Buskin was first to speak. “I’ve never heard of a Chosen going into a net, Your Majesty.”
“These are hard times, Admiral, and all of us are doing things we never thought we’d do, yourself included. Exceptions have been made, and they’ll continue to be made, with calculation. Your Queen leads from the front, not the rear. Understood?”
A fleeting smile crossed his face. “I do, Your Majesty. It remains my pleasure to serve.”
“We all serve the Empire, nothing more and nothing less, myself included.”
She pulled Buskin aside. “I’d like to invite all of you to dine with me, but truth be told, I don’t have much of a staff. Would you be willing to host us?”
“On my ship? Of course!”
“I’d like it to be just us. I want to hear your stories, and I want an informal setting.”
His gaze rose to the ceiling for a time, then returned to her. “The dinner can be informal, but I beg you, Your Majesty, to consider your entrance. You’re the Queen. My men have been working hard for many months, all in your name, not your person. Might it not be better to appear before them with all the appropriate regalia?”
A warm smile lit her face. “You’re right, Admiral. I stand corrected. Your men will see their Queen at her finest. Set up whatever is appropriate. Have you done this before?”
“No, Your Majesty, but I’ll figure something out. It might not be what you’re accustomed to. My sailors are going to be busy with preparations, and they’ll grumble, but they’ll love it. Will you stay the night?”
“I will, and I’ll inspect the squadron tomorrow if that works for you.” She turned to face Krys’ crew. “We have certain formalities to complete. You’re all heroes, but we’ve learned some things the hard way. Each of you must be Tested.” She turned to Krys. “Do you have a lounge or meeting area on the ship? I’d like to get this over with.”
Krys led her to the lounge and was Tested, then each of the others stood before their Queen, one at a time. It didn’t take long, as Ellie had known it would not. When she was done, she sent for Krys and excused everyone else.
“Stven said you were wounded,” she began as Krys settled into a chair with her legs folded beneath herself.
“Not exactly. I only experienced the Chessori mind weapon strongly one time, and I don’t even remember it. I spent a few days in sick bay, then I was back on my feet.”
“What happened to you?”
“Bleeding in my brain is what happened to me. It was only minor.”
“It doesn’t sound minor to me.”
“It was, Your Majesty. We’re taking special precautions for the next time.”
“There won’t be a next time.”
Krys closed her eyes. She’d known this subject would come up, but she had hoped it wouldn’t come up so soon. When she opened her eyes, she encountered the determined look she knew so well, a look that brooked no argument. “I can’t stay here, Mother.”
“You can, and you will. I’m not going to let you go gallivanting all over the Empire when it could kill you. Besides the fact that I love you, you’re my Seer, as you’ve been telling everyone. I need you by my side.”
“You need me out there more.”
Ellie stared at her. “I do?”
“Yes, you do. I haven’t had a lot of visions, but those I’ve had have been meaningful and productive for you and your leaders. Did you know I’ve actually forecast two major battles, and the commander is forewarned?”
“I do know. Chandrajuski, Mike, and Val met with Seeton and Veswicki.”
“What if I can do more of that?”
“Why don’t you do it for us, instead?”
“Why don’t I do it for all of you. I can come back, you know.”
Ellie brooded. All of her Knights, all of her close friends, were out on assignment, each of them in harm’s way. Must all of her loved ones leave her side?
Krys understood. “I’m sorry, Mother. I, too, would like to stay. I’m terrified out there.”
“Then stay.”
“I can’t. You need me out there more than you need me here.”
Ellie wanted more time to think, but in her heart she knew Krys spoke true. Her visions had, indeed, been fortuitous. She changed the subject. “I have a name, you know.”
“Ellandra of the Chosen. I know, but you’re Queen now, Your Majesty.”
“In private, for some, I prefer my name. I have a new name, given to me by Michael. He calls me Ellie. Will you do the same?”
Krys considered. “In my heart, I think of you as Mother. Those two years we had after you pulled me from the orphanage is a time I will cherish forever.”
