The Harvest Young- Bound by Love

by M. A. Church

  “We have a unit hour,” Neo said from the bed. “Want something to eat?”

  “No, think I’ll wait for first meal until after we finish the entombment.”

  “Coffee then?”

  Hamza turned from the amazing view outside to the even more amazing view in his bed. “I never turn down coffee.”

  Naked, Neo climbed out of bed and walked to their closet.

  And that view won, hands down. “You don’t have to do that. I do know how to use a reduplicator,” Hamza joked.

  “I know you do, but I don’t mind. Why don’t you take a few more unit minutes? I’ll yell when it’s ready.”

  “So, a few unit seconds, then?”

  “Smartass.” Neo, now in a robe too, swatted Hamza on the ass as he walked past.

  Hamza returned to his enjoyment of nature until Neo called for him. He followed the unique scent that could only be his beverage of choice into the kitchen. Neo leaned against the counter, sipping his juice. Hamza’s coffee waited close by.

  After he felt sufficiently caffeinated—how the hell did Neo function without it?—they picked out what to wear. Since it was just him, Neo, and Jolak, the need for formal dress wasn’t required.

  Instead they both dressed in long, asymmetrical button jackets and skinny pants that tucked into knee-high boots. Hamza’s was black in color with five white buttons and white scrollwork on the cuffs. Neo wore the same type of suit, but his was light blue. His buttons on the jacket and the scrollwork were also white.

  Neo buzzed Jolak, and they made plans to meet at Jolak’s quarters. From there, the three of them walked to the Great Hall. The silence of the palace fit his mood. He programmed their destination, the Royal Mausoleum, into the computer onboard the bier and activated its jets.

  Following behind it, they made their way to the Royal Mausoleum, where his dabba would be entombed. They entered, and the crypt had already been opened. The jets guided the coffin inside the crypt, and Hamza touched a panel next to the opening. It sealed shut.

  Jolak rested his hand against the plate that now barred him from Duran. “It’s not a goodbye, my mate. It’s a ‘til I see you again. You owned my heart, but now it beats alone. Rest well.”

  Hamza didn’t fight the tears that ran down his face. Taking Jolak in his arms, he simply held him. Neo wrapped himself around the both of them, and together, they mourned.

  And the new unit day gave birth to a new reign.

  Chapter Twenty-two – Hamza

  TWO UNIT days later, Hamza met with his advisors, warlord, and blood generals. They planned how to mount their attack, strategized for every conceivable worst-case scenario, and discussed what to do with Queen Ogill if they managed to capture her.

  Hamza knew what he wanted to happen, but he wasn’t sure if his need for vengeance was the best option for all concerned. If Princess Dossi was to be an ally—and he hoped she would be—killing her mother probably wasn’t the best course to secure that.

  In the end, his advisors voted to leave the decision to Hamza. They would back him regardless of what he decided. He appreciated their faith in him, but unfortunately, that didn’t give him an answer. So he’d talk to Neo. Maybe he’d help Hamza know which path to follow.

  Hamza checked his viewing screen. “Up next for discussion is aid to the resistance. It’s almost time again. I’m sending our fleet and warriors too, so give notice to our starships to prepare.”

  Across the table from him, Keyno typed on his viewing screen. “They’re on standby anyway, but I’m sending new orders to all starships effective now.”

  “Thank you. Also, the Onfre have informed me they won’t participate in an attack on the Ne Reyn, but they will remain in orbit around Tah’Nar. This is a precautionary measure only since most of our ships will be engaged elsewhere. We move out three unit days hence. Any objections?” Hamza asked.

  No one disagreed.

  “Good. While we’re on the subject, I want to ask my advisors what they think about me taking part. And before anyone tells me how incredibly stupid that idea is, let me remind you that if we intend to pursue an alliance with Princess Dossi, the best person to speak to her is me.”

  Several males tried speaking at once. When the voices continued to rise, Hamza held up his hand. “One at a time, please.”

  “Your Highness, you going into a battle could be catastrophic for Tah’Nar. What if you are killed?” an advisor blurted.

