I

by Jake Bible

  “I hope I get these types of greetings every time you see me,” Alexis said.

  “Do you also hope to get stabbed every time you leave?” the six year old asked, her eyes locking with her father’s.

  “Esther,” Eliza snapped. “Knock it off.”

  “I don’t know where she gets a tongue like that so young,” a tall woman, red haired and fair, said as she strode forward, a breen shawl around her shoulders that hung down over her bright blue tunic and down to the waist of her deep red trousers. “It’s not like the two of you are mouthy at all.”

  “Helios, I miss trousers,” Eliza said as she eased her bulk into a chair. “I can’t stand the draft that’s constantly blowing up this maternity dress. I feel like my cooch is just hanging free most of the time.”

  “And my point is made,” Minoress Melinda Teirmont said as she casually pushed the children aside and hugged her brother. “Welcome back, Al.”

  “Master Al,” Alexis smirked

  “Yeah, that’s not going to fly with me, son,” Melinda laughed. “I changed your diapers.”

  “Why does everyone insist on bringing that up? A man becomes master of station and every woman around him has to point out how they’ve wiped my ass when I was a baby.”

  “We don’t want power going to your head,” Melinda said, rapping her knuckles on his forehead. “We all know how that turns out.”

  “Grandfather,” Esther said.

  “Not your grandfather,” Melinda corrected, looking at her brother. “Our grandfather. The man nearly lost the station because of his ego.”

  “He was more mean than egotistical,” Alexis said. “I don’t think he actually cared about the slights he punished people for, he just wanted to punish.”

  “But you are not your grandfather or your father,” Eliza said.

  “No, I’m not,” Alexis said then looked down at the boy that had moved to hover by his mother’s chair. “And how is the future master of station? Last time I saw you, you were getting over another cold.”

  “I threw up,” the boy, Thomas, said. “Aunty Melmel got mad.”

  “I did not, you little bugger,” Melinda said then shrugged. “Well, maybe a little mad. But he got sick all over my new rug. I just had it imported from Station Flaen. Six months I waited for it to arrive because of all the havoc your damn Prime Treaty caused. Gummed up trade forever.”

  “And now that trade is flowing free,” Alexis said, taking a bow. “Thanks very much to your little brother.”

  “Oh, I’m sure others played a part,” Melinda scowled. “Careful of that master ego.”

  “I was only a minor when I was on the planet,” Alexis said.

  “But a master when you signed the treaty,” Melinda countered. “My warning still stands.”

  “You two,” Eliza sighed. “Exhausting.”

  Melinda frowned at her sister-in-law. “How are you feeling? How’s the baby?”

  “Still inside me,” Eliza grumbled. “I’d give my left tit if you’d take it out for me.”

  “Mother!” Esther snapped. “The little ones!”

  “Says the six year old,” Eliza said, holding out her arms. Esther came to her and was wrapped up instantly. “You talk like an old woman sometimes. Relax, little girl. You’ll grow up too fast for your mother’s heart.”

  Alexis sighed and closed his eyes for a second.

  “Al? Are you alright?” Eliza asked.

  “Sit,” Melinda responded.

  “No, I’m fine. Just tired,” Alexis replied. “Let’s gather these little ones and get back to our quarters. I think I could rest for a bit. Tomorrow’s a big day.”

  “Tomorrow?” Melinda asked.

  “I’ve called a meeting of stewards,” Alexis replied.

  “Aren’t all meetings of the stewards?” Melinda smiled.

  “Not for long,” Alexis smiled back. “This master plans on making some changes.”

  Melinda narrowed her eyes and then looked at Eliza. “What is he up to?”

  “I don’t have a clue,” Eliza said. “But I’ll find out and let you know.”

  “I’m standing right here,” Alexis said as he ushered his children towards the door. “At least conspire when I’m out of earshot.”

  “Shall I call a nurse for the children so you two can rest?” Melinda asked. “Or they could just stay here like I’ve offered a hundred times. I really don’t mind.”

