Cato shook his head sadly. “If he had been sane, not blinded by hate and controlled by rage, she would never have beaten him. I suppose it is best this way,” he said sadly. “Now my hands won’t be red with the blood of my own son.”
Soon Barrat could barely move because of blood loss and pain, and now Maya could safely approach the huge beast. Normally, the victor in such a fight would proudly shout her or his triumph for all to hear, but Queen Maya was crying. She knelt next to Barrat and took his huge head in her arms.
“Get away from him!” cried an enraged Ken, just getting over the shock of what had happened. He began to move forward, but his mother stopped him.
“No, my son…let them be.”
“WHAT?!?” cried Ken in outrage.
“She is right boy,” said Cato mentally to his grandson. “They were bonded. Apparently, one of them still is.”
Maya was oblivious to everyone as she spoke to the dying Barrat. “I’m so sorry, my lord. I’m so very sorry.”
Telepathically, Barrat summoned his family and friends over. He didn’t dare take human form for fear that he would expire instantly if he did so. “My son, what I did during this war was wrong. You will honor our agreement and cease the practices in the mountain strongholds.” Prince Ken nodded grimly. Bellasaris watched the giant cat sadly, his powers of regeneration couldn’t save him now, they were only prolonging his agony, but the madness was gone from his eyes now and he was desperately holding on to have his say. Telepathy was much faster than actual speech, but the man had only seconds left. “Father, I thought we would have more time, but at least I was finally able to see you again. I am sorry for my words earlier.” Cato nodded in misery. This was not the first child he’d seen die over the centuries, but it never got easier. “Where is my mother?”
Cato knew that Tamara had refused to see him once she learned of what was being done to the Mavie women in his domain. Like the women of the empire, she felt that he had been wronged terribly by the Mavie, along with the other men of the region, but what he was doing in retaliation and to assure victory was abominable. A lie now might be best, but Cato was never good at lying, so he would tell the truth.
“Your mother hated the war and what the people were doing to each other. She loved both you and Maya, but she couldn’t look at either of you as you were now. She vowed not to return until it was over and the madness ended.”
“She was right,” replied Barrat. “Sonja,” said Barrat, to his mate. “I love you. We are not bonded…but I have loved you and our children together. Please…don’t think too badly of me.”
“I knew you were trouble the moment I laid eyes on you, you little scrapper,” replied Sonja smiling, tears running down her cheeks, “but Goddess you turned me on! And yes, I too have loved you. Sleep now, you have earned your peace.”
“Not yet.” Barrat rolled his eyes at Maya, crying pitifully as she heard every word, still holding him close. “Goodbye, my former mate. I…I wish I could leave this world…with total forgiveness…but…I cannot.” Then, the beast’s eyes opened wide and he began to shake. “Brac?! Brac! My son! You’ve come for me?! I…I’ve missed you so much!” Maya’s eye’s widened in horror and she began to cry uncontrollably now. “Brac, my son, I…” With that Barrat shuddered and lay still. His head was now but weight on Maya’s lap. She collapsed on the lifeless body and began to sob loudly. The others now gathered around and no one spoke for a while, then Mavie put her hand to Maya’s shoulder to comfort her only to have it smacked away.
“YOU!!!” growled Maya through gritted teeth. “You did this to us! This is all your fault! Never touch or come near me again!” With that, Maya stood up and looked at now ‘King’ Ken. “The war is finished. I…I…Perhaps we could begin over now. Perhaps we could become one people again.”
Ken looked at Maya coldly. “No, joining with you was not what was agreed upon. I will free the Mavie prisoners, but we will keep all children sired by our men and all the territory under our control.”
“You can’t expect them to give up their children and leave!” exclaimed Maya. “You can’t-”
“I can!” replied Ken, cutting her off. “I have no doubt that your women wouldn’t hesitate to abandon their sons, but the children, both male and female are their father’s as well. You bargained for peace and freedom for the breeders, not for the right to take any Barratian sired young with them. THAT was the pact! If you don’t like it, I will have NO problem declaring you foresworn and resuming the war. I will then be able to avenge my father’s death without being seen by the world as the villain.”
