by David Winnie
“I haven’t, Mama Clara,” Annika admitted. “We didn’t have Christmas at the palace. This is the first Christmas gift I have ever received.”
Clara made an O with her mouth. “Dear, it is quite all right to tear the paper,” she said warmly. “Yuri, when he was a boy, oh! How he would tear into his gifts! He’s not much better now. Please, don’t worry. Tear away. Papa and I want you to see your gift!”
She tore the paper a bit, then a little more. “Well, hurry!” exclaimed Andrei, wandering over. “Mama isn’t getting any younger you know.” With his booming voice, the whole room went silent. Everyone watched the young princess.
The outer wrapping was finally loose. Carefully, Annika unrolled the inner tissue until the small brown wren was unveiled. On its feet were the initials A.R.
“Oh, Mama Clara, thank you!” Annika cried as she hugged Yuri’s mother. She searched the tree, found the wise owl marked Y.R. and began to place her bird there.
“No, no, that’s not who you’re looking for,” laughed Clara. “That is Yanko Roishenko, a cousin, quite an unpleasant fellow. But we love him anyway. No, here is Yuri.”
He was a raven. Beautiful to be sure, but a crow? Annika scrunched her eyebrow.
Clara laughed again. “Yuri chose that himself. The raven is one of the smartest, most loyal of all the birds.”
“It looks odd, surrounded by all the rest of the tree. But it fits him.”
Annika’s wren went on the branch next to Yuri’s raven.
Supper was a free-for-all. Rather than sit formally, the Russolov Christmas table was laid out in the kitchen, buffet style. The traditional 12 dishes of the Apostles were the center of the table. All around were salads, steaming soups, and rolls… all the traditional holiday fare. Desserts were on their own table at one side.
“Yuri, Yuri, try this!” Annika fed him a rum ball from the dessert table. With far too much rum. “Moychya showed me how to make these! She liked them so much she said she’d serve it tonight!”
Moychya was known to enjoy a drink or two.
They couple loaded their plates and found a place to sit. It was not an easy task. All five of Yuri’s brothers and sisters had come for the holiday, along with their children. Many of the house staff were there, adding their children to the mix. Unmarried field hands, with no family nearby joined in the festivities. Annika had been to many social gatherings growing up. But they were always staid, formal affairs.
Here, children were running through the rooms, flying various toy spacecraft. Games were being played in every room. Annika watched wistfully as a small knot of girls played with new dolls in a corner. Andrei had even set up a room to one side for the young people to entertain themselves…under his watchful eye.
There was much singing which Annika happily joined in. She didn’t know any of the words, but sang along anyway, generally trying to anticipate the words and filling in with “La-la-la…” There was one song that offered up, “Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.” She leapt and danced about; the raucous singalong was fun!
Andrei tapped her shoulder and beckoned. “I have a surprise for you.” Another surprise! Annika decided she did like this holiday, Christmas.
She followed them to the library. Seeing this room, she could understand where Yuri had found his love of books. Mahogany paneled, lush carpets to muffle any sound. Wide winged chairs, low tables for a drink. Old fashioned stand lamps at each chair.
And books by the thousands. The shelves lined all four walls from the floor to the ceiling. More stacks were piled on the floor.
Two women were in the room. The younger woman was wearing an Imperial Medical Corps uniform. In front of her was an ancient woman, wearing a support frame for her frail body and seated in a hover chair. On entering, she waved a finger and began rasping in a language Annika recognized as Old Russian.
Andrei shot back in the same tongue. They argued back and forth. Finally, the old woman waved her hand, dismissing him. “Annika, this is my great-grandmother, Annika Sonya Russolov,” said Andrei. “She wishes to speak to you alone.” He led the nurse out.
Annika was nonplussed. She felt an annoying buzz in her head.
“I said, can you hear me?”
Annika startled. The old woman was using mindspeak?
Are you deaf or can you hear me? You don’t look stupid, Child.”
“I can hear you. You can mindspeak?”
“Gods above! I hadn’t used this talent in so long, I thought I might have forgotten how!”
“This is wonderful, Grandmother! But I thought only heirs had mindspeak.”
“Bah, child. It’s not a common talent, but there are many non-royals who accomplish it. For me, it’s because my great-great-great Grandfather was ne-Khan.”
“I am honored. Grandmother!”
“You should be. So, you will be my Yuri’s wife.”
“I don’t know, Grandmother.”
“I do. I have the Third Eye, child. I see what others don’t see. You will need him soon. And he will be there for you and the Empire.
I see great love between you. Great happiness, much joy. But much sadness, too. You can be so cruel, Daughter. So very cruel. Always remember, no matter how angry you get at Yuri, he loves you more than life itself. He would give his life for you.”
“No, Grandmother. I could never be cruel Yuri. I couldn’t ever hurt him.”
“Not as you are now, no. But you are Becoming, Child. Soon, you will move from what you are to what you must be.”
“What is it that I am to be?”
“Foolish girl! You know what that is. You are Khan. You will rule this Empire beyond any glory you have imagined. With my son, Yuri by your side.”
“So, I must marry Yuri?”
“Soon, but not now.”
