by Tim Morrison
Chapter 10.1
We Are Home - Great Hall, Tara -3 BA
“Kya, he's brought in the great drums.” Aya whispered as they came into the main banquet hall. Both girls had just finished dressing themselves, when they were both firmly sat down by a very radiant Mistress Tya and a whole team of Lari'Sota who primped, polished, and prepared the two girls so they both looked truly glowing. Aya was referring to an entire wall decorated with the musical instruments, including twelve immense drums, each one representing the Twelve Realms of the Confederacy. Along with the other smaller drums around them, this comprised a powerful symbol, and also powerful music. Aya loved the drums, such a simple looking instrument that could make such a wonderful rhythmic noise.
She remembered having bedded a few of the drummers in the past, and they had been as passionate in their lovemaking as they had in their performance.
They were guided to their seats, comfortable couches to one side of the Emperor himself, this time, with Aya on the outside, Kya was placed closer to the Emperor. Kya saw her friend's confusion, and was quick to reassure her. “Hush, this is all part of the plan. I am now very sure what he is going to do, and trust me, my Aya, you will love it.”
They sat and were offered drinks and light food as the hall slowly began to fill. They saw Clan representatives from all realms coming in. “Are they having a full Grand Council meeting?” Aya asked Kya as they continued to watch the flow of dignitaries.
Kya nodded. “Yes, they have to finalize the ending of the Clan War and determine the disposal of all assets from Clan Michelab. That will be tomorrow, tonight the Emperor has called for a grand Banquet in your Father's honour.”
“So that is why there are two chairs at the head, one for Tyo and one for my Father?” Aya asked.
Kya shook her head. “Not quite, my Aya. It will all make sense shortly. Please, try to be patient.”
That evening, Ryo was again dressed in formal robes. This time, as leader of the Clan. Peace reigned in the Confederacy for the first time in fourteen cycles, and the people needed to celebrate. There was another huge party planned, plus Tyo's announcement. As Clan Leader, Ryo understood the need for the people to have a need to celebrate. He knew often enough that you had to keep the population fed and not wanting for much to quell rebellion.
Michelab had starved their own people as they had fuelled the war, so they had lost world after world to other clans, now they were gone, and the 12 primary clans had temporarily become eleven, until another Clan claimed the vacated spot. That may well be a bloody series of duels as well, but it would not effect Clan Camelin, nor Clan Masilec. For right now, the Emperor was secure, Ryo's Clan was safe, and almost everybody he cared about, was doing well. He always worried about poor Lyo, missing these past ten cycles.
As this was a formal celebration, all the clans were in attendance. Michelab would be represented by clan Maselic as they no longer had fealty, but they had left their musical instruments and their team at the palace through the war. The value of a Clans' drums was immeasurable. Those drums, easily five mets across, made of a single piece of naturally occurring hard wood that was found on only one world in the Confederacy, Giarda.
Giarda, once the centre for higher learning within the Confederacy. Home to an advanced study archive and teaching facility that allowed students and scholars from all over to learn everything there was to know, and to seek answers to questions that had not yet been asked.
Giarda, home to the Sky Trees, massive stands of the hardest natural wood within the entire Center Worlds. Each tree well over 5 mets across and standing tall stretching up to 500 mets or higher. A very high valued commodity that was very carefully harvested in the days before the rebellion, to ensure there was always financing available to keep the education and archives running.
Giarda, occupied by Clan Jasinlo during the early days of the Desinlo rebellion and where the Night of Blood had occurred. Ten thousand students had been gathered, and all had refused to swear fealty to the Jasinlo forces. They were brutally slaughtered, each one slit open from neck to groin and the blood gathered in a massive vessel that was then loaded onto a cargo ship. That ship, flown by a suicide pilot who killed herself before the ship entered orbit, hovered over the Royal Palace and opened it's vents, pouring the gathered blood out in a fine rain that fell for nearly ten minutes before the ship was destroyed by cannon fire.
Giarda, now burned to cinders by retaliatory strikes from most Clans against the wholesale brutality of Clan Jasinlo. The stands of sky trees charred to embers, the buildings of the archives in flame and rubble, the entire planet laid waste by the combined clan retribution. No more would any artisan work with native Sky Tree wood, there was no more.
The mighty Clan Drums were among the most prized possessions of any Clan, and by mutual agreement, all Clans kept their drums at the royal palace, under a blended guard who had the most strict orders to never fight each other, and to defend the instruments with their lives.
The Clan Drums were both an unusual item, and in some ways, a bit of a shame for the Confederacy. The drum skins were from a captured pack of T'Ressi warriors. Fighters who had landed on Tara, battled palace guards and lost. Instead of just being killed, these warriors had been skinned, their pelts stripped from their bodies and carefully preserved in ages past. The pelts had hung in the Palace for many deca's before some elder in ages past had suggested to honour the valiant fight of the T'Ressi as well as the Clans by placing the pelts onto drum frames.
