by Y. M. Roger
Moving slowly to the left to wall’s end, turn right down the passageway past three doorways on the right and turning into the fourth, which will be the kitchen. Female cook’s name is Hyndaus and Prince Hondo’s male personal attendant is Yearlan.
Mysstree started walking, following both her altre’s words and internal nudging.
“Perhaps a different approach, Miannmarr,” she spoke softly to her altre as they walked, “Captain Marid is older and very handsome and quite viral looking – perhaps he has a beautiful, well-apportioned mate picked out that Balstir did not know about. It would at least explain his hostility to us. Males of his type tend toward …”
Being egotistical and quite nihilistic but usually mean no harm. This is nonsense, Mysstree. The Makers would not have chosen a mate that would reject …
“Of course they could reject us – was it not you that explained to me the nature of nestlin …,” she trailed off as she turned into the kitchen and noticed the aura of a bright, happy being in there.
But that was of nestlingers in the wild, beautiful one. There are no writings of cognate pairings that …
“Good afternoon!” Despite hers and Miannmarr’s conversation, Mysstree smiled and put all the happiness she could muster into that greeting.
Turn left just past the countertop and along until you feel the metal of …
“Hello, young one!” Hyndaus’ voice boomed as the female rushed toward them – Mysstree braced herself for the hug both her and Miannmarr could “see” coming.
I am sure you will not have to …
Hyndaus squashed them tightly in her embrace.
“Let me fill that for you,” the exuberant female took the container and continued speaking as she filled it at the sink.
Just as I predicted. You will not have to do the filling.
Mysstree internally rolled her eyes at her Miannmarr.
“Teyman Johanneston never told us how strikingly beautiful his little sister was – I mean, baby, you have all the right curves in all the right places. I can not believe your mate let you …”
Mysstree felt the blush rise in her cheeks as Miannmarr mumbled something about minding one’s own business.
“Thank you, hanfendi, but we are not mated,” Mysstree stated brightly, but added low and under her breath, “And the curves are not a good …”
“Whooooweee! Then, baby, we are gonna hafta sequester you away from the rest of the Guard because I know some of those single male predators that would want to rub all over those curves, and I am quite sure the Teyman would have a few blows to say about that.”
Miannmarr hrumphed. Oh, her bierebon is just as friendly and crude, my Mysstree. But they mean no harm.
Caught quite off-guard with Hyndaus’ comments and trying to find her friendly and not put-ff voice, Mysstree managed to blurt out, “Sequestering will not be necessary, hanfendi, as it appears Captain Marid does not even want us near the …”
Hyndaus laughed out loud – the almost booming sound making Miannmarr jump before she covertly recovered.
“Baby, Captain Marid knows about one thing and one thing only: Captain Marid. It is almost like he needs tall, perfect females to make him forget how imperfect he believes he is with those awful scars. He is most likely the best male south or even north of the Division – and I mean no disrespect to my Prince with that assessment – but the Captain lost sight of his true self long ago and will never get past trying to prove himself through presentation.”
Mysstree cocked her head and frowned as she took the filled container from Hyndaus.
“Scars, hanfendi? He is so strikingly handsome, we do not know of what scars …”
Perhaps the female cognate has scratches on her ocular coatings …?
Hyndaus laughed again as she smoothed Mysstree’s long, thick hair and took her elbow to lead her out of the kitchen into the hallway.
“Yet another reason you should be mated, young one. You do not even notice flaws that obvious,” Hyndaus patted her gently on the rear, “Now, will you be alright making your way back?”
She is nice if not more than a bit touched, Beauty. Perhaps they were a stray that the Prince took in – I can see where this energetic bierabon would be entertaining to the young Masters.
Mysstree smiled at both Miannmarr and the jocular cook as she nodded definitively, repeating the directions back for further confirmation.
“Fourth turn on the left then first door on the right.”
“That is correct, young one,” Hyndaus turned back into the kitchen as she finished, “And you just tell Captain Marid that I will not feed him if he can not be friendly.”
Mysstree forced herself to laugh loud enough for the cook to hear her.
Miannmarr sighed heavily. I just know the female cognate has her hands full with that altre, my Mysstree, and I am quite sure they mean no harm.
“Thank you, hanfendi,”
Hyndaus laughed out loud again.
“Please, baby, no formalities here, and you are very welcome. Take care!”
Miannmarr had said that ‘mean no harm’ phrase four times now – it must be one of her altre’s new phrases to mean ‘they are just not all that bright although such does not necessarily make them dangerous.’
The latter and much longer version used to be Miannmarr’s favorite saying about most other beings until Mysstree had explained about not putting oneself so obviously above others and working toward being more empathetic and other such relational issues which the nestlinger had trouble understanding.
Because she really was so extremely intelligent.
Miannmarr fidgeted and Mysstree could almost feel the altre clear her throat.
This newer phrase is shorter and not so explicit, yes?
Mysstree could not help but smile.
You have checked the two bolts to the enclosure twice now.
