On Mission

by Aileen Erin

  LORNE

  The hour that I spent with Roan in the holo room while Amihanna was getting ready with Fynea was excruciating. We’d debated how to make the room look, and finally decided on the Rayshani Beaches—specifically, my sister’s view.

  Amihanna mentioned that she had a sliver of a memory of us there. It had gotten her through hard times.

  That my voice, my eyes, this place had helped her even in a small way was a gift.

  I hoped she agreed that this was the right place to have our wedding.

  The sound of the water lapping at the shore should’ve soothed me, but it didn’t. It didn’t do anything but set me on edge as I second-guessed my choice of venue. I paced back and forth, skin glowing, with the cameras hovering around me. Roan had set up three and I wanted none, but I knew this was the best plan. The streaming would satisfy—or at least I hoped it would satisfy—the Aunare leaders who would feel slighted by not being invited. The rest of the Aunare would happily watch it live.

  I’d spoken to Amihanna’s parents and while they were upset that they weren’t here in person for the wedding, they understood why we were doing it now. Rysden was more upset than Elizabeth about why we were choosing now, but he knew that I wasn’t just getting married because of these new circumstances.

  I didn’t love that the threats from the Yhona were the reason for the wedding today, but I also didn’t care when we got married. I’d wanted to get married before we left for Telnon. Not because I thought something like this might happen, but because I wanted Amihanna to be my wife.

  And yet, I was beyond angry.

  That the Yhona believed SpaceTech over us was outrageous. Calling me to demand I turn over the future High Queen of the Aunare to them was more than outrageous. It was insanity.

  Before the alliance meeting, I’d convinced myself that the allies hadn’t taken our side because of a communication problem. SpaceTech could undermine anything and everything I said to our allies, but I truly believed that when I met with them in person, all of their lies would be put to light. But during the welcome dinner, I’d briefly spoken with some of our closest allies, and none of them seemed to understand the depth of SpaceTech’s evil.

  While Amihanna had been asleep, I’d put in some calls to more allies, and even having been in the same city as the attack—some even heard the explosions—none of them sided with us.

  It was infuriating.

  The only reason we hadn’t left was because I wanted to personally tell all of them that I was leaving the alliance. That their actions forced my hand. That if I met them again anywhere in the universe, they would be seen as enemies until proven otherwise.

  Once I made that clear, we were leaving.

  I would talk to Amihanna about that decision after we were married. My decision to speak at the meeting this morning might have been driven by my anger, and maybe that was unwise. Maybe it would be best to leave now. But after all the work I put into the alliance, I wanted closure. I wanted to see their faces when I told them they were now all enemies of the Aunare.

  “I’m all set,” Roan said, saving me from my thoughts.

  It took me a second to realize what he’d been talking about. “The connections are strong enough?”

  “Yep. It was tough linking to our usual channel from here—the delay was wicked—but I messaged the chief communications officer for the warship, and he helped me beef it up. It’s better this way than running everything through different media channels. I don’t want any feeds messed up or altered. But it’s a lot for one line out to handle. We should be all good now. I’m sending out a message to everyone who subscribes to our self-defense class’s channel. I also sent one to Rysden, Elizabeth, every Aunare king and queen, and Himani. Is there anyone else you want me to tell?”

  I shook my head. “If you told Himani, then he’ll spread the word to everyone else.”

  “How many people do you think will tune in?” He sounded more curious than nervous, which was good.

  “Everyone.” There was no doubt in my mind. This was the kind of thing that people across the universe would wake up for.

  “Everyone?” Roan didn’t seem to understand how many I meant.

  I wondered if he’d beefed up the signal enough. I needed to be very clear on the magnitude of what we were about to do. “Every single Aunare will stop what they’re doing to watch. If they’re sleeping, friends and family will wake them up for this. People on other planets, Earthers, anyone who has any interest in the Aunare, Amihanna, or SpaceTech will tune in.” Which meant most everyone in the known universe might be watching.

