The King!
Now she knew where she’d heard that voice before. Its deep but prominent tones had been clear in Strike’s impossible scenario where they’d been tested on their knowledge of royal protocol and had to fend off a surprise attack by hidden forces.
Stephanie recalled hearing it, too, after she’d woken up and the sound of it brought back memories from before she’d fallen asleep. She remembered catching a brief glimpse of the crest on his robes and seeing the thin, twisted vine of magic resting lightly on his flowing silver hair. Shit!
That was not how she was supposed to meet the king of Meligorn for the first time. And meeting him like this wasn’t much better.
To her horror, she realized she was in bed and wore hospital scrubs, that her hair needed a good wash and brush, and that she probably looked like she’d taken on a nest of vampires and lost. This was so very much not how she was supposed to meet the king.
When she’d met him in her imagination, she’d been dressed in her best, worn flawless makeup and her prettiest smile, and looked exactly like a hero of the Federation should look. She hadn’t been stuck in a bed with royalty standing at her bedside not two feet from the nearest bedpan.
Shock and embarrassment flooded through her, and she’d almost decided to keep her eyes closed until they left when the Dreth spoke again. “We would never think that of you, King Grilfir. You were a noble and confident leader long before the humans were discovered, and so you are today. Whatever his motive was, Temerl targeted the girl and the ambassador, but he pushed you out of the way. He had every chance to kill you and he didn’t.”
Now that she thought about it, Stephanie recognized the voice of the Dreth. She’d heard it on television and in history reports. This was the Dreth ambassador, the one who’d spoken in every Dreth attempt to make peace with the humans.
Now she truly did want to pretend she was asleep until they left because this was definitely not the way she’d wanted to look when she finally met the Dreth ambassador.
Unfortunately, she also knew she had no choice. They were in her room and they didn’t look like leaving anytime soon. And speaking of bedpans...
With her eyes still closed, she decided to let them know she was no longer asleep.
“Can someone,” she began and swallowed against the dryness of her throat while she kept her eyes tightly closed. “Can someone please tell me why the three most important people on this space station are all in my hospital room?”
The voices ceased and a hand settled on her shoulder. She assumed it was supposed to be comforting and hoped it belonged to either V’ritan or Lars. The alternatives were not to be considered.
As the silence lengthened to one of real discomfort, she forced herself to open her eyes and grasped her blanket firmly as she struggled into a sitting position. V’ritan sat beside the bed.
The ambassador located the bed controls and raised it to support her as she stared at the other occupants of the room. The king returned her gaze and smiled. “Your eyes are not black anymore. That’s a pleasant change.”
“Thank you.” Stephanie chuckled and blushed. “Although I’ve never actually looked in a mirror when it happens. I can only imagine that I look quite terrifying.”
V’ritan smirked. “Never too terrifying. You are still Stephanie the young and kind human. Even when the magic takes you over and you become the Federation’s witch.”
The Dreth ambassador stepped forward, tilting her head to the side, and studied her. Despite her awkwardness, she gave her a smile and received a solemn look in return. She wasn’t surprised by this since the Dreth were known for being blunt and straight to the point—even rude and arrogant in their dealings—and concealing their thoughts and feelings from all but their closest friends.
“I am Jaleck,” the Dreth told her, “and to answer your question, we are using your recovery and heroism as a way to speak about the traitor you defeated earlier without it looking like we are having a secret meeting.”
Stephanie blinked. “Excuse me?”
Ambassador V’ritan took a deep breath and rose to turn to the Dreth. “I’ll handle this one. Thank you, Ambassador.”
Jaleck nodded and moved to lean on the wall beside the King. Stephanie studied her furtively and noticed that the female Dreth looked very different than all the male Dreth she had seen.
While her skin was slightly scaly and her teeth still fanglike, her long tentacle-like dreadlocks were pushed back over her head to create a slightly voluminous effect instead of hanging free. She had pouty red lips and silver and blue eyes and was also tall. However, instead of being heavily muscled, her body was slim and curvaceous and similar to a human female’s.
