Francoiso, stop encouraging her, Charth said. She needs to keep her rational mind.
But Charth, tomorrow we get to—
Don't you dare, Sukina said, still in the collective unconscious.
And what exactly will stop me?
I had a feeling I knew what I meant and the warmth rushing down below told me I also wanted it. I turned to Francoiso and planted a kiss on his lips.
Damn it Francoiso, you know what Alsie ordered. Did you even give her the cure? You don’t want her getting suspicious again, do you? All this time we were having a conversation within our minds, and the king who sat there staring at Sukina's cup, had absolutely no idea.
And while Alsie's gone, don't you think we can have a little fun? She never has to know, brother.
I giggled. I liked the idea of having a little fun.
Francoiso, you're crossing the line, Sukina said. Her and Charth definitely had an allegiance, though at that point I didn't really care. I wanted pretty much what Francoiso did.
And you need to drink your Exalmpora, Francoiso said. Because the king, right now, is getting suspicious.
Sukina looked down at the cup. Charth glanced once at the king, then took hold of Sukina's hand, guided it towards the cup and helped Sukina raise it to her lips. He took hold of her neck and Sukina's body trembled as the liquid left the cup. Then Charth pushed his body closer to Sukina and tipped her head back while he planted a long and passionate kiss.
See brother, Francoiso said. You want it too.
I felt Sukina's mind melt away in the collective unconscious. We spoke a little, but her voice had become more flippant. And as I looked at her beautiful, polished face, her features started to warp, almost as if she was becoming a dragon herself.
You know what we have to do, Charth said. We keep King Cini entertained until it's time to turn the cards.
Why are you always such a boring stickler, Charth? Francoiso asked.
But Charth didn’t seem interested in his games. Instead he addressed me in the collective unconscious. I must apologize for my brother’s behaviour. He wasn’t always a slave to his emotions. Just know he’s a better person deep inside.
Excuse me, Francoiso said. This is my suitor you’re talking to. You’re meant to sing praises about me. Tell her what a fine specimen of a man I am.
Start behaving like a gentleman, and maybe I will.
But, it seemed, that Francoiso had other plans for me. Part of me knew I should be planning my escape, questioning Sukina about what she was so concerned about, worrying about my parents, finding a way to break Artua and Faso out of there. But this Exalmpora had turned me into a different person. I no longer felt the tugs and the whirls of my senses. Instead, I was more attuned to them as I'd ever been now. And, unlike the other nights, I remember everything that happened that night (up to a point), like you remember the most vivid of dreams.
As we kissed, and Francoiso's tongue played with mine then ran itself down the back of my neck and then spine, I forgot Cini was even in the room. I saw his face watching, but it had become like part of the scenery. This Exalmpora had turned me into a wild animal, a thing of passion. And all I knew is I wanted Francoiso there and then.
“My my,” King Cini said. “This is getting quite raunchy now, isn't it? You must back away Charth and Francoiso, because you know the customs. By all means, in a couple of days, you can take them to your bedchambers.”
Charth straightened up and stepped back immediately with a curt nod. Francoiso took a little longer to run his hands around my waist and I knew where those hands were going.
Francoiso, the king said. That's an order.
I huffed as his arms left mine. But still sat obediently on my wooden chair.
All these leader types are such spoilsports. Why can't they just learn to be free? Francoiso said in the collective unconscious.
Because we live for higher purposes than our desires, Charth said.
Sometimes, Francoiso said. I wonder if we'd be better off just being ourselves… He took a step back from me.
King Cini was sat on his stool, watching us with curiosity. “Really, you people fascinate me with your private conversations. Who knows what you were talking about. Well, it doesn’t matter. I made a promise yesterday to reveal what’s in the Exalmpora, and now it’s time to tell.”
“Oh, do say, you handsome man,” Sukina said. Then she started to giggle, and I joined in, not knowing exactly what we were giggling at.
