Champion of Zenina

by Giselle Marks

  In the main courtyard a funerary pyre was built to receive the symbols of the Goddess as a sacrifice to pay for Kerina’s journey in Demina’s care to the land of dreams.

  Chapter Ten – Digestion

  Three days passed. Marina completed her regeneration but her muscles were so weak she could barely stand. Now her digestive system was functional she felt hungry. Her face had lost her few hard won marks of character she’d been so proud of, looking in the mirror she frowned, a bland youthful face stared back.

  “I look like a twelve year old” she told herself. ”I’ll have to fix my face. Who is going to take a twelve year old seriously?”

  She transported direct into Vellina’s apartment where Riyal started at the sight of her. He knelt to her. In spite of his love for Vellina his body reacted to the sight of the renewed Marina naked. She did not look like a twelve year old to him. She stripped a sheet off Vellina’s bed and wrapped herself in it.

  “I’m sorry for embarrassing you; I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you and Vellina.”

  “I knew you’d behave well about it. Thank you, Marina for not blaming us for falling in love with each other. We couldn’t help it. Fidelity is not going to come so naturally, even now my body betrays my best intentions.”

  “So call Vellina and don’t waste it. Now order a large meal from Hospital Central Catering for me. Whatever you would normally order for two and you’ll have to cook your own afterwards. If food was delivered to my room, Zadina would soon learn of it.”

  Marina got out of sight while Riyal ordered food. The meal was fast arriving and even faster being consumed. As Marina finished eating, Vellina walked in. She had heard a little mind noise when Marina transported across the hospital and thought it must be Marina. Marina’s appearance shocked Vellina, not because she looked so young, or so weak. Both were expected after such a massive regeneration.

  What shocked Vellina was Marina’s colour. In direct sunlight it looked bright burnished gold. In the artificial light of the apartment her skin looked very different indeed. It seemed to be all colours and yet none of them. Her skin glowed like a shiny bubble, as if it should be transparent and if you pricked it, then it would burst. Marina reading Vellina’s thoughts looked at her reflection in the mirrors; examining the new colour with interest. She was no longer Gold; nor was this Platinum or any other colour she had seen before. With a flash of will she ordered her skin back to Gold and turned to Vellina.

  “I didn’t realise I’d altered my colour. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but I’d prefer it to remain secret for the time being. I altered my brain structure a little. I expect the colour change results from that.”

  “I want to do tests Marina. You can’t just go altering yourself to your own design. You could have made some horrendous mistakes. I don’t understand how you could have regenerated like that. Even drawing power from the electrical system I find it hard to believe you could get enough energy for your symbiotes to be able to regenerate so much tissue.”

  “I got father to provide me with a concentrated blood product of his own symbiotes which he delivered to me after the last Gymnastics event. If anyone had demanded I be drug tested after the Games, I’d have failed. When I was blown apart I had three times the normal level of Gold symbiotes in my system. You only have to imagine the advantage that would have been during competition.”

  “As for your tests they’ll have to wait until after Plavina’s coronation. I’m signing myself out of your care. I won’t tell you where I’m going so the information won’t be taken from your mind. Leave the guards in place, please. Visit my room several times a day as if you await my death.”

  “You’re too weak to leave, Marina. The risk if your mind is not correctly regenerated is far too great. You must let me check you over before you go. If I had known what you intended to do, I would’ve tried to dissuade you.”

  “Which is exactly why I didn’t tell you, I’ll submit briefly to mind link if only to ease your mind.”

  Vellina pushed her mind forward into the once well-known territory of Marina’s id. She entered a labyrinth without a map. Fearful of what she’d find she stepped forward into the renewed Marina. Few landmarks remained but for all that she found it easy to recognise Marina within this mind. There were no signs of insanity, no obviously hidden manias, no ugly secrets tucked away in its walls and segments. It was not a construction she had ever experienced before but it seemed perfectly functional. In fact Vellina admired its simplicity and beauty.

