His shoulders drooped as he placed his heavy feet one before the other towards the bathing room. He feared what he needed to rid himself of couldn't be washed away in a shower.
Chapter Eighteen
Sheleigh heard the hurried clomping of many boots in the corridor outside her office. There was a startled exclamation from someone, probably one of her team. Quickly she rose from her desk, her heart pounding with fear. There'd been too many acts of violence lately for her peace of mind.
Several of the Kryszan household guards burst into the room with weapons drawn. Her heart almost leaped from her chest.
"My lady! Come with us now. Hurry." While she tried to calm her heart rate she noticed their faces were pale with widened eyes. Her heart began to race again.
"What happened?" she demanded through a constricted throat. Had something happened to Kleet?
"The Avatier was murdered!" one of them growled. She staggered under the blow. Kelfer! The warmth left her face and body.
"You must come with us now."
"Yes." Her hands fluttered, but there was no work for them to do. Kelfer couldn't be dead. She moved into their protective custody, unable to budge her mind past the news.
In the hall Dr. Barazi looked concerned. "What's going on, Sheleigh? Where are you going?"
She looked at his human face. Amin was always logical, so she found a scrap of logic for him. "The Avatier's been killed. I think I'm going to my family." She looked to the highest-ranking guard. "Is that right?"
"Yes, my lady. Please come along."
"How was he killed?" Dr. Barazi looked shocked.
"Betrayal," one of the guards growled.
"Radicals," the head guard added. He tugged gently on Sheleigh's arm. She went with them to the hydrolift. The human faces of her team flashed by her. They were pressed against the rock walls as the guards passed. She could hear the rise and fall of voices behind her. It acted as a counterpoint to the beat of the words 'betrayal' and 'radicals' in her mind.
How had the radicals gotten to Kelfer? He was the most highly protected man on the planet. Did betrayal mean someone had gotten him away from his guards? God! She swallowed a sour taste. Was he betrayed by someone she knew? The world tipped dizzily for a moment. Someone had hold of her arm, helping her into the transport.
"Be careful with her. She's carrying the heirs."
She reeled again. With Kelfer's death, Kleet became Avatier and her babies became the heirs. No! It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Kelfer was supposed to lead Avera for another twenty years. He was supposed to play with his grandchildren. Her eyes welled and overflowed.
"It's all right, my lady. We'll have you there soon."
The guard's image was watery as she looked at him. "Where are we going?"
"To the council hall. The new Avatier must be confirmed."
Right. The planet couldn't be leaderless with the radical threat so strong. It didn't matter that Kleet's father was dead. Kleet had important work to do. Would they even allow him to grieve? Several more tears fell.
"Lefair?" she queried the guard.
He lowered his head. "Other guards were sent for her. She'll arrive after us." Sheleigh read between the lines. They expected Lefair to need time for grief before she could be brought to the council hall. Poor Lefair! More tears fell. How did it feel to accept the news that your mate had been murdered? How did it feel to be sundered from the mate bond? A sound of pain escaped her chilled lips.
Sheleigh would be wounded for years if she lost what she'd shared with Kleet for only a few months. Lefair had shared thirty-five years with Kelfer. Thirty-five years together and they still loved each other. For them, love was transcendent. Love endured. Love gave strength and purpose, joy and meaning. Love was the building block that held the Kryszan family together, just as the mate-bonds held Averan society together. Love gave Lefair a reason to go on living each day. Sheleigh choked on a sob.
"I want to be on the landing pad when Lefair arrives."
"It's too dangerous, my lady. You can't remain in the open."
"I most certainly can. You'll have to shoot me if you think otherwise. Try explaining that to the council. I'll be there to receive the old Avatier's mate." She said it fiercely, ready to fight to Lefair's side if need be. Lefair needed her family.
"Yes, my lady."
The transport set down gently on the pad, as though even it didn't want to disturb her mood. They alighted, moving to a safe distance so the transport could lift again. In the strained silence after the transport had receded from sight, the guards circled her protectively. Their watchful eyes darted nervously around. She tried not to catch their anxiety. She strained her ears for the sound of Lefair's transport.
