by Devi Mara
The blonde frowned. “I see no injuries, though I heard reports of bodily damage.”
“I’m fine, now.” Abby held her arms out from her sides to show the women she was in working order. “Better than fine.”
“How is this possible?” Nitya glanced at Desta, the other woman still staring at Abby intently.
“Perhaps, Gibil Abby would like to speak to her mate about this issue before others.” The dark-skinned woman raised one perfectly arched eyebrow and smiled slightly.
“How did you know…?” Abby trailed off when Desta gave her a small smile.
“You spent the night here. His Highness would bestow his affections on his mate only.” She turned to Nitya. “I will retrieve the rest.”
Abby watched her walk from the room, mouth still gaping open like a fish. “Did she just…? What?”
Nitya smiled. “Desta is very blunt.” She held up a thin shirt and pants. “You will become accustomed to it.”
“Huh.” Abby glanced at the door again. “What did she mean about Edric?”
Nitya crossed her arms, looking toward the window as Abby pulled on the under garments. “It is the way of Ghadrikans. Whether weeks or decades, we will wait for the interest of our chosen.”
Abby blinked at the information. “Oh.” She had just tugged the shirt over her head when someone knocked.
Nitya glanced at her to make sure she was covered, before granting the person entrance. Desta swept into the room with an armful of metal plates. She gently laid her burden on the pillows in the center of the room and motioned for Abby to approach.
“Your armor,” she said, when Abby stood next to her. “Forged from the finest Ghadrikan guskin and kaspum.” She stepped back to let Abby examine the plates. “It is impenetrable.”
Abby glanced at the other woman, smiling at the clear pride in her voice. “It’s beautiful.”
Desta stood up straighter. “Thank you, Gibil Abby. It was an honor to create armor for you.”
Abby turned back to the armor to lightly run her fingertips over the gleaming surface. She paused at the cursive letters. ‘A’ and ‘E’. “Our initials.”
Desta nodded. “If you would prefer—”
“It’s perfect,” Abby interrupted. “Help me put it on?”
The other woman beamed. “Of course.” She gestured for Nitya to aid her and the two of them began to fit the armor into place.
“Gibil is a title, right?” Abby asked, as the women stepped back to admire their work.
It was Nitya who answered, still smiling. “It is a title for a Ghadrikan woman. Roughly translated, it is one who is fiery, spirited. A warrior.”
Abby grinned. Nice. “Am I all done?”
“Yes. I am sure His Highness is eager to see you,” Desta said. She walked over to the door and gesture for Abby to follow her. “They are in the throne room.”
“They?” Abby asked, as she fell into step with her, Nitya just behind them.
“His Highness Prince Edric, Her Highness Queen Loreet, and His Highness King Gol.”
Abby’s eyes widened at all of the titles. “Are they busy? They may be busy.”
Desta paused and turned her head to look at her. “Gibil Abby, they wait for you. They are not busy. Even if they were, you would not be a hindrance.” She stared at her until Abby nodded. “I will announce you.”
Abby stood stock still and watched Desta fling open the doors to the throne room and set her feet. She threw back her shoulders and loudly announced Abby’s presence. Abby could feel her face burning. If it was not for Nitya’s insistent nudging, she would not have been able to move from her spot.
She slowly stepped into the room and glanced around. The three royals turned to look at her and she blinked in surprise at their pleased expressions. She expected Edric’s smile, but Loreet and Gol looked equally happy to see her.
“Abby, I am so pleased to see you,” Loreet said, first to rise from her seat. She walked over to hook her elbow with Abby’s. “You will have to tell me of your adventure.”
Abby caught Edric’s sharp look from the corner of her eye. She glanced at him to see him scowling at his mother. “After she has rested.”
Loreet nodded. “Of course.”
There was something very odd going on. Abby looked at the three of them. “Did I miss something?”
Edric dropped his gaze at the same time Loreet’s smile widened. “I have something to tell you, Abby.”
She was going to forbid her from seeing Edric. “I’m not going to leave Edric.”
Loreet blinked in confusion. “I had not thought you would.”
“No matter what.” It was not an option. She could feel Edric’s gaze on her, but she did not look at him. “I won’t do it.”
“I would never ask you to leave my son. He is incomplete without you.”
Abby stared at her. “Oh.” She looked away. “I thought…”
“No. That never crossed my mind, but I would like to ask you something very important.”
Abby eyed her warily. “Okay.”
Loreet smiled. “Walk with me.” She turned away from the two men and gently tugged Abby along behind her.
When they were out of hearing range, Abby gave her an expectant look.
“What do you think of Ghadrik?”
Abby raised an eyebrow. “It’s beautiful. Why?”
The other woman pursed her lips and nodded. “And the palace?”
“Same. Your Majesty, ma’am, what is this about?”
Loreet let out a heavy sigh and paused. She turned to face the window and Abby stood next to her silently. The woman seemed to be having an internal debate, her brows furrowed as she glared at the stark landscape.
“My mate and I have spoken at great length about your relationship with our son.” Abby opened her mouth to comment and Loreet held up her hand to stop her. “Please just listen.”