Hiroto sighed as he tried to reassure Sila – the new Black Guard Captain’s state of nervousness had slowly begun increasing as of recent moments. In fact, it felt as if it were on a steady, upward spiral.
His blood pressure spiked, “Wait! Where is …?”
I believe Hanımefendi Chiyoto is submerged in the deep portion again, my Sila – she jumped right back in after she ate that entire meal Eieshen brought out for her, remember? The chestryl chuckled as he rustled his wings. I believe she may enjoy that pool even more than Prince Rafal’s beast does.
Sila tried to breathe and relax himself again.
Tried to make a grin break his face of stone.
But he was quite unsuccessful.
“Yeah, well, all of her diving to the dark depths is going to be the death of me.”
Sila sniffed the air for the sixth or seventh time. Hiroto felt his Sila’s tension grow further even though the awesome aerial predator could sense no reason for it.
Sila! Now, you are making me crazy! What is it that you are not sharing with me?
Sila sighed heavily as he paced.
“I do not know, Hiroto,” he fisted and unfisted his hands as he whispered forcefully to his altre, “I cannot seem to shake the feeling that we are sitting prey, but I cannot discern from where the threat would even emanate.”
Hiroto stilled at his cognate’s words – Sila had a gift and that gift had just recently begun to manifest itself in ways other than the visions. Perhaps there was something to this feeling …
Let me present, Sila. We could watch our Heiress from above – there, up in the large rafters, just below the large glass panes covering the enclosure. It would certainly eliminate most available angles of unseen incursion.
Sila paused his pacing for a moment and looked upward – the beautiful glass dome covered the entire garden and hydro-spa area. It was certainly large enough for Hiroto to take flight and even alight on some of the more massive side-rafters.
“Yes, I think you may have some-”
The vision of the silent arrow sizzled across Sila’s mind mere moments before he felt it tear through their shoulder. The arrow, it seemed was attached to a stun-barb which sent a searing bolt of electricity through his body and rendered his limbs immovable. But before he could even turn his head in the direction from which the arrow had flown, another much larger one slammed into their thigh – the momentum from the second securely driving them to the ground – the large arrow continuing to burrow deep into the soil such that they were pinned.
And Hiroto was unable to present without ripping Sila’s leg off in its entirety.
“Run Denka!” Sila hollered as loudly as he could toward the pool as the blood poured from both wounds, “Run!”
She is probably still submerged, my Sila, and I can not present without …
They were both interrupted when the cold metal of a knife pressed against Sila’s throat and Jaylis’ face appeared directly in their vision – the look of pure evil and almost mirthful satisfaction glowing in his smiling face.
Hiroto growled and hissed as Sila spat in Jaylis’ face – Chiyoto’s survival was more important than their own life. He knew the chestryl could live at least long enough to take out enough of the guards he began to count appearing around him – they had to protect their Heiress!
“Take him, Hiro …”
Jaylis pressed the knife into Sila’s throat.
“No, your beast’s presentation would guarantee your deaths – not something I want, actually,” Jaylis’ chuckle whispered of near madness, “I can not kill a fellow Guard who is simply doing what he believes is his sworn duty,” Jaylis almost shrugged as if they were having a civilized conversation, “Even though it is sworn to the wrong Sadid,” Jaylis’ laugh was certainly from the realm of godsfall, “Although I am quite sure Rafal will kill you with his bare hands when he finds his orospu murdered by thieves that broke in through the unguarded enclosure under your watch.”
Sila fought as hard against Jaylis’ hold as he physically could – even felt the blade slice into his neck if only in the slightest – as he drew in a breath to shout at Chiyoto once again, but Jaylis grabbed a handful of dirt and jammed it into his mouth.
Sila collapsed, trying to draw a breath, but feeling as though he were drowning.
Somewhere in his struggles, Jaylis must have released them because the next thing Sila heard as he struggled for breath was the receding sound of guard boots followed by a few splashes and then silence.
But the silence was brief.
Almost eerily so.
And it was ended by an ear-splitting roar that thundered around him and through him and inside of him and …
Holy Gods and Makers! But her size and strength are nearly unfathomable!
The near-deafening sound shattered all of the glass that continued to rain down over Sila for what seemed like an eternity as he struggled against his consciousness being tugged away by the blood he knew he was losing.
And the breath for which he struggled but could not seem to take.
But the truly terrifying and even nightmarish male screams of agony that interrupted the tinkling glass followed by another murderous roar and an enormous blur rising to crash through the remaining ceiling structure had him coughing and, even with the pain, smiling.
Until he finally let go.
And let oblivion take him.
She is safe, my Sila. Hold on for me, my beloved friend. Our story is not finished, remember? Hold on, please.
But Sila was already lost somewhere deep in the darkness when he felt an ethereal kiss on his forehead and soft yet compelling words encircled him in a powerful, healing warmth.
Thank you, my faithful servant.
Sila breathed a sigh of contentment as a glorious vision of the most awe-inspiring Empress their Empire had ever known flashed across his mind’s eye.
