Glow

by Joss Stirling

  ‘Because it is clearly an aberration.’

  ‘Aberration? Next slide please, Leah.’ The inscription came up and then the translation.

  ‘How did you get that?’ hissed Rio.

  She wasn’t about to dump Clarice in trouble. ‘I have my sources. What you are looking at, ladies and gentlemen, is proof that there were those among our ancestors who discovered another way of living together with the Perilous. They discovered what we should have known all along: that we are not the predators of each other’s race, but the missing piece.’

  Rio looked around for the person controlling the screen but he had never bothered to learn the names of her staff. He couldn’t snatch the controller from Leah. ‘Turn that thing off! It was heresy. The temple was destroyed.’

  ‘Rio, you don’t rule here, remember? It is by my wish that you are all seeing this new information. You would’ve hidden it from the council; I want to consult them. Our ancestors may not have been ready for the truth then, but I hope that today you will be, because you are about to see it for yourself. Kel?’

  On cue, Kel stepped out from behind the throne and took her hand. A ripple of alarm ran through the council.

  ‘Lose the jacket,’ she murmured.

  He kissed her fingers. ‘Only if you do.’

  Meri shrugged out of her zip-up hoodie to reveal a tank top underneath.

  ‘What is he doing here?’ demanded Tegel.

  ‘We’ll get to that. Now, let us show you what Teans and Perilous can be together.’ Meri was pleased she sounded so calm. Inside her heart was racing.

  They held hands and Meri gently let her energy stretch out. It was easier a second time, a path that had already been beaten. Her skin quickly took its favourite spiral markings as Kel blazed out beside her. Without the intimacy it didn’t feel as perfect, but this was a demonstration before many eyes and they had something to prove. They had to do this.

  ‘You OK?’ Kel murmured.

  ‘Oh yes. You?’

  ‘Like thunder that has found its lightning.’

  Meri turned to address the room. Supporters and enemies alike, all faced them with shocked expressions.

  ‘This is what Tean and Perilous look like together. Kel has my powers and I have his. There is no master and servant race; there are only equals.’ She tried turning the flow of energy down a notch, pleased that the intensity of their glow faded with it. ‘This is what some of the ancestors knew and others resisted. You face the same choice again: do you accept this and reach out to the Perilous in peace; or will you oppose me—us—in this?’

  Tegel suddenly leapt out of his chair and charged towards Kel, a handgun drawn from his pocket. Before anyone else could react, energy arced from Kel’s fingertips and hit Tegel full in the chest. Meri felt the sharp tug on her energy store but didn’t let the connection snap. Tegel flew back and hit the wall.

  ‘Wow. I did not know I could do that,’ said Kel, looking at his fingertips with new respect.

  Bernard moved quickly to disarm Tegel.

  ‘Is he alive?’ asked Meri. ‘Right now I don’t care much, but tomorrow I’ll regret it if our new start begins with a death.’

  ‘He’s alive, ma’am.’

  ‘Then remove him and make sure he is seen by a doctor. Then lock him up. When he’s conscious, tell him I’ve relieved him of his responsibilities for going against my express orders and for plotting to murder Kel.’

  Meri waited for Tegel to be carried out before returning to her question. ‘So, council, I want to know if you are with me or against me in this?’

  Rayne got to her feet but before she could speak, Rio had risen.

  ‘This is outrageous! I warned you all that it was a mistake to recognise this blasphemer, this puta, as heir. She’s nothing and has no right to do this.’

  ‘I have every right,’ Meri said softly, ‘as you well know.’

  ‘But this is a coup d’état.’

  ‘Explain how it can be a coup when I’m the recognized ruler?’

  ‘It’s a coup replacing our old ways with your new ones. I will repeat: you have no right. Under the constitution, I as Regent declare you unfit to govern. You are relieved of your responsibilities.’

  At least this time, Meri had had an opportunity to read the constitution before going head to head with Rio on it. ‘You are wrong, Rio. You can’t unilaterally declare that. It has to be agreed by a majority of the council.’

  ‘That’s easily solved then. Everyone who agrees with me, raise your hand.’ Most of the people seated in the front row did as he asked. Meri noticed Rayne hesitated and kept her hand down. ‘There, motion carried.’

