Rows of Sach Idarr (NCC Guards of Honor), one to the left and one to the right, were standing straight with a dignified air. They trod across the black marble floor, approaching the throne as they did so.
Sach Arobhotr (Army Music NCCs) played the Rüé-Oll (Imperial Anthem). The lyrics of the anthem weren’t being sung, but Jinto knew them. They heralded eternal prosperity for the Empire , and expressed its determination to live to be at the bedside of a dying cosmos. In its arrogance and temerity, it was a very Abh anthem indeed.
Since Jinto hated the idea of bungling this like he had when he first met Lafier, he’d tried his best while still in the communications ship to memorize the faces of the distinguished people he might encounter. Thanks to those efforts, he could distinguish the faces of the three people standing before them.
The one who stood up from the Jade Throne (its back to the crest banners of the eight royal families , which surrounded the still-larger imperial flag ), was of course none other than Her Majesty the Empress Lamagh. The man with blue-grey hair, standing on the right and a step below the throne , was Lafier’s father, Larth Crybr Fïac Debeutr (His Higness Debeusec , King of Crybh). Below him smiled a handsome indigo-haired boy. He could only be Lafier’s younger brother, Bœrh Üemdaiser Fïac Duhir (His Highness Duhir, Viscount of Üemdaise).
Jinto felt disoriented. Though they were the Empress and the King of Crybh , he couldn’t see them as anything but Lafier’s siblings, so young they looked. At the same time, his brain categorized the Crybh King as being older than the Empress. On an intellectual level, he understood the Abh didn’t physically age past a certain point, but seeing it in person threw him for a loop. How did the Abh themselves deal with this headache?
Lafier knelt upon the white carpet below the tiers leading to the throne . Jinto hastened to follow her example.
“Stand, Ïarlucec Dreur ,” intoned a nearby voice.
When he looked up in surprise, he found Lamagh had descended from the throne to stand right in front of him. “On your feet,” she prompted.
“Yes.” Jinto got back up.
“You will accept the thanks of the Abliars, Ïarlucec . This girl,” she said, pointing to Lafier, “is nobody quite yet, but she holds much potential. And you are the one who safeguarded that potential, and brought it home safely. If it hadn’t been for you, we would have never gotten another chance to see this hatchling alive.”
Jinto turned red. “But I... I didn’t do anything. I was the one who got rescued, time after time...”
“Not so, Ïarlucec ,” said Lamagh, taking his hand. “Seeing as you may very well not have realized it, We do not think you are deliberately lying. Yet had you not rightfully told her to retreat when you did, she would have pressed on without ever ceasing, and fallen as a result. Though it may be in the nature of this clan of ours to misread when to withdraw, that disposition is particularly pronounced in this young one. Furthermore, you are an Abh that knows the ways of terrestrial worlds . Without that special and rare quality, it’s not clear what fate she would have met.”
She stared back at him at close quarters, her comely countenance so like Lafier’s, her red-brown eyes radiating gratitude. While the Empress ’s hands felt pleasantly cool, there was also, somehow, a warmth to them. Jinto was disconcerted, abashed.
“Allow me to express my gratitude as well, Ïarlucec ,” said Dubeus. “To us who have first drawn breath in Lacmhacarh, terrestrial worlds are strange lands with strange skies. The majority of us were born in the Abh world, and die in the Abh world, without ever having so much as set foot on a planet’s surface. I don’t mean to offend you, but to state the unvarnished truth, we’re afraid of surface worlds, Count Heir. I can’t begin to express how thankful I am for bringing her back from one.”
“Um...” Daringly, Jinto rebutted. “There are people on terrestrial worlds with their hearts in the right place, and without their help, we would have gotten captured by the enemy.”
“You misunderstand, Ïarlucec ,” Debeus smiled. “I’m not saying we think people on terrestrial worlds are typically wicked, or any such thing. In fact, when it comes to wickedness, we don’t plan to be outdone by anybody. The fact is that Lander and Abh lifestyles are extremely different. And the clash of cultures can easily result in people slain. Moreover, that land was ruled over by people who detested us as vermin. If you weren’t there to serve as a mediator, then my daughter wouldn’t be standing here today.”