  “No, we won’t need a nurse,” Alexis replied. “This isn’t Thraen.”

  * * *

  “A toast to our new master! May Helios bless him with a long reign and many heirs!” de Morlan said as he stood and lifted a glass of gelberry wine.

  The men seated at the long table all stood and lifted their glasses.

  “May Helios bless him!” they toasted.

  A sip was taken by each and they quickly sat back down, all eyes cast to the young master at the head of the table.

  “Thank you,” Alexis nodded as he stood and raised his glass. He winced slightly and his free hand involuntarily went to his wound. “I wish I could truly enjoy this, but I’m afraid the physicians have me on water and lemon tea for the next few weeks. Apparently a pint of gelberry wine is too much for me in my delicate state.”

  The table laughed and glasses were raised once more.

  “I thought the mistress was the one in the delicate state!” someone shouted.

  “Are you expecting as well, your highness?” another added.

  “Ha, funny,” Alexis said. “And, while on the subject of my wife’s condition, I have been told by the midwife to expect my new son in the next day or two. Another heir will be added to the line of succession, assuring the people that the reign of Family Teirmont will continue for at least another generation.”

  More raised glasses, laughter, and applause.

  “But, until I am called away to attend to that splendid occasion, I am here at the stewards’ disposal,” Alexis said as he sat down. “I know there have been issues that my father shoved to the side while on his campaign of rebuilding Station Aelon. I think it only fair that I give each of you time to discuss those issues and air any grievances you may have.”

  The table of stewards all looked at him, surprised by his request.

  “Your highness, surely you would rather have these types of discussions in private,” de Morlan suggested. He was seated to Alexis’s left while Derrick was seated across the table to the master’s right. De Morlan looked down the table at the confused faces then back to the master. “Some subjects may be of a sensitive nature.”

  “Oh, I am well aware of sensitive subjects,” Alexis said. “I have had to tiptoe around dozens of gatekeepers and even the High Guardian himself these past months. Which is exactly why I believe we need to have all meetings open. At least when amongst the stewards. We have to show an example to the passengers.”

  There was a tense and confused silence.

  “Uh, the passengers, your highness?” another man asked, Steward Emeric Hume. “Our posts as stewards are example enough to the commoners.”

  “If only that were true, Hume,” Alexis said. “But we all know that it is not.”

  “I do not mean to disagree, your highness—”

  “Then don’t,” Alexis grinned. “Especially when you have no idea what you are disagreeing with.”

  Steward Hume nodded and went quiet.

  “Perhaps you’d like to illuminate us with what it is we should be disagreeing about,” a young man said as he walked into the great hall. “My apologies for being late, your highness. My skid broke down on my way from Sector Kirke. I was forced to walk the last bit of the way. I took the liberty of showering in my guest quarters here at court before joining you. Wouldn’t do to have the steward of Sectors Kirke, Shem, Maelphy and Bueke smelling like the lower decks.”

  The man, average height with dark hair and deep set brown eyes, took his chair next to Derrick. He nodded to the master and then tapped a glass and looked to the wall
of the great hall.

  “No gelberry wine for me?” he grinned, leaning forward and peering into the master’s glass. “Maybe I should indulge in some water like your highness. It could be a trend of sobriety that the station could follow.”

  “I believe life is hard enough as it is, Cousin Stolt,” Alexis said. “I wouldn’t dare condemn my people to that.”

  “Nor I,” Stolt said as a servant filled his glass with the deep pink liquid. He lifted his glass to Alexis. “A long and interesting life.”

  “That toast could be considered a curse, Cousin,” Alexis said.

  “It was not meant as such,” Stolt responded after taking a long drink. “And I thank you for always acknowledging our blood ties.”

  “Yes, of course,” Alexis smiled. “Oh, and congratulations on your recent marriage! I am sorry my convalescence prevented me from attending. You must be proud to add Sectors Maelphy and Bueke to your holdings.”

