Kelan: Talonian Warriors

by Celeste Raye

  Shocked, Nabvan raised his sword to deflect the first swing of the king's sword. If he had been any slower, the sword would have cut his throat. King Siefer was fighting for real. There was anger and an overwhelming frustration behind each thrust. Nabvan fended off each one and refused to retaliate in kind. He had no desire to harm his friend. The battle raged until darkness fell. The warriors were spent and fell to the ground. The king's guards helped him rise from the marsh. They saluted Nabvan in respect for his restraint. Nabvan slowly rose and watched as the king limped away. He hoped that the fight had alleviated some of the king's anger. He longed to have his friend back.

  Nabvan dismissed the trainees and made his way to the public showers. He did not want Alexis to see him covered in mud and bleeding from the small gashes King Siefer had managed to inflict. He knew that she would be upset enough by his looks after he was clean. He dreaded telling her that it had been the king who caused this damage. She was already furious with King Siefer for closing the lab. She had managed to have one of her students sneak out some of her paperwork before the lab was locked. She spent many hours poring over her findings in search of clues. She had told Nabvan that she was sure there was something she was missing.

  Alexis was in the shower when Nabvan returned. She did not hear him enter until it was too late to cover herself. He gasped when he saw the bruises on her belly. "Why did you not tell me how bad it had gotten? You are black and blue. You have grown thinner and your plate is sitting on the table still full of food. How may I help?"

  Alexis covered her body. She tried desperately to hide the changes from his gaze. "I never wanted you to see me like this. I knew it would cause you to worry. I am fine. I promise. I eat, just not a lot. The baby is growing quicker than a human one. It takes more of the nutrition too. I need to force myself to eat more. I am still looking for a way to make myself and the baby more compatible, but I need the lab." She finally took a good look at Nabvan. "What happened to you? You are covered in cuts. They are still bleeding! Who did this?" She did not wait for the answer. Instead, she found bandages and medicines to care for the wounds.

  Nabvan sat in silence as she tended the cuts. She kissed each one as she applied the bandages. Her gentle fingers ran over every inch of skin in search of more injuries. When she finished, she sat directly in front of him and demanded, "I have waited long enough. Answer my questions please."

  Nabvan reluctantly answered, "The wounds were inflicted during training. King Siefer believes I am being too easy on the trainees. He challenged me to a fight. He chose to make it a true battle and these cuts are the result. He is unharmed. I chose only to defend myself in hopes of soothing his animosity."

  Alexis rose and began to pace. "Has he lost his mind? Is the pressure of ruling this world too much for him to handle? I have tried to be understanding and have even defended his actions to Destiney, but the fact that he would attack you in such a way is too much to forgive. He was not only wrong to intentionally cause you harm, but also for doing it in front of the trainees. How can they learn to trust those fighting beside them when their elders fight among themselves?"

  Nabvan had no answers. He did not know where the king's anger had come from, or why he would wish to hurt his best friend. If this was what having great power meant, then he was glad he had chosen not to be king. He pulled Alexis into his lap and made her eat some of her leftover meal. For tonight, they would concentrate on her health. Tomorrow was soon enough to deal with the king. Nabvan would have to ask for permission to open the lab and allow Alexis to continue her work. He feared that he would lose that battle.

  King Siefer made Nabvan wait many hours for a chance to ask him about the lab. He allowed others that had come later than Nabvan into his chambers but left Nabvan until last.

  The guards finally called him into the king's chambers. The king was preoccupied with papers and maps. He refused to look up as Nabvan began, "I am here to implore you to open the lab. Alexis is getting sicker. She has some ideas for a medication that may help. She can not test it without the equipment in the lab."

  "That matter has already been covered. I closed the lab, and it shall stay that way. Unless you have another issue to bring forth, you must leave." King Siefer motioned for the guards to take Nabvan out.

  Nabvan shook his head at the guards, and they stepped away. "Alexis only asks for a few hours each week. She will do the research from our quarters, but the tests must be done in the lab. If Destiney was the one who was sick and in pain, would you allow a cure to be found? You are our friend. We are the guardians of your son. I ask nothing for myself. Alexis deserves a chance to live, as do the other humans. We stole them from their destination. You helped us fight for their freedom. Let us now fight for their survival."

  King Siefer looked up from his papers. "Do not try to use friendship for special treatment. Never hold your place in my son's life over my head. The privileges I give can easily be taken away. We have done all that we can to save the humans. If your blood is intolerable to your female, that is not something that can be changed. It means there is a flaw in her. My wife and others are not incompatible. Stop wasting my time. The lab stays closed."

  Nabvan allowed the guards to escort him out. There was no way to reason with an arrogant fool. King Siefer could someday find himself regretting his decision. Destiney had survived the first pregnancy without too many problems; however, without knowing why the others had gotten sick, there was always a chance that another pregnancy could kill her. Nabvan would bide his time until King Siefer left for the colonies and then he would break down the lab door if necessary.

  Nabvan joined the trainees who had been on the practice field since daybreak. They were sick and dehydrated. He called a halt to their fighting and ordered them to rest and drink. If the king came out to argue against the resting time, Nabvan was more than willing to fight. These young men were his responsibility, and he refused to torture them.

