Chapter 9
Quin stood a few feet away from the sofa Vivian sat on, animatedly telling a story about Ba Re’ and Rokai almost destroying a transport docked on Command Warship 1, as well as causing damage to the Warship itself when they thought Elisha was leaving Ba Re’ behind. “Instead of simply waiting, giving the pilots of the transports time to confirm they had permission to board and search the transports, Rokai hands him a wrench…”
“It’s bigger than me,” Vivi added.
“It is!” Quin exclaimed. “Ba Re’ starts beating at the windshield, the whole time bellowing Elisha’s name. When she didn’t come out and the windshield remained intact, he battered the outside of the transport so badly it was no longer travel safe, but that wasn’t enough. No, it couldn’t have been enough. He demanded the blaster from one of those sent to ensure that all was as it should have been, and began firing at the transport! The metallic outer skin of the transport peels back and Ba Re’ keeps firing. He went so far as to melt the rudder, leaving a permanent metallic blob on our flight deck floor, before firing at the transport again. The laser blast skims off the top of the transport and takes down two of our support beams on the landing deck, sparks and molten metal are falling from the ceiling of the deck, warriors are running everywhere, the air lock seals itself off to protect the deck and the ship, and Ba Re’ just keeps alternately firing and pounding on this poor transport — which isn’t even ours, by the way — and Rokai is cheering him on!”
Bart was laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach.
Vivian was giggling at the picture Quin painted with his words .
Mirilla was smiling, doing her best not to laugh because she still wasn’t sure about where exactly she fit in with this unexpected group of people who’d invited her in as though she was their equal.
Bart, finally able to catch his breath, but still chuckling, looked up at Quin. “You told me of the incident, but hadn’t heard it in so much detail! Did you have to arrest him to make him stop?”
“No! Elisha walking up behind him and demanding to know what the hell he was doing stopped him.”
“Behind him… she wasn’t even on the transport?” Bart asked.
“She was not. She was on another. Jhan located her and asked her to come help him control Ba Re’.”
The front door opened and Samuel walked in with Au'revele.
“There they are! How was your tour?” Vivian exclaimed. She tried to roll herself forward to stand, but ended up doing nothing more than wobbling back and forth before giving up and flopping back against the sofa cushions again.
“We had a wonderful tour, Siren… Vivian,” Au'revele said, catching herself before she called Vivian Sirena.
Vivian winked at her to let her know she recognized the fact that Au'revele was trying to abide by her request to not be so formal with her in private. “I’m glad.”
“Shall I help you get comfortable, Ehlealah?” Quin asked, trying to help her get comfortable.
Vivian sighed tiredly. “No, thank you. It’s pointless to even try. I was just going to introduce Mirilla and Au'revele.”
Quin nodded his understanding, and while gathering first one pillow, then another to plump rather forcefully, yet gently arrange behind the small of Vivian’s back, he spoke to Mirilla. “Mirilla, please meet Au'revele. She is a personal friend of Vivi’s, and has been chosen as nanny to our youngling.”
Mirilla stood, prepared to greet the beautiful female. She was unusual to look at, with the white, just slightly visible tattoos decorating her silvery skin. Her hair was just slightly darker than her silver-toned skin, and despite her hypnotic green eyes she had very delicate features. “Forgive me for staring, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a female quite like you. Where are you from?”
“Eschina,” Au'revele answered.
“I’ve met people from Eschina, but still, there is no one I’ve met quite like you. You are quite unusual.”
Au'revele smiled demurely while keeping her eyes trained on the floor as she’d done most of her life. When no one spoke, she glanced up quickly and realized Mirilla was waiting for her to speak. She assumed Mirilla meant her appearance and rather than ask, went for the one thing that caused the females of her village to stand out, even among her own people. “The females of our village wear the symbols of our heritage on our bodies,” Au'revele explained, gesturing toward one of the markings on her arms. “If not from our village, then any from Eschina wouldn’t be marked this way. The particular shade of my skin is unique to my bloodline as well.”
From Au’revele’s posture, Mirilla was pretty sure she’d inadvertently offended her. “Please do not misunderstand me. My comments are not meant as an offense, rather they are a compliment. You will have our Cruestaci warriors stumbling over themselves to find out if you are their Ehlealah, they will be so taken with you.”
A deep snarl sounded from upstairs.
Quin’s attention snapped toward the upstairs landing, but Vivian just started chuckling.
“Vivi…” Quin chided softly.
“What? It’s funny. If he’d do something about it, he wouldn’t have to snarl so much,” Vivian said. Then she looked at Au'revele. “I said almost the same thing to Mirilla when I met her. Between the beauty both of you possess, I think I’ll just stay here in my quarters and never see the light of day,” Vivian said teasingly.
