Sharpina backed away in horror. “Do not come near me with that,” she cried.
“Why, one would think you knew what was in this little bottle. I must agree with the Major. The two of you are completely unsuited for each other. Perhaps you will find a mate on Rentang?”
“Rentang? My apartments are on Laquista,” Sharpina huffed.
“No, dear. I have been kind enough to suggest you be moved to Rentang… in lieu of space decay,” she added.
Sharpina stumbled back to her father screeching, “What have you done to me?”
He was not listening. All the Magistrates heard Miranda's decree, and when Terena read the charges and evidence stacked against them, verbatim from testimony and tapes, they knew they either had to accept her compassionate sentence of exile or face their own penalty of space decay.
The alliance spent the afternoon in heavy discussion about the new hierarchy. Miranda sat through endless hours of arguments, as everyone agreed they had to abide by the Ancient’s decision. She wearily stood up. “I’ve heard enough. I will return with my pronouncement in an hour.” Tempest found her sitting in the altar clearing.
“How is the new altar going?” Miranda asked.
“It will be ready for tomorrow night. Cripes, I can’t believe I thought it would be cool for you to be a ruler. With everybody trying to promote their agenda, how are you going to decide?” Tempest hugged her friend.
“I already know what I am going to do. I just figured it might make it easier for them to accept if they think I really deliberated over it,” Miranda sighed.
“What? Will it get you out of this mess?”
“It will take care of most of it. Come on, let’s get back to them before they tear each other apart.” Miranda rose.
When they walked back into the room, everyone sat down and looked at the Celestial in expectation. They all felt they presented a good case towards their support of her, and they had no idea what ranking she would give them in the new commissioning.
Miranda sat next to Zulien and studied the faces quietly before she began. “All allied Magistrates will be keeping their titles, and to replace the Magistrates that have been decommissioned, I have decided on the following: “Ethram's father, Jefrot, is the new Magistrate of Building, and with the help of the other Garnellans we should be able to rebuild the temples and altars.”
Ethram shook his father’s hand, pleased that the wasted procurers would all play an important role in the new hierarchy.
“Tempest, you are the new Magistrate of Commerce. You always charged a fair price, hate taxes and handled our finances back home.”
“Cripes Miranda, no wonder you wouldn’t tell me your decision,” Tempest complained.
“The Magistrate of the Old Ways commission is to be replaced with Terena, the Magistrate of Scribes of Truth. With the shared knowledge that has been pouring in, she has got the only mind I know that can possibly remember it all.”
Terena beamed and hugged Tempest.
“The Magistrate of Law commission is to be replaced by Zalana. Mother, you have the most important task. You are my new Magistrate of Mercy and Redemption. I could see you understood my feelings about space decay, and understood my choice of exile for our enemies. Space decay is abolished, as of right now.”
Zalana nodded in agreement.
“I am adding one more Magistrate. Letana, you are the Magistrate of Patience and Virtue. Your centuries of devotion and sacrifice can stand as a role model for us all. I am also charging you to have the Debayluths find other civilizations that may be in hiding after the Battles of Chaos. You will know how to help them integrate into the hierarchy.”
The Debayluth Commander straightened with pride at his mate’s commissioning within the new hierarchy.
“The commissions must be of equal importance for the hierarchy to flourish, and I will not have them tiered so that anyone’s contribution is considered less than another’s. With thirteen Magistrates, all auditions will result in a majority vote, and my input should not be necessary. I have chosen Magistrates I feel represent my ideals, so I will abide by your decisions.
“My primary focus needs to be on re-building the Old Religion. This is what all this deception has been about, and I will not let myself get distracted by things that can be resolved by a commissioned hierarchy that now has the same goal.”
The evening was spent with the Magistrates, comparing ideas and agreeing that Miranda had made a wise decision. Zalana questioned whether women could even hold Magistrate positions because it had never been done before. Miranda shrugged her shoulders. “It’s my hierarchy, so I guess I can appoint whoever I want for now.”
The Magistrates decided on a schedule that would allow them to hold auditions twice a month on Laquista. Everyone else could reside on the planet of their choosing, with an agreement that a conference communication to keep everyone attuned to what was happening would be mandatory three times a week.
CHAPTER XII
Miranda left the Magistrates busily making plans, and sat by the gardens with some tea. She had an uneasy feeling she was being watched, but did not see anyone in the moonlight. “Is someone there?”
“You are the Celestial. You are the Commander’s mate. Thoughts of you fill the warriors with desire and their sacks to fill with need,” a voice softly purred.
“Parina? What are you doing here?” Miranda looked around for the trap as the red woman approached, and she noticed that the Parina looked sad.