  “More proud to have such a lovely woman as my wife,” Stolt said. “While I do have plenty of children to carry on my name, Gloria is still of childbearing age and will produce fine offspring.”

  “Just in case,” Alexis replied.

  “Just in case, indeed,” Stolt laughed.

  “You speak of your wife as if she were a common shaow heifer just waiting to be milked,” Derrick snapped. “You know that Gloria is also our cousin on our mother’s side, don’t you, Cousin? She may not be Family Teirmont, but she is family to me and my brother.”

  “Rick,” Alexis said quietly. “Cousin Stolt was just expressing his happiness at the new marriage in the context as steward. We all must look to our lineage. You never know when a plague could hit the station and take those we most love away from us.”

  “Helios forbid,” Stolt said and clenched a fist then made an X across his chest.

  “Helios forbid,” the rest of the table said and all X’ed themselves as well.

  “So, what is this about the passengers that has Steward Hume so worked up?” Stolt asked after finishing half his glass in one swallow.

  “I am not worked up, sir,” Hume grumbled.

  “No, I quite expected some to get worked up,” Alexis said. “What I propose will upset a great many of you.”

  The room was deathly silent and not a steward dared move as they waited for the master to explain.

  “You all know why I was sent down to Helios,” Alexis began. “It was a crusade to wrest control of The Way Prime from the gatekeepers and the High Guardian. Which was my idea and not my father’s.”

  There were chuckles as well as grumbles from the assembly.

  “Not the most popular campaign, I know,” Alexis laughed. “But one I felt passionate about. The Way Prime is the only land on all of Helios with sky clear enough, and stable enough, to allow station transports to land and launch. Without The Way Prime we cannot get men and supplies down to the planet for our own prime, nor can we bring the canisters of Vape we mine back to Station Aelon. The Way controls all trade and movement on and off the Helios planet.”

  “But you didn’t secure control, did you, your highness?” Stolt asked, his face nothing but innocence and inquiry.

  “No, I did not,” Alexis admitted. “I expected, and was assured, the support of the other stations, but one by one they withdrew that support, Thraen being the last, and I was left to make a hard decision.” He looked down the table, making eye contact with each and every steward. “I could keep fighting, and most likely lose Aelon Prime, or I could sit down with the The Way and work out a more agreeable compact between them and the stations. The latter was the prudent choice.”

  “And the only choice,” de Morlan added.

  “How many men did we lose before that choice was made?” Stolt asked. “I know of four hundred alone from my sectors that did not return.”

  “We lost over three thousand men,” Alexis said. “Good men. Loyal men. Men I wish I could resurrect and bring back to their families right this second.”

  “Resurrection is The Way’s purview,” Stolt laughed. “You should have added that to the negotiations.”

  “Careful, Cousin,” Derrick growled. “You overstep.”

  “It’s alright, Rick,” Alexis said. “If I believed they could be brought back then I would have negotiated those terms as well. But they cannot be brought back. What can be done is their memories are honored, and the memories of all that have fallen in campaigns for Station Aelon, by establishing a new meeting. The meeting of passengers.”

  Alexis sat back and watched that news set in. He looked at his brother, whose eyes were wide with surprise, then looked at de Morlan who looked like he was suffering a case of serious indigestion. The table erupted into excited and angry chatter. Only Steward Stolt seemed nonplussed by the news.

  The man emptied his glass then held it out for a servant to fill once more. He raised the full glass towards Alexis and winked.

  “All the luck in the System with this one, your highness,” Stolt grinned.

  “No luck needed,” Alexis said. “It is within my power to create new legislative bodies for the governance of the station. I am doing just that.”

  “But, your highness,” an obese man at the far end of the table exclaimed. “Passengers? Passengers are to be ruled, not consulted on how to rule!”

  “They won’t be consulted at all,” Alexis responded to Steward Nele Gervès. “That is not the point. They will rule alongside the meeting of stewards. An equal body in all senses and powers.”

