Valencia spun around, and at first thought the stranger was Thane. However, the man who stood in the shadows was not the warrior. Not as tall as the Mlinzi, this slumped-shouldered man was an older Torpek.
"Valencia . . ." his voice was lower by an octave and she remembered the man in her visions.
"Father . . . ?" She whispered as the man moved into the light. Strolling towards her was an aged version of the man in her memories, with lines of worry and sadness etched around his eyes and mouth. Frozen in place at the sight of her father, she did not know what to do. Flashes of memory proved he was her father, but she really did not know the man who approached her. The Regent stopped before her and studied her features. His pale eyes flickered on her face with sadness.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked firmly, but there was a flash of hope in his eyes. However, her answer caused the light to vanish.
"I know you are my father by flashes of memory, but I don't know you." Valencia held her head high and returned the Regent's stare. She was being honest and hoped he would be the same with her. With a soft moan of loneliness, the Regent stepped close and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.
"I've missed you, Valencia," Aeson whispered in her ear before he gently pushed her away. Releasing her from his grasp, he stared at her with pleading eyes. "I wish I never sent you away."
"Why did you send me away?" Not taking her eyes from his face, she watched his expression, however all she saw was sadness.
"I did what I thought was best for you," Aeson answered softly.
"Did you have any idea how evil that woman was?" Her eyes moistened with unshed tears but she refused to cry in front of the stranger who was her father. "It was hell living with her."
"I'm sorry, Valencia, but you never know with Mlinzi," Aeson said with a light chuckle and she had to agree. She only had limited experience with the warriors and could not make up her mind about them. They seemed eager to follow her orders, yet at the same time reluctant to do so.
Her laughter started quietly and her father's chuckle increased in volume. Soon they were howling with laughter. "Yes, you never know what you're getting yourself into, when dealing with those sly foxes."
"They do like to speak in riddles." Her laughter began to calm. She gave her father a heartfelt smile. "I wish I could remember our time together."
"I do too. However, we can make new memories. I will arrange for us to spend some time together, so we can be acquainted again. After the counsel adjourns would be a good time." Aeson smiled softly at her.
"Is there a council meeting?" Valencia's senses perked up at her father's words.
"The council is meeting tomorrow to discuss your return and how to handle the situation you caused today." Arson's brows rose higher when he spoke.
"You mean when I caused the crops to grow. Why does that need to be handled?" Valencia tried to keep the suspicion out of her voice. She had a feeling something wasn't quite right. She wanted to give this man a chance but her stomach clenched at his words.
"Don't worry about all that, dear. Now get some rest." Aeson moved towards the door at a leisurely pace.
"Father what time is the council meeting? I would like to plan our time." She almost vomited on her sweetness.
"The meeting will start at nine in the morning but it may take longer than an hour to sort out this mess, so let's plan for noon." Aeson opened the door and looked back at her. "Yes, the noon meal would be a perfect time to chat."
As the door closed behind him, Valencia sank to the closest chair in exhaustion. Her father was not what she had expected. He showed traits of the powerful man in her memory, yet now he was worn and worried. The time alone ruling an unbalanced world seemed to have taken its toll on the Regent. It was time for her to step up to the plate and rule the planet. First, she needed to learn the playing field. The Keeper had taught her what to do. Now was the time for her to become what she was trained to be. With a yawn, she went back to the dark bedroom and got into bed, curling up under the covers. The bed was so big she did not even know where her friend lay. As her lids grew heavy, the princess whispered to herself. "Warfare 101, by the Keeper. Rule number one: know thy enemy."
***
A quiet chirp woke Valencia from a fitful sleep. She lazily opened one eye and spied the Krysa perched on her pillow. With a yawn, she propped on her elbow and addressed the creature.