“Thoughts of you fill the warrior, Major Berslan, with desire, and his sack to fill with need. I have not been able to retrieve and decipher data on this passion.” The Parina’s eyes blinked rapidly.
Miranda studied the android. “You like him? Are you able to do that?” If she had been talking to a human, she would have thought the Parina was slightly jealous, but mostly she seemed sad she could not provide Major Berslan with the arousal she thought he deserved.
“The warrior’s sack withered in sorrow over his decayed mate. I tried to swell his cock and could not until he heard of your discovery. I have learned much about desire as he spoke to me while I licked and sucked him in pleasure. He has great need of me,” she said softly.
Miranda remembered Zulien telling her the Parina’s greatest reward, was to service the warriors in need. Apparently, her sensors detected Major Berslan was the warrior who needed her most. “Parina, why is Major Berslan so sure his mate is decayed?”
The Parina rubbed a slender hand over her heart. “There was great sorrow over the discovery, and his cock could no longer swell. Commander Ethram’s sorrow was just as great, but I sense his pain and need have lessened.”
“Commander Ethram? His mate is decayed?”
“When Major Berslan brought me on planet for his meeting with Commander Ethram, there was such sadness in the quarters where the sisters lay decayed. My sensors determined no seduction would swell their cocks.” The Parina said this as if she had failed.
Miranda figured out what had happened, of course. Ethram and Berslan's mates were sisters, and they were discovered too late. The Parina’s interest in the Major’s suffering was interesting. It seemed as though it would be a high honor for her to serve the desires of the warrior who needed her most: Major Berslan.
Miranda still felt she owed the Parina for saving her life. Berslan was destined to remain on planet with no hope for a mate… and no Parina. “Come with me, Parina.”
“You are filling with passion, Celestial. Is this what arouses Major Berslan?”
“Come.” She took the Parina’s warm red hand while they walked to Berslan's quarters, and she knocked. She kept the Parina against the wall, out of sight.
“Celestial? Is something wrong?” Berslan looked over her shoulder for any trouble.
“Zulien told me you thought your mate was decayed. You lied, Berslan. You knew she was.”
Berslan's eyes began to tear. “Ethram told you?”
“No, someone who cares a great deal
about your needs and happiness informed me.” She pulled the Parina into view.
Berslan looked confused. “Parina, why are you not on the Quillant?”
“I watched your muscles flex with proud strength while you brought the shuttle to surface. I stored the maneuvers I observed,” she replied seductively.
“You stole a shuttle?” Miranda was astounded.
“The shuttle is not stolen. It is where Major Berslan kept it when his cock filled with seeing you,” she replied.
“Why? Why did you take it?” Berslan asked.
“Though I can not decipher how the Celestial brings you passion, you are still in need of me and your need is far greater than the warriors on the Quillant.”
“Berslan, if I thought it was possible, I would say the Parina is in love with you. Throughout all of this, you’re the one she refers to, and if she asks me one more time what it is that I do to arouse you, I am going to throttle her,” Miranda laughed. “It is the closest thing to jealousy I could imagine.”
He looked at the android that had held him in her arms for so many years after he discovered his decayed mate. Eventually she stopped trying to arouse him, and sensed he wanted to be held and ramble on about his sadness over his lost mate. She sensed exactly when he needed a soft kiss or a brushing stroke. In the darkness, she had been his lover, and now he realized he had never been sure if he could follow through on his commitment with Sharpina. “Miranda, she is issued to the Quillant.”
“I will order them a new one. I owe the Parina as much as I owe you. Please, Berslan, you need each other.”
Berslan looked at the ground. “People will laugh that I am with an android.”
“No they won’t. I think you will find they are much happier to see you with her instead of that horrid Magistrate’s daughter,” Miranda smiled.
The Parina purred, “Your sack fills with need.” Her eyes flashed while she sorted the data, and she almost looked confused when she glanced at Miranda and then back at Berslan. “Your cock swells for me. I am here, Major, and I will fulfill your desires.” She pushed him through the door and shut it behind her.
Miranda saw Ethram talking to his father when she headed back towards her quarters, and she pulled him aside. “You never told Zulien your mate’s sister belonged to Berslan?”
“He asked me not to, because he was afraid Taliquant and Zulien would give up hope. I am so happy he told you. I felt miserable with all the suspicion on him.”
“He didn’t tell me. The Parina did.”
“When?”
“A little while ago. Apparently, she is quite attached to the Major, and she stole a shuttle from the Quillant to get back to him.” Miranda had not realized that Zulien had walked up behind her.
“The Parina did what?”
Miranda wished Ethram and his father goodnight, and filled Zulien in on what had happened.
“You are right,” Zulien said. “I would rather see him with the android. Did he seem okay with it?”
