“There’s only one of these crystals that we know about. If we could negotiate with a Paler leader or someone in command, we would have access to the Paler ships and be able to search for more crystals like this one.”
“It’s a nice idea, but Seta isn’t one to negotiate with Laxes. She doesn’t think of them as intelligent beings.”
The room grew silent, and Paff turned to see what made the others stop talking. A Lax came from one of the dark chambers surrounding the circular room. This Lax was obviously the leader of the rebellion. Not only did he exude confidence, but his posture was straight, something unusual for a Lax.
“Up,” the leader said.
The star brightened as its light lifted him in the air so everyone could see him.
“For those who don’t know me, I am Zak. I was just notified that the Great Prison was destroyed. I recognize some of you who were captured and sent to the prison. Please, come to the star and touch it. Its healing powers will restore you to your full health.”
One by one, Laxes and Palers touched the star. And Paff held his breath as Cem led Halima to it, wondering if it would really work, if it could truly restore her to the Paler she once was. At first, it didn’t seem like her condition changed, but then her posture relaxed and her scowl disappeared. In its place, she smiled. A beautiful smile. Cem was right. She was no ordinary Paler.
“Does anyone know how the Great Prison fell?” Zak asked, scanning the room.
Cem stepped forward. “I know some of it, but not everything.”
“Cem! How good it is to see you,” Zak cried in excitement. “Please, come up here and tell us what you know.”
Cem summoned the crystal to lift him and it did. “Leader Omin has been replaced by Leader Seta, but their missions are the same. Since the Laxes have refused to be food for the Palers, the Palers are seeking out another food source. In this case, they have turned their attention to Raz. Raz needs its queen in order to survive, and since the current queen is ready to step down from the throne, the leader is trying to make sure the next queen can’t assume the crown.” He paused then added, “Without the next queen, everyone on Raz will die.”
“Why must the leader insist on killing more beings when we could negotiate a compromise?” Zak asked, shaking his head.
“That, I don’t know,” Cem replied. “But Raz is not alone. The Olympian god Zeus used his thunderbolt to tear down the prison walls.”
“But it wouldn’t be fair to let the next queen or the Olympians fight Leader Seta alone.”
“Agreed. We should do our part to help them.”
Zak nodded. “We will. This isn’t over yet. We will do whatever we can to help the next queen of Raz.”
***
Location: Olympian spaceship heading for Raz
Ann’s head fell forward, and she jerked awake. It took her a moment to remember she was on the Olympian spaceship. For a second, she thought she’d finally woken up in her psychology class. But such was not the case. This still wasn’t a dream. She really did have a group of scary Palers trying to kill her.
At her feet, Leo slept. Straightening in her chair, she glanced ahead at Zeus and Athena who were quietly talking about their statues.
Athena glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Ann. “We’ll be at your new home soon. Are you excited?”
“Not really,” Ann admitted. “I’ve never been the queen of a planet before. Heck, I’ve never even been class president in school. I don’t know the first thing about ruling a group of people.”
“The best way to learn something is by doing it. Don’t act in haste. Carefully consider what’s going on around you. Apollo prophesied you’ll make an excellent queen. And one thing you can depend on is that he always tells the truth.”
Ann could only hope she was right. After a moment, she asked, “Is something wrong with Hathor?”
“No. He’s healing very well. Soon, he won’t even have a scar. Our medicine is superior to those on other planets, even Raz’s.”
“That’s not what I meant. I meant, he doesn’t seem happy. I thought he’d be thrilled because we’re almost on Raz.”
“That does make him happy, but…” Athena paused. “Are you aware of Razian customs?”
“Kind of. I know the queen rules over everyone, including the king. She can divorce him when she has a daughter and marry someone else.”
“Yes, that’s true. And the king has no say in it.”
“I’m not too fond of that rule.”
“But it’s how things are done on Raz,” Athena pointed out. “And another rule is that if the young man who brings the next queen safely to Raz fails in any way to protect her, then he loses the right to marry her.”
“You mean, he can’t marry her at all?”
“He can marry her, but she has to choose him.”
Ann’s eyebrows furrowed, not seeing what relevance this had to do with her.
“I can see you’re confused,” Athena commented.
“I don’t understand what that has to do with Hathor.”
“I was there when you shot the prison guard on Pale. Hathor was lying unconscious next to you.”
Ann slowly nodded. “Right.”
“Being the father of the future queen is an honor most men on the world aspire to. No doubt, he did as well. But when you shot the guard, you protected yourself. In that instant, he lost the claim to marry you.”
“Which means I have to choose to marry him?” Ann guessed.
“You can if you want, but you are free to choose someone else instead.”
“But who else would I choose?” Was there a line of men on Raz waiting for the chance to be king that she didn’t know about?
“Whoever you want.”
“From Raz?”
“From anywhere.”
Athena’s meaning finally dawned on Ann, and her eyes grew wide. She could marry anyone from any planet? “Even from Earth?”
“If that is your wish, then yes.”
“And no one can stop me?”
“No one can stop you,” Athena confirmed.
