Day 9

Rachael returned to the castle. It was afternoon and she felt a lot better after riding. She went to the dining hall and asked for food. The slaves served her fish. Well, something that looked like it would have been fish once upon a time. She nibbled at the over boiled red fleshed fish. It wasn’t even nice and it tasted like sand, or mud.

Joe came in followed by Natrica and Spice.

“What would you do if your enemy was going free?” Rachael asked her.

“I don’t have enemies” Joe said.

Then she remembered Sugar.

“Stay away from them or handle it.” she replied.

“How do you handle your enemies?” Rachael asked.

Joe didn’t reply

“What are you eating?” Natrica turned her nose up at the red fleshed fish, soaking in something in Rachael’s plate.

“It’s what they gave me.” Rachael replied with dissatisfaction.

“I will talk with the staff.” Natrica left.

“How do you put up with her?” Rachael moaned.

Joe gave Rachael the stink eye.

“I’m just asking. Perky blond there doesn’t seem to know when to stop.”

Joe gave Rachael a death stare

“She is my friend.” Joe stated.

Rachael rolled her eyes.

“Whatever” she said.

Natrica returned. She had toast, butter and blue honey. It was enough for everyone.

“Eat up.” She said putting the tray in the middle of the table.

“How did you get that?” Rachael asked.

“I asked for it.” Natrica said

“Have you seen the purple eyed guy?” Natrica asked Rachael.

“Purple eyes? That’s not a thing.” Rachael said.

Joe ate. She was wondering where Rosaleighm was. She began to wonder if something had happened to her. If something had then it would have been right under Joe’s nose and she didn’t know about it.

If it had been Sugar, she would have made sure Joe knew it was her.

Where was Sugar? Last Joe saw her she was going to the castle to kill the queen.

Had Sugar been successful?

Joe knew there where spaces in the walls. That’s how Rosaleighm got them out. Was Tiffany the real queen dead in the walls somewhere?

Joe’s thoughts were interrupted by Natrica’s.

“Here is Rosaleighm.”

The child walked in as if she had a broken leg. Dragging her foot in a shoe behind her and limping along.

“Are you ok.” Spice asked rushing over.

Natrica and Joe also went over worried something had happened to her.

Natrica took of the shoe. Her foot looked fine. Rosaleighm’s eyes got big as she saw her foot. She hugged it as if happy to see it.

They all watched impressed at the child’s flexibility.

Rosaleighm stood up and walked to her seat.

Joe and Natrica looked at each other very confused.

Keimoni walked in.

“Evening.” He said.

Rachael looked him up and down. He looked human in every way. His white hair made his lilac flaming eyes stand out. He walked with his hands folded in front on him. His excellent posture made him look confident and knowledgeable.

“Hello” Rachael replied

That’s a fine piece of meat, she thought.

As already established Rachael has terrible taste in men. An emotional individual who can know everything about someone and not be objective. Well, this was right up her ally. But to be fair to her, he was something to look at if you liked tall, confident and unusual.

“I have been unable to see the queen since this morning. Who is next in charge?” he asked calmly like one who carries authority.

They looked at each other. They would have said Nikki but she wasn’t there. The next option would have been Kerri-liana but she too was not there. So, it left one of them or maybe the general or someone who knew how things worked.

“What if you are talking to her?” Rachael asked.

“I do not care for games.” He turned her down.

Natrica said

“It would be Joe. Trainer of the personal guard for the queen.”

“What!?!” Joe whispered “I don’t want to be in charge.”

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“Well Joe, where is the queen?” Keimoni asked.

“I have important things to do. Natrica will help you.” Joe said dumping it on her.

Keimoni was losing his patience.

“I know Natrica, and she is not the woman I need to speak to.” He said flatly.

Joe glared at him.

“You are no body here. The queen hasn’t appointed you in any station. You will be a translator until such a point. If you fail in this task, you will never work for the queen. Now you will start proving your worth to me.”

Joe didn’t like it when people were ugly to something she cared about just because they could be.

He cleared his throat as if planning to talk back but them decided against it and said

“What are your orders?” to Natrica.

Joe glared at him and then left. She was going to kill him if he messed up or caused harm to come upon Natrica.

Rachael looked him up and down again.

“You should have been nice to me.” She said.

Keimoni was left with Natrica.

For a strange woman Rachael was attractive. Her long brown curly hair was full and beautiful. He saw an opportunity. She seemed interested in him and he wondered if he could use that to his advantage. Could he learn more about them from Rachael? She seemed to be in the inner circle.

Tẽra walked in

“Evening” she greeted.

