Cassandra's Challenge
Page 70
“No.”
“As it’s been over two hundred cycles since such a transition there will be questions, for you, for me, for the citizen of the House of Knowledge. Hopefully together we will be to do this with the least amount of turmoil. There’s been enough of that lately.”
“Agreed.”
“I’m hoping two weeks. Long enough for everyone to settle, get used to the idea. Have you given any thought to where you’d like to relocate too?”
“No all the buildings are owned by the House of Knowledge.”
“I believe you had one built, in the Neva area.”
“Yes, it’s near Vane’s parents.” Yakira refuses to let herself hope.
“Would that be suitable for your family? Large enough for your needs?”
“I…..yes.” Cassandra nods.
“Then it will be part of your compensation for tending to the House, during my families absence. Other arrangements will also be made. You and your children will not be discarded.”
“Why? Why are you doing this?” Yakira has to know. “It isn’t required, no one expects it.”
“Why?” Cassandra leans down to smell a rose. “Why did you cast the first ‘guilty’ vote? He’s your spouse.” She stands confronting Yakira. “Why did you agree with Kyle on my Union? You could still be Queen.”
“Audric was guilty, he used me, my position, the power of the House of Knowledge to murder. Not because he loved me, because he wanted the power being my spouse gave him.” Yakira sees the sympathy in Cassandra’s eyes. “Not like you. You were willing to give up the throne of the most powerful House on Carina for your spouse. And he would have let you.”
“He loves me.” Cassandra lets the simple statement say it all.
“And you love him, it’s obvious, to everyone. You stand. For each other, for what you believe in. The House of Knowledge will need that, need both of you, to recover from the damage Audric as caused. Your Union is valid its right, that’s why I agreed.”
Jotham waits while Will contacts his chief of security, informing him of the Queen’s location.
“She’ll have to get used to that.” William raises an eyebrow. “Having someone always knowing where she is.”
“She’ll handle it. There’s little she can’t, given time.”
“And that’s what makes her perfect, for you, you’re the same way. Something I’ve always admired.”
“What’s up Jotham.”
“Valerian was right.” William leans back in his chair.
“About?”
“There was a High Council called yesterday to discuss Valerian’s recent behavior. The rumors of the traitor, his comments about the Challenger, about you.” Silence greets Jotham’s comment, he smiles, his friend hasn’t changed. Rising he walks over to pour them each a glass of ale, handing one to him.
“A preliminary vote was taken. You were chosen to be High Admiral. But it was decided that the final vote would be made after the Challenge was completed.”
“They wanted to judge Cassandra first.”
“She would be the High Admiral’s wife. It’s a powerful position.”
“As opposed to being Queen.” Jotham smiles at his friend.
“Yes, as opposed to being Queen.” Jotham’s smile fades looking into his friends eyes. “The final vote was made after you left the Assembly.”
“Carnot will make a fine High Admiral.” Taking a sip of his ale William looks at his friend and King.
“Will, the vote was unanimous. We want you.” Jotham sees the shock in William’s eyes. “You’ve more than earned the position.”
“Jotham….” He has to move. High Admiral, he’d never considered it, considered the possibility of it. Even after what Quinn had said. His wife is Queen, a powerful Queen. He turns, “I’m not giving up Cassandra.” His eyes bore into Jotham.
“No one’s asking you too. Will, she is the Queen, your wife, she made that quite clear.” Jotham smiles slightly at just how clear she’d made it. “You were the choice before the Challenge, Cassandra’s actions only reinforced that. She stands Will. For you. For Carina. For what she believes in.”
It’s Jotham’s turn to lean back. “You realize the two of you are becoming something of a legend. Apparently when she presented herself as Cassandra Qwes Zafar the fleet went wild.”
“What?” William sits back down. “They couldn’t have gotten reports that quick.”
“Will, the Challenge was transmitted, real time throughout the Coalition. Every planet, every ship, voice and image, The Admiral’s Queen, that’s what they’re calling her.”
“She’s her own Queen.”
“True, but you’re her Admiral. She stands at your side.” Jotham wonders if he realizes how rare that is.
