Chapter 13
Tap, tap, tap. “Bart! Are you awake, son?” Samuel called from outside Bart’s bedroom door.
Bart lazily opened his eyes and stretched his still tired muscles as he tried to get his bearings.
Mirilla shoved herself up and off his chest, looking around with a confused expression on her face, trying to figure out why she was where she was and why the sun was up and shining through the window.
“Morning,” Bart mumbled huskily, his voice gruff with sleep as his fingers stroked across her bare shoulder.
“I have to go!” she exclaimed, struggling against the covers and Bart’s legs to get free so she could throw on her clothes and get out of the royal residence before anyone who’d already noticed she was missing figured out where she really was.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Bart said sleepily. “There’s nothing wrong with you being here.”
“I’m late, Bart! I shouldn’t have fallen asleep here! I didn’t meet the morning staff to confirm assignments. I didn’t approve the menus for the day. I haven’t checked on everyone to make sure all are well and able to perform their duties today! I haven’t delivered breakfast to Sovereigna!”
“It’ll be alright. Here let me help,” he said, getting out of bed and joining her in searching for her clothing and her shoes.
“Bart? One of the guards told me that Vivian had her baby during the night. Were you advised? I wanted to be there,” Samuel called through the door.
“Hang on, Dad! Give me one second…” Bart called out.
“Goddess,” Mirilla whispered, shaking her head.
“Something else?” Bart asked .
“Yes. I have to walk past your father who’s standing outside your bedroom door. None of this should be happening!” she lamented.
“Mirilla, it doesn’t matter. He’s happy that we care for one another.”
“It’s just so improper! So inappropriate. I’ve handled this very poorly,” she said, as she secured her clothing, gathered her hair into a bun at the base of her skull and slipped on her shoes.
“I want to see you tonight,” Bart said.
“Let me just get through the day and see what kind of fallout I receive. I’ve a reputation, you know?!” she almost cried at him.
“I think you’re overreacting a bit here. The guards knew you came in and I’m certain they knew you didn’t leave so your visit is documented anyway. I mean, what exactly is it that you planned to keep secret if the guards had to allow you in?”
“No, Bart, they didn’t allow me in. I used my key and came in through Au'revele’s quarters because I knew she was in medical with the Sirena. No one knows I’m here but you.”
Bart’s mouth fell slightly ajar, his brows hiking up in surprise. “So, you really didn’t want anyone to know about us. That’s quite an effort to make sure you weren’t seen associating with me.”
“It’s not what you think. It’s nothing more than exactly what I’ve already said. I have a reputation to protect. I’m a member of the staff. You’re a visiting dignitary. I can’t openly spend the night with you in your bed. And then to make matters worse, to not be on time to carryout my duties the next morning. It reflects poorly on me and my role in the palace.”
He understood what she was saying, the literal meaning of her words anyway. But he couldn’t help but feel there was more meaning running beneath them. It wasn’t just her position she was worried about. She’d referred to her reputation several times, and that’s the part he seized on. “You don’t want anyone to know that you’ve spent time with me. You will do anything possible to keep from being seen associating with me. ”
“Please understand, I wish things were different, but they’re not. Not in my world anyway.”
“It’s fine. I understand,” he said, taking a step back from her as he shuttered his expression and his emotions behind the wall of professionalism he was required to present to the world as the Chairman of the Board of the Unified Consortium Defense. “If anyone asks, tell them you came during the night, or much earlier than your shift would have started this morning to let us know about Vivian and the baby and just got caught up talking to us. We were worried about her, but stayed away until all had settled and she was able to receive visitors. You sat with us to keep us company.”
She hesitated for a few moments before lifting her hands, palms up to the ceiling as she shrugged. “It’s not fully explanatory of how late I am, but it’s better than I fell asleep in Chairman Bartholomew’s bed after having relations all night.”
“Relations?” he asked, obviously offended.
“Bart…”
“It wasn’t relations, Mirilla. And you know that.”
“Please, just try to understand my position at this particular point in time. I have so much to catch up on and check on. I’ll have so many questions asked of me.”
