Premonitions

by Le aha Vaughn

  The guard started to object, but Trenton knew the game he was playing well. The Great Prince was screening his calls.

  "Obviously you have no sense for importance, sir. I would have to speak to your superior for you lack of diplomacy when dealing with the rulers of different worlds. I would very much like to speak with Great Prince LoMoq. Now."

  The guard glowered at him in obvious dislike before placing him on hold with a blank screen. It took only a second before it came back to life. This time, the Great Prince himself faced him. He was a massive man with large shoulders and flowing midnight hair. His quicksilver eyes surrounded by long feathering lashes narrowly looked at Lord Trenton.

  "Lord Trenton,” he drawled in a deep voice.

  "Great Prince, I have a proposition for you. I am willing to go into negotiations with you and your world if you would allow me passage to Cedar and deliver their trillium."

  The Great Prince arched a dark brow. “And what is in this for me? I don't get a percentage of the profit from the trillium. There is no use for it here."

  "I understand that, but our sister world, Cedar, is going through a shortage of it at this time. It powers our systems there. I am willing to talk it over with you in a more private setting."

  Great Prince LoMoq chuckled. “How many times do I have to say ‘no’ to you people of the Alliance? I have been over this before with you. I am not willing to join the Alliance in order to give you passage."

  He was about to end the transmission when Trenton spoke up. “I am willing to offer my niece as a trade."

  The Great Prince stopped. That definitely got his attention. He sat back folding his arms across his massive chest.

  "I'm listening."

  Trenton cleared his throat. “I am offering my niece to you as part of the negotiations. All that I am asking is that you hear my proposal and consider."

  LoMoq sat quiet for a moment, obviously deep in thought. It took him several minutes to respond. “Do you wish me married, Lord Trenton? Why should you care about my single status?"

  "I hear what they're saying about your unwedded status and wanted to see if you'd be interested."

  After a small stretch of silence, the Great Prince growled. “They?"

  "The Notalvian Counsel. They say your blood line is in danger if you didn't mate."

  Trenton felt the coolness of his gaze upon him. “And you wish to help me by throwing your niece at my feet?"

  Trenton raised his hands in desperation. “I'm a very desperate man, Great Prince and the people of cedar need trillium. All I'm asking is that you think about my proposal and consider."

  "I'll consider negotiations with you on one condition. I first get to meet this niece that you are throwing at me.” There was no smile of welcome or thanks from the Great Prince.

  "Fine. We'll arrange for you to meet her in two weeks then we can go over the treaty."

  Trenton could hear the door's familiar creek as someone pushed it from the other side. Looking up from the screen, he briefly saw the familiar color of Nah'Dara's robe from the small crack in the door.

  Trenton could tell she strained to hear all the details through the large beautifully carved wooded door. He knew she would not like being bargained over as if she were property. She opened the door quietly glaring at him with intense green eyes. She folded her arms across her chest in anger. He ended the transmission with Great Prince LoMoq and sat back rubbing his face with fatigue.

  Trenton stared at her then, his eyes hiding his emotion.

  "Before she knows anything, the treaty will be signed.” Dayton voiced his approval.

  * * * *

  Nah'Dara scowled. Clearing her throat to announce her presence, she walked across the room stopping in front of the desk.

  "Uncle,” she said calmly, but her tone was far from cordial. “I don't want to be handled like I'm a sheep. Why didn't you discuss this with me while I'm here?” He finally scowled back at her, obviously disapproving of her eavesdropping. His brown eyes blazed.

  "Because I know what your answer will be. What it always has been.” He sat back in his chair, mimicking her gesture by folding his arms over his chest. His brown eyes, usually filled with a youthful light, pinned her with and even stare. “You always object to any agreement of marriage no matter how great or small. You will be wasting what your father had set aside for you in his will."

  Nah'Dara dropped in shock at his declaration.. “What inheritance, uncle?"

  "The trust set aside by your father and mother to gain the land of your birth."

  There was a trust for her? “How was it I was never told about it?"