  ‘Those against, please raise your hands,’ replied Meri. Her supporters all did so. Rayne abstained. ‘Oh, I forgot to mention, as we’d not reached that item on the agenda, that I used my right in the case of an emergency to appoint temporary members to my council to advise me. Here they are.’

  ‘You can’t make a bunch of maids and footmen council members!’ spluttered Derwent.

  ‘I think you’ll see that I can. I’ve underlined the part of the constitution that allows it for ease of reference.’ She threw the book she had studied on the floor between them.

  ‘That power is to be used only in an emergency,’ said Rayne. ‘I’m sure the new members will be struck down when Rio appeals this decision.’

  ‘What do you call an emergency?’

  ‘A threat to the state.’

  ‘Like, say, treason? People plotting against the head of state?’

  ‘I…yes, I suppose.’

  ‘Tegel did both those things. There is plenty of evidence to suggest Rio did too, matters I have already brought to the council’s attention. It is my judgement that this is an emergency. My appointments stand. Now, if you want to remain prime minister, I suggest you get with the programme.’

  Rayne held her steepled fingers to her mouth. ‘I…this is too much.’

  Meri felt her advantage slipping away. ‘I’ve brought you evidence. I’ve shown you what Kel and I can be together. Why cling on to an old fight that can only result in genocide, probably ours as we’re down to just me being a pure-blood? Can’t you see we need to change?’

  Rio pointed a finger at her. ‘We don’t know you’re the only one. There might be others.’

  ‘There might be,’ she conceded.

  ‘And surely it’s better to have a loyal Tean like me, even with my imperfect pedigree, than a rebel like her?’ He was now addressing the council. ‘With me you know what you’ll get. With her, she’ll hand us over to her Perilous lover. She’s already given him the most dangerous weapon she possesses. You saw what he did to Tegel. He won’t stop there.’

  ‘You’re rewriting history even as it happens,’ protested Kel. ‘You all saw the man attack me. I wasn’t the one planning to chuck him out of a helicopter.’

  ‘He was defending our fragile state! You have to make sacrifices if you want peace and security.’

  ‘You call this peace and security? Mate, you’re living in an armed siege. Haven’t you noticed?’

  ‘And I suppose all your Perilous will roll over and let her rub their stomachs like you do.’

  ‘As much as I appreciate the visual, no, they won’t. They will need persuading. But I’m hoping they will be more rational than you. Can’t you even entertain the possibility your heir might be right? That providence gave you the right leader for the right time?’

  ‘So, according to you, we're rejecting the gift of the gods, are we? If she’s a gift, she’s a Trojan Horse stuffed full of Perilous enemies.’

  ‘I am no such thing,’ objected Meri. ‘Rio, why can’t you give even a little? You love Clarice? If you let us try to be something new, you’d be free to marry her. You could flourish and be the person you are supposed to be, not this.’ Meri waved at the embittered young man standing before her. ‘Don’t you want to choose love rather than war?’

  ‘Naive and dangerous: I warned you!’ Rio turn
ed away and strode to the wall to hit the panic button. ‘I’m putting an end to this nonsense.’

  An alarm wailed throughout the palace. In sixty seconds, they were going to be surrounded by troops and Meri doubted there would be time to lay out the reasons why they should be loyal to her.

  ‘I’m going to order they keep her under house arrest,’ announced Rio. ‘She can donate her DNA, willing or unwilling, but that’s all the use Atlantis will have for her in future.’

  ‘You bastard!’ growled Kel.

  Meri kept a grip on his hand. She sent a bolt of light over their heads. ‘Silence! Rio is charged with high treason as is everyone who sides with him. I am the legitimate ruler of Atlantis. Its lands and wealth are mine. Anyone who seizes them does so illegally. You may hold this palace for the moment, but you know in your hearts you do so with no right to even a paperclip. Friends, let’s go.’

  Meri had discussed the possibility with her supporters that this moment might come and they fell in around her as requested. Sadie squeezed in beside her.

