Michaela

by Tracy St. John

  “I need to do something special to make it up to them,” Michaela told herself. “Besides dancing, there’s one thing I do well. Oh, well maybe two,” she amended with a wicked grin. “But I’d give them that other thing anyway.”

  A plan in place, she set off for the market.

  * * * *

  Govi’s mood lifted as he left the shuttle bay, stepping into the in-house transport that would take him to his home. Tending to Matara Narpok had become a dread weight in the wake of her breakdown. The woman once betrothed to Clan Clajak was unresponsive at best, violent with some orderlies at worst. The men that came near her were often clawed.

  Funny enough, the only person who had been with Narpok and not triggered any defensive response was her rival: Jessica McInness. Jessica had impressed Govi by coming by the hospital to check on Narpok. She’d even sat with the broken Kalquorian for an hour. Jessica had a background as a nurse, and she’d performed some of the tasks Narpok had not allowed anyone else to carry out while she was conscious.

  Govi suspected that it was the men Narpok reacted to. It was yet another confirmation that she’d been sexually abused, probably for a long time. He had put out a call for female nurses to help attend her. Those were so few that he despaired of anyone being available.

  The longer Narpok went without responding to therapy, the worse the long-term prognosis. It made Govi uncharacteristically wish violent harm on those who had damaged her so badly.

  He was more than ready to relax at home for the night. Maybe Korkla and Raxstad would have good news about the search for Pwaldur and Clan Wagnox. Hopefully, Michaela had enjoyed a good day and would have a smile for him. After looking into Narpok’s blank eyes for most of the day, Govi needed to know his own Matara felt happy.

  The transport door opened into the entry space, which automatically identified the Imdiko and opened the home’s door. Even before he set foot in the greeting room, delicious scents walloped him. His stomach growled fiercely, and Govi realized he had skipped lunch that day. Thank the ancestors someone already ordered dinner, he thought. He was starved.

  The only thing that mattered more than his appetite at that moment was seeing his beloved’s face. “Michaela?” he called as he headed towards the corridor that led to the rest of the home.

  A surprised “Oh!” came from the direction of the kitchen rather than the dining room. Michaela appeared in the doorway, a massive spatula designed for a much bigger hand in her grip. She looked at him with wide-eyed surprise. “You’re home already?”

  “Already?” He chuckled. “I’m actually a little late.” He reached her and gave her a kiss.

  Michaela looked at the chronometer on the wall and groaned. “But it’s not ready!”

  “What’s not ready?” Govi eyed his Matara, taking in the splatters on her shirt and skirt. Her hair was pulled back, exposing her sweet, cherubic, incredibly kissable face. It was obvious she’d been cooking, and he gave the air another appreciative sniff. The small meals she’d prepared in the past had been pretty good, especially given her unfamiliarity with Kalquorian kitchens.

  “Dinner’s not ready. What the hell, I thought I had this timed right.”

  Govi got a warm feeling in his chest. Michaela could just as easily have ordered from the complex’s kitchen. Yet she fussed over her clanmates, putting forth effort on their behalf.

  “You’re cooking for us? My love, you are so wonderful,” he said.

  Michaela brushed off his gratitude. “Damn it, how did it get this late already? Get yourself a drink. It will be another ten minutes.”

  She rushed back into the kitchen. Rather than hitting the bar as ordered, Govi followed her into the room.

  His eyes widened to see the half dozen dishes already out on the counter. Michaela bustled over to the cooking unit and pulled out a huge roast, browned to perfection. Govi’s stomach announced its approval with vengeance. Michaela glanced at him and giggled.

  “When did you learn to cook ronka?” Govi said, salivating. Michaela’s previous meals were nowhere close to being so ambitious.

  “In the last hour.” She giggled. “I got a recipe off the computer. I hope it turned out okay. It looks right.”

  “It smells divine as well.” He stared greedily at the roast.

  Michaela took a spoon and ladled the juices over another dish of vegetables. “I soaked the meat in bohut for two hours. That’s supposed to make it tender.”

  “Are those wedi herbs?”

