by Juliet Sem
Dinus assisted Rue into the flitter while concluding, "I hope you liked your audience and tour. Too bad I can't accompany you on your visits to our other planets."
Keestu, who was settling into her own seat, let out a startled, "What?"
Dinus smiled reassuringly at her, saying, "It was decided before I came to Sandar that in order not to unduly bias your influence in the Union towards any single Autocracy planet that each member planet will provide its own transport and guide for your visits."
"Oh," Keestu said, remembering to bob her head at Rue. "I'm sorry for my rude interruption, Your Highness."
"That's perfectly all right," Rue said, "I was about to ask the same thing."
They returned to the Purvol estate, finding Norinna and Dinus' siblings already seated in the dining room, as it was lunchtime. Keestu noted a change in the seating arrangements. The brother who had sat next to Dinus at the breakfast was sitting in a different chair, while one of Dinus' sisters was sitting in the chair that he had occupied at breakfast. She had a bloody bandage on her forehead. Keestu touched Rue's shoulder, motioning to the rearrangements.
Norinna, seeing this, smiled. "Today is challenge day on Phaet. Didn't Dinus tell you?"
"No, Praté, he didn't," Rue said giving Dinus a stern look.
"I had no challenge this month, so I didn't think to mention it," Dinus said.
"No challenge?"
"Only the person directly below me in our hierarchy may challenge me, and my brother didn't challenge me this month. That left him open for challenge by my sister who was ranked just below him, and who has beaten him again."
"They have fought before?"
"Almost every month," Norinna interrupted, waving a hand to dismiss such trivial details. "I wouldn't miss out on any workouts, though, Praton of mine--Hatari has improved since the last time she fought Rozem. I think she fancies herself in the position of Praten if your father wins Autocrat."
Hatari smiled, wincing a little as the bandage shifted slightly, chafing her wound.
Rozem grimaced as he sipped his drink, discreetly spitting two teeth into a napkin before excusing himself from the table to find a dentist.
"So only the one directly below your position may challenge for it?" Rue was interested in this aspect of their culture.
"Of course," Norinna said, looking surprised. "Otherwise, there would be chaos with everyone challenging everyone else all the time. Your succession is based, oddly enough, on birth order, is it not?"
"Yes, the eldest child is first in succession," Rue said, "Though not all eldest children take the throne. Past rulers have outlived several of their offspring due to diseases, accidents, wars, and assassinations, and so the firstborn Crown Prince or Princess is not always the one who takes the crown."
"Here in the Autocracy, we developed a once-a-month challenge day system. The day before, everyone lets his or her intent be known. If the Praton or Praten wishes to challenge for supremacy, they may challenge the Prató or Praté. If they don't register their intent in the first half hour after business hours begin, then the one directly below the Praton or Praten may challenge them, and so on down the line until midday, when fights are held. We don't have battles every month in our household, as some of the larger families do. Each battle at this level is decided in a single bout."
"What happens if the same position is challenged continually before the tourney?"
"They fight," Norinna said, smiling. "It happens that way with the Autocress all the time. Not all Autocress winners actually have to fight come the tourney. There is always at least one female who is the undisputed ruler of her planet, and if she has no equals of the same sex to fight during the tourney, she wins by default. But, if there are at least three female fighters come the tourney, it could turn out that the weakest of the three will win if the two strongest are pitted against one another in the first fight, and the winner of that battle hasn't the strength to immediately beat another opponent."
That explained, Norinna informed Rue. "Vulo I will be receiving you next. Their ship arrived mid morning. I took the initiative and had your luggage transferred to their ship. I'm afraid I didn't think to leave the clothing out that you wore this morning; it was cleaned and packed along with the rest, so you'll have to travel on to Vulo wearing our planet's colors. I'll send Dinus along with you until Fernuin of Vulo formally takes responsibility for you. Dinus can bring our loaned clothing back once you change on Vulo."
