The Purlieu Experiment, Book 1

by Linda L Rigsbee

  The man stopped. “He was wearing a dark blue uniform with a gold emblem on the shoulder.”

  “And the other two men, what were they wearing?”

  “White trousers and shirt.”

  There were no men in light blue uniforms?”

  He shook his head. “No Monomi – only the girl.”

  Neirin nodded. “Take care of the equine…and be prepared for the other animals.”

  He walked across the yard, and entered the palace, spotting Celyn immediately. He motioned to her and she came running to him.

  She looked up at him with anticipation. “Donte is here?”

  He shook his head. “No, but he will be soon. Tell Glyn that we need to prepare for four guests.

  Celyn ran and hopped back to the kitchen, chanting “Donte is here!”

  He turned back to the yard, heaving a long sigh. Her obsession with Donte was disturbing. If the man wasn’t so vital to their communications, he’d ask him not to return.

  Neirin was waiting in the palace yard when the first equines came through the gate. In the lead was a man from Anialwch. He dismounted and surrendered his equine to the keepers. Donte entered next, riding the prettiest paint equine Neirin had ever seen. Donte dismounted and handed the guide lines to a keeper, turning as the woman entered the gate. He helped her down and guided her toward Neirin as a keeper led her equine away.

  Donte stopped in front of Neirin and introduced the woman.

  “This is Rianne, the representative from Bosvrouwen. Rianne, this is King Neirin.”

  Neirin couldn’t take his eyes off the woman. She was tall, almost as tall as he was, and slim. She was, bar none, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her golden hair was drawn to the top of her head in a bright blue ribbon that matched her eyes. From there it cascaded down her shoulders and back in soft shiny curls. Her full lips curved into an amused smile as he continued to gape at her.

  There was no telling how long he would have continued his rude behavior if he had not become aware of the way Donte was watching him. His neck felt hot as he held out a hand to her.

  “I am…honored to…make your acquaintance, Nomi.” He stammered.

  She tilted her head in a slight bow. “It is I who am honored.” She said, placing her hand in his. She spoke with a thick accent, but he had no trouble understanding her.

  Donte watched Rianne as she spoke. Perhaps he had taught her the greeting.

  Neirin turned to Donte. “I welcome you again, Donte.” He eyed the uniform and gold insignia. “Excuse me. I’m not certain of your title now.”

  Donte glanced at the insignia and shrugged. “I am still Donte. I have accepted the invitation to supersede Pieter, ruler of Bergen, but I am not yet a ruler.”

  Neirin was stunned for a moment. Donte offered the information as though it were of no great importance. Pieter was probably the most powerful ruler on Purlieu. Donte had been confirmed, or he wouldn’t be wearing that uniform. Perhaps he was trying to downplay his importance to keep the introductions moving.

  At that moment Celyn streaked by him, making a target of Donte.

  “Donte!” She yelled, leaping at him.

  Donte reached out and grabbed her, tossing her into the air before bringing her down to his chest. She hugged him around the neck and kissed his cheek. “I knew you would come back.”

  He hugged her a moment and pulled his head back, smiling as he looked at her face. He held her by the waist against his chest. “Of course I did.” He said. “Didn’t I say I would?”

  “But you weren’t here for my birthday.”

  He shook his head. “No. That didn’t work out. I was busy somewhere else at the time. You understand, don’t you?”

  She frowned. “Of course I do. I’m not a child.” She glanced down, realizing he was holding her like a child.

  He lifted a brow and she squirmed. “You should put me down now.”

  He chuckled and set her on the ground. Taking her hand he turned to Rianne. “I’d like you to meet someone, Celyn. This is Rianne. She’s the representative from Bosvrouwen. Rianne, this is Princess Celyn.”

  Rianne held out her hand. “I’m delighted to meet you, Princess Celyn. I have heard much about you.”

  Celyn placed her forearm in Rianne’s palm and gripped her arm in the mascot handshake. “It is nice to meet you, Nomi.”