  “While I agree that it is dangerous, might I remind you King Duran was killed in this very palace. There are degrees of safety. What I suggest is I temporarily take over a starship as a royal vessel. It would not take part in the battle. Hiding behind the other starships galls me, but I also understand how important I am to the crown.”

  “I’m glad you realize that, but it doesn’t address the question of your death. You have no heir, Your Highness,” another said.

  “True. I don’t, and Neo and I have discussed this. We’re in mourning, at war, and I’m new to my crown. We decided not to have an heir immediately. It wouldn’t be fair to us or any young we have. What I’m about to say does not leave this room. Understand?”

  Everyone nodded vigorously.

  “I’m stretched thin right now,” Hamza admitted. “I simply don’t have the emotional capacity to handle one more thing. I don’t want my young to be one more thing, you understand?”

  A sad little whine sounded in Keyno’s throat.

  “Exactly, Keyno. The birth of a young should be a joyful event. So, for the time being, I’ve appointed Lieutenant Raiden Landium Shou as heir apparent.” Hamza massaged his temples. “This is temporary, and he knows that. Raiden’s a younghood friend of mine, a royal family member, and honorable. Now, any objections to my taking part?”

  Wasn’t it interesting that the last time this was brought up, he never considered asking his advisors if he should go or not. Previously he made the decision, and that was it. Looking back, he could see how illogical he had acted.

  “I object,” an advisor said. “I’m sorry, King Hamza. I do understand your reasoning, but I can’t endorse it.”

  “I understand,” Hamza said. “In that case, call for a vote.”

  There were a few more objections, but that didn’t surprise Hamza. He really did understand. But fortunately, the ones who objected were outvoted.

  “Majority rules. I go. Now, which starship would be best?” He pulled up a list of them. “And give me reasons why.”

  A lively discussion broke out again, and ultimately it was decided the Unity would be ideal. As for the reason why, he was somewhat taken aback. The prevailing thought was that Dayo was there—with his young most likely—and where Dayo was, there was also Sishya, his bonded arkhim. Which, it just happened, could travel interdimensionally.

  The advisors reasoned if the Unity was in trouble, Sishya would step in to help. It sounded mercenary, but Sishya had rescued not only Dayo, but everyone in the birthing suite when the palace was attacked. So it could be done. Hamza didn’t bother pointing out just because it could be done didn’t mean it would be.

  “Keyno, would you alert the Unity to prepare quarters for me and Neo?” Hamza asked. “Tell Captain Munn that Jolak will most likely be there too and will need his own space. Also, tell our captains that all mates of those going will be allowed to board.” Neo was going to be thrilled with that bit of news. “Also tell him to have quarters prepared for my royal guard, and that they need to be close to me and Jolak.”

  “Yes, Sire.” Keyno went back to tapping on his viewing screen. “It will be as you said. Will your blood generals and I be on the same ship?”

  “Yes. Your mates too. Doc? Do you and John want to join us?”

  “We most assuredly do,” Doc said.

  Keyno paused typing. “Will your advisors also be joining us on the Unity?”

  “Yes, if they so wish, they may,” Hamza said. “Although, some may want to remain. It might not be the best idea to have all of us on the same st
arship. I’ll leave it up to my advisors to decide who goes and who stays.”

  Low whispers started immediately.

  “Let Keyno know so he can make arrangements with Captain Munn. Also, Keyno? Contact the Tah’Narian Planetary Defense and Darkkit Palace control station and alert them to what we’ve planned. When we leave, they go to Yellow Alert.”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  “Now, if that is all, this meeting is—” His viewing screen screeched with an emergency subspace video call. “What the…?”

  Hamza granted permission for the communication. The sound of static roared out, and a hazy image wavered into existence, blacked out, then returned with a young Ne Reynian female standing before him with a rocky wall behind her. Dirt streaked her face, and her clothes were torn. Wisps of sapphire blue hair hung limply around her face.

  “I am Grand Lady Impur. I was given this secured link by Advisor Taff. I am part of the resistance. Do I have the honor of speaking to His Highness, King Hamza?”