“You’d best get going, then.”
“Bart, I’ve so much to lose! I’m the one that will have to justify my actions here, not you.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine. Whatever you use as an excuse for your brief absence, I will support.”
Mirilla moved quickly to the still closed bedroom door. “I’m hoping that not many have noticed!”
“Obviously.”
“If I can I’ll see you later?”
“If it’s appropriate and can be done in a clandestine manner, I’m sure you will.”
“Bart…”
“You’d better hurry before you’re later than you already are. ”
Mirilla met his gaze for only a few seconds longer, seeing for herself the wounded look in his eyes. “Please understand.”
“I do. You should hurry.”
She grasped the doorknob and pulled it open.
Samuel stood there, but a few feet back. He didn’t seem at all surprised to see her quickly exiting Bart’s bedroom.
“Good morning, Mirilla.”
“Good morning, Samuel.”
“Thank you for updating us with news of Vivian and her baby.”
Mirilla had already taken several steps past him, but she paused and looked back at him.
Samuel met her gaze with his own steady and unwavering.
She nodded. “Thank you, Samuel.”
“Not at all. Thank you.”
“Have a good day, Samuel.”
“And you. Oh, do you think that we could go visit with Vivian now? Is it too early?”
“I’m sure it’s not too early. And if she’s resting and unavailable, our Sire and the Sovereign and Sovereigna are all there as well, I have no doubt.”
Samuel smiled at her knowingly. “And now you’ve actually spoken of and helped us with determining when to best visit with them and not be in the way.”
Mirilla flashed a quick smile before exiting the same way she got in, through Au'revele’s quarters.
Bart stood near his bed with his hands on his hips, wearing nothing but his briefs, waiting for whatever it was his father would no doubt say.
“I like her,” Samuel said, then turned and started for the living room.
“That’s it?” Bart asked.
“I think you should marry her and take her back to Earth with you.”
“I am living on the Consortium’s Space Station, and she’d never leave the responsibilities she has here. I don’t think I realized just how committed she is to her position here, until this morning.”
“Oh, I think she might. If she had the guarantee of another life to embrace. This is all she’s got right now. She’s got to give it her utmost attention and devotion, just like she would anything in her life that meant that much to her.”
“She’s ashamed of me.”
“I don’t believe for a second that she’s ashamed of you. I’m pretty sure you’ll see that, too, once you set your pride aside.”
Bart glared at his father and consciously chose a different subject rather than getting into any kind of discussion about his personal life. “Do you want to go see Vivian?” Bart asked.
“I do. I’d have gone last night if I’d known.”
“When I was told it was clear that they preferred to experience the birth alone, so to speak.”
“What do you mean, so to speak?”
“Guards are always present, but otherwise, I’m sure it was better for us to wait until this morning. They’ve not contacted us anyway. Au'revele said they’d contact us when they were ready for visitors. It might be better if we wait until we receive word that they’re ready for visitors.”
“You’re probably right. But I’m going to see them now. Are you coming?” Samuel called over his shoulder without stopping for Bart to catch up with him.
~~~
Mirilla rushed to her room in the servants’ quarters and quickly changed to fresh clothes, brushed and styled her hair in a fresh twist, put on a different pair of work shoes, then literally ran from her room to the main dining room, which is where she usually met with the staff early in the morning before their shifts started .
Just before she reached the doorway, a large male stepped out in front of her, the scowl on his face leaving no doubt that he knew exactly why she was late.
“You shame our family name,” Mir’ Ahn said, scowling down at her.
“I don’t have time for this right now, Mir’ Ahn,” she said, trying to step around him.
“Of course not. You’ve spent the entire morning sleeping, leaving all those who depend on you without guidance.”
“I did not. I saw to most of my responsibilities this morning while everyone else slept. I’m seeking out any who might have had questions this morning when I was not available.”
“You should have been available. Your lack of protocol shines unfavorably on me.”
