by Lace, Lisa
"She means she's going to do it," said Rev.
"Yes," said Tracy. "Ja-Idin Du won't stop coming after me, so I have to put myself in a different position. Once I sit on the Vacant Throne, he won't be able to touch me or my friends."
"Good," said S'den with a satisfied smile. "I knew in my heart that you would take up this challenge. Rev, what are you going to do?"
"Wherever my mate goes, I go," said Rev. "I will do everything I can to help Tracy sit on the Vacant Throne. As she says, that is the only way to keep Ja-Idin Du off our backs."
"Good. I will help you both get ready for your journey."
Tracy paused. "With respect, S'den, when you put it that way, it sounds like it will take forever. Is there any reason we can't go directly to the throne right now?" she asked.
Rev frowned. "Well, there is the paperwork to consider...and we definitely need witnesses, otherwise people will accuse us of lying..."
S'den's eyes were lighting up. "My queen, if you are ready now, there is no reason not to go. We have waited a long time for this moment. All we need to do is get there in one piece. We won't be short of witnesses. As news of your existence leaked out, many people have made a pilgrimage to the Vacant Throne hoping to get a glimpse of you."
Tracy smiled. "Screw the paperwork. Let's go right to the throne."
They were unprepared for the number of pilgrims milling around the throne and the spaceport. The crowd was like a living creature, moving with a life of its own. They didn't need to worry about witnesses, but they did need to worry about security. As soon as their ship touched down, they were swarmed with people wanting to catch a glimpse of the alien girl who might be their queen.
"We need to protect Tracy," said S'den. "Get security to form a protective ring around her. Once Tracy is secure, we can start moving her towards the throne."
"Do you think everyone on your security team can be trusted?" Rev was wary after the problems they’d had at the escape pod.
"The men on this ship have all been personally selected by me," said S'den. "They will not let us down."
Rev snorted. "I'm staying right next to Tracy until she sits down."
"I hope I'll get back up again," Tracy said nervously.
When the security detail arrived and the ship opened up, the roar from the crowd was deafening. They tried to rush Tracy immediately, but they were held at bay. S'den made an announcement that they would never have a queen if they didn't let Tracy approach the throne. Although it was difficult to communicate with a mob, eventually they got the message and started backing away.
An opening appeared through the sea of people as if by magic. At the end of the path was a small chair instead of some kind of grand ceremonial throne. It was the kind of chair you wouldn't mind sitting in all day.
The ring of people surrounding Tracy and Rev inched its way towards the throne. Around them were thousands of faces, bobbing and weaving, smiling and laughing. Tracy couldn't keep track of all of them. All she was concentrating on was putting one foot in front of the other, and Rev was focused on helping her stay upright.
Later, Rev would say that devoting his complete attention to Tracy was why he didn't see Ja-Idin Du in the crowd.
Du wasn't smiling and laughing. He looked angry and was pointing a weapon at Tracy. The counselor knew this was his last chance to stop her. Tracy would never know what hit her. The shot could have come from anywhere. She was vulnerable.
Unlike before, however, when Tracy was a prisoner alone on an alien planet, this time she was not alone, and she had allies. The people around Ja-Idin Du saw his gun and jumped on him immediately. He was able to get one shot off, but it hit the dirt harmlessly. His weapon was taken away, and he was immobilized. It would take Tracy and Rev months to learn what happened to Ja-Idin Du, but he had failed at what was his final attempt to eliminate Tracy.
The party finally reached the throne. Tracy stared at it for a moment. Up close, it looked dusty. Everyone was probably terrified to touch it.
"Why is a thing you talk about with such reverence left out and exposed to the elements?" Tracy asked quietly.
Rev thought for a moment before he replied. "It is important for everyone to have free access to a symbol that reminds us of what was."
"It is equally important for us to have a symbol of what is going to be." S'den gave Tracy a meaningful glance.
Tracy and Rev looked at each other. The crowd had gone silent. Everyone wanted to remember this moment forever.
With a deep breath, Tracy closed her eyes and sat down.
Nothing happened. She opened her eyes.
The silence was broken by a woman screaming for joy. She was joined by everyone who had gathered there, until the noise seemed to be coming from everywhere. Tracy stood up, laughed, and Rev caught her in a warm embrace.
ONE YEAR LATER
Rev and Tracy were sprawled nude on a bed, parts of them covered by sheets, other parts left uncovered. Tracy opened her eyes and looked around the room, wondering where she was.
Then she remembered. She was in a palace.
Not much has changed in a year, she thought. The adjustment from being an Earth girl to an alien queen came easily to some people.
The sun shone brightly in the room, making it glow white. There were many windows in the royal bedroom of the palace, and the light illuminated incredible treasures: fine art, paintings on the wall, and exotic furs. Everything was new, rare, and different. Even now, packages arrived each day from citizens wanting to pay tribute to the queen.
Yup, not much had changed.
Why had she woken up?
The scream of a baby interrupted her daydreams.
Becoming a mother was one adjustment that had changed her life more than anything she could remember. She rose up from her bed, ready to rush in and comfort her child.
"Mate, you always forget," Rev said sleepily. "Being a queen does have its advantages."
The crying stopped, and Tracy heard cooing from another room. In a few minutes, a servant walked in carrying a smiling, clean infant. "Here you are, my queen. The prince is freshly changed and ready for his mother and father."
Tracy gave her a look.
"Excuse me. Here you are, Tracy. He is happy today. It's going to be a good day."
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Copyright © 2019 by Lisa Lace
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This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events and dialog found within the story are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to a
ctual events or persons, either living or deceased, is completely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.