  “Oh, Helios,” Derrick said, hanging his head in his hands as the great hall erupted into shouts and protests, the stewards completely throwing off all decorum. “What have you done, Brother?”

  “I have kept a promise,” Alexis said. “That is something I plan on always doing as master.”

  “Do you have any idea how naïve that sounds?” Derrick asked, lifting his face from his hands to look at his brother. “Being master means breaking promises constantly. You do what you have to for the good of the station.” He waved a hand down the table. “Does this look like it will do good for the station?”

  “I believe it will,” Alexis said. “Once the stewards calm down.”

  “Quiet!” de Morlan shouted, standing and pounding his hands on the table. “Be quiet! All of you!”

  It was another couple minutes before the stewards settled down enough for Alexis to continue. When the master spoke again, he was addressing a very hostile audience.

  “To appease you all, I will say that members of the meeting of passengers will be appointed by the stewards from the sector wardens and deck bosses,” Alexis said.

  “That will limit the chaos and pool to choose from,” Stolt said. “I like that rule.”

  “But,” Alexis said, looking at the steward. “You men will need to choose wisely who you appoint. A provision will be in place for the passengers to recall their representatives and choose one of their own if the members are found to be favoring the interests of the stewards and not the passengers. The entire point of this is to allow the people a voice and hand in their own governance.”

  “This sounds dangerously like democracy, your highness,” Steward Jacon Oweyn stated. A man of advanced age, he was the elder of all stewards. “History has shown that democracy does not work on the stations. That is why the monarchy and stewardships were created millennia ago. The people cannot be trusted to rule; they do not have the stomach for it.”

  “The people will not rule,” Alexis said. “Just like the stewards do not rule. The only ruler on Station Aelon is the master. Or have you forgotten this fact, Steward Oweyn?”

  “I meant no insult, your highness,” Oweyn said then nodded to those around him. “I just wanted to make an observation regarding your proposal.”

  “It is not a proposal,” Alexis said. “It’s a ruling.” He snapped his fingers and porters waiting by the walls stepped forward with papers in hand. “Because that is what rulers do, they rule.”

  The papers were set
in front of each steward and soon all eyes were cast down at the table and the writs handed them.

  “To take effect immediately?” Steward Horach Gylis asked. “But we have not had time to decide who will be the members of this meeting!”

  “You will have three days to return to your sectors and interview your candidates,” Alexis said, standing up to indicate the meeting was over. “I plan on touring each sector myself starting in four days. This way I can gauge the mood of the people as well as meet your chosen candidates. Once my tour is completed I will make the candidates’ posts official and the first meeting of passengers will be called. As well as another meeting of stewards, marking the first annual conjoined meeting.”

  The stewards all stared at their master until de Morlan stood up and gave a small bow towards the head of the table.

  “Of course, your highness,” de Morlan said. “I would welcome a royal tour of my sector, as I am sure my colleagues would as well.”

  Slowly, one by one, the rest of the stewards stood and bowed to Alexis. Stolt was the last to stand and his eyes never left Alexis’s when he bowed.

  “Read your papers,” Alexis said. “I believe you will find that my ruling is not as horrendous as you think it may be. With another legislative body, the blame when things go wrong can be spread about.”

  Some at the table chuckled, but most stayed silent in their anger.

  “Rick? Walk with me,” Alexis said as he left the table. “My lords, I thank you all.”

  Alexis strode from the great hall, his long legs covering the distance quickly.

  Once out in the passageway, and safely out of sight and earshot, Alexis reached out for his brother. Derrick was at his side instantly as the master stumbled and winced.

  “You will push yourself to an early grave,” Derrick said. “How bad is it?”

  Alexis looked down at his tunic and was glad he chose dark blue since it hid the spreading stain across his midsection.

  “You need a physician,” Derrick scolded. “You’re oozing life everywhere.”

  “Your highness!” a porter shouted from the far end of the passageway. “Your highness! The physicians need you at once!”