  Donte turned and introduced the two men with him. “This is Vayle and Fane. I would like to explain their presence in private if you wouldn’t mind.”

  Neirin shook hands with Fane and accepted Vayle’s offered palm. “I am pleased to meet you.” He said.

  His head was clear enough by then that he understood Donte was telling him not to ask questions until later. He offered an arm to Rianne.

  “I believe they have refreshments ready. Would you join me?”

  Rianne took his arm and gave Donte an amused smile as she passed him. Celyn took Donte’s hand and followed her father. Neirin missed none of it. He glanced back to make sure Fane and Vayle were following. Reassured, he turned his full attention on Rianne.

  “This must have been a difficult trip for you. I wish I had known you were coming. I would have sent a carriage to meet you at the dock.”

  She smiled at him. “I apologize for not letting you know. We should remedy our communications limitations, don’t you think?”

  Neirin gave her a wry smile. “I have been working on that, but there are some who think it a dastardly thing to do.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  He shrugged. “They think radio waves would harm them.”

  For a moment Rianne was silent. “We don’t use radio waves. We use wires. They are inside the tram rail.”

  “Tram?”

  She smiled. “Monomi, you need to get out more. We would love to entertain you.”

  He glanced back at Donte as he spoke to both of them. “Is this an invitation?”

  Rianne glanced over her shoulder at Donte and the way they looked at each other was not as a one colony representative to another. While Neirin was disappointed in one way, it pleased him in another. If Donte exchanged vows with Rianne, Celyn would have to give up on him.

  “He or a representative would be most welcome to Bergen or Libertad.” Donte said.

  Neirin lifted a brow. “Then you represent Libertad as well?”

  Donte’s face turned red. “I know Dad would welcome you.”

  “Oh yes,” Neirin said. “I keep forgetting that President Quade is your father.”

  After refreshments Neirin invited the guests to his office for a conference. Once they were all seated and the door was closed securely, Neirin turned to Donte.

  “I assume it is you that I must address.”

  Donte glanced at Rianne. He must have read something in her eyes, because he turned to Neirin. “I think this concerns everyone in this room…and more.”

  Neirin leaned back in his chair, his fingers laced and the two index fingers under his chin. “Proceed.”

  “When I left here,” Donte began, “I took Akira to Lochfowk. There I found my brother, Kenyon. We thought he had died 30 years ago, but instead, he had been a captive.”

  Neirin dropped his hands and leaned forward. “He was a captive of the Lochfowk for thirty years? Why?”

  “Good question.” Donte said. “When the plague started, Lochfowk shut their borders down. Of course, we all did, but since they already had a no-contact policy, they were spared the plague. They made a law that said anyone who entered their territory must not leave. After the plague, they continued the law. I would like to add that there have been no captives since President Sima was elected, and they worked with us to release all the captives.”

  Neirin was silent for a few moments, trying to assimilate all the information – given and implied. Finally he gave Donte a level look. “Skip the defense tactics. Just shoot me the facts.”

  Rianne looked startled and glanced at Donte, but Donte held his gaze for a moment. It only too
k that moment for Neirin to realize he had stepped over an invisible line. He was speaking to Donte as if he were one of his men. Rianne was right. He needed more contact with other leaders. He straightened in his chair and cleared his throat of an inexplicable lump. Donte didn’t outrank him…at least not yet.

  “Forgive me Monomi. I forgot for a moment who I was speaking to. Please continue.”

  Donte continued as if there had been no interruption, but he kept to the pertinent facts. Neirin listened through the entire story without making a comment until Donte said that Vayle had been captured before the plague and never caught it. It took Neirin a moment to assimilate the implication of his words. When he did, he swung around and looked at Vayle, who was smiling.

  “Vayle speaks fluent Lochfowk,” Donte added. “As does Fane.”

