by Celeste Raye
Destiney saw him run through the open area and recognized the panic on his face. She began to run behind him, struggling to keep up. His long strides proved to be too much for her, and she fell far behind. She did not stop. Instead, she followed at a slower pace. Alexis was obviously in labor, and Destiney needed to be with her. Their friendship had lasted through the changing of worlds, kidnapping, and becoming a queen. It would last forever, regardless of whether Alexis lived or died. She would not allow her friend to die without the reminder of her love.
Alexis was valiantly fighting through the pain. She gripped Nabvan's hand so tightly that her knuckles were white. She panted during each contraction, holding back from pushing. The baby was not yet in the correct position to be born. She would not allow herself to push and cause pain to her child.
Nabvan watched as Alexis's belly rippled with the movement of the baby. It seemed to be desperately seeking a way out. If it did not find the way soon, Alexis would be ripped open by its pushes. Frantic, he tried to help it turn. Alexis screamed out as his powerful hands squeezed her sides.
Destiney heard Alexis scream as she came down the hall. She hurried inside and discovered her friend writhing in a bloody bed and Nabvan trying to hold her still in his embrace. He begged, "Help me. The baby is not turned correctly, and I cannot guide it. Alexis will not push until the baby is in place and she can not have the medication that could save her until the baby is expelled."
Rather than fight against the baby's movements, Destiney used the contractions to gently turn the baby. It took almost an hour to move it inch by inch, but it was finally in position. Now they had to wait until it moved down into the birth canal.
Alexis grew weaker as each minute passed. Blood continued to seep slowly from her body. Her complexion was turning gray. She whispered, "Destiney, if you think I am about to die, send me off with the correct words. I want the Milisarian blessing. Help Nabvan with our daughter. Her name is Nexxa." She sighed and carefully turned her head to look at Nabvan. "My love, do not hesitate to stab the needle deep in my heart. I wish to live a long life with you. Nexxa will not harm me. She loves me. I will survive if I can fight just a little while longer." She fell into unconsciousness.
Chapter: 14
***Nabvan***
Nabvan spent precious minutes attempting to awaken Alexis. Unable to do so, he guided the baby downward with his powerful hands. The little one slid its way down and struggled to emerge without its mother’s aid. A contraction sent a shockwave through Alexis's body, and the baby slipped into Nabvan's waiting hands. As his daughter cried out with powerful lungs, he passed her to Destiney. He grabbed the largest syringe and filled it with the elixir. His large hands were steady as he placed the needle over Alexis's barely beating heart. It was now or never. He plunged the needle deep into her chest and delivered the untested vaccine. Now it was a waiting game.
Destiney cleaned the tiny girl and wrapped her in pink swaddling. She laid her next to Alexis's heart, hoping the baby's presence would encourage her mother to fight harder. Nexxa began to cry and nuzzle her mother. Alexis gasped and appeared to stop breathing. Each second felt like an eternity until her heart began to beat in a normal rhythm. Her eyes popped open, and she sucked in a robust breath. The vaccine had brought her back.
Nabvan wrapped Alexis and their daughter in his arms and smothered them with kisses. Tears of relief and joy fell over his rugged face. He glanced up at Destiney and found her crying happy tears as well.
Alexis weakly shoved at Nabvan's chest, and he laid her gently back on the bed. She asked, "Is Nexxa alright?"
Nabvan laughingly replied, "Can you not hear her cries of hunger? She is very demanding already. She reminds me of you in that respect. Destiney is preparing something to sustain her until you can feed her."
"I want to see her. Please bring her to me." Alexis reached out with feeble arms to claim her daughter. She unwrapped the swaddling to gaze at the newborn. Nexxa had blonde fuzz on her head. Her skin was translucent like her father's, but she had only two arms like her mother. Alexis decided that the baby was perfect. She told Nabvan, "Thank you for being brave enough to use the vaccine. I wasn't sure it would work, but without it, I would have definitely died. Go to my students. The formula for the elixir is in a locked cabinet above the cooler. They need to mix more. It will be needed as more babies arrive."
