by Philip Hamm
I opened the door wider to let him in. “Who are you?” I asked.
“I’m Quail,” he replied. “I’m the Rao’s personal valet.” He looked around the room, “I thought there were two of you…?”
Taylia came out of the bathroom. He tried his best not to look shocked at her short blonde hair and ten-toed feet. He put the tray down carefully on a table.
“Thank you, Quail,” I said. “Perhaps you’d like to wait with us until we’re under way?”
“I ought to be getting back to my master…”
“I think he’d want you to stay here, don’t you?”
He looked at me uncertainly, “Do you really think so?”
“I think my friend would like it if you stayed here too.”
Taylia nodded, “We wouldn’t want you to be indiscreet.”
“I assure you, ladies, you’re no business of mine.”
I didn’t know if I could trust him or not. All it would take was a shout to the soldiers on the quayside and that would be the end of us. “Never-the-less, it would be safer for everyone if you stayed,” I said.
He resigned himself to waiting. “Lemonade?” he asked, holding up the jug.
20 - The return of the Zarktek
“Was that it?” said Fratris, sounding disappointed. “You walked out of the Nidus, got on the Apus and flew off, holding Quail hostage until you were safe…?”
“It was very tense,” said Faam.
“But nobody except the pilot recognised what you were, did they? And after you told him Rimmon was involved, Driver was on your side…?”
“Luckily for us,” she agreed.
“But Taylia didn’t kill anyone…?”
“She didn’t have to – but Nacyon’s neck was sore for days.”
Fratris didn’t look impressed. However, Fengtai said, “It was good that you got away without worse violence.”
Crotal asked, “What do you think would have happened if you’d been caught?”
“That’s an interesting question,” Faam said. “At the very least, our lives would have been forfeit. I don’t know if they would have killed us or sent us to one of their mines but on a larger scale, our people would have been blamed. As you know, Sagan is famous for its infiltration units and we were Sagan – we were all Rhatany needed to point the finger at our world.”
“But wouldn’t other people have asked how you got there?” Fratris said. “Wouldn’t Princess Quillaia have told everyone her servant had witnessed you being kidnapped by Rimmon’s men?”
“But how would you feel if White Hussars from the Tun Empire invaded Zamut’s holiest shrines on planet Flamen?”
“But you didn’t do anything,” he insisted, still not comprehending. “You didn’t steal their precious eagles or pee on the floor of their holy place…”
“Being there was enough of an insult and they’re very passionate about their religion.” She looked at Fengtai, “Just the same as if outsiders burnt down the temples of the Qomal on Penti Prime.”
Fengtai nodded, “That would be a cause for war.”
“Saron doesn’t have any holy places,” said Crotal. “My people believe in the Spirit of Humanity rather than gods or ancestors. Our religion is all around us, in our homes and in the way we live.”
“But the Zarktek see humanity as nothing more than a source of slaves – if they came to Saron, wouldn’t you do your best to resist them?”
Crotal sighed, “Yes, we would fight.”
“And that’s how the Quill would have felt if they’d caught us. They would have seen our presence as an attack not just on their faith but their way of life.”
“But they still went to war against Sagan,” said Fratris.
Faam nodded, “Taylia and I were meant to fan the flames but the fire was already prepared. Don’t forget, Rimmon and the Rickobites had been planning for over twenty years. We were a footnote, a lucky coincidence, and it didn’t really matter if we were found on the surface of Nidus or not. The important moves had already been made.”
“The fake Zizania,” said Fengtai.
“Yes,” she agreed. “The other purpose for kidnapping us was to make sure we didn’t get in the way of the coronation. Even if we’d known she wasn’t the real Zizania, by the time we got back to the Golden Eyrie, any kind of intervention was impossible.”
“But Nacyon knew,” said Fratris. “Why didn’t he tell you?”
“He believed he was doing the right thing by his people and his Empire. In his eyes, the alternative queen was a vast improvement on the original. Faux-Zizania was kind, caring and appreciated him in ways our Zizania had never done. He thought she had the right qualities rather than all the wrong ones. He was blind to the danger; though he knew she had been created by the Rickobites he couldn’t see how somebody so obviously ‘nice’ could be evil.”
Crotal asked, “Did he get to escort her to the coronation?”
Faam nodded, “He just made it to the Golden Palace in time.”
“Did you get off the Apus without being seen?”
“People might have noticed us but they had no way of knowing we had come from down below.”
“Didn’t Kalmia wonder where you’d go to?”
“We didn’t have time to explain but she already knew something was wrong when we didn’t appear at breakfast. However, since we were unharmed, she left her questions until later. But I expect she was dying to know where we’d been.”
“What did you do then?”
“We went out onto the glass platform to wait for the Queen to be presented to her people.”
“Were you scared?”
“I confess, I stayed close to the side. I don’t know how many people were gathered there but the whole structure groaned under the weight. They played music while we waited but I could feel the surface moving. I didn’t dare look down.”
Fratris asked, “Why were you outside?”