Rue was taken aback. "So soon? I thought I had four to six days on each planet before the tourney?"
"Yes, one day on Phaet now, and the rest upon your return before the tourney. We shall be most happy to host you again should you decide not to stay at the palace."
"I imagine they'll need the rooms at the palace for the tourney's participants," Rue said with considerable grace after hearing of their precipitous departure. "I'll be most grateful to the House Of Purvol for your continued hospitality on my return."
"Very good. I understand Fernuin has twisted someone's arm to change the original flight plan so you go to Vulo first. However, you must not let him bully you into staying longer than your allotted time, or you won't have enough time to visit every planet equally; your itinerary takes into account travel time, but it's a very tight schedule nonetheless. If he gives you any trouble, just tell him the Autocrat's decrees cannot be set aside with impunity."
"Only the Autocrat's decrees?"
"Um, yes," Norinna said, nodding at Rue's alertness, and sighing at the necessity of explaining it to her. "Fernuin refuses to recognize the superiority of any woman to himself, though he as Prató is inferior in rank to the Autocress. So if you mention the Autocrat ordered this schedule, he should give you no further troubles." Norinna sighed again. "He's relatively new to his position, having taken over Vulo almost six months ago from the former Praté, making him a sudden surprise contender for the tourney, and he's not learned to interact well with the other noble houses and planets, so invoking anyone less than the Autocrat will have no salient effect on his behavior. But, I say too much."
Rue looked at Dinus, as did Keestu. He was frowning at his stepmother, but nodding in agreement with her advice.
"Very well, Praté," Rue said, "I'll remember that. But, I wonder since I'm a woman why he is so eager to have me visit his planet first?"
Norinna smiled grimly. "He wants to be first in everything, not just Vulo. I'm surprised the Autocress and Autocrat allowed it, but it is not for me to question their methods."
"I understand," Rue said. "Thank you for your frank advice and kind invitation back to your lovely home. Praton Dinus has been so helpful, and you so gracious, we cannot imagine staying anywhere else for the tourney."
Norinna smiled in genuine delight at Rue. "And so you shall also sit in Phaet's box, then, as we have plenty of room since being the rulers of Phaet affords us the best ringside seats for the tourney. Not even Fernuin will dare try to usurp that privilege with you staying in our house upon your return."
Norinna stood up. "I'm so happy to have had this time with you, Princess Keestu. I also hope you fully understand how delicate the matter of dealing with Fernuin is. Keep your bodyguard close, do not give in to unreasonable demands, and remember to invoke the Autocrat if needed. That advice was sent to me from the palace, as the Autocrat and Autocress are too busy to bring you back for another screening and audience before your scheduled departure time. In fact, I'm afraid now that the meal is done, I need to urge Dinus to take you to the Vuloan ship at once."
"They aren't landing here at the estate?"
"No, their orders from Fernuin were to land at the spaceport, so Dinus must take you there in our flitter." She turned to her stepson, adding, "I've had your bags transferred to your ship, which is waiting for you at the spaceport along with Bital and your usual guard contingent. I want you to take our spaceship and act as escort ship to the one carrying Princess Keestu and her entourage, as I doubt Fernuin will allow you to travel aboard hi
s vessel."
Dinus nodded without comment, moving to take his stepmother's hands in his before kissing her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow night. Tell father I'm sorry I missed reporting to him about my trip to the Union today."
Norinna nodded at her stepson, patting his cheek affectionately.
Rue bowed to the Praté. "I look forward to speaking more with you upon my return, Praté."
Norinna bobbed her head, "Me, too, but you'd best hurry now, my dear," she smiled in dismissal.
Keestu found herself jogging a little to keep up with Dinus as he hustled them out of the house to the flitter.
Their pilot checked to be certain everyone was seated and belted in before the flitter took off. It stayed close to the ground, flying above a cleared track serving as a road. They exited the estate, zooming into the city, where the road turned onto a broad avenue that ran directly past the palace complex and to the southeastern section of the city, where the spaceport was located.