“I was with Chairman Bartholomew and his father in the East wing, easing their nerves as they waited for word of the arrival of our Sire and Sirena’s youngling.”
Though she hadn’t thought it possible, his scowl grew even more harsh, more deeply carved into the features of his face.
“That makes no sense. You cannot fool me, Mirilla. There was no witnessing of the birth, it has not occurred yet.”
“The youngling has been born. Have you not seen the birth announcement?” she asked. “Surely you received it personally due to your position.”
“Did you receive it personally?” he demanded.
“I did. It was waiting for me along with all my other communications when I returned home this morning.”
Mir’ Ahn clenched his jaws as he leaned into her once more before finally stepping back. “See that you do not humiliate me with your carelessly unprofessional behavior.”
Mirilla sighed, then darted past him and toward Jof Ta who was speaking to a table of warriors. “Jof Ta!”
“Ah, Mirilla, there you are,” Jof Ta said, pleasantly. “I’d wondered what you’d been called away to oversee this morning, but then we received the birth announcement and realized you were caught up with the joyous occasion. ”
“I was, yes, though rather indirectly. Tell me, is there anyone who didn’t receive clear instruction this morning as their shift started? Is there anyone I should seek out? Anyone who was feeling poorly that I should arrange another to perform their duties, anything at all that escaped my attentions due to my absence?”
“There were a few that had questions, but the instructions you left for the majority answered those questions, I believe. At the very least, the small number with questions simply went along with the usual staff and I haven’t seen any of them since. I assume there are no problems. I’m not aware of anyone being ill.”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Mirilla exclaimed. “I didn’t mean to miss morning meal. I just got caught up and didn’t realize the time.”
“It’s fine, Mirilla. I think the one missing you most was our Sovereigna.”
“Did she come down for breakfast?”
“No, she merely sent a servant to inquire about you.”
“What reply was delivered to her?” Mirilla asked.
“Just that you made arrangements for all your responsibilities much earlier than any of us had begun our day and that all was addressed.”
Mirilla released some of the tension in her shoulders. “Good. Thank you for that.”
“Relax, Mirilla. Everyone has things not go according to expectations sometimes.”
“I don’t. I’m so very careful about all I do and all that depend on me, that it has never happened to me before.”
“You can’t help that your duties took longer than you thought.”
Mirilla sighed. “I’ll try to remember that. Thank you, Jof Ta. I’m going to make a plate for Sovereigna and perhaps one for our Sovereign, too, and take it to them.”
“They’re still in medical, along with those who waited with the Sire and Sirena last night. I sent food over this morning. ”
“You are wonderful, Jof Ta. Thank you again. If anyone has any issue, please let them know that I am on duty as I should be for the remainder of the day.”
“I will.”
~~~
Mir’ Ahn yanked open the heavy steel exterior door to the building housing the military Administrative Offices next to the barracks so hard he almost pulled it off its hinges. As the door ricocheted off the exterior wall before slamming heavily closed, he stalked inside, cursing and grumbling under his breath. Approaching the announcement kiosk in the entranceway, he couldn’t help but notice the dozen or so warriors gathered there, smiling and talking animatedly as they read a bit of news on the screen.
“Do you not have something you should be doing?!” he demanded.
“We’re off duty, Steward Mir’ Ahn,” one of them responded, still wearing a smile.
“Then gather elsewhere!” he spat, glaring at them as he approached.
The warriors quickly dispersed, realizing it would not be beneficial at all to disobey the Steward at this particular point in time.
Mir’ Ahn stopped at the kiosk and turned to see what drew the warriors’ attention. When he focused on it, he realized he couldn’t have missed it if he’d attempted to — it was frozen on the screen. Normally there was a feed of continuously rotating information the standard warrior needed to be aware of, with a ticker of text running across the bottom of the screen with updates. But now the entire kiosk had been seized and reprogrammed with the official birth announcement for the next in line to the throne of Cruestace. “It’s a travesty! An insult to our people and heritage!” he said angrily. Irritated beyond all reason he left the offending announcement behind as he slammed into his office in search of his own personal announcement that had no doubt been delivered in his absence. Stomping over to his desk, he grabbed up his tablet and powered it up. “Where is it?” he shouted at the tablet. He scrolled through several screens and apps before he lifted the tablet into the air, squeezing it in his powerful hands causing irreparable damage before throwing it against the wall to break into multiple pieces and landing in a small pile on the floor just below where it had impacted the wall all the while bellowing angrily.
