Queen of the Savages - Complete (12 page)

"What is wrong?" Rev asked.

"She wouldn't let me wash. I smell like sex."

"Yes," said Rev. "I like it."

"Well, you smell like sex too."

"I do?"

"And if I can smell it, every Kerdos woman there will smell it too."

"Then I'll just have to keep you close to protect me from their ravenous hunger."

Rev held Tracy's arm tightly as they entered the banquet hall. The official dining room of the palace was demolished, but the throne room, in a separate wing, was not. Tables were set up in a large square "U" shape. Small lights were strung along the walls. The centerpieces were arrangements of rocks and flowers inset with candles. The actual dais where the Kerdos throne sat was curtained off in deference to the deceased emperor.

All eyes were on Rev and Tracy when they entered the room. People rose and bowed as Rev escorted Tracy to her seat next to him at the head table. Tracy was overwhelmed at the number of people here. They were all staring at her!

Not one to let a situation get the better of her, she stood even straighter and held up her chin.

Rev nodded to several people seated at the tables. When they got closer to the head table, Tev stood.

"You're late!" he said loudly.

"You'd be too, if you had a mate like mine," said Rev with a smile.

Immediately, everyone laughed. Almost everyone.

Tracy was shocked to see Ja-Idin Du sitting next to Tev.

"What is he doing here?" she said.

Rev got a sheepish look on his face. "He's the Aligned Worlds Representative. We had to invite him."

"This is why you didn't tell me about the dinner!" she hissed.

"Yes," said Rev under his breath. He smiled at the people who bowed when they passed by. "You would have asked questions, and I'd have to tell you."

"We'll discuss this later," said Tracy tightly through her smile.

"I'm sure," said Rev.

Rev helped Tracy to her seat and whispered for her to remain standing. He stood very straight and called for the attention of the assembled guests.

"Advisors. Ministers. Lords and ladies. It is my pleasure to present to you my mate, Lady Tracy Walsh. She is anxious to get to know all of you."

Tracy's gaze swept around the large table, taking in the faces of people who held power of varying degrees on Kerdos. Some smiles were warm. Others were not as welcoming.

For the first time since she got to this warm planet, she felt a chill. It was one thing to share the bed of a prince of Kerdos, but it was quite another to face these people as their potential queen, many of whom had preconceived notions about her.

"I am honored to sit in the halls of Kerdos," she said, with a quaver in her voice. She hoped that would be enough.

Rev didn't say anything about making a speech, but it seemed like they were expecting something more. "I hope," Tracy started, then faltered. "I hope that one day you will have the same warm regard for me as I have for you."

Ja-Idin Du had an unreadable look on his face. His black eyes glittered in the candlelight. Tracy couldn't help but shiver again, remembering his fangs and him declaring that it would be better if she were dead.

Fortunately, she did not have to look at him directly. Tev and Rev sat in the two center spots at the table. Tracy was on Rev's right while Ja-Idin Du was on Tev's left. Sitting next to Tracy was a upper class Kerdos woman, her nose long and straight and her cheekbones high.

"Hello," said Tracy.

The woman gave her a bored smile. "Hello, my lady."

"Please, call me Tracy. What is your name?"

"My name is Se-Trila. I am the daughter of the high lord governor of the Northern Reach, Se-Margen."

"Pleased to meet you," said Tracy.

"Yes," said Trila in a long, slow voice. She took a sip of her wine.

Trila was an odd choice to be seated at the head table. Tracy could only surmise that she was someone's pick, perhaps Pa-Kregin's, as a choice of mate for Tev. Though she was beautiful, Tracy knew right off that Tev wouldn't like her imperious attitude.

"You weren't supposed to have this seat, were you?" said Tracy.

"My lord thought it better to talk with the Aligned World's representative."

"Yes," said Tracy, mimicking Trila's delivery.

Soft music from a quartet played in the background, though the instruments didn't look like anything Tracy recognized. Food was brought and taken away. There was so much of it that it was impossible to eat it all.

Rev spent his time speaking with his brother and other nobles close to him, leaving Tracy feeling alone in the middle of a crowd. She supposed this was normal. Tracy was human, not Kerdos, and she had much to learn about this planet if she was to fit in.