  This was no longer the mind of a woman afraid of her own abilities, but a woman who had come to terms with her prescience, supremely confident in her self-knowledge. The new construction allowed optimal use of Marina’s brain capacity. The growth of storage and processing capabilities might increase her mental powers by more than a fifth. What Marina had made of herself seemed good and wholesome; no trace of malevolence or corruption existed. Vellina withdrew her mind and complimented her.

  “Yes you have done well, I approve.”

  Marina hugged Vellina twice, kissed her and Riyal on their cheeks and transported from the room.

  Chapter Eleven - St. Patrick’s Cathedral

  A Golden Cross carried high by Serengia preceded the funeral cortege of Queen Kerina from the Golden Palace. Serengia dressed in palest grey with her hair loosed down her back walked slowly at the head of the procession. Behind her slow marched six battalions of infantry wearing their golden dress uniforms supplemented by tight fitting golden dress helmets whose brightly coloured plumes were replaced with pale grey ones. A second sash of plain grey was crossed over their military sash and their golden wrist bands were bound in grey ribbon. Silent crowds lined the route of the procession. Within the crowd every woman wore her hair loose, many dressed in grey. Slaves had smeared their faces and bodies with long smears of ashes and knelt as the cortege passed them.

  A senior army officer rode ahead on a blue riding beast. A detachment of sailors walked behind them in their green uniform, they too wore grey sashes crossed over the navy issue. Admiral Folada rode at their head on a white beast dappled with green and blue. The beast was unsettled by the crowds and Folada needed all her concentration to keep it under control.

  A contingent of the Police force led by Irzina followed, they wore two grey sashes crossed to keep in symmetry as no sash was part of their normal uniform. After the police rode Colonel Letinza, Captain of the Palace Guard on a superb pale blue animal. Following Letinza marched a battalion of the Palace Guard. Jazina, the Royal Herald preceded the coffin of her Queen in a silver chariot with grey ribbons. She wore a grey skirt indicating mourning and the jewelled collar of a member of the Royal Household.

  The coffin was laid upon a barrow draped with cloth of gold. On the ornate golden coffin, an apricot silk cushion upon which sat the Imperial Crown of Zenina. Kerina’s personal shield lay at the foot of the coffin. The sword of state and other royal insignia surrounded the coffin which seemed much smaller than Kerina in life. Chamberlain Lahoda and other members of the Royal Household walked beside the barrow.

  Plavina led the mourners riding behind the bier. Upon her head there was an intricate coronet but her hair flowed loose around her. Behind Plavina a litter was borne draped in pale grey silk.

  Upon apricot cushions Marina lay. Upon her head was a coronet of black and grey pearls surrounding cut grey and black banded opals. Her unbound hair flowed over the side of the open litter sweeping the ground as she was carried by eight officers of the Internal Security Department in their pale blue dress uniform with crossed grey sashes.

  Riding abreast behind her came Vlama and Fenzela, looking more like bodyguards than mourners at a funeral. Then in a carriage came Princess Vellina her hair almost reaching her shoulders under a glittering tiara. With her sat Duchess Klivina, formal in charcoal grey and ablaze with jewels and General Stenlina. The little girls Orina and Harminda, Marina’s wards sat between them, subdued by the solemnity of the occasion
.

  Behind all the important dignitaries rode Kabaneev alone. For once, he wore his skin its natural Golden colour, but he wore the Zigan white of mourning, not the Zeninan grey. Upon his head he wore a band of some dark metal with one huge diamond at the centre of his forehead. He was no longer the consort of the Queen, now only a slave, but he wore the mourning dress of a Prince of Ziga. Behind him Divak and Sebie walked in grey both of their bodies smeared in ashes. No other Zeninan men were present in the procession.

  As the cortege silently crawled through the sunlit streets the people who lined the street fell in behind the tail end so the procession was strung out for miles. Grey ribbons had been hung on all the buildings along the processional route. They stirred listlessly in the air as the crowd passed. One bird call broke the silence with a wailing mournful tune. Not one pink skirt or garland was in sight. No member of the Fertility Cult of Demina had dared wear their costume for fear of being lynched.