  “Right. Totally frosty. Messaging your chief coms guy again.” He wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead. Now he seemed nervous. “I’m not sure we’ve got enough power to sustain all those viewers. That’s… That’s a lot of people watching.”

  “Take the time to make sure it’ll hold. I don’t want anyone missing this or questioning whether it’s real or not.” That would be unacceptable. I was done with any deceptions and lies, and I wasn’t about to have anyone lie about my wedding. I wouldn’t have anyone ruining our day.

  “Working on it. Oh, and Amihanna and Fynea are on their way.”

  “Good.” Finally. Almost time now. I’d feel better once Amihanna was here. She settled me in a way that no one else ever could.

  The door chimed and I glanced at Roan.

  “Not Am. It’s Tyan. Approving him to enter.”

  Right. Not her. Not yet. But soon. I missed her. This last hour of waiting had been painful. “Good.” I tapped my fingers on my leg as I paced.

  Tyan was Amihanna’s head pilot. He flew whatever ship she was in, except if she was in one of mine. Captain Zaeshel ni Eiloa flew any ship that I was in. She had the strongest weather ability of any that I’d seen, had abilities in math, physics, and reflexes to avoid any obstacle that came our way. Tyan was an above excellent pilot with a degree of weather abilities, but Zaeshel was the woman I trusted to fly my ships. She was the best of the best, but I needed her to stay at her station right now.

  Tyan’s hair was cut painfully close to the scalp, a sign of his dedication to the job that he had. He sometimes went on little sleep and no showers to make sure that his ship and its passengers made it safely to its destination.

  He stopped in front of me, bowing with his fist to his heart. “Your majesty.”

  “Thank you for coming, Tyan.”

  “The honor is mine.” He straightened and then noticed the cameras. “I feel I have to warn you that I’ve never done one of these on camera, and it’s always been officers on my ships who have fallen in love. I’ve never done something for someone high ranking, and—”

  I gripped his shoulder to stop him, and it worked. His rambling confession stopped abruptly.

  “Breathe.” Everyone was nervous today, and I couldn’t have that. I already had too many nerves rumbling inside me.

  He took a breath and his skin dimmed a little.

  Good. I dropped my hand from his shoulder. “You are a man used to battle, and not someone to shake so easily. Don’t let this shake you.” I knew that was a lot to ask from a Royal Captain, but that’s what I needed from him today. “Ignore the cameras. Just perform the wedding as you would any other, and we will be more than satisfied.”

  “Yeah, probably good not to think of the billions of viewers that are already on standby,” Roan said, and I wondered if he was trying to make this worse.

  Tyan’s skin went brighter again.

  “Not helping,” I muttered to Roan.

  Tyan pressed his fist to his heart and bowed deeply. “I apologize, your majesty. This is not my usual—”

  “You will do great, and I will be grateful. Please don’t worry.” I walked to the spot where I wanted him to stand, which would hopefully be a good distraction for him. Once he forgot about the cameras, I hoped he’d be okay.

  “We’ll be here—” I motioned to the edge of the water. “We’ll face out to the horizon,
and I would love for you to stand here, with your back to the water.”

  “Absolutely, your majesty. I will stand wherever you’d like.”

  “Do you know what you’re going to say?” I hadn’t given the man any time to prepare, but I still wanted it to be nice.

  “I’ve been doing some quick preparations for the last hour. I’m planning on a very short introduction, if that’s all right with you, and then the traditional Earther ceremonial words followed by the Aunare ones. First your vows, and then hers. The whole thing shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Although I haven’t timed it. It’s just a guess. Does that suit your needs?”

  “Yes. That’s lovely. Thank you.” I wasn’t sure what the traditional words for an Earther ceremony were, but I loved that he was thinking of both traditions. “After we finish, I believe we will be flying to Telnon’s surface to attend the meeting, but we won’t be staying long. We’ll be leaving after that.”

  “Yes, your majesty. Where should I tell Captain ni Eiloa to plot our course for?”

