Part 10
Setting: Antarra Palace, two days later
Max: he stood by the window and watched from his third floor office: his wife and son were below in the garden getting acquainted with the new nanny, correction, potential new nanny: damn, he hated that: he wanted to raise his son himself, not some hired help, but he knew that wasn’t possible and it wasn’t fair to continue to use his mom and aunt in that capacity: damn: he heard the door squeak open and knew without turning to look that Trevan would be silently standing there awaiting orders: he sighed: he’d already been subjected to a morning-long meeting with his new staff to discuss his schedule of even more meetings and responsibilities that he would have to discharge throughout the day, the week, the month, hell, they even had some stuff that was more than a year out that they were planning for him now: damn…
“So, what’s next?”
Trevan: he bowed slightly and checked his schedule…
“First Priest of Antar, Demar is next.”
Max: he turned and regarded him with a confused look…
“Why?”
Trevan: “He requested one, and it would be…impolite to refuse. Until the High Priestess Wynn returns to Antar from Renular, he speaks for her.”
Max: “When does this High Priestess Wynn return?”
Trevan: “When the Granolith does, and not before.”
Max: “Oh. So what does Demar want?”
Trevan: his face remained neutral but he was disappointed that His Majesty had obviously not taken his lesson the other day in proper titles and addresses seriously: he understood that they weren’t really used that much where he came from on Earth, but they weren’t on Earth anymore…
“First Priest of Antar, Demar…”
He was sure to stress the title…
“Is most likely wishing to discuss the Granolith’s return to its proper place and the accompanying ceremony, which you will no doubt be an integral part of since you are the one linked to it and control it.”
Max: “Oh. Right. Of course. Okay, um, let me know when he’s here.”
He glanced once more out the window at his wife and son and wished that he could join them down there, running and laughing in the sun: he turned away from the window and the wish, other things took his time now: duty calls.
Trevan: “He’s already here, Your Majesty.”
Max: he sighed and sat down, a king was always supposed to be sitting when receiving anyone, that lesson had been drummed into him both by Tobias back home and later by Trevan: he sits, everyone else stands until he says otherwise: God, all this pomp and circumstance sucked: what was so wrong with standing and shaking their hand: he remained seated…
“Okay, show him in.”
Demar: he bowed respectfully as he entered and waited for His Majesty to acknowledge him.
Max: “Good day, First Priest of Antar, Demar. It’s good to see you again. Please sit down…”
And so his afternoon meetings began.
~
Setting: Byral House, same time
Michael: he stood in front of the reflector and tugged at his tunic: he did a couple of squats to see if it rode up in the back: so far so good: he had to admit that it was pretty comfortable, even if he did feel like something out of Star Wars: he rather liked the white trim that set off the deep maroon: only members of a House as close as his could use white accents in their clothes to such an important function as the Opening of the Houses, and he would be representing his House for the first time.
Maria: she couldn’t help but smirk as he tugged here and there, checked the arm length, twisted this way and that way: he’d even gotten his hair trimmed for it: now that was a minor miracle: she came up behind him and gave him a warm smile…
“Impressive.”
She looped her arms around his waist.
Michael: he gave her a surprised but pleased look…
“Yeah?”
Maria: “Yeah.”
Michael: he turned and gave her a look over: she was gorgeous in her deep maroon long tunic dress that was belted with a white sash, and the tiara of Antarian rubies in her hair proclaimed to all that she was of his House: the engagement ring of Earth rubies matched perfectly and told all that she belonged to him…
“You too.”
Riana: she smiled as she cleared her throat to get their attention…
“Yes, both of you are very impressive, but we should practice again. The entrance is the first time you will be officially appearing together as a couple and first impressions are very important.”
