by Melanie Ray
"The human, majesty?" Yed asked. What could the human have done to Queen Trivelle to make her so angry?
“Oh no Protector, the human was cute, I liked him.” The queen pointed behind herself. “Sheward, the Fala ambassador, march out and take care of her.”
King Sheward took a step back with an uncomfortable chuckle. “She arrived? Wonderful. Dear, if you could do me the honor of calling her here, I will take care of it.” He nodded to Yed. “You may stay.”
I could, your majesty, but umm...I'm training a recruit.” Yed refused the invitation, but not in time as he felt something brush up against his tail.
“Oh, hi! Don’t you have a cute furry tail. Too bad it’s not puffier, but it’s soft.” A light and airy voice came from behind him, and Yed knew it was anything except. The voice was almost soft and fairy like, but the creature behind him would not be. He turned around, grabbing his own tail and holding it close. Holding another’s tail was not done in jest, but he would have to forgive the foreigner. A creature from Fala was not to be messed with. He turned and looked upward, trying to be polite and meet it face to face.
Its head was ducked into the room, slightly coming up and outward with a large, rough hand. Dressed for battle, and a face that resembled it had been in a war, it smiled jaggedly. Barely making it through the elegant royal doors with over a twelve foot entrance to match the spacious height of the room. Yed felt sick as he thought of the large crusted hand that had brushed upon his tail.
“Welcome,” King Sheward held out his arms wide to the Fala. “I am glad you accepted our invitation. I apologize for the lack of accommodating space.”
Invitation? Yed gawked at King Sheward. The planet of Fala had never been invited more than once into their reign. They were unusual aliens with powerful armies and they were technical geniuses but they lacked basic civility.
The Fala held her hand up and pushed her whole body into the room. In her other hand, she held a small cup, restricting her from a traditional hug. “Yes, let’s begin. Now, this treaty you want to sign with our planet?” The Fala took a sip from her cup. “We don’t mind making it, in fact, we are actually overjoyed.” She reached down and shook the King’s hand. “Trade of your livestock and your flowers and protecting you from invading planets and you know, that kind of stuff and stuff. So, when are you coming? We have tons of space for all you warnos. One or two for each house.”
Each house? Yed glanced to the King as he tapped his foot lightly. The Falas wouldn’t treat warnos like equals, or even less than equals. They’d be treated like pets. Collared, fed pet food, and forced to do tricks like a canine.
“We’re not coming,” King Sheward reasoned with her making small hand gestures. “You see, ambassador-“
“Fala lalaa lalafa please,” the Fala ambassador insisted. “No reason to get too formal with my whole name.”
“Yes.” King Sheward tried to keep his face straight but it failed. “My citizens would only come to your planet in a state of emergency.”
“Well.” The Fala blew hair out of her face. “I guess. We’ll send papers and stuff like that to you guys soon. Our leader is still doing his own thing, so he only wanted time...and what was I saying?” She shook her head. “Oh yeah, ummm...go ahead and fix a treaty and we’ll sign it. But see, okay I can’t. Our leader has to do it. You know, the signing thing? So we’ll get back to you in a couple months because there is uhh...you know, that whole mineral dilemma thing? Inhibitor, right? Without that you guys are like insane, and stupid, right?”
“We will work out the details,” King Sheward said as he shook the ambassador’s hand. “Thank you for your visit.”
“Sure, no problem.” The Fala ambassador twirled hair around her large, crusted finger. “You know, I’d love a second cup of this stuff. It was sweet, but metallic. Can I have some more? Oh that reminds me! Your grass too, can we have some more seeds of plumblu? Our planet sold out of them long ago. I wish our grass was like that, it’s just straight out a dull dark pink.” The ambassador looked around wistfully. “Such a gorgeous planet filled with colors. Ours is pink, everything is pink. Oh.” She sighed with a small giggle. “You’re lucky no one has taken over you yet. My planet would gobble this up in seconds, if you weren’t so darn cute.”