“The hall inside the palace wasn’t big enough for us to witness her being crowned. They relayed the ceremony through the speakers and, afterwards, she came out onto the balcony to greet the crowd. It was quite a sight; the Quill raised their arms in absolute silence for over a minute and then whistles blew and everyone cheered. Swiftlets flew past again, pouring streamers of red and blue smoke. Billions of downy feathers were thrown from the towers and drifted over us like snow. Choirs sang a coronation song. The whole event lasted over an hour and then the new Queen was taken down to the Nidus to be blessed.”
Fengtai asked, “Did you wait for her to return?”
“No – I explained to Kalmia what had happened to us and she ordered everyone back to the Cissoid. Though we believed nobody had seen us, she wouldn’t take the chance and wanted Taylia and I safely aboard the ship.”
“Did you tell her about Rimmon?”
“Yes - and that made our departure all the more pressing. We didn’t know what his plan was but it had to include the Quill; the Rickobites wouldn’t have risked taking us to the Nidus themselves so must have been co-operating with somebody else.”
Fratris said, “Prince Rhatany…”
“We didn’t know for certain but, given what happened afterwards, yes. Nacyon says Rhatany hinted that he knew we had been inside the Nidus but didn’t admit to being involved.”
Fengtai asked, “What did he say?”
“I’ll tell what happened at the blessing…”
*
Nacyon was relieved beyond measure that he’d managed to get the two outsiders away from the Nidus and back to the Golden Eyrie without being discovered. While they were travelling, he changed into his best clothes and was ready to escort the new Queen when they docked with the platform. He had to run to make it on time but faux-Zizania wasn’t angry with him for cutting it so fine – she was just pleased to see him and didn’t ask where he’d been.
With the help of Melanitta, everything about her was perfect. Her dress, her hair and the subtle shades of her make-up; she was beautiful before but no
w she was radiant. He almost floated as he escorted her down the stairs.
In the main hall, she was crowned with the ruby and sapphire eagles of the Imperial tiara in front of the Royal Household and members of Quill’s aristocracy. She repeated the words of the litany without a mistake and showed proper humility during the prayers to Pater and Mater. She did everything the real Zizania would never have been able to do without a frown or a sarcastic sneer.
Afterwards, the love coming from the crowd as she stood before them on the balcony was so palpable, he could have put it in a bottle and used it to cheer himself up in the dark days that were to come. She waved graciously and smiled at everyone. She sang along to the anthem and even cried a few tears of pride when it came to an end.
Then a royal barge took them down to the Nidus for the last stage of the ceremony. She walked alone up the processional way to symbolise the journey from the old Empire of Junopta to the new worlds in the south. She waited at the doors where the priests were intoning prayers while the Royal Household gathered around her. She took Nacyon’s arm as the doors were opened and sighed with pleasure as the scent of the thousands of flowers wafted over her.
Together, just like the first Quill to colonise the first world of their future empire, they entered the inner sanctum to give thanks to the ancestors.
Though it was too late to change anything, he did worry when faux-Zizania showed too much awe at the sight of the two eagles standing on their pillars. The real Zizania had seen them many times. But as they were ahead of everyone else and the choir was singing loudly at the back of the hall, he didn’t think anyone could have noticed.
The High Priest and Priestess gave the blessing and the new Queen received it with appropriate thankfulness. Then she turned and faced the assembled Family and the rows of distinguished Quill guests. A hush fell across the room. It was traditional for the new monarch to give a short speech, in her own words, without anyone telling her what to say.
Nacyon could see she was shaking slightly. She was alone in the centre of the floor with hundreds of eyes upon her. Above her head, the symbols of their faith stretched their wings protectively and made her seem more like a child than ever.
She smiled and began, “This is a day of both sadness and great joy. Sad because we mark the end of the reign of Tragacanth the Gold. We praise his achievements and give lasting thanks for all he has done for the people of Quill. But it is a moment of joy as we seek to build on his legacy and take it forward into the future.”
People nodded and a few whistled their agreement. Nacyon smiled. It was a perfect start.
“I have learnt much in my time away,” she continued. “I have spoken to outsiders and I have listened to their stories. Quill’s place in Evigone is small compared to the human empires. I believe it should be greater…”
Nacyon glanced towards Prince Rhatany, standing nearby. He had an odd smile on his face as though he knew what was coming next. A coldness started to creep into his heart. He turned back towards his Queen, standing sweetly, growing in confidence as she slowly unfolded her meaning…
“The Zarktek are coming,” she said. “We have been asked to support them in return for an even greater portion of what should always have belonged to Quill. Even as I speak, our ships are on their way to Sagan – to persuade their army, that once stood beside the tsars, to stand beside them again. We will ask the Sagan Council to join with us, force them if we need to, and we will use our ships to carry them into battle against all our enemies.
“Sapadilla, Damocles, Exitine and Falk are just the beginning. Hand-in-hand with the Zarktek and the Sagan, we will conquer the whole of the Third Sphere. We will regain our ancient empire from the Ulupan in the north. We will stand before the statues of the great eagles again. We will make our ancestors proud. This is my promise,” she concluded. “As your Queen, I will see us rise to forefront of the races of Evigone. All I ask is your faith and your loyalty to see it done.”
