Prohibit by Viola Grace Page B

with Elder Lynni. Her solution covers the issues. Bride Cleo cannot be stored like an unused weapon. She has a right to her freedom and that is what needs to be addressed. Also, take into account the rare nature of Helbri himself. If her eggs can provide the stabilization that his kind needs, the shadows may see a resurgence in our population. We all know that they are an asset.”
    The other Elders murmured together, but Lynni smiled. “Thank you, Elder Hrakin. That is my view of the situation as well.”
    “Excellent, Lynni. In that case, I reiterate our choice of Helbri as her Familiar and wish them an enjoyable rest in the Bride quarters. They have had a long journey. They must be exhausted.”
    Cleo took the hint and leaned toward Helbri. His hand kept her upright, but she could feel his amusement.
    Helbri cleared his throat. “Alveck has harvested ten eggs from her already. We went straight to medical before coming here. She has had them extracted, and you are aware of how taxing that can be.”
    Lynni sat with amusement while the other Elders murmured in concern.
    “Familiar Helbri, take your Bride to her quarters and make sure she rests. We know where to find you if we have any other questions.”
    Elder Hrakin spoke from the monitor. “Get some rest and enjoy the training facilities. I am guessing that several of the ranges and equipment would help work off some of the stress of your recent adventures.”
    Cleo knew a dismissal when she heard one. Helbri escorted her out of the room, and then, he whispered, “Do you want to see the gestation tanks?”
    “Yes.”
    “Come with me.” He took her hand, and they walked to the lift, entering and going down three floors. “Here we are.”
    She chuckled at his eagerness. “You don’t come here much?”
    “They bring us here when we are children, and they show us vids of our decanting. It is the last time that the mission specialists get to see where we come from. Only the technicians and designers are allowed to see them on a daily basis.”
    “So, why are we here?”
    “Ah, technicians, designers and Brides. You have full access to all of the gestational levels, and I want to look around.”
    He had all of the enthusiasm of a child going to Disneyland.
    They found a startled technician, who got authorization to take them on a tour of the facility, starting with the cells that had just been extracted from Cleo.
    “We are bringing Familiar Helbri’s genetics out of storage, and it will be used to activate eggs. A little bit of modification and they will be ready to set into a unit.”
    Cleo blinked. “So quickly? I thought I got to pick an heir.”
    Helbri chuckled. “Who gave the order?”
    The technician checked the files. “Elder Lynni.”
    “When?”
    “Just before you arrived. Here is your treated material, Familiar Helbri.”
    A tray with small vials on it was brought out, and the miracle of technological birth began to happen on the screen.
    “What do they mean by treated?”
    “All offspring from the Brides will be female unless the Familiar wishes to have a male heir as his payment for his service.” Helbri’s hand was warm on her spine.
    “Do the Bride’s get to pick?”
    “Of course. She will have one direct copy of her own genetics, and the official heir will be of a gender of her choosing. You can either gestate yourself or have it grown for you.”
    He rubbed his chin against her head. It was a weird habit that he had picked up, but she liked it. It let her know that it was he behind her and no one else.
    “I am thinking that until I finish training, I don’t want to be carrying anyone. I was never planning to run off and have a family, but being a sort of big sister to a small horde has an appeal that I can’t deny. They can do what they like with my eggs as long as I can visit the growing embryos.”
    The technician smiled as he watched the two different cells on the display. “Of course you can. It is why Brides are given full