Au'revele laughed, knowing Vivian was teasing them with hiding herself away. “I shall hide with you, Sirena. A male, any male, is the last thing on my mind. ”
Another snarl sounded from above.
Shaking his head, Quin simply ignored the male the snarls had come from and began speaking again.
“If I may continue,” Quin said.
“Of course, go right ahead,” Vivian said, waving her hand in the air.
“May I present Samuel? Samuel is family. He is Bart’s father, and Vivi’s nephew. Samuel, Au'revele, may I introduce Mirilla. She is employed here at the palace, has been a lady in waiting to my mother for many years, but now oversees the staff, and is a friend of Bart’s,” Quin finished.
“I am very pleased to meet you,” Au'revele said. “And thank you for your kind words.”
“Welcome to the palace,” Mirilla said, genuinely offering them a warm welcome.
“Mirilla. I’ve heard of you,” Samuel said. He was elderly, but age and life had done nothing to dim the sparkle in his eyes. His hair was thick and wavy, a mixture of light and dark silver. His naturally tanned skin, only slightly faded with age, and his high cheekbones and sharp jawline made it evident that as a young man he had been quite handsome, and even in his aged status still was.
Mirilla glanced from Samuel to Bart, then quickly back to Samuel waiting for Bart to say anything regarding his father and what he might have told him, but when he didn’t, she simply treated Samuel as she would any dignitary visiting the palace. “Samuel, I am honored to make your acquaintance,” she said, bowing to him.
“Oh, no! None of that now. We’ll be great friends. There is no reason to bow to me ever,” Samuel said as he walked toward her. He came to a stop right in front of her and without hesitation gave her a bear hug. “I’m beyond happy to meet you, dear. So happy to meet you,” he said, releasing her enough to lean back and look into her eyes. “So happy,” he repeated.
“Thank you,” she said, now having no doubt that Bart must have said something to him about her .
“Dad, Quin was just telling us the story of Ba Re’ attacking a transport on the loading dock on Command Warship 1, with Rokai’s help,” Bart said, with a chuckle.
Samuel grinned at Bart, then turned to Quin. “I’m always up for a good laugh. Sorry I missed it,” he said.
“I can repeat it!” Quin said, excited to have an audience who genuinely just wanted to converse with him instead of being updated on political or military statuses.
“Please!” Samuel said, going to sit beside Vivian. After he got settled, he took Vivian’s hand in his and held it as though it was a precious treasure in his as he completely lost himself in Quin’s story, laughing raucously, and hooting and wiping away tears as Quin wrapped up the story.
“I did have to place guards outside his quarters while on board the ship. Though my instinct said I could trust him, and did; my common sense said this male was no longer one that I knew and I had to consider his newly volatile nature to be sure that he wouldn’t attack another part of the ship.”
“Is he still so volatile?” Samuel asked.
“I don’t wish to say he’s volatile, but he is certainly much changed. I am not disappointed. He is just as dependable and capable a warrior as he always was. He was always a brilliant strategist and I’m sure that he still is. What has changed is the way he perceives a threat. It’s almost as though he is challenged by the adventure of battle with an adversary, rather than taking down and controlling that adversary in the quickest, most efficient way. It’s a game to him, now. A game he will no doubt win, but a game nonetheless,” Quin explained.
“The thrill, or adrenalin makes him feel alive,” Vivian said.
“Exactly. I would still trust my life to him, though. Without hesitation,” Quin finished.
“There is another that is very reminiscent of that behavior. One that finds happiness and fulfillment in almost everything he does, especially if there’s an air of danger about it,” Vivian said.
Quin met her gaze and knew at once who she was referring to. He smiled and nodded slowly. “He is almost always underestimated, and he says he prefers it that way, yet he is one of our most lethal. One of our most daring. If one of our own is in trouble… he does not hesitate, he does not think. He simply comes to their aid, regardless of what he has to do or of what he has to face to stand beside them.”
“Rokai,” Bart said.
“Rokai,” Quin confirmed.
“Just don’t let him land the Warship on Earth without permission,” Bart begged.
Quin laughed.
Vivian fidgeted again as she had been the entire time she’d been sitting and doing her best to visit and remain a part of the conversation. It was obvious to Au'revele that her grimaces and the uncomfortable shifting of her body came in waves. “Are you well, Vivian?” Au'revele asked.
“I’m just so tired, Au'revele. I can’t sit. I can’t lie down. I can’t stand. I can’t do anything long enough to get any real rest. I’m exhausted,” Vivian answered.
“I’ll take you back upstairs, Ehlealah,” Quin said.
“Oh, no. That’s not necessary. You stay with our guests. I think I’ll rest in our suite down here.”
“I’ll help you,” Au'revele said.
“Thank you, Au'revele,” Vivian said.
“Are you sure?” Quin asked.
