The Reluctant Empress

by Teresa Howard

  The healer handed Tegani two more vials of the medicine to halt miscarriages, some vitamins, and a small book on pregnancy care. “This book explains the importance of diet and rest and how to manage the symptoms of pregnancy. See that she reads it.”

  Tegani smiled and handed him enough credits to more than cover his cost. She hesitated when she realized her purse was now almost empty. She could count on the Sisters and Brothers of the Order to provide more but didn’t want to overburden them.

  After the healer left, Ninallia reached into a pocket and brought out the remaining credit chips from Madama Ector. “I don’t know if the account is closed or if the credits can be traced.” She handed them to Tegani. “It’s from Madama. I used some credits in the Imperial City, but nothing since.”

  Tegani shook her head. “They might be traced. We’ll keep those for an emergency. It’s too dangerous to use anything traceable to Madama Ector.”

  She listened as Houston used the communicator to search for train schedules. Every train leaving the Empire ran through the Imperial City. That was where they didn’t want to be. After weighing several options, he booked passage on a train the going to the coast. They could take a ship to a neighboring kingdom and get passage from there.

  Tegani nodded. “When does the train leave?”

  “Not for twelve hours. The girl can rest. We can pack.”

  She settled Ninallia on the couch with her feet elevated before preparing a light meal of eggs and toast. She added nourishing herbs to the eggs and just a little cheese.

  Ninallia began reading the pregnancy book but soon drifted off to sleep.

  ~ * ~

  Ninallia woke with a start. She was on the couch. Tegani was packing two large trunks. When did we get trunks? The events of the evening before came back to her. Her hands stroked her stomach. She felt no pain but there was no morning sickness either. Was her baby still there? Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Sister Tegani hurried to her side. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain again?”

  “No.” Ninallia’s voice sounded as if she barely possessed the energy to get the words out. When she started to stand her legs wobbled. She fell back onto the bed, staring at Tegani with alarm.

  “That’s the medicine. It makes you slow and weak but also helps you rest. Do you think you can eat?”

  The nausea was gone, and Ninallia realized she was hungry. She nodded. Tegani adjusted her on the couch, making sure her feet were elevated before going into the kitchen.

  “Where’s the man?” Ninallia asked.

  “He is sleeping. He bought the trunks and supplies. We will wake him in time to get to the train, another hour I think.”

  Ninallia leaned back again. She trusted Tegani. A Sister of the Order could do many unusual things, and she wanted to be as strong and smart as Tegani. “Sister, do you think I might one day go to the Temple City and learn the ways of the Order?”

  Tegani turned. The expression on her face was hard to read. “I don’t know Ninallia; the mother of the emperor will have many duties at court. Perhaps, if you have a gift, you can be trained to use it.” Her answer was thoughtful and carried a note of sadness.

  “Will you train me?”

  Tegani set the bowl of cooked grain onto the table. “Eat now; we will see if you can learn anything later.”

  Ninallia took the bowl and shoveled the warm cereal into her mouth. She smiled at Tegani, understanding from the Sister’s reaction, that there was no way the Empire would allow her to study at the Temple. Ninallia began spinning fantasies that she would become a Sister, and no one would ever be able to hurt her or frighten her again. Tegani could teach her the ways of the Order.

  “I can read your aura. That will tell if you can be trained.” Tegani took the empty bowl then picked up Ninallia’s hand. “You have a strong aura, but I cannot tell your gift without testing.”

  Houston came into the room, and Tegani placed two more bowls of food on the small table. After they finished eating, she washed and put away the dishes

  ~ * ~

  The transport arrived, and Tegani busied herself helping Houston load their belongings.

  “I can walk,” Ninallia insisted when Houston picked her up and started for the transport. ­He ignored this protest and carried her.

  The driver raised his eyebrows. Tegani was quick to explain. “Our son is ill, and we are going to a master healer in the south. Pray the Spirits we arrive in time.”