  “Sel’Ani.” I wanted to go home. I didn’t think I’d feel good about Amihanna’s health until she had at least a couple of weeks of rest and recuperation at home. With everything that was happening, I wasn’t sure if we’d get that long, but I would fight to give her as much time as I could.

  This poison had taken a toll on her, and my fear for her had taken its toll on me.

  “I’ll let Captain ni Eiloa know to get started with various routes home.”

  “Thank you.”

  He gave me another bow, and then started typing on his wrist unit.

  The doors opened, and I turned, hoping it was Amihanna, but it wasn’t. Just Fynea. “Oh.” She was carrying something bundled in a blanket in her arms. “What is that?”

  “If I lacked self-confidence, the disappointment I just saw in your eyes would’ve hurt. Thankfully, I already know that I’m amazing, and that you’re honored to be my best friend.”

  I huffed a laugh. Confidence wasn’t something Fynea had ever lacked. “Where is she?”

  “Just outside the door.” Fynea stopped and set down the bundle in her arms on the holo-sand beach, then rose to stand in front of me. She straightened the collar of my shirt. “I wanted to see you first.” She brushed her hands over my shoulders, smoothing the shirt, and then paused. “You look nervous. Are you nervous?”

  “No.” I let out a breath. “Not nervous, just… She’s coming, right?”

  Fynea raised a brow. “Goddess help us all. I never thought I’d see you so insecure in my life. You were always so confident with women, and yet this one has fully gutted you. I love it.” She stepped back from me and turned to Roan. “Are you ready? Do you have everything you need?”

  “I just beefed up the feed again. We should be golden.” He tapped his tablet. “Everyone is here. And by everyone, I don’t just mean Ami’s parents and the other kings and queens. We’ve got over two billion already waiting for the feed to start and more adding on every second. Do you want to start out saying something?” he asked me.

  “Yes.” I knew I should, but I didn’t want to. “I’m ready to start when you are.”

  “Wait. Give me one second.” Fynea knelt on the floor, and spread out the blanket. Inside were crystal singing bowls.

  Ah. For the marriage tones. “Where did you find those?”

  Fynea grinned up at me. “You don’t get to know all my secrets.” Fynea rose once the bowls were placed in the traditional half-moon shape. “All right. I’m ready.”

  “Frosty. Let’s do this,” Roan muttered, and then he nodded. “Three, Two...”

  And live.

  A camera zoomed around, taking in the scene, the beach, Tyan, and Fynea beside me. Then it settled in front of me.

  It was time to tell everyone what had been happening and why I was getting married today, weeks ahead of schedule.

  “Yesterday turned into one of the longest days of my life. We were attacked on Telnon—twice. We found bioweapons that were to be used specifically against the Aunare, an assassination attempt occurred, and many more horrific things that I’ll not go into right now. I am fine, as is Amihanna, but it brought an awareness that it is time for some happy in our days. Despite all the danger from yesterday, today is a new day, a new beginning, and it is good.” I spoke with a light tone, and tried not to rush, even if that’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to get to the next part. “Today, right now, after waiting impatiently for what feels like an eternity, I’m finally going to get my wish. I’m going to marry Amihanna di Aetes.”

  I took a breath to let that sink in for everyone watching. “Amihanna carries with her the grace and strength of the di Aetes line. While some disagreed with the match before they knew more about how she’s survived against impossible odds and come out of it even stronger, now most of you are as in awe of her as I am. Even if she were not the choice for my heart and soul, she is by far the best choice for our High Queen. I just have the added pleasure of being her shalshasa.”

  I nodded to Roan. It was time.

  Fynea tapped on her wrist unit and the door swooshed open.

  It took everything in me not to walk to her, and yet I was frozen in place as I watched her walk to me.

  She was breathtaking. Her skin was bright, the white of her pants and bodice with a flowing cloudlike train, but it was her fao’ana that made her look like a goddess. I wasn’t sure what was on her sleeves, but it was as if her fao’ana were glowing and glittering and rising from her skin. It was truly breathtaking. Her dark hair was braided and I knew Fynea had done it, but it highlighted her face and the mix of her two heritages.