  If a Tah’Narian blood viper had suddenly teleported into his lap, he couldn’t have been more surprised. “I am King Hamza. Grand Lady Impur, how may I be of assistance?” Discreetly he activated a facial recognition program on his viewing screen. Until he knew for sure who he was dealing with, he wasn’t saying much outside of a formal greeting.

  “Princess Dossi has been taken captive during a raid by Queen Ogill. We are in dire straits, King Hamza. We’ve lost our command base and supplies. We have injured, some gravely. I’ll be frank. Without Princess Dossi, this resistance may very well be doomed. I—”

  Off screen, someone yelled, “Did you make contact, Impur?”

  Hamza’s screen flashed, showing a positive identification for Grand Lady Impur.

  Another Ne Reynian stumbled onto the viewing screen, but this one was male. His gray skin showed signs of bruising, and his clothes were just as torn and ragged. “Did you really make….” He gasped. “King Duran? No, no, of course not. There’s purple in your hair. He talked about his young who has that color in…. You’re Hamza. You really do look like your dabba. He said you did.” The male gulped, his features crumbling. “I am so sorry for your loss, Your Highness. King Duran was very kind to me. I owe him much.”

  Hamza’s chest tightened.

  “I am Camars. Princess Dossi is my mo chugee.”

  “Mate,” Grand Lady Impur murmured, fondly. “Mo chugee means mate. King Hamza, may I introduce Camars, who Princess Dossi has indeed taken as her mate.” She stared into the viewing screen. “Females do not take mates, Sire. It fell out of practice many, many years ago. Until Dossi, that is. She has brought many changes—for us all.”

  “Please, please, King Hamza. Please help us,” Camars begged. “They took her. They found where we were hiding, and they took her. I barely escaped and wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for Impur and Nak.”

  “If Camars had been caught, he would’ve been executed in the most painful way possible in front of Dossi in an effort to break her. Queen Ogill would’ve made sure of it.” Impur sighed heavily. “Nak, who is Camars’ brother, is my mo chugee. I love him, King Hamza, just as Princess Dossi loves Camars. We’ve set them, and all the males with us, free.”

  Several of Hamza’s advisers gasped in surprise.

  “We lost so many in that raid—both males and females. Some of those were mates. Yes, several females have officially taken the males they love as mates. We’re trying, King Hamza. We’re trying to change things.” The look in her eyes hardened. “But to succeed, Queen Ogill must die. Princess Dossi must live. Will you help us?” Impur swallowed. “Please.”

  Hamza almost lost his kingly dignity when Grand Lady Impur said the word please. He honestly couldn’t remember a time when a female Ne Reynian used the word. It was considered a weakness. Females didn’t ask for permission. They demanded… or just took. That one simple word told him all he needed to know.

  “I will, Grand Lady Impur.” The words struck a chord, and the feeling of rightness settled inside him. “I had already planned to. My advisors, warlord, and blood generals are all here. We had planned to move out in three unit days. We’re now moving out in three unit hours.”

  Groans rose around him, but he ignored them.

  “Give me the coordinates so we can find you planetside. Together we will remove Queen Ogill from the throne.”

  “I will, gladly, but know that there are battleships patrolling our skies. Nak and Camars escaping was a humiliation Queen Ogill refused to chance again.”

  “Understood, and I expected no less. My fleet will be with me.” Staring at Impur and Camars, Hamza spoke in ringing tones. “Be it known that I am officially declaring war against Queen Ogill. Tah’Nar stands ready to help the resistance. I will do my dead level best to rescue Princess Dossi. I intend to install her as the new Ne Reynian Queen. I hope she and I can become allies.”

  “She has already said if she succeeds against the queen, she will be indebted to Tah’Nar.”

  “I don’t want a debt. I want this to be a partnership. I want your males to be given rights.” Hamza narrowed his eyes at Grand Lady Impur. “I want all of them to have freedom.”

  “As we do, King Hamza, I do so solemnly promise and swear. That is my oath as part of the royal court and confidant to Princess Dossi.”