“Yes. Do you mind if we remain downstairs for now? It’s such a chore to get from upstairs down and from downstairs up,” Vivian said.
“I do not mind at all. Do you not remember me suggesting that we just stay downstairs to make it easier for you to get around?” Quin asked, rubbing his cheek on the top of her head as he helped her stand and kissed her before allowing Au'revele to take his place beside her to help her to their suite.
“No, I don’t remember, but I don’t doubt it.” She looked at everyone, smiling and giving a little wave. “I’ll see you all in the morning, hopefully. But most likely, it will be only a couple of hours.”
“Rest well, Ehlealah. I will be in shortly,” Quin said.
“Take your time and enjoy visiting with our company. ”
Vivi only just barely made it into the bedroom before she stopped in her tracks.
“What is it” Au'revele asked.
“I need clothing, and all my toiletries. I need to brush my teeth, I need to brush my hair, I need a big, loose fitting nightgown. I need a robe, and I need fuzzy socks and slippers. It’s all upstairs.”
“I’ll bring it all down for you.”
“No, I’ll just have him take me upstairs.”
“Vivian, please. Allow me to get it. It’s much easier than the constant up and down the stairs. I’ll bring you everything you just spoke of and anything else that occurs to you later.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“More than sure. Allow me to help you get in bed, and I’ll go get what you need.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
“It definitely is.”
After getting Vivian settled onto the bed, Au'revele placed Vivian’s shoes in her closet so she wouldn’t trip over them, covered her with a blanket, then promised to be right back. She hurried back through the apartment to the downstairs living room.
Quin stood up at once. “Is all well?” he asked, surprised to see Au'revele returning so quickly.
“Yes. She just needs a few personal items from upstairs.”
“I’ll help you locate them.” Quin stood and escorted Au'revele upstairs.
Once they left the living room, Bart spoke. “Did anyone else happen to notice how Vivian can’t sit still, and tightens her body, shifting her weight from time to time, while clenching her teeth?”
“Do you think she’s in labor?” Samuel asked.
“I’m not sure, but she’s certainly not herself. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t have a new addition to the family within the next day or so,” Bart said.
“I should alert the Sovereigna,” Mirilla said.
“No, you should not,” Bart said .
“It is my duty to let her know…” Mirilla said.
“And unfortunately, this is the point at which you decide if you wish to be a friend to Vivian, or you wish to be a member of the staff. Vivian is very independent. She’ll let you know what and when she expects you to step in on her behalf, otherwise, it is best to let her handle her life and her business on her own.”
“That is true,” Quin’s voice called out from the top of the stairs as he and Au'revele returned from the upstairs suite. “She often says her voice is her own and she’ll use it if she decides someone needs to know anything she’s thinking or feeling. If she does not, it is no one else’s place to speak on her behalf.”
“If you speak of anything in her world to anyone else without her express permission, you will never be included in her inner circle. You’ll always be considered a staff member,” Au'revele said.
“But, I have loyalties to both.”
“You are known for your discretion and your respect for those who live in the palace. But in this situation, I’m afraid you’ll have to decide if you’re friend or staff when you step through those doors. And it is a decision that will remain in place permanently,” Quin said.
“Besides, I was just making an observation that she’s very fidgety. It doesn’t mean a thing without a doctor’s examination,” Bart said.
“We are visiting the medical suite tomorrow. Is there a problem I did not notice?” Quin demanded.
“He said that perhaps she’s in labor because she can’t sit still,” Samuel said.
“I did not say exactly that. I simply alluded to it,” Bart said.
“Does no one tell me anything?” Quin grouched as he stomped toward the downstairs bedroom Vivian had effectively just moved them into.
They all listened as Quin tapped on the door before opening it. “Vivi! Are you in labor?” he demanded before the door closed sealing off whatever reply she gave him.
Vivian looked at Quin with a shocked expression. “Don’t you think I’d tell you if I was in labor? ”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. You’re not quite yourself these last few months.”
“Can’t help it. I don’t feel like myself.” She looked round the room like she’d missed something. “Where’s my Kitty?”
“Prowling the grounds I have no doubt. Wreaking havoc upon some poor soul,” Quin answered.
“If he shows up, do the new guards know to let him in?” she asked.
“I’ll make sure they do.”
“Thank you.” She was perched on the edge of the bed. “Why is this bed so much shorter than the bed upstairs?”
“This one is usually meant for visitors. Not all visitors are comparable in size to our people. If you decide you wish to remain downstairs, we can have our bed from upstairs moved down here.”
“I actually like this one better.”
“Why? It is so close to the floor,” Quin said.
“But that’s better for me. Did you not notice that the one upstairs is so high that Asl and Kail made me steps to put on my side so I could get out of the bed without having to jump or climb?”
Quin shook his head resignedly. “I did not.”
“Don’t worry about it. They took care of it.”