She realized that she hadn’t studied very much Dreth anatomy and that it might help her in combat if she did. Knowing where to strike would be a great advantage.
Hoping those thoughts didn’t show on her face, she pulled herself straighter as V’ritan moved to sit on the end of the bed and patted her leg.
Looking from Jaleck to Stephanie, he explained. “The man who attacked us was the head of the king’s Royal Guard. Right now, trust is at a minimum.”
She glanced at King Grilfir, who spoke softly to Jaleck, a look of sadness on his face. “Okay, but why here?”
He glanced at the door. “You have a very good team that cares immensely about you. Currently, they do not allow anyone but me, King Grilfir, and Ambassador Jaleck into the room. And, because the king is in here, his security won’t let your security team enter.”
At this, she glanced around for Lars and realized he was missing. V’ritan noticed the worry on her face and spoke hastily. “At first, your men did not like it, but they wanted to keep the peace, so they are all out in the hall. That means only we—and you—are privy to our discussions about a problem we have tried to understand for decades.”
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “And it’s okay for me to be here why?”
The Dreth ambassador snorted and drew everyone’s attention. She glanced at the two Meligornian men. “You said she was plain-speaking. Now I see why.”
Her English was accented by her native Dreth and reminded the girl of a man who had delivered newspapers in the Gov-Subs. He’d been from the last remaining islands before they’d been covered by the sea to create a city beneath the waves.
His skin had been darkly kissed by the hot sun and his eyes had sparkled with the joy of life. He had a thick accent, and Stephanie had loved listening to him as a child. Jaleck’s wasn’t as thick, but it was still oddly comforting.
As she remembered the newspaper man, the Dreth ambassador approached. She walked over to the bed and reached out with slender, scaled claws. Her eyes swirled silver and blue as she touched Stephanie’s cheek gently and she smiled.
“You are young, powerful, and a human. Not usually the best of traits.”
“Normally, true,” King Grilfir agreed and raised his voice slightly but with a trace of humor to it. “However, with her saving V’ritan from assassination on Earth, citizens from all Federation worlds on the liner from pirates, and then both V’ritan and myself from a traitor to the crown when she had barely recovered. I think I can safely assume she isn’t working for the enemy.”
He settled his focus on her. “In fact, I would say you have done more for Meligorn than you have for your own planet, and I have a mind to claim you for Meligorn.”
The three visitors laughed and V’ritan stood and gave her a wink. She didn’t see what was funny, but she didn’t have a problem with it either. “Grant me dual citizenship if that would make everyone happy. Then I can represent all of you when I’m out.”
They all stared at her, now, but she continued. “That way, I won’t have to wonder who I need to help when I get there. I feel connected to all of you anyway. And although the Dreth have encountered my vengeance more than the others, I have a feeling that won’t always be the case. Not after seeing who was inside the Dreth Resistance ship.”
&nbs
p; “Are you sure they were rebels?” the king asked. “We’d heard that might be the case, but...”
Stephanie nodded. “Oh yeah. They were rebels, big time, and there were members of the Resistance from all over the Universe. There can’t be only one enemy in our midst—which, I suppose, would make it a lot harder to know who to trust. But I trust my men and the ambassador, and hopefully, I can trust you two, as well.”
She paused and tried to think if there was anyone she’d missed before she added, “Besides that and a couple of people currently on Earth, I don’t see the need to spread my trust much further.”
They nodded in agreement, and Jaleck gave her a look of approval.
“Dual citizenship,” the Dreth murmured.
At her words, they all glanced at each other, and the king looked at V’ritan. “What about the Royal Award of Decarth? And possibly our Congressional Talon of the Families?”
Jaleck turned to study the viewscreen that revealed the vast emptiness of space beyond. “That would be an appropriate medal.”