“Well, thank you?” King Sheward said with a small nod. “I will have my guards drop off plumblu seeds along with products through the transporter later.” He waved over to his guard. “Please fetch the ambassador more water.”
The Fala ambassador took the colorful prism water with glee but sipped. “I love this, I love the swirly colors and I love the taste but it’s making me tipsy. You know, you could get more marketing if you sold this in your trade product line.”
“No,” King Sheward said as he shook his head, “it has a potential risk of killing weaker aliens with a single drop. Our water becomes more poisonous every year.”
“Okay, but I’m saying, natural alcohol could really pull some treaties to you.” She finished her drink and dropped it, expecting someone to clean it up. “Bye then.” The ambassador shook King Sheward’s hand and bent down to look at Yed. He remained still, hoping she didn’t touch his tail again. “I can’t get over it. He’s got a full uniform on with a vest and pants, and he looks like he wants to be a fighter. Awww, I wish I had a camera.” She waved to Yed like he was an infant. “Bye bye.” She hummed as she left the throne room.
King Sheward cleared his throat as he paid attention to Yed again. “Our situation is desperate. Earlier treaties have fallen through. We are susceptible to attack right now, and like it or not,” he gestured toward the door where the Fala ambassador left, “we’re down to unfavorable options.” He scratched his neck. “With business out of the way though, let’s concentrate on you. This female, Saga, yes? We want to convince her to settle down and have children.” He put his hands out in front with his palms up. “She keeps refusing, but that’s all we want. I have even offered to pay her, but she won’t budge. Perhaps if she talked to you, she’d think differently about her duty to this kingdom.”
Yed listened to details of his mission but felt skeptical. It was an easy mission and any Protector should have been able to do it. He bowed courteously to King Sheward right before he left, still feeling something was wrong. King Sheward must have had a more important reason for what he was asking.
The mission was too simple.
Chapter 2
THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Yed looked at the window at the town he would visit to meet with the pure warno female. It was different than the King’s city of Vellag in almost every way. The houses were more subtle, with a color scheme of pastel woods and decorations. Not quite country, but no city. The vehicles were cheaper and a chauffeuring vehicle could not be seen. The ground was rougher, no cement or brick in place for a street.
He looked toward his chauffeur. A funny guide that King Sheward demanded had to escort him. A little too stuffy for his taste, but Protectors were naturally revered, let alone one that protected a king. This so-called guard was more of a yes man and servant, dutifully serving without any real skills. When they came to a stop at a small street, Yed stepped out.
The restaurant his guide stopped in front of was quaint but fashionable. There was no outrageous green or red letters that demanded anyone take notice of specials, only a sign next to the shop dangling on a tree that had Vallencio’s on it. He waved the guide to park on the corner. This meeting shouldn’t take long, and he could get back to the Vellag afterward.
Yed unzipped his jacket and kept it loose. He didn’t want to shout out who he was with his usual uniform gear, so a light green jacket and his relaxed top and pants should work. After he gained the female’s confidence he’d show her his license. Males would go eat elsewhere causing strife to the restaurant, so he would keep it low key.
He walked in and noted the surroundings. Wooden chairs and tables were strewn about in no particular fashion, the only ones with a permanent spot were
drilled to the floor bottom in front of the bar. The colors were pink and tan, the usual country style. He sat down in a wooden chair and waited for someone to take his order. He gestured to a female as she came from the back of the restaurant with a small pad.
She politely smiled as she approached, holding her notepad. Her hair was a simple black, the standard of most people. Even though warnos naturally had bright shades of hair, most did not like to shout it out. Not knowing the future, the closer to the waryes staple black, the better. Her tail was still furry though, not rat-like. Her family had a few generations left before evolving into the enemy. "My name is Iridescent and I'll be your waitress for this evening. Would you like a drink to start off with?"
"Sure, anything plain." Yed could smell the aroma of food coming from the back. If the female didn’t show up, it wouldn’t be a complete loss. His stomach turned away from the thought of food though as he watched another female enter the restaurant.