“He speaks the truth, Ïarlucec ,” said Lamagh. “I have already read the royal princess ’s report. As such, I know of the people who ended up saving you two on the terrestrial world . They, too, have earned my everlasting thanks. However, now is the time for you to be acknowledged.”
“But she saved me just as much. Especially when we were in space .”
“That was the mission that Lexshue had entrusted to her.” At her name, a brief flash of sorrow flitted across his flawless features. “Ïarlucec , you’re unaccustomed to the spacefaring world . My daughter was ordered to help you cross that unfamiliar world. By that same token, no one ordered you to help her cross the terrestrial world . You must credit yourself the venerableness of your deeds, Ïarlucec ,” said Lamagh firmly. “At least as of now, to us, there can be no nobler act.”
“Please allow me to give you my thanks, too, Lonh-Ïarlucec Dreur ,” cut in Duhir, his manner humble. “I’m so happy you’ve reunited me with my sister.”
When Duhir offered his frank, unaffected vote of thanks, Jinto’s heart was finally soothed. The gratitude of the Empress and King was so lofty that try as he might, it didn’t feel real or deserved. While their sentiments had come through, he felt so out of place that the back of his mind insisted they must be alluding to some other Jinto.
“I am honored, Fïac ,” he said, bowing his head. “Érumittonn , Fïac Lartr , your praises are very generous, and I am most flattered and obliged.”
“That’s just how honorable you were, Jinto,” whispered Lafier. “Carry yourself bolder, more confidently.”
“Am I coming across that nervous?” He thought he was already doing everything he could to uphold his dignity, so he was reluctant to go over the top.
“Yes. You’re so blue in the face one would think you’re being denounced.”
“Far frymec (my daughter), my love, your report has a glaring omission,” said Debeus, with an amused look. “You failed to mention how close you’ve become with Ïarlucec Dreur Haïder .”
“Can you blame me, after all the perils we faced, Father?” Lafier replied.
“No, I cannot,” he said, though his devilish grin persisted. “What say you and I go on a walk, Lafier? It’s been a while.”
“Leave Us for the moment, Lafier,” said Lamagh, her tone pensive. “It appears We have an unpleasant duty to attend to. You are to follow Us, Ïarlucec Dreur .”
“Yes... Uhh, what’s this about an unpleasant duty?”
“We must be the bearer of bad news.”
Lafier followed her father, treading across white sand. Pure, clear water formed a streamlet over the sand bed. Suffused with soft reflected light, the walls and ceiling also gleamed white, bereft of even a single blemish.
All over the handful of white columns, glyphs were written in miniscule text; since they weren’t inlaid, they couldn’t be read except up close. They were the names of those who had died for the sake of the Empire , engraved in order of passing without regard to social status (and, in the case of simultaneous death, in alphabetical order). Sufficiently close inspection would turn up people with the surname Abliar amongst the names of the various gentry and imperial citizens . In addition, one phrase was engraved at the top of each of the stone pillars: Frybarec a dal fronédé : The Empire shall not forget thee.
This was the Graich Fronétara (Hall of Remembrance), the most sacred room to the race that ridiculed all religions. Dubeus halted in front of one of the pillars.
“I forget, did I welcome you back yet?”
&nb
sp; “No. You have not graced me with your words of welcome yet,” she answered.
“Then welcome back, dorfrymec (prodigal daughter). I’m glad you made it home.” Dubeus looked back. “Your flesh may remain young, but your mind and spirit will age with time. Even as an Abh, whose body will stay youthful to your dying day, your true youth will be over in the blink of an eye. And I’m wrestling with that reality as we speak. You’ve been through quite the valuable experience, and all during your true youth, at that.”
Debeus looked back at the pillar, and stared at one name in particular. Lafier got closer to see it for herself.
Laicch Üémh Laubér Placïac
“There’s something else I’ve neglected to tell you, far négh (my love). I didn’t alter your genes. You’re all natural. That is why your Abliar ears are so small.”
Lafier looked up. “But why do such a thing?”
