Sleigh Bells and Starships

Return to the Peltedverse for a heartwarming holiday with this collection of eight stories, including an all-new novella set in the Fallowtide! From the annals of history, hundreds of years past, through the captaincy of Alysha Forrest and on into the case studies of Jahir and Vasiht'h and all their friends later, in the Fallowtide period, come these offerings to the festal season: balls, gifts, humor and romance and more! Curl up with a warm drink and a fireplace view for a trip into the magic and beauty of the season.

Happy holidays, aletsen!

Genre (setting): space opera (Pelted)
Tags: holiday; heart-warming; space elves; aliens; romance; friendship; empire building
Rating: PG-13 for references to adult relations, difficult family relationships

Excerpt from Sleigh Bells and Starships

“I love her, Chase.”

“So soon, arii?”

Lesandurel looked up from the accounting he’d been staring at for nearly twenty minutes without accomplishing anything. “I… beg your pardon?”

His assistant, Chase Steward, was patting his infant daughter on the back as he walked from one side of the compartment to the other. Lesandurel caught a glimpse of the Tam-illee’s face as he turned, and as expected it was as smooth as any Eldritch’s. No Eldritch, though, would have had quite such amusement in his eyes. “It was inevitable,” said that worthy now. “But I didn’t expect you to embrace it quite so quickly. My lord.”

Lesandurel made an exasperated noise. “Don’t ‘my lord’ me, man. I changed your diapers.”

Chase cupped his large hand over his daughter’s miniature ear. “You didn’t hear that, sweeting.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell her all the embarrassing stories when she’s older.” Lesandurel turned from his desk, resting an elbow on it and his head on his hand. “How long exactly did you believe it would take me to come to the conclusion that I was in love with the head of Jisiensire?”

“Oh… at least another ten years, maybe,” Chase said. “As much out of respect for her as anything else. She’s barely out of mourning by Eldritch standards.”

Hard not to feel a touch of anxiety. “Do you think it’s too soon?”

Chase snorted. “You’re asking the wrong man. She’s a widowed mother managing a new planet full of Harat-Shar. I think the sooner she finds herself a partner willing to shoulder some of the load, the better. But I would think that, living at mortal speeds. And I haven’t spent as much time with her as you have.”

“And yet I have not yet as much as I wish,” Lesandurel murmured.

“Do you think she’s ready?”

“I don’t know.”

Chase nodded, bouncing the baby against his chest. “You’ll have to decide.”

“And if I was hoping for more help than that?”

Chase eyed him, and both his tawny brows rose. “Iley. I think you’re actually nervous.”

“Perhaps. A touch.” Lesandurel tapped his fingers on the podium’s edge. “I hate to think of her alone. As you say… she is shouldering her burden very nearly without aid. I want to… I feel compelled… to help.”

“More than you do, playing personal shopper for her?”

Lesandurel said, “I would give her the worlds, just to see her smile. I have come to cherish her smile. I’m not sure when that happened, but surely not as precipitously as you’re suggesting. And yet, I feel as if it happened yesterday.” He stared at the accounting. How Hirianthial would laugh, to see his suggestion take root so! And yet… it had, hadn’t it. “God and Lady.”

Chase nodded. “You’ve been bitten hard, arii. What are you going to do about it? Impassioned  declaration? Romantic dinner?”

“I shall buy her a system defense emplacement.”

“Just what every woman wants?” Chase said, one ear sagging, but Lesandurel had already whirled back to his display.

“Ready the ship, my steward. We have shopping to do.”