  The driver’s expression softened, and he remained silent for most of the trip. When Tegani handed him her credits he shook his head. “For the young sir. Good speed on your journey, and Spirits blessings.”

  She felt guilty for cheating the man from his fare, but she honored his gracious gift.

  “A Sister must learn to obey those who are senior in the Order.” Tegani smoothed the blanket. She stroked the girl’s flushed face. They were risking both mother and child by traveling, but what else could they do? Their compartment was small with pull-out beds. Tegani opened one, added a blanket, and settled a protesting Ninallia in, raising her feet with pillows from the other bed.

  She sat on the seat across from Ninallia and glanced at her watch for the third time. Where was Houston? There were only a few minutes before the train departed. Where was he?

  ~ * ~

  In the station, Houston was hoping to buy sandwiches and fruit for their lunch. There was no food car on this train, and they would need to eat something before they arrived at the port. His communicator buzzed in his ear. A welcome sound. He had questions and needed to let them know Hanoree was having the women from Madama’s hostel killed. “General?”

  “Yes. I take it you have contacted the girl.”

  Houston heard tension in the general’s voice, and he answered with a noncommittal sound.

  “Ambassador Hollins has made an agreement with Lord Hanoree. If she turns herself in, he guarantees her safety. If the child is indeed the son of the emperor, he will serve as the child’s regent and turn over control when the heir comes of age.”

  “You believe that bastard?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I believe or what you feel. The League has negotiated a deal. Stay put. We will pick you up. You should be off planet in twenty-four hours.”

  Too stunned to speak, Houston didn’t answer. The girl was as good as dead; the Sister too.

  “Houston, do you copy me?”

  “Yes, sir. I understand.”

  “Good. The Empire is offering a lot of concessions to their trade restrictions. This is important.”

  The general signed off, and Houston stared at the train. The last call whistle blew. Could they make it without him? If he joined them, the League would track them, meet the train, and take Ninallia into custody.

  Wincing he yanked the implanted communicator from his ear. There would be hearing loss. The League would no longer be able to trace him, but he was cut off from their help, including credits. This would mean court a martial. He let out a sigh of resignation. He was washed up as a League officer anyway.

  Houston pitched the earbud onto the back of a truck leaving the station. With minutes before departure, he ran across the street to a credit machine. He withdrew an obscene amount of credits before the League got wise and closed his account. He could hear the boarding call being repeated over and over.

  Come on, he willed the credit machine. Credits clanked into the tray. He stuffed them inside his robes and ran for the train. Squeezing his big frame between the closing doors, Houston boarded the train as it was preparing to lift off.

  ~ * ~

  Tegani peered through the window. She couldn’t see the boarding area from her window, because they were on the wrong side of the train. She leaned back in frustration. Where is Houston? The last call for boarding clanged, and he was not on the train. Spirits willing, they could make it to Lady Sayeri without him. She felt the gentle tug as the train started to lift off.

  “Yo
ur man?” Ninallia asked cautiously.

  Tegani was about to say Houston was not her man, at least not in the way the girl’s tone suggested, when the door opened, and his large frame entered, taking a seat beside her. He was breathing hard, and Tegani spotted a trickle of blood on his right ear. “Are you okay?”

  He swiped at the blood and said, “I didn’t get the food, sorry.”

  “There’s a thirty-minute stop in Hakona. It’s a larger city and should have a larger station.”

  He loosened his outer robe. Hakona was four hours away. Their small breakfast would have to hold them a while longer.

  “The Sister was afraid you left us.” Ninallia spoke up. “I think she was going to cry. You shouldn’t scare her.”

  He glanced at Tegani. “My apologies, I was trying to get credits, and the machine backed up. I almost missed the train. I would never desert the Sister or you.”

  “Sleep girl, you don’t want to lose the baby.” Adding to her embarrassment, Tegani’s voice sounded harsher than she intended. She did want to think about her attraction to Houston. There was something dangerous about the man, but also something very honorable. Even in merchant’s clothes, he looked like a soldier.