“Okay.”
“I became queen at a young age. My mother held no great love for war and she was pleased to pass on the crown to her more warlike daughter.” Loreet sighed. “I have been queen for over one hundred years. I grow tired of the weight of my kingdom.”
Abby frowned. “What are you saying? Edric is going to be king soon?” She was not sure how she felt about that.
“No.” Loreet turned to face her, her eyes intense. “Ghadrik is a matriarchy.”
“Okay, but you don’t have any other children. Do you?”
The queen gave her a barely there smile. “Yes. I have a daughter.”
Abby’s eyebrows shot up. “You do? When do I meet her?” Edric had not said anything about a sibling.
Loreet’s smile widened and Abby got the feeling she was silently laughing. “It is you, Abby. You are my son’s mate.”
“Uh.” Words failed her. It could not be how it sounded. “I think I’m misunderstanding you. I thought you were saying I was supposed to be queen or something.” She forced a laugh. Loreet did not join her.
“I did.”
“Wait. What?”
Loreet opened her mouth to reply when the doors to the throne room banged open. A small force, outfitted in midnight blue armor, surged into the room. The sound of fighting followed them. The one in the lead turned their head side to side, as if looking for someone in particular. They paused when they caught sight of her.
“Abigaia,” a female voice muttered.
The leader reached up to remove their helmet and Abby gaped. “Candace?”
The dark-skinned woman looked her over. She did not look away until a scuffle broke out on the other side of the room. Abby followed her gaze to where Edric was fighting with three armed figures. She took a moment to admire his movements, before she moved toward the woman who had been her roommate.
“What is this about, Candace?”
The woman glanced at her. “You will be coming with me. We will not harm Prince Edric if you concede.” Abby did not miss the way the woman sneered at Edric’s name.
She scan
ned the room. The queen was where she had left her, three weapons pointed at her. The king was pinned to the wall near his throne, another two weapons pointed at him. Edric was the only one who had managed to avoid capture. He ducked each time one of the armored figures shot at him, but she noticed the misses were getting closer.
“Fine.”
All movement in the room halted at her strong words. She saw Edric start toward her from the corner of her eye, but she did not look at him. She would not be able to leave him if she did. Candace motioned to the soldiers near Edric and they leveled their weapons at him.
“I said I would go!” Abby yelled frantically.
“He will attempt to follow,” Candace told her flatly. “He will need to be neutralized.”
“I don’t know what you want, but if any harm comes to him you will never get it. Do you hear me? Never!”
Candace paused, hand still raised. “Your fondness for the Ghadrikan will not serve you well.”
“You have my answer.”
The woman visibly sighed. “Fine.” She let out a string of words in the musical language and the soldiers backed away from Edric. “But if he follows…”
Abby narrowed her eyes. “Don’t threaten him.”
“An assurance, not a threat. I will not have him tracking us.”
Abby glared at her, but turned her head to look at Edric. He looked back at her, a clear plea in his eyes. She had to ignore it. She set her shoulders and raised her chin.
“He won’t follow us.”
Candace raised her eyebrows. “So be it.” She turned to face the door and motioned for Abby to proceed her. “After you, Abby.”
Abby gave her a dirty look. “It’s Miss Ashley to you.”
“Whatever,” Candace muttered under her breath. “Move along. We are behind schedule.”
Abby walked from the palace with her head held high. She managed to step into and out of the portal without looking at any of the people around her. It was not until Candace made a grab for her arm that she spun to face her, a dark scowl on her face.
“Don’t touch me!”
Candace frowned. “Fine. Go that way.”
Abby gave her another hateful look and stalked toward a white castle. She immediately recognized it from the picture on Candace’s mantle. Of course. The woman may have lied about a lot of things, but she seemed to have told the truth about her family. Abby simply growled at the door guards when they held open the doors for her.
“No need to be rude,” Candace muttered, clearly giving up any attempt at hiding her natural accent.
Abby sent her a short glare. “Don’t speak to me.” When she turned her head back to look ahead of her, a woman had stepped into the corridor.
The dark-haired woman turned to face her and Abby recognized the pale skin and gray eyes. It was Candace’s oldest sister. The woman froze when she met her gaze and Abby frowned at the similarities between them. Their eyes were the exactly same shade of gray and their facial shape was similar if not identical. Abby stopped a few feet from the other woman.
“Abigail,” the woman said.
Abby deliberated for a moment, but finally nodded. “And you’re Can—” She broke off and scowled over her shoulder at the silent Candace. “You’re this person’s sister. I don’t know her actual name.”
“Ah.” Abby thought she saw a flash of humor in the woman’s eyes. It was gone almost immediately. “Caelia is my sister’s name.”
“And you? Who are you?”
“I am Queen Kaleen.”
Abby looked her over. She wore fitted pants and a dark blue tunic. It almost looked like something from Earth. “I would say it’s nice to meet you, but I’m here under duress.”
Kaleen glanced at her sister. For a moment, they seemed to communicate silently. Then, Candace shook her head and walked away. Kaleen looked back at Abby and gave her a small smile.
“Would you like a tour?”