“Because there was no need to alter them, of course. Placïac just so happened to give me a wonderful gift, and with my level of talent, if I had adjusted your genes, there was no way I could make you even more beautiful than you already were.”
“Father, I’m not sure I understand why,” she said, confused by her own feelings, “but hearing that makes me happy.”
Debeus laughed lightly. “Is that right? Then I’m glad. I’d been under the impression that you resented me about your ears.”
“In truth, I did, somewhat,” Lafier confessed.
“Well, I suppose that was inevitable, noüonn (beauteous one).” On that note, Dubeus fell silent, fixing his eyes on the name engraved on the pillar. Lafier too stood there, quietly gazing with her father.
“It was a glorious time,” spoke Dubeus at last. “Right by a dying giant star... and also at the edge of an event horizon... and even in a nebula in the midst of becoming a star... Placïac and I loved each other, and we would use each other’s privileges, and we’d annoy each other in grandiose fashion.”
“‘Privileges’? You mean to annoy the other?”
“No. To be annoyed.” A faint little smile floated to his lips. “I’m relieved, asaugec (little baby). You’re still too young to fall in love.”
“Am I really...” Lafier reacted sharply, but she couldn’t issue a retort.
“When that marvelous time began to pull away from me, I couldn’t believe it. But despite my disbelief, I could feel it in my bones. I could practically hear the sound of the footsteps as those days slipped away. That’s why I, at the very least...”
“Father, don’t tell me...” Doubt welled within her heart. “You aren’t saying that you birthed me as a memento of Cya Placér (Lady Plakia), surely.”
“Was that wrong of me?” Dubeus traced Lexshue’s name with a finger. “Back then, Placïac was my everything. Tell me, sériac (shining one), is it not a matter of course to always want a keepsake on hand of such a splendid moment?”
“I am not a memento, Father. Nor am I a copy of Cya Placér !” Her doubt had turned to wrath.
“Of course, my little loreucec isarhotr (slave to fury). You are different from her. Placïac was bright. She would never raise her voice for no reason.”
“FOR NO REASON!?” Lafier’s anger only increased. “I am who I am! To think I thought you loved me for who I am...”
“I do love you. If I didn’t, then why would I call you my love ?” said Dubeus, unperturbed.
“You love me solely as an echo of Cya Placér .”
“Wrong again. I love you for you, gnac abrïarser (Abliar flower).”
“I don’t believe you, Father.”
“I didn’t think you would, clasononn noüa (headstrong beauty). But know this: you were born as a üabœdec Placér (memento of Plakia), but grew into my love . As you are now, you look just like her, but inwardly you’re totally different. I’ll refrain from telling you how exactly you’re different from her. It’s true that in the past, my love passed through you and flew to Plakia, but I no longer see her behind you.”
Lafier was far from convinced. She had respected Hecto-commander Lexshue as a person and as a starpilot . She had looked up to her. Yet she wanted her father to acknowledge her as a person in her own right. And though he was telling her he did think of her as her own person, she couldn’t think of that as anything other than a smokescreen.
“Please tell me: was it your idea that I be placed in Lady Plakia ’s ship, Father?”
“I suppose calling it a coincidence would be too much. I wanted her to polish the treasure I raised, my lamh (ruby). I may be a reserve soldier, but I am technically an associate commodore in rank , so I do have some lobbying clout.” Dubeus briefly became lost in thought. “Hmm... I suppose I won’t be a reserve for much longer. War is upon us now... And I shudder to think that I might be placed under a certain laddie of the royal family of Barce .”
“‘Laddie’? But I thought you and Fïac Lartr Barcœr (His Highness the King of Barce) were the same age...” said Lafier, half without thinking.
“I was born from the artificial womb three months ahead of him. It makes a world of difference. When we were young, I would always win whenever we fought.”
“Never mind that, Father.” A fresh new seed of doubt had sprouted. “Were you behind Jinto getting on the Goslauth , too?”
“Yep. It was mostly coincidental, though. There were as many as 15 ships fit for Ïarlucec Dreur to ride, I pushed her ship to be the one from behind the scenes. I’d thought you ought to have at least one friend from a terrestrial world — though I could never have imagined you’d grow that close.”