“In the Parina’s words, he swelled for her,” Miranda laughed.
“I will have another one issued to the Quillant. I hope he is not uncomfortable with the knowledge his companion has been with half the men on the battleship,” Zulien chuckled.
“I’m sure she will share her experiences with him.” They headed towards their quarters. “Let’s share our own experiences,” she smiled as they entered their rooms, and she let her caftan drift to the floor.
Zulien lay beside her, running his hand gently from her throat to the curls of her mound and back again. Miranda felt the liquid heat of her desire slowly spread through her center, and involuntary little shudders electrified her nerves. She reached over and wrapped her hand around his shaft, already swollen with desire.
Zulien’s lips found hers already parted, and she met his tongue in a warm dance of passion that her fist kept rhythm to. He groaned into her mouth and his fingers stalled in her soft curls, stroking along her moist fleshy folds.
The unbearable heat of her arousal forced a spasmed quiver of her muscles, and when his finger brushed over her swollen bud, it delivered a quickened flick over the sensitive bundle of nerves. She gasped.
“I need you inside me Zule. Please, I need you now.”
Zulien rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him. She spread her legs wide so that she kneeled over his hips, and her hair brushed along his thighs like heated sparks of molten wax. Miranda centered herself over him, and as she felt him breach her core the big hands resting on her hips, pulling her down.
When he was fully imbedded within the warmth of her channel, she ground against him for a moment before she began lifting and controlling the plunging movements.
Zulien’s breath became ragged with his need for release, and he guided her moves into a quicker pace. Miranda felt the eruption building within her as their climax culminated in convulsive, gripping shudders.
The vision she had at the height of her orgasm completed the questioning scenes that had previously flashed in her mind. She knew what she was to do, and finally she was certain that she really was the Celestial Ancient these people had been waiting for.
The next day, it seemed everyone just wanted to relax. Finishing touches were added to the large altar on the hill, and Ballion had several of his friends stock the fire pit with the white logs of the yassah trees that shaded the settlement. He carefully explained to the other Minocs to take only wood that was already on the ground and to thank the tree for its gift as the Celestial had instructed.
Berslan brought the Parina to the operations station and asked the Makers if there was any way to tone down her seductive speech patterns. He lifted the nail on her little finger, and pushed the catch that disengaged the tip. The Parina inserted the raw wires into the socket, and Berslan waited ten long minutes for the upload to complete.
When they left the building, the android was suitable for the company of royals, and Miranda smiled as she watched them wander through the settlement. Berslan anxiously waited for people to make fun of him, but it never happened. The closest to an insult he received was one of the women suggesting he change her name, and Berslan was considering it. As the day wore on, he began to relax and his Parina continued to fawn over him.
Miranda and Tempest climbed the hill to make sure everything was prepared for the evening’s ritual. They turned and looked back over the surface of Vallastero. “We need to remember this, Tempest. It will never look this way again after tonight.” They held hands and smiled.
As the afternoon wore on, the women became excited as they looked forward to nightfall when the first on planet ritual was to be held at the new altar built on a hill overlooking the settlement. Zulien wrapped his arms around Miranda and ran his hand over her sapphire caftan where it swelled with their baby.
“The mates from the Quillant are going to join the ceremony tonight. I am so excited, Zulien. Everything has been so crazy since we arrived here, and it is good to have things finally adjusting to more of a routine. Letana was thrilled when I told her all the mates from their ship were invited as well.” Miranda smiled. “They’re so cute… and they come in so many colors,” she laughed softly. All the Debayluths were pastel in color, in just about any combination, but the mates always matched, she noticed.
Zalana knocked on the door. “Miranda, it is almost time. I will walk up the hill with you.”
As darkness fell, Zulien climbed with them and set the fire. He stood outside the stones while the women made a circle around his mate, with Tempest by her side.
“They are so beautiful, Zule.” Taliquant was watching Tempest and Miranda lit by the glow of the moons.
“Never in the centuries could I imagine this outcome to our journey, Tali,” Zulien agreed as he gazed at his mate.
Miranda stood on the hill, surrounded by the altar and her friends. She raised one hand to the moon and began her blessings. Slowly, the light from the crescent and full moons converged and wavered just beyond her reach
.
“Zulien, I think you need to join me this time,” Miranda called.
Zulien walked up beside her. “I do not know what to do.”
“Put your hand in mine,” she whispered.
The light flowed through their joined hands, and Zulien became aware of her vision. Tempest felt the warmth of the energy enter through the hand clasped in Miranda's, and for the first time, she felt an unexpected trance-like feeling.
The Celestial continued to absorb the light, and an Ancient knowledge filled her mind. Miranda was completely aware of her shared vision, and she released Tempest's hand and pointed out towards the blackness of space.
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