by Viola Grace
"I have the Imperial guard to protect me until things have stabilized." At his comment the Imperial guard took up places around the throne and in the exit of the throne room.
Eleanor shook herself, wiped most of the blood off the fans on one of the bodies and folded them neatly, tucking them back into her sash. She slowly moved forward and knelt before the throne. "King Naccar, what is your wish of me now that our contract is almost at an end?"
His hand raised her with a touch on her chin. "You have been tutor, friend and mother to me. You will always be welcome here. But for now, take the lady Eleanor to her chambers. The scent of blood does not become her."
A maid came scurrying forward to lead her away. Herun was on duty, and Naccar had his kingdom back. What was left for a Companion who didn't even sleep around?
Chapter Eight
She was led to a lovely suite that had not been occupied for some time. "What is your name?" she asked the female servant that had brought her there.
"Kita, my lady."
"Whose apartments were these?"
"They belonged to the King Chars' official mistress. They have not been in use since then." She fluffed the bedding after she ran a bath. "You will want to wash off the blood, my lady."
Blood? Oh, right. She looked down and her clothing was coated by the arterial spray that had occurred when she decapitated Loman. Her hair was probably covered as well.
"Is there a shower as well? I don't want to sit in this while I wash." She began to strip off the robes and the leather beneath it.
"Yes, my lady." Kita moved to pick up her clothing and held it at arms length. It was still wet with blood. "The shower is to the left, the bath to the right."
"Thank you." Naked, Eleanor went and washed off the residue of her battle. The water ran pink for a long time as she let it run over her. Her arms were covered with small nicks and scratches. A few long slices decorated her thighs. Funny, she hadn't even felt them. Now they burned like hell.
She stepped out of the shower. "Kita. I am going to forgo the bath. Can you get a medical kit?"
"Of course, my lady, but why would you need one? Oh stars!" Kita came into the bathing chamber and stopped cold.
"Apparently Loman did more damage than I thought." She crumpled to the floor, weak and still bleeding. "Help me up, please."
"I had better get help. Just stay there, my lady." Kita ran for the door, and for a Vimpyr she was rather squeamish about blood. Her face was chalky as opposed to pale and she spoke urgently to one of the guards who was stationed at the door.
Kita then left her alone.
"Just great." Pain was now riding her brutally, her wounds burning with every movement. Taking a deep breath she forced herself to her feet. The towelling that she had grabbed out of the bathing chamber became her blotter as she laid it on the bed and used it to keep her blood from the lovely coverlet.
It was long minutes before the door opened again. Naccar took one look at her lying in her own blood and he barked an order to the guard at her door. Based on the pounding footsteps whatever he had said was slightly inflammatory.
"Oh, Eleanor. I had no idea that you were injured." He sat next to her and helped her to cover herself with another length of fabric.
Here she was losing blood rapidly, and she was mortified that he was seeing her naked. "Neither did I, Naccar, so don't feel too bad. Is there a Med tech coming?"
"No. Someone better. Don't worry. You will be fine."
"Hey, weird question. Why am I in the mistress' quarters?"
"They used to be my mother's rooms. I thought it fitting to have you here." His hand kept pressure on her thigh wounds and she relaxed a little.
"Oh, that's nice. Are Herun's men ok?"
"For the most part. A few were killed before the others were taken, but most of them survived and are now taking their places in the palace corridors. The injured are in the hospice and receiving treatment."
"Good. Hey, you did it. You won the challenge." She smiled at him, pride in her eyes.
"How did you enter the circle when Loman came forward?"
She laughed, a harsh bark. "Tyrell figured that one out. The blood proxy. By binding your DNA to mine, we became family in truth. The barrier could not keep me out, because it recognized my blood as yours. It was close enough to get me in."
The door flew open and made her jump, which then made her hiss in discomfort. "About time you got here." Naccar's mutter was almost lost to her as she watched Herun come close to her bed where she lay quietly and stained with blood.
"You are the one who sent me to retrieve my men, Your Majesty." He elbowed Naccar out of the way. "Why didn't you mention that you were hurt, love?" He carefully pulled the cloth that covered her away, wincing as she hissed when it stuck.
"I didn't know it was my blood. I did just finish a fight after all." His mouth covered one of the slits on her thigh and licked at it until it began to close.
Naccar left them and Eleanor simply surrendered to Herun's mouth. One by one, her wounds were closed; he lifted and examined each limb for damage, and then finally rolled her to her stomach.
"Stars, Eleanor, it is amazing that you were still on your feet." She felt his mouth touch her shoulder and begin to lick down at an angle. The bastard Loman had sliced her back.
Long minutes ticked by as he worked, and she was amazed that he was able to continue tirelessly drinking her blood as it sullenly seeped from her flesh.
At last he finished and gave her a complete inspection, flinging the cloths aside as they were now soaked in her blood and were of no use.
She was so tired. Her lids fluttered shut and she snuggled down into the bedding. Well, she tried to snuggle down, Herun lifted her by her shoulders and gently shook her awake.
