Chapter Sixteen – Nausea
Marina’s reaction to Zadina’s message was not laughter. She was physically sick. Fenzela enquired whether she had eaten something that disagreed with her, a euphemistic term for whether she had been poisoned.
“No Fenzela, I haven’t got the stomach to fight Zadina. I’m not ill.”
“You’ve fought her before and won. I don’t believe you’re afraid of her. There must be some other reason.”
“There’s a reason! One I have avoided thinking about for twenty five years. For all I hate her, I could never kill her, nor order her death. When a child my aunt and I were lovers. Zadina was my first lover. She taught me the joys of sex. I have never taken another woman to bed. I’ve loathed her for what she did to me, for stealing my childhood away and I’ve loved her making it impossible to love any other.”
“Now our lives depend on my hatred for Zadina being stronger than my love. My life, Plavina’s, Charles’s, Vlama’s, Kabaneev’s and even yours, Fenzela. You all depend on me beating Zadina tomorrow, but what about in six months’time, in a year or two’s time. Will I always beat her? Will there come a time when I lose and forfeit our lives? These doubts assail me. We’ve never mentioned what passed between us when I was a child, now the eve before we fight she sends a message full of innuendo and sexual threats. Even though I rationalise it as an attempt to mentally dominate me, it fills me with revulsion. I think the best thing I can do is talk to Vellina.”
Marina transported over to Vellina’s apartment to find Vellina and Riyal having supper together.
“I’m sorry to interrupt but I’ve got problems I need to talk out with you now, Vellina. I’m going to fight Zadina tomorrow and I can no longer cope with the memories of my childhood. Do you mind if I talk while you eat?”
“Riyal shouldn’t really hear this, Marina. I’ll send him away.”
“Don’t bother, Riyal can stay. It’s time this was no longer a secret and if I can’t tell Riyal about it, he can’t be much of a friend. Where do I start?”
“Start at the beginning when Zadina first began to touch you.”
“She always touched me even as a baby and I loved her playing with me. It really started when I was nine. Zadina climbed into my bed late at night and played with me, but she never played with me that way when adults were around. I wasn’t to tell anyone. I wasn’t to think about it. It was our secret she told me. I didn’t like it at first, sometimes she was very rough with me and I lied to explain where the scratches and bruises came from to my nurse. She must have thought I was the clumsiest child imaginable. As time went by I looked forward to Zadina’s visits. I enjoyed what she did to me and I would do the same to her in return. She was a very skilful teacher. I copied her in sports, in how I dressed, in my mannerisms. She was always so beautiful. I couldn’t compete and yet she came to me at night. I felt I must be all right after all.”
“Adolescent self-criticism,” Vellina retorted.
“My twelfth Birthday came, but Zadina didn’t come to my party. It was flat without her. I waited for her to come but midnight came and went. Still she didn’t come. I threw caution to the wind going to her rooms. She wasn’t in; she’d been canvassing votes for election as High Priestess. My nurse missed me and I’d not bothered to cover my tracks. My mother came at my nurse’s insistence and found us in bed together. I was in Zadina’s bed and what I was doing made it clear I was a willing participant. I certainly wasn’t crying or fighting her off. My mother concluded I had precociously seduced her. What other conclusion could she draw? She beat me severely and that night my body finally became adult. Most Zeninan girls are fertile at age ten, but I had convinced myself I was infertile and had planned my life without men. After all what could men do for me Zadina couldn’t?”
“You’ve learnt differently since then,” Vellina muttered.
“My parents kept us apart hoping I would take men, I made friends with other women who preferred women, but wasn’t interested in them sexually. I didn’t want anyone but Zadina. I thought wanting someone else showed my love was worthless. I strove to keep faith with Zadina. I ignored the others she bedded. I didn’t want to believe it was true. I wanted Zadina to myself.”
“Possessiveness is very common in adolescence; most of us grow out of it.”