His Hiroto was right – their story was definitely not finished.
Chapter 28
“It is settled then,” Rafal stood and took the empty sises from Hondo and walked them to the wet bar behind his large desk, “You will bring these plans back to Kilgar” – Rafal glanced up at the largest of all the ancient paintings – it had always hung on the wall behind his desk here in his personal study – had always been one of his favorite distractions – “Finalize this with that brilliant tactical mind of his” – but Rafal had not truly noticed the young heiress in the painting where she sat upon her much larger sire’s lap – “While Sila and I vet the remaining Black Guards here” – the young female’s eyes were almost clear although they bore the hint of the stark yet still somewhat pale pink of her progenitor who stood so regally behind her – the beauty of the Empress’ magenta mane still not dulled by the centuries that had to have passed since the painting was produced.
How many times had he stared at that painting? How much work had he avoided simply admiring the detail of emotion and of personality that the artist had managed to …
Rafal stilled as though hunting quiet – his voice trailing to silence along with even his breathing – as his eyes trailed back down the height of the painting to the plain yet all too familiar jewelry that adorned the young female’s hand.
Rafal managed to steady at least one sise before he absently fumbled the others on the ground.
And he had to catch himself with a strong, two handed grip on the countertop as true realization dawned on him.
Hondo leapt up from his chair and ran to his brother.
“Rafal, are you . . . ?”
But Rafal just began mumbling.
“Her hair … my shirt, my arm … the shuttle waves … the kahrolasi feel of her on my skin …,” Rafal raised his shaking hands from the countertop and once again stared at the now more distinct beginning of a curl that had begun to take on some greens and blues just like the beautifully intricate one on the hand of the Emperor in the painting before him as Runa’s words from yesterday pounded so much more meaningfully through his head.
“There can be no winner and there is certainly no future where my Treasure and your bloodline are concerned.”
Rafal staggered backwards, and Hondo caught him.
“Rafal! What in the unholy realm of godsfall …” Hondo realized his words were not getting through to his dazed brother so, he called for help, “Guyanni!”
Rafal felt Hondo’s arms around him as Chiyoto’s words from last night followed by those of her contentious altre …
“We will not run and hide for safety, Rafal! Not if you and I are … no! There has been too much hiding for too long! … . Recall that my Treasure did not finish something important she had to tell you earlier … When next we speak, Sadid, it will be face-to-face. My Treasure’s Mamere will have passed, and the true implication of your actions here will be realized.”
And not of just any altre … Of a kahrolasi Bohrean Empress …
The feel of his brother against him anchored him back in reality even as his shock turned into anger toward his now silent beast.
Empress-Heir, Rafal. She is not yet enthroned.
He steadied himself and shoved Hondo away from him just as Guy surged into the room – the both of them staring at the Crowned Prince with a mixture of concern and confusion.
But when Rafal hollered it was obviously not to them.
It was to his beast.
“Holy Gods! How kahrolasi long have you known?!!”
Hondo and Guy stepped back – neither having the slightest clue as to the meaning of Rafal’s words of obvious anger.
Words that were met with silence from his beast.
A silence that pushed Rafal’s emotions even hotter. Anger? Hurt? Despair? Need? He was not even sure at the moment. All Rafal knew was that his situation had now become an almost impossible one. Even though too many had forgo
tten the power wielded by an Empress, he had not. He knew the destruction she could cause, knew the awesome energy simply carried in one’s presence. His heart – his Chiyoto – could she and he ever …
Her heart is yours as well – that much is obvious. Just look at your hands and chest.
Rafal stilled at the gentleness of the beast’s words as his hand almost absent-mindedly lifted his jebba to glance down at the blues and greens that had begun to swirl on the skin there as well.
Runa is being cautious, but she had relented before the explosion onboard the shuttle – she had roared her trepidation on our plane. Even though she will surely end us if Chiyoto gets hurt …
Rafal felt hope take hold inside of him – Runa had relented …?
“Why then was Chiyoto so distant earlier?”
Hondo and Guyanni looked at each other once again and back at Rafal.
“Rafal are you …”
Rafal insistently waved off his brother to indicate that he was still not addressing the two males in the room with him.
I told you, damn it all! But you would not take her! You heard what Hondo told you about what the exchange of blood does to them! You remember that first night with them? It was in her voice again this morning. Your Chiyoto believes that she has disgusted you. Again.
Chiyoto’s regal and distant words echoed inside of Rafal again.
“Almost to your home, Rafal; we do not reside on Bohrea Cardinal.”
He needed to hold her and reassure her – hold tightly to that mane and those wonderful hips – whether she welcomed the hold or not. Because they did now reside on Bohrea Cardinal – with him!
From now until … well, until … until kahrolasi forever!
And, if necessary, he would bring his stubborn female straight upstairs to his chambers and claim her in the middle of the afternoon to make it clear to her.
Nothing gentle – nothing romantic. A claiming fit for his Chiyoto.
His Empress Heir.
About kahrolasi time.