“I do like how you're enjoying yourself so much,” King Cini said. “You drink enough Exalmpora and you'll actually want to stay here. Then, you can help our scientists work out how to create armies of people like the Lamford Brothers and Alsie, to replace our damn unreliable machines.”
I poured myself some more secicao and then almost snorted it out all over the table. “Faso says you're stealing his technology,” I said. “Can't say how he'd feel if you then replaced his machines.”
“Yes, yes,” the king said. “He does grumble a lot, doesn't he? You would have thought he'd take a hint by now.”
“I'm sure you're treating him well down there,” Sukina said. “You are such a kind and handsome man.”
“Like royalty, for a prison cell,” the king said. “You should see how the King of Cadigan treats his prisoners, not to mention your home country of Orkc. Mr Gordoni’s mentioned you a few times, Miss Sako.”
“He didn't say anything about me?” I asked, feeling strangely jealous for a moment. I guess not so much because I wanted Faso's attention, but the Exalmpora was making me want any attention no matter who it was from.
“Not yet. Although I do know he holds you in high regards Miss Wells, beauty that you are.”
That sent me ecstatic and I punched King Cini jokingly on the shoulder.
“Yes, you're right,” Sukina said. “Anyway, you must tell us what's in the Exalmpora. We're most certainly desperate to know.”
“Ah, that silver stuff you see in there is dragon blood.”
“But dragon blood isn't silver,” Sukina said.
“Not just any dragon blood, you see, my dear. But blood of a dragon queen. My father collected it during the dragonheats, and it's kept perfectly preserved ever since. A scientist who used to work here called Captain Colas discovered that when you mix it with secicao, it has profound effects on dragonseers, as you can see.”
I saw Charth grimace at the mention of the name Captain Colas and Francoiso shifted awkwardly.
“That's remarkable,” I said. “You hear that Sukina? A drug that can control us…” I giggled again.
“It is,” King Cini said. “And now for my other good news. Here at court, we've decided to announce a royal wedding. Pontopa Wells and Sukina Sako, you will marry my cousins: Charth and Francoiso Lamford.”
“That's wonderful news,” Sukina said.
“Marvellous,” I said. “When will it happen?” I wished in all honesty that it was right now so we could get on with the good stuff.
“Patience my dears,” the king said. “We first much pick a suitable place for their proposal. So I've arranged a hunt for you tomorrow, to give you time to spend with your husbands to be.”
“Just wait a couple more days, darling,” Francoiso said out loud.
“Good,” King Cini said. “I'm glad to know everyone is happy. Francoiso and Charth, you are now dismissed to make preparations for tomorrow.”
They descended the stairs without another word either for real or in the collective unconscious. I drank more Exalmpora to such an extent that the world again became a haze.
✽✽✽
The next thing I remembered that night was standing outside my room with Charth holding an empty vial with tiny traces of green in it.
“Unfortunately,” Charth said, “I couldn't trust Francoiso to give you the cure this evening. He seems to think you're better off with the Exalmpora, but if you keep drinking it without the antidote, you risk becoming a product of your emotions. A truly wild
beast.”
I looked in astonishment at Charth. “Can Francoiso hear us?”
“Don't worry,” he said. “As brothers, we're forever bound to the same channel when we speak in the collective unconscious. But I know how to separate what I say out loud from my thoughts.”
“So, tell me. Why the dragonheats are you helping us?”
“If I could tell you more,” Charth said. “I would. Just know for now that this is all part of the grand plan.” He left me there and I entered my room and, for the first time in the palace, I actually remembered crawling into bed. I took off my clothes, sank into the soft blankets and I reached out into the collective unconscious. Sukina, are you there? I asked.
Yes dear but be careful what you think. There's only so much I can say.
I just want to know what the hell's going on? Artua is now Taka, your daughter? Why didn't you tell me Sukina?
I trust you, Pontopa. But until today, Alsie has been listening. I just didn't want you revealing the wrong thing. She’s not as easy to block out as everyone else.