“I’m beginning to think you were the force behind everything... even maybe the United Humankind’s invasion.”
“Then you overestimate me, daughter of mine . If I guided the enemy or somesuch, then your grandmother would rip me limb from limb.”
“Perhaps so, but you’re taking measures where I can’t see in order to mold me...” Lafier didn’t much care for that fact.
“Because I am your parent. I received half of Plakia and sired you, then raised you by myself. But that too is now over. You are already a frymec frybarer (daughter of the Empire).”
“Is that so?” Lafier stared at Dubeus’s profile with eyes of incertitude.
“She was a fantastic woman,” said Dubeus, ignoring his beloved child’s misgivings as he steeped himself back into reminiscence. “When I first met her, I was a deca-commander with a poor record, and she was a linewing starpilot with a bright future ahead of her. I can think of a hundred reasons she had me spellbound, but I still can’t think of a single reason she fell for me.”
“It must have been the royal Fïac in your title .” Lafier surprised herself. She herself had little idea why she’d blurted something so mean. It was most likely her anger toward her father.
Dubeus looked back at her. The way his eyes were narrowed spoke volumes of his ire. Lafier’s father stood out among his clan as a relatively calm and gentle sort, but even so, he was still an Abliar. “You’ve known Plakia since you were a baby. You’ve even been on her ship. Yet I see you would appraise the woman who is half of you as one blinded by social status, Ablïarsec Néïc-Dubreuscr Bœrh Parhynr Lamhirh . Answer carefully.”
“No.” Lafier hung her head. “She was not that kind of person.”
For a short while, Dubeus observed his daughter. He sensed her true remorse. “Very well, onh (blockhead). See to it you don’t spout such nonsense again.”
“Yes...” Lafier couldn’t bring herself to lift her face. “Please, just tell me one more thing. Do you know what Lady Plakia thought of me?”
“I do. She once wrote to me that she was proud of you.”
“Proud of me...” The old days she spent with Plakia came flooding to mind. Vivid memories of the woman that held a position in her life that on most terrestrial worlds would be called “mother.” Fun, happy memories... Suddenly, her vision turned blurry, and some warm liquid streaked down her cheeks.
“Are you weeping, Lafier?” noticed Dube
us.
“I’m not crying because you scolded me,” she said through her convulsive sobbing. It was as though she’d regressed to her days as an infant.
“Then are you weeping over Plakia’s death?”
Lafier couldn’t speak, so frantic was she to curtail her sobbing fit. She simply nodded wordlessly.
“I’m disappointed in you. It seems I’ve raised you wrong.” But his tone was full of affection “Come to think of it, this may be the first time you’ve cried since you were in nappies, socrh ghainena (steel heart).”
Dubeus pulled Lafier into his arms. “Listen, Lafier. Our clan has a reputation to protect. We Abliars are ruthless. We Abliars are callous. We Abliars wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if death were to snatch away our closest friends and most intimate lovers. If it ever came out that an Abliar shed a tear or two, what would become of the infamy our ancestors carefully built? I don’t care if you rage. You may even laugh and smile from time to time. However, no one born an Abliar has the right to weep. Even amongst fellow relatives, you cannot let your guard down. If you really must cry, do so in secret.”
“It’s not fair, Father!” Her tear-stained face looked at him from his breast.
“What isn’t?”
“You never taught me how to cry without shedding tears!”
In the room to which the Empress accompanied Jinto, a man in military uniform waited at attention.
She introduced him: “This is Vice Hecto-commander Birskuth of the Military Command HQ Information Department . Vice Hecto-commander, explain the current situation to Ïarlucec Dreur Haïder .”
“Understood.”
A map of flat space projected in the center of the room. It included all sectors as yet known to humanity. The vicinity of the Sfagnoff Marquessate suddenly turned red.
“This is where the engagement took place. I believe you’re already aware, but the Star Forces prevailed, and recovered the Sfagnoff Marquessate .”
Then, a red blip appeared between the Sfagnoff Marquessate and the Vorlash Countdom .
The Return to Strange Skies (JNC Edition) Page 17