“Prin…King Ken,” said Maya correcting herself. “I do not like it, but I will abide by it. I should have bargained more carefully. However, it was also agreed that I would be allowed to go to my son’s burial place.”
King Ken looked at Maya in disgust, but then sighed. “I will allow you to visit my brother’s grave at our family’s personal burial plot. Sadly, he will be having company soon as my father will be joining him. After that, I don’t want to see your face again. Your hands are soaked red with the blood of my family.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that, my lord,” said Maya quietly.
******
Two weeks later, Princess Dalia was formally pronounced ‘Queen of the Mavie’. Her mother, former Queen Maya, had arrived at the Barratian capital and then, putting on an inhibitor collar to nullify her healing ability, ended her own life at her son’s grave. Her daughter revealed that this was what the queen had planned all along. King Ken was moved by this act of atonement and ordered (with his mother’s consent) that she be entombed together with his father and her son. This act was viewed with approval on both sides and things seemed optimistic… for a while.
******
CHAPTER TEN
MELMORIA
The City of Hebi (The Present) Ancient Capital of Melmoria
President Chambers shook her head. They were now in the capital city of perhaps one of the most conservative nations in the empire. They had actually entered the country a few hours ago by teleport, and then traveled the rest of the way by air-car convoy. The difference between these people and the people of Illyria could be seen immediately even before they arrived in the capital. In Illyria, only every so often did you see a topless girl, and even then, it was explained that these women were often from rural villages. Older women were almost never seen publically even partially nude. Earth style or Earth influenced garments were everywhere, as well as native designs, especially among the humans. Aside from the private meetings and baths with the noble women, and of course, that outrageous informal welcoming party turned orgy, she had never seen people going completely nude in Illyria, and never in public and in public places. This was not the case in Melmoria.
Melmoria was a land that had defiantly refused to bend its culture to please the sensibilities of the immigrants from Earth, both mutant and human. Indeed, as they traveled to the capital, President Chambers had noticed that partially and entirely nude people were very common in this land, from rural villages (which did not surprise her) to towns, and now even the capital itself…which did surprise her. She had been warned, but she was still taken aback despite her mental preparations. Curiously, in this country clothes was the easiest way of telling humans and mutants apart.
Humans, while going about their various occupations always wore clothes that designated their class and caste. Ironically, this custom went all the way back to the days when humans ruled and mutants were slaves. As was explained to President Chambers by one of the Bellasarians accompanying her, humans descended from the rogue mainland Americans, who took over the Island of Bain and teleported it to this dimension, ruled the island as the elite upper class. The descendants of the native Bainians were second class humans who made up the working class of the island. Depending on their skills, a class or caste would have greater or lower standing in the Bainian social
order. Although skilled in their various occupations, generally they used mutant slaves for the most unpleasant or dangerous aspects of these skills or utilized their extraordinary gifts when these powers were especially suited or genetically engineered for a particular labor. Many lower class humans actually didn’t get their hands dirty at all, but merely directed mutants in certain cases, so of course, most humans of the secondary citizenry also approved of mutant slavery. Despite the arrogance and privileges of the ruling elite, life was still easy for humans on Bain so long as they behaved themselves. Naturally, the mutant slaves were on the bottom rung of the old Bainian society. In other words, a human minority ruled the human majority, but humans ruled the mutants, and the majority of humans liked it that way. President Chambers did notice that younger humans seemed to forgo clothing to some degree as well when not working and pointed this out. The Bellasarian chuckled.
“Human or not, they’re still Bellasarians. The only reason they haven’t become completely like the mutant Melmorian population is because the rulers of Melmoria have forbidden it.”
“Really?” asked the president in surprise. “Why?”