“Then mother decided I’d have to take men to bed. I refused and she had me forced. I fought but I was chained and drugged, eventually they succeeded. The men weren’t repulsive. I’d have been hurt emotionally and physically less if I’d given in. When my mind could take no more my body dropped into catatonia. When I came around, I couldn’t imagine Zadina would forgive me. I was no longer only hers. I felt soiled.”
“I punished all the slaves even though they’d followed orders under duress. I acquired every one and sold them off planet to male brothels so I would never see any of them again.”
“All I could do to punish my mother was to refuse her my love. It was cruel of me but I never checked on their welfare or rescued them from their punishment.”
“Finally I accepted life was without Zadina. I had a very developed libido now I was fertile, my symbiotes demanded I have sex. Either I committed suicide or found a substitute for Zadina. I tried men. They were an adequate sexual substitute. I enjoyed them even if I felt guilty. Emotionally I had nothing to give them and they started to kill themselves, because I could not love them back.”
“Zadina returned and sought me out. She said I’d grown up and wasn’t her little girl any more. Then she made a pass at me and I pushed her off, telling her she wasn’t to do that ever again. Then I ran away.”
“I stopped copying her. I dressed simply as the opposite of whatever Zadina wore. I didn’t care about how I looked. I would never be as beautiful, I would not be a poor second. Even my rejection of the Fertility Cult within that decision was a rebellion against Zadina. Now I wonder how much I’ve done, because it was the right thing to do and how much simply to annoy Zadina.”
“I had cause to avenge myself on her and could understand if I had done so. Half of my rebellion was from jealousy and the other half out of guilt for rejecting her. I have to get these thoughts into proportion and run my life the way I want to, not simply to be different to Zadina.”
Vellina nodded.
“By admitting there’s been a problem, you are accepting your life as it has been. You can’t change what happened. Zadina did abuse you, Kerina ordered your rape. These things are true and shaped the woman you have become, but now you must mould the future to your own design. You must examine your decisions and realise how much of them are based on emotional stimuli. Once you rid yourself of the automatic emotional responses to your past you will make the right decisions.”
“All that I have done but it doesn’t solve my present problem. Tomorrow I must fight her. She is my enemy; she killed my mother and nearly killed me, the enemy of those of whom I am fond. I feel like a little girl who looks forward to secret play with her aunt. Part of me wants her to win, to dominate me so I can be that little girl, to win my aunt’s love and approval. I go into battle with my hands tied for I cannot bring myself to kill her and she will try to kill me. I fear I will let her.”
“That is very serious indeed. Have you felt like this before?”
“I felt like it during the last fight, every time I hurt her it hurt me inside. I wanted to enfold her in my arms and pretend the last twenty eight years had never happened.”
“It is too late for analysis to change your emotional needs before tomorrow. You have to be psychologically ready to fight tomorrow. I will place some hypnotic suggestions to help your motivation. It is actually very healthy you have finally begun to admit how you feel about Zadina. You must realise you have no reason to feel guilty at all. Now I wish to enter mind link with you. I don’t understand how you have hidden these neuroses away from me for so long. Let me examine all of your mind.”
Chapter Seventeen - Plavina’s Coronation
Vel
lina worked into the night trying to turn Marina’s weaknesses into strengths, trying to motivate her to beat Zadina. Vellina was not completely satisfied with her work but she had to let Marina sleep some time. She put her to bed in her own room and joined Riyal in his. Early the next morning Marina was woken by Riyal bringing her breakfast. He was naked. Marina told him off for tempting her.
“I’m here with Vellina’s compliments. She says you need a man now and another at lunch. She’s called Charles. She says he should watch the fight.”
“But Zadina will hurt him; I want you to take him off Zenina, out of the Empire where she can’t get to him. My new yachts are ready. Take one and Charles and my father and get them safe away.”
“I won’t do that. Vellina says you need them to remind you what you’re fighting for.”
***
Marina returned to the palace to confirm all was in order for Plavina’s Coronation. She dressed herself and went to check on how soon Plavina would be ready.
