by Viola Grace
Emera slumped and started sobbing. Amber held her and let her cry. She stroked her long dark red hair and murmured, “It is all right, precious. I’ve got you. I will be here as long as you need me.”
Emera looked up, and her eyes were red. She stared into Amber’s eyes, and Amber felt something scrambling at her mind. She smiled. “I forgot my mask.”
“I can’t get in.”
Amber stroked her cheek. “No, you can’t. It is just another gift from my world’s avatar.”
“You knew?” Emera wiped her cheeks.
She smiled. “I suspected. The regent tried to get into my mind the day I was decanted. I thought I just had a headache from the process when I realized that it had only been when I met someone’s eyes that I felt it.” She grinned. “There. You stopped crying. You were at the death of one of your parents?”
Emera nodded. “My father killed my mother. All I could do was scream.”
“I understand. Better than you could know. Do you think you can sleep?”
Emera shook her head. “No. I never sleep after that dream.”
Amber smiled. “Do you have exercise gear? We might as well start tonight. Oh, and I dented your guards.”
She paused. “And broke the lock to your quarters.”
She paused again. “And to your bedroom.”
Emera giggled. “Since Ladia is awake, she can help dress me.”
“You will dress yourself as much as you are able. Learning to do things for yourself makes you appreciate when others give you assistance. We may as well start now.”
The maid was listening at the door, and she looked around the corner with a surprised expression. She whispered, “I will find her some clothing she can exert herself in.”
The maid crept in and found a set of loose tie-on trousers and a wrap shirt with wide sleeves. Ladia smiled at Amber. “I will help her to dress if you would like to get changed.”
“Right. I had better get back to my quarters and change. I will be back in six minutes if the palace guards don’t arrest me.” She hugged Emera before urging her to stand up.
Amber got to her feet, straightened her robe, and walked out into the hall before pattering past the gathered guards, averting her eyes. “Sorry about that. I was in a hurry.”
When she had slunk past the guard, she sprinted to her own quarters and closed the door. She exhaled slowly and quickly got into a bodysuit and put on her mask. She returned to Emera’s quarters, and the guards let her through. Emera was standing in front of her mirror and fussing with her top. “Is this all right?”
Amber smiled. “You look fine. Now, we need a place where we can work out in the fresh air.”
“The inner courtyard. The gardens would be good, I think.” Emera smiled. “What are we going to do?”
“Ah, we are going to do something I did back on Terra. It is called Tai-Chi. It is a series of moves and poses that help you think and let your muscles glide and focus. You can do it at any fitness level.”
Emera took her hand and pulled her out of her quarters. She pointed at two of the guards. “You and you, please, come with us.”
Amber chuckled and inclined her head. “As for the rest of you, please extend my apologies to the guards that I moved from their posts.”
One of the men snorted. “We are fine. Your aim was true. Neither of us was injured.”
She bowed, and the men inclined their heads in acknowledgement.
Emera paused. “May we go now?”
“Apology has been tendered and accepted. We can go now.” Amber grinned.
They were outside when Emera asked, “Why did you apologize?”
“They were doing their job, guarding you when the crazy new alien charged up. The fact that no one was reacting to your screaming was an issue for me. I know the sound of a soul in pain when I hear it.”
Emera looked at her with a quizzical expression. “My room is soundproofed for just that reason. I don’t know what you heard, but you should not have been able to hear me.”
Amber chuckled. “I suppose it was just the echo of pain. I think I will have to ask my world’s avatar about it.”
“Can you do that?”
“Sure, if your world has an avatar, you can speak to them. That is their purpose. They are there for communication. Now, where would you like to exercise?”
Emera looked over the gardens in the courtyard and nodded. “Over there?”
They walked over there, and Amber nodded to the guards to stay back.
Emera fidgeted and smiled. “How do we start?”
Amber held her hands out in front of her. Palms together. Amber moved, and Emera followed, and they created a pattern that flowed from one pose to the next.
They kept at it until the dawn made the sky a pale purple, and the second sun was rising. Emera yawned, so Amber walked her sleepy charge back to her bedroom.
Ladia tucked her in, and Amber headed to her own quarters. She took a shower, brushed her hair, pinned it up, cleaned her mask, and put on a clean gown and the owl stomacher. She walked back to Emera’s quarters, and Ladia smiled. “She’s still sleeping.”
“Excellent. Do you know where I can get some breakfast?”
“You should go to the dining room, Miss. You are to eat with the family, so it is important that you are where they are expecting you to be.”
“Ah. Good point. Thank you, Ladia. Did you really not hear the screaming?”
The woman blushed. “After they soundproofed her chambers, I have slept soundly.”
“Who had the room soundproofed?”
“The previous emperor, her father.”
Amber sighed, smiled, and nodded. “Thank you, Ladia. That is very helpful. If she wakes, let her know where I am. If I don’t see her before I leave the dining room, I will have breakfast sent and arrive shortly after.” The maid smiled and nodded, so Amber went in search of food.