She would be accompanying them, as the ‘official’ Lady of Byral House, it would raise speculation that there was something amiss within the House if she was absent: it was more important than ever that they present a strong, united front: it was also important for Maria to establish herself as a member of Byral House, even if that wasn’t technically correct: when Maria had shown her the ring that proclaimed their promise of marriage to each other, she was duly impressed and very pleased: it went flawlessly with the official jewels of Byral House, particularly the Lady’s tiara: technically Maria had no right to be wearing it in public, but by doing so, it let everyone know that this impending marriage was accepted and approved by the House…
“Okay, now stand up straight, heads held high. Michael, straighter, straighter…try imagining a string running through your body and someone is pulling that string taut out of the top of your head. Why are you looking at me like that? You’re standing straighter already. There, better, much better. Now Maria, one step behind. Yes, I know, not the way it’s done on Earth, but this is Antar. Okay, now Michael take her hand and hold it up high, showing your union…um, no, not like…”
She went over and adjusted a few things…
“There much better. Now, heads high and look straight ahead and walk…”
CRASH!
“Uh, that’s not quite it.”
~
Setting: Antarra Palace, same time
Isabel: she frantically tore her closet apart and grew more frustrated and panicked as each garment flew to the floor…
“I can’t believe this! How can I have nothing to wear?”
She totally ignored the worried looks of the two assistants that had been assigned to help her with her wardrobe: they didn’t know her and their suggestions were just awful: how could they expect her to wear that…that horrid dress with the high neck and long sleeves that was the most ugly shade of blue she’d ever imagined.
Diane: she stood at the door for a moment and observed as Isabel was obviously on a tirade: she felt very sorry for the two Antarian ladies standing there looking panicked without a clue what to do: she cleared her throat as she stepped into the room, and in the firm tone of a mother, addressed her daughter…
“Isabel, what seems to be the matter?”
Isabel: her head shot up at the voice, but it was the tone that had really caught her attention: she knew that tone, it was a ‘what do you think you’re doing, young lady’ tone: she’d heard it too many times to count, but it also meant something else, Mom was there to handle it, no matter what it was…
“Mom, look at that…that abomination they want me to wear. Have you ever seen anything so hideous? It looks like something a hundred-year-old matron would wear. And they want me to wear it to the Opening of the Houses! Represent the Royal House in that…that thing!”
Diane: she tried not to cringe when she saw the garment: it really was all wrong for her daughter, but then fashion here was very different…
“Well, it’s not…um…”
It was bad: she turned to one of the attendants…
“What is considered fashionable for young ladies at formal functions?”
Trista: she nodded politely to the adoptive mother of King Zan and Princess Isabel and walked over to a vid screen: a selection of various outfits filled the screen…
“My Lady, these are the latest in style, but some of them are too…modern for such an important occasion as the Opening of the Houses.”
Diane: her brow went up when a dress, completely open at the top and baring the model’s breast, crossed the screen…
“Yes, I can see that. Let’s take a look at some that are a tad more conservative but still stylish. Maybe we can rework this dress into something closer to one of them.”
~
Setting: Antarra Palace, same time
Trudy: she’d spent the last couple of days exploring the palace: she loved the garden and beach that was below the cliff, and the music room: she loved the music room: she was currently strolling through the northern wing, it was the side that ended at the edge of the cliff and provided the most spectacular views of the ocean: she also noticed it seemed more ornate and impressive: she felt something prickling her senses as she neared a particularly rich golden-paneled set of doors: this room seemed important somehow: it called to her and she couldn’t resist answering the call: she opened both doors and walked in: a cool wind seemed to sweep through her but she saw no windows open: she felt a breath blow in her ear and turned to see who was there: no one: she stepped further into the room: she could feel it, feel them: they were here, someone or ones were still here: her hand went to her right ear and slowly removed her hearing aid: she knew she wouldn’t need it to hear what they had to say: she surveyed the room: the wall to her left was floor to ceiling windows that offered a magnificent view: directly in front was a raised dais with two large ornate chairs, flanked by a half dozen less ornate ones: a throne, she immediately realized and that’s when she heard it…
“What is this?”
“Submit or die!”
“No, never!”
“No…NO…Rath…take Vilandra…Ava…side door…safety…”
Trudy: a chill came over her and she turned her head from the grisly carnage she could feel in her bones: she opened her eyes to a view of golden tapestries lining the other wall: she almost expected to see the blood running down them: she’d seen it once before: she heard a cough, more like a death rattle, coming from the direction of the dais and had to turn to look again…
“Peace. I only wanted peace for all…”
Trudy: she knew that those words were from a dying man, no, a dying king’s last wish, and those words would echo through eternity unless they were laid to rest: she put her hearing aid back in, there was nothing more the room could tell her: she turned to leave and was surprised to see someone standing in the hall watching her: she gave a slight bow…
“Queen Nataria.”
