Cassandra's Challenge

by M. K. Eidem

  “William….”

  “Shhh….I’m winning this one so be quiet.” Kissing her he pulls her close. “Now, since you won’t rest, you will eat.” Turning her he guides her out of the bathroom.

  Sliding her half eaten meal away she sees William frown. “I’m fine. If I get hungry later I’ll ask Hutu for something.” Reaching she touches his hand. “I promise.”

  “It’s going to be a long day.”

  “I know. Before you walk me through it, Lucas is set? For Victoria? Everyone has been covered?”

  “It’s taken care of, do you want to know?”

  “No. I’m sorry. I’m not doubting you.”

  “You just needed it verified.” Squeezing her hand he lets her know he understands.

  “Yes, now I can forget about it. So walk me through today.”

  “We’ll need to leave for the Assembly by 1200. Jotham has made Limisins available for us.”

  “We all go?”

  “Hutu will remain behind, he knows what to do. All guards go. Deffand’s men will guard the Wing.”

  “Including Ensign Paa?”

  “Unless you object.” Watching her he waits.

  “No I don’t object. He’ll need his weapon and communicator.”

  “You trust him?”

  “You do, that’s good enough for me.”

  “We will be one of the last to arrive. Assembly guards will escort us to our places on one side of the speaking platform. Queen Yakira entourage will be seated on the other side.”

  “She’ll make sure she arrives after us.”

  “Yes, so she can make her grand entrance.”

  “Do you think she’ll be a giant blue ball again?” Her eyes sparkle at him.

  He can’t stop himself from laughing at the image. “I doubt it. She’ll be wearing full Royal attire, a gown of some sort that reveals her birthmark, but her royal robe and crown will be prominent. She’ll want to show she is the Queen.”

  “Smart move.” Standing she walks to the window.

  “It will play with those who don’t know you.” Watching her he wonders what she’s thinking.

  “They will be making a visual comparison, something to consider. What’s next?”

  “The Head of the Assembly, Terwilliger, will call the Assembly to order and present you as the Challenger.”

  “Will I need to stand and approach? Or just stand?”

  “You will need to approach acknowledge the Assembly, and you present your Challenge to the Assembly.”

  “No.”

  “No? What do you mean no?” William stiffens.

  “Yakira will have to defend her throne first.”

  “Cassandra, a very strict procedure is followed in a Challenge.”

  “I know and if the gatherings had been completed then the Challenger must present first. But if the Challenge is called, for any reason, then the defending Queen must speak first. The rule was established to prevent just what Yakira is attempting.”

  “You’re sure of this?” William wonders why he’s even questioning.

  “Yes. And I’ll bet you all the credits Lucas owes me that neither Audric nor Yakira realize it. There’s no reason for them too. The Challenge has never been called before.”

  Leaning back William thinks about what she’s telling him. “Yakira won’t be expecting it. The Assembly can’t just vote to deny your Challenge.”

  “No and that’s what Audric is counting on. They had enough supporters to call the Challenge. He’ll assume this is all a formality.” Walking over she settles into his lap.

  Pulling her against his chest he finishes her thought. “She’ll appear unprepared and uninformed at an Assembly she called. That won’t go over well.” Absently he rubs his ring on her finger.

  “Is Terwilliger going to give me any trouble when I call him on it?” With her head on his shoulder she burrows in, letting her arms settle around his waist.

  “You know exactly where this procedure is, page, code?”

  “Of course.” She sends him an insulted look.

  “Of course you do.” He kisses her nose smiling. “Terwilliger will look it up, if he doesn’t already know it and will concede you’re correct. He’ll enjoy doing it too. He can’t stand Audric.”

  “I hadn’t realized that.”

  “Terwilliger’s been in the game a long time. He knows better than to say anything publicly.” The silence between them is comfortable, each thinking about what needs to be done while enjoying the others closeness.