"Good morning, Majesty. Where did you scurry off to in all the excitement?" In truth, she'd forgotten about the tiny creature in all the rush. A twinge of guilt pinched her heart. She was not even sure when it had hopped off her shoulder, but here it was, wanting her attention now. The rodent ran up her arm as she pushed out of the bed and grabbed the thick robe. While she sat on the edge of the bed, she peered around the elegant bedroom. The room was cold and dark, reminding her of the compound on Earth. Her breath caught in her throat as anxiety swept through her. The feeling of being trapped in another gilded cage pressed around her. Closing her eyes, she took deep breaths to calm her nervousness. Her legs trembled with anxiety and she feared they would collapse beneath her. She glanced over at her sleeping friend, and Donna's presence reassured Valencia she was not alone.
"I don't have to stay here." Valencia raised her chin and straightened her shoulders. "I can leave whenever I want to and no one can stop me."
With legs that still felt wobbly, she forced herself to stand and walk into the living area. Placing a hand on the cool window, she peered out over a wide, half-moon-shaped balcony. Hoping fresh air would ease the feeling of dread she searched for the door. To her astonishment, Valencia found a sensor off to the side of the wide glass and, through trial and error, learned how to operate the device. With a soft swoosh, one side of the massive glass slid open, letting the fresh morning breeze fill the sterile room with the smells of life.
"I don't have to stay here," she repeated aloud to reassure herself that was true. As she strolled the length of the marble courtyard, Valencia took a deep breath of the crisp air. She tried to convince herself she was no longer a prisoner, but free to move about as she desired. Determination to control her future diminished the panic that gripped her spirit, although the sense of unease did not totally disappear. "I will not stay here. But how can I leave without making a commotion—and where shall I go?" She glanced over the ledge and peered down at the city. It was early morning and the Beta sun was just cresting the horizon. The people below looked like insects, slowly moving about their lives, in no hurry to start the day. Valencia's gaze moved to the fields outside the city walls and once again she wished she were among the Koylu. She felt trapped on top of a high pedestal, looking down at the life she always wanted. The desire to jump to the ground and race towards the fields grew inside her and she peered over the railing again in hope of finding a way down. "It's too high to make a rope out of bed sheets."
"We can always fly, Matka-Zem." Alana's calm voice caused her to jump in fright. She spun around to find both Mlinzi standing behind her. Alana's lips quivered with a suppressed smile while Parth chuckled softly at her surprise.
"Are you for real, Alana?" Valencia closed the distance between them to study the female, ignoring Parth.
"Would I lie to you, Matka-Zem?" Alana voice was monotone but her eyes flashed with irritation.
"I never said you did, Alana. It's an Earth saying for 'tell me more.'" It was her turn to chuckle. "Do you have an aircraft or a glider to get us off this building, if we need to?"
"No, there are no airships on Sora, only hovercrafts," Parth said, answering her question. "The sky is the Apria domain. It belongs to their kind."
"Then how do we get off this building?" Preferring a straight answer instead of the round-about ways of the Mlinzi, she felt a touch of irritation bubble inside her. She briefly wondered what other rules and domains she needed to know about.
"Have no fear, Matka-Zem." Alana's voice remained flat and did not give away her true meaning. "The Mlinzi will help you."
&nbs
p; "Stop calling me that! I have a name, Alana," Valencia snapped with irritation. "Call me Princess like Thane does, if you can't bring yourself to say my real name." Just saying Thane's name aloud made her heart flip and she realized just how much she missed the Mlinzi already. Wishing he was here with her only caused her anxiety to increase. Thane was right. She did need to learn how to handle her own affairs without his guidance.
"I beg your forgiveness, Matka . . . Princess." Alana bowed her head in servitude.
"Do you know where they will be holding the council meeting?" Valencia changed the subject to a more important topic.
"Yes, they hold them in the throne room." Alana tilted her head in wonder. "Are you planning on attending?"
"I haven't been invited, but I will be joining the council."
Sly smiles grew on both Mlinzi's faces at her response.
"But first tell me what you heard last night." Strolling over to the recliner that sat by a small pool she ordered them to sit.