“And both of those,” the king added, “can only be provided to those who are citizens. It makes it very simple to knock out two…two…oh, what is that Earth saying? Two cats with one can?”
His ambassador frowned, clearly trying to think of it as well. “No, more something like two cows with one bell? There was something about a cowbell.” She pressed her lips together in an effort not to laugh. The Dreth did the same and shook her head as the men began to work through the animals of Earth.
When they got to elephants, Jaleck raised a clawed hand in protest. “Shhhh, you are giving me a headache. The saying is, to kill two birds with one stone, not two elephants with one villager. Good grief.”
Stephanie allowed herself a giggle as the king and V’ritan’s eyes lit up. “That’s the one, right there. The Dreth save the day again.”
A loud knock on the door interrupted the moment and everyone looked toward it as Brilgus stuck his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but uh… We have a nurse out here willing to push her way through a group of men with guns to see her patient—and she is not playing around. She threatened to beat one of the guards with a krifton if they don’t let her through.”
Her visitors all grimaced, while she didn’t have a clue. “Okay, someone tell me what a krifton is.”
V’ritan flipped through his phone and held a picture up. She blinked and looked at them in disbelief. “But that’s…it’s a hamster. Why are you afraid of a hamster?”
Jaleck shook her head, glanced at Brilgus, and lowered her voice. “No, not a hamster. That is a krifton. I’ve heard of this hamster and the two creatures are on entirely different spectrums. The krifton…well, it’s better to leave those alone. They are dangerous.”
Stephanie looked at the phone and then at the Dreth, shocked that something so furry and cute with its little pink nose could have both Dreth and Meligornians sounding a warning. “Where are they from?”
The Dreth pointed both of her thumbs, one at the ambassador and one at the king. “The lovely planet of Meligorn. Someone brought a couple of them to Dreth too and now, the place is crawling with the furry menaces. I blame you people with the pointed ears.”
Brilgus cleared his throat. “If you please, the nurse is most insistent.”
V’ritan looked at him and replied in Stephanie’s voice. “Oh, yes. Give me two seconds and then let her through.”
She stared in astonishment, but before she could say anything, her three visitors crowded close together as the ambassador waved his hand. The quick gesture released a layer of magic like a soft floating blanket. As it fell over them, they vanished. “Whoa.”
When the door opened shortly after, she tried to look like nothing had happened. The nurse glanced around the room as she came in.
Seeing nothing out of place, she shook her head. “What’s so important that there needs to be a million people out there? I’ll take your readings now, okay?”
She paused and smiled at her. “Good morning, by the way. You slept for a long time. We’re glad to see your eyes open at last.”
Stephanie smiled in return and let the nurse scan her body using her tablet, take her pulse, and then her temperature.
When she was done, the woman patted her on the knee. “You’ll be fine. I am not ready to give you a clean bill of health yet, so we’ll keep you here a little while longer. You’re okay to start walking around whenever you feel up to it. The reporters are starting to hang around outside, though, so don’t leave your room.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
The nurse gave her another kind smile. “That is what we do. We take care of you. I've finally realized who you are, so you stay here until you feel good enough to deal with those people. Then, we’ll let the ambassador know so he can organize secure transport for you.”
She took a couple of steps toward the door and the stopped. “Oh, and I know that horrible Royal Guard has already been taken to jail, so don’t worry about him coming in again. I think it’s wonderful the ambassador was here to deal with him. You have been through enough lately. It’s high time someone looked out for you.”
Stephanie gave her a large smile and her gaze drifted to where her visitors had disappeared. “Thank you for doing that,” she managed while she fought an urge to laugh.
With a cheerful wave, the nurse opened the door and stepped out.
She could hear her giving the teams a hard time as the door closed behind her. “I’ll be back in two hours and you’d better let me past or I won’t be happy.”
After a few moments in case the woman returned, she giggled and cleared her throat. “All right, you can come out now.”
