Free Living With Syn by A.C. Katt Page A

the
door.
    “Come in gentlemen. Why don’t you wander over
to the study and I’ll be there with some refreshments to compensate
for all of us rising so early and facing such a full day.’’
    Mark and Juraens made for the study and Syn
re-entered the kitchen.
    * * * *
    Naffie had disappeared. Syn thought he
followed the guys to the study. She placed her fancy napkins on the
tray and arranged the cookies over the platter. She poured coffee
into the coffee server, tea into the teapot, and milk into a
pitcher. After placing sugar cubes, Sweet and Low plus half and
half, and cut lemons on the tray, she was done. Syn gathered up her
courage and made for the study.
    * * * *
    “Let me help you with that,” Zaron said as he
waylaid her as she tried to open the study door. He took the heavy
tray and told her the voice command to open the door automatically.
He set the tray on a cart the Syn likened to a room service cart in
a hotel, but more elaborately designed with inlaid wood of
different hues crafted into a pattern of clouds.
    “What a lovely cart!”
    “It came with the manse several thousand
years ago.” Bron stepped up to the cart. “You will notice that the
pattern is strictly clouds, no Tierest tree. The Tierest tree has
come to symbolize Sarran unity. The crest of the FireClan has a
flame at the top of the tree, like the spreading rays of our sun.
The cloud is the relic of the members of the AirClan who became
extinct during the ClanWars. The clan that fought Air was the
WaterClan. There is nothing left of them, except a ruin of a
manse.”
    “How sad, a whole culture lost. Have your
archeologists looked for remnants of the clan?”
    Bron came up behind her and put his arms
around her waist. “An attempt was made after we regained space
flight; however, it was short lived. The Zyptz came and all of our
resources were spent on the war.”
    “Hmm—I wonder if there are any archeologists
among the women?”
    Zaron came up to Syn with a cup of coffee,
there was cream and Sweet and Low, just how she liked it. “I have
the Brightstar’s manifest, it lists the occupations of all
of the fem on board.
    “I’ll have to look at it, sometime, if it’s
allowed.”
    “I’ll allow you anything, Pa Chette.”
    She turned and looked about the room. Mark
sat in an upholstered chair with an expression of bliss on his
face. “Had some coffee?” Syn asked.
    “This is the nectar of the Gods, give me the
secret so I can make some for myself. After the coffee on the ship,
I thought I was doomed to sludge for eternity. TeZaron try this,
you’ll like it.”
    “I tried it on the ship, it tasted like
laptard piss.”
    Syn’s face darkened.
    “Better not offend your fem,” Juraens
smirked. “TaCynthia seems very proud of her coffee. She wants you
to taste it.”
    “Where is yours?” snapped Bron.
    “Just about to pour some; after you,
Bron.”
    Bron poured some coffee. Syn encouraged him
with a kiss. “Let me make it up for you. She looked at him
carefully.” She took his cup, dropped in two sugar cubes and a
dollop of cream. She handed him his cup. “Try it,” she urged
softly.
    Bron picked the cup up from the saucer and
brought it to his lips. His eyes widened and he hurried to take
another sip. Mark laughed out loud.
    With aplomb, Syn fixed a cup, black for
Juraens and lastly, dark and sweet for Zaron. There was silence in
the room for about three minutes while the men guzzled their
coffee.
    “Gentlemen, would anyone like another cup?”
Four cups rose up.
    As Syn poured Bron his second cup, he turned
to Zaron. “We have to investigate this. Earth can use this as an
export to the galaxy. It is magnificent!”
    Syn giggled, “Would you care for a
cookie?”
    There was a timid knock on the door of the
study. “Poppie, Zadda can I come in?”
    Both Warriors eyes turned to their fem. She
opened the door, “Of course Naffie, you can have some cookies and
milk.” A big smile broke out on his face. “Let’s give