  “Will you teach me more? I want to know how to be a Sister of the Order?” Ninallia’s voice sounded young and pleading.

  Tegani smiled. “If you rest now, I will teach you the novice’s prayer. It is the first thing a Sister learns at the Temple.”

  Ninallia pulled the cover up to her chin and closed her eyes. Tegani and Houston sat in silence. After a while, she got up to find the toilet. She walked down the corridor between the compartments. One door was open, and its occupants were listening to a news report. When she recognized the voice of the Royal Nephew Hanoree, she slowed.

  “I promise you that I will find those responsible for the murder of my dear uncle,” his silky voice proclaimed. “My only desire is to serve the Empire and guard against our enemies, no matter who or how powerful they are.” He went on to imply that those enemies included the Order, though he stopped short of implicating them in the murder.

  She held herself together until she made it to the women’s lavatory. She closed the door and burst into tears. My Lady and her other friends there were in danger. Hanoree was ready to attack the Temple City to get his way. The Order was peaceful—there was no army or military defenses protecting Uban. She washed the tears from her face.

  “Spirits protect them,” she prayed.

  When she returned to the compartment, Ninallia was asleep, and Houston was reading a newssheet. “Hanoree is threatening the Order. I think he may invade the Temple City.”

  “That idiot.”

  “Will the League step in and force him to abide by the Writ of Neutrality?” Tegani asked.

  A troubled expression crossed his face. “I don’t know. There’s something I didn’t tell you.”

  She listened in alarm as he described his conversation with the general. “Doesn’t your ambassador know Hanoree cannot be trusted? You would be signing Ninallia’s death warrant.”

  “I told him Hanoree is a madman. I removed my communicator, so they won’t be able to track us.”

  Tears of gratitude flooded her eyes. He could have turned them in or walked away. Thank you seemed to be inadequate. “Spirits bless you. You could have left us, and maybe you should have.”

  Houston made a dismissive sound and returned to reading. She leaned back and closed her eyes. She was tired. The rhythm of the train and Ninallia’s gentle breathing soon lulled her to sleep.

  The train was arriving at the station when a loud announcement woke her. Tegani realized she was leaning against Houston with her head nestled against his shoulder. She sat up and apologized. He laughed and asked what she wanted from the station.

  “Food!” Ninallia piped up from her covers. “I’m starved. I would love something cold to drink too.”

  Houston grinned at Ninallia. He gave Sister Tegani a nod and left their compartment.

  “Is there a bathroom on this train? I think I’m going to burst,” Ninallia asked.

  They made their way into the corridor. Tegani grabbed her arm when she almost entered the women’s room. “Son, open your eyes,” she scolded.

  Ninallia dropped her hand. A woman stood in the door across the hall. Ninallia entered the men’s room, while Tegani waited outside, praying to the Spirits the girl would not pass out. She looked at the woman. “My son has been sick. His mind is not well.”

  The woman clucked in sympathy. “You’ve seen a healer?”

  “Yes, he advised us to see a master healer. The boy is our only child.”

  “Spirits keep you,” said the woman and closed the door to her compartment.

  Ninallia emerged and took Tegani’s arm for support. “The place was filthy. It’s my punishment for this disguise.”

  They laughed and walked back down the car and waited in anticipation for Houston’s return.

  ~ * ~

  Houston made a production of unwrapping each item to reveal their treats. First there were the rich fried meat pies that the city was famous for and bottles of a soft sweetened tea. After these were downed, he reached into a smaller bag and brought out slices of spice cake wrapped in clear parchment. The creamy icing oozed from the wrapper.

  There was a sharp knock at the door. Ninallia jumped back into her bed, clutching her piece of cake and pulled up the covers.

  Tegani answered with Houston standing behind her, blocking view of most of the compartment.

  “What do you require?” she asked civilly. Her expression was not civil. It screamed Why are you disturbing us?

  “Identity check, mistress. Where did you board?” the guard asked.

  “In Halivo. We’ve a sick son, and the healer is sending us to the master healer of the area.”