Entering Plavina’s Apartments everything was in uproar. Her serving women were distressed; one had a bruise across her cheek. Jewels and garments were scattered everywhere. Princess Plavina was face down on her bed sobbing her heart out. Marina dismissed the servants sitting down on the bed by her sister. Plavina was in no state to perform her duties in a few hours’ time. It was up to Marina to make sure she could.
Locating two glasses and a bottle of Zeninan brandy she poured out two large slugs. Dutch courage, Father O’Flaherty called it she said to herself. But Dutch courage was better than none.
“Sit up Plavina,” she ordered and another sob escaped from the soaked pillow Plavina was watering. She enforced the command with a mental slap, which turned her sister indignantly to face her.
“Drink this,” she said handing her one of the glasses. Plavina mutely obeyed and together they knocked back the fiery spirit.
“Now wash your face and then you can tell me what this is all about whilst we get you dressed.”
Plavina scuttled off to the bathroom returning with her face freshly washed, if looking no happier.
“I can’t go through with it Marina. I can’t face Zadina; she’s going to try to kill us both. I couldn’t sleep because I could see our dead bodies and Zadina wearing the crown. The people want you as queen they keep telling me I should give way to you.”
“Don’t you want to be queen anymore?”
“Of course I do but I can’t face the fighting. I can’t face her killing you. I was wrong to expect you to support me. It is you who should be crowned today.”
“But I don’t want to be queen and you’ve always said how much you do. You’ll make a great queen and I’ll always be in the background if you need me. There’s nothing to worry about. Zadina is a spent force. She backed down over our mother’s funeral and has agreed to come to your coronation today dressed as a Princess not as High Priestess. Why should she do that if she intended to challenge your right to rule? Now the only thing you’ve got to worry about is whether we’re going to get you ready in time for your own coronation. I’m not afraid of Zadina, I’ve beaten her before and I think she’s frightened of me. Now do you think I can let your ladies back in so they can get you ready. I think you need to apologize to them, one of them has a lovely bruise.”
So Princess Marina ushered the ladies of the Royal bedchamber back in and Plavina very prettily apologized for her display of temper and they told her that it was nothing, of course she was forgiven. Soon she was dressed in the ornate cloth of gold skirt with an eighteen foot train. Her hair arranged into a complicated style of small braids and coils and around her neck was a necklace of brilliant white diamonds surrounding one huge sapphire; her arms hung with diamonds and sapphires set into heavy gold bracelets and her fingers festooned with rings. A small diamond and gold crown nestled into the ornate confection of hair her women created.
With one last look in the mirror she thanked her ladies walking with her head held high. Marina swept up the train behind her as they went to inspect the Palace Guard who had been lined up waiting for her for over an hour. She was a little late but she walked proudly and confidently. Plavina looked like a queen; she moved like a queen, she believed she would be a good queen.
Half an hour later the Coronation Procession of Plavina the Third, Queen and Co-ruler of Zenina, Empress of the Zeninan Empire set off for St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The buildings along the processional route were decorated with flowers and brightly coloured ribbons. This was a holiday for most of Hemithea and the population lined the streets. An Army band playing a jaunty march set off establishing the pace for the rest to follow. The Army, Navy, Police and Internal Security Department brigades proceeded forward. The Palace Guard flanking the carriage bearing Queen designate Plavina followed. She sat alone waving graciously to the crowd.
Behind Princess Plavina, Princess Zadina and Prince Ga’Mikkal drove in her golden Chariot. Marina rode a short distance back with Duchess Klivina with whom she seemed to be conversing. Vellina, Orina, Harminda and Lahoda were pulled by four golden beasts in an open gilded carriage. Behind them rode Plavina’s son Sebie together with his grandfather Kabaneev. Both dressed in archaic purple Zigan style clothes with golden circlets around their foreheads. Divak was nowhere to be seen. He’d decided not to attend his sister’s Coronation.