  The words caught Hamza’s attention, but he filed them away for later. “Then send me those coordinates, Grand Lady. Stay safe, be careful, and pray to whatever god you choose that we succeed.”

  ORGANIZED CHAOS ensued. A multitude of messages went out over comms, starships and crews leaped into action, and a flurry of activity besieged all space docks. Hamza gave orders to his warlord and blood generals and sent them on their way. He did suggest they take a unit minute and contact their mates so they wouldn’t hear via the palace grapevine what was taking place.

  Taking his own advice, he sent a comm text to both Neo and Jolak requesting them to come immediately to his office. Jolak arrived first with Neo hot on his heels.

  “What’s going on?”

  “What’s happening?”

  “Please, have a seat, and I’ll fill you in.” Once Jolak and Neo were situated, Hamza told them about the video call, his talk with Grand Lady Impur, who Princess Dossi was and that she had been taken hostage, and finally who Camars and Nak were to the grand lady and princess.

  “Wow,” Neo said. “That’s a whole lot to take in. So, what now?”

  Hamza explained he officially declared war against Queen Ogill—not the Ne Reyn as a whole—and starships were leaving in three unit hours, that the Unity was to be used as a royal starship, and that it wouldn’t engage in the battle. Finally, he added that mates were coming and quarters were being assigned.

  Neo hopped up. He tossed his arms around Hamza. “Thank you!”

  “I could do nothing else. You need to be there. I need you to be there.” Hamza hugged Neo then stepped back. “Atat? The decision to come or not is up to you. I’ve requested quarters for you, just in case.”

  Jolak fiddled with a piece of his hair. “I… yes. I will go.”

  “We leave in less than three unit hours. Meet us at the main transporter room. That’s where we’ll beam aboard the Unity.”

  “Yes. Thank you.” Saying nothing else, Jolak hurried from the room.

  Hamza worried his bottom lip. “Did I make a mistake? Should he be there?”

  “No, I don’t think you made a mistake, and yes, I think if he wants to be there, then he should be.”

  “Speaking of mistakes, and trying to not make them, I want to ask you something.” Taking a deep breath, he asked the question that had preyed on his mind since that morning.

  After he and Neo talked, Neo left. He had things to attend to before the fleet moved out. When the time came, they all gathered and, along with a few royal guards who insisted they travel with the royal court, beamed aboard the Unity.

  Captain Munn greeted them. “Welcome aboard, King Hamza and King Consor
t Neo.” Captain Munn bowed to Hamza and Neo, then bowed to Jolak. “Crown Prince Jolak.”

  “Thank you,” Hamza answered for them.

  “Royal advisors.” Captain Munn slightly lowered his head to them. “Warlord Shou, Blood General Kwen, Blood General Fihk, and Chief Medical Officer Kere.” Captain Munn saluted them. “And esteemed mates.” He nodded to them. “Royal guards. I bid you all welcome to the Unity.”

  “Thank you, Captain Munn. Maybe time will grant us a chance to tour your ship,” Keyno said. “I’ve already seen some similarities between the Unity and my old ship the Algol.”

  “It would be my pleasure.” Captain Munn beamed. “Would Szin and Takeo step forward, please?”

  Szin, Takeo following him, moved out from behind Doc. “Yes?”

  “Lieutenant Shou and Botany Lead Field Assistant Kwen have taken their duty station. Their young is at the ship’s nursery. A crewmember will also show you where that is, and you have permission to take advantage of the service, if you wish.”

  “Oh, thank you,” Szin said.

  Captain Munn glanced at the crowd. “Well now, there’s a lot of you, isn’t there?”

  Hamza laughed, stepping off the platform. “There are indeed. And more are coming—my royal guard. These are just a few who insisted they come now with me.”

  “We’re ready. Your royal accommodations are set up per your request. I have several crew members waiting in the corridor who will escort everyone to their assigned quarters so they can settle in. Once the royal guards have beamed up, we’ll leave orbit and go to warp.”

  “We have more ready to transport up, Captain,” a crew member called.

  “Permission granted,” Captain Munn said. “King Hamza? It’s getting crowded in here, especially if more are transporting up. Let’s step outside, please.”