Receiving clearance, their pilot took the flitter directly out onto the tarmac. Keestu recognized the outline of Dinus' ship, and beside it, a much smaller spaceship. She spied two groups of guards, one standing in front of the Vuloan ship facing outward, the other facing inward; the one facing inward was wearing the familiar blue and purple shades of Phaet, while the newcomers were wearing gold with royal blue stripes. Now understanding better the noble rules with regard to rank color, Keestu realized Fernuin and his immediate family would be wearing royal blue with gold stripes. She didn't see any of the men waiting for them wearing those colors.
She cleared her throat, "Princess Keestu?" Rue didn't respond. Keestu reached out and prodded her.
Rue started, turning towards her. "Yes, Rue?"
"I don't see any members of our next host's family among the guards, do you?"
Rue looked over the contingent more carefully, shaking her head. "No I don't, Rue, good observation."
"Praton," she turned to Dinus. "Fernuin didn't send a member of his family to bring us to him? Is this correct Autocracy procedure? I thought the Autocress and Autocrat said that they would be there to escort us from planet to planet?"
Dinus was scowling at this insult to Sandar's Crown Princess. "No, he did not. You may be assured the Autocrat and Autocress will hear of this outrage. Whoever heard of sending lesser nobles to escort a planetary heir?"
As he spoke, they arrived at the Vuloan ship, Keestu noting that the Vuloans had heard Dinus' last remark and were stiffening noticeably.
Their spokesman stepped forward smartly, spreading his hands slightly to the sides to show he was not being belligerent.
"I come on behalf of Fernuin, Prató of Vulo. I apologize for the lack of a direct family member to greet you, Praton, but apparently you have not heard that many members of Fernuin's family succumbed to a local virulent fever not too long after he ascended to the position of Prató."
Dinus stepped back several steps, pulling Rue with him. Keestu and the others retreated as well. "What fever?"
"Halithan's fever. We have vaccine for all of you, which is effective within hours of administration, so you will be in no danger by the time you reach Vulo."
"Halithan's? I thought that was only endemic to the equatorial coasts of Vulo?" Dinus remained skeptical, urging Rue to step behind him so that he shielded her with his body, and for once Keestu was grateful for his overbearing manner.
"The family members in question went to an equatorial resort to, uh, celebrate his ascendance, contracted it there, and fell ill upon their return to the capital. By the time it was identified, it was too late for most of his closer family members to receive the correct treatment. Fernuin now has no brothers, sisters, or first cousins. Many other nobles succumbed to Halithan's as well before it was identified, so his son Pulon is the new Praton, at least until the hierarchy is sorted out, which by all indications will not be until some time after the tourney."
Another member of the Vuloan entourage stepped up, whispering something in the spokesman's ear.
"Right, Fernuin does still have the one sister alive, since she was, er, not with the other family members who went to the resort."
"And Fernuin and his immediate family?"
"He, his spouse, and Praton, are, unfortunately, too busy to attend your transfer, and his daughter is not a suitable guide."
"I didn't think Fernuin had such a small family," Dinus remarked, "I thought he had more than just the one son and daughter?"
"The others perished of Halithan's. Again, I apologize for what you see as a slight in honor. I do not believe it was intended," the man bowed formally at Rue and Dinus to accentuate his sincerity.
"We will all need to be vaccinated. Did you bring enough with you?"
"Enough for Crown Princess Keestu, her entourage, and your contingent as well, Praton, as we were told to expect you to act as escort," the man said. "If you'll come on board, we can administer it before we leave. We have checked your records and know it's safe to give to Union humans, as they are alike enough genetically to us that they would be susceptible to the fever, which means our vaccine will also work on you. Fernuin had the entire local population vaccinated after the outbreak, but he wants to take no chances with the foreign Princess's health."