The new woman female sat at the bar, legs relaxing off the side of a barstool. That would make his approach easier. He looked toward his waitress again. "Actually, I'm going to go sit at the counter, take it over there." He got up from his seat and headed over in a casual manner to the bar area. This should be the female, but he hadn’t been given any details about her except what she’d be wearing. He sat on the bar seat next to her and smiled.
The female gave him a simple glance with a small in and out pout of her lips and looked away. He knew she was anything but interested in him, which was good. If she were smart she’d tell him to take a hike next. Females should never trust males who sit with them next to a bar. Too many treated predatory males with less caution, nice to see a woman who knew the rules. Unfortunately, that didn’t help his situation. He had to break that attitude to have a chance at discussion.
“What’s with the look?” Yed chuckled as he leaned his arms against the bar. He noted the way she covered tighter with a blue shawl and tucked her legs in toward the bar. “Think I’m here to get you? Unlikely.” He glanced around, making sure no males were near he’d scare off, before he reached inside his jacket and pulled out his official license. Protectors who associated with females romantically were either honorably discharged or branded with ‘fire’ on their reputation. Once she knew his status, she should loosen up. His theory held as the tightness in her shoulders fell and her tails frizzing softened down. “So, do you ever think about getting married?” A look of eye widening surprise came from her. “Not to me of course, female. You’re lovely but not worth my career. I mean someone else to pass on your ‘special lineage’?”
The female scoffed and picked up a drink the bartender placed in front of her. “Not another one of you.” She swirled the glass in front of her and stared at the sloshing liquid. “I keep saying no. No, I don’t feel like going out, getting married and having children to spread my lineage. No, I don’t care what King Sheward thinks of me disobeying him, and no, I certainly don’t give a damn about what you think. Please leave.”
“You’re lovely aren’t you?” She would be a tough one to break. Yed rubbed his nose and pulled out some nose spray from his jacket. He felt like he was falling in love, which meant only one thing. The female’s pheromones were higher than normal. He opened his mouth to give her some advice about medication to lower the attraction, but remembered his mission again. How did he forget that? His concentration was nil at the moment. He shook his head, trying to clear it. “Why don’t I buy your next drink?"
“This is fine, I’m not addicted,” the female insisted as she gave Yed a curious look. “You seem familiar.”
“Classic pick-up line. Don’t you understand when no means no?” Yed teased as his waitress set down his drink. “Seriously, what’s your problem? It’s for the kingdom, you all give in at some point, speed it up.”
“Thoughtful,” the woman said, a hint of sarcasm in her weary eyes. “I’ve already told you once, please leave me alone. I don’t care whether our kingdom falls or not, it’s over.” She placed her drink on the counter. “King Sheward saw to that.”
Ooh. Interesting. Yed moved his body on the barstool to face the female. He wiggled his nose, still sensing her. “How’d King Sheward see to that?”
“You know how King Sheward saw to that.” The female leaned her head back and forward. “If it weren’t for him, our race would rule. You’re a Protector, you know better than anyone.”
Aah, yes. Past mistakes would come and bite his race in the butt. Like mixing black paint with white, the gray appears. When Yed’s race mixed with waryes, that’s when everything went from the sweet life to rancid garbage. He couldn’t blame his ancestors though, they didn’t know any better. Who knew evolution would be so mean?
“Fine, I’ll give it to you. We were idiots and our history sucks, but pinning it all on the kingdom doesn’t make things better. Show a little respect, you’ve got a chance to help your kingdom out.” Yed groaned, “Do it for your kingdom female.”
Yed watched as the female accepted another drink from the bartender. Things weren’t going well, the vacation looked like it wouldn’t be possible. It was the only reason he kept trying so hard. After all, what difference would it make if she had a kid and kept the lineage going another millennium? Their time was done; waryes would be the future. Even the outside planets would be rooting for the warno end. “Come on already female.”
“Stop calling me female, ‘male’,” the woman said with venom in her voice. “All you Protectors think female is so proper. Proper and chivalrous, obey the kingdom, and forget the process of-” She stopped her mouth. Must have remembered bad mouthing a Protector could put her behind bars. “Please leave.”