  “Aunt Cassie! Uncle William!” They both look towards the hallway as they hear Victoria.

  “Tori, they may still be sleeping.”

  “Hutu said he brought them breakfast ages ago.”

  “We’re up, come on back.”

  “See!” Victoria rushes into the room. “Hi!”

  “Good morning sweetie. I take it you had fun at Amina’s.” Cassandra slides out of William’s lap tightening her robe.

  “It was good. No nightmares.”

  “That’s good. Have you eaten?”

  “With Amina. Flatcakes….and chocolate chip cookies.” Tori’s mischievous smile warms Cassandra’s heart, and gives her a craving.

  “Chocolate chip cookies? You got cookies with your breakfast?” William receives a seriously put out look from his wife.

  “I’ll have Hutu send some up.” Smiling at Lucas he turns his attention to Victoria.

  “Just how did you convince Hutu to bring you cookies with your breakfast young lady?” Innocent green eyes meet his.

  “I’ll never tell.” William looks to Lucas.

  “You have your work cut out for you.”

  Brushing Victoria’s hair Cassandra thinks about the day ahead. “Victoria.” Putting the brush aside she turns her niece around to face her. “Today we go before the Assembly. Today we get the Glitter Man.”

  “Really!?!” Victoria’s eyes lose their innocence, breaking Cassandra’s heart.

  “Yes. So now you have to listen to me.” She grips Victoria’s chin. “You stay with Lucas today. Right at his side. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes Aunt Cassie.”

  “You do exactly what he tells you, he’ll keep you safe.”

  “I know Aunt Cassie.” Victoria rolls her eyes.

  “No Victoria, you don’t. Listen to me.” Cassandra waits until Tori’s eyes settle. “If Lucas tells you your leaving, you leave, whether William and I do or not. Do you understand me?”

  “Aunt Cassie?” Victoria finally looks scared.

  “It’s been arranged Victoria. Do you want to get the Glitter Man?”

  “Yes.” She whispers.

  “Then you have to promise me, promise me, you’ll do this. I can’t do what I need to do, neither can the Admiral if we have to worry about you. About you not listening to Lucas.”

  “I’ll listen Aunt Cassie, I promise.”

  “Alright, we leave at 1200, lets finish your hair then you can decide what you want to wear.”

  “How’s she doing?” Watching Cassandra enter their room he can tell she’s troubled.

  “Good, picking out what she wants to wear.” Walking over to the dresser she picks out black eadia. Leaning back on it she looks at him. “Am I doing the right thing? Putting her through this?”

  “You’re doing what you have to do to keep her safe.”

  “If we left now she’d be safe.”

  “What kind of life would she have Cassandra.” Framing her face he tells her what she already knows. “Always hiding, worrying about Audric finding her. It’s time to finish this.”

  “You’re right, I know you are.” Looking into his steady eyes she draws strength. “I just needed hear it.”

  “You’re tired.” William’s concerned, she never doubts herself unless she’s tired.

  “I’ll be fine. I have you.” Stretching up she gives him a reassuring kiss. “But I could sure use a cookie.”

  Her request eases some of his tension. “I’ll get
you some. Now get in the shower.” He turns her to the bathroom.

  “Alone?” She looks over her shoulder realizing she’s only half teasing as her husband’s eyes flare.

  “Yes. We’ll have time for that later.” But he indulges himself with one hard kiss. “Now go, I’ll have cookies waiting for you when you get out.”

  “Cookies, as in multiple.”

  “Yes multiple.” With a gentle shove he sends her on her way.

  Biting into a cookie Cassandra looks at the clothes Pazel and Kia has made for her. They were beautifully done, elegant. Hopefully she’d get to wear all of them. Wiping the crumbs for her fingers she reaches for the black pant outfit she’s yet to wear. Letting her robe fall to the ground she pulls on the pants first. They were tailored to fit her form perfectly until they widened at mid thigh. Kia had placed inserts in the legs allowing them to drape as they widen. Pulling each leg to the side the hidden slit on the inside of each leg opens, easily revealing her birthmark.

