“That goes for you too, my love,” said Queen Tabitha to her husband who was now just as naked as Roc and the others who had transformed.
“I’m a Melmorian,” said Clave. “I couldn’t care less about…”
“But I do,” said Tabitha in irritation. “I don’t want to be obligated to share you out of courtesy with those Mavie tramps, especially that scar faced bitch! They are always on the lookout for suitable men to make babies with. Now go and dress for these people…and cover your face!”
As the Barratians began to leave a group of young people began to enter the hall. A young woman in irritation shoved her way past the warriors of the guard who surprisingly made way. She was a tall and very well formed young woman who bore a striking resemblance to the empress, but was a bit taller and darker. Her hair was jet black and her eyes were the same shape and just as feline as Beral III’s. Aside, from her height, her body shape was also similar to that of the empress, but a little less ample in the front and back. Still, smaller doesn’t mean small by any means. The girl did have the look of a ‘Tomboy’ however, despite her breathtaking beauty. She wore very little jewelry or makeup and her garments were those of someone more accustomed to military camps and rough living than palace life. Behind her were Prince Tabba and Princess Abe, who had been seen for the first time yesterday since that night at the great feast. However, many folks had heard them and quite clearly and loudly at times in the prince’s chambers…and elsewhere. It was now believed that the two may have actually bonded. In any case, the empress had sent physicians to the prince’s and princess’s chambers (and any other possible cozy places they might be) to find them. They immediately saw to it that both young people were on the proper medication to dull the fever enough for them to function properly during the rest of the summit. Normally, the parents would have simply let the kids burn themselves out on their own and begin marriage negotiations once the fever was broken, but this was an important and historical summit. They would be present and lucid for it.
“One moment, Little Brother,” said Beral telepathically to the Barratian king, “send the boy ahead, I’d like to speak with you.” King Roc motioned to the prince to continue on as he left with the empress through an alternate door.
Prince Pantherus was in a foul mood and he glared at the Mavie as he began to pass them. He stopped and looked at Queen Bal’s disfigured face and smirked. “My grandfather marked you well, Mavie!”
Several of the Mavie women grumbled at this, but the queen surprisingly seemed more ashamed than angry. “I…I was lucky,” she said. “He was very merciful under the circumstances and spared my life. Others that day were not so fortunate.”
“Treacherous females!” hissed Pantherus. “You people murdered my grandmother and tried to kill my grandfather even as we Barratians were celebrating the new peace treaty in your own feasting hall!”
“It wasn’t my mother’s doing, prince,” replied the queen quietly. “It was the actions of those who were still slaves to the old teachings.” Much to Pantherus’s surprise a tear formed in the queen’s good eye and then trickled down her cheek. “And we paid for it, Prince. We paid in years of war, our honor and respect in the eyes of other Bellasarians and in the loss of almost all of our lands we had left.”
Slowly a feeling of great pity began to rise in Prince Pantherus. This was not the reaction that he was expecting from a Mavie Queen. He looked at her face again closely. Truly she would have been a most uncommonly beautiful woman if not for that scar. Unbidden his hand slowly rose and touched her face. Bal was equally surprised by Pantherus’s sympathy. The queen suddenly felt a sensation that she had never felt before from her head to her toes and even blushed. “I’m sorry for my words,” said Pantherus solemnly, “and for this.” The queen was unable to speak her heart was pounding so hard, but fortunately she wouldn’t have to.
The Princess Bellasaris had spied the Barratians and recognized Pantherus immediately and marched right over. “I don’t know what just happened here, but I’m sorry I missed it,” she said. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No, I was only apologizing for my behavior earlier, and now I’m done,” replied Pantherus turning around. “And you are?”
“I am, Princess Bellasaris. You may call me ‘Bella’,” she said giving Pantherus a wink. “I just arrived last night…like many others it seems,” she said looking at the Mavie. “I assume that you will be rejoining us after you have clothed yourself, um…er?”
