The Spider Queen (The Space Merchants Book 5)

by Wendie Nordgren

  “Mother and Fitz have everything prepared for the children, and Rolf and Otto have seating and tables for us,” Nico said.

  I made a stack of undecorated cookies, got up, and fed most of them to Nico, Niklos, and Phillip. “All done!” I said. “Let’s go play!” I grinned at Momma, took Neema from her, and went outside.

  Thunderdrop led the way. Fitz was sitting in the shade with Peter on his shoulder. Abbie was placing toy boats in the shallow play pool for the children. Thunderdrop told me he was going to play in the trees. Smiling at Fitz, I gave him three cookies in exchange for Peter. Little clawed hands gripped my hair. I nuzzled him and gave him kisses. Nico and Yukihyo stripped Niklos and Neema down to their waterproof diapers and let them go. The pool only contained about seven inches of water, but after a few minutes with my children playing in it, it was no longer that deep. Yukihyo laughed as he pushed a boat for the children to chase. We sat at tables, ate little sandwiches, drank chilled tea, and nibbled on cookies.

  The next day, I had a respite from Momma’s continued attempts to entertain me. She was finally beginning to understand that I enjoyed being bored. The realization came to her when she overheard me telling Fitz how much I wished I had time to take another class, but that I was always engaged in social activities. Afterwards, Momma promised to limit my social obligations to once a week.

  Rain poured down outside. Meteorological reports promised torrents of rain for the remainder of the week. Thunderdrop chittered angrily at the rain from behind the safety of the patio windows. Then, he began making himself a rainy season web from the branches of his tree sculpture.

  “Fitz, let’s take the children for a walk through the Palace’s halls,” I suggested.

  “I’d like that,” he said.

  Fitz kissed me and gave me a gentle hug. Finn, along with Fitz’s aunts and uncles, had returned to Thalassa. House Jiri was no longer out of favor with Parvacian society. Disowning Felix had been the right choice. Fitz had been so troubled by Felix’s actions that it had broken something within him and sent him into a depression. Together, Fitz and I had been speaking to a counselor three times a week. During those sessions, I had finally admitted to myself and Fitz how angry and betrayed I had felt. I had been angry at Fitz for things over which he had no control, things his uncle had done. Fitz had expressed his guilt and shame that Felix had committed such heinous crimes in the name of greed and jealousy.

  Slowly, we started to heal our relationship. Fitz and I were learning to listen to each other. It was new for me. Yukihyo, Quaid, and Zared didn’t need my words. Yukihyo and I had a strong, symbiotic, empathic connection. Quaid and I shared a strong telepathic bond. Zared and I shared both. Through his bond with Yukihyo, Nico had learned to sense my feelings. Fitz was at a disadvantage. I felt ashamed that my bond with Fitz was weak. Until I learned to trust him again, it would remain that way.

  We had realized the need to speak with a therapist one night during our private husband and wife time. When Fitz had playfully brought out some restraints, I had panicked. My fear had put a deep hurt into his eyes, and it hurt me that I had been the one to put it there.

  Fitz pushed the stroller. Neema and Niklos were reclining in their seats with their bare feet propped up. I smiled at their little toes and lowered my face to kiss Peter, who I held in my arms. Peter had been trying to say, “Ma,” but it sounded more like, “Aww.” He got extra snuggles and hugs every time he said it. I met Fitz’s eyes while we walked. In therapy, I had told him that I didn’t like feeling as though we were growing apart.

  “Fitz, I know you have been thinking of returning to Thalassa, but please don’t go.”

  “You surprise me. I thought you might feel a benefit in spending some time apart.”

  I looked down at the white tile beneath our feet. “No, I think that would be the worst thing for us. I almost feel like we need time to get to know each other all over again. Maybe that sounds stupid. I just know that I don’t want you to leave me.”

  Fitz had a serious expression on his face and stared forward rather than looking at me. “I do wonder, Teagan. Is it really me who you want to stay, or is it that you don’t want me to leave because you can’t bear anymore changes?”

