by Brenda Hiatt
Finally they’re through and we all head to where Mum, Dad and Molly are waiting with our luggage. Customs is quick, then we go pick up our rental, an SUV big enough for all six of us. I don’t see those Royals again. Probably had a limo waiting.
I get to sit next to M in the car, since there’s no knowing what Echtrans might be on the roads. It’s obvious she and Stuart don’t like being split up, but that’s tough, since the point is to get her Acclaimed Sovereign ASAP. Unfortunately this car has separate seats in the middle, so she doesn’t even have to try to keep from touching me. Still, if I concentrate, I can feel a hint of that tingle from her—which means she must feel it, too.
“Don’t let me miss any castles, okay?” M’s staring out her window.
“You know I won’t,” I promise. “Hey, Mum, how come we didn’t fly into Shannon? Isn’t Dublin a lot farther?”
“It is, but between no nonstop flights to Shannon and this new highway, this was the faster option.”
“So we’re driving all the way across Ireland?” M sounds surprised. “Bailerealta’s on the west coast, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but it should only take four or five hours,” Dad says.
“Oh, I don’t mind.” She sounds upbeat, even sitting next to me instead of Rigel. “It means I get to see more of the country.”
“It is pretty, isn’t it?” Molly’s upbeat, too.
M nods, still staring out the window. “Even greener than I expected, and you told me it was really green.”
“Wait till we get to the Burren.” I grin. “Nothing green about that. Though the bit right around Bailerealta is.”
Finally M turns to me. “Tell me more about the village. I studied everything I could about the colony on Mars but hardly anything about Bailerealta, since we’ll only be there a few days.”
With her looking at me like that, I want to tell her that her eyes are as green as Ireland, and more beautiful. I stop myself in time. “It’s tiny, only about four hundred permanent residents. Purposely hard to find, if you don’t know where to look. But once you’re there, it looks about like any other little Irish village—at least from the outside.”
“But not from the inside?”
“Depends. There are the teachneaglis—technophobes, I guess you’d say, maybe a hundred of them, who are practically Amish, the way they refuse to use any Martian technology, or even most Earth technology.”
Molly pipes up from the back. “Yeah, until we got to Indiana, I didn’t know there were Duchas like that, too. Though these aren’t anti-tech for religious reasons, I don’t think. Anyway, they mostly keep to themselves, and the rest of the villagers are pretty normal.”
“You mean, using omnis and stuff?” M glances at me again with those incredible eyes.
I nod. “You’ll see. I can’t wait to show you around.”
For a second I wonder if Brenna will be happy to see me. We’d had kind of a thing going before the news came about M. Funny, I’ve hardly thought about her at all since then. Or maybe not so funny.
Because M is my life now…or she will be.
CHAPTER 12
Bailerealta (BAY-luh-ree-AL-tuh) (pop. 412): village on the western coast of Ireland, est. circa 1575, populated entirely by Echtrans
Despite my nap on the plane, we’d only been driving for an hour when I found myself getting sleepy again. Which I guess wasn’t surprising, since it was about four o’clock in the morning back in Indiana. I was just starting to nod when Rigel’s voice startled me back to alertness.
M! Look! A castle!
“Where?” Jerking upright, I looked around. Only when I noticed Sean’s confused expression did I realize Rigel’s comment had been silent. Oops. “Dozed off,” I explained with an embarrassed shrug. But then I saw the castle, only a stone’s throw from the highway, and pressed my face against the window. “Oh, wow! I’ve never seen a real castle before, not up close! How old is it?”
“That one? No idea,” Sean said. “Probably hundreds of years—most of them are. Ireland is lousy with castles.”
Even Rigel laughed at his phrasing. “Well, for us New Worlders, it’s pretty cool to see something older than the United States. Hey, are there castles on Mars?”
“Not like the ones here,” Molly told him, “but there are some fortress-y things left over from the early days of the colony, before we had Sovereigns. Maybe half the villages have one, or at least the remains of old stone walls.”
“Huh. So are there Martian archaeologists?” Rigel asked.