  The room containing food supplies was left unlocked. Nabvan searched for something different that might appeal to Alexis. She needed to eat, but the heavy foods that were served at mealtime made her sick. He desired to present her with something cool and inviting. He knew she missed the fruits on Earth. There had to be something similar from one of the colonies. He found a large oval object that smelled delicious. He tried it and discovered it was cool and sweet. There were also some small purple orbs that popped when squeezed. They were sweet as well. He gathered as many of each as he could carry.

  Alexis accepted the gift of food with a smile. The smell was enticing. She tried the larger one and ate a few bites before it made her stomach ache. The small purple ones proved to be soothing, and she ate her fill. Nabvan grinned in approval. He had done well in his choices. He would make sure to bring many more of the purple ones that Alexis called berries.

  As they snuggled into bed, the baby kicked, surprising them both. Nabvan held his palm to the spot where a tiny foot continued to kick. He could feel Alexis wincing in pain with each assault from within her. She kept smiling anyway. She cared more for the baby than for herself. She now knew that asking King Siefer to open the lab was futile. Nabvan had told her about his audience with the king. She was sad and resigned to dying. She had told Nabvan that since she knew the baby could survive, she had no regrets. He did not agree. If Alexis died, he would find a way to punish the king. Until then, he would do everything in his power to lessen her suffering.

  Alexis woke to an empty bed. The little one was kicking once again. The pain was excruciating, but it also meant the baby was healthy. She longed to hold it in her arms and kiss its cheeks. It was a part of Nabvan, and she loved it as she did him. The idea of never watching it grow up was too much to bear. There had to be a way to make its blood compatible with hers. On Earth, there was a vaccine that was given to women whose babies had a different factor in their blood that could not mix with their mother's. It was referred to as the RH factor. Could it be that simple? She needed to find out.


  Chapter: 11

  ***Destiney***

  Destiney had seen very little of her husband since his return. She often watched as he settled issues between the Milisarians just so she could feel a part of his life. He would sometimes carry Scyon in his arms as he spoke with his people. He seemed determined that his son would not forget him again. Each night he returned to the king's quarters to eat and sleep. He barely spoke to Destiney, and when she tried to ask questions, his malicious expression closed her mouth. When he did take a few minutes to eat with her, someone always called him away. The business of being king took precedence over his family.

  Tonight, Destiney was the determined one. Things would be different. She took Scyon to Alexis and planned a romantic evening with King Siefer. She showered and covered her body with oil. A bodysuit made from an almost transparent silver cloth was her choice of clothing. She had a guard bring all of the king's favorite foods and a drink that resembled whiskey. He would not be able to ignore her now. She intended to refrain from asking questions in an effort to keep him from becoming angered. She planned to soothe his nerves instead.

  King Siefer was late in arriving home. Destiney let it pass without question. She had comfortable clothing for him to change into ready and waiting. She helped him undress and handed him a portion of the powerful drink. He seemed to enjoy it immensely and asked for more. After giving him more, she rubbed oil into his mighty shoulders and smiled as he sighed in appreciation. As he dressed, she uncovered the food and filled his plate. She began to hand feed him. He arched a brow in question, and she said, "You deserve some relaxation. You are always doing for others, so let me do this for you." He gave in and ate every bite.

  The monitor buzzed, and King Siefer pushed Destiney away to answer it. She could not believe how rude his actions were. He should not allow anything to interfere with his privacy, yet he answered every call and turned his back on the one who truly loved him. He took several calls before returning to the table. Destiney held back her building frustration. She did not want to fight tonight.

  The meal was coming to an end when the king casually mentioned, "The colonies need tending. I leave in three days to check on each planet. I will be gone for a long time. Make sure our son remembers me."

  Destiney tried to remain calm and asked, "Can someone else go instead of you? Surely, there is a trustworthy Milisarian Knight that can go in your place. If there is a problem, you can use the monitor to speak with them aboard the spaceship."

  "This will be the first trip to the colonies since I was made king. I need to be there to introduce myself and show them that I will use my power to control their planets. If I send someone else, my authority will be questioned, and I will appear weak."

  Destiney begged, "Take Scyon and I with you. You promised we could travel with you sometimes."

  King Siefer protested, "Not this time. You would be a distraction that I can not afford. If we have to fight to keep the colonies under our control, you could be harmed. Our people need you here. You did well in helping them while I was in the villages. I expect you to do it again. I imagine Alexis will need you soon also."

  Destiney's anger rose, "Alexis needs to use the lab, but you closed it. I need to be with my husband, yet you give time to everyone except me. I tried to make tonight special, and you spoiled it by answering every call. You want Scyon to remember you, but you are going to leave us behind. You are not the same man I married. You have become arrogant, aloof, and unkind. What is wrong with you? I am not the only one who has noticed the difference in your attitude. I know the man I love is inside you somewhere. Let him back out!"

  King Siefer stood and strode toward the door. "The man you married was a lowly warrior. I am now a king. I warned you about the lack of time I would have to be with you and you were fine with it. Now you want to scream and throw it in my face. As for tonight, I did not ask you to make it special. You did not ask me if I had time for such things. Yes, I am a different man. I can not show kindness or give anyone special treatment. I would soon lose control of this planet and others if I showed any weakness."