  Neirin didn’t need to have things spelled out for him, but he wasn’t about to challenge Donte a second time. Young Donte might be stating the obvious, but his purpose was to leave no possibility unexplored. He wanted peace between all the colonists. It was a goal he shared with Neirin and others. While his purpose was clear and straightforward, there was an undercurrent. He was making it clear that Bergen, Libertad and Bosvrouwen all were considering the return of the captives an end to this situation. In fact, he saw no point in pursuing it either. Fear of the plague caused people to do things they would never have considered doing under other circumstances. Lochfowk was no different.

  Neirin looked at Donte. “I consider the incident of Lochfowk closed with the return of captives.”

  Donte looked relieved. “There is another subject I would like to discuss with you.”

  Neirin nodded. “Nyumbani?”

  Donte looked surprised. “Yes. We received a message from Kafil asking to council with a representative. I assume they are starving without the raids.”

  Neirin nodded again. “You would know better than anyone, I think. What is it you would like from us?”

  “I’m not sure yet.” Donte said. “Right now I only want to know if you are willing to help.”

  Neirin stood. “We will help in any way we can. When you know more, send a messenger. We will accept boats from Libertad at our docks, but I’m sure you understand that we cannot yet permit them from Nyumbani.”

  “If I may speak,” Vayle said.

  Neirin turned to him. “You are most welcome to speak.”

  “I worked with Kwasi many times. We taught each other Nyumbani and Anialwch so we could speak without the Lochfowk knowing what we were saying.”

  Neirin frowned. “This Kwasi, he was also a captive? How did he know Nyumbani?”

  Vayle glanced at Donte and back at Neirin. “He is a Nyumbani mascot who was captured a week before I was.”

  Neirin couldn’t have stopped the grin from splitting his face if he had wanted to. He looked at Donte. “He has been returned to Nyumbani?”

  Donte smiled. “I don’t know if that has happened yet. I left him in Libertad when we brought Vayle and Fane here. I think Dad…President Quade…sent a message to Nyumbani. I have not been in contact since I left the dock in Libertad.”

  Neirin held out a hand to Donte. “Monomi, when Celyn had the vision of you in the desert, I knew you would be instrumental in bringing our colonies together. I must admit, I had no idea to what extent. It has been an honor working with you.”

  Donte took his hand. “And with you, Monomi.”

  ****

  Celyn didn’t know which she liked less, the way her father looked at Rianne or the way Donte looked at her. At the moment it was Donte. They were talking together and Rianne was looking up at him as though he were the only person in the Palace. He wasn’t. She ran to Donte. “Would you take me for a ride on your equine?”

  He smiled down at her as if she were a child. “How would your father feel about that?”

  She turned to Rianne. “Would you ask him?”

  Rianne looked surprised. “Why would you want me to ask him?”

  “Because he would not say no to you.”

  Donte looked at Rianne and lifted a brow. “You can’t argue with logic like that.”

  A voice called to them from across the lobby. “There you are.” Neirin joined them. “I was hoping to take you for a walk and show you our gardens, Rianne.”

  Rianne looked at Donte and lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. “I didn’t want to leave Donte unattended, but Celyn has asked him to take her for a ride on Schilderen.”

  Neirin looked uncertain for a moment. “You may go if he wants to take you, but don’t be gone too long. The evening meal will be ready soon.”

  Donte looked at Rianne as if she had betrayed him. Celyn looked up at him.

  “You don’t have to take me if you don’t want to.”

  Donte looked down at her and smiled. “I would be glad to take you for a ride.” He watched her father take Rianne’s arm and lead her toward the back of the palace. He looked disappointed. He reached down and took Celyn’s hand. “Her name is Schilderen, which means paint.”

  After one last glance back at Rianne, he led Celyn to the stables. Once they were out of the building, she had his full attention. He explained what he was doing as he placed a colorful blanket on the equine and then a saddle. Finally he led the equine out of the stable into the yard and mounted. He reached a hand down and helped her sit behind him.

  “Hold on to me.” He said.

  She gripped his waist under his jacket and held on as the equine started to walk. No one challenged him at the gate. They simply opened it and let them ride into the desert.

  “Are you ready?” He asked.