  "Because we felt that you didn't need to know."

  "I didn't need to know?” she exclaimed. “This is something that concerns me and you and some flunky, didn't think that I needed to know about my inheritance."

  "Please, my dear, watch your words. That flunky is you own brother.” Her stomach dropped

  "Erion? He would never..."

  "But he did. It was only to protect you, Nah'Dara."

  "What do you know about my inheritance, dear Uncle,” she said with deathly calm.

  "You cannot receive it unless you are married before the anniversary of your 21st year, at which such time, it will go into collection to the Alliance and the title will be stripped."

  Nah'Dara looked at him numb with shock.

  Uncle Trenton rose from his chair at his desk walking over to her. “I am just trying to do the best I can for you."

  Nah'Dara backed away. “Don't touch me.” Her temper had a way of becoming unstable, once someone touched her in such a foul mood. She snorted. “How, by insuring that the treaty between the Alliance and the Altarians is constructed with me riding in the middle? I see that you care for my well being so much.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. She stiffened her back in defiance as his look hardened suddenly.

  "It is only in your best interest, my dear. If it means forming a treaty or two, then so be it.” With the wave of his hand, he dismissed her as he walked to his desk, but she would have none of that. Her anger boiled over.

  Sensing the storm about to break free, Nah'Dara watched Dayton excuse himself from the room. Good. She had a nasty habit of adding innocent bystanders to her list.

  "Don't dismiss me as if what I said means nothing to you,” she scoffed. “I won't be treated like some child.” Her voice was loud enough to wake the entire castle.

  Trenton stood. She could feel him, practically seething with anger.

  "Well stop acting like one!” he boomed back. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he stilled her with a piercing stare.

  "I'm not throwing you away, Nah'Dara.” His voice was remarkably calm. “I'm merely stating the facts. Your father has left it to me to see to your future. In that, is the claim to your estate on Clenas II. I will not see it go into collection because the will your late father left was not fulfilled.

  "And if that means having you marry one of the most powerful rulers in that part of the sector, so be it.” His words were a low blow to her, but it was too late to take them back. Her anger climbed an inch higher.

  "But Uncle—” she protested.

  He cut her off immediately. “I am tired of this age old argument between us, Nah'Dara. It's settled tonight.” He slammed his fist on the desk to as if it were a gavel. “You are to meet with Great Prince Eriq LoMoq in two weeks for negotiations, you will learn to walk and talk like a lady of the Alliance Royal Court. Spirit above knows that I will not have a niece that walks and talks as if she can lead an army. I want a lady. Someone who can control her tongue. As much as I hope, this lady is not you, but after the training I'm setting up, we'll see if that will change."

  Nah'Dara seethed. She was never going to win. She knew this. Swiping the edges of the long purple velvet robe from her feet, Nah'Dara stalked out of the office stomping her way down the hall to her room.

  Rage flooded her senses making her see red. After several breaths, she though t
hings through a little clearer. How could father not tell her about the provisions in his will? It involved me, why not tell me? Yet, he told Erion and after all this time, no one ever told her. Spirit, she hated to be left in the dark, especially if it concerns her.

  How thoughtful of her uncle to use her father's will, as well as her unwed status to gain a treaty for the Notalvian Alliance. In addition, her birth anniversary just so happened to be a few weeks away. It is too convenient to make sure her father's will would be carried out. What better way for her to inherit her father's estate than to marry. This of course, for her, was out of the question.

  Nah'Dara never liked the idea of a man having his say over her. It unnerved her to the core to see that she would be bided over like a sheep. Not again. The Rebos ruined that for her. A wave of nausea washed over her. She pushed it back ruthlessly. She did not want to think about them or the things they did to her.

  As she entered her room, she recalled the first day she ever walked into the halls of the Palace of Marllus. Seeing the sight of her two cousins, Lady Kiana and Lady Theora, dressed in their finest gowns, looking every bit the part of the lady royal, made her take a good look at herself. If she wanted to fit in this life, standing next to her cousins, she also had to dress the part.

