Quell (4 page)

“The position you currently hold?”

“Yes. Dealing with men on a daily basis can wear on one’s nerves. I look forward to a retirement one day surrounded by my children and, hopefully, some grandchildren.”

“Why did Artruo put his brother forward as my consort without consulting him?”

“Ah. That. Their mother was one of the great ladies, but she was never able to rise to the rank of queen. When I took Artruo as my consort, Gyrion was raised to nobility, and he is a very good leader, as well as an excellent defender.”

“Defender?”

“Well, the men are always trying to jockey for position. A consort today might not be one tomorrow if he lets himself be deposed.”

Amylia chuckled. “So, they work out regularly?”

“They keep fit and keep in combat practice. It makes them more desirable as mates. Their criteria are they have to be strong, intelligent and fiercely loyal to their queen.”

The nearest analogy that Amylia could think of was a bee drone. The drones followed the queen with the hope of mating, but she was in charge.

If the people of Rohul weren’t so large-cat in nature, she definitely would have gone with the thought of bees. Their stripes were too random for that, though. They were definitely big cats. It was a common enough adaptation in the Imperium and the Alliance, for that matter. Hunters had a better chance of survival.

They ate lunch and chatted about things that didn’t involve sex with Kreatha’s brother-in-law.

When Artruo came back, he looked smug. “Amylia, you have a consort.”

Her head went back into her hands for a moment.

Kreatha chuckled and patted her shoulder. “Gyrion is a good man. He will be a good consort. He is just a little... intense.”

Artruo nodded. “That is a good description of him. He is making his way to the keep to meet us and take you to your new domain.”

Amylia lifted her head. “When?”

Kreatha smiled. “We disembark in a few hours. This ship will remain in orbit, hidden and waiting for the Imperium to arrive.”

Artruo nodded. “Do not worry, Gyrion has been made aware of your injuries, and he will wait until you approach him to seal your union.”

She fought the urge to cover her face again. “Oh. Great. Thank you.”

Kreatha patted her shoulder again. “It will be fine. You know you can’t go back.”

It was true. She had been removed by force from Janial and had been compromised by a prisoner. If she returned to the station, she would be in as an inmate, not a guard. Until they ran a Minder through her senses, they wouldn’t be able to prove that she wasn’t culpable in the escape, if they were even interested in finding that out. They might just be content to make an example of her.

Neither was an outcome that she was interested in examining.

The shuttle set down in the centre of a clearing, and Kreatha stepped out, breathing deeply of the moist, green-scented air.

Artruo was next to her, and a gasp and shiver filled the trees.

When Amylia stepped out, the whisper of the trees stilled. She could sense thousands of minds around her, but they weren’t the kind she was used to. Sentient trees. They were all alive and thinking. Most were examining her as she checked out their mental signatures.

Kreatha raised her hands. “I have returned, and I have brought another queen to help secure our people.”

The trees whispered and murmured to themselves before the sweet scent of blossoms filled the air.

Kreatha turned to her. “They like you.”

Amylia wouldn’t go that far, but they seemed satisfied with what they found in her mind.

The shuttle emptied into the clearing, and when they were a safe distance away, it lifted off to return to the ship. Amylia looked at her last chance to return to the Imperium fly away.

With stiff shoulders, she followed Kreatha and her mate out of the landing area, through the trees and out into the light where the fresh breezes reminded her of what it was like to be off a space station again.
Damn, I missed this.

She followed them to a shallow valley where large beasts were waiting calmly. Artruo helped Kreatha onto the back of one of the large felines, and then, he turned to Amylia.

“Sorry. It is the only way to the keep if we are going to get there before dark.”

She glanced back, and the men who had come with them were doubling up on the beasts. “Fine.”

She followed Kreatha’s example and set her foot in his hands. He lifted her up, and she settled onto the back of the creature, scratching its neck out of reflex. The ears flopped slightly, and she hoped that it was a happy expression, because a moment later, Artruo was up behind Kreatha and their gathering started to move.

