by Bailey Dark
There were flowers and baskets of fruits arrayed all around the statue’s feet and he had beaded necklaces piled over his neck. Three women and six men were gathered around him, heads bowed, hands clasped, as though they were praying. A Curan and Bordash woman were crying in each other’s arms as they brought forward candles to place amongst many others.
Six children huddled, pointing up at him. One boy was speaking, brandishing his hands back and forth, as if battling with telekinetic powers. I wished I had a translator with me. I watched as they acted out the battle. One of the other kids had a circle of wire around his head, so he must be playing King Darrs. He flung himself backward, falling to the ground, as kid Kajo thrust his hands at him. The Kajo actor stepped onto Darrs triumphantly, pumping his fists in the air. King Darrs, holding his hand to his chest, reached up with one last, dying action, and slashed at the kid playing Kajo. The child grabbed at his eye with a mock pained yell, then bent over the other child and held his hand just over the kid’s head, as if telekinetically smashing in his face.
I gulped. Is that what had happened? Had Kajo smashed the former King’s face with his power?
The play-acting King Darrs “died” very dramatically and all the other kids cheered. The Kajo child, still holding one eye, was embraced by the others.
I smiled, in spite of the anger I felt at the Beast King and his proposal of the morning. I wondered if that was really how the end of the war had happened. Had it been a one-on-one showdown between Kajo and the King? Or was it allegorical?
What was most remarkable was that three of the children were wearing traditional Curan clothing and the other three were wearing Bordash. There wasn’t much to distinguish them from each other physically. The Bordash men tended to be taller and thinner, with their wives plumper, with wide hips. Their skin was also darker, being from the equatorial area of the planet. Curan were well built, with square jaws and deep eyes, like Kajo. But they didn’t seem that different.
Of course, racism was alive and well on Earth without there seeming to be too much of a difference between certain people.
Beyond the statue was a picture of the central gardens with an arrow pointing off to the right. Kajo had told me that his city had one of the most beautiful botanical gardens. Thinking of Vania, I decided to head there.
The entire town was alive with preparation for the Day of Joy. Lights and flowers were being strung up everywhere. Huge digital banners were projected into the air by Bordash technicians. Musicians were practicing on instruments I had never seen before. As I got closer to the central gardens, a field opened up beside me and there were men digging holes for roasting dozens of the six-legged pig animal I had seen hanging in the market. Kajo had told me there were people coming in from all over the planet to celebrate. He had seemed nervous about that.
I had been starting to feel compassion for him, to feel like he could be an answer to this puzzle of being on a different planet. He had treated me with nothing but respect, even though he did have a bit of Kingly indifference for propriety. Ten years of getting everything he demanded had certainly made him entitled. What had been this shift from him this morning? Proposing, or demanding, that he get what he deserves from my body?
He hadn’t been able to fully complete his sentences, it was true. But what else could he be asking for? It was clear he was attracted to me, even if that seemed to anger him sometimes.
My attraction to him was just as evident…just the thought of his broad shoulders, those arms wrapping around me, that full mouth on my mouth, made me wet.
I shook aside the thoughts. I was certain it wouldn’t take long for he or his minions to find me. I might as well enjoy the Gardens as best I could.
I reached the entrance and wound my way into the wilderness. Ferns grew up along the sides, great canopied trees reaching far over my head. Flowers the size of my head tumbled down from the treetops, hanging on vines and wafting their smell into the air so thickly that it seemed like I could flick out my tongue and taste it.
I followed the path to a symbol that looked like a fountain. The dense tropical gardens cleared away and a courtyard area appeared. There was an elaborate fountain, made of different pillars of pools and standing figurines spraying water into each other’s mouths. A rivulet ran down the side in a high-sided gutter. On one side of the largest winged lion-like stone figure was a wall with many words inscribed in it. It reminded me of the veteran memorial walls in Washington D.C. It seemed like it was a similar homage to those soldiers who had passed in the Civil War. There was a large digital projection that flashed from face to face, all in uniform, with their name imprinted below them. There was also a large picture of Kajo with a group of Curan in uniform. His unit, perhaps? He looked much younger, less weary, but certainly no less animalistic. He didn’t have the scar over his eye yet. Perhaps the play-acting by the children had been a fairly accurate representation of that last battle.