  Michaela nodded at the dish on the far end of the counter. “With a chafga sauce. I was in the market for an hour searching for all the ingredients. That’s probably what set me back on my schedule.”

  Govi heard the greeting room door open. He went to welcome whoever had arrived.

  Both Korkla and Raxstad were entering. They both paused, the Nobek’s nostrils flaring.

  “The kitchen smells good, doesn’t it?” Govi said, waving to them.

  “What is this?” Korkla asked.

  Raxstad didn’t say anything. He simply made a beeline for the kitchen, pretending he would knock Govi over on his way.

  The Imdiko laughed and took Korkla’s arm as they followed. “Our amazing Matara is cooking for us.”

  Raxstad already hovered over the ronka. Michaela tried in vain to shove him out of the way. “My little beauty, what a lovely surprise,” the Nobek rumbled.

  “Stop drooling on it, you thug,” she laughed. “It’s almost ready. Go ahead and sit in the dining room. Go! You’re slowing me down and that means a longer wait until you eat.”

  They nearly stampeded into the clan’s dining space. To the men’s delight, they discovered the table had been decorated with a centerpiece of fresh flowers. Bottles of chilled bohut awaited them as well.

  Govi only then thought to call back to the kitchen, “Michaela, don’t you need help bringing the food out?”

  “No, no, I’ve got it. Sit down. Pour yourselves some drinks.” She appeared in the doorway with the wedi dish.

  Korkla got to her before Govi did. Despite Michaela’s protests, the Dramok took the wedi from her and took it to the table. Govi and Raxstad went to the kitchen to gather more of the food.

  Michaela gave up trying to make them stop with rolled eyes. “Fine, ruin my grand gesture. Heaven forbid you let me do something nice for you.”

  “You’ve done plenty,” Korkla told her. “Cooking such a wonderful meal is nicer than we would ever expect, my Matara. Besides, don’t you know it’s our place to serve you?”

  She snorted as she worked to arrange the dishes on the table to her liking. “Which you do quite well. However, you’re all extremely busy while I have no responsibility. What am I supposed to do with myself? Do you expect me to just sit around, eat chocolate, and drink leshella all day?”

  Korkla paused to consider her. “It would be good if you found something to occupy your time.”

  “Besides spend your money?” Her throaty laugh spurred their responding grins. “Raxstad, I’ll let you do the honors of carving that ronka roast.”

  The Nobek obliged, slicing the huge hunk of meat with practiced ease. “Thank you, my love. Where is everyone else’s?”

  Govi and Korkla both growled in mock threat at the big man. The hungry Imdiko shook a fist. “I will kick your ass if you try to eat my portion, Nobek.”

  He flashed fangs at them all, but grinned. Michaela laughed as she pulled her hair tie out and settled on her seating cushion. “Let’s eat, you goofs.”

  They did so with great gusto. Everything Michaela had cooked was delicious. Govi caught himself moaning at how tender the ronka was, how perfectly seasoned the vegetables were, how soft and delicious the fresh-baked bread had turned out.

  Even Raxstad’s usual voracious eating slowed as he savored the meal. “Perfect. Amazing. Mother of All, this is the best I’ve ever eaten,” he garbled around mouthfuls.

  “My Matara, you have outdone yourself,” Korkla sighed, showing a little more class by comp
limenting her between bites. “Even the meals we have catered for state dinners can’t compare.”

  Michaela blushed at their effusive compliments. “For heaven’s sake, it’s just dinner. Do you really like it?”

  Govi rolled his eyes in ecstasy. “You need to send these recipes to the kitchen so I won’t beg you to cook this every night.”

  Raxstad nodded, finally finding the manners to swallow before speaking. “Delicious. I’ve had bohut-soaked ronka before, and it wasn’t anything as good as this.”

  Michaela beamed at them. “The complex’s kitchen doesn’t love you like I do.”

  Korkla fed her a bite. “Is that the difference, my Matara? Cooking with love?” His smile was adoring.

  She nodded, her curls bouncing fetchingly about her head. “Absolutely. I really do love you guys. You’re everything to me. I want you to know that I’m sorry for – for anything I’ve ever done that makes it seem otherwise.”