Thus reassured, they were hurried aboard the small Vuloan vessel and ushered one by one into the tiny cabin that served as the medical quarters. Keestu watched as the medic wiped her arm with a sterile solution before the hypogun was used to administer the vaccine. She felt a pinch at the site, and that was it.
"Do I need to watch out for any reactions?"
"Rarely one gets site reaction, and only one case of getting Halithan's from vaccine in record, so not worry," the medic told her in passable Unity.
Realizing she would encounter more people who knew little to no Unity the further she traveled into the Autocracy, Keestu silently reminded herself to remember to keep her translating cuff turned on. After gratefully nodded understanding to the woman, Keestu left the cabin, watching from the corridor as the others received their shots.
Once that was done, they were shown to their cramped cabins. Rue and Keestu were to share one, while Gontu, Tenget, and Vahin had another.
"I'll keep your luggage aboard my vessel, since Prató Fernuin sent his fastest personal ship for you," Dinus said, taking Rue's hand briefly before being escorted off the Vuloan ship after receiving his injection.
Their nameless host bade them make themselves comfortable in their cabins for the duration of the ride.
"I apologize again, but our bridge is very small, and I therefore cannot offer you seating there," he explained as he gestured for them to sit down and belt in.
Keestu looked around as the man left, disappointed upon seeing there was no view screen in this room.
Rue sighed. "I hate riding like this. You have no concept of how long the trip is, no idea of when you are close to your destination. I feel like cattle in a transport."
Keestu smiled at her handmaiden. "I agree. I'm used to being able to see where I'm going, and I definitely would like to get images from space of the planets we are visiting, if nothing else to get close up images of the Autocracy's star cluster from space. Perhaps you could ask Prince, er, Praton Dinus, to give him his proper title, for any visual recording he made of the trip after we land?"
Rue smiled at Keestu before shrugging. "I don't want to lead him on as to his chances with me. I could never leave Sandar."
"I didn't mean to imply that you would be leading him on," Keestu responded, "I know he wants your tour to be pleasant, especially if his father wins the tourney since they want to set up a trade agreement with the Union, and if you mention that the lack of view was unpleasant, then perhaps it can be remedied once you start visiting other planets?"
"Oh, I didn't think of it that way," Rue said. "I was just thinking that asking him for a favor would put me in his debt, which is a position I think he would greatly like." She flushed, falling silent. "I mean," she
hastily added, "If I were to feel in his debt, I would probably make concessions I should not in the trade negotiations."
Keestu, nodding at Rue's cover for her slip up, commented. "I think if we use our translators, we can at least hear what's going on." She turned her cuff on before turning on the intership com. A low chatter filled the room, most of which was spoken too softly or fast for the microphone to pick up, but the occasional coherent sentence informed them that they had lifted off, and they were still suborbital but climbing rapidly towards space.
Keestu found herself nodding off in her chair while the voices droned like white noise over the com, for while she was learning some of Phaet's more common words, the rest was incomprehensible to her without staring constantly at her cuff, and the murmuring sound of the voices was soothing. She started when she felt the chair reclining, opening her eyes to see Rue bending over her.
"Sorry. I thought you were already asleep. It looked like a good idea, so I was going to tilt my chair back as well, so we could nap while we travel and be fresh when we reach Vulo."
"Can you tell Vahin and the others? I'd hate for them to try and kick the door down if they call our com and we don't answer."
"I'll message them now myself. Relax and sleep, my friend," Rue reassured her. Keestu closed her eyes and was almost instantly asleep.
Chapter thirteen
A sharp rap on the door awakened Keestu. She fumbled with the safety harness, calling out, "Just a minute," hoping that those waiting could hear her. Rue sat up next to her, yawning hugely.
Keestu looked her handmaiden over, finding her presentable despite having napped in her acceleration chair.
"How do I look?" Keestu asked her as she hurried to the door.
"Fine," Rue assured her.
The captain of the ship was outside, and crowded behind him, she could see the rest of her entourage, waiting to escort Rue off the ship.