"Eleanor, you need to drink from me."
"Later, I wanna sleep."
"Your body is consuming itself, you need to infuse some blood to your system, or you might not wake up." That got her attention where the gentle coaxing didn't.
She sat up and watched bemused as Herun removed his armour, then his clothing. She let herself be tugged across his chest and he guided her head to his neck. She nuzzled around a bit then opened her mouth and bit down.
Oh, she had missed this. Feeling his body hard under hers, his cock rising against her stomach as she fed. Her thighs parted to straddle him, and once again she ground her pussy and clit against him as she fed. With each ounce of blood, she gained strength and the warmth of passion bloomed in her belly.
His hands stroked her back and shoulders restlessly and she moved her hips back until he was prodding at her opening with the blunt head of his erection. His hips shifted up, and her teeth bore down as her body welcomed him with her slick heat.
She continued to feed and work her body against his and she moaned around him as her body released the tension in a wave of sensation that left her limp and relaxed. The fountain of blood that had been feeding her closed up and she cleaned up, then sat back, driving him to the hilt and rolling her head back at the full sensation.
His hands gripped her hips and held her still. "We can't do this."
There it was. The rejection. Here he was buried to the balls within her welcoming body and he didn't want to fuck her.
She swiftly moved off him, stumbling as her head swam with spots then cleared.
"I am sorry to have importuned you. It won't happen again." She grabbed at one of the robes in a nearby wardrobe and drew it on.
He looked like he wanted to say something then sighed and got dressed to leave the room. "We will discuss this when things have settled."
He probably had some Vimpyr girlfriend or lover that he had forgotten about while they were on their mission.
The door closed around him and her heart broke. She slumped to the floor and sobbed. It was in that pitiful state that Kita found her, and she led her calmly to the bath, and soaked her in freshly warmed water.
While Eleanor grieved, Kita changed the blo
ody bedding, when she finished her bath she was ushered into the bed and was asleep in an instant.
* * * *
Kita was there when she woke and the dawn was moving through her window with no regard for her mood.
"The King is expecting you for breakfast, my lady. I have put out a selection of robes for you that you can choose after you finish your toilette." That was more of an order than a suggestion, but Eleanor got out of bed and moved to take a quick shower, then work on her hair.
Kita helped her arrange her golden locks in a fetching manner, and the four layers of jewel toned robes went on without any protest.
Naccar and Herun stood as she entered the room and she looked around for any other advisors. There were none. It was just like breakfast at the colony. Only with servants.
She took the chair that was held out for her and refused to meet Herun's eyes. Uncharacteristically silent, she ate the food put in front of her with deliberate focus.
Naccar finally asked her, "How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"General Matias healed you satisfactorily?"
"Yes." Wait a minute, "General?"
"Yes, he received the promotion after dispatching the traitorous General Talli last night."
"Congratulations." She gave him a formal inclination of her head and he looked frustrated. He muttered a small curse and an, "Excuse me, Your Majesty," then left to attend his duties.
Naccar smiled and munched on a piece of fruit. "I imagine that he can hardly wait for your formal acclimation as my mother."
She was confused. "What are you talking about?"
"He didn't tell you?" Naccar chuckled. "I gave him a royal edict. He is not to make love to you again until you are formally declared as my parent, and legitimately wed. I don't want to have any brothers or sisters who are unable to inherit because of their birth status."
She breathed deeply and then couldn't contain herself any longer. "What?" It was a shriek that echoed through the palace walls and sent a murmur of concern through the household staff.
"Are you done eating? We have some statesmanship to engage in." He helped her to rise and her mind was reeling with his announcement. It explained why Herun let her take her pleasure from his body, but never took his own, not since those first few times.
A chair had been put next to the throne and a dark mutter of anger ran through the royal court as Naccar guided her to the seat.
Eleanor made a note to bring her fans to the next event.
This day consisted of the treatment of traitors and tax evasion. She offered her opinion when Naccar asked for it, which was not often and more for show than anything else. General Matias remained off to one side and watched her with a focused intensity that she tried to ignore.
They stopped for lunch, then resumed in the afternoon.
Herun watched with mounting frustration as Naccar continued to mete out justice and punishment and made no mention of any formal announcements.
Eleanor sat quietly and only commented when she could not contain herself.
A gong rang, the day was over and she retired to her chamber to rest. She was more tired than she thought as she woke the next morning and the events of the previous day repeated themselves.
Four days later, the moment Herun had been waiting for had arrived. Special robes were delivered to her rooms that morning and Eleanor dressed with care. She made sure to carry her fans with her as she had for every day since that first, tucked into her sash.
She ate breakfast with Herun and Naccar, discussing the previous days' events and the variety of details that were having to be dealt with. Naccar was enjoying their discomfort just a little too much, and she didn't want to give him any excuses to cancel the announcement.
Naccar took her hand and escorted her into the court, seating her and remaining standing as the nobles and petitioners milled in conversation.