I knew there were, because of all my studying, but I let Molly answer again. “Oh, sure. They’re still finding out stuff about those early days, since almost nothing was written down. I’m not sure people back then could even read and write.”
That and similar topics kept my mind away from more dangerous stuff for the next couple of hours, as the countryside got wilder and more rolling and even greener than before. I did more listening than talking, quietly enjoying how well Rigel and Sean seemed to be getting along, away from Trina’s poisonous influence. I hoped it would last.
We stopped for lunch halfway, at a cute little village called Horseleap that Sean said was about the same size as Bailerealta. Mrs. O’Gara took over the driving after that, and after another hour or so we turned off the highway onto a smaller road. Then, half an hour later, an even smaller road, then another. Abruptly, the landscape changed from green to gray.
“Wow! It’s…like another planet.” I gazed wide-eyed at the wide expanses of stone stretching as far as I could see, obscured in places by patches of mist.
“The Burren.” Sean said. “We told you about it, remember? Nothing can grow here, obviously, so no one ever built here. Kind of cool, though, huh?”
I nodded wordlessly.
“Bailerealta isn’t far now,” Mrs. O’Gara said over her shoulder. “It’s at the edge of the Burren, so Duchas rarely wander in by accident. Which was the idea, when it was first founded back in the fifteen hundreds.”
Ten minutes later she turned onto a dirt track that looked more like a cow path than a road—just a pair of parallel ruts with a strip of weedy rock in between. We slowly wound our way up and over a barren crag and on the far side the green returned, first in patches, then suddenly all around us. At the same time, the mist thickened into real fog, making it hard to see very far ahead.
“There.” Sean pointed.
I squinted and saw rooftops in the near distance, poking up above the fog. As we got closer, they resolved into a collection of one- and two-story, mostly stone houses, some thatched, some tiled. Thatch? Really? Although this village supposedly housed nearly four hundred technologically-advanced Echtrans, so far it looked a lot like Horseleap. In other words, impossibly quaint.
Suddenly, a man sauntered out of the mist onto the road in front of us. Mrs. O’Gara stopped and rolled down the window.
“Lost, are ye?” the man called out in a thick Irish brogue.
“Nay, we’re here for the star gazing,” she called back, like it was some kind of password. “How are you, Cory?”
Now the man broke into a big smile and hurried forward. Like most Echtrans, he was way more handsome than average, with wavy red-brown hair and a strong jaw. “Ah, it’s you, then, Lili! I dinna recognize ye from afar. So, do you be bringin’—” He broke off, peering into the back of the car, his eyes wide.
“Yes, she’s here. You may as well go spread the word.”
He took a hasty step back, bowed in my direction, fist over heart, then, with another grin and a touch of his finger to his forehead, he turned and loped into the village.
“I feared there’d be no bringing you in quietly, Excellency.” Mrs. O sighed, slowly driving forward again. “You’d best brace yourself.”
“Um, brace myself? For what?”
“You’ll see.” Sean and Molly spoke at the same time, sounding amused rather than apprehensive.
Rigel’s anxiety nearly matched my own, but he tried to reassure me. Don’
t worry. Probably just some ceremony or something.
We reached a fork and turned right. Abruptly, the fog thinned to reveal the whole village, spread out around us. People began pouring into the street from all sides—men, women and children, many of them waving red and green banners.
I shrank back against my seat. “What…what do they want?”
“You, dear.” Mrs. O’Gara stopped the car and turned around with a smile. “I’d have warned you, but thought it might make you nervous. This first-ever visit of their Sovereign is nearly as much cause for celebration as when we got the news you were alive last fall.”
More and more people crowded into the street, laughing and cheering, until I was sure every single one of Bailerealta’s four hundred inhabitants must be out there. When they started chanting, I was even more freaked out.
“Faoda byo Thiarna Emileia! Faoda byo Thiarna Emileia!”
“This is crazy!”
“They’re happy, that’s all,” Mrs. O’Gara assured me. “Just smile and wave and try to enjoy yourself. Come now, don’t be shy. It means so much to everyone.”
