Alien Romance: RAYER: Space Warrior's Mail Order Bride (Space Beasts Book 2) (5 page)

Cole had been amazed at the vibrancy of the world that was to be her home for the next year.  She had gasped at the beauty of the structures when the vehicle had reached the city and had slowed to a more reasonable speed.  There was a significant lack of females on the planet, but considering the Sii had sought a mate for the planet’s prince, she supposed that was to be expected.  However, there were still children.  Lots of beautiful boys of all shapes and sizes; many of them appeared to be replications of parents that could be spotted keeping a hawk’s eye on them as they played.

              Siiger was such a far cry from Earth, not just in distance, but in the beauty of the world.  Cole would admit that she felt quite at home, trapped in buildings and enclosed passages beneath the toxic pollution that had somehow failed to destroy the Earth’s atmosphere, but had instead shoved it higher.  Though, as she looked at the lush world around her, she wondered if she would ever be able to return to Earth and remain un-jaded.

              The conveyance zipped through modest streets and around bustling markets, before it seemed to slip through an iridescent semi-transparent wall.  On the other side, it was as if the city had fallen off, and the shuttle was now cruising through an immaculately designed landscape up a near vertical incline.

              “We have now entered the grounds of the High Royal Compound,” Suelkon turned in his seat to tell Cole.  The compound was first carved out of the mountain face – easily a thousand solar cycles ago.  But as time went on, they have added to it.  High Prince Rayer, has his own domain within the compound.  Of course, you might consider talking to him about the area that he has claimed.  Either that or you might want to see if there are a set of vacant chambers that you can claim for your personal use.”

              “What is wrong with the area of the palace that Prince Rayer has claimed?” 

              “Oh nothing.  Nothing, I suppose.” Suelkon turned toward one of the other men to ask a question about the most recent wave of replications. 
Whatever that means…

              The shuttle continued to zip through a decadent landscape until it approached a massive set of gates that reminded Cole of the newest rash of historical movies that were trending on Earth.  Stone walls towered overhead and mounted within the arching stone were hinged metal gates.  While the portal presently stood open, Cole could see that the swing zone was kept clear and the enormous hinges were in excellent, shining repair.  The gates were ready to be closed at an instants notice.

              Beyond the gate was a vast expanse of courtyard and stair-step leveled garden.  Where the grounds beyond the gates had been lovingly sculpted, they had remained fairly natural in presentation.  By contrast, the garden was flawlessly manicured; every detail had been precisely planned and executed.  Cole gawked at what was apparently the main entrance into the palace; or rather, what Suelkon had called the High Royal Compound.

             
I should probably work to use their terminology – acclimate to the society here.  Still, those are some seriously big doors.  I wonder if that is a sign of power for the Sii; the bigger the doors, the more important…

              The long, tube-like vehicle slowed to a stop and the vessel’s door swung receded up.  A thick woodsy scent filled the cab.  Cole realized that if colors could smell, the crisp earthiness of the odor filling her nose was the scent of the color green because she had never seen such a variety of shades as there were on Siiger.

              As everyone filed out of the shuttle, the large doors marking the front entrance swung wide.  A party of people spilled across the stairs that led up the entrance.  All of them were clad in the most astonishing variety of fabrics Cole had ever seen.  The costumes were elaborate – almost too elaborate for Cole’s more practical tastes.

             
Is that how Rayer normally dresses?

              As the High Prince exited the shuttle – he was the last of their group – an elderly man appeared in the doorway.  His costume was slightly more refined than those of the people who surrounded him, though not by much.  At his elbow appeared a woman that was at least half his age and behind her was a man that resembled her greatly.  As Cole considered the man that stood behind the obviously royal couple, she found herself hoping that her alien –
or am I the alien? –
was more inclined toward the plainly, albeit elegantly cut, clothing. 

              Cole could imagine women finding this other man to be particularly attractive with his lightly tanned skin, and seemingly toned frame. It was difficult to be sure with the multiple layers of brightly dyed silks draped over his frame.  The man had his straight chestnut hair cropped in layers that didn’t quite brush his shoulders.  His straight regular features seemed to have been arranged with precision, but were in no way devastating as Rayer’s were.  His most commanding feature was his dark eyes.  The contrast between the inky black eyes and his golden skin and hair was quite dramatic. 

