by Miki
Mega nods his concurrence.
“Our secondary goal is to reintroduce our people into regular everyday society. The Earth is as much ours as it is theirs. I intend to have us live with humans in harmony. We will no longer live in secret and shame. Kino will take point on this. Direct any questions to him.”
As with Mega, Kino nods approvingly.
“During the talks, I speak for the Ceorfan. In meetings where I’m present, only speak when I give you the floor. Most of you are coming on this trip to make friends. Let’s help the humans learn to be comfortable with us, as they once were. Thank for your assistance in reaching our goals.” I watch Jared walk up to our group of travelers. He stops when gets close to me. I think that is everyone. I ask, “Jericho, are we ready to travel to our destination?"
"Yes, my queen we are.” He removes a smooth rock resembling a big blue sapphire from the sleeve of his cloak and mumbles something. A portal opens in front of us.
Mega orders Mica through first. Before I follow, I see not only Jared guarding me, as he always does, even though the Elite are here. I see Eltira has also noticed. She appears to not be happy about it, by the scowl on her lovely face.
Mica enters the portal, turns. and extends a hand to me. I take it, and he draws me to him through the portal. Here we go! I’m kinda scared. But it’s a good excited feeling of adventure.
I’d bet there are tons of books describing this magnificent land we just entered. It is beautiful! In the darkness, I can still see rolling hills surrounding us. Up against a huge cliff is a sensational old castle. In the moonlight, it looks ominous. From this distance, I can’t see a single gargoyle. Maybe there aren’t any—maybe out of respect for our troop? We’d been told that if any of the Ceorfan torpefy outside or on the castle, no one will think anything of it. Most humans will think my Ceorfan are part of the castle’s art and history.
"This is where we’re meeting?" I ask Mega.
"Yes, it is, Edling."
I’m so happy he used the old endearment instead of calling me queen again. I don’t want to be above the Ceorfan; I want to be a part of them. I’ll find out if that’s possible soon.
"Let's see how they welcome the Ceorfan, shall we?"
We pass through the open portcullis and into the courtyard, or baily. The doors of the keep are lit with ancient ironwork lamps. The doors themselves are an imposing thirteen or so feet high and made of iron and wood. I’d like to stand here a while and enjoy the beauty of the architecture around me, but the doors open.
A tall man I would estimate to be in his fifties stands before us. "You are welcomed to Fiatril Hall. My name is Thurston. I’m the steward of the castle. Please come in. Let me show you to your quarters. Have you eaten yet?"
"Thank you, Thurston. I’m Queen Kendra of the Ceorfan Guild. We will be happy to go with you to find our rooms. We haven't eaten. Do you have a meal prepared, or are we ordering out?”
Thurston smiles at me and returns, "Queen Kendra, I believe we are going to get along swimmingly. Follow me, please. I intend to take care of you personally."
Thurston takes us to our rooms, putting me in an opulent and surprisingly up-to-date suit of 5 rooms and a large patio. He explains, one room—the largest and most girlie—is for me. Then there is one for my personal assistant, one for my bodyguard, a lounge area and a small kitchenette.
"Thank you, Thurston. When can I expect to see the council?"
"I’ll return in a half hour to collect you for your breakfast. After that, I am told you will be taken to the great hall to begin your meetings. You will receive your itinerary then. If not, tell me, I’ll have one made for you. I’ll see you in just a few minutes."
Then he leaves to show the others to their rooms. Mega tele-speaks to me. He says, “I am assigning Kino as your personal assistant, Mica as your bodyguard, and Spar as your escort.”
I hear a commotion in the hallway. On my way to check it out, my retinue fall in directly behind me. I open the door to see Eltira pushing her father away from her, screaming, “I will not stay in that closet! I shall find Kino and sojourn with him!”
They notice us watching. Immediately, they cease their commotion and face us, chagrined. There must be steam coming from the top of my head. Their looks change to dread. How dare she make a scene. I don't want her around Kino.