  Satisfied she pulls on a simple camisole style top that is covered with simple black lace accented with a small amount of clear crystals, wide straps, unadorned, finish the top. Leaving the matching long sleeved jacket hanging she turns for footwear.

  Heeled boots, not to high in case she needs to move quickly, but high enough for the pants to just brush the floor. Zipping them tight she checks, with the tops ending just below her knee, her birthmark is completely covered. Smiling she walks into the bedroom.

  Munching on another cookie she looks at her reflection in the mirror. Where at Dadrian’s sochraide she’d been a tower of white, today she would be dark, not for darkness but in remembrance of those she’d lost. Today there would be no redemption. Not for Audric.

  Holding the cookie in her mouth she pulls her hair up high looking at the results, shaking her head she lets it fall. Running her fingers through the dark mass she lets it fall naturally onto her shoulders. Yes, that’s what she wants, an outward sign she wouldn’t be controlled or confined.

  Finishing the cookie she turns to find William leaning against the door frame, watching.

  Finding her dressed in elegant black, deciding how to wear her hair a half eaten cookie between her lips has William leaning against the door frame. He can see her mind working, up, back or down, what is the image she wants to present. As she runs her fingers through her hair letting it fall free and natural he knows she’s found it. Finishing the cookie she turns finding him.

  “How many?”

  “What?” Walking towards him she frowns.

  “Cookies.”

  “Oh…huh just three, so far.” She gives him a guilty smile.

  “Really?”

  “I’m not done yet.” Smiling she gives him a gentle kiss. Pulling her close he deepens it.

  “It’s almost time.” He lips continue to brush hers.

  “I know.” With her arms wrapped around his waist she frowns.

  “What?” Easing back she looks at him. She hasn’t seen him wear this jacket since their arrival. It contained none of the medals she’d grown accustomed to seeing on his chest and had a large bump.

  “You’re carrying a weapon.”

  “Yes.” The thoughts running threw her mind are written on her face. She voices none of them. Just nods.

  “Let me get my jacket and I’ll be ready.”

  “Marat, report.”

  “Sir, King Jotham and his security have left the Palace. Four Limisins are waiting at the private garage. All men are ready, weapons and communicators checked. Waiting for your orders, sir.”

  “Cassandra?” William turns to her. She’s standing at the doors to the garden, listening as she looks out. The garden that, just yesterday she’d married William in. It was time to block it out, to focus on what she has to do.

  Turning he sees she’s pulled herself in, her eyes flat, shutting everyone out. While he understands it he despises it. “I’m ready.”

  Entering the garage Tar and the Michelakakis get into the second Limisin while William leads his family to the third. Once everyone is secured, guards fill the first and last Limisin, surrounding them with protection.

  “Aunt Cassie?” Victoria is sitting between Kyle and Lucas, watching her Aunt.

  “What baby?” She sees the flicker of fear in her eyes. “Come over here.” She holds out her hand, sliding over so she can sit between her and William. “Tell me.”

  Closing her eyes she burrows into her aunt. Leaning down Cassandra kisses the top of her head. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. We’ve got three big strong Zafar men here that are going to help and protect us.”

  “I know.” Tori’s voice is muffled.

  Cassandra knows her niece, she hates having to sit still, has an active mind, always wanting to learn. “Tori,” She tips her chin up. “I need you to do something for me.”

  “I already promised I’d listen to Lucas.”

  “I know and I still need you to do that but there’s something else. Something I need you to do. That only you can do.”

  “Besides say who the Glitter Man is?” Cassandra has captured her attention just like she’d hoped.

  “Yes besides that. I need you to watch him for me, the whole time. Watch his reactions to what I’m saying. Tori, he doesn’t know, doesn’t know you’ve remember, that you’ve told. He thinks of you as a scared little girl. He doesn’t know that you’re the bravest girl on any planet, that you know what he did, that you understand what he said, and more important that you know who he is.”