  ‘Um, Meri, I only booked seven tickets. We can’t take everyone with us even if we empty all of Osun’s carbon accounts.’

  ‘We’re not taking a plane.’ Meri could hear troops approaching on the run. ‘Crap: I left it too late.’

  ‘That’s not very royal language, Meri,’ said Francis sternly. ‘Let me deal with this. They don’t know yet what’s gone down in the throne room.’

  Kel looked around for a second line of retreat but they were in a corridor leading to the external courtyard and the only other way was back to Rio and his allies. ‘Do you trust Francis? What if he just hands you over?’

  ‘I’ve got to start somewhere with my people. This is it.’ Meri gestured to the crowd around her.

  Daro squirmed through the bodies to her side. ‘Don’t worry, ma’am. I won’t let them touch you.’

  ‘Who’s this?’ asked Kel.

  ‘My other Perilous admirer.’

  Kel didn’t need any confirmation because Daro’s fighting instincts were making his markings glow. ‘Dude, we’re going to have to have a word about who’s girl she is,’ Kel murmured.

  Meri grinned.

  Francis, meanwhile, had intercepted the head of the security team as they charged along the corridor towards them.

  ‘Captain, I’m relieved to see you. There had been a problem in the throne room with one of the council members attacking the heir. We’re taking her to a safe location. You need to secure them in that room and arrest the guilty party.’

  ‘Who, sir?’

  ‘It was Rio Cruz,’ called Meri from the midst of her huddle of supporters. ‘He’s committed treason.’

  The man visibly gulped. ‘Rio Cruz?’

  ‘Yes. Now get to it. You haven’t a moment to lose,’ urged Francis.

  The squad sprinted off as ordered.

  ‘How long do you think it will take Rio to talk his way out of that one?’ asked Kel.

  ‘Not long,’ admitted Meri. ‘They always preferred him to me and if my wet blanket of a prime minister sides with him, then…’

  ‘Yeah. We’d better run for it.’ He took her hand.

  ‘We’re not running. It’s a strategic retreat.’

  ‘Then strategically retreat faster, darling. I think I can hear more of those guys coming for us.’

  Meri and her supporters made it to the courtyard. Bernard arrived from another exit in the building and started tossing keys to anyone who could drive.

  ‘Garages!’ he shouted.

  They headed for the vehicles and crammed themselves in.

  ‘Where to, ma’am?’ asked Bernard.

  She almost could persuade herself it was a normal day going to college—almost. ‘Cadiz harbour.’

  ‘Why the harbour, Meri? Won’t we just be heading into a trap?’ asked Valerie. She was sitting between Saddiq and Bernard and from her expression was enjoying the proximity to Meri’s loyal bodyguard.

  ‘I own about a hundredth of the world’s wealth. I’m sure I can buy us a big enough vessel out of here.’

  Kel looped his arm around her shoulders. ‘And there’s always piracy.’

  ‘I’m up for new experiences,’ chipped in Saddiq.

  ‘Guys, I think we need to take this more slowly,’ said Theo. He was squashed between Sadie and Kel. ‘So far we’ve got away without anyone being shot but we can’t count on that lasting.’

  ‘When did you become the voice of reason, T-Mate?’ asked Saddiq.

  ‘Since I took charge of a four-year-old who is like a daughter to me. Haven’t you noticed?’

  ‘OK, no piracy,’ sighed Saddiq.

  ‘It shouldn’t come to that, Theo,’ said Meri. ‘If we can run ahead of the news of my falling out with the council, then we should be able to use my position to get us what we want.’

  ‘You hope,’ said Theo.

  ‘Yes, I hope.’

  ‘You impressed me back there, Meri. I’ve never seen you speak with such confidence.’

  ‘It helps when it’s not just me. Kel’s there too when we touch like that.’

  Theo blanched. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d rather not think too much about what you and Kel get up to together with that thing you do.’

  ‘But I’m all ears, girlfriend,’ crowed Valerie.

  ‘Maybe later, Val,’ said Meri, exchanging a look with Kel. Valerie would be disappointed. This wasn’t something she was going to share with anyone but him.