The magic dissipated from the top down to reveal the three VIPs, all on their tablets like bored teenagers. She couldn’t believe how alike they were, and not only the three of them but humans, too.
It took V’ritan a moment to realize the magic had gone. He elbowed the king, who looked up and tapped Jaleck on the shoulder. She swatted irritably at his hand as she finished what she was doing and tucked her tablet away.
Stephanie gave V’ritan a confused look. “Are you apprehending the assassins, now?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Of course not, but it is much easier to say I did it than try to explain that you did. There are people who would think you tried to hit the king and missed. We will let them know the truth soon enough.”
She shrugged. “That’s fine. I don’t really like the spotlight. I simply want people to know I’m on their side and to trust that.”
“Most of them already do,” the king replied, “but there are still a few...” He shrugged
Jaleck agreed. “It is harder for my people because the ones doing most of the killing are Dreth, but those who stand behind the Federation already love you.”
Stephanie blushed and tried to suppress a smile. “That’s so nice. I think I should start a fan club. Brilgus can be the president.”
The King and Jaleck chuckled, but V’ritan seemed to be somewhere else. His lips were pursed as if he were deep in thought. She waited as he considered whatever was on his mind. When he had finally pieced whatever it was together well enough, he spoke. “I want Stephanie tested for inclusion into the Mysteries.”
King Grilfir turned to him, resignation on his face. “I wondered when you’d come to that.”
Beside him, Jaleck’s eyebrows raised and her mouth dropped open.
She closed it abruptly and hid her feelings like before. Stephanie was also surprised, having heard about the Mysteries as more of a story—a rumor filled with secrecy and magical wonder.
Her first impulse was to ask more about it but before she could, Grilfir turned to her and looked very concerned. “If I am to allow the Royal Award, then I have no reason to prevent her from trying for the Mysteries,” he said and returned his gaze to V’ritan. “But are you sure? They won’t go easy on her because she’s human. It will, in fact, be quite the opposite.”
Stephanie lay back and attempted to take in everything they said. She felt suddenly drained as if her body were saying she’d done enough.
Using every ounce of energy she had, she tried to keep her eyes open but it was no use. Sleep overcame her and she slipped into slumber and to a place where dreams seemed to find her exactly when she needed them to.
Hours passed as she whirled around Meligorn, danced with Todd in the streets of her youth, and hugged her mother and father in their Gov-Sub flat. When she finally woke, the king and both ambassadors were gone.
Only Brilgus and Lars lounged in chairs in her room and snored loudly as if it were a competition. The sight of them and the sound made her smile. It was probably the best way she could have woken.
Chapter Forty-Four
“Be…prepared…” Stephanie was sure she heard the voice as she opened her eyes once more. She was still in the hospital, the lights dimmed and the halls quiet, with neither Lars nor Brilgus and their snores to keep her company.
She sat up in bed, rubbed her face, and smoothed her hands up and through her hair. A little more awake, she cracked her neck and paused to assess how she felt.
Tentatively, she turned, put her feet on the floor, and stood slowly. Surprisingly, she seemed fine and no longer felt weak or tired. She felt good. In fact, she felt right for the first time since she’d woken up on the station.
Relieved, she looked around and noticed a set of clothes laid neatly over the back of one of the chairs. Thankfully, it seemed Lars had brought in some of the clothes from her luggage.
She could imagine the condition of what she’d worn when she’d arrived. With a grimace at the thought, she picked up a t-shirt and pulled it over her head. As she reached for the yoga pants, she glanced in the mirror and startled. Almost all her hair had turned silver.
The sight made her pause. It was strange to see it that way but it reminded her of the small streaks of silver in her Morgana ancestor’s hair.
With a smile, she waved her hand over her hair and tidied it into a similar style to what the old Morgana had worn, only without the updo. She was plainer than that and she liked it.
Witch Of The Federation (Federal Histories Book 2) Page 48