Ann leaned back in her chair as she thought over this new information. She didn’t have to marry Hathor anymore. She was free to pick someone else. Someone like William. But did she dare? William didn’t love her anymore. He had moved on with his life. But what if she went back in time and married the William who did love her? She stared at the stars outside her window. Was that the best thing to do? At least with William, she’d know she was marrying someone who loved her. He wouldn’t be with her just because she was the next queen.
She heard someone sit next to her. Turning in her chair, she saw Hathor who had the Book of Spells on his lap. “How do you feel?” she asked.
“Like a brand new person,” he replied.
Though he smiled, she sensed his hesitation. “Isn’t that good?”
“It is. I’m grateful to Apollo for healing me.”
“Yeah, who knew an alliance could be so useful?” she teased, hoping to lighten the mood. But he didn’t laugh as she hoped. “Hey Hathor,” she nudged his arm, “we’re almost at your home world. You know, the best planet ever created?”
Though he smiled, she still didn’t get the laugh she was aiming for.
“Be happy,” she said. “You have the Book of Spells and we’re almost on Raz.”
He didn’t answer at first, and she was ready to give up on getting one when he softly spoke. “You’re free to marry whoever you want. I didn’t shoot the guard. You did.”
“But you were unconscious. You couldn’t do it.”
“I know, but it doesn’t change the fact that you don’t have to marry me.”
“Athena explained it to me. It’s one of those rules on Raz no one can do anything about.” She tapped the edge of the arm of her chair. “What would happen to you if I didn’t marry you?”
His gaze went to Leo who lifted his head and yawned, showing his impressive display of teeth. Hathor leaned forward and pette
d the lion that purred in contentment. After a moment, he said, “I’ll spend a year training the man you marry. Then, when you have children, I’ll be their instructor. When I’m not called in to do these things, I’ll probably work with wood. Usually, I create small objects that will be useful to the queen, but I can make furniture, too.”
She winced. He’d looked forward to being a king. Probably more than he looked forward to anything else. Wouldn’t it be a slap in his face to have to train another man to do the job he coveted? And then he’d have to train her children, including the next queen of Raz, the one he had hoped to father?
While she understood why that hurt him, she didn’t know if it was enough of a reason to marry him. Didn’t she deserve to marry someone who loved her, someone who would want more than the honor that being the king would bring?
Apollo walked over to them. “We’ll be arriving on Raz in a few minutes. Get ready for the landing.”
Glad for the distraction, Ann nodded and buckled her belt. The landing was just as smooth as the one on Pale had been, and soon Athena told them they could leave.
“Are you ready to see your new kingdom?” Hathor softly asked, turning to face her.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said.
He stood up, tucked the Book of Spells under his arm, and held his hand to her. “I’d like to escort you to the palace.”
Smiling, she accepted his hand and rose to her feet. “I wouldn’t have anyone else but you do it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Planet: Raz
Hathor led Ann out of the spaceship, the lion following close behind. He’d missed his home world and was glad to be back. But it wasn’t the happy affair he’d hoped it would be. Perhaps if he hadn’t gotten to know Ann, their broken engagement wouldn’t hurt as much as it did.
To be fair, she had let him know from the beginning that she was already in love with someone else. It wasn’t like she led him to believe she wanted to marry him. It’d been something they both understood.
He looked at the Royal Palace where he’d lived all his life. It was his home. Once he was done training William to be the king, he would move to another place until he was called on to teach her children. It was the way things were done on Raz, and a week ago, he wouldn’t have even questioned it.
Now, he couldn’t help but wish he had more of a say in whether or not he could be king. As the queen’s son, he should have a say in it, but such was not the case. And suddenly, that didn’t seem fair. But what he wanted was of no consequence. Ann was safely on Raz and could assume the throne tomorrow. That’s what mattered.
Forcing a smile, he showed Ann the gardens surrounding the palace. The walkway to the entrance was decorated with marble carvings of fauns, centaurs, goblins, nymphs, sprites, merpeople, and other creatures who lived on the world. It was a reminder that the queen was the protector and servant of all who lived on the planet.
“What do you think?” he asked Ann, studying her expression, hoping she approved of her new home.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “Especially the way the two sunsets cast a lovely pink shade over the horizon.”
“So you like it?”
She looked at him and smiled. “I do. It looks like something out of a fantasy novel.”
“What’s a fantasy novel?”
“A book. Not like the Book of Spells. What I’m talking about is fiction.” When his eyebrows furrowed, she added, “Fiction is a story about stuff that didn’t really happen.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to read about things that never happened. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on things that did?”
She let out a familiar sigh. “You read fiction because it’s fun. Not because you want to learn something. You really need to take time off your job once in a while.”
Zeus, Athena and Apollo came over to them and bowed before her. “We hope Raz will prosper under your reign,” Zeus said.
“Oh, um, thank you. For everything,” she replied, still seeming unsure of how to handle her role as queen.
In time, she would learn. Hathor had no doubt about it.