  Ninallia coughed and moaned.

  “Now you’ve woken him.” Tegani voice resounded with indignant fury.

  “I’m sorry, mistress. We have to check passengers.”

  “Mama, who is there? I am thirsty and hot.”

  Houston stepped aside and revealed Ninallia in all her glory. Her cheeks were stained with cake icing, and the sweet tea made a damp sheen on her forehead. Tegani stood in silent admiration. The girl was smart. She also used tea to slick down and emphasize the shaved sides of her hair.

  The station guard froze. He eyed Ninallia and asked, “Is he contagious? We don’t want the fever in this town.”

  “How should I know? Our healer is an old fool. We’re taking our son to the master healer.”

  Tegani held out their boarding tickets from Halivo. The guard nodded. He did not touch the tickets.

  “Sorry to disturb you, mistress, and Spirits keep your son.” The guard hurried on to the next compartment.

  His reaction sent Ninallia into a fit of giggling.

  Tegani administered a sharp pinch and said, “A Sister of the Order masters her emotions before they master her.”

  The half-smile on Tegani’s face softened the rebuke, and Ninallia smiled and said, “Yes, Sister. I am young and will learn.”

  Fifteen

  Ninallia walked next to Sister Tegani along the trash littered streets of Nabbul hiding her fear by commenting on the buildings and people. Rivulets of foul smelling water ran along the side of the street. It was a busy port town known for its freight ships, alehouses, and whores—not sanitation. She judged it was not the place a family would book passage on a ship. Houston soon came back to join them.

  “Not many passenger ships stop here to refuel. We’ll have to book passage on a freighter,” he reported.

  The stench of dead fish and oil from the wharf hit them as they continued walking along the street leading to town. Ninallia’s stomach did a dangerous lurch, and she hurried to the side of the road and threw up.

  Several men standing around began to laugh and jeer. “The sissy boy is already sea sick. The smell of the ocean makes him ill.”

&nb
sp; Houston smashed his fist into the man’s face. Before his friends could come to his aid a large net came loose and landed over them. They fell in a tangled knot. Houston shot a grin at Tegani, and she winked in return. The Sister’s face was pale from the mental exertion. She grabbed Ninallia’s arm and walked toward a nearby hostel. Houston fell in line behind her.

  Tegani inspected his bruised knuckles. “You shouldn’t have done that. We want to stay here without drawing attention from security.”

  “Me? What about the net? You’re lucky they didn’t fall into the water and drown. How would you explain their deaths to Imperial security?”

  “Me? I don’t know what you mean. I was nowhere near any net.” Sister Tegani tried to sound innocent.

  She and Houston laughed. Ninallia moaned that she needed to sit down, bringing a somber note to their expressions.

  ~ * ~

  “We need a room for tonight and maybe tomorrow. We’re seeking passage to the Gabbarni Kingdom.” Tegani leaned on the counter, her neck craned to look up at the tall figure of the innkeeper. He was even taller than Houston and massively built.

  “Why do you want to go there? The Empire is twice as grand.” The innkeeper grinned down at her.

  “My sister lives there, if you must know. We’re going for a visit. She’s never met her godson.” She nodded toward Ninallia.

  “You don’t look like you’re from Gabbarni.” The innkeeper was apparently enjoying baiting the attractive woman at his counter, or maybe he was baiting her glowering husband who was standing by the frail looking boy.

  She snorted. “Of course, I don’t, you stupid man. My sister ran off with a foreigner.”

  The innkeeper roared with laughter. “You and your fine family will have my best room. Right this way.”

  They followed the innkeeper up a flight of stairs where he opened the door to a room at the end of the hall. If this was his best room, and this the largest and best hostel in the city, I’m glad we won’t be staying long. Tegani handed him credits and secured a promise that he would find them suitable passage. When the door was closed, she stripped and shook out the bed covers. The sheets appeared to be clean, but the stale odor of drunken sailors hung in the room. She threw open the windows, breathed in the air blowing in from the wharf, then closed them again.