  Even when Princess Marina’s litter came into sight no cheers were raised. A solitary bell tolled the funeral peal, its sound ringing lonely echoing over the hushed city. Bishop Niall waited at the door of his cathedral to receive the fragments of Queen Kerina’s body. Serengia reached the cathedral steps, joining the Bishop. The soldiers formed blocks on either side of the cathedral. Admiral Folada dismounted and her smaller naval contingent lined up beside the army.

  Irzina clambered down, waiting while her Police formed orderly blocks alongside the soldiers and sailors. She joined Folada and together they waited on the cathedral steps behind the Bishop.

  Chapter Twelve - Where Opinions Clash

  As Colonel Letinza rode up the sound of small bells, cymbals, pan-pipes and wailing broke the silence and another procession came into sight heading for the cathedral. At the head of the second procession carried on the shoulders of dozens of acolytes came the grey draped statute of Demina. Behind this came a golden chariot upon which stood Zadina defiantly dressed in pink edged with grey, her floor length hair loose in mourning.

  Her hair was woven with jewels and flowers; a coronet of diamonds and rubies sat upon her head sparkling in the midday sun. Beside her, holding on tight stood Prince Ga’Mikkal. He wore purple Kurgian formal costume over which he had placed a grey sash. A stream of wailing and stamping acolytes dressed in pink and grey, pushed through the side gate into the cathedral grounds past the honour guard formed up in front of the cathedral. The Palace Guard formed their blocks up, obeying Letinza’s order in spite of the disruption. Jazina’s chariot arrived as Zadina reached the steps, both teams of beasts rearing up, entangling each other in panic.

  General Calzina rode up and dismounted, ordering soldiers to the heads of the frightened beasts. Jazina was thrown from her chariot but was uninjured. She dusted herself down and joined Folada and Irzina. The barrow arrived and the detachment of soldiers moved forward to carry the coffin up the steps into the cathedral. Princess Plavina rode up and dismounted. She stood next to Calzina who was staring up at Zadina who stood erect in her chariot. Marina’s litter approached flanked by Vlama and Fenzela.

  As the detachment moved to unload Queen Kerina’s coffin, Zadina spoke out.

  “The burial of a Zeninan queen has been the province of the Cult of Demina since time immemorial. I, Zadina, High Priestess demand my sister Queen Kerina be handed over so she may be buried in accordance with the rites of Demina as is proper for a Royal Burial.”

  General Calzina stepped forward, as a cult member her position was difficult as she had accepted the funeral arrangements that Queen Kerina had stipulated.

  “Under Zeninan Law, every woman has the right to decide the form of burial she wishes. Queen or pauper the Law is inviolate. Our late beloved Queen Kerina specified her wishes how she should be buried to the smallest detail. In burying her with the rites of the Roman Catholic Church we obey her last wishes. On this sad day, I ask you go in peace and not disturb the funeral of your much missed sister.”

  Father O’Flaherty came down the steps and welcomed Zadina.

  “Princess, if you wish to attend the funeral of your sister Queen Kerina you may do so in your private capacity, but not as High Priestess of the Cult of Demina. The trappings of the Fertility Cult have no place in the Church of God.”

  Marina was helped out of the litter by Vlama and Fenzela, leaning on them she walked slowly towards the small group. Zadina, Calzina and Father Niall became silent, watching Princess Marina’s approach. Zadina watched as if she saw a ghost. Prince Ga’Mikkal, who alone of her supporters had advised against this action watched with concern. “Would Zadina fight Marina here in the Cathedral’s grounds? Marina would have no chance against her if she needed the support of friends to walk?”

  “Auntie,” said Marina, “You weren’t completely successful with your little bomb. You killed my mother but you didn’t quite kill me. No one here dares to accuse you but myself. You are a murderer and traitor; I demand you stand trial for your gross atrocities.”

  “How dare you stand there and accuse me of these foul calumnies? You exclude me from the funeral of my sister and accuse me of her murder. If you were fit I would demand satisfaction for your lies,” replied Zadina in a voice resonant with indignation.