  Therefore, she donned her gowns as well, because her uncle forced her, always wearing the crest of the house of Lehr. All the fun of being at parties left her when her parents died ... Nah'Dara cringed as her mind remembered the moment. Hearing the words Erion bringing her the news all over again brought new tears to her eyes. She did not desire to go back to Clenas II, no matter how sentimental it was to her. There was no one left for her there. It had only been seven years since their death, and still the pain stabbed her heart as it did the day she heard the news.

  She threw the long velvet robe across a chair and stood in front the large full-length mirror. “Computer,” she called into space.

  The computer chirped to life. In the mirror, the computer image of a woman appeared, a tall slender woman with short dark brown hair and abnormal silver eyes.

  "Good morning, Princess Nah'Dara Lehr. The time is 03:47 Standard Galactic Time. The temperature is 67 degrees. The sky is overcast with a slight chance for rain."

  "Contact Lord Erion Lehr."

  After several moments, the woman came back.

  "Lord Erion Lehr is out of transmission range.” The spineless cur of a brother is out of range. Fine. She will deal with him later.

  "I wish to leave a message."

  A red recording indicator appeared in the top corner of the mirror.

  "Recording."

  "You, son of a Maktar. How could you? When you get this message, don't even bother to send another back.” To the computer, she said, “End."

  The indicator disappeared quickly.

  "I trust you slept well.” The computer's tone was metallic and lifeless, that bordered on the lines of cold. The programmers never thought to give it a more pleasant tone.

  "No, I did not sleep well, Computer. Have plans been set in motion for the arrival for Great Prince LoMoq?

  "Negative. There are no plans recorded in your daily planner for Great Prince LoMoq. Should I set a date?"

  Nah'Dara's eyes widened at the request. “No,” she barked quickly. She did not want to give the thing anymore ideas. “Don't make a request, but I would like you to make a note for two weeks from now. About this time would be great."

  The picture shifted briefly gleaming with a soft iridescent light. The computer sounded its compliance with a chirp. “A note in your planner has been entered. Would you like to have a ship fueled and ready, Nah'Dara Lehr?"

  Nah'Dara thought for a long moment and a sly smile crossed her mouth. She knew for a fact that her uncle would never approve of her leaving, but her fear of marrying some unknown stranger was so overwhelming that she would chance his wrath.

  "Yes. Have my ship fueled by ship dock. About three hours, after fueling, erase the fuel logs for my ship. Have my ship fueled and on standby. However, do not save the report in the logs. Make sure that no one knows or finds out about my ship."

  She could leave early that morning still under the cover of night. Their attention would be on preparing for the arrival the Great Prince.

  The computer chirped again. “All is completed, Nah'Dara Lehr. Is there anything else you require of me?"

  "No, Computer, that's all. Sign off.” With a bow, the image was gone, briefly replaced by the seal of the Notalvian Alliance. The seal was then replaced by her reflection. Satisfied, she climbed into bed smiling, her plan to leave set in motion.

  Nah'Dara needed to ease her mind and relax. She wanted to practice martial arts, but Uncle Trenton forbade it. His way to show her fighting was no place for a woman. He could not take away her second choice unless he wanted an all out war on his hands. She loved to read especially erotic romances. She loved being able to escape into different worlds. Her halo-novels took away the pain for a little while.

  She picked up the halo-novel sitting on the edge of her nightstand. She pressed the button that activated it. The area above her lit up with Dominion Lover in red looping letters. The bookmarked page popped up showing the scene of the two main characters frozen in a scene in the lower right hand corner. She hit the play button and sat the small unit on her lap.

  Dominion Lover had to be her favorite continuing series of all time. She read it several times over the months since she uploaded it onto the unit. She loved to see what mess Lyta puts Argos through. The last time, she had stolen his ship and led him halfway across the galaxy before he found her and brought her back.