  I didn’t answer him at once. He deserved for me to honestly evaluate my feelings. My thoughts turned to Fitz on Thalassa when, with brown eyes full of love, he had gone to his knees before me and declared his love. Then, I remembered our date on the private Jiri island when we had played with the adhesive floatation devices. I thought of how Fitz had defended me even against my own uncle. I stopped walking. My nose was tingling, and I tried not to cry in front of Neema. She didn’t like it when I cried. Fitz stopped and turned to me. He looked like a man who was preparing himself to hear the worst.

  “Oh, Fitz. I love you. I really do love you. I’m not just saying the words. I feel the truth of them. I’m afraid if you leave, we might lose what we have together. I don’t want us to grow apart. I want you to look at me with your eyes full of love. Now, you look at me like doing so hurts you.”

  Fitz came closer and loosely held me to give Peter plenty of room. “I won’t leave you. You’re right. It does hurt me to look at you, knowing what I feel for you and fearing you can no longer return it because of what he did to you and your family.”

  “You are my family, and we can’t allow him to continue to hurt us by driving a wedge between us. Fitz, we must apprehend him, his clones if there are others, and his Earth Loyalists. I fear we will have no peace until we have done so.”

  Fitz brushed my hair from my shoulders with his fingers. “I agree with you, but I also agree with Tavere. I don’t want you leaving the Palace.”

  “I can’t spend my entire life in the Palace.”

  Fitz kissed the top of my head. “You can reside in this beautiful Palace with your loving family until the inquisitors have assuaged all of your fears.”

  “He isn’t stupid, Fitz. I’m the only one who can lure him from hiding.”

  Fitz tugged on the back of my hair. “He won’t need to be lured out with Drex, Eli, and your Omnes Videntes hunting him.” Fitz tilted his head to the side, hesitated a moment while looking into my eyes for an answer, and then brought his lips to mine when I lowered my eyelids.

  Joy filled my heart. I felt we had just mended a bit of what had torn between us.

  “Aww,” Peter said softly.

  I giggled and kissed him, too. Then, I held my nose close to his and breathed slowly in and out. He snuggled closer contentedly.

  “Mommy, Fitz, go!” Neema said impatiently. I raised an eyebrow at her bossy tone. Smiling sweetly, she added, “Please.”

  We continued our walk. Through a set of front windows, I saw a commotion on the front drive. A line of transports had arrived.

  “Perhaps, you should wait here,” Fitz suggested.

  “Nope,” I said as curiosity got the better of me. The pale pink skirt of my Arachnean Silk dress swirled around my ankles as I sped up to see around the corner and out toward the main entrance. My eyes almost fell out of my head. I hurried forward. “Farowyn?” I called out.

  Guards prevented him from moving forward, but stood aside at Papa’s gesture. Farowyn dropped to his knees before me and spread his arms wide. “My Queen, long have I journeyed across blankets of unknow stars to serve you.”

  Farowyn wasn’t alone. Four of his warriors kneeled down behind him. A representative of the Talpa was also present. He or she was a frightened shade of pale blue. Ambassador Stine and Director Sapor were also in attendance.

  “Farowyn, my friend, please, stand. It is such a wonderful and unexpected surprise to see you! Peter, look who is here!” Farowyn and his men stood. “Please, come into the sitting room. I’m sorry Parvac has rained on your first impression of her. She is usually so beautiful.” I held my left hand out to Farowyn, careful to support Peter with my right. Farowyn smiled and took my hand. Then, he surprised me by kissing my fingers.

  I curtsi
ed to the representative from Talpa. “Welcome,” I said. A small band with a screen was attached to the Talpa’s wrist. It flashed to red at my word.

  The Talpa turned a warmer shade of purple. I heard, “Thank you,” from the device. “I have come on behalf of Queen Spectra and my people to serve the Spider Queen.”

  “It was kind of you to travel all of this way. My name is Teagan. What is your name?”

  Colors flashed across the screen, and I thought the device might also emit temperatures. “I am Ember. I will serve Teagan.”

  I smiled not knowing what else to do. “Please, allow me to serve you some refreshments.”