Nabvan reluctantly left Alexis and Nexxa with Destiney. He went to fulfill Alexis's request. His shoulders slumped from exhaustion. He had not realized how tense he had remained for the last several months. With the worst over, he could once again concentrate on training the young warriors. He felt an intense sense of foreboding. The newest warriors were going to be needed soon.
Alexis regained her strength slowly. She remained in Nabvan's quarters caring for the baby. Her mind turned to the wedding. She had meant to be married before Nexxa's arrival. The illness had prevented it from happening. Alexis no longer cared about a huge wedding. She just wanted to be Nabvan's wife. She sent a guard to bring Destiney. She needed her help to gather everything for a private ceremony.
Destiney arrived with a stranger in tow. She introduced the man as a friend. She explained that Rowl had arrived on the ship that returned from the colonies. Alexis recognized the name. Nabvan had mentioned his new trainee and his stubborn, rebellious attitude. She was perplexed as to why Destiney would bring him with her. How could he have gotten to be such a close friend in so short a time?
Alexis was polite to Rowl, yet she was suspicious of his motives. He appeared to have Destiney under his spell. He showed her no honor or respect as his queen. Instead, she seemed to follow his lead, obeying his orders. His disdain for authority was apparent by his lack of consideration for Destiney's position. Nothing but trouble could come from this friendship.
Alexis put her worries aside and asked, "Are you willing to aid me in a surprise for Nabvan? I want to hold a private wedding ceremony here in our quarters. I can not fathom holding a huge wedding now that Nexxa is here. Do you think Nabvan will be disappointed?"
Destiney replied, "I honestly think he will be relieved. Most men hate pompous ceremonies, especially warriors. I can get everything together in a few hours. Just name a day."
Alexis did not want to waste any time. She answered, "I want it to be today. It is long past time. Nabvan deserves to know how much I love him."
Alexis thought she heard a sound of disgust from Rowl, yet when she turned to him, his face remained impassive. Her distrust of him grew. There was something evil behind those piercing eyes. Training had begun hours ago. Why was he there when he should have been with Nabvan?
Nabvan worked his trainees relentlessly. Rowl's rebellious attitude had rubbed off on the younger warriors. Nabvan fought to bring them back into line. He would make them practice until they remembered who the teacher was and who the student was. Respect needed to be earned. They had not earned it, and Rowl certainly had not. He was not at training and would have to be punished for his absence. If he was ill, he should have sent word by another trainee. He clearly lacked discipline and needed to be taught a lesson.
Training ended, and the young men gathered in front of Nabvan. Their shame showed in their tired expressions. Each begged forgiveness for falling short of the warrior’s code. Respect for their leaders was an important virtue in battle. If they refused to obey an order, many could die. They vowed to keep their distance from Rowl.
Nabvan entered his quarters and was shocked into silence. Alexis stood there grinning. She was resplendent in her wedding gown. The blue, shimmering fabric came to life and resembled a waterfall running down her body. In her hair were thousands of sparkling blue sapphires that perfectly matched her eyes. The room was candlelit and flowers taken from the Milisarian landscape scented the air. Nexxa wore a tiny copy of her mother's gown and gurgled happily in her crib. It too was covered in flowers.
Alexis advised, "Hurry and take a shower. We are getting married in a few minutes. The coun
cil elder will do the honors. He is bringing the necessary papers and is due here very soon. Unless you no longer want me to be your wife."
Nabvan picked up Alexis and swung her through the air. He kissed her full, red lips, and replied, "There is nothing I want more. Thank goodness you have allowed us to forego the fancy ceremony. I would have endured it for your sake, however, I truly despise being on display." He took Alexis's advice and hurried to the shower.
Nabvan dressed in his wedding attire. The blue overcoat was heavily embroidered with the symbols of the Milisarian Knights. He pulled his long red hair back and tied it at his nape. He heard voices coming from the main room. They reminded him of the need to hurry. The council elder must have already arrived.