“But I should have noticed. I have been very distracted, my attentions not focused on you.”
She shrugged. “You have a whole planet to run. I can wait.”
“I’m beginning to think that we should have remained on Command Warship 1,” he confessed.
Vivian had been looking at her hands, but she raised her face to look at him. He was truly distressed that he’d not noticed so simple a thing. “You know what? I think we’re right where we need to be.”
“Do you?” he asked doubtfully.
“I do. It’s the normal progression of things. We can’t live all our lives on a ship. We’re going to have a baby who will be running around in a year or so. He or she will need space to run and play and grow, not a simulation to pretend they're outside. ”
“A few months, not a year,” Quin corrected.
Vivian sighed. “Things are going to be so very different for all of us. It’s probably better that we are here where we can get help when we need it. And it’s just time. We can’t live in a holding pattern on a ship because I feel more secure there.”
“But you do feel more secure there.”
“And I’ll learn to feel secure here, too. It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. I’ve just got a lot to adjust to with the baby and all, otherwise I’d be more excited, exploring and learning all about everything and everyone. And I will be, just, it’ll be a little while.”
“Perhaps tomorrow we can take a little while for ourselves to show you a few of my favorite spots,” Quin said.
“I’d like that.”
I am sorry I didn’t notice you needed a shorter bed.”
“It’s okay. You’ve been getting up and carrying me to the bathroom every time I tried to get out of bed anyway. That’s probably why you didn’t notice me struggling with it.”
Au'revele walked into the bedroom from the bathroom, stopping short when she saw Quin sitting beside Vivian on the bedside. “Vivian, your bath… I’m sorry, Sire. I didn’t realize you were here.”
“No need for apologies, Au'revele,” he said, standing.
“I’m going to take a nice long soak in a steamy bath,” Vivian said, smiling up at him.
“I think that’s a good idea,” he said.
“It’s ready?” Vivian asked.
“It is,” Au'revele said, standing just outside the bathroom door, her hands folded, waiting for Vivian to need her assistance.
Vivian very carefully slid from the bed and stretched her back a little this way and that. “I’m hoping it relaxes my muscles and helps me sleep a little.”
“I am, too. If you need help getting in or out, please call to me. I want to be here for you, Vivi, just like always.”
“I will. But I’m sure we’ll be fine. And Au'revele has offered to spend the night in the nanny’s room in case I need her during the night. I’ll be fine until you come to bed. Go make them feel like they’re welcome,” she said, gesturing toward the living room where Bart and Samuel were.
“If you are sure.”
Vivian lifted her face and puckered her lips, waiting for him to kiss her. After he obliged, she flashed him her ‘I’ll be okay no matter what smile’, and headed toward the cleansing chamber.
He stood and watched as Vivian waddled through the cleansing chamber door, then disappeared inside with Au'revele closing the door behind them. He smiled at the thought of the friendship that had blossomed between the two women. He was thankful that Vivi had Au'revele at her side. And Vivian was right, it was important to have friends you trusted at your side. Staff and servants were one thing, but someone who was basically family, who was a trusted friend and had an uncanny ability to put you at ease, was invaluable. For a long while it had been just him and Vivi. It was a good thing that she’d found Au'revele. She needed that extra support, and that was something he’d never really thought about for her. Because he’d always had it with Kol, and Jhan and Ba Re’, he’d taken it for granted. At least until Ba Re’ had come back a changed male. Now, he knew just how valuable that kind of friend was.
He left the bedroom and quietly closed the door behind himself.
“Is she well?” Samuel asked as Quin rejoined them in the living room.
“She is. She assures me she is not in labor,” Quin assured them. “And Au'revele will be spending the night in the nanny’s room just off the nursery in the event Vivian needs her during the night, despite the fact that I’ll be here.”
“That’s a good thing. You’re a male, and women want other women with them in times like this. I’m glad Vivian has a friend that can comfort her,” Samuel said.
“As am I. I’m starved. What do we have left to eat? Should I call for a meal to be delivered?”
“Yeah, that’d be good,” Samuel said. “That way we can stay close by, and enjoy a few hours getting to know each other.”
“Zahn?” Quin said .
Zahn stepped out of the shadows at the top of the stairs and looked down at Quin.
“Do you and Rel wish to join us?”
“No, thank you, Sire. We’ll have our meal later.”
“You should call it an evening then. We’re all here. Guards are at the door, and at the entrance to this wing. Take this opportunity to relax, eat, reset for your next shift.”
“We can remain on duty, Sire. It is not a hardship.”
“I insist. We’re all here, and Vivian is taking a bath in preparation for bed.”
“Perhaps we’ll take a break soon and return later in the evening.”
“If that makes you feel more secure I won’t argue,” Quin said.
“Now, is there anything in particular that you’d like to eat?” he asked those sitting around the living room.