What am I thinking? Kino can do as he pleases. I have no rights where he’s concerned. Why would I even go there? As I stand there arguing with myself, Kino comes forward. “Eltira, you have your room. I am staying with the queen in her suite.”
The look on her face is priceless. I can't help it; I feel happy. Even if he forgot the part about having his own room.
I save him right back and step forward. “I’ll ask Jericho to provide a way home for you if you give me any trivial reason. Additionally, if you find the room is inadequate to your needs, I’ll happily call him this instant so you may return to Navan without delay.”
She chuff's before turning on one foot, returning to her own room. Her father apologizes before following her.
I face the floor to hide my uncontrolled smile. I move back into our suite, so the others can’t read my face. I enjoyed this whole situation more than I should’ve.
I need to appear queenly. I go change for breakfast. Amber had my business suit copied in multiple forms. Now, I have enough clothes to last several weeks. God help me, I think I like this. I pick out a red suit with a cream-colored silk blouse. My nude pumps will do fine with this. I want to make a powerful first impression. I decide to improve my telepathy skill with Mega, asking if he knows where Amber is. I need help with my hair.
Oh yes! The tele-channel with Mega works fine. He answers me, “She is on her way now.”
The men are lounging in the living area outside my room. They’re dressed in their formal business suits. Oh my, they’re a handsome bunch. But maybe I’m partial. I try to think as a stranger would… and, no. They’re still handsome. I can't imagine anyone thinking anything else.
“Knock, knock.”
Spar opens the door to Jericho and Amber. After they come in, I ask Amber “Would you mind helping me with my hair?”
“Yes. It will be my privilege.”
It might have taken her ten whole minutes to make my hair look amazingly queenly. I put on my shoes, and another “knock, knock.”
Spar again opens the door. This time, it’s Thurston coming to get us for breakfast. Spar returns to me and offers me his arm. I take it, feeling special. I smile at him, following Thurston.
“My queen, one moment, if you please.” Jericho says, "I have glamor stones for the gargoyles. Kendra, do you wish for them to use them? They have always been glamored to fit in here. We have been told in the past that it was more palatable for the humans if they didn’t have to bear our differing forms."
"Well, my dear Jericho, thank you for the information. I believe it isn’t necessary to carry a glamor here. TASS knows our true identities. Let them truly know us."
Thurston hides a grin, then takes us across the castle to a large dining hall. It’s decorated in Tudor meets goth, but nice. Very nice. This room has exposed beams, open fire places, chandeliers, and the rugs. The rugs on the floor are Persian. I don’t know about the tapestries on the walls. Some of them are more than twenty feet high and tens of feet wide. They hang, somewhat precariously, on large bolts sticking out of the wall every foot or so. These rugs show scenes of the castle in various historic battles. Large tables are in several places through the hall. There’s still a large area which I can only suppose is used for dancing. I could stay here all day, soaking up this history. Everything has been updated and modernized. Yet the castle still maintains its ancient beauty.
A man in a blue wool suit that fits him like a glove has his eye on me and he’s slowly, almost suggestively, walking to me. He’s one who makes the suit, not the other way around. Tall, dark, and young is not what I was expecting. I’m glad Amber saw to my wardrobe. Even a real que
en could feel frumpy in his company.
The stranger reaches for my hand, bends, and kisses it. I feel the Ceorfan stiffen. Funny, that’s new—I can sense each of them. I can discern their emotions. I can only communicate with Mega, but I like knowing I can feel my... my what? ‘My people’ falls short of what is in my heart for these men.
Jared comes forward. "Glen Hughes? As I live and breathe. Get your lecherous hand off my sister!" He is chuckling, reaching to pat the man on the back. Before Jared can touch his shoulder, the man grabs him up in a fierce hug. I feel the Ceorfan prepare… for what?
"My queen, this is my old friend from college, Glen Hughes. Glen this is my sister Kendra, the queen of the Ceorfan guild. You possibly already know, but it is correct to call her Your Majesty. Usually, you must ask to touch her. You’ll be forgiven the breach in protocol if you’ll show us to our places and instruct us on how to get some of the delicacies this castle has to offer."