  To a Palace servant, I asked that hot tea with slices of orange be served to him or her. I had no idea how to tell. I made sure my guests were comfortable. In the sitting room, I noticed that a low stool had already been placed for our Talpan guest. Farowyn trilled at Peter and held his hands out to him. Peter hid his face against my chest and covered himself with my hair. Papa’s face was covered in his polite, social obligation expression. However, I knew he feared that I would soon feel obligated to return to Talpa.

  “Gapa!” Neema said as she struggled to free herself from her safety strap.

  “Let me help you with that,” Papa said. Soon, he had Neema on her feet.

  She held her hands up to Fitz as soon as she saw Ember. “What that?”

  “Neema, say hello to Ember. Ember came from far away to have a tea party with us,” I explained.

  “That real?” Neema thought that Ember was a big stuffed animal. She refused to leave Fitz.

  Niklos refused to leave Papa and resorted to sucking his thumb. I called out to Yukihyo and Zared. Then, I focused my abilities on soothing my children’s emotions until they entered the sitting room to help me.

  Ambassador Stine said, “I hope you will be able to stay long enough to visit a few of the planets in our systems. From the reports that I have seen, Talpa is a beautiful and mysterious world.”

  The Eloneave with Farowyn cast concerned glances at their leader. Farowyn said, “We will go where ever our Queen wishes to go. King Rorgowyn sent us to serve at her pleasure.”

  I watched as Palace servants offered refreshments to our guests. My attention was drawn to the clicking of claws against the white tile floor. Those claws seemed so at odds with the floor. I remembered how deftly they clung to trees.

  “Teagan, Farowyn and Ember have come to serve as Ambassadors of Talpa. It is a compromise I made. The Talpa and Eloneave would appreciate your input on various issues. However, I will not relent and allow you to make the distant journey to their system,” Papa said.

  I smiled at him. “You are very wise, Papa. This seems like a lovely solution. I have no desire to be separated from you and Momma for several months when so much can be accomplished through our repaired communications relays. I think Ember might enjoy Daphoene.”

  I could tell that my response had relieved Papa. Farowyn and his men stood and spread their patagium wide to greet Yukihyo and Zared. My husbands behaved as though they had been expecting our visitors. I realized that I had been the only one not informed.

  “We have prepared a home a short distance from the Palace to serve as your embassy. I believe Director Sapor and Ambassador Stine have shared with you the means by which to contact them with any concerns or questions that you might have. I have assigned to you guards to serve as your security detail, guides to help you navigate the city, and servants to run your household,” Papa said.

  “You are most gracious,” Ember said.

  Papa said, “Ember, you will find in your wing amenities which I hope will make your stay on Parvac more comfortable. Your sauna should be reaching an optimal temperature just now.”

  Ember gave Papa a bob of his or her head.

  “Please, allow me to help you get settled,” Ambassador Stine offered. Ember stood, bowed to me, and followed Stine out.

  “Ember is the first of her people to travel such a distance. The Talpa are sensitive to changes in temperature. I have hired a physician to care for her and remain on her staff,” Papa said after they had gone. Papa narrowed his attention to Farowyn and his men. I held Peter closer as fear slithered through my veins. What if Farowyn had come with the intent of taking my son back to his people? Sensing my unease, Yukihyo sat beside me. Papa asked, “What is it that you hope to accomplish while you are in the Empire?”

  “King Rorgowyn has sent us to serve Queen Teagan, the one instrumental in saving our people. We offer our service,” Farowyn answered.

  “Yes, I understand all of that, but what are your goals in doing so? Certainly, you want something,” Papa said.

  I nuzzled the top of Peter’s head. “Aww,” he said.

  “Yes, Peter, Ma loves you,” I whispered. Fear and dread forced me to ask the question that sickened my heart. “Farowyn, are you here to take my son from me?” Peter had taken a tight fist of my hair.

  “No. No such thing has occurred to me. It pleases me that Peter has grown stronger. The love and trust between mother and son is clear.”

  Zared said, “His words are true. Let no such fears add sorrow to your heart.”

  Peter climbed my chest and held his nose to mine. After breathing slowly with him for a moment, I felt better. “Forgive me, Papa. I rudely interrupted your question. What is it that you hope to accomplish, Farowyn?”