  “It is not right; that my mother’s murderer should attend her funeral. She should be arrested and face trial.”

  “Your Royal Highness; now is not the time or place,” said Father O’Flaherty chidingly to Princess Marina.

  “This ground is consecrated, there is to be no bloodshed upon cathedral grounds. No challenges may be made or accepted during the period of official mourning for the Queen by any member of the Royal Family, which continues for two weeks when I will crown your sister, Queen of Zenina. I ask Princess Marina and Princess Plavina to take their places in the Cathedral for the funeral of your mother, Queen Kerina. Let me deal with this matter.”

  Marina inclined her head to her Bishop and holding Fenzela’s arm on one side took Plavina’s arm on the other. She turned her back on Princess Zadina’s chariot, slowly ascending the cathedral steps, leaving Vlama beside Father O’Flaherty. The coffin was unloaded onto eight soldiers’ shoulders and borne into the cathedral. Vlama gestured and the massed force of Army, Navy, Police, and Palace Guard saluted the coffin of their former Queen as it was carried into the church.

  All the other important personages trooped into the church behind the coffin. Soon only Zadina, Prince Ga’Mikkal, Bishop O’Flaherty, General Calzina and Vlama remained behind with the phalanxes of troops, police and the crowd to confront Demina’s wailing acolytes.

  The crowd now began to mutter amongst themselves. Vlama gestured and the Army moved to block the main gate, separating them from the flock of Demina’s followers.

  Bishop O’Flaherty waited for Zadina’s next move. He waited tranquilly for her decision. She did not deign to reply, whirling her now untangled chariot away so fast that Mikkal almost overbalanced. Lashing her team she galloped out of the Cathedral grounds No one impeded her exit. Her acolytes scrambled to follow. The statue of Demina which had entered the cathedral grounds first was now last, as the acolytes fled behind their Priestess.

  Some of the crowd pursued Zadina’s followers. The crowd remained ominously silent but made no attempt to attack the cultists. The crowd herded them all back into Temple grounds and the doors once more were barricaded behind them.

  Bishop O’Flaherty turned and entered his Cathedral followed by Vlama and General Calzina. The funeral started, continuing without further incident. The orations and funeral mass having been said and sung, the procession reassembled, walking to the tomb Queen Kerina had had built for herself beneath the ruins of Queen Skaldina’s Castle. Her body was interred with due reverence. The small building was in the shape of a brilliantly cut diamond, made of crystal panels set into golden frames. This would be Kerina’s final resting place.

  Princess Marina was carried up the hill but walked unaided into the building. Queen Kerina’s remains were i
nterred and the funeral completed, the procession returned to the Golden Palace.

  Chapter Thirteen - Staying Out Of Trouble

  Divak hurried away to join Ondiella whom he’d left with Chilka and Bona. Chilka had decided not to attend the funeral. She was Marina’s friend, not Kerina’s. Divak still had not informed Ondiella of his relationship to Marina and hoped she would not find out for some time yet. They had finally settled on a name for her son. He was now called Opak which in both the Hemithean and Zeitan tongues meant different but fortuitous things. He had explained the rush back to Hemithea to Ondiella simply by telling her he had a business meeting and so far she had not doubted his lying words.

  He was disappointed she was not yet with child by him, but he hadn’t discussed the matter with her. Marina could have told him that she had injected Ondiella after Opak’s birth with a contra-ovular drug which would prevent ovulation for three months. Those three months were nearly up. By the date of Plavina’s coronation, Ondiella would be fertile again.

  Charles and Colonel Bromarsh watched Queen Kerina’s funeral’s visualisation with mixed sadness and relief. The sight of Marina alive and whole, if weak, reassured them. Riyal had received instructions from Marina to inspect the newly completed space yachts she had ordered on her return from Planet Qu. He set about provisioning them and inspected his own ship. Marina’s department had impounded his ship, but had never formalised the confiscation. She had always intended returning his ship, but she had paid for its refitting. The ship was now faster and had a stronger defensive force shield. It was also a lot cleaner and more comfortable. The storage was more efficiently organised and could carry more cargo.