“Who wants to see an old human naked!” laughed the Bellasarian. “Your species do not age well I’m sad to say. Indeed, even many young humans are not very appealing in face or form, certainly not as beautiful as a mutant boy or girl.”
“Excuse us for not being the products of specialized genetic breeding,” replied Chambers indignantly. The Bellasarian, realizing she had offended the American President, quickly apologized. “I have also noticed that the humans are not as well integrated here as in Illyria,” said Chambers.
The Bellasarian woman nodded. “The Melmorians have never forgotten what the humans did to mutants during slavery or what the official American government tried to do later. The failed invasion of the rogue American General, Bishop, and his hordes have not been forgotten either.”
“By your time that was more than two thousand years ago,” said Chambers in disbelief mingled with anger. I can’t believe that…”
“You forget that some mutants have very, very long lives. And they have very long memories,” said the mutant woman. “There are people here whose grandparents or even parents were alive and lived under human rule, fought off the Americans during the Bain invasion and then Bishop’s forces during the Bellasarian invasion. The slaughter committed by Bishop at the City of Gath has been retold again and again for generations.” Then the Bellasarian leaned close to the president’s ear, obviously this woman was not a telepath. “I believe,” whispered the woman, “that there are mutants still among us who are old enough to have personally seen and experienced these events firsthand!” President Chambers swallowed. This woman had just confirmed what she had suspected all along. “Humans are still not trusted in many lands, and here they are not generally mingled with socially at all. Unlike in other lands, intermarrying with them is absolutely prohibited in Melmoria. The punishment for this crime is banishment and total disownment from ones clan.”
“I’m forced to conclude that humans are not well treated in this land,” said Chamber’s dryly. “I wonder that there are any living here at all. Or…is it that they are not allowed to leave?”
“You are wrong, Lady President. Actually, humans are very well treated here. Not trusting them is not always the same as suppressing them. Also, not all humans like the way things are moving as far as human and metahuman relations either. Many conservative humans like the way things are here and they are VERY well paid for their labor. Mutants will not perform such work as sanitation, domestic work and waste disposal unless they have been convicted of crimes and are forced to do so as punishment. Humans on the other hand are greedy. They value money greatly, and if paid very well, they will happily do the labor most mutants will not. They live quite well. Indeed, on your world they live as only…How do you say? ‘White Collar’ professionals live.”
“They don’t feel any…er…sense of inferiority because of this?” said President Chambers. “And don’t mutants also value money?”
“No. Not like a human,” said the mutant, “except for the Akkadians. And they are descended from Earth mutants. As for the humans who do low forms of work, there is no shame to a human in performing honest labor. If we mutants were more dependent on money for our wants and needs we probably would feel the same. Actually, there are some mutants who do perform these tasks without any stigma or shame at all. These people are not criminals, but personal retainers and servants to the high nobility. Although there are some few humans who have earned this trust, most noble mutants will not allow a human to be near in such close proximity of them or their children where they are most vulnerable. The very few who do have such a great honor, have ancestors who earned it long ago and passed it on to their heirs as hereditary statuses. It is a great honor and one not easily attained by a human these days in Melmoria.”
“I…see,” replied President Chambers.
******
Retired Queen Melmore watched as the humans from Earth and the other Bellasarians approached the royal palace. “My dear, I never would have believed that this Earth human filth would be allowed into my land.”
Queen Tabitha sighed. “I know, honored ancestor, but my hands are tied. For now, we will just have to tolerate them and find amusement in looking at their uncomfortable faces.”