Pretty children threw flower petals over the procession as they passed on the way to the Cathedral. The crowd cheered sporadically, but despite the official holiday it was rather quiet in mood. Marina was cheered as she passed louder than her sister; Marina was receiving mental complaints that it should be her being crowned. Zadina was hissed and booed. At one point the crowd surged forward towards her, intent on killing her, but the soldiers lining the way stepped between the crowd and the High Priestess forcing them back.
Plavina was ushered to the side door of the cathedral by Bishop O’Flaherty and taken to the vestry where he poured her another stiff drink whilst the cathedral filled up. This was the most important occasion Father Niall had ever officiated at so he joined the Princess in steadying his own nerves. Dalzina and Kapalina transported directly to the cathedral slipping in the back.
Their seats at the front remained vacant, but it was too late for them to claim them. They left the new Zigan Ambassador to struggle through the space-port alone, but they expected to see him at the Banquet that afternoon. Ketla had brought Dalzina up to date since she left Zenina who was therefore extremely confused to find Zadina present and not locked up awaiting her execution. Dalzina expected Zadina to disrupt the Coronation challenging the new queen so couldn’t understand why no challenge was forthcoming.
Prince Ga’Mikkal sitting next to Zadina watched Princess Marina in admiration. Her presence even though she knew she’d fight Zadina that afternoon was incredible. “If I can get away from Zadina before the oath swearing ceremony, I’ll ask Marina to claim me from her. I have to get away from Zadina; she is out of control.” He found the life she led disgusted even his somewhat jaded tastes.
Father O’Flaherty handed the paraphernalia of Queendom to Plavina. He anointed her head with sanctified oil and blessed her. He crowned her with the Imperial Zeninan Crown, raising her up before the congregation. Queen Plavina turned in all her regalia to the crowd and a ragged cheer went up. The congregation tried again and at the second attempt managed to welcome their new Queen Plavina as their monarch.
The ceremonial over, the new Queen her train carried by eight small Golden girls led the way out of the Cathedral into what was now misty drizzle. A cheer went up from the crowd as Plavina the Third, Queen of Zenina, drove through the streets of her capital, Hemithea to be seen by her people.
Princess Zadina, still accompanied by Mikkal, followed the Queen. Some of the crowd had decided not to waste the opportunity and had armed themselves accordingly. Two eggs found their mark splattering Zadina’s silver cloth before she put up a personal force shield and the soldiers dealt with the markswomen.
M
arina basked in the adoration of the people but the pressure of their good wishes was so overwhelming she struggled to keep her smile fixed in place. Her head was already aching for the people were telling her was she was the queen they had wanted. Why had she denied them? Even though the crowd loved her, their disappointment hammered through her mind. She would never be able to attend another’s coronation against such vehement support. She wished she had taken telepathic suppressants to shut out the crowd.
Zadina also found the journey back to the Golden Palace exhausting, but what the people were telling her was far less pleasant. Various punishments were mooted for her by the imaginative inhabitants of Zenina. All would result in her demise, most of them slowly and gratuitously painfully. They ranged through simply binding her to one of her own bomb bouquets to public dis-embowelment and dis-memberment, to the more esoteric being fed to dogs and technologically advanced methods causing mental destruction or nerve torture which they wished to continue long after she begged for death.
At the Palace all the premier ladies of Zenina sought their rooms before the late lunch banquet and the swearing of their loyalty to the new Queen. Plavina bathed and retired to bed with a new Markaban slave. Zadina dismissed Ga’Mikkal, had a massage from one of her slaves, and took a young Kurgian whom she had broken in some months previously to bed, one who had been left in the slave quarters at the Golden Palace.
Chapter Eighteen - Begging for Slavery
Marina nursing her headache, showered swiftly, hoping the Hemithean population got swiftly drunk celebrating, and would leave her alone. She stuck a telepathic shielding helmet on her head and a blindfold across her eyes, retiring to bed. The guards were instructed to admit Charles and only Charles. She expected him to arrive soon from the country.
Champion of Zenina Page 6