by Tim Morrison
Chapter 10
A Stroll In The Gardens - Palace Gardens, Tara -3 BA
They strolled around the gardens, Tya pointing out a flowering bloom, or a fragrant burst of colour as the flowers awoke to the warm sunlight that shone down every day from the twin suns of the homeworld.
Sitting on a bench, with Tya leaning gently against him, Ryo really began to feel a sense of peace.
“I am glad for you, Cousin.” He heard and opened his eyes as Tya sleepily looked around. Tyo Masilec was standing off to one side, surrounded by his usual crowd of advisers, all were silent as he smiled at the Commander.
Tyo hurriedly waved them off and the huddle separated and vanished into the gardens. They would regroup when he needed them, until then, he had some scant privacy. He came over and knelt down so that he was at eye level with his older cousin.
“I am glad Mistress Tya found you, Ryo. You need somebody, and she is most certainly a good match for you, especially now.” He said, then smiled at Ryo's wry grin.
Tyo got to his feet and then sat on another stone couch that was close to where Ryo and Tya were reclined. A servant appeared and handed him a cup of some beverage, then vanished, only to appear beside the Commander and his companion with similar cups.
“I need to ask you something, Ryo. I am so totally unsure of how to ask it, but I have to ask it of you, I need to do it now, and I have no way of asking it without causing some kind of offence.” Tyo finally said, after nervously draining the entire cup.
Ryo began to sit up, but felt Tya actively pressing against him to keep him in a semi-reclined position. He realized that she was aware of what was going on, so that doubled his confusion.
“What is it you want to ask me, Tyo?” Ryo said, allowing Tya to take one of his arms and firmly wrap it around her torso, so she could hold it against her stomach.
“I-I-I...' Tyo said, at a complete loss for words.
“He wants to marry Aya, my Lord.” Tya said, looking up at Ryo as she lay against him in the warm sunlight.
“Marry her?” Ryo said, confused and at the same time relieved. He had been prepared for a request to wage war against the entire United Suns or decimate a planet of civilians. That he could understand, this was still confusing, but did not seem as serious.
“Partially for the Clans, and partially for me, Ryo.” Tyo said. “A wedding between Clan Maselic and Camelin will help tie the entire Confederacy together again. The people need something to celebrate. The war is over, why not have a royal wedding as well?”
“So this is political?” Ryo said, a bit disturbed, but relaxed as Tya's hand gently caressed his cheek.
“No, well yes, but no.” Tyo said, still at a loss for words.
“I feel love for your young Lady, Ryo. A feeling very different than when I am with a Lari'Sota or other woman. I don't just have an urge to couple with her and be done with it. I want to have her with me, all the time. All around me. I want to ... settle.” Tyo finished, still struggling to find the words to express his conflicted feelings.
Ryo chuckled, a laugh that Tya enjoyed as she felt it deep in his chest as it rolled up.
“I think that is the most honest thing you have said about anybody in a very long time, Cousin.” Ryo said, rising to his feet as Tya had now sat up as well.
“I grant you permission to marry Aya, Tyo. You most certainly have my blessing. However, you have to also ask her, you cannot command it, she must have the choice.” He said, holding out his hand in a firm clasp that Tyo took and they shook on the agreement.
Tyo walked back out of the grove with a hop in his step that made Ryo chuckle. “It's as if he just asked for the keycard to a flitter for his first solo drive.” He mused.
Tya wrapped herself around his arm and walked with him down a path towards the palace. “You are more like a father to him than you realize, my Lord. For Lord Masilec, the respect from you is worth more than the fealty of every single clansman.”
Ryo nodded but stayed silent as they entered the palace proper. Tya released his arm and gave him a long, lingering kiss that left him wanting to take her somewhere private and explore the possibilities. “I need to get the girls ready for this evening, My Lord. I will see you at the banquet.”
Ryo pulled her back into a firm embrace. “And possibly afterwards, Mistress Tya?”
She laughed and kissed him before swirling away. “As often and anywhere you desire it, my Lord. I am for your pleasure. I must get the girls ready, I will see you again soon.”
...
Ryo walked down the corridor to a comm centre and checked in with the orbiting ships. Repairs were proceeding, no issues to note, nothing unusual to report. He walked out and made his way down to one of the many dining rooms, and sat down so that a server could bring him some food. As he was enjoying the repast, he looked up and motioned for Gya to come and sit, being she had just come in through another entrance. She came over and sat down, nursing a mug of hot Kaf.
“Morning, Commander.” He said before taking a mouthful of food.
Gya nodded and smiled at her father. “Almost after Bright, Fleet Commander. You look better than you did earlier.”
Ryo nodded. “I had a good meeting with Aya's Palace Mother, and with Emperor Masilec. Your sister is in good hands here, I see no reason to change anything.”
Gya drank some of her Kaf. “May I ask what the issue was this morning?”
Ryo drank some of his own Kaf then looked at his eldest daughter. “I made a mistake, Gya. I jumped to a conclusion based on insufficient information and made a grand fool of myself.”
“What happened?” Gya pressed.
“I accused your younger sister of having been sleeping with the Emperor for cycles, when in fact she was sleeping off the night's entertainment. That little Lady is a force to be reckoned with, that much is certain.” He finished with a chuckle.
Gya smiled. “I've always kept my distance from her, she has no idea who I am in relation to her. I think she is somehow afraid of me, but then a lot of people are.”
Ryo finished the plate and then took a drink to clear his throat. “You, my dear Gya, are the Fleet's Ice Princess. Why do you think the other officers refer to you that way?”
“Because I never falter under fire, I'd imagine.”
Ryo shook his head. “The ice part yes, you are princess because of your family history. You are the next in line to rule Clan Desinlo, if you ever choose to. Your mother and I ensured that you would continue the family name, so that no matter what, Desinlo would not be forgotten. That is the main reason why Aya has not yet caught on to who you actually are.”
“When will you tell her?” Gya asked as she finished her mug and rose with him to put all the dishes in the recycler.
“When there is a need to. For now, you are the Commander of the TGX-4, primarily in orbit of Tara. If it ever comes down to us needing an evac, then young Aya will know that her sister has been watching out for her, from behind the scenes.”
“You want me to be stationed here?” Gya asked.
“For now, we have no need of the TGX-4 back in clan space. Michelab is being reconstructed, the TGX-6 is in dry dock. Right now, as the war is over, it is a time to rest and relax. Soon enough, my girl, war will come again, from within, or from outside.” Ryo said, clapping his hand across the shoulders of his tall daughter as they walked out of the dining room and back into the depths of the massive palace complex.