SEABIRD: A Romantic Fantasy

by Jac Eddins

  Dano took off on a run.

  * * * *

  It wouldn’t take Iola long to discover where his wife was at that time. None of the palace staff knew of her plot or would hesitate to give her the information. Alaro found Kayahla in their garden dome. By sheer luck, Kayahla had gone down to the tennis court at the far end of the dome to practice alone against the wall there. They were safe for the moment, if they could hold off the intruders until help came.

  * * * *

  Dano’s one hope to save his friend was to reach the garden in time. He passed several guards on the way to the shuttle and shouted to three he knew to follow him. They found the guard at the shuttle alive but unconscious. Dano used his communicator to call help for him and order a troop to follow them.

  The communicator rang at Alaro’s home number, but no one answered. That could mean one of two things: Alaro had fallen to the assassins or they had gone to the tennis court Alaro built for Kayahla in their dome.

  Dano explained to the officers in the shuttle. The conveyances could only carry four at a time. How many men did Iola take with her? He wished he had taken the time to count the cars at that end of the line. Too late. If he guessed right, the likelihood was they had taken two cars. Eight men.

  Time stretched as it always did when there was a need for haste. Minutes crept by like hours and the short trip felt longer than ever before. When they reached their destination they found Alaro’s dome quiet and peaceful. Dano fervently prayed the assassins had gone to the home the royal couple maintained there. While a simple structure, it had many rooms for the various interests of the pair. If the attackers had gone there first, it would take them some time to go through and ascertain Kayahla and Alaro weren't there. That gave Dano and his men time to get to the opposite side where the court lay.

  They were in luck; Dano found his friend where he expected.

  Alaro gave Dano and the men with him a smile of welcome. "Do you have weapons?" he asked the guards. At their nods he took a deep breath. "Take them off the ‘stun’ setting. This must be finished. Now."

  He had scarcely said the words when they spotted the group of assassins approaching the court. A laser shot from one of them went wild and Alaro’s men took cover.

  The battle lasted some ten minutes, but seemed to go on forever. The deadly beams criscrossed the open distance between them and Dano had to thank the fortune which had given them the concrete and stone practice walls for protection. Two of the eight attackers died and the rest surrendered when the reinforcements Dano had called for arrived.

  Alaro joined Dano, his visage pale and showing his concern. "You said they wanted me dead so Iola could assume the throne."

  "That’s what Gina said she’d heard."

  "But there’s only one way that could happen."

  Dano’s eyes went wide with understanding. "The Queen!" He shook his head. "It may be all right. Gina said there was something she had to do. She must have gone to warn the Queen."

  "Then we must hurry back to Dath," Alaro said. "They are both in great peril."

  CHAPTER 17

  Alaro and Dano left Kayahla with several of the trusted guard there at home and broke all records for returning to Dath. Alaro found a working communicator and called trusted officers to guard key points.

  They raced to the floor where the Queen had her apartments and found the entryway deserted, a bad sign. Loud noises of metal on metal reached them from Jorlanda’s personal chamber. They dashed in, something they would never have done under usual circumstances.

  The sight they met was stranger yet. The assassins sent to slip in and murder the queen had been armed with nothing more than the ceremonial short swords most soldiers wore for parades and displays, relics from a time before they came to earth. Gina and the one elderly guard who had been posted at the queen’s door had retrieved similar swords and shield from the decorations on the room's walls. The pair had been driven back by the younger, stronger Aquans and now defended the small corner by the bed where the Queen lay.

  Alaro’s heart sank, fearing for his mother. He didn't hesitate to engage the Aquans on their terms. He used the laser pistol and finished off two of the three. Dano would have dispatched the third, but that one threw down his weapon and surrendered.

  Jorlanda regained consciousness in her son’s arms. She was unhurt, but at her age the fright and strain had been overwhelming and she blacked out. Alaro called for the medical team. Gina and the guard had minor nicks and bruises, a miracle in itself. They had been lucky; Gina reached the apartment and convinced the guard before the assassins had reached it.