  "In this chamber, no one sees you except me and Scyon. You can let go of your control and just love us. We will not think any less of you. Truthfully, neither would anyone else. Love is not a weakness. Kindness is not a weakness. Understanding is not a weakness. Anger and cruelty are. You saw firsthand what it did to Shene. He soon cared for no one except himself. Do not let that happen to you!" Destiney reached out to him, but he shook off her caressing hand.

  The king growled, "Never again compare me to Shene. He was born uncaring. He ignored the needs of the villages. He loved no woman but used many. I am nothing of the sort. I remain faithful to you and only you. I do not ignore the villages, and I care deeply about my people. I may care too much. I want everyone and everything under my rule to be well cared for. If I must neglect you to make it so, then I will. You have all that you need right here. You have food, clean water, clothing, and technology. The rest of my kingdom does not."

  Destiney sadly replied, "I have everything, but you. By the time you come home each night, there is nothing left for me. You have given it all away. I watch you with your people. You are impatient and terse with them and yet they are treated with more respect than you give me. Scyon sees your actions. He will someday be able to understand how you treat others. Do you really want him to act as you have been?"

  King Siefer scoffed, "If he ever wishes to rule, then he must be like me. It is not what I would want for him. It was not what I wanted for myself. I did not have the ambition or dream to rule a kingdom. You, Nabvan, and Alexis are the ones who begged me to do this. If you do not like what you now see, then blame yourselves. I am your creation." He left and did not return that night.

  Destiney sat in a corner of the bedchamber with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. She rocked back and forth as she cried. The night had turned out all wrong. This argument was by far the worst she and her husband had ever experienced. A chasm had opened up between them, and she did not know how to cross it. She admitted to herself that he was right about many things. He had never considered being king. It was Nabvan's and Alexis's idea. She had willingly encouraged him to take the job. He had fought against it but gave in when she pushed. It was also true that he was not like Shene. He cared. He just showed it in all the wrong ways.

  Destiney changed and climbed into her cold bed alone. She did not retrieve Scyon. If she went to get her son, Alexis and Nabvan would learn of the argument. She wanted to keep her shame to herself.

  King Siefer spent the night in his old quarters. No one saw him enter and he would make sure no one saw him leave. His responsibilities weighed heavily on his shoulders as well as his mind. He knew that his actions were sometimes misconstrued by others. He was unable to find a compromise. Destiney was correct; deep inside the old Siefer still existed. He just did not know how to combine the king with the man he had been. Being responsible for thousands upon thousands of people on many different worlds was frightening. The only way he knew to hide that fear was with arrogance and anger. It gave him the strength to act as if he knew how to run a kingdom. Maybe someday he could let down his guard. He just hoped it would not be too late. He tried to sleep but lost the battle.

  At dawn, King Siefer began ordering his warriors to load the spaceship. He had decided not to wait three days to leave. Destiney was already angry. They were not speaking. He was not sleeping. He would not humble himself and go back to their quarters. He might as well leave now.

  His guards were less than happy about the change in plans. Most had families and had expected to spend the three days with them. They were in no hurry to be on a spaceship with their king. The man they had admired as they traveled from village to village was not the one shouting at them to hurry. This version of the king was harsh and unfriendly. They feared that if he acted this way in the colonies, there would be war.

  Nabvan brought a contingent of Milisarian Knights to travel
with King Siefer. In case of any resistance by the colonists, the king would need more than just his guards. The king almost refused to take the knights, but their steely-eyed countenance changed his mind.

  He decided it would be foolish to rely only on his guards and his own swordsmanship. These men had fought along side him in conquering the colonies, and they could be trusted to protect him now.

  King Siefer sent a servant to alert Destiney of his imminent departure. He dreaded her reaction and felt it best to say goodbye with others around. He did not want a repeat of their argument from the previous night.

  Destiney was shocked and hurt when the servant relayed King Siefer's message. He was not only leaving days earlier than he had promised, but he was not giving them a chance to reconcile after their bitter fight. Their goodbye would be made in front of the entire city. She would not have a moment to beg for his forgiveness. She quickly donned an overcoat and dressed the baby appropriately. She found herself becoming angry once again as she hurried through the capitol building. He could have at least warned her hours ago that he had changed his plans.

  The warriors and guards were already aboard the ship when Destiney entered the spaceport. Nabvan was speaking in earnest to the king. She was willing to bet that he was asking that Alexis be allowed into the lab while the king was away. She did not blame him. The last time she had seen Alexis, she was shocked by her appearance. She saw her husband shake his head and knew he had once again denied the request.

  King Siefer spied Destiney's entrance from the corner of his eye. He dismissed Nabvan and turned to take his son. He hugged Scyon and kissed his forehead saying, "Do not forget me. I am doing this for your sake. I will miss you, my son." He handed Scyon back to Destiney and nodded his head at her. He only said, "Take care. I will be back." Then he boarded the spaceship and left her to sob in Nabvan's arms.