Shock and anger slammed into his head when he saw Rowl standing with Destiney. He held on to his temper for the sake of Alexis and the joyous occasion. The sneer on Rowl's lips proved that he knew how angry Nabvan was and that he did not care in the least. The man knew no boundaries. He had skipped out on training and still had the nerve to show his face at his leader's wedding on the same day. He put an arm around Destiney's shoulders and patted Scyon on the head as if he had the right to claim them. Nabvan would make him pay dearly for his audacity.
The wedding began with Nabvan's vow, "I have chosen Alexis Fisher, a human, as my life mate. She shall now and forever be considered my wife. She will remain under my protection until I pass from this life into the next. I will treat her with honor and give my love only to her."
Alexis replied, "I have chosen Nabvan of Milisaria as my mate. He shall now and forever be considered my husband. I will remain in his protection until he passes from this life or I do. I will honor and respect him all my days and give my love only to him."
The council elder announced, "I provide the authority of Milisarian law by signing the wedding agreement. Our queen will sign as a witness to these proceedings. May your union be long and remain forever strong." Destiney and the council elder signed and the simple wedding was over.
Nabvan chose to ignore Rowl's presence and enjoy the celebration with his wife. He toasted to their happiness and their new daughter. Nexxa awoke at the sounds of happiness. She joined the party. Scyon was fascinated by the tiny baby. He kept patting her head and poking her nose. The celebration would have been perfect except for Rowl. Neither Nabvan nor Alexis wanted him in attendance.
While the women were involved with the babies, Nabvan managed to isolate Rowl. He demanded, "Why did you imagine that I would tolerate having you at my wedding when you were absent from training? Your lack of respect is going to destroy you. You are already far behind the others. You lack muscle tone and strength. You should be working harder and longer than anyone. You will find that the punishment for your absence far outweighs the joy you had today."
Rowl scoffed, "You did tolerate me being here for the wedding. I gave you no choice. You can not punish me for it was at the queen's request that I missed training. Her orders overrule yours. You would do well to remember that she holds power over you and I over her. She will not allow you to punish me. I will show up for training when I feel it is necessary. You no longer command me."
Nabvan feared for Destiney. Rowl had somehow gained not only her trust but her allegiance as well. She was leaving herself open for brainwashing. Rowl was seeking power, and with the queen's help, he could get it. King Siefer had made a terrible mistake in leaving Destiney behind. Her loneliness and naivety made her vulnerable to predators, and Rowl was an evil one.
Nabvan shared his fears and frustrations with Alexis. She felt the influence that Rowl had on Destiney was slowly changing her vision of Milisaria. She had swiftly grown attached to his arrogance and reveled in his attention. She had thrust him into their lives without permission. She fully accepted his disdain for her authority. She allowed him to control her in exchange for his company. At some point, it would cause a breakdown in her control of the planet.
Training the next day was a trying ordeal. Though Nabvan had the younger men back under control, Rowl did as he pleased. He tried to undermine Nabvan's authority by taunting the others. He pushed several to the point of fighting. Rowl was not strong enough to lift a sword, nor accurate with a knife. He was, however, lethal with his fists. His opponents were badly injured and would require days to heal. Nabvan was at a loss. He knew he could beat Rowl in a fair fight, yet he was painfully aware of the bad example it would set for his trainees. He was also quite sure that Rowl would never fight fair. Nabvan needed to punish Rowl for his misdeeds. He demanded that Rowl stay after training and continue moving rocks. The man just smirked and said, "I promised the queen I would join her for lunch. I told you, there is nothing you can do to control me. I make my own rules."
Chapter: 15
***Destiney***
Destiney sat at the monitor in hopes of hearing from King Siefer. He had remained silent for days now. She missed his voice and longed to hear him whispering words of love as he lay by her at night. Her heart ached with loneliness. The only time she forgot her lonely life was when she spent hours with Rowl. He had become her lifeline to sanity. She often dreamed of his handsome, lean face. It was so very different from the rugged features of most Milisarian men. She equated the leanness with kindness. She never noticed the steely determination in his eyes or the sneers he gave to those he saw as weaklings. She needed a friend and looked only at the surface. He gave her attention, and she cherished it.