“Oh, my apologies,” said the young Barratian quickly. “I am called Pantherus, princess. My father is the king of Barrat.” Pantherus couldn’t help but admire the young woman. He especially liked her scent. Many of these females literally bathed in perfume. He could actually smell her.
“I know,” said the princess with a smile. Casually, she looked Pantherus over. Nice. I WILL have him, she thought to herself. The scar faced old lady from Mavie seems to like what she sees as well, but it doesn’t matter. I saw him first and have already staked my claim. She can return home and go back to licking other women. “Well, I’ll see you in a little while, my lord,” said Bella turning away. Princess Bellasaris walked past the Mavie queen, stopped and turned again. “Forgive me…Sister. Welcome to Illyria.”
Queen Bal swallowed and stammered, “Th…Thank you, Princess Bellasaris. I am most honored by your mother to be invited here. I hope you will not hold this little misunderstanding against my people.”
“Oh, not at all, Queen Bal,” said Princess Bellasaris. “But I do understand how the Barratians feel about you Mavie. But then again, you’re not very popular with our men either. I do hope what I’ve heard about you is but exaggerated tales.”
“I…No, I fear,” replied Bal sadly. “But that was in the past and is why we are here now, to try and put this history behind us. I think we may have a chance…now.”
“So I’ve noticed,” said Princess Bellasaris watching Prince Pantherus leave. “But the father may not be as willing to forgive as the son. After all, it was his mother you women killed.”
Bal swallowed and replied, “That was the act of misguided fanatics trying, and sadly succeeding, to destroy the peace my mother had forged with the Barratians.”
“Truly?” said the Princess. “I wonder how many of them are still around today.”
“None!” said Queen Bal quickly. “It has been a hard lesson, but one that has finally been learned!”
“Well, let us hope so,” said Princess Bellasaris. “You people have made things…difficult…for women throughout the empire. There are more and more men becoming dissatisfied with our rule because of you. And certain men who have always hated women or preferred the touch of other men have used you as a shining example to prove their point and to preach their causes. If any of your fanatics try something like they have done in the past here you won’t have just the Barratians and other men to deal with, Mavie. We will take care of you ourselves!” Then Bellasaris looked meaningfully at Bal’s retainers. “Have I made myself understood?” She then looked at Bal again and smiled. “Enjoy your stay in Illyria. I hope, for all our sakes that things go perfectly.” Then she made an expression of concern. “You don’t look well, Sister. I suggest that you go see the physicians and have them put you on some meds. It is unseemly for a queen to go into heat in a formal setting like this.” Then she turned on her heel and walked away.
Nearby, all was being observed by the Elder Bellasaris and her daughter, retired Queen Beral I. “My! Love is in the air and blooming all around,” Beral chuckled. “I wonder who that little bitch takes after, you or me?”
Bellasaris smiled and shook her head. “Physically, she is much closer to me, temperament-wise, I’d say you. She’s not a prissy little beauty though, is she?”
“No,” said Beral, “not that one, but with a bit of competition that could change.”
Bellasaris grinned and said, “So, you saw it to
o, eh?”
“Yes, I saw,” said the elder Beral. “The moment that boy touched her and showed a softer side of himself she was ignited. Her eyes…er…eye began to wander all over and linger on a particular spot. I have to admit, the boy is impressive. Daddy’s genes are very insistent. With most of us, male and female, it’s the eyes. But with the males it’s also…Well, you know. But I don’t think she has a chance against Bella.”
“Oh,” said Bellasaris, “and why not? Her body is firm and very ample. I saw the boy’s eyes appraise her. He was pleased with what he saw.”
“I know, Mother, but Bella is equally desirable and more ample of bosom…and she still has all of her face.” Bellasaris looked at Queen Bal again and then began to walk over. Quickly Beral mentally called out to her. “Mother, wait. What are you going to do?”
“Well, Bella suggested a physician to attend to her, did she not?” said Bellasaris.
