Tales of the Spinward March Book 2: The Red Queen

by David Winnie

  Her daughter, in a dress of royal purple, pulled Annika’s pant leg and asked, “Mommy, what is Christmas?”

  It was a magical Christmas for the Russolov family. The heirs, never having been exposed to a holiday, gazed in wonder at the colossal tree their parents arranged. Recalling how she reacted to her first real Christmas tree, Annika was determined to have a live tree for the celebration. Grandmother Susan brought birds for each of the heirs to hang on the tree and spent several days after classes teaching them to make ornaments of their own.

  Andrei was a doting grandfather, spending hours with his grandchildren on his knee, telling stories and teaching them old songs. Silver pulled on his grandfather’s beard, disbelieving anyone really grew hair from his chin.

  Christmas Eve came with the traditional feast. Clara had gone to the kitchens and made sure everything was prepared to her liking. Members of Annika’s government arrived with their families, adding to the joy and happiness. Noire and Teresa attended. Noire was all smiles and laughing, singing with the carolers, chasing the children during their games.

  “I have never seen you like this, Brother. It suits you.”

  “Ah, my Khan, life is too serious all the rest of the year. It is good when I can relax and be as other people.”

  “Are you that dissatisfied with being head of my Intelligence?”

  “Gods, no! I am so excited to be doing the one job in the Empire I am so passionate about. Since the untimely death of Kermit Blount during his vivisection, I have come to appreciate the subtleties and details of my position. Indeed, this is truly what the File Committee designed me for. Thank you so much, my Khan!”

  “Noire, for tonight, would you treat me as your sister?”

  “Are you two going to talk shop all evening?”

  Teresa strolled over, a champagne flute in her hand.

  “Sister! I am so glad you could attend! Happy Christmas to you both!”

  Annika’s eight children went racing by, screaming. Behind them was Andrei, arms spread wide and roaring.

  “If only we had holidays like this when we were young.” <

  “Yes. My children will.”

  “Promise me, Teresa, you’ll come to the farm when the baby is born? Please? I can think of no on I trust more to deliver my son than you.”

  “Of course, Annika.”

  Spring came to the steppe. Andrei and Clara had given Yuri and Annika a one hundred acres parcel of land, cut from the Russolov family holding as a Christmas gift. As soon as the thaw came, he raced north to survey the property and get it ready for planting.

  Annika remained in Giza through March, then moved to the farm in anticipation of the baby’s birth. Yuri demanded she go to New Moscow for the delivery, while Annika insisted she wanted to have her child on the farm. They compromised. Annika would stay in the guest cottage they lived in when they first became a couple and she would not have Rita beat him up. Yuri would run the farm. They would both make plans for their new home.

  Teresa arrived a few days before the due date, accompanied by two women in hooded robes. As they entered the house, Annika recoiled in horror!

  “Banshees! You brought banshees into my home?”

  “Relax, Sister. These are not banshees. The witches of Scarborough and I have developed these women. We call them sirens. They are empaths, not telepaths. Since they are a natural talent, there is no need to fear them. We are working with them to use with our healing arts. To demonstrate.”

  Annika thought she could see the veil of one of the sirens move with exhaled breath. A feeling of wellbeing and comfort swept through her. “Oh my,” she said, feeling sanguine, “that feels…wonderful.”

  “I thought you would like it. Childbirth is extremely stressful, both on mother and child. While it is the most natural thing for a Terran woman to experience, you are a special case, because of your superior breeding. I spoke with Tahn about this. He believes everything will be fine, but agrees we should take this precaution.”

  Days later, Annika awoke with terrible cramps. She struggled through the day uncomfortable and feeling sick. That evening, she wasn’t hungry and went to bed early. Yuri convinced his wife to let him examine her. He called Teresa at the main house. “You should bring your friends over,” he said. “I believe it will be time soon.”

  Annika was in labor for six hours. In the time, she alternated between angry rages and piteous weeping. Baby was uncomfortable too, not understanding why Mama was writhing and twisting him so. The sirens sang their soothing music, but mother and child were feeding off the anxiety of the other.