Amylia clutched at the thick fur on the back of her ride and held on. The weird rolling gait loosened up her lower back, but her splayed thighs started to ache in a matter of minutes. She had no idea how long this ride was going to take, but she knew it would be longer than would be comfortable.

The mystery behind why they needed the beasts was revealed when the path moved steeply upward. Amylia dug her fingers into the fur and held on, her belly flat against the beast beneath her. It went straight up the side of the hill at a nearly ninety-degree angle.

She glanced up, and Artruo was holding on, protecting Kreatha as they climbed up several hundred feet of steep cliff.

Amylia held on for dear life, keeping her legs tight to the beast beneath her so she wasn’t giving a show to the men beneath her. The Rohul clothing didn’t come with underwear. If she didn’t have her period, she was feeling the breezes.

When her beast flattened out and regained the horizontal, she breathed deeply and sat up quickly, fluffing out the fabric to disguise the sweat on her skin. Holding on had taken most of her energy.

The keep loomed ahead of them, and the beasts took them straight in.

Cheers were called out as Kreatha waved at her people. A second party of men on beasts approached them, and as Amylia tried to head into the keep, Kreatha turned her beast and smiled. “There is your escort. I will speak with you in a week.”

The dismissal was obvious; she sat back on her tailbone, and her beast came to a stop as the men from the ship surrounded her and passed her by.

She waited, and the group of men approaching turned toward her. Apparently, it was time to meet her consort.

Facing down a strange security force was not something that she had considered likely, but here she was, sitting with her thighs and groin screaming at her while she waited to meet her soon-to-be consort.

The only man riding single dismounted and came toward her. He was dressed comfortably in a soft black sleeveless shirt and matching trousers. Why men thought that dark colours were attractive was something she often thought about, but she guessed it didn’t show stains.

She sat on the back of her beast and watched him grow larger with every step. He was taller than Artruo by half a head.

When he got within fifteen feet of her, she called out, “Gyrion, I presume?”

He paused and bowed low. “Lady Amylia, it is my honour to escort you to your new home.”

She nodded and turned her beast toward him. “Lead the way.”

He paused, his gold-green eyes surprised. “It is traditional for a queen to ride in with her consort.”

“I am not a queen, and you are not yet my consort.” She crossed her arms and leaned forward, kicking her feet slowly.

Gyrion continued his approach, and his head was even with her ribcage. He was a very tall man.

He stroked her beast. “He is tired from the climb and you would stress him even more?”

“What about yours? It has walked from wherever your home is.”

He chuckled. “It is just over that ridge. This is the eastern edge of Kreatha’s domain and the western edge of yours.”

She shrugged and flipped her leg over the back of the beast and slid to the ground, staring up at Gyrion. “Fine. We will do things your way.”

He extended his hand, and she slipped her fingers along his. She took in callouses, the warmth of his hand and the smooth, hard texture of his skin. He closed his fingers around her with complete awareness of his own strength, and she found it reassuring that he knew how far to go.

“You are safe with me, Lady Amylia.” He smiled, and his slit-pupiled eyes took in her slight form. “Are you an adult by your species standards?”

She laughed. “I am, and I am nearly the same height as Kreatha, so there is no reason for you to look at me that way.”

He chuckled and started to lead her to his riding beast. The pace he set was a little too quick for her, and she stumbled. He paused and slowed his pace. “Apologies.”

“It’s fine. I am just recovering from more than the ride.”

He slowed his pace. “Yes, Artruo mentioned something to that effect. I thought you had been healed.”

“The SRT works on nerve reactions. My body is trying to forget what was done, but things still get set off in weird ways.” She smiled tensely.

She walked with him to the beast, winced as she settled back into position and he mounted behind her. His body was an excellent frame for her, and when he set the beast into motion, she tried to keep straight-backed and businesslike.

After a few minutes, he whispered in her ear. “My brother likes to exaggerate, but how long were you in the machine?”

“Just over three days.” She raised one hand to her ear, and under the guise of brushing back her hair, she covered it. The memory that rang in her mind was the jeers and cheering wishing her to her death.