He was an attractive specimen of the Sii, but there was something about the twist of his lips and the way his black eyes bore into Rayer as he straightened and passed through the rest of the bodies that had occupied the shuttle to stand front and center before the royal couple.  Farth had claimed that Rayer took after his mother, but Cole didn’t agree.  If the couple at the top of the stairs were his parents, than Rayer resembled neither of them.

“Father,” Rayer greeted with a deep incline of his head.  “Montala, Graith…” the other two were afforded a single, barely imperceptible tilt of the head.

That is definitely not his mother – I would bet money that she is a stepmother…I wonder if that is what they call them here…

“Rayer, my son,” the King spread his arms as he descended the steps slowly.  “I believe you are even more commanding than when you departed.  Your Prime has afforded you quite a presence.  I trust that you have returned with a mate, yes?”

“Of course.” Rayer turned his body and extended a hand in Cole’s direction.  Farth gave her a sneaky push, forcing her to step out from behind Rao, toward the prince for her official introduction.

*

Blast!  I should have asked Rao about her full name…It has to be better than calling her ‘Cole’ to my father.

              Cole’s hand slipped into his own and he pulled her forward to stand at his side.  Rayer noticed the subtle widening of his father’s eyes, and had to fight the urge to cuff the older man when his father’s gaze slid down, assessing Cole’s bountiful figure.  If he had to guess, Rayer suspected that his father had expected him to return with a hag, not an attractive woman.

              “The small world called Earth appears to be home to a uniquely exotic treasure,” the High King Balkar practically cooed to his son’s new mate.  “And what do we call you?  I can’t go about referring to you only as ‘my son’s mate’ – he will take exception with me.”

              Cole rewarded his father with a soft laugh, instantly charming the old man.  Rayer forced his face to remain expressionless – if Montala and Graith hadn’t been in attendance, Rayer could honestly claim that he would have allowed his disgust to show.  However, they were not to be trusted.

             
After the mating rites, I will have to tell Cole to be very careful with them.  Montala will try to manipulate and squash her. 
Rayer refocused on the matter of introductions, but as he prepared to handle the matter, Cole’s smoky voice stopped him.

              “Coletta Moore Harper is my name, but I prefer to be called Cole.”

             
Coletta.  Coletta – it suits her.  A strong sounding, yet feminine name.

              “It is a pleasure to see that my reserved son has selected a woman who might have a hope of complementing his silence.  I am sure that you would like to rest – but preparations have been underway, and everything is ready for the Rites Exchange Ceremony.  It would be best to get that done today.”

              “Father…” Rayer began but stopped when Balkar’s luminescent, lavender gaze whipped up to meet his own.

              “The whole city has been on edge waiting.  The rites will be held this afternoon.  According to the guard posts, the citizens are already making their way to the shield.  It is expected and it would be inconsiderate to put off the ceremony another day.”

              “Yes father,” Rayer gave in.

*

Cole could tell that her alien was giving into his father, but she ignored the byplay.  She had assumed that things would happen quickly once they had arrived.  Instead, she covertly kept her focus on the other two members of the Royal family.  Where they stood, behind everyone else, apparently they felt safe enough to allow their true feelings to play across their faces.  From what Cole could see, they hated Rayer.  As in, they quite probably wished him dead, hated him.             

As she stared at her reflection in the mirrored glass, a couple of old women dressed her in robes the color of old minted gold.  Each layer was adorned with subtle embroidery.  They had tried to convince Cole to wear a much more flamboyant set, but had backed off when it became apparent that she was not willing to dress herself in a manner that made her think of the twentieth-century circus clowns. 

The pleated lapels of what appeared to be the top layer –
I refuse to wear this much on a day-to-day basis!
– sat, flared, over her breasts.  Then the women turned their fussing to her hair.  They seemed at a loss of what to do with the untamable mass of curls.  After they got two combs stuck in her hair, Cole brushed their hands away and went about first detangling the combs.  After she had successfully extracted the implements papilla torture, she gathered her hair together, and wove the spearing, decorative picks into the mass. 