I swallowed. “All right, but everybody stay close, okay? My Martian isn’t very good yet.”
Molly laughed. “Don’t worry, M, everybody speaks English. Even the Irish accents are mostly out of habit, for show. They’re just shouting—”
“Long live Sovereign Emileia. Yeah, I got that much.” I steeled myself for the role I had to play, knowing Mars would likely be even worse. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Sean climbed out, then held out a hand to me. Taking a deep breath, I put my hand into his, resolutely ignoring that little tingle. Stay close, okay? I repeated to Rigel, as much to reassure him that the hand-holding didn’t mean anything as because his nearness gave me courage.
Like glue. And I know—it’s all just for show. But I still sensed that tiny twinge of jealousy that never completely disappeared these days.
The second I stepped out, the crowd exploded in cheers. Fighting the urge to dive back into the car, I pasted a smile on my face—probably not a convincing one—and waved. They cheered even louder. I tried not to shiver visibly in the cold, damp breeze off the North Sea.
“What now?” I asked out of the corner of my mouth, trying not to let my smile escape. I was starting to feel stupid, just standing there waving like a mechanical doll.
As if in answer, a tall, dark-haired woman stepped forward and the crowd quieted to an excited murmur.
“Welcome, Excellency! I am Liana MacMurrough, Meara, ah, Mayor of Bailerealta. Please let me express how very honored we are to have you here. I’m sure you—all of you—are tired after your long journey. May I show you to your lodgings?”
It took me a second to realize it was on me to respond. “Thank you. Yes, that…that would be wonderful. I’m, um, very glad to be here.” Then, raising my voice a little, “Thank you all! I feel very welcome.”
More cheers. My smile became more genuine, their enthusiasm warming me. All these people, total strangers, really were overjoyed I was here, as bizarre and overwhelming as that seemed.
Just as I thought that, I saw, near the back of the crowd, the two Royals from our flight, deep in conversation with a tall, blonde woman and another man. None of them were cheering. Okay, maybe everybody wasn’t overjoyed.
I see them, Rigel thought before I could frame my vague concern into mental words. More ambitious Royals who aren’t thrilled with the idea of another Sovereign, I’m guessing. I’ll keep an eye on them.
Thanks. I turned back to the mayor, who was gesturing toward the first two-story house on the right, which boasted a slate roof and gorgeous lead-mullioned windows. I assumed it was what passed for a hotel here, or maybe a bed and breakfast. We had a few of those in Jewel.
The crowd now lined both sides of the street, occasional cheers still breaking out as we walked the short distance while Cory, the man who’d first greeted us, drove the car around back to unload our bags. We were nearly to the front door when a little girl, maybe four years old, ran up to me.
“Princess, this is for you,” she said with an adorable lisping Irish lilt. “I made it.” She held up a piece of paper with a crayon drawing that looked vaguely like a girl wearing a crown.
Ridiculously touched, I took the drawing. “Thank you so much. This is beautiful! Is that me?”
She nodded, grinning, and a woman, her face as red as her hair, rushed up.
“Oh, Excellency, my apologies! I was fussing with my two others and Ginny clear got away from me before I kenned it. I do hope she hasn’t—”
“No, no, it’s fine,” I broke in quickly. “Ginny just wanted to give me a present.” I displayed the drawing. “It was really sweet of her.”
The mother’s eyes went wide. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before bowing to me with the Martian fist-over-heart salute and backing away, dragging little Ginny by the hand.
“That was very gracious, Excellency,” Mayor Liana murmured, unlocking the front door.
Gracious? Had they expected me to be offended? “I thought it was sweet,” I repeated, confused.
Liana just smiled, then opened the door and stepped back so we could enter. I was clearly expected to go first so, after a second’s hesitation, I did.
“I hope this will be suitable?”
The house was as charming inside as out, the short entryway opening into a cozy parlor with overstuffed chairs and a sofa. I caught a glimpse of a huge kitchen beyond that.
“It’s beautiful! Are our rooms upstairs?” A wave of fatigue suddenly hit me.