“Jotham, I’m honored, but I need to discuss it with Cassandra first. You and I know what it means to be High Admiral. She doesn’t.”
“I expected no less. Tomorrow?”
“I’ll let you know once a decision is made.” Jotham nods.
He finds her sitting on a bench in the garden, her face raised to the lowering suns, eyes closed, boots off, a gently smile on her lips. Hearing his approach she opens those amazing eyes to look at him.
“I knew you’d find me.” Smiling she starts to stand.
“Sit.”
“What’s wrong?” Her smile fades.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“William.” She knows him. “What did Jotham say?”
Looking at his wife he realizes she’s thinking the worst, after the day she’s had he should have realized. He needs to just tell her.
“Valerian was apparently right.”
“Right? About what? The man was insane.”
“The High Council voted to remove him.”
“What? William?” He watches her eyes start to sparkle. “Tell me….”
“They voted unanimously for me to become High Admiral. Whoa!” He laughs as she launches herself into his arms.
“William that’s wonderful! You deserve it you’ll make a great High Admiral!”
“Cassandra.” He kisses her to quiet her. “I haven’t accepted.”
“What? Why?” Leaning back she looks in at him. “Because of me.”
“Cassandra, you are about to assume the most powerful throne on the planet. There are going to thousands of decisions that need to be made.”
“And you don’t think I can make them?”
“Of course you can! That’s not what I’m saying.”
“So what are you saying?” Slipping out of his hands she stands walking away from him.
“That I don’t think this is the right time.”
“It probably isn’t the right time for me to have conceived either. But I have. You’ve been offered the most important position in the fleet. A chance to make High Admiral mean something again, how can you say no?”
“You would have given up your throne for me!” William rises along with his voice.
“That was totally different. It meant nothing to me. This! You’ve worked your whole life for this!”
“And it means nothing without you!”
“What are you saying?” Cassandra pales. “They asked you to dissolve our Union?”
“No! No….” William rubs her arms, finding her chilled. “I’m not doing this right. Give me a minute.” Taking off his jacket he wraps it around her, pulling her close.
“I told Jotham I needed to speak with you first. Let me finish.” She nods. “The High Admiral….it’s every hour of every day.”
“24/7 got it.” William raises an eyebrow at the term, finding he likes it.
“I can be called away at a moment’s notice. Not be able to keep appointments. Be gone for days at a time.” That gets a frown from Cassandra.
“Why gone?”
“If there’s a battle I need to be available.”
“Of course you do. But why can’t you come home after?”
“Cassandra, it took nearly two hours for u
s to get here from the Retribution.”
“It did? I hadn’t realized. I just thought it was my trying not to vomit that made it seem so long.” William rests his forehead against hers. Thanking the Ancestors for her.
“That’s four hours round trip.”
“William. Being Queen is going to be a 24/7 job. I can be called away at any time. Be needed anywhere. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“So all that is a wash. It doesn’t matter.” She explains. “Now not having you next to me every night….I’m not going to like that. Really not going to like that.” Touching his cheek she already misses him. “But it won’t be every night.”
“Cassandra….”
“And if you play your cards right,” Stretching she gives him a soft kiss. “You might be able to convince the Queen of the House of Knowledge to give her husband, the High Admiral, one of those fast little ships of hers. Totally outfitted for a High Admiral’s needs of course, to get him to and from in the fastest possible time.” She gives him another soft kiss.
“You’re serious.” William leans back to stare at her.
“It’s time you start using your wife instead of her using you.” Smiling she lets him know she’s joking.
“Take the position William. It’s what you were born to do, it’s your destiny. I’ll be at your side. I’m not letting go either. We’ll work the rest out, it won’t be a perfect life, but it will be our life.”
“Our life.” Leaning down to seal his promise the star that’s Earth’s sun sparkles just a little brighter for a moment.
About the Author
Michelle Eidem is a self-confessed romantic. Family, friends and love have always been the center of her life. She welcomes your comments at mpeidem@msn.com or Smashwords.com.