Amber walked the halls and headed to the dining room. She doubted that anyone would be up that early, but when she entered the dining room, Antoth was seated at the head of the table, and one of the servants held out the same chair she had been in the night before. He cleared his throat and gave them a look. She was soon seated at his left hand.
“Good morning, Regent.”
“Good morning, governess. Did you sleep well?”
She chuckled. “When I slept, it was very sound.”
“Ah, yes, I did hear that there was a disturbance last night.”
She blushed. “Apparently, I heard something that I shouldn’t have and assaulted two of the guards. I have apologized for it.”
“You heard her nightmares.”
Amber rubbed the back of her neck as the servant brought her a pot of tea and the blended soup that started every meal. “They aren’t nightmares. Not the standard kind. She is remembering a traumatic moment that she has not been able to process. I am going to try and get her into a routine where she wakes herself from those memories and can do something physical to fatigue her body enough to let her sleep.”
“My brother was not a pleasant man.”
“I am more disturbed by the soundproofing in her quarters. Are there any other access points?” She was blunt.
His eyes widened, and he shook his head. “No. I believe that my brother just didn’t want her screams to annoy him. He was that kind of man.”
She poured her tea and then refilled his cup. “That is a relief. I will use our nocturnal exercises to get the details of her mother’s death from her.”
He frowned, and she held her hand up.
“It has to come from her. She has an open wound in her soul that has never seen daylight or gotten treatment. She needs to talk it out and let herself examine what happened with the help of passed time. It will never be easy, but it can hurt less.”
Antoth blinked. “No one has shushed me for quite some time. I am wondering what the punishment is for shushing the imperial regent.�
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She swallowed and sipped at her tea. “Please, let me know when you determine what that is. I shall endeavour to pay up immediately.”
“Shall you?”
“Of course. I always pay my debts.”
“I will remember that. Have you designed a curriculum?”
“I have begun one. I, first, need to see what she has been instructed in to date. After that, we will move forward.”
He nodded. “Smart. Do you think you can get her ready for marriage in three years?”
“In three years, I can get her ready to do your job.” She smiled and nibbled at the toast that she had been given.
“Would it be easier if you were closer to her at night?” He smiled as he cut some of the meat on his plate.
She paused. “Actually, it would be easier for her to be closer to me. If we could get her out of her quarters and into somewhere new... that might be helpful. Could we try it for a night?”
“Can she sleep in your quarters? Her maid can be summoned when needed.”
“Uh. Sure.” She would continue her comments when Emera charged in and ran to Antoth to kiss him on the cheek.
“Uncle, I started to learn a martial art last night, and did you know that Amber sleeps without clothing?” Emera grinned and bounced into a chair on Antoth’s right. “Isn’t that strange?”
Amber focused on her plate and ate her breakfast.
“I would file it under fascinating rather than strange. I look forward to discussing that with her at an appropriate time.”
She shrugged. “The nightgown fabric was scratchy, and I have never been one to smother myself before I try and sleep. There. Discussion is done.”
Emera was grinning happily, and everyone seemed delighted that her mood had changed. It was nice to see her so happy, but they had a lot of work to do. There were going to be ups and downs, but Emera looked like she was up to the task.
Antoth chuckled. “I feel that there is more to discover there. We will table it for later.”
She flicked a glance toward him, and his gaze was heated. “Do I get a veto on that?”
He grinned. “No.”
“Can I filibuster?” The words didn’t translate correctly.
He caught the meaning and laughed. “No.”
She finished her meal and looked at Emera. “So, what would you like to learn today?”
“Well, we have to discuss the inheriting of titles in the Possitt and the Nyal Imperium. Maybe after that, we can study the origin of martial arts in the sector. There might be more to learn.”
Antoth blinked, and he nodded. “It sounds like your education is off to a good start.”
Amber chuckled. “I would like you to also write a list about things that you would enjoy learning about.”
Antoth smiled. “May I add to that list?”
Emera nodded. “Please, Uncle.”
“Don’t neglect courtship rituals. You will need to learn about those.”
Emera laughed. “I won’t need those for years.”
Antoth sipped at his tea. “You never know. Putting that kind of thing off might result in a surprise later on.”
Amber looked at him and said, “There is a time for everything.”
“Yes. There definitely is.”
Emera ate and paused. “Am I missing something?”
“The double entendre will be covered around the time that we go for courtship rituals and the basics of sex.”
Antoth smiled. “Before you give her that talk, I would like you to explain to me the same subject. If I judge it fit for Emera’s ears, I will authorize it.”
“So, I have to explain Possitt courtship and sex... to you?” She had to make sure that she knew what he wanted.
“Yes. When she is nearly an adult. She will need to know, and I want to make sure she is getting good information.”
Amber fought the hot glow in her face. “I will start preparing a presentation.”
He grinned and looked at his charge. “And here I thought finding you a governess would be educational for you alone. The next few years are going to be very entertaining.”
They both looked so happy that Amber wasn’t going to argue.