  * * * *

  Calls flooded in from all over the dome. The rebels had tried to take the control room for the life support services but thanks to Alaro’s earlier warning they had not succeeded and suffered heavy losses.

  Another call came from the uppermost floor to report the guards had captured Iola and one of her men. They had been trying to break into the room where the coronation jewels and paraphenalia had been stored. They hadn’t known what to do with her and locked her in the study room until Alaro could instruct them.

  * * * *

  The irony of her position was not lost on Iola. She was imprisoned in the same room where she left Gina to await death. How had the stupid creature managed to escape?

  The window remained open as Gina left it and Iola was no fool. If the little Terran snip could escape that way, so could she.

  Her guard begged her not to try it. She would be all right; no member of the Aquan royal family had ever been sentenced to death. The guard offered to make the attempt himself, but both knew the stone would not support his greater weight.

  "At least remove your cape," the guard pleaded. "It could get in your way."

  Iola refused. That gold cape identified her as a member of the royal family and she would not remove it. In the dome they had no winds and she could see no reason it might impede her.

  The guard helped her slide out the window, a tighter fit than it was for the smaller Terran woman. Iola found the stones would hold her – just. The heavier guard would have displaced them and plunged downward.

  Iola moved carefully along the protruding stones, just as Gina had, and reached the corner of the building. With her superior size and strength she would have no difficulty making the jump. Once free, she could gather her remaining men and they would find a way–

  Iola leaped for the other building. She felt her fingers touch; she made it – then something snapped her backward. The billowing gold cape streamed out behind her and caught on one of the ornamental bricks. She heard a piercing scream as she fell. Her own.

  Iola dropped seventy feet to her death.

  * * * *

  One of the rebels reached Alaro on his way from the Queen’s apartment. He fell at the feet of his Lord and begged forgiveness. The officer who had been Iola’s lover and co-conspirator knew he had lost and Iola was dead.

  "He’s going to kill us all," the former rebel told Alaro. "He will destroy us!"

  A chill went through both Alaro and Dano. The rebels had failed to take life support; there was one other way left.

  Dano and Alaro turned to Gina. "Go to the terminal and leave this dome. We’ll seal it so the other domes will survive." He and Alaro took off on a run for the docking gates. Alaro called the guards but he wanted to be sure.

  * * * *

  Gina would have obeyed, reluctantly, but a sudden thought crossed her mind. Neither Dano nor Alaro would recognize the rebel officer. Against their instructions, Gina started after Dano and Alaro in the direction of the sea doors. Fortune favored her: she found a conveyance vehicle right outside the grounds and the driver took her request seriously: get there as fast as you can!

  Dano and Alaro reached the sea doors to find everything quiet and in order. A lone officer stood guard and assured them there had been no unauthorized attempts to enter. The unit holding the sea berths, they used for assents and descents to the dome lay open and
quiet. The sea doors, where the ships normally entered stood deserted and firmly in place. Both large ships, the Seabird and the Kingfisher were out at sea. Captain Enero took the Seabird whenever Alaro had business to remain in port. A single small pleasure boat belonging to one of Dath’s wealthier merchants was the single vessel inside.

  The two friends breathed sighs of relief. They started a walk back toward the market for a look around when Gina arrived. She took in the picture at once.

  Still thirty feet from them, she shouted, "That’s him! He’s the officer with Iola!"

  The Aquan took off at a run for the far end of the boat unit. Dano ran on after him, Alaro slightly behind. From the far end control booth the villain could open those outer doors and Dath would perish, flooded and everything within crushed.

  Alaro reached the inner door and stopped at one side. "Dano, Come back! At once!"

  For once Dano did as he was ordered without question. Pello had reached the far end and entered the booth. They had moments left.

  "Run!" Alaro shouted. "I have to do it now!"

