"I have to bend time a little to get you to the Council meeting yesterday," Adam said as I was dressed in what the Queen might wear and my hair put up by a smiling servant after lunch. NorthStar had several people who worked there and this one, named Dria, was a kind (and damaged) soul. I knew Adam, Merrill and Kiarra had hired her, knowing she needed a comfortable home with little stress. She'd had plenty of difficulty in her life and required peace. She'd found it at NorthStar.
"That's perfect," I nodded at Dria as she took her hands away from my hair. The Queen's coronet sat on my head and my hair was styled nicely around it. It was a shame I'd look like the Queen the moment a Larentii arrived to change my features.
A Larentii came, but this one wasn't Connegar or Reemagar. Pheligar, Kiarra's mate, had come. "It aggravates me a great deal to do this," he muttered as he knelt beside my dressing bench.
"It aggravates me, too," I said as he placed long, blue fingers on my face.
"You will always be the same here." He placed a hand over my heart. I wanted to weep at his statement. Weeping was a luxury I couldn't allow myself. Nodding instead, I rose from the bench and accepted Adam's offered arm. We disappeared in a blink.
* * *
"High One," Pheligar nodded respectfully to Ferrigar, Head of the Larentii Council.
"Your visit is unexpected but welcome," Ferrigar said. Ferrigar was the oldest living Larentii, but still looked as young as he had when he'd gained his adulthood nearly three million years before. "What brings you to me?" Ferrigar asked.
"When did you last see your son, High One?"
"Kalenegar? It has been fifty thousand turns or more. Many young Larentii do not know he exists, he has been absent so long."
"I think you should try to contact him, High One."
Ferrigar stared in surprise at Pheligar. Surprise was an emotion Ferrigar seldom experienced. "Why is that?"
"I believe he needs to see someone."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
The budget. That's what we were discussing. And yes, it is just as boring as it sounds. It had gone on for hours, with arguments made for this improvement or that new project, until they arrived at an area that irked me. Had Gavin known how I felt about it, he would have slapped a hand over my mouth. As it is, he didn't and that's how things turned out as they did.
"The money from the palace tours cannot be budgeted elsewhere," I snapped, when discussions began on that particular item. Several vampires wanted to build information kiosks throughout Casino City with the money. "That money currently comes to me. I budget it as needed to the comesuli," I added.
"That is a drain on us," another vampire stood and whined. "It would better serve Casino City if we pumped that money back into its economy."
"Really?" I asked. He was aggravated at having to pay taxes on his casino. Those taxes were currently ten percent—a bargain in my estimation. "The tourists aren't paying for tours of your casino," I pointed out, even as Gavin sent profanity-laced mindspeech to me, telling me to shut up.
"Those tourists come here," I said, ignoring the cursing in my head, "So they can gawk at this behemoth." I spread my arms. "Your Council meetings are paid for by the Crown. That blood substitute you're drinking is paid for by the Crown. The comesuli who wait on you hand and foot while you're here are paid by the Crown. The money from those tours goes to pay for equipment needed by volunteer fire departments on the light side of this planet. It pays for other necessities, such as comp-vids for students. Research and field trips for schools. Supplies and equipment for disaster relief. The list is nearly endless," I said. "And that brings us to something else that aggravates me."
The vampire was stunned, I could tell. And it probably wasn't a good idea for any monarch to inform her Council that they aggravated her, even though they did.
"What aggravates, you, my Queen?" Flavio stood. It was probably a good thing he did, Gavin was ready to clap a hand over my mouth and haul me off for another beating.
"A rather large portion of the population has no representation in this chamber," I said. "In all this time, no comesuli members have been allowed. They are the future of Le-Ath Veronis, and I'd like at least one Representative from each of the major cities."
"That would be three seats, Raona. I do not have a problem with that request." Flavio nodded and sat down. If I'd wanted to create a firestorm of debates, however, that's all I had to do to accomplish it. Gavin was scowling the entire time, but eventually it was decided that the comesuli could send a five-member delegation to Council meetings from then on, and have their votes count. The Council also decided that the comesuli could stay or leave if executions had to be performed.