“Grandmother, what must I do?”
“Have you gone to Temple yet?”
“In May.”
“Yuri will be with you.”
“Yes.”
“Here, I have something for you.”
She reached into the pouch attached to the arm of her chair and handed Annika a brightly wrapped box. Annika thanked her and opened the gift. It was a box of gaily decorated paper, envelopes and a fine pen.
“Thank you, Grandmother. But what is it for?”
“It is stationery, child. You write letters to Yuri on it. He, in turn, will write letters to you.”
“Wouldn’t a com message work better?”
The old woman pulled at her collar, disclosing a pendant. When activated, a holo appeared, a powerful man in an old-style Imperial Scout uniform.
“My Leonid. Dear, dear Leonid. After all these years, oh, how I love him still.” <
She tapped the pendant again; Leonid’s head and shoulders appeared. He had a strong jaw and piercing eyes. Annika smothered a snicker. His nose. She could see where Yuri got his nose.
The elder Annika kissed the image of her missing husband.
“My Leonid was a deep scout. He went outward to the rim and then inward, into the Spinward. No matter how far he went, no matter the cost, he would mail me a letter. It could take months for the next one to arrive, he would be so far out. But I would get every letter he sent. I would hold each letter, knowing Leonid had held it, written it. His tongue had sealed the flap. He had kissed each one. The farther he went out, the longer it took for his letters arrive. I would hold each letter until the next arrived, then open the previous one.”
She pulled an old, yellowed envelope from under her gown.
“I keep it here, close to my heart. Either I will open it when his next letter arrives or I will be buried with my husband’s last words to me, unopened.”
She replaced the letter and pendant.
“I am tired and wish to go back to my room on Luna. Promise me you will collect letters from your Yuri, for me?”
“I will, Grandmother.”
“Now, send for my nurse, Child. And Happy Christmas.”
“Happy Christma
s, Grandmother.”
Annika reached the door.
“Child?”
“Yes, Grandmother?”
The old woman stood and raised her arms. She wavered back and forth.
“VICTORY!” she shouted in Terran. “THE EMPRESS ANNIKA RAUDONA KHAN! FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS, VICTORY!”
Chapter 19
Winter tightened its grip. Roaring like a freight train, a blast of fierce weather rolled over the steppe. Snow piled high against every building. Yuri and Annika’s tiny home was nearly buried and groaned at each icy gust.
It was dangerous to go outside. Andrei had braved the storm a few days before, bringing supplies. “You should come up to the main house,” he told them. “It’s warm and safe. We are having much fun as a family.” Annika gave him a quick scan. Andrei was largely telling the truth. Mostly though, he and Clara were lonely for the children.
She knew how he felt.
A wall had formed between her and Yuri. Outwardly, they seemed fine. But her impending departure off-world for school depressed them both. While trying to be as loving as she could, Annika knew her decision was correct.
She sent application after application to off-world Universities. Her applications were late, she knew, most worlds had already set their summer quarter classes, but the Crown Princess was banking on the cachet of her title. Her academic record was flawless. There was no student anywhere who could compare with her community services.
No one could deny her potential. Indeed, any University would be proud to be the university of the future Empress.
Overtures poured back. Annika studied each offer. It was more about the qualities of the education than the prestige of the institutions.
“Have you made a decision?” Yuri slid next to her at the com desk.
Annika sighed in frustration. “Three,” Annika announced. “Each has courses and instructors I want. Why can’t they all be at a single place where I want, so I can study what I want?”
Yuri chortled. “I suppose the free choice your Grandfather wrote into the law may be having something to do with it.” She sat back against him; he wrapped his arms around her. “It’s hard,” she complained.
“You haven’t told me one thing. What are the Universities themselves like?”
“How do you mean?”
“Are they on temperate worlds? Is there a community where you’ll feel comfortable? Does the University participate in sport?”
“I am going to school to study, not watch movies or go to sport matches.”
“You’re going to university to grow and become a good citizen,” he admonished. “Your education should be more than facts and figures. You will, for instance, meet lifelong friends. I had adventures and experiences that would…Well, let’s just say it’s better you can’t read my thoughts.” Yuri chuckled.
Annika rolled her eyes.
“You were a teenager when you were in college,” she reminded him. “A young teenager at that. What kind of adventures could a fourteen-year-old have?”
Yuri kissed the top of her head. “That’s right, fourteen. Means I’m still smarter than you.”
He dodged the elbow she threw by escaping to answer the knock at the door.
A shivering young priest in the saffron robe of the Temple of Angkor stood there. “Gods below! Come in before you freeze!” cried Yuri. He half-dragged the priest in and closed the door against the bitter wind. Annika ran into their bedroom and brought out a quilt.
“What were you doing out in this weather?” she asked.
Still trembling wrapped in the blanket, the priest pulled out a packet and handed it to her. “Might I have some tea, please, Crown Princess?” he asked.
“Of course,” she replied and nodded to Yuri.
Inside the innocuous paper packet were two data solids and a note: May the 19th would be the most auspicious day. These data solids will tell you both what is expected. Until then, Tahn
She got on the comm. “Major Campion? We have a guest. No, not a threat. I want you to return him to his home. Mongolia. Yes, that Mongolia. No, I don’t know and would appreciate you don’t ask him, either. Yes, thank you, Major.”