I sat down beside the fountain, on the edge of the rivulet, and let the water tumble through my fingertips.
For all his boorish behavior this morning, he really had changed the lives of the Farian people. He was a Kingly King, no Beast at all. And he had saved my life from Rhone, after all.
I kissed my wet fingertips and imagined it was him touching my lips. I looked up at the sun. I had been gone a couple hours.
I hoped he found me soon.
Nine
Kajo
I couldn’t believe she had left. I took a deep breath as I thundered down the hallway, trying to see through her eyes, like she had yelled at me to do. To see through her beautiful, brown eyes, with those little flecks of green and gold. I could understand why she might be mad. “But I am the King!” I yelled and whipped the curtains I was passing off the wall with a quick flick of my wrist. “I can enter any room, any time I want. This is ridiculous! She is being ridiculous. Any Curan or Bordash would be happy to be offered my bed!”
A servant swerved out of the room as soon as he saw me coming. I slammed the door shut behind him with another skillful flick.
Where would she have gone? She would surely be easy to find, standing out amongst the people of Farian. But how could I go search for her? Any time I left the castle these days, I had to take guards. Not only that, the people always wanted to clamor for a speech and I just didn’t have the time for that all the time.
Plus, the Day of Joy was tomorrow. I knew that Rhone and his crew were plotting an attack. The information I had suggested it might be for during the Joy celebration, but that might be misinformation, too. I needed to be prepared, though. I had invited armies from around the planet to join me, under the pretense of strengthening alliances on this tenth anniversary of the Civil War ending. I did want those alliances, but, truthfully, I wanted to use them immediately, if needed.
I looked at the clock on the wall as it struck noon. I was to have an audience with the Commander of the south country Curan army in an hour. I could not miss it. I would have to make one wild guess as to where Daphne would run to, and I would have to be right.
She had told me about always eating lunch in the courtyard at her work, underneath the trees and near flowers, as close to a garden as she could get, with her best friend, Vania. Our city had one of the most beautiful gardens in its center. She had to have gone there.
I commanded one of the hovercrafts to fly me straight to the gardens. Where other crafts had restricted entry, I waved aside the guards and they let us pass. My three bodyguards were standing at attention, using their own telekinetic powers to stay upright in the speeding and swerving of my very skilled pilot. We flew along the pathway, my subjects darting out of our path into the lush grasses. I waved apologies and they waved back with smiles. They would be able to tell the tale of diving out of the way of King Kajo, so I didn’t feel so bad.
“Head to the Day of Joy fountain.”
As we rounded a line of woodwin trees, their giant purple blossoms slapping against my face as we buzzed underneath th
eir canopy branches, the great fountain and spring that was a monument to all those who had died in the Civil War, flowed out before us. Sure enough, a curly blonde head was bent over one of the fountains, letting the cool water run through her fingertips.
The hovercraft captain slowed our pace. Daphne looked over and straightened up as she saw us. She didn’t seem like she was going to run again.
The hovercraft settled toward the ground, but I didn’t wait. I jumped over the side and Daphne darted forward two steps, mouth agape, hands out, as if she was going to try to catch me, but I just floated in the air, pacing above her, walking slowly lower, holding my hands out to the ground to perpetuate my telekinetic hover.
She smiled at me and tucked her hair back behind her ears. When I was back on the ground in front of her, I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes, waiting for her explanation.
“Did it take you very long to find me?”
“This is the only place I looked,” I said.
“You remembered what I had said about having lunch with my friend Vania…I do miss her…” Daphne waved her fingers underneath the spilling waterfall again. I let me fingertips slide into the water beside hers. The chill of it surprised me. It felt like little pops of ice cubes sprinkling my skin.