"I still think information kiosks are a good idea," the vampire was in my face as I attempted to leave the chamber. Gavin stood nearby; I could tell he wanted more than anything to snatch me away and yell for a while.
"Then get your fellow casino owners to install them. At the moment, it is my understanding that people walk inside the shops, businesses and casinos for extra information. Can that be a bad thing—that they see what you have as they walk to your information desk? Electronic maps to supply information are already scattered throughout Casino City, are there not? Those give directions and answer standard questions; it only requires that you enter the information you want. It is likely, too, that every visitor has a comp-vid in their hand, with ready information available there. I have no idea what you think manned information kiosks might gain for you."
It would be an insult and perhaps tip my hand if I told him I knew he wanted his lover to be paid to do nothing while the electronic map stations did the work. He was the one behind this idea, and had convinced others to take up his cause.
"You should have listened to the others, Gip," a vampire laughed and slapped Gip on the back as he left the Council Chamber.
"I'm glad you brought up comesuli membership in the Council," Flavio was suddenly at my elbow. I was glad he was with me as a scowling Gavin escorted us to the Queen's suite.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Gavin followed that question with profanity in many languages, once the door to the Queen's suite was shut behind us. It didn't matter the language; I could not only understand it, but could read the meaning in Gavin's face. If he'd been human, he would have suffered a stroke, I think.
"Gavin, consider your words," Flavio interjected.
"I told her to keep her mouth shut unless I instructed her to speak." Gavin wasn't letting up.
"Today, she sounded like Lissa and not a parrot," Flavio pointed out. "Lissa would have lost her temper and treated that fool worse than this one did."
"He wanted to give his lover an income so he wouldn't have to pay to keep him in clothing," I muttered, hugging myself. "He wanted that money to go to his lover for no work."
"Because he's a miserly bastard," Flavio agreed.
"And it infuriates me when I see the comesuli taken advantage of. I'm sorry that it has infuriated you as well, Gavin." I turned and stalked into the Queen's bathroom, slamming the door as hard as I could behind me.
Breanne? Flavio's voice floated into my mind.
Yes? I didn't expect it to work. Flavio and I were both surprised.
Adam asked me to tell you that he, Merrill and Kiarra have been called away on assignment. You'll be here for the next few days to attend Council meetings. Contact me through mindspeech if you need anything.
Thank you, Flavio. If you hadn't come, I think Gavin would have hit me.
If he touches you, I would not want to be him when Adam and Merrill learn of it. I must go, now. Hold your head up. For the moment, you are Queen. Flavio's mental voice left me, then. I sighed and set about removing the coronet and changing clothes.
Gavin was gone an hour later when I ventured outside the bathroom. More than thankful that he'd taken his anger elsewhere, I walked out of the Queen's suite and wandered toward the kitchen. I was hungry and dinner had passed long ago.
Their voices came to me minutes before I arrived in the kitchen. They were all chattering away about the five Council seats to be portioned out to the comesuli. I walked in to find Cheedas stirring something vigorously with a whisk. The conversation died among at least eight comesuli. I went to the cold keeper, pulled out a bottle of blood substitute and walked out again. Silence reigned for moments after as I made my way to the Queen's suite.
* * *
"Someday, I'll have to figure out how you get in here. You're too big to fit under the door." The friendly snake was back on my bed when I woke. I stroked his head while he blinked sleepily at me. "Come on, handsome, I have to get up and go face ugly vampires again." I pulled away from him carefully—he'd laid his head on my shoulder to sleep. He'd gotten into bed without waking me, too, and that was extremely unusual. I'd been tired, though, the night before, and facing another meeting only added to the weariness.
* * *
"Is there anything you have planned for today's meeting that isn't scheduled?" Gavin hissed as he grabbed my elbow.