“You are not that kind of physician,” said Beral. “What sort of deviltry are you playing at?”
Bellasaris giggled and said, “I’m just going to make it an even match, that’s all.”
“But…I thought you wanted the might of Barrat for the empire and our clan?” said Beral. “A marriage between the young prince and Bella would assure this. So, why…?”
“Please allow an old lady her fun!” said Bellasaris. “At my age I need entertainment as a starving man needs food. And love triangles are the best!”
Queen Bal sighed as Princess Bellasaris walked away. She knew her people were not very popular in the empire despite the clandestine support from various women’s organizations they’d received. They even occasionally got a few recruits as well. But these women either learned the error of this move after seeing the reality of the Mavie existence and quickly deserted (or tried to) or they were the type that the Mavie had out grown and lost all tolerance for. Bal and her followers had been told in a semi-nice way that they were walking on thin ice here. Worst of all, she now had another unforeseen problem on her hands. Bal had naturally had a little sexual experience with other women, but she learned quickly that she received little pleasure copulating with them. Actually, unlike many females of her people, she wasn’t even mildly attracted to other females in that way. She found that men were more to her taste, but human men were too fragile. Mutant males were sturdier, and there were still a few among the Mavie, but Mavie males tended to be…pathetic…at least to her. It was true, they used them for breeding and, if you liked that sort of man, pleasure. But beyond that, she saw nothing of value in them. Indeed, she hadn’t seen men of real worth, other than on the battlefield, until today. Now she had a terrible feeling that she had found her mate at last, but had very little chance of claiming him. She and her people were his people’s mortal enemies. He was at least fifty years her junior and she was disfigured. Worst of all, she seemed to have a rival. The empress’s daughter no less. This trip was quickly becoming complicated in the most disastrous of ways. Bal had no idea that her luck was about to take a turn for the better.
“Welcome, honored guest.”
Queen Bal looked up and saw a tall curvaceous woman walking up to her. The woman was veiled, but she could tell that she was very beautiful. She could also tell that she was very old, five or six hundred years at least, perhaps older. The woman’s hair was snow white and reached almost to her ankles. It was thick and lustrous. Beneath her own blond locks the hair on the back of Bal’s neck were standing up. This woman carried herself with great poise and grace. For all Bal knew she could be a former queen of some nation within the empire. “Great elder, you do me honor,” said Queen Bal.
“You are unwell, my lady. Is it…‘The Hunger’?” Bal blushed, but nodded. It was obvious. “How old are you, Your Highness?”
“Seventy, honored mother,” replied Bal respectfully.
“Why you’re just a youngster!” laughed the elder Bellasaris. “One so young’s face should not bear such terrible scars.” Bellasaris put her hand to Bal’s face. Shocking, this girl is a queen descended from a line of queens, thought Bellasaris. Even Queen Mavie herself was of old nobility. A noble woman of impeccable mutant lineage should have regenerated completely with no scaring at all! I guess it’s true what I’ve heard, the Mavie have begun intermarrying with human men. The reason for this is obvious. Human men do not require collars and are much easier to control, and most mutant men shun the Mavie. Hmmm, these wounds are old. It will be difficult to correct this. “I must reopen these wounds and eliminate the scar tissue,” said Bellasaris abruptly out loud, “come with me. This will not be pretty and the other guest won’t want to see this before their morning meal.”
At first Bal couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Only one in every few thousand healers had the skill to repair such wounds or regenerate limbs and other parts on people completely, but this elder obviously was one such healer. Numbly she began to follow Bellasaris, her heart now beating rapidly out of joy. But then she stopped. “No,” she said quietly.
Bellasaris looked at Bal curiously. “Why not, surely you’re not afraid of a little pain? Mavie have been accused of many things over the years, but cowardice was not among them.”
“No, honored elder,” said Queen Bal. “These scars are a reminder to all Mavie of our people’s past treachery and now our desire for peace. Only when peace is achieved and our honor restored will it be removed.”