The women seemed to realize that the hair of a mixed race Earthling was not always manageable.  As far as Cole had seen, the most riotous hair native to the planet had found its home on Prince Rayer’s head.  Compared to Cole’s, the man’s dark tumbling mane was as tame as a robo-pet.

Finally, the women, who hadn’t cared to or didn’t feel it was their place to have a conversation with her, quit their adjusting, straightening, tugging and prodding.  They stepped away, and Cole glanced back at the mirror.  She stared silently, thinking how far she had come from a stained blouse and the cheapest non-slips on the market. 

Cole figured that since her feet were bare, they would remain so, but when a soft chime sounded one woman bustled to grab a last item from the large trunk that had held all of the robes.  In her hand were a delicate pair of slippers, Cole could see that there wasn’t a single hope that they would fir her feet.  Each of her dressers took a slipper and crouched in front of her.  They lifted the layers of golden silk out of the way but when the first tried to force the slipper she held onto Cole’s right foot they were forced to face reality.

“Oh…” one of the women began.

“I could have told you that there was no way that they would fit.”

“We have nothing else available,” the other lamented.

“Wait,” interrupted the first, “The High Queen’s wedding slippers?”

“I am not going in there; we have all heard her ranting and raving these last many days.”

“Not the Second Queen’s!  The High Queen Arati’s.  I know that they are larger than standard – The High Prince takes after his mother.”  For a moment, the two women crouched at Cole’s feet and silently seemed to debate.  Finally, the one given to panicking responded.

“But, where are the slippers?”  Her whisper barely made it past the swaths of silk to Cole’s ears.

“I think the High Prince has them in the tower.”

“There isn’t time!”

“There is if you get one of the boys to run!”  Both women stood and the more rational woman took Cole by the arm and led her to a stool by the door.  The other woman bustled out the door and called to a young man, probably no more than a teenager and sent him off to find her alternative footwear.

*

Rayer lounged on a pile of floor cushions – his ceremonial garb was carefully laid out, but as he stayed as far as possible from the accenting frills, it would take him mere moments to get ready once the second chimes sounded.  As he lounged, breathing slowly, finding his inner calm so that he could tolerate the upcoming fanfare, Rayer heard the door into the lounging level open.  A young worker, the runner that had been assigned to the two older maids assisting Coletta in getting dressed for the mating rites, almost fell head over feet as he slid to a stop once he noticed Rayer in the room.

              “H-high Prince.”  Rayer watched the panicked youth desperately search for what he should say; always more pitying than his father’s second mate and her son, Rayer decided to help the boy out.

              “Is there an emergency?”

              “The slippers don’t fit!” 
In no way is that the response I was expecting.

              “And that brings you here because…”

              “I was sent to see if the wedding slippers of the High Queen could be borrowed.”

              “That is entirely up to her – I am not the person to ask about that.  I thought it was common knowledge that I avoid my father’s present mate as often as possible.”

              “N-no sir.  They sent me to ask about High Queen Arati’s wedding slippers.”

              Rayer stared at the young man in silence for a minute.  His mind had all but seized – no one ever asked about his mother’s affects.  His father had stowed them all away, and no one had touched them until the day Rayer had found Montala digging through them.  He had protested loudly and at length to his father.  The High King had finally given in to his son once he had realized that Rayer was a stubborn as himself.  Rayer had then sequestered his mother’s belongings in the tower and had claimed the space as his own.

              Rayer finally stood.  The request was not coming from Montala.  No, it was coming from the women who had helped his mother get ready on the day she and his father had shared the ceremonial rites.  Not only them, the request was coming on behalf of the woman who would bear his heir, and secure Rayer’s claim on the High Throne to rule over the Sii.

              Rayer wandered over to a case of shelves along one of the walls of the room and from the bottom shelf he pulled a box.  He handed the box to the runner, continuing to hold it until the boy was sure of his grip.  Finally he released the precious box into the youth’s care.

              “You may tell Lady Coletta that she may use whatever she wishes from this box.  After she has made her selections, return the chest to me and I will gather whatever she uses myself.”

              “Yes, I will relay your message exactly, High Prince Rayer.”

              As quickly as he had hurried into the room, the runner bolted from Rayer’s domain to deliver the precious remains of Arati’s wedding costume to her son’s soon-to-be mate.

*