“That is...” His arms closed around her in a nearly invisible hug.

“Yes. It was.”

“Yet, you are willing to take a consort?”

She looked straight ahead as his warm breath stroked her cheek. “You don’t plug into a wall.”

“No.”

“You will stop when I say stop.”

“I will.”

She chuckled. “You will whether you want to or not. I will show you my talent when it is appropriate, but it is a lot of fun at parties.”

She thought about it. “Strike that. It tends to end the party.”

He let out a small sound. “I look forward to seeing a demonstration, at the appropriate time.”

Gyrion used small movements to coax her into leaning against him. “No one can see you; we are at the head of the pack.”

“Why are you being kind to me?”

“You think I should challenge you to be all that you are while you are recovering and exhausted? You don’t think much of me.”

She sighed and twisted to look at him. “I don’t know you or you me.”

He smiled. “I will, and you will. Lean back. It is an hour until we are in your domain.”

She settled against him and felt the small shudder through the wall of his chest. “Why did you give it over so easily?”

“I didn’t. You will rule the land. I will control it. You have the land, and I have the people.”

She chuckled. “You may have that backward.”

She paused. “How many ladies did you have to dismiss because of my arrival?”

“How did you know?” His words were an embarrassed mutter.

“Scratch marks on your neck, at the back of your arms. Lover’s marks. Your skin resists bruising, but the clawing is part of the fun.” She chuckled. “How many?”

“Two.”

“Do either have mates or children?”

“No.”

“Do they have talents?”

He cleared his throat. “They do. One has a talent for fire, the other for air.”

She grinned. “Will they attack me?”

“The Lady Himya was particularly upset. Joriana was more accepting.”

Amylia sighed. “Excellent. I will be on my guard. Oh, do you have any healers?”

“We do.”

“Good. Anyone coming near me with ill intent is going to need them.” She closed her eyes as they rode along, letting the warmth of him relax her.

She felt the wealth of the minds as they got closer to her new domain. She sat up straight, and Gyrion chuckled.

“You have excellent timing.”

Amylia turned her head slightly. “I can feel them.”

He was quiet at that. He didn’t ask how, merely shifted until the beast beneath them picked up speed until it was running.

They thundered into the keep, and there was a cheer from nearly all the throats. In the wide courtyard, Gyrion stopped and dismounted, turning to put his hands on Amylia’s waist to help her down.

She had to stiffen her knees and keep up with him as he guided her up the steps to a low wall.

The wind tugged at her gown and dried it.

“People of Forat, I give you your queen!” He gestured to her and ninety percent of the locals cheered.

Ten percent to turn to her side. It wouldn’t be too difficult. She was plain spoken and direct with little malice to any alien species. If they didn’t drive her to attack, she wouldn’t. Same rules as the prison. If they didn’t start with her, she wouldn’t start with them.

She nodded to those assembled. “I am new to this world and finding my way, so please direct me if I stumble across your social mores. Our social mores. I am learning, and after I take your measure, you may know mine.”

The crowd didn’t know what to make of that.

“Oh, and I gladly accept Gyrion as my consort.” She winced at the cheer that rose up.

Gyrion grinned and turned her to him, lifting her chin up and feathering his lips across hers. There was another cheer, and Gyrion lifted his head. “And now, you can get some rest.”

She nearly passed out at the joy of the thought of getting off her aching legs.

He led her up, off the low wall. They crossed a stone bridge and walked into a long, wide hall. All of the citizens could easily be fed in the huge space.

Men and women moved around, performing menial tasks in equal representation.

Gyrion led her through the hall, didn’t introduce her but took her up another set of steps to a door that opened onto a hall. At the end of the hall, there was a spacious room with a wide bed.

“Is this where you entertained the ladies?”

He shook his head. “No, it is the queen’s chamber. Mine is down the hall.”

She nodded and released his hand, going exploring. The technology wasn’t hidden; it was simply in the places where it would do the most good. The bathroom was equipped with all of the comforts of the spaceship in orbit, plus a tub for a hot bath.