“Please tell Master Tahn I agree and am eager for the time to arrive. My bodyguard shall escort you home,” she told the messenger-priest.
“Thank you, Crown Princess. I am honored.” He bowed his head.
After the priest left, Yuri held up his data solid. “What is this?”
“Instructions for my ascension to Crown Princess,” she answered, loading the solid into a data reader. “I was to do this last year when I was named to the title. But circumstances precluded doing it then.” She looked up from her data translation and beamed. “I am to become a Goddess/Queen!”
“A what?”
“A Goddess/Queen. In ancient times, the Khans were more than just the king or queen. They also ascended to the status of God when they were crowned. Angkor brought that back, declaring the new Crown Prince or Princess as God/Ruler of the Clan. It is my clan title until I become Empress,” she explained.
“Ah. Good. So long as the new Goddess remembers it’s her turn to do dishes tonight.”
“I’ve decided.” She projected the statement into thin air.
“Oh?” Decided not to do dishes? What?
“Yes. Saint Francis University on Vespa.”
Oh, the school. “That’s a Jesuit institution,” he told her.
“It is.”
“Papa will accuse you of being a Roman.”
“Remind him I’m Mongolian,” she retorted.
“He thinks Mongolians are Cossacks,” Yuri said.
"He thinks everyone not Russian is a Cossack,” she chuckled.
“He’s right. Why Saint Francis?”
“It has an outstanding academic record.” Annika ticked off on her fingers. “It is very organized and structured, something I am used to. There are some ethics and philosophy instructors I have researched and they intrigue me. And what should make you happy, I must spend my first year in a dormitory.”
“What, no convent?”
She kissed his nose. “It will be good to be back in school. As much as I love the farm, I am missing the challenge of school. Vespa is also a world I visited when I was a child. It is a beautiful planet, temperate. I will have plenty to explore. Major Campion will be happy; there is a garrison near the school.
“And,” she continued, “best of all for us is, it’s only a two-day journey.”
“That’s wonderful!” Yuri smiled.
Annika was quite for long minutes before she spoke again. “I’m glad I decided finally. But I’m going to miss you.”
“So close, our letters will be delivered in a day,” he said.
“Not exactly Grandma Anni and Grandpa Leonid.”
“No.”
They were quiet for several minutes.
Then Yuri brightened. “I think the wind has let up. Grab your parka, let’s go up to Mama and Papa’s and see what is for supper tonight. I think they would be very pleased to see us on such a night as this.”
Chapter 20
The scarred armored shuttle flew low over the Gobi Desert. Overhead, three full squadrons of Buccaneer fighters flew in swirling orbits, climbing, diving and looping around the Imperial ship. In orbit, a full battlegroup maintained a geosynchronous orbit over the path of the lone shuttle.
Even with this much protection, Campion fretted. The Crown Princess was not the head of state yet. She wouldn’t become Empress for six more years.
But today, she was the most important being in the Empire. Tahn had been quite specific on this point. She and her consort must arrive safely today.
Nothing less than the future of the Empire depended on it.
In the center compartment of the ship Annika wore the white silken suit that Tahn had sent. A casual observer might comment on how calm and placid she appeared.
Unless they noticed how tight she gripped Yuri’s hand.
Th
ey had read the briefing packets Tahn sent. Yuri wore a suit that matched Annika’s, save it was desert brown. His briefing had been short. He was Annika’s consort.
Her packet had been larger and more detailed. There were rituals to follow, prayers to be said. Annika must follow each precisely.
There are three rooms. The Room of Preparation, the Ossuary of the Emperors and the Room of the Khan. Servants will prepare each room for your ascension to Godhood. Only a Khan may enter all three.
Annika breathed slowly, calming her nerves. It wasn’t the ceremony that concerned her. It was the last part of the message, a personal note from Tahn: “Highness, following your ascendance, the File Council of Advisors would meet with you.”
File Council of Advisors. The convention of members from her government and other leaders who advised the File Committee. They had no real authority. What news would they have for her, their new Goddess/Queen?
Major Campion braced to attention in front of the couple. “Majesty, Sir,” he reported. “We are entering the final approach to the temple complex.”
“Thank you, Major.” The compartment banked and dipped downward before righting itself. A roar came from outside the ship as it settled into a hover, then lowered. They heard the whine of hydraulics and the landing gear extending before the ship bounced slightly and its engines stopped.
The sun was rising in the east, its golden rays illuminating the red sandstone walls of the Temple of Angkor Khan cut in the side of the mountain. The walls and columns were roughhewn and irregular. Only the portals and walkways were smooth.
Thousands of saffron robed monks and nuns formed a passage from the shuttle to the temple. At the entryway were the eight members of the File Committee, similarly dressed, save for their ornate headpieces and colored sashes.
Yuri offered his arm and Annika took it with serene grace. He led her through the passage to the awaiting Bonzes. All bowed as the couple passed.
“What is this effect you have on people?” Yuri whispered.
“Shut up!” Annika hissed, trying hard not to giggle.