “What am I doing right?” asked Ryota. “Father, is there more I have to do?” “You’re a Carinian citizen now, son,” replied Fox, “which means you have to have a profession, and I think we both know what that means.” “I have no idea,” said Ryota. “Everyone didn’t come here just to see two kids get promised, though it is historic and of interest,” said Fox grinning. “No, what they came to see was what happens next, and remember, you will be the first Kitsune, I am so proud of you.” The beach exploded with cheering and Ryota looked up to see at least twenty Black Guard charging out of the surf towards him. Ryota started to back up and ran into Captain Kerin. “Where do you think you are going, worthless sploosh?” Captain Kerin nearly screamed at Ryota. “Huh, what’s happening?” Then the twenty Black Guard were around him and dragging him to the ocean. Ryota turned to look at his father. Fox waved. “See you in eight weeks, son,” shouted Fox. Every one of the Black Guard was screaming at him and Ryota was confused and trying to look in every direction while he was being dragged and shoved and pushed. “Move it Cadet…” “You worthless guppy…” “Get the salt out of your gills…” “I’ve seen sea snakes with more spine than you…” Understanding finally dawned on Ryota; he was on the way to the Black Guard Academy. Ryota was a Black Guard Cadet.