  Teresa fitted Annika with a neutralizer. Her sister was a powerful broadcast telepath and she feared anyone within Annika’s range would be in danger.

  The time grew closer. Baby had turned and the natural process flowed smoothly. Annika regained her mental equilibrium and could follow the instructions from her sister. Yuri held her hand and wiped her brow.

  “Push, Annika, push. He’s crowning. Push, Sister!”

  Annika screamed one last time. She could feel her son leave her, relief of the pressure. A moment later, she heard the gasp and tiny cry.

  Teresa cleaned the child with practiced hands and lay him on his mother’s chest.

  She cradled him and said, “Look, Yuri. Our son. Our precious son, Robert…

  “Anni, he is SO handsome!” Marianne exclaimed. Robert lay cradled in her arms, blinking his eyes and yawning.

  “I think he’s tired, Marianne; let me put him down.” Her hover chair-bound friend reluctantly handed the baby over and sighed as Annika lay him in the bassinet Grandmother Clara had provided. “It has been in our family for generations,” Annika said with pride. “Andrei is thrilled his grandson is sleeping where he once laid Yuri and where he himself once slept.”

  “So, tell me about him. Where did you meet? What does he do? Answers, Marianne, I need answers!” Annika demanded as she poured the tea and handed a cup to her oldest friend.

  “I’m surprised you don’t recognize him,” Marianne replied. “He was with us the last night on Vespa…”

  Annika’s brow furrowed as she went over the faces from the horrible night. Then she gasped. “That boy! The medic who saved your life! One of my soldiers?”

  Marianne giggled. “I did ask you to introduce me to one of your soldiers back at Saint Francis,” she reminded her friend. “His name is Thomas Quinn. He is one of your soldiers for only six more months. Then, my dear friend, he and I are getting married!” She held up her left hand, showing off the starry ring. “He’s already bought a sizable plot of land on Percii Seven. We’ll have a farm. We’re going to build a big house and orphanage.”

  “Percii is terribly close to the Galactic Council border,” Annika fussed. “Particularly the Bougartd. Do you think moving there is a wise decision?”

  Marianne shrugged, “It’s where we’ll be needed, Anni,” she answered. “The Bougartd raids have left hundreds of orphans along the border. Thomas and I can’t have children of our own. But we can care for the children who need love the most. You’ll come to our wedding? Would you be my maid of honor?””

  Annika clasped her friend’s hand. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” she promised.

  Chapter 32

  Six summers came and six winters passed.

  Annika and Yuri built a stately home on the land their parents had given them. Yuri left the running of the farm to Andrei and Clara. He returned to his beloved clinic, caring for the people in the region. He had purchased land and was building a fine, modern hospital.

  For Annika, the farm was a godsend. She stayed in Giza to handle the affairs of her Empire. The expansion of her Empire to the outlying non-aligned worlds was going better than expected. Many of the worlds wouldn’t fight, preferring to ally themselves with the young Queen rather than face her wrath. Yet, some worlds opposed her ambassador’s advances. They soon found themselves visited by her Fleet and Army. The plan devised by the War Council was coming to
fruition. The non-aligned worlds were joining the Empire. Or being invaded. Joining meant privilege. Defiance led to death and worse.

  Giza afforded her time to spend time with her heir children. Annika marveled at how unique each child was. Green and little Blue were the superior brains. Annika knew one of them was destined to be the future Khan. Yellow was so like her Aunt Teresa, full of kindness, compassion and empathy. Red was an athlete, Orange a scholar. Purple and White spent hours together, mindspeaking quietly.

  Silver worried her. His curiosity about everything around him was becoming dangerous at times. Already he had broken several bones from his “experiments,” normally involving a risky derring-do.

  She spent two weeks in three in Giza, the others at the farm. There, she had her office to get her work for the Empire done and still have time for Yuri and her family. She and Yuri had three new children: Anja Clara, Thor Gavin and Pia Rebecca, with another on the way.