“And I still think of you as my daughter. Val is learning to call me Ellie, though it’s not easy for him. I’ve formed an Inner Circle, and he’s a member. Will you join me in my Inner Circle?”
“As the Queen’s Seer, it makes sense. As Krys, I don’t have much to offer.”
“Oh, you might surprise yourself. We’re all young for our positions, and we all make mistakes, but we’ve done a lot of things right, too.”
“You’re alive, and that’s something. I truly feared for you when we arrived at Dorwall.”
“It was a terrible time. Many sacrificed themselves in my name, and I will never get over the sadness it brings to me. This is all so horrible.”
“But we persevere, Mother.”
“We do. And your part in it has been to speak in my name.”
Krys paled, but she had known this would come up. She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry, Mother. It was the only way.”
Ellie smiled fondly at her daughter. “I know. I’m amazed that you managed to deal with all those admirals, governors, and senators so successfully.”
“The Great Cats opened many doors. Those they didn’t open were opened by the locket.”
“Ah, yes. The locket. I’d like it back, Krys.”
“Mother?” she asked in horror.
“It’s time to return it, my daughter.”
Krys pulled the chain from under her coveralls and stared at the locket. Never used until two years ago, it had become a part of the person she considered herself to be, a part of her very identity. She removed the chain from around her neck and held it out to Ellie with a trembling hand.
Ellie took it and stood. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
She wasn’t gone long, and when she returned, she had Krys’ whole crew with her. The small lounge was overflowing by the time they all got settled, and Stven had to settle for the corridor, though his head reaching through the door towered above everyone.
She got right down to business, her focus Krys. “As a Friend, you’ve called others to my side. You’ve transcended rank and position to do so, you’ve used my name in the process, and you’ve chosen well. Few exercise such rights. Those that do are called Knights of the Realm. Since learning of your activities, I have waited in hope for your day of Naming. Will you kneel before your Queen, my daughter?”
Krys’ lips trembled. She whispered, “What are you doing, Mother?” forgetting that they were no longer in private.
“It’s time to officially Name you for who you are.”
“Val is the Knight in our family.”
Ellie looked at her kindly, and a little sadly. “Little is known about your parents, but they created two individuals of unparalleled ability. You and your brother are both made of the stuff of Knights, my dear.”
Krys looked to her friends, not only uncertain, but in disbelief about what was happening. Stven nodded his great head, his purple eyes telegraphing triumph. M’Sada’s upper hands were working overtime on his antennae, but he, too, encouraged her with a clicking of his mandibles.
Tarn came to Krys and took her arm, stepping with her to her Queen. “You choose well, Your Majesty,” he said.
She smiled. “In this, I do.”
Tarn helped Krys to go to one knee, not that she needed help had she had her wits about her. She was far more flexible than he
would ever be. He stepped back, and Ellie put both of her hands on Krys’ head, then lifted her eyes to her daughter’s friends.
“You are witness to a ceremony few ever see, something very private and almost holy among the Chosen and their Knights. To be chosen as a Knight is not so much an honor as it is a call to even greater sacrifice in my name.”
She lowered her gaze to rest upon Krys. “From the day we met, we’ve both known that our futures were linked. Since then, you have spoken in my name, and to those you have spoken you are called My Lady. It is a title earned and a title respected. Your Naming day has come, and the title My Lady will now be official. You have already demonstrated fealty to the Empire. Krys, do you swear continued fealty to my crown?”
To Krys, Knights of the Realm were legendary characters straight out of the adventure novels she had so cherished during her unhappy years at the orphanage. She wasn’t in their league. Val was, and he had been for as long as she’d known him, but she still thought of herself as the young girl she had been when she first met Daughter. Now, the person she called mother was asking her to leave her childhood behind, to be a woman, an adult . . . a leader.
She took Ellie’s hands in her own and removed them from her head. She kissed each of those hands, then turned to Tarn, still holding Ellie’s hands. How did he feel about this? The answer to that question was more important to her than the demand from her mother. Did that mean she was already no longer a child?