But what does it matter? The king knows that Artua is your daughter, surely.
He doesn't. It was the only way we could keep her from being executed Pontopa. Hide her in the palace and pretend she's a boy. Or at least that's what I was told at the time.
You mean you knew Francoiso, Charth and Alsie all this time?
Just Charth and Alsie.
Dragonheats, Sukina. Why so many secrets?
The less you tell people, the more people you save. I learned this lesson the hard way a long time ago.
Sukina— I really was lost for words.
Just, Pontopa… If anything happens to me. Make sure Taka stays safe.
Sukina, don't speak like this. We'll have to get out together. You'll see.
Yes, Sukina said. We'll see.
We fell silent for a moment. Somehow, a faint sliver of moonlight had managed to creep its way through the secicao clouds, and I could see the forms of the wardrobe and the fireplace in my bedchambers. The cure had only been partly effective and I so through the faint light, I could still see swirling patterns within the darkness.
Sukina, I said eventually. Who is the father?
What? Who? I'd just aroused her from sleep. I don't know how she managed to close her off to the world so easily. But then, she was a light sleeper and easy to wake up again.
The father, Sukina. Taka's father. It's not Faso… Is it?
It's Faso, yes.
What? Does he know?
I never told him. Colas came to see me when I was just getting the first bouts of morning sickness. Then we had to leave.
And the child was born.
Yes, but the world was too dangerous. Colas, he promised he'd keep the child safe. It wasn't until later that he told me where the child was. That was when I first met Charth. He—
But Sukina was cut off from a piercing noise in the collective unconscious. That same kind of shriek that ratcheted my brains so much that it extended into the physical and pierced my eardrums. I clutched my hands to my ears.
Alsie had returned.
I tried to reach out more to Sukina. I had so many questions. But clearly, Alsie didn't want her answering and I could learn no more. Something about that screech also made me suddenly feel exhausted. I was quickly asleep.
PART VII
Francoiso
“For love and for woman. For what else is there to live for?”
Francoiso Lamford
CHAPTER 25
The next day my head was even clearer than it had been any previous day. The dress in the wardrobe was designed for the day ahead of me — deep red, with frilly lacy bits around the neckline and low hemline.
In some countries they wore such dresses on the day of wedding, with pomp and circumstance and ceremony. But in Tow, women in high circles would only wear such clothes on the days they were to be engaged.
I'd half believed I'd never wear one of these. Although I was still young, I had never at that point considered settling down. With Velos and my runs south, I'd always thought I'd be some kind of free-spirit, never marrying. And now, here I was looking at a dress to prepare for a wedding that deep inside, I wasn't sure I wanted.
But then, I wanted the Exalmpora. I wanted to get to the king's entertainment pagoda and drink, and drink, and become that wild, lusty girl and wrap my lips around Francoiso’s mouth. Though my mind didn't seem to want the wedding, my body wanted him. And, despite the cure Charth had given me the previous night, my body was the part of me in the most control.
Don't let your instincts get the better of you, Pontopa, Sukina said inside my mind. If you let yourself succumb to this Exalmpora then you will lose your rational mind.
And at the same time, Francoiso spoke in the collective unconscious, almost as if he'd found a way to listen in to Sukina's channel. Darling, he said. I know you're such a wild girl at heart and neither you nor I were meant to be tamed.
His words sent a trill of passion down me. I got dressed, ready in time for the knock on the door. It wasn't Francoiso standing outside, but one of the king's valets, an adolescent wearing a blue flat cap and black frilly suit. “Miss Wells,” he said. “The king says it's time to prepare for the grand occasion. He wants you in his throne room this instant.”
Well, that was certainly a direct for a servant speaking to someone who was about to be royalty. The valet led me to the throne room. King Cini sat on his throne with Francoiso and Charth standing on either side of him. Alsie was nearby, I could sense her but couldn't see her. As was Sukina's daughter Taka — somehow, I could sense her too.