"Probably not, but you and that herd of mates the Queen has should consider taking some of the Casino City tax money to fund the palace and pay her a salary. As of now, she's draining the gold reserves beneath the ice cap to pay for everything. I've looked at the expenses. If things continue as they are, even without taking inflation into consideration, that reserve will be drained in less than two hundred years. While that might not matter to most mortal politicians, it should matter to her, and to you and to the rest of her bunch."
"How would you know what matters to us?" he growled.
"You know, that's probably the most stupid thing you've ever said." I stared into his dark eyes. I knew what he cared about; he cared about Lissa—to distraction. He should be worried that her finances might be in disarray in two hundred years, or that she could be destitute before then. He blinked at me, stunned for a moment. Yes, I knew something about budgeting. For forty years, I'd had to account to someone for every penny spent, and little of that money had been spent on me.
* * *
During the Council meeting the following morning, Gavin had sent mindspeech to Flavio, who brought up the subject during more budget discussions. "It has been brought to my attention that the Queen's resources are being depleted, while she continues to pay for meetings here, and for the staff to take care of us and arrange tours and keep records," Flavio began. "We have not broached this subject for the past twenty-five years, but I see that it should be considered again. I suggest that an additional three percent be added to the taxes collected from Casino City and be handed to the Crown to cover expenses."
That set off another session of debates. "What do you think, my Queen?" A vampire, who was just as weary as I was with all the verbal pushing and shoving, asked.
"Three percent is too much. Half that would cover the expenses and leave a small amount for emergencies," I replied.
"Then I suggest two percent," Flavio said. "We need a rainy-day fund."
"Then one-and-a-half to support the Crown and half a percent for a rainy-day fund," I said. Shockingly enough, the measure was passed with only a small amount of discussion. Gavin stood by, his face unreadable to everyone except me.
"Congratulations, you just raised taxes in Casino City by two percent," Flavio grinned as we walked toward the Queen's suite.
"Twelve percent is a bargain," I grumbled. "We have the lowest business taxes in the Reth Alliance. I hope all those grumpy vampires realize that."
"Most of them do, but they still want to complain," Flavio grinned. He was the handsomest man I'd ever seen, and loved his mate Kyler very, very much. I was thinking about that when Grant appeared at our side in a blur.
"I already have the messages sent to all the businesses, telling them the new tax rate goes into effect next month," he said. "Heathe and I got it done in record time."
"Good," I nodded at Grant. "Thank you."
"At least we can stop draining Niff's accounts to pay for stuff," he said. He would know about that—he co-owned Niff's Ice Cream Shops with Heathe and the Queen.
"You can stop draining Niff's accounts to pay for stuff," I agreed, smiling at Grant. "I didn't tell them what else I wanted to do, either," I said.
"What's that?"
"To raise the price of the tour tickets. They haven't gone up since they started, and prices certainly haven't stayed still for what those tickets buy for the comesuli."
"I believe we might tackle that next week," Flavio laughed. Gavin didn't say a word.
* * *
"Dad, I need her. For the annual meeting here on Campiaa. If she could give me information on a few people," Teeg, whose given name was Gavril Tybus Montegue, said. "If you'd witnessed what she did with that prisoner—just spouted off his name and everything else about him. We couldn't get past whatever was blocking the information."
"Then I'll have her ready. When?"
"I'd like to take her now. The meetings begin tomorrow. I know it's off-days for her, but I heard she usually works on those distribution accounts for the comesuli anyway."
"I'll have to call the Larentii to change her face back."
"I can get the warlocks to do it."
"I'll get her."
"I'll come with you."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
At least they knocked before barging in. Gavin, followed by Teeg San Gerxon. Father and son. Both dark-haired and dark-eyed, with leashed anger simmering deep within. They wanted something. I was already in bed, going through information on my comp-vid while my friendly snake peered over my shoulder when my visitors walked in.
"Get dressed," Gavin commanded. The snake lifted up in bed, spread his hood and hissed—hissed—at Gavin and the Founding Member of the Campiaan Alliance. Both took a step back.
"I only need to borrow her for a few meetings—I'll bring her back safe and in one piece, I promise." Teeg addressed the snake directly.