  Dano understood. Alaro would protect his people by closing the inner doors, even at the cost of his friend. A pain stabbed at his side and he pushed on. Ahead of him the huge seadoor descended. At the last moment he dove, rolling just beneath the heavy portal and not a moment too soon. The rush of water hit it seconds later, even as the second, safety door came down.

  Dano lay panting. Alaro helped him to his feet. Gina ran into his arms, tears streaming down her cheeks with relief after coming so close to losing him forever.

  Alaro stared out into the blackness of the water. The outer doors could be closed by remote control in life support and they could begin the long task of pumping out the water. Nothing that had been inside the unit would be left, crushed and lost in the sea. "Well," he sad with an air of resignation. "That’s over. The notebook was in his cape so we’ll never know–"

  Gina looked up then with a timid smile. "I wouldn’t say that."

  Both men looked to her, puzzled.

  "When I was back home, when that man first frightened me about it, I took everything to my Uncle’s home and left it there until I was ready to come to the island. The notebook fascinated him. He’s always had a thing about solving codes and puzzles. He’s also a computer fanatic. He copied every page of the notebook onto his computer. All you need is a link to him and you’ll have your book again. Intact."

  Alaro gave her the hug of a lifetime. "How can we ever repay what you’ve done for us?"

  "Really?"

  "Really."

  "Could I bring my Uncle here and see if your medicine can make him walk again?"

  "You surely can," Alaro said with a strange smile. "You could have treasure beyond your dreams and you ask for someone’s health."

  Dano took a deep breath. "And I’m exhausted. What say we get back and see about the queen. And rest." He slipped his arm around Gina’s shoulders. She didn’t resist. In fact, she snuggled closer to his warmth.

  * * * *

  Gina didn’t leave him the remainder of the day. Or the night. The terror she felt at almost losing him made her certain she loved him, and he obviously wanted her with him. She awoke next morning in a state of happiness she hadn't believed possible.

  After her morning shower, Gina returned to the room to find Dano on the communicator. He appeared somewhat startled to see her there. "Later," he said into the device and terminated the call.

  "Alaro?" she asked.

  "Uh – no. It’s just some personal business I have to take care of. Today. This morning."

  He sounded different, nervous. "O. K." she told him. "That’s no problem."

  "You’ll stay here and wait for me? I’ll be back by afternoon."

  Gina nodded. "I don’t have anything else to do."

  * * * *

  An hour later Gina was bored and alone. Alaro had gone back to his dome to stay with Kayahla, but there was Muriela. She could go and enjoy a cup of tea with her friend and be back in plenty of time.

  Gina dressed quickly and left the palace. The people of the dome scurried about on their errands. How many of them knew how close they had come to destruction? She watched them pass, the many colors which told of occupations and rank like a giant kaleidoscope around her. She passed the transport center and stopped short.

  Dano was there. He didn’t see her and appeared to be awaiting the arrival of a transport just coming in from one of the outer domes. Gina started toward him. Two steps and she again froze in place. A lovely golden haired woman had emerged from the transport and ran into Dano’s arms. She wore the warm golden brown color distinctive of the farmers, but on her cape was the onevertical gold stripe that marked her as a married woman. Worse yet, two boys of about five and eight years were with her and it was plain to anyone they loved Dano and he loved them.

  Iola hadn’t lied about his wife and children. She had been a fool!

  Gina returned to the palace, gathered her things together and left without leaving word of where she was bound. She checked into the visitors’ hotel and remained there until the following day.

  CHAPTER 18

  Gina stood at the ship’s rail gazing over the calm blue waters, back toward Dath. Lost in reverie, she didn’t hear Alaro approach and startled when he spoke over her shoulder.

  "Crying again?" he asked in a gentle voice.

  She would have denied it, but she couldn’t hide the wet paths down her cheeks.

  "Do you want to talk about it?"

  She shook her head. No. How did Alaro always seem to know what she thought and felt?

  In sudden terror she saw the Aquan behind Alaro, coming at him with knife raised.

  "At least I’ll get you two," he snarled.