“My queen I am so happy to see you. The woman Joe threatened to kill me.” He tattle tailed.

Tẽra scowled not believing him.

He continued

“I was told to be a translator for Natrica.”

“Helping everyone learn the language is a good way to put your skills to work.” Tẽra agreed.

Keimoni was expecting Tẽra to take his side. Tell them he was special and only answered to her. That he only had to take orders directly from her. But her unfazed response surprised him.

“Tẽra are you alright?” Natrica asked.

“No. No I am not.” She answered.

“I found out Lakisha is dead and they were unable to retrieve her body from the swamps. How am I going to tell James?”

Natrica hugged her.

Keimoni felt silly worrying about how Joe had treated him. He missed that the queen needed comfort. He missed an opportunity.

“My condolences. Surely there is someone able to navigate the swamps?” Keimoni ventured.

“None of my men are able. Are you able to navigate the swamps?” Tẽra asked.

“No but I can find someone who can.”

Tẽra sighed. She felt her generals would be better at finding someone then Keimoni. Also, she wanted to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible. Keimoni could help her with that.

“Thank you but I would rather use your skill set in other ways. I need to catch up on all things I still need to know about.”

This made Keimoni feel good. He was important to the queen.

Spice addressed the queen.

“My queen, I am worried for Chris. He has not improved as I had hoped. I would like to take him to a safer environment for his recovery.”

“Safer?” Tẽra asked.

Spice realized everyone was looking at her.

“Maybe another doctor could assist me” she ventured.

“I will send for any doctor you want. But I want you here. I will not keep you against your will. However, if you need help, I can bring you help.”

Spice realized she couldn’t say more without accusing someone of hurting Chris knowingly and from what she has seen of these strangers they wouldn’t take it well.

“Maybe Ranger the Mystic Healer could come and heal Chris.” Spice suggested.

Tẽra liked the idea a lot.

She sent for Ranger.

She also sent a messenger to James for his return from the farm.

She wanted to tell him in person. She hoped Zazo’s men would recover Lakisha’s body before his return. Being queen meant making hard decisions with whatever knowledge you had available. It wasn’t fun!

Keimoni decided to win them over. If this was a take-over and earth wanted Chayim. He would make sure he was on the winning side. Since these strangers had already managed to put their own in the throne. He decided having them on his side would be best.

Since he kissed Natrica he only knew what she knew about earth. Which wasn’t much sadly to say. She didn’t know how to use a firearm, or set a bomb or fly an aeroplane. She knew what the average American from California knew. She didn’t even know how to surf. She could use a smart phone and a computer. Most of its common office programs. She could drive a car but she didn’t know how to fix one. She could use things but she didn’t know or understand the science and technology behind it. Like most people.

But unlike most people, Natrica saw good in almost everyone. She believed in people and chose to see things with hope.

She was not blind to the difficulties of life. After all she was a poll dancer in a club. This was not a naive job. But she believed in second chances.

This meant that Keimoni’s view of earth was prettier than it should have been. He didn’t see himself being cut open and tested on. But rather as a rewarded ally.

There was also the matter of all the generals that had been called. The castle was filled with men who didn’t want to be there. Leaving their precious piece of paradise to see the queen. A possible one-way trip.

Tẽra called all the generals together. They had not yet left the castle. Even though she mentioned giving the throne to a royal if another was found before the peace conference.

“As you know I have called all the tribes to a peace conference. The leaders from the tribes should be arriving soon. I intend to restore this land and make my parents proud. But my lack of a family has led me to this point. Over the next few months things will be changing. I expect your co-operation in these matters. However, this time I am willing to receive counsel on subjects regarding your jurisdiction. I want to rule with kindness and fairness.

She paused looking at their faces. Most still looked at the ground. They had disbelief on their countenance and she didn’t know what to say to change things.

Then she had a bold and risky idea.

“I have been looking for the rumoured lost heir. If he or she is found and of age. I will step down as queen.”

It was so quiet that Tẽra could hear her heart beat.

“I am sorry for the grief I have caused you.”

Zazo was surprised and at the same time not. The queen he knew was not capable of everything she had done before.

“My queen may I make a suggestion?” Zazo asked breaking the silence that could be heard.

“Yes. Speak.” Tẽra encouraged.

“Allow the generals to return to their posts and appoint someone to mediate between them and you.”

“Let it be as you have said” Tẽra declared

“Generals you may leave after giving General Nathan an update on your areas. Then appoint someone to communicate your concerns.”

The generals liked this.

“My queen would you really descend the throne.” General Pan asked.