"It's okay," I ran a hand down the snake's back—he really did have a nice pattern—and slowly he pulled his hood back in. Disdainfully he slid off the bed and left the bedchamber, hissing at Gavin a second time before going through the door.
"The snake has spoken," Teeg sighed. "Get dressed; you have to come with me tonight."
* * *
"You can sleep in here." Stellan Starr showed me to a bedchamber. It wasn't huge, but it had everything I needed. Astralan, Stellan's older brother, had already removed my disguise, so at least I looked like myself again.
Gavin had gathered a few items of clothing from the Queen's closet and stuffed them in my arms before I left Le-Ath Veronis. I wasn't sure about his ideas on how to dress a woman, but didn't argue.
"Closet over here," Stellan led the way and opened the door. I hung dresses, blouses and slacks on empty racks. Stellan lifted things from my arms and held them while I placed clothing on hangers. He, like his brothers, was more than handsome enough, and he was dressed casually in a white shirt, the sleeves rolled back for comfort. Dark slacks and boots completed his outfit, and he grinned at me while I worked.
"We didn't get shoes," I muttered after thinking about it.
"I'll have some brought in tomorrow," Stellan promised, smiling crookedly at me.
"Thank you." I nodded at him.
"I don't suppose you'd mind having dinner with me, sometime?" He almost sounded shy as he asked. If I could read him, I felt certain the reading would indicate how unsure he was. He worried that I'd refuse.
"I suppose," I said.
"Then we'll go. Soon. And I'll have someone bring shoes, I promise." He left the room quickly, as if he were afraid I'd change my mind.
* * *
"Reah is here, so she'll be with me part of the time. I hear you have mindspeech, so I'll be in contact with you, asking about this one or that." Teeg took in my appearance after I was escorted to his study by Stellan. One of Queen Lissa's ball gowns met with his approval—I could see it in his face. He was dressed
simply—and elegantly—in expensive fabrics. I knew it was for ease of movement, as well as appearing stylish.
"So you and Kevis Halivar are mated to the same woman," I said. I'd seen her in their readings.
"Yes." His answer was curt. He didn't like it that I could see everything about him. He was a modified vampire—I knew that, too, and he knew I knew. He resented it. Not many people held that information, and very few knew who his parents were. I was dangerous to Teeg San Gerxon.
"You could ruin me just as easily," I said, looking away. "I know how to keep my mouth shut, Mr. San Gerxon."
"I am telling you now not to reveal anything about my personal life to anyone." The compulsion would have cracked anyone else's skull. It had no effect on me. I blinked at him before nodding. Why would I tell him that I could scream his information to the world? Teeg San Gerxon was more dangerous than most people realized.
"Come, we will gather my warlocks and go through the tunnel to the San Gerxon Casino," he said. Obediently I followed him from his study.
The Starr brothers gathered around Teeg as we walked through the tunnel. "Dee has already taken Reah over." I blinked at Astralan Starr—he was mated to Reah, just as Teeg was. She had many mates, I discovered. Dee, well, he was Teeg's assistant and also a modified vampire. Very old, too—my curse told me.
Stellan kept his eyes ahead and paid me no mind, as any good bodyguard should. I wasn't the one to be protected, after all; the Founding Member was.
* * *
Reah's Journal
Edward, she frightens me. As if everything in my head will be laid bare to her, I sent to Edward. He'd escorted me to Campiaa, but stood across the room seemingly disinterested in his surroundings. I was Teeg's wife to everyone in the Campiaan Alliance, and Edward had no desire to come to anyone's attention. Teeg knew I was pregnant, and he'd reluctantly agreed not to ask me to attend any more functions until after the birth.
He'd explained, however, that Breanne could, in his words, read people, and that included Larentii. Only the gods much higher than the Nameless Ones could read Larentii, and that meant she could likely read Edward and me as well. I didn't want that, because it did frighten me. Who was this woman? I had no idea, and only wanted Edward to take me home at the earliest opportunity.
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