Up ahead, he heard someone hurrying in their direction. His smile widened when he realized it was his mother. “This is my mother, Queen Basilia,” he told Ann.
The gods and goddess turned to Queen Basilia and knelt before her. She stopped when she reached them, slightly out of breath. “Was my son’s journey so perilous that you had to get involved?” she asked Zeus.
“Your son and the next queen were sent to Olympia by the Palers,” Zeus replied as he and the others rose to their feet.
“The Palers?” Queen Basilia’s gaze went to Hathor. “Those are the ones who pose the threat?”
Hathor nodded. “The Laxes are rebelling, and Leader Seta is hoping to acquire a food source by making sure Ann doesn’t become queen.”
“Then the situation is more serious than we thought,” the queen thoughtfully commented before turning to Zeus, Athena, and Apollo. “Thank you for helping my son and the next queen.”
“It was our honor,” Zeus replied.
She nodded, and the Olympians returned to their spaceship. It wasn’t until the Olympians departed that she turned back to Hathor and Ann. “So, you’re Ann Kerwin, the one born on planet Earth who will be my successor.”
Before Ann could reply, Leo roared.
“Oh my,” Hathor’s mother said, her hand on her chest. “I’m afraid I didn’t notice the lion.”
“He’s Leo,” Hathor explained. “We found him on Forestaria.”
His mother’s eyebrows furrowed. “Forestaria? What were you doing there?”
“It’s a long story.”
“You can tell me all about it later.”
“I’m glad to finally be here,” Ann said. “I’ve had enough adventures to last me a lifetime.”
“I hate to disappoint you,” his mother began with a kind smile, “but I’m afraid your adventures have just begun.”
“Sounds lovely.” Though Ann grimaced, Hathor noted the laughter underlying her tone.
His mother chuckled and led them to the entrance. “You have no need to worry. I will be here to help you as you begin your reign. Well,” his mother continued, clasping her hands together, “tomorrow you’ll be crowned. I’ll notify the Great Magician, and he can arrange for the ceremony. This will be a joyous day for Raz.”
They entered the entryway, and Ann gasped. “It’s…beautiful.”
Hathor turned his gaze to the long hallway that was adorned with a crystal chandelier and a plush purple rug.
“Come to the den,” his mother said. “I’ll have refreshments brought to us while we discuss your journey here.”
After Hathor and Ann told her everything that happened, Ann yawned, and his mother summoned Athen to lead her and the lion to their respective rooms for the night.
Hathor’s mother waited until Ann, Athen, and Leo left before turning to him. “You love her.”
Sometimes Hathor wished his mother wasn’t so adept at figuring out his feelings.
“Would you rather not discuss it?” she asked as she sat beside him.
He shrugged. “She saved my life on Pale. I was unconscious, and one of the guards would have shot me if she hadn’t killed him. I failed to do my part to protect her. Now she’ll marry someone from Earth named William.” He waited for a moment then added, “I didn’t realize how unfair the laws are to the king.”
“The laws were changed because of Kathz’s need for vengeance. In punishing her husband, she punished all future kings.”
“The laws never bothered me until…”
When he didn’t finish the sentence, she gave him an understanding smile. “Until the laws affect you, it’s hard to know the implications of them.” She patted his hand. “I know few things in this world are fair, but you should tell Ann how you feel. In the time you spent with Ann, maybe she developed an attachment to you.”
“Could it really make
a difference? I’m just one of many men she could have.”
“Ann might be the next queen, but she’s also a woman. A woman wants to know she’s loved for who she is, not because of the position she fills. I can tell that you can give her that kind of love.”
“Anyone else could give her that, too.”
“Maybe they can. But will they?” With a smile, she got up and poured them both a glass of wine. “That’s the important question.”
***
Streets of the Main City
Planet: Pale
Omin was starving. He hadn’t had anything to eat in days. And tonight, he spent his time walking through the streets of a city in panic. But he ignored the other Palers. He was free again. It’d been nothing short of a miracle, but it happened.
Seta had been so sure of herself. What a joke!
He wondered what Jaz was doing. Likely, Seta had promoted her to a commanding position. Seta always seemed to favor her quick thinking abilities. He, too, had been impressed with Jaz in the past.
He frowned. Jaz used to be perfect.
A glimmer of light reflecting off a sheet of metal interrupted his thoughts. He hesitated to approach it, not sure if he wanted to see what he looked like. But he had to. He needed to know the extent of his injuries. Taking a deep breath, he touched his cheeks and winced. They felt like dried wax that had dripped down a candle.
Knowing full well he wasn’t going to like what he saw, he forced his feet forward and approached the metal lying on the ground. Though he braced himself for the worst, the urge to vomit was still powerful when he saw his grotesque face.
He was hideous.
He was a monster!
He looked nothing like he used to. No one would recognize him.
“Freak, get out of here!”
Omin spun around in time to see another Paler, perhaps a prisoner, scoffing at him. Omin bared his teeth and growled.
“You’re not a Paler,” the instigator spat. “What kind of mutation are you?”
A Royal Engagement (Enchanted Galaxy Series Book 1) Page 14