Destiney met Rowl for lunch. She brought Scyon with her. She was so happy to have company that she missed the hatred that passed across Rowl's face when he noticed Scyon. He wiped it away almost instantly. He must not allow her to see how he felt about his brother's son. It would alienate her. Rowl knew that the baby was the one-person Destiney would choose over him without question.
Destiney casually asked, "How was training today? Is it becoming easier to handle a sword now?"
Rowl lied, "The all-powerful Nabvan will not allow me to touch a sword. I think he is keeping me from learning on purpose. He is jealous of our friendship and treats me differently than the others. He is cruel and punishes me for every tiny perceived infraction. No matter how hard I work, it is never enough. He was quite angry that you wanted me to miss training yesterday. I hope he does not seek to punish you as well."
Destiney was doubtful. She replied, "Nabvan is the fairest man I have ever known. Perhaps he does not realize that you feel singled out from the others. You did tell me that your training would differ from the normal version due to your lack of muscles. If you wish, I can speak to him on your behalf."
"I am capable of standing up for myself. There is no need to get him any angrier with you. I will endure the hardship as I always have. I have been alone since childhood." Rowl was happy to see pity in Destiney's gaze. He knew just how to play on her sympathies.
Destiney invited Rowl to join her outside. She wanted to let Scyon play on the hillside. The baby loved to pull the grass and watch the clouds soaring overhead. Once again, she missed the change in Rowl's expression.
Scyon crawled over to Rowl and pulled his long hair. Rowl tickled the little boy and managed to hide his angry scowl from Destiney. Unperturbed, Scyon giggled and went back for more. Destiney saw only what her heart wanted to see: a man who cared enough to play with her son and a baby enjoying male attention. In her eyes, Rowl was very good with Scyon. She planned to bring them together more often.
Destiney bumped into Nabvan in the open area. She decided to confront him about Rowl's treatment. She accused, "I have heard that you are treating Rowl differently than the younger trainees. It would seem that you are much harsher on him. You do not punish the others for less than perfect performance, yet you punish Rowl. What makes you treat him unfairly?"
Nabvan tried to be diplomatic. If he allowed his distrust of Rowl to show, Destiney would turn on him, and he would lose any leverage he possessed with her. He replied, "Rowl is far behind the other trainees. Though he is older, he did not grow up
dragging a sword or building up the muscles he was born with. If he is to catch up and join an older class, he must work harder and longer. Someday, his life will depend on his ability to fight with a sword. If he considers hard work a punishment, then I am at a loss in how to train him. Would you rather I let him be? It could mean his death."
Destiney knew that Nabvan was right. She just felt empathy for Rowl. She had always felt singled out and alone too. She did not want Rowl to suffer. It would be her goal to make him feel wanted.
The monitor was beeping with a message. Destiney was excited. King Siefer had finally called. She brought up the message, and her hopes fell. It was only a message generated by the spaceship sending its location to be recorded in the records. Her husband still did not consider her important enough for communication. He was allowing their argument to keep them apart.
Destiney had a choice to make. She could take Scyon and visit Alexis and Nexxa, or she could hunt down Rowl for a walk through the marshes. She tugged boots over the legs of her body suit. She chose to find Rowl. She justified it to herself by imagining Alexis busy in the lab. Destiney knew she was using Rowl as a substitute for her husband. She admitted to herself that she was having an emotional affair. She hid her guilt behind the anger at King Siefer. If he did not care to spend time with her, he deserved to lose her to Rowl.
She left Scyon with the nurse and hunted down Rowl. He had just finished his shower after training. He was dressed only in leather leggings. His smooth, hairless chest drew her admiration. Destiney stuttered her question, "Would you go for a walk in the marshes with me? I am tired of being alone and waiting for a call that never comes. I have a few hours before I must see to duties. Please spend them with me."