Charles drove as expected but could not get near the palace because of the press of crowds waiting to see the new queen emerge on to a balcony of the palace and wave to them. They would wait all afternoon; some were getting drunk while they waited. The force shield up around the Golden Palace prevented his landing in the palace grounds even in Marina’s own hover-car so he drove off and parked a long way away before finding a transporter to transport him to the palace.
Meanwhile Ga’Mikkal having been dismissed went to find Marina. The guards refused to admit him, saying Marina had left instructions that she was not to be disturbed. He walked down the corridor away from her apartments considering his next move. Then he decided the guards were not an impediment to his entry. He could transport there. This time he judged the co-ordinates nicely materialising in the entrance hall. He looked around for Marina, but she heard his footsteps and thinking it was Charles called out to him.
“I’m in bed, lover, come and join me.”
Following the sound of Marina’s voice, Ga’Mikkal found her head and eyes protected from light and mind noise. Not picking up his thoughts she continued to think he was Charles.
“I’ve a terrible headache lover, take off your clothes and help yourself. It’s been a long time, I’ve missed you.”
Ga’Mikkal thought he should tell her who was there, but did not think he would get a second offer. So he decided to try his luck and undressed. He pulled the furs off Marina and the sight and smell of her body aroused him. Help yourself, the lady had said, so he did.
Marina realised from the moment he climbed into bed that this was not Charles, but whoever it was, he was certainly skilful. What was he doing in her rooms when she had ordered not to be disturbed except by Charles?
“Who are you?” she asked, not bothering to remove her blindfold. If whoever it was had come to kill her, he was going a very pleasant way about it.
“Ga’Mikkal, once Kurgian Prince now almost slave of Princess Zadina.”
“What are you doing here? Not quite so roughly please.”
“Making love to you at the moment, you invited me to help myself. Please don’t be angry with me, I’ve wanted you for so long. I couldn’t resist the temptation of your invitation.”
“I know what you’re doing to me, I wasn’t complaining. Zadina was always an excellent slave trainer. What I wanted to know was why you were in my apartments at all. I doubt merely the delights of my body made you risk Zadina’s wrath. Slow down a bit, that’s better.”
“Can I explain afterwards? I never was very good at talking whilst I made love. It spoils my concentration.”
Marina concurred and let his efforts blow away her headache. Afterwards she sat up, taking off the helmet and blindfold, feeling much improved. She looked at Ga’Mikkal who lay beside her, wondering what he wanted.
“I’m miserable with Zadina, one minute she adores me and the next she knocks hell out of me. I find her moods and tastes uncomfortable, please free me from her.”
“You’re not a slave Mikkal; if you went to the Kurgian Embassy you’d be safe from Zadina.”
“I wouldn’t be safe from Ga’Mishrin though. I’m as much a slave of Zadina as Charles is yours. More so, because you’d let Charles go if he wanted. I can’t return to Kochab, I have to stay here. I’m frightened of Zadina; most of the time she’s wonderful. I still find her attractive but she terrifies me when she’s angry. I fear one day she’ll beat me so badly she’ll kill me.”
“It’s hard for a Gold to be killed by a beating, we regenerate so well. What are you asking for, exactly, your freedom? From what I know about your previous life you probably deserve life with Zadina and every beating she gives you. It’s certainly more pleasant than what would happen to you if Ga’Mishrin gets his hands on you.”
“You’re not prepared to help me then? Thank you for listening, I’d best go.”
“I haven’t said I won’t help. We’re discussing what it is you want me to do. Assuming Zadina doesn’t flay you alive for returning smelling of me; I have to beat her this afternoon. Then you want me to demand you as a trophy and send her off back to the Temple shorn and bereft. Is that correct?”
He nodded.
“What then do I do with you? What will your status be? If I win you in battle, you will be in the eyes of all Zeninans, a slave. Do I sell you or give you away? Unless you seek Dalzina or Calzina’s harems, you would be taken straight back by Zadina. Or do you expect me to free you? You wouldn’t last two days in Hemithea before being enslaved again.”