“Steward Mir’ Ahn! May I be of service, sir?”
Mir’ Ahn spun and focused on the warrior standing there his weapon drawn, prepared to protect him if need be. “How dare they?!” Mir’ Ahn demanded.
“Who, sir? I shall take them to task over their insult, sir!” Warrior Xhin declared.
“Them!” Mir’ Ahn screamed, his finger shoved in the direction of the palace. “How dare they not recognize my importance? My status?! How dare they exclude me?!” he shrieked.
The warrior stepped further into the office, closing the door behind himself. “I don’t understand, sir.”
“The bastard child is born! There was no witnessing of the birth. Our traditions to uphold the monarchy simply tossed out of the window as though they had no basis for existing! And as if that was not enough insult, they send out birth announcements and do not bother to include my name on the list of esteemed citizens to receive a personalized announcement!”
“I saw one at the kiosk when I ran to aid you, sir.”
“It is not a personalized announcement! It’s a generalized announcement for any who happen to see it!” Mir’ Ahn shrieked. “Do you not see the insult?! I shall make them all regret their disrespect!”
“Perhaps they only sent generalized announcements,” Warrior Xhin said. “Surely they know better than to disrespect a male of your patriotism and dedication to our people. ”
Seething in his anger, Mir’ Ahn clenched his teeth as he spoke. “My sister, simpering, ignorant, embarrassingly tractable fool that she is, garnered her own personalized announcement! She is no better than I! Do you hear me?!”
“Yes, Steward Mir’ Ahn. And I agree wholeheartedly! There is none more loyal to our cause than you, and you shall receive the recognition that’s been denied you all these years!” The warrior stepped closer. “But, sir, please! Do not make your objections too obvious. If they know our true hearts, they will be alerted to look closer! Our plan is at hand, sir. The birth only means it is our time.”
Mir’ Ahn ground his teeth as his anger grew hotter and hotter, then suddenly he jerked his own neck this way and that, the sound of cracking, crunching bones seeming to give the male some relief of the rage that had taken over his psyche. He drew a deep breath and raised his chin defiantly before turning his attention to Warrior Xhin. “I want them to suffer. I want them to pay for the years of not recognizing the male that I am, and my contributions to our people. I want to stand beside them in their suffering and be light of heart knowing all is finally right in our world.”
“It is coming, sir. It is coming.”
“Days. I will wait no more than absolutely necessary, Xhin. Days. I will only wait days! Do you hear me?!”
“Yes, sir. I do. It will be done.”
“Go!” Mir’ Ahn ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Xhin answered, saluting with his upper arm slammed over his chest just as those saluting the Sovereign and Sire would do.
Mir’ Ahn watched him go, but called his name at the last moment. “Warrior Xhin!”
“Yes, sir,” Xhin answered, turning back at the door to face Mir’ Ahn.
“I think perhaps my sister should be responsible for the treasonous betrayal that will soon be visited upon the ruling family of Cruestace. ”
Xhin didn’t want to presume it was acceptable to agree with Mir’ Ahn. Perhaps he was being tested… “I can carryout any circumstance you wish to inflict, sir. If you are sure this is the best presentation of the situation yet to arrive, I can see to it, sir.”
“Then see to it,” Mir’ Ahn spat.
“Yes, sir.” Xhin hurried from Mir’ Ahn’s office, hesitating momentarily at the information kiosk to glance at the photo of the newborn male it was up to him to dispose of. The male was cradled by his mother, who was within the protective embrace of her mate, Sire Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok as he laid a hand on the youngling, and looked lovingly into the eyes of its mother. “I’ll see you soon,” he whispered.