He returned her look, then went to one knee beside her and touched her cheek. “You are a Knight, My Lady. Say yes.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek, then stood up.
Krys felt an inner strength filling her all of a sudden. Her Naming was unexpected, not something she had sought, but it was okay with him, and it was suddenly right. She looked up into Ellie’s eyes. She wanted to help this woman whom she so loved, and she wanted to help the Empire, knew she could help the Empire. It’s what Seer’s did, at least this Seer.
“I do swear fealty to you, Your Majesty.”
Ellie smiled and pulled Krys to her feet. She reached into one of her voluminous pockets and pulled out two Knight’s Pins. She placed the pins in Krys’ hands, then pressed those hands together within her own. Her eyes closed for a time, then she removed her hands. “Activate the pins, Krys.”
Krys passed her hand over the two pins, and both sprung open. Ellie’s countenance shone forth. Ellie took the pins from Krys, closed them, then pinned them in place on the collar of Krys’ coveralls, saying, “With these tokens, I knight thee, Lady Krys, Knight of the Realm. Your word is my command on all worlds of the Empire.” She drew Krys into an embrace, an embrace that was returned strongly, then turned Krys to face her crew.
“I present Lady Krys.”
Krys turned and buried her head in Tarn’s chest. Ellie stood back in surprise, suddenly fully aware of what this young man meant to Krys. Her heart warmed. Tarn’s gaze met hers, and his arms tightened around Krys. Tarn and his Queen stared at each other for a time, each with similar thoughts. The Naming of a Knight was a call to greater sacrifice. What would that sacrifice entail for Krys? Whatever it was, Ellie read in his eyes that he would be by her side throughout.
She broke eye contact with Tarn and looked to Krys’ crew. “You have stood beside Lady Krys, a woman I call daughter, for many months. You have endured great perils in my name, and Krys informs me that her mission is not yet done. As Empire officers, your Queen charges you to remain by her side for however long it takes to end this rebellion. As Ellandra of the Chosen, I ask you personally to accept this charge. Will you?”
Stven nodded his great head and said yes. M’Sada stopped his preening and clicked his mandibles, then uttered, “Of course, Your Majesty.” Tarn just looked at her and nodded grimly, his arms still engulfing Krys. Gortlan and the two gunners nodded solemnly.
She removed a locket and chain from a pocket and stepped to Stven. “Captain Stven, I Name you Friend of the Royal Family,” she said as she placed the chain over his head. She repeated the process before each of the crew, Naming each of them a Friend.
Tarn came last. She studied him for a moment, then reached into another pocket and removed another locket. “This one belonged to Krys,” she said with a glimmer in her eyes. She placed it over his head, saying, “Tarn Lukes, I Name you Friend of the Royal Family.”
When she was done, she stepped back. “You have seen the power of these lockets. Use them wisely.”
All of them lowered themselves to the deck, but Ellie would have none of it. “We’re off to dinner. I had hoped it would be an informal affair, but we’re going up to Admiral Buskin’s ship, and he has asked for a formal entrance. For those of you who wear clothes, it’s time to dress. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”
They lifted for the cruiser an hour later, and Ellie again pulled Krys to the side. “Will you stay with me when we go aboard? I’d like to have a Knight by my side.”
Krys smiled. “I will, Mother.”
“Tarn is special, and it shows. I’m happy for you.”
“He’s the Guide, Mother.”
Ellie sucked in a breath. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. In my hour of need, he came, and now he’s far more than Guide. I’ve fallen in love with him.”
“I see that now.”
Krys sighed. “If I could have nothing else, it would be to have his undivided attention in private.”
“You’ve had no privacy? I’m sorry.”
“It’s a small ship. There’s no possibility of privacy.” She blushed, and Ellie laughed.
“I know what you mean. Admiral Jons needs to return to the surface tonight after dinner. Would you and Tarn like to accompany him?”