One guard's wrist com bleeped, making them all jump. The guard explained why they were still on the landing pad. Mid-explanation her attention was torn away at the sound of an approaching transport. For the first time, she noticed that there was no other transport traffic. The council must have halted all flights temporarily.
A transport bearing the Kryszan seal on the door hove into view from the direction of the residence. As it set down on the pad with not the tiniest jostle, Sheleigh saw Lefair's stiff profile through the glass. Her heart drew her to the transport door. The guards handed out Lefair like she was fragile porcelain. She looked fragile, even as she looked regal. This careful handling wasn't what Lefair needed.
Lefair's eyes captured hers. In them Sheleigh saw the maelstrom of dying Lefair was experiencing. Sheleigh reached out and drew the vessel of pain into her arms, gathering the flesh-and-blood woman tightly against her warm flesh. She pressed Lefair against the burgeoning swell of Kelfer's grandchildren. She brought Lefair close to the love Sheleigh felt for her mother-in-law. It was a poor substitute for what Lefair had lost, but Sheleigh offered what she could. Lefair's hands clutched her back tightly, while she made choking noises in her throat. Sheleigh's tears burst loose anew. She didn't try to hold them back.
She held the damaged woman to her breast, letting Lefair feel the heartbeat of another person, letting her know that life continued on. The heart continued to beat even though it was torn asunder. It didn't know it should lie down and die with its mate.
Sheleigh tried to imbue Lefair with her strength. She tried to show Lefair that grief knew no species boundaries. She tried to siphon off a little of the pain so that Lefair could go on.
Her awareness expanded to include the guards surrounding them. Several had looked away. Lefair's private guards looked troubled and sad. Her captain had wet trails down his cheeks while he stood at attention for his lady. Lefair had earned her guards' respect during their years of service to her, the same way she'd earned Sheleigh's love in the short time she'd been a daughter-in-law. Sheleigh might wish to own such respect one day, but she hadn't yet learned to live a guarded life.
Lefair quieted. Sheleigh watched her dab her eyes with a pretty square of cloth.
"I'm sorry about Kelfer."
"Me too." Lefair's lower lip trembled, then she took a deep breath and it firmed. She stepped out of Sheleigh's embrace, but looped her arm through Sheleigh's. They moved into the hydrolift bay. The guards seemed relieved to move with them.
"Kelfer's father ruled until he was nearly eighty. He died just a few years ago."
"Kleet will rule for a long time. The children will help him when they get older."
"It used to be easy to rule Avera. We've only had violence like this once before. Each of us has so much to do usually. We don't have time to cause trouble. These radicals ..." Lefair's voice broke. She straightened, seeming to grow strong again as Sheleigh watched. "These radicals have too much time to cause trouble. They need to work harder for Avera and not so hard against it."
"Yes. There's a saying on my planet, something about idleness breeding trouble."
Lefair looked vaguely curious. "Really? I didn't think humans had trouble on their planet."
"Sometimes we do. My species' history
is very troubled. Nowadays our discontented members go into space to find someplace where they'll be happier."
"We couldn't send the radicals into space."
"If they had a choice to live with other non-wingeds away from Avera, don't you think they'd choose to leave?"
"Leave Avera?" Lefair said it just like a human would say, 'plunge into the depths of hell?' "No, Averans don't leave Avera."
The hydrolift door opened, spilling their group into the corridor. There were quite a few people standing in the corridor. Slowly she and Lefair became the focal point of all eyes. Most of the faces were strained, some were pale, some bore eyes red from weeping. There was a shocked silence. What does one say to a widow, and not just any widow, but the widow of the ruler?
One brave man stepped forward and gave a slight bow to Lefair. "My deepest sympathy is with you, my lady."
Another person voiced similar condolences. Sheleigh moved Lefair forward. Their progress seemed to break the floodgate, because each person in the corridor moved to Lefair to express their sorrow.