"That’s okay, I like it here. I’ll buy your next drink," Yed pressed on. "I need to talk to you...about..." He blinked his eyes as his head felt dizzy and the scents in the air were still strong. "...my...the reason..." Yed turned around and put more spray up his nose. It was a special spray called anti-allurance that numbed his nose and made the smell of pheromones weaker. He took another sniff of the spray, a big enough whiff that he wouldn’t smell even smoke if there were a fire.
"The reason..." the female slurred as she touched her own nose. "What?" She turned to look at him, her eyebrow high and eyes narrowing on him. "Why are you bugging me tonight?" She felt her head. "I'm getting a headache. I need to go home..."
"Look..." Yed felt his own forehead too. What was going on? He looked around and didn't see any other females but the presence in the air was so strong. "Look, you should do it because you’re a very special..." Stop, stop, stop! Oh his race’s biggest weakness next to war. Pheromones. Ugh! "You're..."
"I'm what?" The female moaned as she leaned back further on the barstool. "Are you wearing cologne?"
"I'm..." Yed's vision faded in and out. He moved his eyes toward the female’s tail. Her little black tail must have been ringed with white and another color beneath. What color could it be? He noticed her light blue-tiered dress, almost the same color as his hair. The v neckline added to its allure and the small silver-hearted pendant hanging down didn’t help either. She had hidden her neckline earlier, wearing a midnight transparent shawl, but she had become comfortable enough to let it droop. "Wow, you are attractive."
"Wow, you're not," she answered back but her voice slurred even more.
"...can I buy you a drink yet?" Yed laughed as he stared at her. “Yeah? We’ll talk about talking points? Yeah?”
"Uuhh..." The female chuckled. "Eh, why not. I guess. Why not?"
"Hey guy," Yed slurred as he banged the counter. "Over here, in front of you. Yeah...I wanted...?" Yed shook his head. "I want a drink. No, she wants a drink. Get us both drinks.” That’d clear their heads so they could talk better.
“I don’t want anything heavy,” the female said firmly. "He...always told me when I...yeah, I don't drink heavy."
“Okay,” Yed said, laughing. “Hey, make it weigh less, she doesn’t want it heavy.”
�
�Yeah, then it wouldn’t be heavy.” The female laughed along with him. “Make it weigh less...”
YED HELD AN ICE PACK to his forehead and kept his eyes focused on the ground. What he had to say, now that he was back in Vellag and in front of the King, wouldn’t sound good. He watched as Prince Regwallis tried to spell with blocks ahead with King Sheward bending down to give assistance. Yed didn’t say a word as he watched the boy take off out of the room, most likely in search of his mother. He removed the ice pack from his head . “Fine boy, your majesty.” Yeah it didn’t hurt to butter him up a little.
King Sheward looked over at the blocks Prince Regwallis had been playing with previously. "My boy is learning to spell. Regwallis will be a great king one day. At least, I hope he is king one day."
Yed wouldn’t drag it out. “I couldn’t get her to say yes, sire. She wouldn’t budge, and even got the drop on me in an alleyway. I think. I feel like she hit me over the head, and the injury is hurting, so I could use some time off to recover.” Oh what the heck, might as well try.
King Sheward turned away and stared outside his throne room. He stood straight with his hands folded upon the scepter. “I knew she wouldn’t.”
Yed couldn’t help lifting his mouth in a thin smile. “Your highness, it was hard to even talk to her. She made no mistakes, there wasn’t an opening. She was smart, most likely taught in the past.”
The King did not join him in a smile. His eyes stared ahead at Yed, wanting to communicate. Sympathy maybe? Yed couldn’t pin it. "It was a long shot, but I'd do anything to save this kingdom. Save our future. Make everything right again."
"Long shot or not, I understand why you wanted to try, King Sheward." Yed
placed the pack upon his head again. “About this injury?”
"You don't understand." King Sheward took a deep breath. "I could easily hide this from you, but Protector Yeducavich Smilliat, you are one of my most trustworthy and highest Protectors. I only deceived you for the good of the kingdom."