It reminded the Confederacy that civilization was only a thin veneer over base savagery, and also allowed them to honour the T'Ressi, who in some ways were more vigilant than the Confederacy in what they did. Although both sides committed acts of atrocity when they fought, they both had redeeming qualities. Among the Clans, the mighty drums were one such quality. The sound was impressive, and served to alert the very Gods that something important was going to happen.
Soon enough, the delegation from Clan Camelin came through the door, and with them came the league of Drummers. Each one trained from a young age to play the Drums that were a Clan's pride. These drummers were also dancers, and when they played, all eyes were on them for the music and the performance. It was a brilliant thing not often seen. To see all 12 Leagues at once, Aya had never heard of before.
Tyo suddenly appeared behind the girls and gave each one a quick peck on the cheek. “Enjoy the performance, ladies.” He said, then swept over to his chair and sat down in a swirl of gilded robes.
Ryo waited in the hallway staging area for his cue to enter. Behind him was the Drum squad, members from all the clans combined. They had practised, were keyed up, and ready to roll. His entrance would begin the performance for the people in the hall, and for the billions more who would watch it on screens and projectors across the entire Confederacy.
He got his nod from the advisers, and strode into the hall as the Lord of Clan Camelin, behind him, the drum squad flowed in, flanking him and as he walked to the Dais where Tyo sat in his Throne, Ryo bowed briefly, then stepped to one side and sat in his own chair as signified the Lord of the Clan.
As the final delegates took their seats, Aya saw her Father sitting opposite her, so the other throne was empty beside Tyo. Aya wondered about that, then forgot all about it as the Leagues all sent their head Drummer to stand in the main hall. They bowed twelve times, once to each clan, then they all went to one knee in front of the Emperor.
“My lord Emperor Masilec. Leader of the Twelve Realms. Ruler of the Thousand Worlds. The League of Drummers wishes to honour your celebration this evening.” Came the request.
Tyo stood, and bowed back to them. “Well met, League of Drummers. By all means, entertain us with your poise and skill.” He sat back down as the drummers all walked back over to their sections and took up the thick grassroot sticks that generated such sounds when they struck the tight skinned instruments.
The first drumroll came in rapid sequence around the entire hall as eac
h drum was struck and the sound echoed, followed by the next and the next. The sound was then duplicated, then replicated, until all twelve regions were rolling in synchronized rhythm. The thumping sequence, high and low, went right through Aya as she listened with her ears and her body. She could feel the pounding through the soles of her feet, and even the very air was filled with the sound.
She recognized a few of the notes as they rolled, but was so immersed in it that she failed to notice the final tune, then with a glorious roll, the sound stopped, and the vast room was filled with silence. She breathed, then suddenly blinked. Tyo was not on his throne, he was kneeling in front of her Father.
“My Lord Ryo Camelin. On this day we celebrate your victory in the Clan war. Your survival against the machinations of Clan Michelab, and your continuing loyalty towards the great Confederacy that you protect.”
Tyo stood, but Ryo remained seated. His part was not over yet. He saw the crowd rise with Tyo, and enjoyed the roar that came next. “A cheer to Ryo Camelin, Lord of Clan Camelin. Leader of the Combined fleet and the Victor of Michelab.” A cheer went up from the crowd, then they sat down as Tyo went back down onto one knee in front of Lord Camelin.
Tyo looked into Ryo's eyes as he spoke, his voice rumbling through the hall clear as a bell. “I have a request that can only be done in this place. Ryo Camelin, fourteen cycles ago you entrusted me with the protection of a daughter of Clan Camelin. I wish to continue to perform that role in the only way I am able to, now that she is of Age. I ask you to give me your daughter's hand.”
Now Ryo rose, and pulled Tyo to his feet. “As Lord of Clan Camelin, and the father of the daughter of the Clan, I give my agreement for this marriage. You have my permission, Lord Tyo Maselic.”
The room was so silent that all Aya could hear was the rush of her own blood and the ragged breathing that she was doing. She watched as Ryo stood, then helped Tyo to rise, and granted him permission. She swallowed very hard, but felt Kya's hand gripping her own, and then another hand, looking to her other side, Mistress Tya was standing, smiling down at her with shining eyes as she gripped her other hand.
Both men then walked across the silent hall to stand before the shocked and stunned lady Aya who seemed almost terrified at what she had just heard. She was flanked by both Kya and Mistress Tya, who each had a calming hand on one of her shoulders, whether to keep her from bolting, or for reassurance, or both, Ryo was not sure, but, the girl remained in her seat.
Tyo and Ryo both walked over to her, and with Ryo standing with a slight smile on his face, Tyo knelt in the most traditional pose any Taran could do, and held out his hands towards the diminutive Lady Camelin, palms-up.