  She wasn’t sure what she was ready for, but she was ready. “Yes.”

  His hand clamped over both her arms, holding them against his muscular stomach while he used his heals to kick the equine. The hind legs of the equine bunched up and it lurched forward. The next thing she knew, they were running across the desert. It was like her visions, only better. The equine slowed and they crossed a dry ravine and then began a slower run. She turned her head and looked back at the palace. She had never been this far away. It was a white cluster of buildings in a red desert.

  Donte rode the equine up a steep slope and turned, climbing higher on a trail. Finally they came to a flat area and he stopped.

  “Let’s let her rest for a few minutes before we ride back.” He said.

  He held her hand as she slid off the equine and then he dismounted. He looked so graceful the way he got off the equine. He dropped the lead lines and explained that Schilderen would not walk away. He took Celyn’s hand and led her to the edge of the bluff. There they watched the palace for a while. It was exciting being up there where the wind could lift her hair. She looked up at Donte. He was watching two figures in the garden behind the palace.

  “You like her a lot.” She said.

  He nodded, but said nothing.

  “Do you like her more than me?”

  Donte looked at her. “I like her in a different way, Nomi.”

  “She is your friend?”

  He glanced down at the figures. “Yes. She is my best friend.”

  His voice sounded as if the thought had not occurred to him before. It reminded her of what he had told her the last time he was in Anialwch. She took his hand and looked up at him. “You have suddenly discovered that your best friend would make a good mate?”

  He looked down at her, as if seeing her for the first time since they rode away from the palace. He squeezed her hand and his smile was sweet. He squatted and looked at her on the level, as he had that first time.

  “I didn’t think you would understand, but I think you do.”

  She wanted to remind him that he was supposed to exchange vows with her when she was nineteen, but she had promised she wouldn’t. She didn’t want to say anything that would cause him to stay away – even if he had exchanged vows with Rianne. At the moment, she was a little relieved that he would be taking Rianne away from her father. If her father was g
oing to exchange vows with someone, she would rather it was Glyn. Anyway, it would be a long time until she was nineteen and Donte might be tired of Rianne by then. Donte had told her that if it was to be, it would happen.

  She put her arms around his neck and hugged him. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He said as he hugged her.

  She pulled away from him. “I saw you in a vision again.”

  He smiled. “Where did you see me this time?”

  He didn’t believe her, but that didn’t matter now. “You were near a camp with Schul…Schild…”

  “Schilderen,” he assisted.

  “Yes, and there was a feline, but lightning scared it away. You were wearing this uniform.” She touched his sleeve and ran her fingers across the gold insignia. “There were two men in light blue uniforms.”

  She looked at his face and found him watching her in a strange way. She continued. “I was flying and you pointed at me. I never told Papa, but every time I see you, I’m flying.”

  Donte looked startled. “Flying…how?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. But you looked at me. You saw me.”

  Donte stood and looked across the desert. Finally he looked down at her.

  “We’d better get back. We don’t want to be late for the evening meal.”

  This time he lifted her into the saddle and climbed up behind her. He put his arms around her as they rode down the hill. After they crossed the ravine, he made the equine run fast. It was more fun riding in the safety of his arms.

  At the stable he dismounted and lifted her out of the saddle. As her feet touched the ground, she looked up at him.

  “Will you come back again?”

  He smiled as he removed the saddle from his equine. “Probably. I have a feeling that our paths are destined to cross.”

  She wasn’t sure what he meant by that and he didn’t explain, but she liked the idea that she would see him again. Maybe he was beginning to believe her.

  CHAPTER 28

  Donte and Rianne had an Anialwch escort all the way to the border of Libertad – even across the beach territory of Lochfowk. Twice they had seen riders, but no one had approached them. Donte had a feeling it would have been different if it had only been Rianne and him. They would have been able to defend themselves, but they were glad they didn’t have to use their weapons. In any case, it was nice to have the protection of an escort. Donte had no idea if the riders were friendly. Possibly they were only curious.