"Don't listen to him, Glen,” I say, taking his hand so he could lead me to a seat around the table. “He’s teasing you—well, mostly."
He seats me and sits next to me. A waiter promptly provides us a rundown of the breakfast offerings. Glen tells us they knew our schedule was reversed to their own and they changed the menus to accommodate us. The waiter surreptitiously takes each order and disappears.
Seconds later, the hounds—I mean bitches—descend. A willowy blond sits close to Mica and places a hand on his shoulder, turning her upper body face him. A redhead slides so close to Jared, she may be partially on his lap. A brunette, with the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen, pushes her boobs right onto Spar. I mean, each of these women look to have known these three for months. This is not going to work for me. Well, except for Jared. He’s always had a thing for redheads. Even so, for Spar and Mica, I feel rage starting its burn.
Mega tele-comms me, "Edling, do not let the anger show on your face. They are testing you. They know we often have many mates. They think you, as a queen, have all of us as consorts. If they can cause you to make a scene, they believe they will have just cause to excuse us from these talks."
I take a deep cleansing breath and say out loud, "Oh my, will you look at that? I didn’t know it was that kind of party." I laugh and resume my conversation with Glen.
I can feel Mega's approval. He tells me silently, Mica and Spar have successfully backed the women off. I wonder how?
The breakfast is superb. Different, but fine. I love tomatoes, so that was great, the black pudding was different too. It was good, but I didn't ask what was in it. We Macbards have a rule about food: just taste it. If you don't like it, at least you tried it. I found over the years if I don't know how something is made, I can usually eat it a lot easier.
We finish eating and gather for the meeting.
Eighteen
Meeting
Kendra
Glen Hughes is an interesting fellow. I already knew he was a good friend of Jared's, and I make a mental note to ask Jared about what 'good friend' means. As a Park Ranger, observation has become second nature. In this meeting, I know I’ll need to employ as many of those skills as possible.
When Glen guides me to my seat, I can tell he’s six feet tall, maybe, an inch more. His eyes, wow! They’re reminiscent of the ice-blue water flowing off a glacier, and are eyes I would love to get lost in. His chiseled jaw could cut your lips, if you happened to be kissing his neck. Not that I wanted to. Well, maybe a little. He also seemed to be fun and flirtatious, almost to the point of being a Casanova. However, when the 'distraction ladies' plopped their boobs down next to Mica, Spar, and Jared, the look he gave the maître d' was not one I would have wanted to be on the other side of.
While eating our breakfast, I had the opportunity to learn about his professional background. He explained he was one of three people in the U.K. involved in TASS. He is prior SAS. Apparently he was part of the 21st Regiment, called the Artists Rifles. I guess it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s, in 1859, originally made up of artists, poets, musicians, actors, and other imaginative people. It’s at this point that Mega tele-comms me, "Ask him about the Increment, or Group 13."
"Glen," I ask, as I lay my hand on his rock-hard forearm and pushing as much sincerity into my words as I can, "I know you are a member of TASS."
"Yes."
"Well, I’d like to know more about you and the deeper aspects of what you do." I paused for a heartbeat and got lost for a blink in those eyes. "Will you tell me about the Increment, or Group 13?"
I could have said, "Tell me about the color of grass," for all the impact it had on his expression. Not a single twitch of a muscle on his face. This guy must be a master in the poker room.
Our eyes lock. We gauge each other, in a rather bold manner for having only just met. His gaze seems to be searching my soul. Me, I get lost in his eyes again. But the pregnant pause has now turned into an elephant pause and is verging on the uncomfortable. I know I must keep my poise. Don’t lose eye contact. Don’t give any hint of a problem. If I misjudge this, even a little bit, this conversation will turn cold and professional, and after the meeting, we will never speak again. I will then lose a potentially powerful resource for the Ceorfan.
"Well Kendra, both of those organizations are considered confidential."