Through the Mlinzi, she learned that the people outside the city were happy the Matka-Zem had finally returned, but not all were content. Although their crops were now growing, some thought it was just a matter of time before she demanded compensation. The Torpek would reap the benefits, demanding the best of the harvest in her name, and charge them for the use of the Matka-Zem's powers.
"And if they don't comply, they think I will cause another drought or something?" She rubbed her chin between index finger and thumb in thought.
"It has been this way for close to a hundred years, Princess," Parth grumbled.
"And before that, what was the world like?"
When both Mlinzi remained quiet, she rose to her feet.
"I have to get ready. Remember to take Donna into the city, Parth. She has some research to do for me."
"Does the human ever stop talking?" Parth groaned in misery. He asked so softly that she thought he was talking to himself, but she answered him anyway.
"Never, but she will grow on you." As she headed back inside the apartment, she groaned when she saw the four women waiting for her. Like a pack of dogs, they rushed to her as soon as she stepped inside the suite. The women had obeyed her orders and had not worn the burkas, save one. The young girl still donned the purple veil.
"I thought I told you not to wear that thing," she snapped at the girl and Gabby fell to her knees in fright.
"Do not blame the child, Matka-Zem." Ona stood by a floating silver disk that held a tray of hot food and drink. With a wave of her hand, the disk floated toward her. "It is best for all concerned that she remains covered."
"And why is that?" She touched the girl's back with her fingertips and felt the girl squirm in terror. "Get up, Gabby. I'm not going to hurt you." When Gabby finally got to her feet, she gently removed the burka and tossed it across the room. "You will never wear this again. Do you understand, Gabby?"
"The child should be covered to hide her shame, Matka-Zem." With distaste, Ona looked down her nose at the girl. "She is the product of an unsanctioned union."
"You mean she is from an interracial relationship?" Startled by Ona's comment, she started to dislike the older woman.
A low stool and a metallic table slid out of the floor. Ona began to prepare a dish of eggs and toast. Valencia sat on the hard stool and glanced at the Mlinzi. Their grim faces spoke volumes and she had to agree with their displeasure.
"For purity, there is no sanctioned breeding between the Torpek and other races, Princess." Ona set the breakfast before her and glared at Gabby. "The girl is the product of a Torpek lord coupling with his slave. Because of the Lord Torpek's blood, death was not an option, but the girl must remain in the city. She would not be welcome anywhere else."
"There is slavery here?" Surprised by the news, Valencia lost her appetite and pushed the plate away.
"Yes, everyone who wears the veil is a slave, Princess." Ona poured a glass of juice and set it before her. "The different colors represent the different Torpek lords. The dark purple is your color."
"Come here, Gabby." When the girl did not move, she rose to her feet and closed the distance between them. With a firm grip on the girl's chin, she studied her face. At close inspection, she saw the combination of the two races in the girl's face. The dark curly hair was in contrast with her pale features. Her white skin had a faint tint of pale green, only visible when the rays of the sun touched her in the right angle. The girl was strikingly beautiful except for the large yellow bruise around her eye.
Valencia did not want to own slaves and she planned to take care of that issue in due course. First, she needed to get rid of the women, before she could plan her next move.
"You're going to be my personal maid." A gasp echoed among the women. "The rest of you will take care of the mundane things, but Gabby will take care of all my personal needs."
"You're . . ." Ona started to speak, but one look from Valencia halted her words.
"You may leave now, except for you, Gabby." Valencia knew she was being overly hard on the other women, however the hatred in the women's eyes sickened her. She did not want such behavior around her. Ona gave Gabby an evil glare before bowing low and leaving the room. The others silently followed close behind.
"I'm not worthy, Matka-Zem." Again, Gabby fell to the floor in tears.
She squatted beside the girl and rubbed her back. Glancing at the two Mlinzi, she saw approval in their usually stony expressions.