  The picture grew from the small corner to a large picture above her replacing the white text. Nah'Dara sat back against the headboard. She listened and watched as the hero, Argo argued with the captors of his woman, Lyta.

  The naughty side of Nah'Dara purred as she saw Argos across the view. His dark eye blazed with fury as he coolly negotiated with her captors. Argos was a beautiful tall man with shoulder-length brown hair and piercing brown eyes. He towered over most humans with his domineering presence without speaking. Strong, very alpha, pushy yet someone Lyta liked even though she always managed to get in trouble.

  The one thing Lyta had that she happened not to have was a man who loved her and would do anything for her. Someone who would come for her regardless the circumstances. Someone who would respect her, as well as her straightforward views of the universe. Someone who'd die for her. That is what she wanted, not some power hungry Great Prince who only wanted her for his dying bloodline. Spirit, if Great Prince could love Nah'Dara just as Argos loves Lyta, then maybe she would not object to marrying him so much.

  Nah'Dara's eyes grew heavy and she yawned stretching long and cat-like. Pressing the button to bookmark her spot, Nah'Dara turned the unit off placed it on her nightstand. Sleep sluggishly called to her taking its sweet time before delivering her into the arms of another night of disturbing dreams.

  * * * *

  Great Prince Eriq LoMoq saw the women running for their lives through the thick brush south of Lethia. He followed them at a distance. Saving them listed as priority number one. He tried to secure the battle lines, but when his line came under heavy fire, he was forced to fall back to protect the women and children. He went to them at the secret hiding place near the river where they would hide and heal.

  There was too much fire and blood shed in the colony. He sent his wife off with the others hoping that they would be safe. He heard them screaming. He wanted to get to them as fast as he could.

  On foot, it seemed as if time was against him. For every step he took, the Cylian warriors gained faster on them.

  Eriq could hear the phaser fire in the air; smell the discharge on the wind. It seemed like forever until he was able to get to them, but it was too late. Covering the ground were the bodies of the women in the village hunched over. Savagely shot while running. His heart twisted. He could feel their spirits rising fr
om their bodies. The Cylians left barely anyone alive. The ones that were still living begged for death.

  It did not take Eriq long to find Mireya. She was hunched over. Her hands still lay protectively over her slightly swollen middle. Her dark hair was blood soaked from the gaping wound in her head. Her clothes lay in rags around her shoulder and her waist. Her dark eye lay open, empty and lifeless with loss of spirit. She was gone. He was too late to save her. His anger and rage overcame him fiercely as he cried to the Spirit for answers.

  "Why not me, Spirit?"

  There was no answer. Fine. He would make his own.

  Eriq pulled his katana from its sheath, ready. It cried to him to taste the blood of the attackers. He would get the answer he wanted. He charged down the embankment finding the first victim of his rage and drove his sword deep into his abdomen. He growled as he watched the warrior's face go slack in death.

  The blood spattered across his bare chest and across his face, but he did not care. They all deserved to die. His wrath surged though him as he found another target.

  Someone watched. A woman. At first, he thought that it was Mireya coming again to haunt him, but these eyes were different. He could feel fear surround him as they looked on. Eriq watched the Cylian slide from his sword feeling triumphant that he was dead. He turned his attention to this woman.

  She was beautiful. Her green eyes full of fear as they connected gazes. Long brown hair flowing wild and free in the wind. Her clothes tattered, only covering her shoulder tapering down across her dark chocolate breasts. Her dark stomach was bare but below her seductive navel, the rags covered around her narrow waist dipping low on one hip. There was no blood on her anywhere. He had to get to her before she would fall prey to the Cylian raiding party.

  Eriq charged across the field to her, the sudden urge to see her safe overwhelming him. He saw her back up, but he moved too quickly for her. He caught her by the arms grabbing her in a vice grip. This was not the kind of place for her. She did not belong here. She tried to pull away but he was stronger. He looked into her large scared emerald eyes wanting to know why she was alive while the others lay in a riverbed not far away. Her exotic hair and shapely form told him this was not her home.