  Robert had started school and was taking after his father, brilliant and studious. Yuri was proud of his boy and spoke often of Robert following Yuri’s path to Moscow University and becoming a prominent physician. Anja had started early school as well, she was so much like her namesake, the Queens own sister, Anja. Beautiful and strong willed.

  Annika had the heirs at the farm as much as she was able. They had their schooling and required many off-world adventures. She remembered the trips fondly and would reluctantly allow the Proctors to marshal them about her Empire. On occasion, she or Yuri would accompany them. Yuri enjoyed the trips and would bring Robert, so the two of them could learn the marvels of other worlds.

  It was such a fine summer day on the farm. Yuri had planted a beech grove and added plants from other worlds, including a savassava tree from distant Hydriaphon. The tree had a gnarled trunk and broad leaf covered branches. He and Annika spent hours under the tree together reading poetry. This morning was so promising, the family decided to have a picnic at the tiny forest. The household staff brought out baskets of food and arranged blankets in the grass.

  The children’s Proctor joined the family. This was not the same Proctor Annika had been raised with. He was astounded, and blinked when Yuri invited him. “Thank you,” he said. “This will provide me with an excellent opportunity to study the children in an unstructured environment. “

  He had brought along a folding stool and watched after lunch as the children laughed and ran about, playing games. Annika lay baby Thor and his new sister, Pia, on a blanket in the sun while she lay in the grass, her head resting on Yuri’s lap. It was quite the placid scene; the Proctor took many notes.

  The children huddled, whispering, then marched over. “Proctor, I have a question,” announced Silver. “I heard Mommy use a naughty word at Papa the other day. He did this to her,” he put a finger to his lips, “and nodded toward us. What I want to know is, what does ‘by the bloody arse of the Eighth’ mean?”

  Annika buried her face in Yuri’s lap, shuddering with suppressed laughter. “It’s not funny!” he admonished her. “I told you kids their age will listen and pick things up.”

  “Yes, so what does it mean, Proctor?” the rest of the children echoed.

  “Sit, sit,” the Proctor instructed. “Let’s see, what words do you know?”

  “Bloody arse!” said Green. “It means…” he pointed to his bottom.

  “Very good, Green,” said the Proctor, “Now, what about the rest? What do you know of the Eighth?” The children all looked at each other, shrugging.

  “There’s eight of us, but I don’t think Mommy was talking about us,” said Violet.

  “Majesty?” the Proctor asked.

  Annika, finally recovered from her bout of laughter, agreed. “Better to learn from you.”

  Proctor began the tale to the eight assembled around him on the lawn. “Very well, children. You draw a direct lineage back two thousand years to the Great Khan himself. The Eighth Khan is your many times great-grandfather. His grandfather, Emperor James Green Khan II, lived many years longer than anyone thought possible. The Eighth Khan despaired ever becoming Khan, because his grandfather lived until he was two hundred and six. The Eighth Khan’s own father had already died, leaving him as Crown Prince. When Emperor James Green Khan II died, the Eighth Khan was already one hundred and two and thought he would have a very short reign.

  “While he was waiting to become Khan, the Eighth made an abundance of friends. Sadly, most of his friends were criminals and only interested in what wealth they could accumulate. Only a few of his friends were of royal blood or in the aristocracy. His criminal friends convinced the Eighth that when he became Emperor, he should reorganize the structure of our society. When his grandfather died, the Eighth immediately began to institute his new laws. Property was seized and was kept by the Emperor or given as gifts to his friends.

  “To help run the government, they held “elections” which put his friends into power. Hence the term “Democracy Revolution.” The Eighth began to make war on his own citizens, selling into slavery anyone who disagreed with him. Many stories are told, most verified, how he annihilated whole families and planets who stood against him.”

  Little mouths hung open, as Robert and the heirs sat in rapt attention to the Proctor’s story. Blue arose and went to her parents. “I don’t like this story,” was her tiny-voiced complaint. She climbed on Yuri’s lap and snuggled. Annika waited until her daughter was situated, then lay her head back down on Blue’s lap. The girl sighed and played with her mother’s long, golden hair. Anja grew bored and wandered off to pick wild flowers. The babies were oddly quiet.