Liana stepped inside and closed the door, muting the boisterous crowd outside. “Four bedrooms are upstairs, yes, with another two on this level. The largest has been made up specially for you, Excellency, but of course you may choose whichever room appeals most.”
“Are we the only ones staying here?”
“Of course.” She seemed startled. “This house has been set aside for you and your companions. I know it’s not much, but it’s the biggest we have. Normally Mrs. Cleary runs it as a bed and breakfast, but she would never ask you to share a roof with strangers. She’ll come in to cook for you, but she and her family will sleep elsewhere while you are here.”
I glanced at the O’Garas, but none of them looked surprised at all. “But…they shouldn’t have to leave their own house. Should they?”
“So very gracious,” Liana whispered to Mrs. O’Gara, looking almost awed.
Mrs. O just nodded, smiling at me in a motherly sort of way.
“Believe me, Excellency, the Clearys are extremely honored to have you in their home,” Liana assured me. “It will give them a story to tell for generations. But no one would think it proper for them to remain while you’re here.”
Just one more example of the weirdness of being the Princess. I still felt guilty about displacing the Clearys, but I didn’t want to say anything else that might delay a nap.
A tapping on the door woke me a couple of hours later. “Yes?”
Mrs. O’Gara cracked the door open. “I’m sorry to wake you, dear, but if you nap too long you’ll never sleep tonight. And we’ve all been invited to a dinner in your honor.”
“A dinner?”
“More of a festival, I imagine. The whole town will likely be there. You’ll be wanting to change, I’m thinking?”
I looked down at the rumpled t-shirt I hadn’t even bothered to take off before passing out. “Um, definitely. Do I have time for a shower?”
“Of course. We’ll all be in the parlor.”
She left and I glanced around at a room so nice I suspected it was Mr. and Mrs. Cleary’s own bedroom. I’d been too tired to notice more than the soft mattress earlier.
After a quick shower, I put on a purple paisley dress Bri had given me last year and grabbed my nice jacket, hoping I wouldn’t freeze. If the whole town was coming, the festival must be outside, but my parka seemed too informal for the guest of honor. When I joined the others down
stairs, I saw Sean and Molly had spiffed up, too, Sean in a well-cut suit and Molly in a shimmery, long-sleeved blue dress. Smoothing the creases in my skirt, I suddenly felt underdressed after all.
“Don’t worry.” Mr. O’Gara correctly interpreted my renewed nervousness. “This won’t be as…intense as your greeting when we arrived. People have had time to calm down a bit.”
Rigel came in and I turned to him for more reassurance. And immediately did a double-take, my eyes widening. Instead of the shirt and slacks I’d expected, he was encased in a form-fitting navy blue body suit with a brown leather strap crossing his chest from left shoulder to right hip, where a small holster protruded from his wide leather belt. Sleek black pants went from waist to mid-thigh, with the navy body suit continuing underneath, outlining his perfect calves.
It was all I could do not to fan myself in appreciation. He’d always looked impossibly fine in his tight-fitting football uniform, but this was over-the-top hot!
Wow! I like! Then, out loud, “So…what’s with the new outfit?”
Rigel gave an embarrassed shrug. “Now we’re in Bailerealta, I’m supposed to wear the official Bodyguard uniform. Do I look as ridiculous as I feel?”
“Ridiculous?” Ridiculously sexy, maybe. “Um, no. Definitely not.”
Molly shook her head in agreement while Sean scowled. I couldn’t seem to stop staring.
Did you get a good a nap? Rigel’s question snapped me out of my ogling.
Yeah. Am I the only one who crashed like that? How embarrassing. “I, uh, guess we should get going, huh?”
The sea breeze made me shiver as we walked, despite the hotness that was Rigel just behind my right shoulder. Sean was on my left, as protocol demanded. The village was roughly circular, the main road one big loop with a town square in the middle, footpaths radiating out from the center like spokes. As we approached I heard a clamor of voices, verifying that we’d be outside. Brr. If it wouldn’t upset Rigel, I’d ask Sean to use his omni to warm us all up.