“Couldn’t you keep me for a while? I’ll do my best to please you and I promise not to offend Charles.”
“Are you asking me to keep you as a slave with none of the privileges of your former rank?”
“Yes that’s what I want you to do.”
“That sounded like the demand of a free man not a slave. A slave would beg to be bought or rescued, not order me about.”
“Please Marina, I beg you, take me away from Zadina.”
“That’s a little better, what makes you think I’d be a kinder owner that Zadina? I too beat my slaves.”
“But you always remain controlled, Marina, I don’t think you would ever beat a slave to death. Please don’t leave me with Zadina, you’re my only chance, no one else has the courage to oppose her.”
“Slaves normally address me as ma’am, I don’t think you’re serious. You don’t sound like a slave begging for his life. You sound an arrogant man who thinks by wheedling he can twist any woman around his fingers. If Zadina treated you that badly you’d do anything to get away from her. You should be trying to convince me it would be to my advantage to take you from her. What will you do for me if I rescue you?”
Ga’Mikkal was beginning to understand what Marina expected of him. He got off the bed and knelt at her feet and began very gently to kiss them.
“There is nothing, ma’am I wouldn’t do to please you if only you will let me. I learn quickly and would obey your smallest whim; please I beg you most abjectly make me your slave.”
He punctuated his words with kisses and kneeling up began to work up her legs with his mouth. She didn’t stop him but reclined once more to try out his skills. She kept herself from reacting letting him sweat a little as he tried to please her, waiting for her next order or movement to indicate what he should do.
With the slightest gesture she showed she was ready and he slid inside her carefully. Gently he used all his training to draw her out, she held back deliberately making him work harder, but he had been well trained. She found him very good indeed. “It is too risky, no matter how good he is. How can I ever trust him? Is he worth upsetting Charles? It is cruel to turn him down now he’s humbled himself trying so hard to please me, but what proof do I have he is now on my side?He seeks my protection only out of fear, not from love or loyalty. How can I tell if Zadina has set him up to enter my household? Does he intend to win my confidence and then kill me?”
She pushed her mind forward and entered mind link with him. All his conscious thoughts were on pleasing and enjoying her. His mind sought out her wishes from her mind. Was he being gentle enough? Should he alter his position or rhythm to increase her pleasure?
Nothing told her he intended ill towards her. Her mind briefly distracted by his actions sought satisfaction rather than illumination and spelt out explicitly what she wanted from him. Neither noticed Charles’s entrance, but he didn’t leave them unaware for long.
“I’m sorry ma’am. I was told you required my services. I can see I was misinformed. With your permission I will wait in the slave quarters.”
“You haven’t got it.”
“Ma’am?”
“Wait, we’ve nearly finished.”
Charles waited kneeling in the doorway, looking past the bed vaguely at a picture on the wall. It was a beautiful painting but it did not interest him. He was not going to watch, unless ordered, Ga’Mikkal doing what appeared to be a very satisfactory job of pleasing hi
s Mistress.
Eventually Marina got up and walked to the bathroom, instructing both men to wait. She returned draped in a white towel.
“I’m sorry Mikkal. You are good enough to keep but I’m not sure I can trust you. You’d better wash the smell of me off yourself and go back to Zadina.”
“Please ma’am I don’t want to go back, please I’ll do anything to prove you can trust me.”
“I can’t see how you can give me proof of your trustworthiness. You could have been sent by Zadina on her orders. How will I ever know for sure?”
“You could have my mind taped. That would prove I’m telling the truth, ma’am.”
“I could, but a Gold can make it an unreliable test. Golds can lie to practically anything. It would have to be some more positive kind of proof than that.”
“You could always bring Zadina’s heart on a platter to Marina. She might accept that as proof. Otherwise I think you’ve just lost out,” said Charles.
“I can prove my loyalty. You can trust me, I can tell you about the tunnels.”
“Which tunnels, Mikkal?” asked Marina.