  “The aristocrats organized a rebellion; it was started in the mines by Lord Stanley Klerrk,” the Proctor continued. “It took fifteen years, but Lord Klerrk himself strangled the Eighth on the steps of Giza Palace. It was a great day for the Empire. Its people decided they wanted to return to the times before the Eighth and crowned his heir daughter, Petra. She was the heir he had chosen to succeed him. He had hunted down and murdered most of the rest of the heirs. She was spared because he needed an heir and he felt his friends could control her after he died.

  “Empress Petra entered the Temple of Angkor Khan and smashed the cenotaphs to her father. She also removed his name and title, save for the term ’The Eighth.’ As you know, this is a power restricted only to the Khan.

  “So, when you hear anyone refer to anything involving the Eighth, the nameless one, they are invoking the most vile and evil thing in Terran society. Do you understand, children?”

  Eight more years passed.

  At the extraordinary age of one hundred seventy-nine, Great Grandmother Annika died. The whole of the Russolov family mourned the passing of their matriarch. At the reading of her will, her only wish was to be buried in space, in hope she could be reunited with her husband, Leonid. Annika ordered the records of Grandfather Leonid’s last journey researched. She took the family on a three-month journey to the frontier and there fulfilled Grandmother’s last request. The Russolov matriarch’s remains went Spinward, fired in a probe toward the site of her husband’s last mission.

  The plan to secure the Empire was complete. The last of the non-aligned world joined, the final defiant worlds were enslaved. Annika ruled a peaceful, prosperous Empire. The worlds of the Galactic Council had taken notice. Several who shared a border or near the Empire sent emissaries, seeking to do business with the new power within the Sagittarius Arm.

  The raids by the Bougartd continued. They would sneak into Terran space, attack a planet or convoy, then flee back across the border. The Queen was furious, demanding the War Council come up with a solution.

  Admiral Thiessen and Minister Howland met with the Queen in her Giza office.

  “Majesty,” Howland stated, “as much as we need to strike the Bougartd, we cannot simply invade them without sufficient provocation.”

  Annika pounded her fist on her desk, “Two hundred dead on the colony ship Elissa. Twenty-five hundred dead on Rikers col
ony. How much provocation do we need?”

  “The Bougartd are claiming the raids are being accomplished by privateers,” explained Thiessen. “We are free to capture and try them, of course. We’ve closed off their hiding spots inside the Empire. They destroy themselves to elude capture, so we can’t produce witnesses of their government’s involvement. Without it, we bring the whole of the Galactic Council down upon us, along with several non-aligned worlds. Piecemeal, we can defeat them handily. If they find a way to co-operate and come after us…” his voice trailed off.

  “I want that provocation, gentlemen,” Annika said. “I don’t care how. I want it.”

  Christmas passed without much fanfare. While the celebration seemed as spirited as ever, there was a tinge of sadness in the air. This spring, the heirs would select their names and in the eyes of the Law, become adults. One would be named her successor. Annika was positive it would be Green. He exuded natural leadership and charisma. As a superior brain, he was as intelligent as any of his brothers and sisters, maybe more so. Save one.

  That one was who could not become heir, Robert. Not that it seemed to matter to him. He and Green had bonded, spending days together on the farm or during family outings. It seemed odd, in fact, to see one without the other.

  Annika fretted about her sixteen-year old son. The closer the Naming Day came, the more unsettled he became.

  The heirs gave their parents rocking chairs to sit in front of the hearth during the cold Russian winters. Annika and Yuri loved the gift, spending hours reading together or with the younger children. Anja was a teen now, preferring to spend time with her heir sisters or the village children. Annika worried about Anja. At fourteen, she was acting out and rebelling as Annika had done at the same age. Annika tried being strict, she tried being friendly. Nothing seemed to be working, although Anja got along with Yuri and Rita.