Nacyon felt sick to his stomach and his knees began to shake. He wasn’t alone; he could see Rani Rhus looking appalled and Princess Quillaia was pale. But the majority in the Nidus, with the absolute obedience of their kind, began to whistle and cheer. It didn’t matter that she was sending them on a suicidal quest; she represented the will of the people and they would do as she wished.
He caught Rhatany’s eye. He was grinning broadly and there was naked greed on his face. What had Rimmon promised him? He tried to return the smile but all he wanted to do was be sick.
It was time to leave the Holy Nidus and face the thousands of people gathering along the processional way. Like the crowning ceremony, the blessing and the speech had been broadcast live, the signal travelling from world to world through the series of powerful transmitters. By the end of the day, every Quill in the Empire would know they were going to war, not just for the sake of a handful of worlds, but against the whole of humanity.
*
“Isn’t it wonderful?” said faux-Zizania, skipping around her room in the Golden Eyrie. “The tsars are coming! Soon, we’ll be able to meet them and offer them sanctuary!”
“Wonderful, Your Highness,” Nacyon replied, trying his hardest to look happy.
“The boys are so excited.”
“The ‘boys’, Your Highness…?”
“My ‘uncles’ and ‘brothers’ – I’m sure it must be quite crowded on the Aquila.”
They were alone and the Eyrie was quiet. The guests had all departed and news of Zizania’s announcement was on its way to every corner of the Third Sphere. Zamut had probably heard the radio message already but it would be several days before the Tun and Saron ambassadors reached their borders. It would be at least a week before the news arrived in Xramarsis and longer for the other northern empires (though of course, Rickoby already knew). Inside a month, every world would know the Quill had gone mad.
The women of the Royal Household were hurrying back to their worlds and the Royal Navy, with the ‘boys’ on the flagship, Aquila, was on its way to the Sagan system. He had tried to argue against putting all the princes on one ship but Rhatany had laughed at him. “What can the Sagan do to us?” the prince scoffed. “They have no warships. They’re stuck in their burrows like sand-martins and we’ll be a thousand miles above them.”
But the Sagan didn’t need warships, he thought. There were stories of their infiltration units spying on almost every world in the Third Sphere and they were probably among the merchants who visited the sky platforms of Rhizic every week. They could destroy the Quill Empire from within by acts sabotage and terrorism. The Quill fleet could pose and prance above their planet for years while the Sagan stabbed them in their backs. They didn’t need a navy to destroy the Quill Empire.
Nacyon’s head had not stopped pounding from the moment of the announcement. He knew this was all his fault. And there was nothing he could do.
Melanitta hovered in the background, watching closely. He wondered if she’d been given orders to kill him if he tried to interfere. He was the only person in authority who knew there were two Zizanias. His friends on the Apus didn’t count; they were bound to him and would never be believed if he was to die and they tried to tell anyone the truth.
Faux-Zizania had stopped skipping and was looking at her face in the mirror. “I never thought these eyes would see the face of our rightful masters,” she said. “But Rimmon says the seven princes and their father are alive and well. He freed them from their captivity and they’re waiting to lead us against the human usurpers. How exciting is that?” she laughed.
Nacyon almost admired the way the Rickobites had completely twisted the truth in the girl’s mind. While the real Zizania, unwanted by her family, had become wild and uncontrollable, this version had been nurtured and cared for, gently and with love, to be their ultimate tool. She was like a bomb, not evil in itself, but built with precision and timed to cause maximum destruction. Even now, he felt sorry for her.
She turned towards him and said, “I
want you to be the one who delivers our message to the Sagan Council.”
“But the Navy has already left, Your Highness…”
“I’m sure your little ship will be able to catch them up.”
She was right; it would take longer for the fleet to cross the asteroid field surrounding the Sagan system than it would for the Apus to weave its way through. The big eagle-class galleons, though more manoeuvrable than other warships of a similar size, would still take at least a day to assemble and get into formation.
Reluctantly, he asked, “What do you want me to say?”
“We wrote it down,” she grinned, going to a small bureau and bringing a sheet of paper with the royal seal at the bottom. “Rhatany helped me with the wording.”
“Why doesn’t he deliver it?”
She looked hurt, “Because you’re my friend and I want you to have the honour.”
“Your Majesty is very generous,” he said, wishing she was otherwise. He glanced at the paper.
“I want you to order the Sagan to join us,” she said, too impatient to wait for him to read the contents. “Tell them we forgive them for abandoning their masters during the last war but we know they’ll do their best to help us and the Zarktek in the next.”
“But what if they refuse Your Highness?”
“Don’t worry – Rimmon will be there. He’ll persuade them to make the right choice after you’ve read out my message.”
“Are the Rickobites sending warships too?”
“Rimmon didn’t say but I expect so – after all, they’ve been helping the QRN for ages and it would be strange if they didn’t turn up now, wouldn’t it?”
“What ‘help’, Your Majesty…?”
“Didn’t Rhatany tell you? When he invaded Zamut, Rimmon’s ships were beside him and helped to defeat the IZN. Isn’t that wonderful?”