“Why?”
Ellie leaned toward Krys and spoke confidentially. “I’m staying aboard with Admiral Buskin. My quarters are empty, my dear.”
Krys looked at her in shock. “Mother! You’d do that for me?”
“Not just for you. For him, as well, but only under the condition that he only shares your love, he doesn’t demand all of it.”
Krys’ eyes took on a calculating look. “It won’t be easy to convince him. Chandrajuski ordered him to remain a gentleman.”
“My dear, you outrank Chandrajuski now.”
“But I can’t compel his love.”
“No, you cannot. I faced the same problem with Michael. We’ve managed to work it out.”
“Hmm. You’ll be gone all day tomorrow?”
“At least. I might choose to visit each ship, and that will take longer. Would you like that?”
She smiled. “I’d like that very much, Mother. I love you. I hope you know that’s not going to change.”
“I know. We have too many years behind us and more ahead of us. There are others who will become part of your life, who you will have to share your love with. Did you know Val, too, is in love?”
“No! Who is she?”
“She, too, is a Knight. Her name is Reba, and I know you’re going to like her.”
“Where are they?”
“To the best of my knowledge, Val is on Orion III with Korban. A battle’s shaping up there, and Chandrajuski is pulling out all the stakes.”
“It’s the first battle?”
“Yes. Chandrajuski has not forgotten what Seeton learned from your vision. I think Admiral Buskin will be his reinforcements at Aldebaran I when the time comes.”
“If he’s ready. The Chessori are a serious deterrent.”
“I know. Mike and Reba are working on it.”
“How?”
“We have a lot to talk about. Let’s leave it until later.”
* * * * *
When dinner ended, Krys took Tarn by the arm and led him toward the hangar deck.
“What’s up, My Lady?” he asked.
“Admiral Jons needs a lift back to the surface. We’re taking him in Rappor. You do know how to land this thing, don’t you?”
“Yes, My Lady,” he said stiffly.
A Great Cat met them at the foot of the ramp when they landed. Jons bid them farewell, and Krys took Tarn’s arm and followed the cat. When they arrived at Ellie’s quarters, the Great Cat remained outside the door when she closed it. Tarn was clearly confused, and his uneasiness was clear to Krys.
She was not confused, and she was not uneasy – she was focused. “We have the place to ourselves, tonight and all day tomorrow.”
“My Lady?”
She turned to stare at him, then pulled him to herself. “My Lady, huh?”
“You’re a Knight of the Realm now, Krys, and you really are My Lady.”
“Wrong, Tarn. I’m not My Lady, I’m your lady, for as long as you’ll have me. That hasn’t changed.”
“Oh, but it has.”
She leaned back from him, a mischievous smile on her face. “Do you want it to change?”
“Of course not. You know me better than that.”
“I do. Between us, there is only us, Tarn. I may be a Knight, but I will never command your love. Can you accept me on those terms?”
“I love you, Krys. I’ll accept you on any terms you offer.”
“You’re my knight. You know that, don’t you?”
“I’m beginning to know it.”
“We have tonight and all day tomorrow. It’s the first time we’ve ever had privacy. Will you stay with me?”
“I will. Rank or no, you are my lady.”
“And you’re my man. Mother arranged all this, you know.”
He panicked. “The Queen?” He looked around the quarters. “This is her place?”
“It is, and she’s happy to share it with us, but only so long as you don’t claim all my love. For the moment you have, but in the long run, I think you’re going to have to accept her as part of me.”
“You ask too much.”
“I do, and I will. You’re man enough. Come to me, Tarn.”
* * * * *
Ellie spent two days touring the squadron, then she joined Buskin in his office aboard the cruiser. “You need to meet with Chandrajuski. I expect him back any day. Can you wait?”
He rubbed the back of his neck as he considered. “I’d like to wait, but if he hasn’t entered the system, he’s weeks away. If you know what direction he’s coming from, I might be able to meet him out there when he drops from hyper.”
Knights of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Two) Page 23