Sukina entered the room just behind me and then the king stood up from his cushions to address us both. “Well, bright and early this morning and neither of you look too bad for the wear. The Exalmpora must be working quicker than I’d expected.”
“Yes, my liege,” Sukina said. “We're certainly enjoying the company.”
Sukina, of course, was only acting. We had to make the king believe the Exalmpora was taking control of us. Even if the Lamford brothers kept giving us the antidote to keep it away.
“It's a wonderful day today, sire,” I said. “A perfect day for an engagement.”
“Well, I hope you're looking forward to the occasion as much as I am,” King Cini said. “I'm sure you've read about these ceremonies in magazines and I want to create the kind of occasion that two dragonseers deserve. And then the country will be extremely happy to hear that you've joined our ranks in the war effort against the Greys.”
“I'm sure today will be marvellous,” Sukina said and she gave an elegant curtsey.
“That's good to hear. I'll let your suitors lead the way.”
Francoiso and Charth had been standing loyally without saying a word, not even flinching or whispering in the collective unconscious. Their postures were remarkably straight, as if true soldiers. I smiled at Francoiso and let him march forwards and take my hand. At the same time, my heart was beating in anticipation for what lay ahead of me.
We left the king there and the four of us walked two by two through the corridors.
“You know the drill, I'm sure,” Francoiso said.
I nodded. Anyone who read the magazines knew how royal engagements worked. We would travel north on a steam barge until we reached the king's hunting cabin in the countryside. I would have to kill an animal of significant stature to prove I was a worthy match for the groom. Then, the magazines could wax lyrical about what a brave person the new royal lady is.
If I failed, tradition had it I should be sent back to my home-town. Of course, these things were always rigged so that this never happened.
“Just remember that your hunting rifle won't actually contain bullets,” Francoiso said. “The king doesn't one hundred percent trust you yet, so he's not going to give you loaded weapons.”
“So, who will kill the animal?” I asked.
Francoiso winked. “That is something throughout history that the wo
man’s never needed to know.”
I'd never quite seen a boat like the king's Royal Steamship. But then, I'd never been on a riverboat before. With Velos, I didn't need to travel by boat much. So, the only time I tended to spend on them was on the trader ships, like Candalmo Segora's, when I popped on board for cups of secicao.
Huge trawlers like those stank of oil and coal. But this ship was different. The chimneys were at the back and a large fan also jutted out just in front of these, to blow any sickening smoke away from the deck.
But here, you wouldn't want to go outside much, with the lavishly decorated living room within. Chandeliers fit for any palace hung from the ceiling with large faceted diamonds dangling almost as low as the banquet table. The king sat with us, but far enough away together with Alsie that we couldn't hear what they spoke about. King Cini kept barking angry retorts at Alsie, who snapped back with equal aggressiveness. They certainly seemed like lovers given how much they were always at each other's throats.
Still, this atmosphere didn't mar the romance in the air, partly created by the scent of myrrh and frankincense rising from infusers on the tables. I held hands with Francoiso, and we gazed into each other’s eyes. His were a brilliant blue and he kept a smile across his face. As we sat there, we both spoke in the collective unconscious.
I wish you'd tell me what was going on, I said to him. Charth and Sukina are up to something and we're not in on it. What are they planning Francoiso? And why aren't you giving me those vials?
Francoiso's expression deepened. He always seemed so cocky and jovial, but now the lines on his face soured and he looked more like his brother. I like you, Pontopa, he said. You know that. I want you to stay here in the palace and I'm rampantly attracted to you. But Alsie and I have different views on the Exalmpora. If you take it fast like I did, you'll become a creature of passion. We can fly together through wild nights, beasts of the sky. But Alsie wants to create a more controlled you… And Charth… He won't let on what he's planning to me either. Although I have my suspicions…
Maybe he wants to help us rescue the boy. Although, really that boy’s a girl…
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