  They arrived at the harbour to see a few yachts at anchor. Bernard reached into the glove pocket of the car and pulled out a pair of binoculars.

  ‘Ooo, I like him,’ said Valerie. ‘So well prepared!’

  ‘It’s my personal motto, ma’am,’ he replied with a distinct twinkle in his eye. ‘I can see two unfamiliar vessels but the one on the right is the royal yacht.’

  ‘Now that’s just perfect,’ said Meri. ‘Can you get us over there?’

  Mabel, Ben and Francis got out of the car they had been travelling in and joined them.

  ‘Problem?’ asked Francis’ formidable wife.

  ‘We need to get over there.’ Meri pointed to the yacht. ‘Before Rio’s soldiers arrive.’ Already on the steep road to the harbour she could see the dancing lights of vehicles travelling at high speed. In the distance came the whop-whop of a helicopter.

  ‘Then let’s find out just how sympathetic your people are.’ Mabel strode onto the walkways joining the Tean Sympathizer barges and boats together. She banged on wooden sides and rang bells hanging over gangplanks.

  Francis beamed. ‘Don’t worry, Meri. Mabel will have them organized in a jiffy. She’s well known down here.’

  Ben was already commandeering a speedboat tied up on the pier. ‘Lil’chick?’

  ‘I can’t go without my people.’

  ‘They’re coming, but you need to get away first. None of this is worth anything if you and Kel get caught.’

  He was right. ‘OK. Will you help me with the captain?’

  ‘Looking forward to it.’

  The speedboat had enough room for six. In addition to Kel, Meri and Ben, they took Bernard, Francis and Valerie. Of the six of them, Meri thought Valerie was probably the most formidable and disarming so she went first up the ladder that had been let down to allow passengers onboard. Meri was second, closely followed by Kel.

  Meri eyed the confused sailor who had pulled the night watch. ‘You know who I am?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Then fetch your captain please.’

  ‘He won’t like that.’

  ‘And I won’t like being kept waiting.’

  They watched their allies onshore climbing into an eclectic collection of boats and begin the crossing to the yacht. The Tean Sympathizers at least had come through for the heir. The sailor returned with the captain and several seamen who looked like his version of security.

  ‘What can I do for you, ma’am?’ asked the captain. His eyes widened when he saw Kel.
/>
  ‘Yep, me again,’ said Kel coolly.

  ‘I’m commandeering this vessel,’ said Meri.

  ‘You’re what? I can’t allow that!’

  ‘When I was here last we argued over my rights. Now, as I’m sure you know, I am the acknowledged heir.’ Meri presented him with the peril ring as evidence. ‘Are you going to obey my order or not?’

  The captain glanced towards the shore. The flotilla was making its way towards them while military vehicles arrived on the harbourside. The crackle of gunfire split the night. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘There has been an attempt on my life. I need the sanctuary of this vessel and I’d really rather you didn’t make a fuss.’ She had to get her people to safety and couldn’t be dealing with his near mutiny.

  ‘I can’t…can’t obey you, ma’am. Not without orders from the council.’

  That was a relief as the next step was clear. ‘Then you are relieved of your post. Francis, I hereby make you captain of this vessel. Bernard, please escort the former captain to the boat we arrived in. He can return it to shore with any crewmen who feel the same way.’

  Her supporters started arriving. First up a rope was Daro who darted to her side, a blaze of Perilous markings.

  ‘They shot at us!’ he spluttered.

  ‘I know, Daro. Get below, OK?’

  He didn’t obey but stayed close, eyeing all the sailors with suspicion. Meri decided she would have to work on exerting her authority. To be fair, she was only ruler of the Teans, not of Perilous like him.

  About half the crew left. Only two made an attempt to overpower their escort but were quickly subdued by Bernard and Kel. One of them was Cabot.

  ‘Well, well, well,’ murmured Kel. ‘Look who’s turned up, Meri.’

  ‘It is with great pleasure I banish you for a second time,’ said Meri.

  ‘I don’t recognize your right to do so!’ the old crewman spat at her. ‘You and this scum should be at the bottom of the ocean. I only wish I hadn’t missed at the festival.’

  ‘What’s he talking about?’ asked Kel.