Nataria: though it broke with custom, she gave a slight bow back: she’d known somehow that someone was in this room: no one came in here since Kivar had been defeated: servants had reported ‘sightings’ of something but they were not sure what, and of strange noises, crying, shouts of anger, and then of pain and sorrow, the room felt wrong they’d say: so the doors had been shut and no one entered: even now, she didn’t enter, she stood in the hall, but she had known that someone had come into the room: she’d felt the…change: she was a disciple of the Order of Ruan: she knew…
“What did they tell you?”
Trudy: she regarded the queen for a moment…
“What do they say to you?”
Nataria: she shook her head…
“I was there. I saw it as it happened. My memories mingle with the echo of the past and I cannot hear clearly. What do they say? Please tell me. They were my children.”
Trudy: she slowly walked the few steps to the hall and closed the doors: immediately a warmth enveloped her: she took the queen’s hands in hers and gave her a gentle smile…
“Peace, they only want peace for all.”
Nataria: her eyes closed: she felt the wetness collect at the corners of her eyes: even in the violence of their deaths, they wanted peace: she opened her eyes and the wetness ran down her cheeks…
“Thank you. We will get them the peace they wanted and maybe then they’ll finally be able to rest in their own peace.”
~
Setting: Antarra Palace, short time later
Max: he gave the priest a dubious look…
“Three days? I…I’m very sorry but there is no way I can spare three days to go on some sort of religious retreat. Not now. Maybe later, after things have settled down a bit.”
Demar: he remained very calm: his instructions were clear and he would carry them out: it was really as simple as that…
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I must not be relaying the gravity of the situation. In order to properly install the Granolith in its rightful home, you must use your mastery of it to move it into place.”
Max: he cut him off…
“Yes, I understand that, and I admit that I’ll need to do some meditation beforehand to help relax, but I honestly don’t need three days worth. I have too much to do here.”
Demar: his hands were folded on his lap in a perfectly relaxed manner…
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I don’t think I’m making myself clear. It will take three days of instructions and ritual cleansing of the body, the mind, and the soul in order to properly fulfill this task. It simply cannot be allowed to happen without it. It would be sacrilege. And the people need to see the Granolith home, safe and secure. I don’t think that I need to remind you what a temptation it is while it is sitting out in space and open to attack.”
Max: he sighed…
“No, you don’t. But I can’t see how…”
Demar: “Your Majesty, you don’t need to see, all you have to do is believe and the way will be open.”
Max: he wanted to run his hand through his hair in frustration: he wanted to yell at him to get the hell out, that he had too much to do to be playing games like this: but he was king and could do none of that: he shook his head…
“Your Eminence, forgive me but I have to be honest here. I don’t believe. I never seriously believed in the church that I was raised in, let alone the Order of Ruan. I don’t even know exactly what it is, so I don’t see how three days of ritual cleansing is going to make much difference.”
Demar: he sat up at that: he wasn’t overly surprised that he didn’t grasp Ruan, but not even his own church, now that was surprising…
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but if I may be so bold as to ask…”
He waited until the king nodded to continue…
“Then why were you married in your church? Are the vows you took to your wife before God meaningless?”
Max: his jaw dropped…
“What? Of course I take my marriage vows seriously.”
Demar: “But you don’t believe?”
Max: “I believe in my wife, and in us. We belong together.”
Demar: “Ah, and how do you know this?”
Max: “I…we…we’re soul mates.”
Damn: why did he feel like he was losing a debate?
Demar: “But how can you be soul mates if you don’t believe in souls?”
Max: “I…”
Damn, damn, damn…
“There has to be something…more…but I don’t know what.”
Demar: he smiled with kind eyes…
“Then let us help you explore the possibilities.”
Men deal in the world of the tangible, and the Fates to help intervene with the intangible.