Sheleigh was glad no one expressed more than sorrow, because Lefair was shaking beside her. It was too much stimuli for the damaged Lefair, too many reminders of her loss. But this was just the first gauntlet to be run. There was still the council to face inside the hall. There would be mourners at the funeral service. Then every social situation for the next few years would remind Lefair that she was half of a pair. Sheleigh had never personalized widowhood before. Now she thought it was the worst state a woman could experience.
Lefair hesitated at the council room door. One of the guards was opening it; the room beyond was coming into view. Lefair turned a panicked face to her. "He's not in there. I can't go in there and not see him. His chair is empty!" Of all the things Lefair could have chosen to exemplify the hole in her life, the empty Avatier's chair was the greatest.
Sheleigh shook her gently. "Don't look at his chair. Look at Kleet. Look at your son. You're here for him. Let the people come to you. Let them tell you how they feel. I know it hurts you." Lefair's lip trembled, so Sheleigh gentled her voice. "I know it hurts you. The people are in shock. The people hurt. Let them tell you they're sorry. Let them show you they hurt, too. I'll take you home afterwards. It won't take too long. You can do this."
Lefair nodded. Years of breeding lifted her chin up and straightened her spine. The council faced them through the open door. Sheleigh started forward into the room, looking immediately for Kleet. He was pale, his jaw was clenched tightly and for once his dark hair was slightly mussed. He stood in front of the heir's chair, alone at the front of the room for the first time in her memory.
She tried to keep him in sight, but they were soon surrounded by council members expressing their sorrow to Lefair. A few also expressed sympathy to Sheleigh, but for the most part she was overlooked.
Finally they reached the front of the hall, where Kleet was once again in sight. There was pain in his eyes as he looked at his mother. She kept her eyes trained on him. There were chairs placed in front of the council members. Sheleigh and Lefair sat in the closest two. Kleet's siblings sat in the farther chairs. His sister Ciarri rose and hugged her mother tightly. She looked more like Kelfer with the dark brown Kryszan hair cut stylishly short to show off her stunning cheekbones. But her trim frame and ladylike movements were clearly her mother's legacy.
Kleet's brother Berkesch moved to hug Lefair next. He was clearly Lefair's child, with his lighter brown hair that matched hers, his slender frame and Lefair's quieter gentility. When he and Kleet stood together, Kleet was darker, more intense, bigger and more vibrant. It was almost like comparing night and day to look at the two of them.
Sheleigh wondered if the presence of Kleet's siblings meant the Avatier's position would be contested. There was a glimmer of hope that Kleet could live life as a normal man. He wasn't trained for anything except the rule of the planet, but he was intelligent enough to learn some other occupation. He could travel with her to other worlds.
She stopped breathing for the few seconds it took reality to come crashing down on her. Because he had wings, he wouldn't leave Avera.
As soon as Berkesch moved to his seat, Kleet stood up. The hall hushed. "Mother, where is your mate?"
Sheleigh's breath left her in a whoosh. What cruelty was this?
Lefair rose next to her. "My mate is dead." There was no quaver in her voice, which surprised Sheleigh. Was this ritual, then?
"Council, do you witness the Avatier's mate is alone?"
The council rumbled muted assent.
"I am ready to wear the Avatier's wings now. Will you confirm me?" Kleet's voice carried to the edges of the room.
There was loud affirmation, but when the noise died down there were several opposing votes. "Give your reasons for your opposition."
Someone rose behind her. Sheleigh turned to see an elder councilman, white-haired and gnarled with age. He spoke in a dusty voice. "Can you fly, young Kryszan?"
Sheleigh hurt for Kleet. What a blow to his unhealed wound.
"The laws of succession say nothing about flight." It was said as a challenge. Kleet was fencing with words, not admitting anything.
"That's true, but as leader of Avera you should represent what Averans are."
"If you feel someone else better represents Avera, then perhaps you'd like to nominate my brother or sister. They are Kryszans. Ciarri, Berkesch, would you stand up so that Councilman Gallicus can choose who should represent Avera."