Bellasaris looked at Queen Bal closely. “I know what just happened child,” said Bellasaris. “I saw it. I also know your chosen mate is desired by the empress’s youngest daughter. She is a bit of a Tom Boy, but she is very beautiful. Both of you have chosen him, you on a very deep, and you’ll soon see nigh irresistible level. But he has chosen neither of you yet. Your heart and body will not take rejection easily if he should go the other way. Are you sure you don’t want me to repair your face?”
Bal swallowed and said, “Yes. I…I will fight and win as I am…or die.”
Bellasaris smiled, she was now becoming very fond of Bal, mongrel though she might be. “Then allow me to at least repair your eye.”
Bal thought on this for a second and then smiled and nodded gratefully. “Thank you, honored elder!”
******
Beral walked casually down the street to visit an old associate of hers. Actually, the woman was one of her former subjects. Indeed, she was a woman of some historical significance. She had even founded a nation of her own many centuries ago. But now she lived here, in the hidden city of the elders. The city of Hylos was filled with people ranging from five hundred to two thousand years old. Many, like the person Beral was going to see, had achieved many great things in their lives and had changed societies…but not always for the better. Beral had no love for this woman, but she had promised to keep her apprised of how her descendant was doing and the future of the nation she had founded. Beral announced herself at the door and the woman’s servant showed her in. Beral paid little heed to the old human as she entered.
“Greetings, former Queen Beral,” said the woman, trying to be pleasant.
“Greetings, former Queen Mavie,” replied Beral, with a smile that did not extend to her eyes. “I have just returned from Illia and the great summit.”
The other woman looked anxious. “How…How is it going? I thought the lady Gorgo was with former Queen Bellasaris.”
“Mother Gorgo is rather conspicuous,” replied Beral smiling. “So we traded places for a bit. Besides, I wanted to see how my descendants were doing. I have so many.” Mavie said nothing, but looked at her feet. Beral grinned evilly. “Your last and only living descendant seems like a very noble and clear headed girl however. Oh, but that’s right, she’s of my blood too, isn’t she? My father’s grandson’s child by your granddaughter, right? It really is a shame about what happened to her. But your offspring don’t tend to live long, do they? Indeed, your grandson died youngest of all. That really was tragic
. I do believe that you were actually very fond of the cute little fella.”
“You never tire of hurting me, do you, Queen Beral,” said Mavie, with tears running down her cheeks now. “Haven’t I suffered enough?”
“No, you unnatural bitch,” said Beral with a smile. “Besides, this is what you wanted, right? The rest of us were too accommodating to our men, remember? You sure showed us! Women in your land held and still hold all the power. And men are properly on their knees. And when your daughter tried to change things you saw to it that she was put in the proper state of mind…although I think you didn’t intend for things to go quite that far, did you? So you see, you won! Congratulations! The ‘Mavie’ although a mere shadow of their numbers and nearing total extinction, are truly an absolutely female dominated society. Of course,” said Beral with a smirk, “your women’s preference for mating with each other did contribute greatly to your population problem.” Then Beral frowned. “I warned you what would happen all those years ago, but you just had to find out for yourself, didn’t you?! And now look at this mess!”
“I’ve paid in terrible ways for my folly, Queen, and I’ve paid dearly,” wept Mavie.
“And so have we!” snapped Beral in anger, “I told you the only way to rule men is by not stepping on their pride! By not throwing our power in their faces! And by not to abusing it! NOW, because of you, there is a rise in discontent, small, but growing, among our men. More and more kingdoms are popping up when once there was only one, and it’s all your fault! Soon they may even try to do away with the female councils just like the Barratians have, and switch to patriarchal societies. If that happens…Wait, isn’t all of this what you were so afraid of and trying to prevent? You BITCH, you’ve made it happen!”
“I…I’m sorry, Queen Beral,” stammered Mavie pathetically, “but Queen Bal may be able to…”
The Mutant World Page 14