Chapter Seven
One year and seven months after her arrival and Amber was furious. She stood on the bridge and listened to the screams of the men on the barge about to be pressed to death and listened to Emera’s call. She did what she had to. Amber jumped off the bridge, landed in the water, and swam to the pylon that was causing the issue with the men. She put her feet on the edge of the boat and pushed the barge away, sending it moving sluggishly down the river. Untying the men who had been used as bait took a few minutes, but she slashed at the ropes with the blade she kept in her stomacher and got them out of the water and safe from drowning.
With the immediate threat taken care of, she checked her tracking device on Emera and grabbed a cycle from one of the bystanders on the bridge. She muttered to him, “Bill the palace.” She gunned the engine, whirling it around and heading off after the kidnappers.
They had to leave from a port, so she used her emergency com to warn the control officers to stop all departures. They were headed toward the primary spaceport, and she made her arrangements while dodging traffic and hoping that her clothing was going to dry. The signal was coming from up ahead at fairly close range. She followed the vehicle at a safe distance and turned toward the port when they did.
They got through the security pass with remarkably little fuss, but Amber had just spent five minutes telling them what to do. She looked at the gate men as she drove past. The mask that Emera had designed for her was now well known across the damned planet. It was a bespoke design, and no designer on Possitt Prime was allowed to use even a similar pattern.
When the kidnappers pulled up to the shuttle in the diplomatic zone, Amber stifled her snort. They pulled Emera out from under one of the seats and carried her up the ramp. Amber ran forward and grabbed the ramp as it moved too close. She forced it down with the heavy motors whining as they fought against her. She got it down, and there was a snap as she broke the ramp.
She walked into the ship with the port guards waiting, and as she found the kidnappers, she threw them out for arrest.
Emera had been shoved into a set of private quarters, and she gave Amber a tired smile as she entered the room by tearing the door off. “He’s under the bed.”
Amber reached under the bed, and she got bitten. She grabbed the jaw and hauled the man out. “Prince Iniatta of the Yinshin, this was not a good move.”
He was trying to babble, but she just carried him out, using his face as a handle, and she tossed him to the port guards. “The charge is abduction of the Imperial Heir and assault on the Imperial Governess. The fucker bit me.”
She looked at the torn flesh of her hand and hissed as she shook it out. “The doctor is going to give me hell.”
Emera chuckled, but she was a little brittle. Amber looked to the gathered guards, and she smiled. “Can we get a ride back to the palace, please?”
“I believe that we can arrange that.”
Amber cringed at the very familiar voice. She turned and curtsied deeply. “Regent. What brings you here?”
The port guards chuckled but bowed low.
The regent and the dukes were only a few feet away and looking them over. Amber casually held her lacerated hand in the folds of her skirt.
Antoth held his hand out to Emera, and she walked to him, bowed slightly, and smiled. “Good afternoon, Uncle. We were just out for a walk and decided to view the spaceport.”
He chuckled. “You are getting better at that. I was notified that the heir had been stolen, her guards incapacitated, and her governess distracted by men being crushed between a barge and a rock.”
From her deep curtsy, Amber muttered. “That could describe anyone, Regent.”
Antoth walked to her, touched her chin to make her loo
k at him, and to her astonishment, he reached into the space between her stomacher and dress and pulled out a clump of river weed and possibly a frog. Something hopped away.
The port guard began laughing.
He held his hand out for her to take it, and she made a small gesture with her head. Antoth reached down and pulled her hand toward him, hissing. “What the hell happened here?”
She didn’t say anything. He looked at the men in the clutches of the port guards and only one had a face full of Terran blood.
“Right. Dead unless his family can compensate us for the loss of you until that hand heals.”
She blinked. “What? I will be fine with a little regeneration and some skin replacement.”
He looked at her wound. “Some of that goes down to the bone, governess. This is not an afternoon fix.”
She flexed her hand, and something struck her. “Those guys are venomous, aren’t they?”
She remembered being caught on the way down.
Emera was at her side when she woke up. Amber opened her eyes, and her charge was there and smiling through watery eyes. “Oh, you are back.”
“I apologize for distressing you.”
Emera chuckled and stroked her forehead. “You didn’t distress me; you saved me. You are the only one who has on several occasions.”
Amber struggled to sit up, but Emera put her hand on Amber’s shoulder. “Lay still. You have been out for a while.”
Amber looked at Emera. Her student looked older. “How long have I been out?”
The doctor stepped forward and smiled. “The regent had us keep you in the tank for one year and five months. I have not seen anyone who successfully used the telepathic links before, but it seems your people are suited to them.”
Emera grinned and said, “You have been with me every day. Your memories will catch up with you. Don’t worry. The Yinshin venom set off an immune system failure that the doctors couldn’t keep up with. The tank was the only way to handle it, so with permission from your world’s avatar, the physicians were given the information on how to introduce a species to your genome that had a little bit of Yinshin resistance.”
She grimaced. “Possitt.”