Earth Stinks

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades

          or loose the bands of Orion? Job 38:31

 The sun was out and warming the earth nicely. Or, not so nicely, depending upon one’s olfactory preferences. Athena naturally enjoyed the fragrance of horse and hay, and all the accompanying scents of same. Alas, the young half-human visitor did not share her enjoyment of stable scents. She became even more discomfited when Athena’s white stallion Galahad lifted tail and let loose his mighty bowels.

“Oh no! The animal is ill! It has lost its…innards!” Soft retching noises followed her assessment as she trotted outside. 

“Oh, dear.” Athena put a hand upon Axelis’s arm. “ I fear this wild and woolly planet may not agree with your young…ward.” 

“Perhaps not.” He sighed. “She has been rather cocooned in a more rarified dimension.” He followed the girl without. Athena brought the wheelbarrow around, and whistling, began to pitch horse biscuits within. “Good boy, Galahad…” she cooed in his ear. “Mummy is well pleased with her sweet boy,”And Galahad received a carrot for his hearty digestive efforts.

Athena attended to her ranch chores throughout the day, seeing no further signs of Axelis or his puzzling youngster. The ship remained where it landed however. She supposed her otherworldly visitors were sequestered within. Ah well. They knew where to find her.

Feeling a bit peckish, she returned to the gatehouse and began to bustle about rustling up some dinner. She supposed the girl could eat…she knew Axelis was not so squeamish about such earthly habits. 

A hearty corn chowder soon simmered on the stove and Athena had just popped cheese biscuits in the oven when Axelis rapped gently upon the door, then peered within. “Ah, there you are!” Athena greeted him. “How fares our young visitor?” 

“Resting.” He shut the door and inhaled appreciatively. “I’m afraid it’s my error in assuming that just because I am adept at acclimatizing to this planet, others may not find it so easy.” He took a chair near the window and gazed out at his ship anchored beyond.

“It would appear not,” Athena agreed. She poured a herbal tea in two mugs and joined him. “Exactly how do you come to be so intertwined with young Sharina?”

Axelis stared into his tea. “We are, somewhat related. Sort of…step cousins.” He took a sip.“It is hard to explain.”

“I see.” Athena did not. She put a hand upon his. “ Do us both a favor and do not mention this liaison to Emlyn. She would be deeply hurt.”

He raised his eyes to hers. “Truly?” He seemed oblivious of the obvious.

“She wishes she could know you better, Axelis. You know she considers you her real parent. And you see her so seldom. How could you not know this?” 

He sat back into his chair and sighed. “Diplomatic matters have kept me busy, you know how it is. And my uncle has had some, ah, rather sticky challenges of late. He suggested it would be best perhaps to take Sharina away somewhere more…secure. Somewhere no one would find her.”

“Sounds serious.” And less innocent than a simple visit here. 

“ I sincerely doubt that anyone could trace my ship here, especially with all Daryl’s wards upon the area. The perimeters here hold strong.” Axelis was showing signs of stress. Something rarely seen about him. “However, I see now that this may not be the time for a forced rooting here. Sharina is a more delicate flower than I had expected.”

Athena sat back, stretching her long legs before her. “Earth is decidedly not the place for delicate blossoms, you know this well my dear. Even the heartiest specimens have a rather rough go of it here.” Athena stood, and placed her biscuits on the table. “I believe Emlyn is here at the house. Why don’t you pay her a call and invite her over for dinner?”

Axelis stood and nodded. “Of course. It is, as you say, the least I could do.”

“I didn’t say it,” Athena replied. 

“You were thinking it, though.” Axelis smiled then as he headed out the door. 

Emlyn rambled around the great echoing chambers within the mansion wondering what she was doing here.  She wished for news from Shannon and Alain regarding the latest developments and how Jethro was faring in this rather hurried and ill favored insurrection.

But she didn’t want Jeanne to awaken alone in this mausoleum. 

Such were her musings as she haunted the empty place room by hollow room. Sighing, she flopped down on the parlor sofa. And sat up abruptly as she heard a knock upon the front door.

Not awaiting an answer, the door opened.

“Axelis!” She knew she was blushing as her heart pounded in response to viewing her long lost otherworldly paterfamilias. 

“Emlyn. How good to see you again.” Uncharacteristically he held his arms open, beckoning.

Em naturally took advantage of this rare opportunity, and approached gingerly, daring to allow his embrace. “Let me look at you.” He held her apart and smiled. “Come with me to Athena’s?

She has invited us to dine with her tonight.”

“Yes, that sounds lovely.” Em hardly knew what to say…such an unexpected surprise, seeing Axelis appear here, of all places. “Just give me a moment, I’ll get my coat.” Em quickly wrote a note and left it for Jeanne in the kitchen. 

Events and people were suddenly moving fast. Em had to prioritize, and spending time with Axelis trumped all. “Let’s be off. I’ve waited long for just such an evening with you…” 

“As have I, my dear,” Axelis was suddenly saying all the right things after a lifetime of silent absence. It left Em wondering, but she put off any deep thinking until much later. For now, all that mattered was this dream that had come true at last. For now, reality need not intrude.

Axelis held her arm as they walked the pathway to the gatehouse. “The stars are just beginning to appear,” he noted. “Look up to the right, above those trees, You see Orion, the Hunter, yes?” Emlyn did. “Orion is unmistakable. Such a large constellation.”;

“Indeed.” Axelis pointed beyond. “And that mass of cloudy stars, is my home world, the Pleiades. Specifically, Taygeta.” 

“I see.” Emlyn sighed. “How I would love to visit there…”

“Would you, truly?” Axelis pondered this. “Perhaps that can be arranged.”

Emlyn felt herself halfway there already…✨⭐️💫✨💫✨💫

…………….