  She stopped in front of me and grinned as if she thought my gawking at her hilarious. “You look handsome.”

  Me? Who cared about me? “You look radiant. I… I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  I reached my hand out to her, and she took it, and I knew that no matter what, after today, I wouldn’t live a day without her. I wouldn’t be able to.

  She looked around the room. “I love that you picked this beach.” She turned to me. “It’s perfect.”

  The nerves that had been driving me mad were instantly gone. “I’m so glad.”

  She reached forward and brushed a kiss on my lips. “Aho shalshasa ni meha,” she whispered against my lips.

  Her words made all the air rush from my lungs and my heart swell and they were everything I wanted to hear. “Aho shalshasa ni meha,” I whispered back to her.

  Tyan cleared his throat.

  “Hey, Tyan,” she said as she turned to him.

  He bowed deeply. “It is the greatest honor of my life to perform this ceremony.” He straightened, and there were tears in his eyes. “It is my belief—a belief shared by so many watching today—that the two Aunare before me will be the greatest leaders of our long history. They are coming into power in the darkest of our times, and through them, we will regain everything that was lost to us. But that’s not why we love them so. It is because they love each other, as we’ve just witnessed.”

  Tyan kept speaking, but I was watching Amihanna. She’d been watching him, but I squeezed her hand and she turned to me. Her skin got even brighter, and mine brightened to match it.

  I’d never before been so happy as I was in that moment.

  The rest of the room disappeared. The cameras. The billions of people watching and the holo beach we were standing on.

  Right in that moment it was only me and Amihanna.

  “I looked up the traditional Earther ceremony,” Tyan said. “And I’ve melded it with ours. I hope that this will suit both of you.”

  Amihanna turned to him. “That is truly thoughtful, especially on such short notice. Thank you, Tyan.”

  Tyan’s skin brightened a little and he bowed to her.

  He straightened and turned to me. “Do you, Lorne ni Taure, High King of the Aunare, take Amihanna di Aetes to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer
, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?”

  I’d never heard the traditional Earther vows before, but the words seeped into my soul and I loved them. “Yes,” I said as I looked into Amihanna’s eyes. “Always, yes.” I would pledge all that and more to her.

  A singing bowl rang, and I knew Fynea was on the floor, making it sing, but I didn’t look away from Amihanna as Fynea hit the second. The third. The fourth. And one more. The notes of marriage.

  This was it. The moment that I’d been wanting since she stepped on my ship. The moment I rescued her, I heard those tones in my head and I knew this was what I wanted. Maybe others focused on my destiny to rule or lead or fight the war, but this was my destiny. To marry her.

  The five marriage tones meant that she was mine.

  “Where you go, she goes,” Tyan said, raising his voice over the sound of the marriage tones. “Where you walk, she walks. Where you fight, she will fight. For your battles are now hers, and hers are now yours. You are now and forever a team. One forged to work in harmony with frequencies that unite and balance.”

  This. This was worth everything.

  Before I could process what I was feeling, Tyan started again.

  “Do you, Amihanna di Aetes, take Lorne ni Taure, High King of the Aunare to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?”

  “I do.” Her voice was strong and sure.

  Fynea renewed the singing bowls in the traditional order, and my heart raced. Not because I was scared or worried or anything other than pure happiness that this was finally happening. Every bit of suffering without her would be gone forever. With this pledge, that was it. We were together. No one—not SpaceTech, the Yhona, or the idiot Aunare extremists—would ever tear us apart.

  “Where you go, he goes. Where you walk, he walks. Where you fight, he fights. For your battles are now his, and his are now yours. You are now and forever a team. One forged to work in harmony with frequencies that unite and balance.”

  The five tones sounded for the final time, and I tugged her into my arms. I meant to keep the kiss soft and chaste—we were on camera and I wanted her to feel dignified—but I couldn’t help it. One brush against her lips wasn’t enough.