As he raised his hands they fell silent. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you formally to the matriarch of the Hala family. Eleanor Palmer Hala. She is my regent, my guardian, and my adopted mother by Alliance records and standings. We are bound by blood. Although not born to Vimpyr, she is more mother to me than any I have known. She is entitled to all courtesies and honours due to her ranking as Queen Mother."
She was stunned. This was not the formal statement that she had been expecting.
"In her honour, there will be a formal dinner and celebration this evening." He flipped his robes straight and took his seat for the day's petitions.
She sat perfectly still for hours, mulling over the ramifications of being a Queen Mother. There would be endless public appearances, events, and very little privacy. What had Naccar been thinking?
Just before lunch a servant crept forward and handed her a data pad. Apparently she had a priority message from the Haldis Imperium. She touched Naccar's arm and murmured, "Please excuse me, I have another message from my friend." He nodded and she left to return to her chambers.
Chapter Nine
The two guardsmen that accompanied her were wearing the new livery that Naccar had ordered, and she ran her hand across her sash to take hold of her fans as she noticed that the new tunics didn't quite fit.
They made their move as soon as they had passed the main corridor and were heading into the private quarters. The one on the left slammed her into the one on her right and she stumbled, then whirled as they tried to catch her arms.
One drew back a slashed wrist and the other suffered a deep gash to his shoulder as she flared the fans and prepared for a fight. She screamed at the top of her lungs as they tried to move against her. As the rushing of feet alerted her to her re-enforcements her attackers fled.
"What is it, Your Highness?" One of the guardsmen asked her with a look of confusion at her serene countenance.
"Two men in guardsmen uniforms just tried to abduct me."
He looked at her in disbelief. She simply held up the blood smeared fans and pointed out the trail on the floor. "Follow that and you might still catch them."
As they all turned to pursue her victims she grabbed the last of them by the sleeve. "Escort me to back to the King's presence, please."
"Yes, Your Highness. This way, please." He looked embarrassed to have forgotten his manners. He took her swiftly back to the room where petitioners were requesting a new aqueduct system be put in place.
"Thank you, you may join the others in the hunt now," She gave him a stern glare, "And I expect them to be caught."
"Yes, ma'am." He snapped off a salute and ran back down the hall.
She serenely sailed back to her seat at Naccar's side and left her open fans dripping blood as she crossed her wrists on her knees. She imagined that she formed quite the image. A Vimpyr woman in iridescent robes with two bloody metal fans.
She wanted it to be an image that the nobles remembered. They were all staring at the blood slowly dripping from the fans and their horror caused Naccar to turn to her from the plans he had been reading.
"Eleanor, what the hells happened?" He knelt before her and she simply smiled.
"I just thwarted an attempt to kidnap me. Or kill me. I am not sure which." She moved her hands sharply and snapped the fans shut. She absently tucked them back into her sash as Naccar reached for her hands.
The two men she had wounded were dragged into the hall and thrown to the floor. The guardsmen were puffed up with their success. She punctured it when she mentioned, "You might also want to take that man there into custody. It was his false message that coaxed me from the room." As she spoke the 'servant' made for the door and was tackled by Herun.
His head was slammed into the floor with force that almost shook the walls and he was bloody and barely breathing when Herun finished with him.
"General Matias. Let your men question them. I am assured that when they realize the alternative is to face either you or Eleanor in a ring, that they will speak." Naccar was furious, but amused.
Herun left his victim wi
th a look of contempt and rushed to the dais to take Eleanor in his arms. She rose and went to him without hesitation. As his arms closed around her she heard the words she had been longing for.
"General Matias, you have my enthusiastic permission to take my mother as your wife. This evening's festivities will celebrate your impending nuptials." Naccar's voice was quiet but carried throughout the room. "I will also humbly request that you alter your schedule to include acting as her bodyguard until you can choose a suitable set of guards to take on the duty."
"I will gladly take her as my wife, and keep her safe." He chuckled and she smiled into his chest, "Although, she seems to do a very good job of keeping herself safe."
"Well, as a newly engaged couple, you will need some time alone. The Imperial guard will see to my safety, please enjoy the afternoon to yourselves." Naccar waved them off and with a nod of his head he dismissed the group of nobles and had the bleeding and beaten abductors dragged off.
Eleanor looked into Herun's midnight eyes. "Did he just give us permission to…?" Her eyebrows raised.
"He did. But I am going to restrain myself and instead take you to my home." He took her arm and a look from him had two of his guardsmen following them. They promenaded to the skimmer pad and he seated her with a formal bow.
The guardsmen took their places in the back of the skimmer without any comments. They were alert, seemed responsible and definitely respected Herun, so she liked them instantly.
She also noted that the fit of their uniforms was impeccable. She smiled and turned back to watch the Vimpyr countryside pass by. The thick layer of atmospheric gases filtered the sunlight to the point where it was no longer harmful to the population, and it created the main reasoning for the lack of colonies. Few planets were properly equipped and not already populated.
They also had a low birthrate and close families, which kept them close to home. The urge to travel was not often found in Vimpyrs. Naccar's fascination with other worlds was an anomaly.