His siblings rose and faced the councilman. There were quiet murmurings as the siblings were compared. There was no comparison. Kleet was dark strength, sharp intelligence, dynamic energy, focused intensity. He was more, his presence was larger. He was cut from the same cloth as Kelfer had been. The choice was crystal clear.
"Councilman, what is your choice?" Kleet demanded.
"The old Avatier chose you. I will stand by his choice." Gallicus sat down noisily, looking disgruntled.
"There was another opposing vote?" Kleet prompted.
Someone stood on the other side of the hall. A woman spoke. "I do not want an Avatier with an alien mate." Sheleigh jerked. She should have expected an attack on herself next. It hurt that Kleet would be judged on what she was, rather than what he could do.
"Then why didn't you object at the mate confirmation?" Kleet demanded.
"I wasn't here. I was with my daughter at the birth of her first child."
Kleet nodded. "The laws of succession do not mention the species of the Avatier's mate, only that he or she must have a mate or obtain one soon after confirmation. I already have a mate and she carries my heirs."
"I still object. An alien has no place in the line of succession."
"Your objection is noted, but the confirmation will pass over it."
The councilwoman sat down amidst cheers and clapping. Lefair rose and Sheleigh rose with her. His mother went to him, kissed him on the cheek, and then stepped back still gripping his hand. The atmosphere between them was thick with shared grief, pride and the passing of power to the next generation. Kleet's love for his mother shown on his face.
"Congratulations, Avatier. Kelfer would be proud." Lefair choked on the last words.
"Mother." Kleet's throat worked, but no other words came out. He straightened, then breathed out. "I'll see you at home later. Sheleigh will go with you. Don't worry about the arrangements for the funeral pyre. I'll take care of everything." His voice and face hardened. "Including father's murderers."
Lefair stepped aside, allowing Sheleigh to move to Kleet. She held out her hand and he grasped it. "Congratulations, Avatier." She was four months wed to this man who was now ruler of the planet. He had never seemed more a stranger than he did at this moment. There was no love on his face for her as there'd been for his mother. Long gone was the heated interest he'd shown her for the first three months of her stay on Avera. The mate bond barely resonated when they touched. If he stayed aloof much longer, she feared he'd be
able to break the connection between them.
"Take Mother home and stay with her. I have urgent work to do today."
"All right." She hesitated, but he made no husbandly move towards her. "I'm sorry about your father."
He nodded, nothing more. Disappointed, she turned and gathered Lefair's arm. They made their way toward the door through more offers of condolence. Sheleigh held onto her impatience with both hands. These people didn't know that she wanted her husband's love. They knew she and Kleet were separate entities, which no Averan would be at this early stage of being mated. Maybe they made their own judgments from that.
Finally they were free of the last well-wisher. As the council room doors began to shut behind them, Sheleigh heard Kleet's voice addressing the council. "We must hunt down these murderers..." The door shut on the new Avatier.
Lefair looked peaked. There were strain lines around her mouth and translucence to her skin. Sheleigh felt rather wilted, with a deep sense of anti-climax. Her energy flagged, even though she hadn't done anything.
When they were on the transport heading homeward, she sighed with relief. She and Lefair didn't have to be brave or proud in front of the guards. Soon they'd have complete privacy to mourn the early passing of a good man.
It was then Sheleigh realized she didn't know how Kelfer had died. No one had told her the details. She didn't know if Lefair knew, but she assumed Lefair would have demanded proof that her husband was dead. Sheleigh didn't want to ask in front of Lefair, but she needed to know.
She gathered Lefair against her body. "How did it happen?"
The head guard looked pained. He glanced at Lefair before answering. "It was an ambush, my lady. In the lower level archives room. Radicals shot him."
"Why didn't his guards protect him? Did they let him go alone during this time of unrest?"
"They were killed, too. Even Captain Clanga."
Sheleigh bowed her head as sadness and shock washed over her. Even the courageous Captain Clanga was dead. A tear fell. She held Lefair's quivering body tight. Poor Lefair had jerked at each piece of sorry news, like she was the one being shot.
Mating Flight Page 16