“Yes,” I said. “I remembered. It seemed a special moment of peace you were able to get each day, away from Rhone.”
“Indeed…” She looked up at me and shook the water from her fingertips, rubbing her hands together to dry them. “And you? When will you have peace from Rhone?”
“What have you heard?”
“I spent some time speaking with some of your people.” There was a new light in her eyes as she looked at me. Was it…trust? Surprise? Joy? Tenderness, even? “One of the soldiers said you are having to prepare for a new battle. The children view you as a hero. The women thank you for giving them their homes back. It isn’t only the Curan who are grateful for the freedom they were able to get after the War. The Bordash seem glad that you were able to make Farian a more just place.”
“Does this surprise you?”
Daphne shrugged. “You kidnapped me. Just this morning, you tell me it is time that I let you do what you want with me—”
“Yes, but you didn’t let me finish—”
“But your people say you are not a Beast King at all. That the Beast in you is what makes you a wild champion for their hearts, like a mother bear who is backed into a corner and must protect her cubs. Only the wildest, most fierce animal is able to beat the hunter. But, inside, you are something so much more, someone who has the depths of emotion that only intelligence can express.”
I didn’t mind the analogy, but shifted from side to side, wishing we weren’t speaking about me as a hero. I hadn’t been the only one that fought in that war. “What do you think?”
“I think…I think I would like to stay around and see what you really are like, when you are not being beastly.”
I smiled at her. Her words were so simple, but so beautiful. I welcomed them, wished I could hug them. Wished I could hug her.
“Then, please, let me finish what I was saying…”
She nodded permission and I surprised myself that I waited for that signal to go ahead.
“What I meant when I said I was prepared to do what I wanted to with you, what I meant was that I have been fighting against what I want. It shouldn’t be possible, what I want. You see…you’re not from Farian. In fact, you’re from Earth. Of all places. But, there’s only one thing to explain the intensity between us. There’s only one way to explain this…” I reached out, slowly, so she wouldn’t bat my hand away, and brushed her cheek with my fingertips. Her eyelashes fluttered and she lost her breath. That same rush of electricity spiked through my hand, down my arm, and into my heart. A jittering vibration echoed through my body. “That is the reaction of a King touching what we call the Destin.”
“You think I am your Destin? As in, destiny?”
“Yes. You are my Fated One. The Chosen. My Destin.”
Daphne put a hand to her forehead and tottered to the side. She grabbed the fountain’s edge for steadiness.
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t know, Daphne. But, I have come to admire you. You are special. You truly are. Destiny is incredibly important in Curan culture. For all of Farian, actually. And you are mine…” I laid my hand on her shoulder and we endured the stunning shock of the touch together. It began to amp up and she started to shake visibly, shivering beneath my touch. She looked up at me, her hand dropping from her forehead to touch the top of my hand. I gasped at the physical tremor, a tendril of desire that shot from her fingertip into my hand and through my body.
I turned my hand over to clasp hers. I pulled her into me, so that our bodies were pressed into each other. I tilted her chin back, looking into her deep brown eyes. She was trembling all over. Even the golden ringlets on her head were shaking, the sun making little rays of light bounce off her hair and onto my black chest armor. I placed one arm all the way around her, hugging her into me. As I tilted her head back, I waited for her to speak.
Finally, she did. “If I am your Destin, will I be with you forever?”
“Yes. You will have no need to return to Earth. If you choose. You can be with me forever. There is a ceremony that we can do, so that you can become more like us. You will be able to live, love, fight, and grow beside me. It will make us both stronger. You are not only my Destin, I am yours. It is our tradition.”
“But, if I choose to, I can return to Earth. You won’t force me.”
“That’s right, Daphne. I will let you leave me, if you must. But…”
“But, you want me to stay.”