“Yes,” Melmore chuckled. “That should cheer me up.” Melmore noticed that Lord Clave didn’t seem pleased with the newcomers either. Clave was a powerful and willful man. His father was originally from the Brent Clan, whose matriarch had mated with Lord Wayne Curtis, High Lord Cato’s uncle. They were closely related to the Curtis Clan and therefore, the Empress. Indeed, some of them were descended from High Lord Titus, former queen Beral I’s mate. Clave had the blood of both men in his veins and had inherited much of his looks and ferociousness from these men as well. In fact, Melmore herself had chosen this lord for her descendant’s mate. He was capable of full transformation and regeneration. He had high levels of intelligence and telepathic ability. But most imperatively for a potential mate of a queen of her house, he had great physical strength and stamina well beyond that of the average Bellasarian mutant of his type. Such men were highly sought after by all the royal houses of Bellasaria, but thanks to her and her genetics, the women of the great houses were the only ones who could control them…most of the time.
Melmorian women of the royal family have natures that mimic reptiles, rather than felines. They can transform into great serpents or other reptilian beast, and in battle, can spit venom or deliver poisonous bites that can blind, paralyze or kill opponents. However, this often lethal venom changes properties during mating and passion. This happens only when the female has bonded and has chosen a permanent mate. This secretion, once introduced into the male’s system, either by bite or saliva, permanently binds the male to her. It also has a unique control over the male making him more pliant to the female’s will. Naturally, many had known of this ability of the Melmorian clan, or “Snake Women of Melmoria” as they were often called, but that didn’t seem to deter men from pursuing them. Indeed, the women of Melmoria are famed far and wide for their beauty; few would hesitate to take a chance with one. Then, two millennia ago, Queen Bellasaris made a deal with her former rival turned co-mate Queen Melmore in securing this venom for her and her sisters own use.
Lord Cato had been known to roam and the women of the Illyrian royal family were tired of beating off over heated new females. They were equally tired of adopting new princelings and princesses into their clan. There were many difficulties in getting and adapting the venom to their needs though. One, the venom only became nonlethal during sexual intercourse with a bonded mate. Two, the venom was inherent in Melmorians of Melmore’s bloodline only, and three, each woman’s venom was unique to her alone and couldn’t be overridden by another female’s venom. The first problem was not so difficult fo
r Bellasarians, who have little inhibitions about sex to overcome. A little group action could be arranged by Gorgo, Bellasaris and Melmore with little or no excuse. It would be seen as an enjoyable way of cementing their new alliance. The only tricky part, even with Melmore’s willing help, was getting a sample of the stuff without arousing Cato’s suspicion. The second and hardest part was making a drug from it that could be used by a non-Melmorian and not just one woman. In time, an inferior drug was developed, but it proved…problematic in use. And once Cato was free of it, there was hell to pay. Fortunately for Bellasaris, Cato never understood or learned of the true source of this drug. Finally, it was agreed among the Illyrian women that the best and only way to pass this genetic gift on to their women was the old fashion way.
Marriages among the Illyrian and Melmorian royal families were arranged that in time insured that nearly all women of the imperial houses of relation had this gift…Beral III excluded. Needless to say, this secret has been jealously guarded from the men to some degree. If a woman has Melmorian blood and reptilian traits, a man would expect she has the ability. Again, the snake women were already known to have the gift. However, it is not well-known that most royal females now had the binding venom. Still, the effects of the venom do ebb to a degree over time, this is usually why it is continuously reintroduced regularly by the females whether they mean to or not. Nature has insured that the females will instinctively, either through biting or passing saliva while kissing, will continuously exposed her mate to the venom with every coupling. However, very powerful males have been known to temporarily throw off the influence of the venom on occasion when pushed too far and properly outraged. Lord Clave’s marching on Barrat over a maliciously manufactured slight to his honor was one such example. Curiously, Melmore liked him even more because of it. Weak willed men are never attractive. Melmore had also liked Clave’s values. Being from Gath, he had a personal dislike for the humans of Earth. Of course, Clave himself hadn’t been born yet when his ancestors had fought off General Bishop’s forces, but the images of the carnage and tales of his people’s deeds had been seen and told to the children of Gath, especially the children of the Brent Clan ever since. Clave had been one of those who had been less than enthusiastic about renewing relations with their relatives from Earth.
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