  Gina’s warning barely saved his life. The dagger struck Alaro’s shoulder rather than a lethal spot. Alaro went down to the deck and Gina retreated. She couldn’t go far, the ship’s rail lay less than three feet behind her. She spotted the bucket some seaman had left for the moment and grabbed the mop as a weapon. She also gave a loud shrill scream for help.

  The mop wasn’t much of a weapon, but it gave her the moment she needed. Another sailor came at her call. Miko. He wasn’t much of a match for the huge Aquan, either. Gina recognized the Aquan as the one who had been with Iola, the one they had overlooked.

  They would both have likely been killed had Alaro not regained himself. Since the attack on Kayahla and himself he had taken to carrying a small lazer pistol. One shot and the last of the rebels fell.

  * * * *

  The doctor tended Alaro’s wound and allowed Gina and Miko to see him. Alaro scowled at the youthful sailor.

  "You know there’s a firm rule against fighting aboard this ship," Alaro intoned.

  "Yes, Sir, but–"

  "No ‘buts’. Your punishment will be one year off the Seabird."

  Miko, confused, bowed his head. Gina would have protested, but Alaro waved her quiet. He broke into a sudden smile. "How else will you be able to go through your officer’s training and become a permanent officer aboard her?"

  When the delighted Miko left them, Alaro asked Gina to sit beside him. The Doctor had warned him to stay abed for at least a day to be certain the wound would not reopen.

  "Why did you ask me to return you to the island?" Alaro asked her. "I know you wanted to stay in Dath,"

  "But – how could you know?"

  "Curious?"

  Yes! Her curiosity got the better of her. Again. "How do you always know what’s on my mind?"

  Alaro gave an audible sigh then smiled. "I’ll tell you my secret if you’ll answer my questions. The doctor said I could have a glass of wine. Come pour us each one and we can drink while we talk."

  Gina did as he asked, gave him his glass and took her own to curl her feet up under her and make herself comfortable in one of his big chairs.

  "Now, what is it you want to know?" Alaro asked her.

  "I have so many things I’d like to
ask–"

  "Such as?"

  "Why Iola did it, for one. I heard vague rumors, but it was never clear. Was she actually your sister or not?"

  "I’ll tell you this because I trust you and I ask you never to repeat it. Dano knows, of course, but like many scandals of your world, we hesitate to ‘air it out’. By now you know some of our biology. Our women lay eggs, but unlike your hens they aren’t fertilized internally. Often, the egg comes when the mate isn’t there. When we know one is coming, and there are signs, we prepare a birth tank, something like a small fish tank filled with warm salt water. The egg is put in the bath to be fertilized."

  Gina nodded.

  Alaro gave a deep sigh and went on. "When my mother had her first, my father was not there and the egg was placed in the bath. Now, it's a firm rule that no male other than the mate enters the room where the egg is kept. I think you call it a pheromone, but the egg gives off a scent until it's fertilized and our males can’t resist it. Unfortunately, one of our ambitious guards did enter the room. He spilled his milt into the bath. You see, usually our succession follows through the female line. He thought it would force my mother, the queen, to put aside her mate and make him king.

  "What he did was the equivalent of rape in your world. Instead of becoming king, he was sent to our rehabilitation center."

  "I didn’t think you had prisons."

  "Short term. Until the memory can be erased and the person re-educated. Anyway, my father also attempted to fertilize the egg, but it became apparent the growing life was not his child. Many elders wanted the infant terminated, although we don’t do that lightly. They feared the possible consequences later on."

  "It seems they were right about that."

  "Yes," Alaro agreed. "But my mother, all of us, have a reverence for life. She refused to hear of termination. Perhaps it might still have worked out if Iola had been different. She may have inherited the streak from her father, but from an early age she showed aberrations of behavior, cruelty, disregard for others. Mother tried several times to have her retrained, but the behavior was deeply ingrained. In light of that, Mother broke tradition and had me declared heir to the throne."