An ache filled her heart. She missed Earth. She missed her job. As unsatisfying as it was, she knew her place there. There were people she could share her days with. She missed the big, messy planet filled with people who understood the idea of love, and she understood then that no matter how much she leaned about Kerdos she would always be an alien to them, even if she ended up their queen.

Rev was in a discussion with his brother and Pa-Kregin. It seemed to be getting very intense, and Ja-Idin Du was paying rapt attention. Clearly, she couldn't expect Rev to give her attention.

Haughty Se-Trila spoke with a man seated on her right. Tracy could do nothing else but stare at her food. She tried to look like she was enjoying herself even if she was just an accessory on Rev's arm.

Tracy had to do something to amuse herself so she started scanning the tables on either side, looking for a woman that Tev might like. He was Rev's brother, right? It only stood to reason that he'd share similar tastes.

On the other hand, since scent was the dominant feature in choosing a mate for the Kerdim, how could she possibly evaluate whether Tev would find a women sufficiently attractive?

Still, she could fantasize. If Tev didn't find his own mate, Tracy imagined she'd be subjected to many long evenings just as boring as this.

Note to self, Tracy thought. For future reference avoid getting abducted by aliens. The dinner parties will kill you.

Finally, it seemed the last course was served, and then began a long round of speeches from various ministers and governors expressing their sympathy and sadness for the recent tragedy, their faith in the governing abilities of the two newly elevated princes, and hope for the future. If Tracy thought she was bored before, she had to stifle real yawns now, especially since she had to act like she was paying attention.

Each speaker returned to one idea over and over again. It was "One of you guys get someone knocked up so we can get on with the business of the empire."

How fucking romantic.

Now Tracy was fighting the urge to squirm in her seat. She became aware that she had only one role here, and that was to pop out a royal baby at the first possible moment. It was the only reason that these noble lords and ladies suffered her presence in their company.

Otherwise they couldn't be less interested in her.

And then Ja-Idin Du got up to speak.

"Your Highness Ar-Teven, Highness Ar-Reven, High Advisor Pa-Kregin, lords and ladies of the noble houses of Kerdos, I bring greetings and condolences from the Aligned Worlds government."

Tracy stared hard at Ja-Idin Du. He was the man she knew was responsible for the destruction of the palace and the resultant deaths of those within. He continued unfazed.

"It indeed is a sad time for your fair planet. It is also a loss for the Enforcement Wing as well that two of our best officers must set aside their duties to take up their rightful places in the government of Kerdos."

Tracy's eyes narrowed. Why was this man engaging in revisionist history? He was standing right next to Rev when Rev was given his sentence.

"The Aligned World's government understands this is a difficult time for the people of Kerdos, and it is with a heavy heart that I must discuss a serious affair with you."

Every muscle in Tracy's body tensed. What was Ja-Idin Du up to now? Rev apparently thought the same thing. He grabbed Tracy's hand and held it tightly.

"As you know, Prince Ar-Reven took a mate. What he hasn't told you is that this woman is from a non-aligned world. Her whole planet is interdicted and with good reason."

Murmurs rose up from the assembled noble guests. Rev had a murderous look on his face.

"I'm warning you, Du," said Rev. "Stop this now."

"Do you see what I mean? Even now, your prince defies the laws of the Aligned World's government by threatening its representative."

Rev stood, his green skin darkening with the flush of his anger. "Du, continue to insult my mate, and you'll see more than threats."

"Continue with this ridiculous mating of yours, and you'll see more than threats from the Aligned Worlds," spit Du. "A bill of interdiction for Kerdos rests in the hands of the Council of Nine now. Return the woman before events go too far to be repaired."

More than murmurs rose up now. Different lords started shouting at Rev and Du and then to each other.

Tracy shrank back in her seat, watching the pandemonium in horror. Every split and shear in the government was seen now, and real violence threatened to break out among the Lords of Kerdos. The ladies began to exit the room.

Suddenly As-Sali came from behind the curtains of the dais and moved toward Rev, whispering something in his ear. He nodded tersely.

