Bridal Price

For the first time in the conversation, Emely’s face turned the same shade as her fur and she hastily scurried back over to where the other Feliax were sitting. “Everything alright dear?” Meora said with a knowing grin. “You fully knew what she was going to ask, and had a pretty good guess how I’d reply didn’t you” Dustin mused to himself even as the tomboy whispered something into the other woman’s ear. The val Motea second turned to smile at Dustin for a moment before standing. “Eriff, would you be so kind as to escort Emely to the apartment you set up for her here? I need to have a brief word with my husband and then he needs to have a talk with this young man.”

Dustin sank back into his seat, relief washing over him after the Feliax had left. Whatever result his questions might have had in terms of dowry requirements, it seemed he had passed her tests enough for Emely to want to join the crew. Draining his glass, he was debating pouring another when a knock came at the door just before it swung open. The new arrival was another man around Eriff’s age although dressed in far less fancy clothes. Walking across to the table, he stuck out his hand. “I believe this is the traditional human greeting? My name is Cecel val Motea, patriarch of said pride.” Dustin scrambled up and shook the offered hand, answering “Dustin, Earth ambassador.”

Cecel looked Dustin up and down for a moment then grinned. “Well, Dustin, you live up to everything I’ve heard about your species. Little fur, odd customs and unpredictability. I can see why the Empress is so interested in your kind. Now, officially we’re supposed to negotiate - and as the head of val Motea, and thus through my brother-in-law an extension of the imperial family I should haggle down to the last brush-stroke. But that’s a lot of old pompous crap, and my second tells me that my favourite daughter wants me to cause insult to both clans by just accepting raw materials for her. You’ve managed to really impress her, which - given what a radical she is - means I can relax my guard around you I hope.”

Dustin looked puzzled at that, and Cecel laughed. “Not every patriarch is happy being at best second-class citizens. While traditional roles have kept our species going for thousands of years, there’s always been an undercurrent of those of us who long for more equal decision making. The current Empress gives us a lot more freedom than some of her predecessors - and indeed, val Motea is small enough that on most matters decisions are taken with my input carrying equal weight to that of my love and her second. So, what were you going to offer me for the joining of our prides?”

The Feliax seemed genuinely cheerful at that, and Dustin decided to relax as well. Smiling at the other man, he nodded to the seats. “Let’s sit first?” Once the two of them were seated, he gestured towards Cecel with a freshly refilled glass. “Honestly, I spent ages trying to think of a good offer. I eventually landed on something, but I have no idea if it’d be enough. The original of a recording of me and my second playing music together for the first time. We sent copies back to Earth as part of the whole press thing for this mission, but the original was recorded on a portable recorder not Sola’s main sensors so I’ve got a holo chip. That, and I’d cook a meal for your pride as well as give you the recipe. Nothing special, just a dish my parent and grandparents used to cook me when I was young. Sorry, did I say something odd?”

Cecel’s mouth had dropped open at the mention of the meal. Opening and closing it a handful of times he managed to find his words. “Sorry, Dustin - did you say it was a dish cooked by your family? My second tells me they passed, for which I am truly sorry. But… a family recipe and you would give that for my little Emely?” His voice was choked with emotion and Dustin shrugged, a little unsure. “Yes? I hope that didn’t offend…” Cecel cut in with an almost-bark. “Offend? Felio! But you clearly don’t recognize… Gods, the ladies had said you were impressive, but to offer something so casually. Your price is beyond acceptable. May I break with tradition and tell my daughter? She is going to utterly lose her shit when she hears how much you’ve offered.”

Now it was Dustin’s turn to be at a loss for words. “How much I offered? And sure, if you think Emely would like to know be my guest - I didn’t think it was that much to be honest, I was worried you would be insulted.” Cecel sighed, running a hand over his face. “The recording alone would be enough for the daughter of a house like mine, given the relative difference in our stature despite our links to the imperial house. But you offer a one-off gift of your own crafting, making something from your own clan’s records and from another world. That is a gift fit for a Duchess’s engagement. But then… I’m sorry to bring this up, but your clan has passed, you are the last to know of this exact recipe. You have to understand, the price you named - if the food is even moderately enjoyable is something that I’ve only heard of being offered a handful of times before. And in each case, it was a marriage involving a newly ascended Empress who had taken the throne unwed. It’s a royal price you’ve offered me to become my son-in-law.”

Dustin smiled at the man then. “You really view it that highly? It might be culturally weird for me to say so, but knowing you’ll value the recipe that much is really something. My folks would have been pleased to hear it.” Cecel nodded thoughtfully. “We have all come here at the order of the Empress - we’re a small pride, there’s only ten of us excluding Emely. I imagine her imperial majesty, my brother-in-law and their second will want to join the meal once they hear about it. Is fourteen of us too many to cook for in one sitting?” Dustin shook his head. “That’ll be fine. Where should we hold the meal? I’ll need access to a kitchen and some supplies…” Cecel held up a hand. “Your ship. Your galley perhaps, I’ll suggest you pick the best location for it - as I said, once Liselia hears about it I think she’ll insist on joining us. She dotes on her niece almost as much as I do, and eating a family meal in her new family’s home is the most appropriate send off we can give. Plus, it’ll irk every Duchess from here to the colonies in a way that they can do absolutely nothing about and that always peps our dear Empress’s mood up. I’ll go tell the ladies now, your matriarch and second will come and find you shortly and then all three of you can return to your ship to begin preparations.”