  Meeting my eyes, he said, “I mean to stay in your favor. You are like a dream my people hope to have recur. Being near you, I may obtain your guidance and insights to share with my people. Also, with your husband’s knowledge, I hope to hire merchants to deliver supplies to my people. In addition, observing other cultures may help us as we learn to adapt to our new home world.”

  “I can help with the purchasing of supplies and shipping. What type of merchandise do you need?” Yukihyo asked.

  “We need farming and building supplies. The jungles where we have settled are challenging. The vegetation grows back as soon as it is cleared. We consider the possibility of growing food above the canopy.”

  “I’m sure we can work something out,” Yukihyo said.

  I had scrutinized Farowyn during the exchange. Something was different, but I wasn’t certain what it was. Then, it occurred to me. “Why can’t I hear your trills and whistles when you speak? Where is the translation box?”

  Farowyn’s brown eyes twinkled. “I study your language each day. This device assists me in forming certain words whose sounds I am unable to make.” He pointed to a small gadget on his neck that I hadn’t noticed. “The words formed using nasal sounds are challenging.” He smiled at me with his V-shaped mouth.

  I smiled back. There was hope that I could teach Peter to talk.

  “All of that is fine. However, do not think to entice my daughter back to the Talpa system. It is not safe for her,” Papa proclaimed.

  Fear that Felix might already be there made me shiver. There were vast stretches of unsettled land on Talpa. He could be anywhere.

  “My men and I will defend our Queen with our lives,” Farowyn swore. “We go where she goes, or stay where she stays.”

  “You have no intentions of returning to your people. You plan to devote your lives to my daughter,” Papa stated.

  Farowyn and his men had no intentions of leaving me to stay at their embassy with Ember, either. To keep them from building a treehouse near the lake, Papa gave them rooms in the guest wing. I soon discovered that Farowyn had decided to become my shadow.

  On the third day after the arrival of the delegates from Talpa, Yukihyo, Fitz, Zared, and I decided to pay Ember a visit. Farowyn and his men followed with their own driver. From Papa, I had learned that Ember was female. We were bringing gifts. I had made her bright sarongs in reds, pinks, purples, and oranges with loose coats to match. I feared space travel and the rain we were having had caused too much stress on her system.

  I was correct in my assumption. The journey had taken its toll on Ember. Currently, she was sleeping in the
large sauna that had been built for her. I saw her curled up in the hot room with a pillow and blanket. Her physician, who had specialized in xenobiology, assured us that she would be well in a few days. Farowyn and his men stayed to explore their embassy, and I hoped to show some compassion to Ember.

  When we returned to the Palace, I sought out Papa. He was in his sitting room. Yukihyo had accompanied me and clasped my hand in his. Papa was giving me his innocent look. He sat on a couch with Momma’s feet on his lap.

  “Papa, how long have you known that the foreign dignitaries from Talpa would be joining us?”

  “For a while. I decided to placate them.”

  Momma said, “You would have gone to them and possibly suffered a treacherous fate had Teagan and her men not found me. Has Drex found the traitor, yet?”

  “No, my love, not yet.” He lifted her foot and kissed it. My Papa was wrapped so tightly around my Momma’s pinky toe that it made me giddy.

  Yukihyo asked, “How long have you known that Farowyn considers Teagan to be his mate?”

  I turned to Yukihyo with my heart thudding in my eyeballs.

  Papa said, “I assumed as much since she adopted Peter. Why else would he encourage her to raise his brother’s child.”

  His brother’s child? I had ordered the death of Farowyn’s brother and not been told? How could he stand to look at me? I felt sick.

  “Oh, darling, wipe that look off of your face. Be proud. Historically, you have the most diverse husbands of any Parvac Princess,” Momma said.

  She didn’t understand my feelings, but Yukihyo did. I felt faint, and he helped me sit.

  “Teagan, he is a single male. He was responsible for hundreds of his people on that decrepit life ship. Through his father’s error in judgement, he lost one brother. His other brother’s poor judgement lost him his ship, his sister-in-law, and several civilians. He gave his nephew the best chance of survival that he could give him. Also, it is politically wise to have the grandson of King Rorgowyn raised by a powerful alien queen,” Papa said.