"But..." I said, drawing the word into a couple of syllables
"TASS is too, isn't it," he finished, with the wryest of smiles. Then he adds, "But I'm sure you have what it takes to persuade me to open up a little more. Let's get through what we need to, then there may be enough time to talk more, at length."
He escorts us to the large meeting hall. It feels like most government rooms—pretentious. There are few decorations, and those are red and black. The front of the room is dominated by raised dais. It’s striking and seems to be reminiscent of a judge’s bench, but more pontifical. The church-like feel, while not overwhelming, can’t be denied. The base of the dais is decorated with scenes from Macbeth. The two pillars anchoring each side of it appear to be decorated with scenes from the struggle for Scottish independence. One pillar is dedicated to Robert the Bruce’s victory at the Battle of Bannockburn, where the Scots routed the forces of Edward II of England near Stirling Castle.
The dais, walls, and ceiling, as well as the roof supports, are made of rich woods. I’m not sure what kinds of wood are used. If it was mesquite, I’d know! The wood has the feel of old, but not out of date. Even the seating is made of wood. It may be torture if we’re to sit here for the next several hours. “Not looking forward to that, thank you very much.”
“Pardon, Kendra,” He said, as he paused briefly.
“Oh, nothing.”
He continued to lead us to our seating area, then left to do, well, other Glen stuff, I suppose. The seats are pleasantly comfortable. They are padded with lush red fabric, perfectly matching the rest of the red in the room. I sink into my seat and lean back in a most un-queenly manner to take in the wonder of the rest of this great hall.
Dracula has nothing on these people in the decor area. The blood red of the decorations is toned down by the ancient, black iron work throughout. The iron lighting is modern, but still manages to add to the old-castle charm of the room.
After the last of our group file in and sit, I check-in telepathically with Mega, seated to my left. "Are we all here, Mega?"
"Yes, Edling, we are all here except for Eltira. As you may know after her tirade at our arrival, she and Kino are no longer together. She is looking for a suitor in the human contingent. This means Kino is alone for the first time in a long time.
I surreptitiously search to Mega’s left for Kino. I find him sitting next to Mega, as stoic as always. “Mega, what is your title, and what do you want me to call you?”
“I am the Commander of the Elite Warriors Guard, as you correctly called me earlier. In formal settings, you should call me Commander. If you prefer the less formal, Mega. I will answer either way you decide. You also may, if you will, chang
e our titles as you see fit. My small team of specialists are called the Ducere. I trust my life with these. They have demonstrated both loyalty and bravery, many times over. You may consider us the gargoyle special forces.”
Mega is continually ensuring I know I’m in charge and have the power to do as I wish. Telepathically, I respond to Mega. "Oh, new titles… that might be interesting. For now, Commander it is, then. Although, you are Ceorfan family, I’ll call you my in-law too because Spar is my gargoyle... Is there a title for the queen's lover?"
"Consort, just like in the human world. We are more like the English version of titles than any other country or group. A simplified version, though. I guess the titles were shared the same way we once shared the Earth. When the consorts are recognized publicly, they are acknowledged as a Prince."
I wonder what is taking so long for the meeting to start. I look to my right and see Spar looking back at me.
I let my eyes wander and notice a pale blue banner directly behind us. Large block type spells out, 'The Ceorfan Guild' in big black letters across it. No other country seems to have a banner with their name on it. They do have electronic numbers on the table in front of them. I wonder why that is.
I touched Findare, seated in front of me, on the shoulder and lean forward secretively. "Fin, what is the flag of the Ceorfan? Evidently, they know our people have been to these meetings before, correct?"
"Yes, my queen, I have been here a few times. We once had a flag, or banderuola, as we call it. When our last queen fell, we decided, in her honor, we would not have another flag until our new queen took her throne."
"Do you know someone who can design one for us?"
"I believe Kino and his family have been involved in the process before. In Navan, we have others talented in design and still others gifted in crafting material. These Ceorfan will make it to your exact specifications. I will ask Jericho to take Kino back to Navan to oversee the process when we leave here, if you agree."