"Yes, you are Gabby." With a firm pull, she brought the girl to her feet. "Now get off the floor and do your duty. No more falling to the floor every time I say something." The girl nodded her understanding as she scurried to her feet. "I need to find something appropriate to wear to a council meeting."
Transferring the Krysa to Gabby, who smiled brightly at the creature, she began the search for proper clothes. Gabby led her into a huge dressing area filled with colorful clothes. While she dressed behind a privacy screen, the Mlinzi stood guard as she tried on several outfits. Not sure what the fashion was, she occasionally stepped around the barrier to get Gabby's opinion. It took longer than expected to find something suitable for her first Council Meeting. Most of the Matka-Zems' clothing consisted of long, flowing dresses with ridged corsets and stiff high collars. Some even had tight wide collars that firmly supported her chin.
"What on Earth are you wearing?" Just as Valencia stepped around the screen for the fifth time, Donna strolled into the dressing room and stopped dead in her tracks, her blue eyes wide in surprise.
Valencia tried to look down at the bright yellow dress she'd stuffed herself into but the wide collar prevented her from tilting her head.
Valencia glanced at her friend as Donna drew closer. They both burst out in laughter as their eyes made contact.
Losing control of their emotions, the Mlinzi, too, howled in laughter.
Donna doubled over as she held her stomach in pain. "You look like a fucking daffodil."
"These are the dresses of the Matka-Zem." Valencia tried to sound offended, but could not hold her solemn expression. Even shy Gabby giggled softly behind her hand. Valencia tried to reach a button at the nape of her neck, but the ridged arms prevented movement. "Help me out of here," she said to Donna and Gabby.
"Why is it so stiff?" Donna asked as the two women struggled to remove the ridged dress behind a privacy screen.
"It is to hold the Matka-Zem in place," Gabby whispered, not accustomed to talking to anyone.
"Hold her in place?" Valencia barely heard Donna's question as she realized the meaning behind the girl's words.
"Get me out of this thing!" Panic tightness her chest as she tore at the wide collar to get some air. Frantically, she ripped the dress off her body. She stared at the cumbersome clothes with loathing as a shiver ran through her. "They dressed her up like a doll and displayed her."
"What do you mean?" Donna draped a robe around her shoulders and guided her around the divider.
"The last two Matka-Zems became lost
within their power, the way I almost did on the yacht." Valencia watched Donna's face change with understanding.
"Before Thane brought you back," Donna confirmed. "The dress was designed to support a limp body."
"And the chin cup is to catch my spittle, so no one can see it." Valencia finished her friend's sentence. "They must have paraded my comatose relatives around like party favors."
"You don't have to worry about that, Val. Thane was able to call you back from your Gift. So he can do it again."
Donna's confidence made Valencia feel better.
"You will not meet their fate."
"Thane is bound to you?" Parth asked in disbelief. "How could this be?"
"Our brother helped you in the field, too. Is this right, Princess?" Alana looked at Parth, but her face remained as flat as ever.
"Yes, and one other time too. That is why I don't want to draw on my Gift without him here." A blush touched her cheeks as the Mlinzi stared at her with barely contained surprise. "Why are you so shocked? Aren't the Mlinzi here to aid me?"
They refused to respond to her question. Frustrated with the guards, she turned her back to them. "I don't have time to discuss this now. When I return, I want an explanation."
After more searching, she and Gabby finally found a dark green jumpsuit with a small train behind it. By the time Gabby finished pinning her hair in the trendy fashion of the Torpek women, she was already late for the meeting.
Alana escorted her to the Throne Room, but Valencia stopped her from opening the door. As she summoned the courage to enter, she tried to remember the Keeper's teachings. "Stay calm, watch everyone, and trust no one," Valencia whispered the rules of diplomacy.
"Don't let them control you, Princess," Alana said when she saw the distress on her face. "What you did in the field was the right thing to do." The Mlinzi clasped her hand on her forearm and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "You are the Matka-Zem, and you rule them, not the other way around."
Return of the Matka-Zem (The Sorain Chronicles) Page 20