"Come, Lady Tracy," said Sali. "It is best the men work this out for themselves. I'll take you back to your apartments."

"Rev?" said Tracy. She didn't like any of this at all.

"Go with her. I'll be along soon."

"Come," urged Sali. "It is not safe for you."

With a last look at Rev and the incited Lords of Kerdos, Tracy left quickly, walking behind As-Sali.

Instead of leading her through the front doors, Sali took Tracy behind the curtains which hid the throne. Behind a huge tapestry was a set of doors. It was dark in this area. It took Tracy's eyes a long time to adjust to the faint light cast by the moons hanging like slivers in the night sky. The dryness of the night air hit her.

"Come," said Sali. "We will walk around the palace to your rooms. It is safer that way."

Tracy didn't like this. Her instinct was to turn back to Rev.

"Your lord commands this," said Sali. "He is only thinking of your safety. When the lords conference, it is not safe to be in their company."

Sali continued down a path, and Tracy followed her, if only to ask her about her last comment.

"Conference? That's one hell of a term for it. Does this happen often?" asked Tracy incredulously.

"Not often. It is a tradition that stretches back ages where there were grave disagreements. The princes have been working all week to bring consensus, but the matter of your 'mating' with my lord is an area where no agreements can be made."

The dismissive tone with which Sali said "mating" made Tracy stop in her tracks. Her unease bloomed into a panic. Something was off here.

She turned and began to run back to the throne room doors and back to Rev.

Someone moved into her path. For a second she thought it was Rev. In the moonlight she saw it was his brother.

"There you are," he said. "Come along. Ja-Idin Du is waiting to take you back to your planet."

Tracy stood in front of Tev trying to control her terror. He stood over her, the same height as Rev, with the same bulk in his shoulders, arms, and chest. She knew the strength that was in that physique, and she was sure he could overpower her quickly.

Tracy thought over her options quickly, and every path led to the same conclusion.

Without Rev to protect her, she was in a bad situation.

"You can't mean that," she said.

"I am tired of the problems we've suffered because my little brother was foolish enough to attempt to mate you."

Perhaps she had speed and agility on her side. She darted around Tev, hoping to make it back to the throne room doors before he could catch her. Something grabbed her arm and jerked her back hard. She was staring up at Tev's eyes once again. This time they were filled with anger.

So much for agility.

With a grunt, Tev lifted her and threw her over his shoulder. She kicked, trying to dislodge herself. She started screaming.

"Rev! Help me! Help!"

"He can't hear you. He's occupied right now with the conference. By the time it's over and he starts looking for you, your alien ass will be off our planet."

Tev started moving quickly despite her squirming. He held onto her bottom tightly. His fingers dug into her flesh as she bounced along his shoulder.

They passed a large cleared garden, then moved onto a gravel path that took them through the woods. They walked past the wooded area up to a rise in the land which held a large cleared plot.

Thirty minutes into their flight, Tracy began to feel nauseous. Her overstuffed stomach churned and threatened to spill.

"I feel sick," she said.

They were in an area far from the palace now. Tev turned his shoulders toward the palace for a second, and she saw it was very far away. He stopped running and set her down.

"You're a weak thing, aren't you?" he sneered.

Tracy bent over and lost the contents of her stomach. Her retching racked her body, and unbidden tears filled her eyes. She had been through too much; she really had. There was only so much a woman could take. A galactic government chasing her through the stars bent on making her pay for the crime of being human brought Tracy to the breaking point.

She whirled toward Tev.

"You think I'm weak, you bastard? You know who is not weak? Your brother! When he finds out what you've done, he'll make sure you know real pain."

Tev shook his head slowly. "I don't think so. Rev's been my brother long before he met you. The bond between us is as strong as that between Mikten and Phaben. No matter how much we fight, we can't really hurt each other."

Mikten and Phaben.

Tracy remembered that story. It was a legend that Rev told her when they walked stranded on the desert sands of another world. Mikten was the mate of Queen Endra, and Phaben was his twin brother. Phaben had a thing for Endra and slipped into her bed whenever he could. Cuckolded Mikten was torn between loyalties to his queen and his brother, and he was unable to bring harm to either.