“More than anything.” My heart was racing. I couldn’t believe I was saying these words. How did she have such power over me? I flexed my fingertips into her back, trying to keep my hands from shaking. All the while, the electric trigger between us had been amplifying. We were both short of breath and sweat was breaking out on our foreheads. It was as if there was a buildup of a storm that was about to explode.
“I don’t know what to do, Kajo…How can I leave my home?”
“Just think of it, Daphne…Please, just think of being with me…” Her brown eyes were deep pools and I wondered if my eyes looked as mesmerized by her as hers seemed to be of mine. I bent my head down lower and she gasped expectantly. I gently pressed my lips to hers, a tender pressure. The electric charge between us sparked a shock and then our mouths were trembling into each other and she was squeezing me tight.
I don’t know how long we stood like that, but we finally broke apart for air and one of my bodyguards was standing near me.
“Your Highness? I am sorry, but we must go. Commander Sasrin is waiting for you.”
“Yes.” I swallowed deep. “Of course.” I held my hand out to Daphne. “Would you please return with me to the castle? Tomorrow is the Day of Joy and I have much to prepare. You can decide tomorrow after the celebration. Does that sound all right? Stay with us that long. See some of our customs.”
“And see you honored, right?” There was a twinkle of jest in her eyes as she took my hand and squeezed it. I smiled and squeezed it back.
“I’m just a lowly King.”
“Ha!”
Then we were back in the hovercraft speeding to the castle, waving over the edges of the craft to the townspeople. Daphne snuggled close to me on the flight and she never let go of my hand. The trilling of Destin had faded a little, just leaving butterflies in my stomach and a quick gasp whenever I looked into her eyes. I was sure the heavy jolt would be back, again, if I was ever able to do more than kiss her.
Oh, how I wanted to do more than kiss her…
Maybe tomorrow, I would get to.
As long as Rhone didn’t kill me first.
Ten
Daphne
It was the Day of Joy.
I woke up and changed into the special ceremonial clothing Delicha had
brought to my room late that night. Instead of being the blue and black of Curan culture, they were red, black, and blue, a symbol of unity for Curan and Bordash. I was going to be standing beside Kajo. Not as his Destin, but as a prized guest. Delicha explained, with some contempt, that there would be many people who would be upset by my presence. She had given me a translator, not only so I could understand those speaking to me, but so they could understand me, too. I would actually be able to speak to the people I saw in the streets worshipping King Kajo.
We took a large hovercraft to the celebration site, which was a huge coliseum where feats of strength, intelligence, and beauty would be judged. Kajo would begin the ceremony and kick-off the parade with a short speech. The night before, he had noticed me reading a book of Curan poetry and he had asked me to pick out my favorite. At breakfast, he informed me that he would be reading the poem as part of his speech. I had been unable to hide my smile and even jumped into his arms for a hug. The spark between us had sent me sailing back to my seat quickly, but the spark in his eyes was an even bigger boost to my ego…and to the private little happiness I was allowing myself to feel in my heart.
There were soldiers arrayed all around the city and stationed strategically at the coliseum. Both Kajo and I had bodyguards, some of them from the neighboring city-states that had come into town to strengthen alliances with Kajo and the capital city. Delicha had hinted that Kajo was worried about an attack by Rhone and the disgruntled, racist Bordash. I assumed that is what had had Kajo tense in the few days leading up to the Day of Joy, but that morning, it seemed all Kajo could do was smile at me. He seemed to especially enjoy brushing back my blonde hair when it escaped the intricate braids and cradled my face. It was a close enough contact to sizzle a small spark, but not so much that we had any major physical reaction.
The open lust in his eyes when he saw me in the tight-fitting outfit for the Day of Joy made me want to drag him upstairs, for a fleeting moment. It seemed he was thinking the same thing when he took three quick steps, nearly grabbing me, but his bodyguards appeared and escorted us to the hovers. His hands couldn’t quit playing with my hair the whole ride to the coliseum and his eyes ventured a peak at my breasts every thirty seconds.