“My Lady Aya Camelin. You came to this palace as a child. You have grown into a wonderful woman who I am very proud of to have with us. You make this Palace brighter when you are here. I have a request of you that you are free to refuse.” He paused and Aya faintly heard a chuckle, she thought from Mistress Tya, but was not sure. Her eyes were focused on Tyo as he knelt in front of her.
Tyo took another deep breath. “I have been alone all of my life, Lady Aya. It is time for me to choose a proper companion. A Consort who will be by my side, help me to make decisions, comfort me and be comforted by me in times of need. I would be the happiest man in all our Thousand Worlds, if you will accept my proposal.”
She nodded, and slipped both of her hands free to place them on top of Tyo's outstretched ones. “Yes, I will accept your proposal to become your Consort, Lord Emperor Masilec.” She finished with a squeal as he got to his feet, grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her into the air and into the biggest and most passion-filled hug she had ever experienced in her young life.
The hall erupted into celebration as the people realized what had happened. Not only was the war over, but the Emperor was going to have a bride. A royal wedding was in order, and that was reason for real celebration.
Aya felt her face would crack from the ear to ear smile she had while Tyo refused to put her down, just kept hugging her and both her cheeks were getting sore from being kissed by everybody. She finally fluttered her hands and patted him firmly enough that he deposited her back on her feet, then held her as she nearly fell over. Tyo guided her back to the chair, right beside his own. That was to be her place. This was real.
She sat there, still in shock, as the drummers leapt to life, pounding out a dynamic rhythm of celebration and joy. She watched them leap and whirl, but was barely paying attention. Her own mind was a whirling mass of joy, confusion, fear, excitement, and so many other emotions that she had no idea what to think.
She gripped Kya's hand hard enough to leave half-moon shaped fingernail marks and whispered. “This isn't a joke, is it, Kya?”
Kya leaned down and kissed her cheek firmly. “No, my Lady. You are engaged to the Emperor. With your Father's consent, you are to be his bride. You did it, Aya. You really did it!”
Aya was again swept up to dance, but this time it was only three partners, Tyo, her Father, and Captain Kalen, nobody else dared to cut in on the bride during her time with her family. Aya was not too sure why the Captain was considered a part of the family, but she certainly enjoyed the dancing.
She noticed that Mistress Tya spent a lot of time dancing with her Father, and that he seemed to be nothing like as stuffy and rigid as he had been the night before. Kya also had her fair share of dances, but was quick to intercede when she noticed that her Aya began to falter from exhaustion.
“Too much wine again, Kya?” Aya said as Kya gently escorted her back to the chairs, and then out of the hall.
Kya laughed. “I think it's just too much in general, my Aya. Let's both get some rest, this is just too much in general.”
They had a couple of assistants who again escorted them to Tyo's chamber where Aya fell onto the bed and was nearly asleep before Kya even closed the doors. She remained just awake enough to watch her Lari'Sota as Kya hurried around, closing doors, turning down lights, then coming back to the bed to help Aya out of the elegant dress she was wearing so she could get under the luxuriously warm covers and sleep on the cloud that was Tyo's bed.
In the hall, as the party continued, Tyo noticed Aya had begun to falter, and relayed to Mistress Tya, who got Kya to gather her charge and take her off to sleep.
“Aya worn out already, Lord Masilec?” Ryo asked as he and Tya danced close to the now partner less Emperor.
Tyo laughed and grabbed a Lari'Sota who was walking past and began to dance with the courtesan. “She never was much for long nights, that girl loves to sleep. Fine with me, sleep works when you can get it, Ryo.”
Kalen was enjoying his dance with another Lari'Sota as the girls at the palace were the perfect companions of this type of event, always elegant, ready to dance the night away, and if desired, ready to do much more afterwards.
The evening wound down slowly, there were revellers who would keep going all through the night, but for the main groups, sleep came for most of them. Ryo and Tya went off to find a bed shortly before Zero Dark, Kalen not too long afterwards, with two Lari'Sota who had caught his lecherous eye. Tyo grinned to himself and continued enjoying the celebration, dancing and cheering until the very wee hours of the morning, until he also felt the tendrils of sleep reaching up to pull him down.
He was steered away from his chambers by the guard this time, who he made a note to congratulate in the morning as the man finally figured out how to do it right, and fell onto a bed in a smaller chamber, with an eager Lari'Sota who didn’t do much except make him comfortable before he was a slumbering rock beside her.
A few hours later, Tyo woke and rolled over to enjoy himself with the concubine who shared his bed. Burying himself in her and doing his royal duty to ensure she also got the best part of him at the time.
Ryo and Tya spent the night in each others' arms. He was very much enjoying the feel of a warm woman again, and she was enjoying feeling fulfilled by the man who had given her Aya to raise. She had
a lot of catching up to do to make it up to the man who had given her the young girl fourteen cycles ago. Tya intended to make every day with Ryo count.
Viktor was Viktor, he did his duty, both girls with him were satisfied, and in the morning, he left them sleeping and went off in search of Kaf.