  Govi’s eyes stung with emotion. The feeling in her voice was intense, as was the devotion in the gaze she turned to each of them in turn.

  The Imdiko knew Korkla and Raxstad loved him with fierce dedication and protectiveness. He treasured that affection beyond all else. That Michaela felt the same way towards him, especially after all the fear and hurt she’d suffered throughout her life, made this love the most precious of all.

  Let me never betray that, he begged himself. Let me always deserve the look she is giving me right now.

  He leaned over to embrace her. Holding Michaela tight to himself, he kissed her with all the devotion he could summon. She smiled up at him, and he basked in the glow of her sweet regard.

  Govi vowed to himself he would never ever betray his beloved Michaela.

  Chapter 21

  Michaela was pleased with the reception her dinner received from the men. Making them happy went a long way towards alleviating her guilt over pawing through their possessions in her obsession with Feyom.

  She was determined to put the woman firmly in her past. Enough was enough, already. Michaela’s clan loved her; they had proven that over and over. She vowed she would not spare another moment or commit another transgression over someone who was not a rival in any way.

  Michaela made love to her clan with every ounce of passion she possessed that night. When they collapsed to sleep, she saw the smiles surrounding her and felt whole.

  Barely two hours later, a strident shriek rent the air and tore the night to shreds. Michaela sat straight up in bed and shrieked along with it in terror. In an instant, Korkla and Govi had their arms wrapped around her, shouting that everything was all right. A grimacing Raxstad rolled over to answer the room’s com and shut its alarm off.

  The instant the blare cut off and Raxstad muttered to the com, Korkla said, “Hush, hush, my Matara. It’s nothing to be frightened of. That’s just the emergency signal for Raxstad.”

  “Emergency signal?” Michaela gazed at Raxstad’s broad back as he rose from the bed and spoke in a low, intense tone to whomever had summoned him.

  Govi yawned, looking sleepy now that the initial shock had passed. “Obnoxiously loud, isn’t it? That signal means something big is up and our Nobek is needed at Global Security right away.”

  Korkla stretched. “I’m sorry we didn’t warn you about how shocking that thing is. It’s nothing for you to worry with, little one.”

  Raxstad slammed the com unit onto the bedside table and turned to them. The bestial violence on his face froze the other three. Michaela knew that there was indeed something for her to worry about ... something for them all to worry about.

  The big Nobek’s usual voice was lost in an animal’s growl. “Get dressed, my Dramok. Clajak is going to need you.”

  Raxstad grabbed the armored uniform he’d tossed on the floor so recently. He talked as he dressed and Korkla rose from the bed. “Emperor Zarl has been attacked by an unknown assailant. Don’t call Clajak until we know more.”

  Michaela cried out. Zarl was barely able to walk, having to rely on his hover chair much of the time to move his broken body around. Pain deviled him on his best days. From all Michaela had seen, he was a firm but fair man ... and a just ruler. Why would anyone want to hurt him?

  Korkla froze only a moment before he too snatched up clothing from the floor and yanked it on. “Attacked! By the ancestors. Any word of his condition? Is he badly hurt?”

  “Very badly, my Dramok. Breft said he may not survive. I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything else to tell you right now. We have to go.”

  The two men ran out of the room, their bodies blurred with Kalquorian supernatural speed. They left Michaela and Govi clutching each other in horror. Barely a second later, they heard the in-house transport door open and shut as their clanmates left.

  Staring up at her Imdiko’s shocked face, Michaela whispered, “Who would do such a thing to someone as helpless as Emperor Zarl?”

  “Only a monster, my Matara,” Govi said, his voice just as low with a lack of strength. “First this matter of Narpok being abused and the head councilman turning traitor and now this. By the ancestors, the Empire has gone mad.”

  The pair knew they would not be able to get any sleep for the rest of the night. They rose and dressed for the day, hoping to get word on Emperor Zarl’s condition. They paced helplessly, the hours crawling by for a seeming eternity. The news vids offered conflicting reports. With the announcement that imperial rule had passed to Clan Clajak, rumors ran rampant that Zarl had died.