Abby sighed. “I’d like to know what I’m doing here, so I can do it and leave.”
Kaleen frowned. “We have much to talk about, you and I.”
Abby returned her frown. “I’m all ears.”
The other woman opened her mouth as if she would retort, but gave her a humorless smile instead. “Follow me.”
Abby followed her down the hallway, ignoring the furnishings. She wanted to hear what the woman had to say and get back where she belonged. She nearly stumbled at the thought. Edric was where she belonged. She was not sure how long she had been thinking of him as home.
“This should do,” Kaleen said, interrupting her thoughts.
She followed her into the room and glanced around. A relatively plain sitting room, it held only two small cushioned benches and a table between. She slowly sank down on the one facing the door and watched the other woman sit across from her. Kaleen made a show of smoothing her tunic down over her thighs, before she met her gaze.
“What do you know of Raena?”
“Nothing.”
Kaleen peered at her. “Prince Edric did not tell you anything?”
Abby frowned. “No.”
“Queen Loreet? King Gol? Neither mentioned the Raena?”
“No,” Abby gritted out. “What is this about?”
Kaleen looked down at her lap. “I-I had thought—” she broke off and shook her head. “My people have a tradition of going to earth for two years every fifty years.”
“Okay.”
Kaleen continued speaking, as if she had not spoken. “We are to observe and learn about humanity. It has been this way for over two millennia. My first time on Earth was uneventful.”
Abby jerked her eyes up from the table between them to frown at the woman. “The first time?”
“My second time was not so uneventful. King Gol’s second, Caern, has a half-brother. Did you know?”
Abby stared at her. “No…”
Kaleen smiled faintly. “Half human and half Dorn. Keltrin.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
The woman did not answer.
“Your Majesty.”
Kaleen looked at her.
“Why are you telling me this? Why am I here?”
“I did not know who he was. Keltrin. I did not know until after.”
Abby frowned. The woman was rambling, making very little sense. “What—”
“I researched the Ashleys for eight months. The day I found out, I started searching for someone worthy. A couple who could nurture where I could not.”
“What are you talking about? What about the Ashleys? Did you know my parents?”
“There was nothing I could do. When the two years are up, they are up. I could not stay and Keltrin’s mission was over. I had to make a choice—”
“Kaleen!” Abby shouted.
The woman’s rambling broke off mid-sentence and she stared at her.
“What are you talking about?”
“Edric is going to be the Dorn king one day. If you bond with him, you will be the Ghadrikan queen.”
“What’s your point? I don’t see how it’s any of your business.”
“Keltrin is your father.”
Abby blinked at her. Her father was half Dorn and Caern’s brother. She started to laugh and could not stop. It was ridiculous. Of course, she was human. Completely human. Kaleen was obviously confused or crazy or both.
“Abigaia.”
Abby jerked back at the feel of a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t touch me.”
Kaleen immediately snatched her hand back, a wounded look on her face. “I apologize for telling you this way.”
“And you? Who are you?” Part of her knew, but she had to hear it.
“I’m your mother.”
Abby held her breath for a long minute, before slowly letting it out. “Was there anything else you needed?”
Kaleen shook her head mutely.
“Then, I would like to go back to Ghadrik.”
“Abigaia—”
“Stop,” Abby sa
id sharply. “I will accept what you have told me, but I won’t have you calling me by a name that isn’t mine.” She rose to her feet and walked to the door.
“You won’t be welcome there,” Kaleen said just loud enough for her to hear.
Abby’s hand tensed on the doorknob. “What do you mean?”
“Prince Edric will know the truth, by now. He will not wish to see you.”
…
Edric slammed his fist into the ground, not even wincing at the ugly sound of cracking bone. He could sense his father hovering somewhere behind him, but he had not yet spoken. It was for the best. Edric was not sure he could maintain his usual composure around the man.
Abby was gone. Again. This time taken from his grasp. He had her in his arms less than twelve hours.
“Edric.”
He ignored him.
“Edric we must speak.”
Edric glared at the ground. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Petulance does not become you, my son.”
Edric whirled around to face him. “Do not lecture me. I am not in the mood.”
Gol’s face softened. “It is not so bad as you fear.”
Rage swept through him. “Not so bad,” he said in a dangerous whisper. “My mate is gone. Taken from a place that should have been a haven. Taken from her mate’s presence.” He stalked toward his father. “She is gone!”
Gol narrowed his eyes at the tone. “She was taken by the Raena.”
Edric paused. “What?”
“Midnight blue is the color of the Raena’s royal family.”
Confusion slowly began to leech away at the anger. “But you have always said the Raena are pacifists. Not a threat to us.”
Gol nodded. “Circumstances change. They seem to be returning to the old ways.”
“Explain.” It said a lot for Gol’s patience, that he answered instead of lecturing him.
“The Raena have not always had a policy of nonviolence. Around Earth’s Bronze Age, the Raena nearly decimated the population of the planet. A member of the royal family was killed by the humans during a trading mission and the Raena king destroyed over five hundred square miles. They have not directly interacted with the humans since then.”
“But they have lived among them,” Edric said.