“The tunnel from the Temple to this Palace, it even goes on to Army Headquarters. I’m not sure where else it comes out but it’s huge.”
“How do you know about this?”
“I found it the day of Queen Kerina’s funeral. Zadina drugged herself into insensibility having beaten me for a couple of hours first. They’d been looking for a tunnel because food was running out. I couldn’t get out of the Temple because I hadn’t learnt to self-transport and I was angry, sore and hungry. I found the entrance to the tunnel all the way to a door that opens where the Golden Palace underground swimming pool is. I came through that door and walked to the kitchens.”
“I changed my colour to Blue, the cooks fed me and I came back and exchanged my favours for another meal. My price was only a decent meal. I told the cook, a Green, my name was Miza. I’ve been seeing her regularly which is why I’ve not lost weight. I didn’t tell Zadina, I was mad at her, I don’t owe Demina and her mob anything either.”
“You can’t believe this tale, Marina. If there were a way out of the temple, Zadina’s followers wouldn’t look as thin as they do. Why should Ga’Mikkal find something they can’t?” said Charles.
“Personally I believe him, but if there’s a tunnel from the swimming pool there’s no time to follow it now. Go and tell the guard outside the name of this cook and have her fetched, Miza. If she backs up your story, I’ll take you from Zadina. I will probably beat you regularly, but if that’s what you want, you have a bargain. Don’t expect sympathy from me if you upset Charles. He is number one slave and will remain so unless I chose a mate.”
Ga’Mikkal did as he was told and the Green cook was swiftly fetched. Before her arrival he coloured his skin Blue and hoped she would admit knowing him. Chendela was frightened by the summons, fearing she had offended in some way.
“Do you know this slave, Chendela?”
She was surprised Princess Marina asked her about the naked Blue slave. Chendela looked at him carefully. It wasn’t Marina’s badge he wore but Zadina’s. Why should Marina be annoyed because she bedded one of Zadina’s slaves? Chendela decided honesty was the best policy.
“Yes ma’am, I know this slave.”
“Can you tell me his name?”
“He told me he was called Miza, isn’t it true?”
“It’s as good a name for a slave as any, I suppose. Did you take him to bed, Chendela?”
“Yes ma’am, he’s pretty good. He seemed a nice lad, bit bored, has a healthy appetite too. I like that in a man. Most of the time we cook food and it goes upstairs and we only hear when it isn’t satisfactory. It’s nice to have a few compliments on our cooking as well as complaints occasionally. Miza was very appreciative. I hope he’s not in trouble because of what I’ve said. If he’s done wrong, I’m very sorry. I’ll willingly take the blame.”
“You seem to have made a good impression on Chendela, Miza. I think you should thank her. Beg her forgiveness for lying to her.”
“I’m terribly sorry to have caused you problems, Chendela. Thank you so much for telling the truth. I beg your forgiveness. Should I kiss her feet as well, ma’am?”
“No, I hate groveling, snivelling slaves. Wash and get dressed. Chendela, I’m sorry to have dragged you away from the preparation of my lunch. I must remember to visit the kitchens and thank the cooks more often. Everyone should get job satisfaction. You’ve been a great help, thank you very much.”
“You’re not going to punish Miza are you, ma’am? I’m sure he didn’t mean to be bad, whatever it is he’s done wrong.”
“Miza will get punished eventually, but I’m not angry with him now. What you told me has made me feel more generously towards him. Thank you.”
“Yes ma’am,” Chendela said and scuttled towards the door bowing herself out.
“You must now return to Zadina, I advise you to hang back as much as possible, because she may still sense me on you. If I win I’ll claim you, otherwise you’ll have to face the consequences of your actions. Go now and good luck.”
Chapter Nineteen - Invitations to a Fight
Ga’Mikkal reluctantly transported to the corridor round the corner and returned to Zadina’s quarters. She was dressed in a pink-trimmed purple and gold skirt, her hair in a plain, floor-length braid and apart from the coronet wore no other jewellery. If she had gone naked to the banquet it could not have been more obvious that she intended battle.