  “No, he can’t be dead. Korkla would have taken at least a few seconds to com and let us know,” Govi comforted Michaela when she burst into tears. “He would not have let us hear such news in this fashion. It is more likely that Zarl’s previous health concerns coupled with this attack have made it impossible for him to retain rulership.”

  “Do you really think Zarl is still alive?”Michaela said.

  “He must be. News of his death would have accompanied the announcement of Imperial Clan Clajak otherwise.” Govi was adamant about that.

  “Clajak didn’t want to be emperor,” Michaela thought out loud.

  “He was afraid of it. He has never felt equal to the task.” Govi managed a smile. “The last few weeks have changed him, however. Clajak wants to prove himself worthy of Jessica. It has pushed him to be the man most of us always knew him to be.”

  At last Korkla did com. Zarl was in surgery, and no one knew if he would survive. However, his clanmates Yuder and Tidro had agreed that even if he did make it despite the horrific injuries he had suffered, their time as rulers was done. Clan Clajak’s ascension to the throne was a permanent matter.

  Jessica is the Empress of Kalquor, Michaela thought with amazement. However, Zarl remained uppermost in her concerns. “Does anyone know who attacked the emperor?” she asked Korkla.

  She could hear the anger in her Dramok’s tone. “Nobek Marzklis of Clan Wagnox was seen in the Government House just prior to Zarl being found,” Korkla said.

  “The clan that hangs out with Pwaldur? The ones thought to have abused Narpok?” Michaela’s stomach curdled. That whole bunch was monstrous.

  Korkla agreed. “Their executions can’t be brutal enough,” he said. “That’s assuming they live long enough to be executed. If Bevau or Yuder catches them first, there won’t be anything left to pass judgment on.”

  He signed off. Govi looked at the time and gave Michaela a worried look.

  Already knowing what he was thinking, Michaela hugged him reassuringly. “You’re needed at work. Poor Narpok ... when I think of what she must have gone through with those animals—” She shuddered. “And her father allowed them to hurt her! Get your ass to work, Govi. Help her.”

  The Imdiko sighed and crushed her against his body. “I don’t know that I can. In cases like these, it’s often the sufferer’s inner strength that brings them out of catatonia, not anything we doctors can do. Why don’t you come with me?”

  Michaela snuggled against him but rejected
the idea. “If I do, you’ll feel guilty about spending time with your patient and ignoring me. I think I might go to the Crown Prince’s suite and wait for Jessica to come home. She’s empress now, and don’t think that’s not freaking her out! Plus she loves Zarl like a father. She’ll need me.”

  Govi sighed. “She’s not the only one who adores the Emperor, is she?”

  Michaela gave him a weepy smile. “Okay, so I need her just as much. No matter how it turns out...”

  She stopped, unable to continue. Govi dotted her face with comforting kisses until the worst of the crying passed.

  Once Michaela was under control again he said, “I can’t stand the idea of you sitting around here feeling sad. If you want me to come back home or you want to come to the hospital, just com.”

  Feeling his love, Michaela managed a smile for Govi. “I will.”

  It amazed her that with all that had happened in the last few hours, Michaela still felt a sense of quiet joy beneath her fears. She had Govi. She had Korkla. She had Raxstad. Even the chance Zarl would not survive couldn’t change that. Grief might come, but in the end as long as she had her clan, everything would end up all right.

  * * * *

  Govi waffled a little while longer before finally leaving the home. Once she was alone, Michaela took her time doing makeup and arranging her hair. She sat in the large area she’d designated as her dressing room. It still had few furnishings, but a start had been made with her dressing vanity, a bench, and a lounger. Her clothes options were also starting to fill the space, taking up half a wall. She had a semi-circular mirror in which she could check her appearance from every possible angle.

  Michaela enjoyed playing with her growing hair. It was getting long enough that she rarely wore a wig any longer. She practiced putting it up and taking it back down, purposefully taking her time. As long as Zarl was in surgery, Jessica would not be coming home. There was no hurry.

  Michaela sighed as she thought about Zarl. She fought not to weep over the concerns he would die, concentrating on positive thoughts. She hoped that he would not only survive his injuries, but emerge as strong as before. The poor man had suffered enough pain in his life.