  “He doesn’t?” She watches as Victoria begins to understand.

  “He doesn’t, so he’s going to be very surprised at some of the things I say. I need to know when he gets mad. Because when he does…”

  “His eyes will glitter. But how will I tell you?”

  “Well I was thinking if I’m sitting listening to Yakira then vous pouvez parler français pour moi, but in a whisper. I will nod if I hear you.”

  The Zafar men look at each other trying to follow the women’s conversation. “Cassandra…” Her hand on William’s arm stops him.

  “And when I’m on the platform speaking and you think I need to know something.” Moving her hands Cassandra signs ‘you do this’. “Okay? Can you do that? Be my second set of eyes?”

  “I can do that.” Fear leaves Tori’s eyes replaced by determination. Holding up her fist Cassandra gives her a bump. Rising she goes back to sit next to Lucas.

  “What did you say to her?” William asks.

  “To speak French to me, it was a language on Earth. No one will know what she’s saying.”

  “And the hand thing.”

  “Sign language a way to speak to each other without saying a word.”

  “And no one will know what you’re saying.” William grips her face. “You are truly brilliant!”

  Cassandra’s smile fades as she looks out the window of the Limisin. Following her gaze William sees they are approaching the Assembly Hall. Turning back he sees the shutters fall, but not before he sees the nerves. Leaning over so only she can hear he touches her cheek.

  “Take a deep breath. You are in control here. Whatever you want to do we’ll do.” Looking into her husband’s eyes Cassandra can feel herself settling, her nerves disappearing as the Limisin stops she kisses his lips.

  “I’m ready.”

  Guards exit their Limisins, surrounding the second Limisin first. Once everyone is out, as one they move to the third, to the Challenger. Kyle is the first to exit when Lucas moves to follow Cassandra grabs his wrist.

  “Lucas….” Her eyes bore into his.

  “With my life.” Nodding she releases him, with one last look at his father he gets out holding out his hand for Victoria he helps her out.

  Saying nothing William looks at Cassandra at her nod he steps out of the Limisin. His eyes scan the crowd gathered outside the Assembly Hall. Assembly security is holding them back they all want a look at the Challenger, at his wife. None of them are getting close to h
er.

  Seeing the Assembly security approach he steps forward. Cassandra knows she’s not to step out of the Limisin until he assists her.

  “Admiral, we are here to escort you to your places in the Hall.”

  “You’re security will flank ours.”

  “Yes Admiral.”

  Returning to the Limisin he extends his hand to his wife.

  Waiting inside Cassandra organizes her thoughts. Everyone in this building is here to judge her, to decide if she is worthy of being Queen. They thought she’d used a good man to get to this point. That all she wants is the throne. They’re wrong. They didn’t know what she did. They didn’t know her and that is her advantage. When William extends his hand she slides hers in, time to reveal a traitor.

  Chapter 21

  The noise level of the Assembly Hall is high as the group enters crossing the platform to their seats it quiets. All want to see the Challenger, this woman from another planet claiming to be the lost Princess. Rumors have been flying, she’s gained the protection of the most respected Admiral in the fleet, a hero too many, is said to be using him when security steps aside they final get their first look.

  She’s tiny, really tiny, hardly over six feet. Dressed in black, her dark hair moves freely around her shoulders and face, but it’s her blue eyes are what give most pause. They are brilliant sapphire blue and currently scanning the room seemingly taking everything in at once.

  Cassandra was prepared for the size of the Assembly. A main floor that was divided into five sections, one for each House, each section contained seating for the twenty Assemblymen and their Royals, all who would be present today. It’s the balconies that have her raising an eyebrow. There were three of them, each progressively higher wrapping around the front half to the room, filled to overflowing. Glancing at Victoria she sees her eyes are dancing with wonder, trying to see everything at once.