She was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to enquire where Ga’Mikkal had been, so she did not notice he was both nervous and cheerful. He hung back but was sufficiently obsequious to not make her curious. She studied her appearance and although she was not pleased with the stark effect, decided it would have to do.
Charles was angry with himself for being angry at Marina.
“You weren’t here, Mikkal was and I needed a man. You are here now, can I do anything to please you now?”
He knew better than to sulk for long and took her a few seconds later. After all Mikkal had warmed her up already.
He took his time, wanting to impress on her with how much better he was than Ga’Mikkal. One of the guards had to knock on her bedroom door to inform them everyone else was seated in the Banqueting Hall and Her Majesty couldn’t enter until Princess Marina was present. Marina apologized, washing and dressing swiftly. Like Zadina she wore her hair in a floor length plait and a plainer coronet on it.
She did not even examine her reflection, telling Charles to hurry up she ran from the room. A Princess must be on time, a slave could creep in unnoticed. The guests were buzzing that a challenge and fight were expected. The new Zigan Ambassador eventually got Kapalina to explain what was going on. She put names to the faces around the room and explained Zadina had come dressed intending to fight. He did not understand how everyone knew, but caught on to the gasp from the others as Princess Marina ran into the room apologizing for being late.
Marina and Zadina alone of the Zeninans had their hair tied in simple floor sweeping braids. Even Candakeev realised Marina also intended to fight. Queen Plavina swept into the room dressed once more in the formal garments of a queen. The crown was heavy and the thick cloth of gold of her skirt made her hot and uncomfortable. She tried to look regal and as she took her place thought she had done quite well. Then she realised the atmosphere in the room and the thoughts of her guests were not celebratory in nature.
She soon took in Zadina and Marina’s mode of dress. “My sister lied to me, she knew Zadina intended to challenge, she’s dressed to fight. Marina lied to help me go through with my Coronation without worrying; I’ve never known her lie to me before. Marina felt it more important to bolster my confidence than to tell me the truth. Did she really think I wouldn’t go through with it if I’d known Zadina would challenge?”Plavina asked herself and then answered herself.
“Yes,” thought Plavina, “Marina thought
that and she was right. I wouldn’t have managed to get to the cathedral, let alone through the ceremony. Marina got through the day knowing she was going to fight Zadina and hiding the fact from me. Marina had her own fears to contend with and the fear I’d disgrace her as well.”
Plavina was ashamed of herself. She worried about Marina, could she beat Zadina again? It was less than a month since the explosion; even with superb regeneration it would be hard to get re-grown muscle into fighting peak in that time.
The cooks and Chendela in particular would have been disappointed if they realised how little the Queen and three royal princesses ate of their efforts. Plavina tasted nothing, merely going through the motions of normality. Marina drank only water and ate nothing. Zadina drank one glass of fruit juice and ate a few crystallised fruits. Kapalina did not eat and when Dalzina questioned her, she said she felt overtired.
Dalzina had no loss of appetite and drank and ate for two, but as she had been fed by tube for over two weeks that wasn’t surprising. Calzina and Klivina also ate well; both were anticipating watching the fight with something approaching enthusiasm. But then, whoever won they would swear allegiance to her. Vlama ate an adequate meal although the food tasted dull to her. She was too good a soldier to not eat when food was put in front of her. She might not be eating again for several days, for if Zadina won she would go into hiding to protect Kabaneev.
Kabaneev was not present; Marina had warned him about the fight so he decided he would eat his lunch in a less fraught atmosphere. He would watch the fight, but his nerves would not help Marina.
Charles reclined beside Marina on her couch, she fed him with her fingers from the dishes intended for her. He ate because she expected it, but like Marina’s other friends had no appetite. Ga’Mikkal lay beside Zadina, occasionally being fed a titbit but his mouth was dry and he drank too much wine. Zadina sensed his fear, telling him not to worry; even if she lost Marina would not kill her. He was safe for the time being.
Champion of Zenina Page 7