“Yes. My land and my people must come first.”

“Then please release the families of the soldiers that failed you.”

Tẽra heart sank. Tiffany had held the families of soldiers that failed her.

She looked at Hodge for help. Were they even alive?

Hodge nodded. She didn’t know what that meant.

“The families of the soldiers are released.” She said hoping they were still alive to be released.

The room became brighter as the generals saw that speaking wasn’t going to cost them their heads.

So, they made requests. Tẽra decided to put her new tool to work.

She requested that the generals kiss Keimoni. But this was abhorrent to them. Keimoni explained that asking someone to be kissed by a Viden was a big deal.

So, she requested that someone from his district who knows the issues to kiss Keimoni.

Then he stood next to her to explain what had happened. This helped a lot. Keimoni knew Tẽra didn’t know what Tiffany had done. So, he explained giving her the ability to make better decisions. He was making himself invaluable.

Tẽra was sad that Tiffany had made slaves of the families of soldiers who she had killed for one reason or the other. They worked in a gold mine women and children of every age.

Zazo asked General Pan if he could stay on and mediate for their district. General Pan agreed.

* * *

Keimoni bumped into Rachael on his way to his quarters.

“Enjoying your new position?” she asked.

Rachael had once again put a poison leaf into the new mix of medicine Spice had made. She wasn’t done playing with Chris, and if Ranger was coming to heal him then she wanted to make him suffer as much as possible before then.

Rachael was on her way to Chris, with a purple mushroom that made one forget. But not before causing hallucinations.

Even though Keimoni was forbidden to kiss Tẽra’s companions he wanted to know more about earth. He wanted to know as much as possible.

“It could be better.” He replied.

“Never happy.” She remarked.

“I am happy now.” He said.

“Playing games, are we?”

“Only if you want to.” He replied.

Rachael remembered how rude he was when she tried with him earlier.

“You can’t keep up.” She shrugged.

“You haven’t tried me.” He said not giving up so easily.

“The last man who messed with me is slowly dying. Care to join him?” Rachael asked.

He leaned all the way in and whispered in her ear.

“I can handle you. Can you handle me?”

Then after a second that felt a lot longer, he returned to his normal composure of excellent posture with his hand folded in front of him.

“You’re trying to make me come to you. What’s in it for me?” Rachael pondered.

“What do you want?” he asked.

Rachael crinkled her nose.

“Nope”

She kept walking. She had a final night of torture to look forward to.

Rachael entered Chris’ room. He was sleeping soundly.

“Wakey! Wakey!” She said “I brought you something.”

She shoved the mushroom into his mouth.

“Be a good boy and swallow” she said patronizingly.

Chris was already a little high from the pain killer Spice had given him. He was weak and not strong enough to fight her.

“So how are you today?” she asked.

Chris coughed.

“That good huh?” she taunted.

“Sadly, I know how that feels. You see I met this jerk who lied to me and sold me to some dogs. They burned me and sold me. So, I understand you’re not feeling too well.”

She squashed his cheeks together making a funny face.

“Well, I have decided to return the favour. I will sell your waste of skin and get some money for it.”

Chris moaned.

“You really need to start being more fun?” she said annoyed by his lack of everything really.

She put a fire poker in the fire.

“You see I suggested a warm environment could help your recovery. Now I have fire to play with.”

She glanced at the hot coals.

“Do you want to play with fire Chris?” She looked at him with innocents

“It wants to play with you.”

She took a coal out and dropped it on his chest. He screamed.

Finally, a response!

Then he passed out completely.

Rachael took the coal off and put it back. She slapped his face.

“Wakey! Wakey!” she said.

But there was no response.

Unbelievable! Her anger welled up inside. After trying to wake him persistently with no success she left his room angry and in a bad mood.

Joe bumped into Rachael coming out of Chris’ room.

“You are poking a wild animal. Decide want you want and be done with it.” Joe said.

“I don’t know what you are talking about?” Rachael asked innocently.

Joe walked away she was not getting involved. But she knew what Rachael was doing and she knew when Chris got the chance, he would hurt her back.

Joe sat in her room with Natrica and Spice and Rosaleighm.

“Do you want to try my shoes?” Joe offered Rosaleighm.

She took her shoes off and then put them back on again so she could see it wouldn’t hurt her.

Spice even tried to explain that shoes will not hurt you.

“See we are all wearing shoes. They protect our feet from thorns and hard things that would hurt us.”

Rosaleighm shock her head.

“Try for just five counts” Spice persuaded.

But Rosaleighm was not losing her foot again.

She refused to wear the shoes.