Chapter Nine
Sitting on a large rock, Lisa looks up as the two moons of Luda. She came outside to escape, only to realize there is no escape. Not for her, not for her girls, they were under Grim’s control. Sighing, she pulls her legs to her chest, resting her forehead on her knees, she closes her eyes. What really happened today? Why had Grim reacted like that? The sound of approaching footsteps has her looking down the path, seeing Grim, she looks away.
Grim nods to the guards before approaching his Queen, letting them know they can step back. Lisa looking away from him has his heart aching, several feet away from her he stops and waits…and waits…
“Lisa…” He finally breaks the silence.
“What Grim?” She isn’t going to let him off the hook. She’s mad. She has the right to be.
“Why are you out here?” He forces himself to ask.
“Because I can’t be in there right now…not with you.” She replies honestly.
“You are leaving me?” That finally pulls her eyes to him.
“Do you really have so little faith in me Grim?” She asks torn between anger and hurt.
“That at the first sign of trouble I would cut and run?”
“You left.” He fires back.
“To walk in the garden! With two guards! God!” Surging to her feet, she runs frustrated hands through her hair, walking away from him.
“I don’t want to fight with you my Lisa.” Grim says, fighting for control.
“Well that’s too bad because I want to fight with you!” She rounds on him.
“What you did today was wrong Grim! I have two children. I won’t be treated like one!”
“I know you are not a child.” He bites out angrily.
“Do you? Then why are you treating me like one? Why do I need your approval to go somewhere?” Grim stares at her not wanting to answer.
“Answer me Grim!” She demands stomping her foot.
“Because I wasn’t with you!” He roars, his control finally breaking.
“It matters not that there was no threat! There could have been and I wasn’t there to protect you!”
“I didn’t need you to protect me I needed you to trust me!” Lisa yells back.
“You are mine! You will always be protected!” Grim suddenly realizes they are standing nose to nose and she is not afraid of him. He is stunned.
“You are not afraid of me.” He can’t believe it…his warriors cower before his rage.
“Why would I be?” Taking a deep breath, she takes a few steps away, missing his stunned look.
“Did you know that Mark and I rarely fought?” She asks softly.
“You have said what a good male he was.” Grim’s honor forces him to admit it, knowing he will equal her Mark.
“He was.” Turning, she can see he thinks she’s comparing them and in a way, she is.
“But he wasn’t perfect Grim.” He looks at her sharply and she gives him a sad smile.
“Did I ever tell you how we met?”
“No.” He isn’t sure he wants to know.
“I'd just turned fifteen, he was eighteen, and my car…transport broke down.” She looks to see him nod he understands.
“Mark stopped to help me. He was so nice…so handsome, that I was in love with him before he got me home." Grim sees her eyes soften at the memory and his stomach clinches. "My parents were not at all happy.” Grim can’t hide his surprise and Lisa laughs softly.
“You’re surprised.”
“Yes I thought…”
“That until he got sick our life was perfect? Easy? That we never fought?”
“Yes…you said…”
“That we rarely fought, not that we didn’t or shouldn’t have, just that we rarely did.”
“I don’t understand.” He gives her a confused look.
“I know. I’d like to explain…if you are willing to listen." She closes the distance between them. "We need to understand each other Grim, trust each other, if we’re going to make this work.”
“I would like to know my Lisa.” Nodding she continues.
“My parents weren’t happy when Mark and I started dating.” Seeing his look, she explains.
“Dating is when human males and females interact, so they can get to know one another.”
“Alone? You were alone with him!” Grim can’t hide his shock or anger.
“Sometimes...It’s the way things are done on Earth Grim.” With his jaw clenching, he nods jerkily for her to continue.
“It wasn’t Mark they didn’t like, it was our age difference. He was nearly four years older than me but I wouldn’t give him up.” The look in her eyes has Grim’s breath catching.
“I refused give him up because I knew in my heart he was my future, my truth if you will. I just knew. God I was so young.” She lets the memories flow over her.
“Everyone tried to tear us apart. I was too young they’d say. He was too old. We were too different. Everyone…family…friends…kept telling me I was wrong that I didn’t know what I was doing, couldn’t know what I really wanted, but I did. I knew we were meant to be together but that didn’t mean we didn’t have problems, fights.” Pausing she remembers.
“Maybe not in the beginning, in the beginning I was so na?ve, so in love, that I thought Mark was perfect, it was only after Carly was born that I started to get upset about how he treated me.”
“He mistreated you!” Grim can’t hide his shock.
“Never!” He sees the truth in her eyes.
“But in many ways Mark still saw me as that fifteen year old girl he met and he wanted me to stay that way. Can you understand that?” She waits for his nod.
“But I wasn’t that girl anymore…I'd grown up, I was a twenty-one year old woman, a mother, and I wanted to be treated that way. One night we fought about it…all night we fought. We hollered, we yelled, we cried, we made up and in the end we grew closer, understood each other better.”
“You stayed with him.”
“Of course I did. It was an argument Grim, not the end of the world.” Lisa gives him a disbelieving look.
“You really thought I was leaving you tonight…because of a fight.”
“It is what…”
“A Tornian female would do.” Lisa finishes for him, her anger growing once again.
“I thought we were past that, damn it! I’m not like your Tornian females Grim! When are you going to believe that? They are the most self-centered, selfish people I have ever met and I haven’t even met one yet! God!” Frustrated she turns away from him.
“Lisa…”
“Not ‘my Lisa’?” She asks looking over he-r shoulder.
“You will always be my Lisa but I didn’t think you would want me to say it.”
“Are trying to please me Grim?”
“Always.” He readily admits.
“Don’t.”
“What?” She sees she’s confused him.
“Don’t. You can’t do it. You lose yourself when you try to always please someone else, I know.” He sees a deep sadness enter her eyes.
“My Lisa…”
“Can I finish telling you about Mark? You may not like it.” She warns.
“It is what has made you my Lisa, I want to know everything.” Nodding she looks back to the moons…for some reason, they comfort her.
“So Mark and I grew, grew up, grew closer, sometimes we’d fight just so we could make up.”
“I don’t understand? What’s make up?”
“Make up. Forgive each other. Have sex.” She sees he’s still confused.
“Join.” Grim’s eyes flare.
“Make up sex can be really good Grim.” She gives him a sexy smile.
“Make up sex.” He tries out the words.
“Yeah.” Her smile fades.
“But then he got sick and we didn’t fight anymore.”
“You had no reason to fight.” He nods understanding.
“Oh there were plenty of reasons to fight.” She corrects him.
“He made decisions I didn’t agree with, decisions that affected both of us. I should have called him on them but I didn't, he was already struggling so much, can you understand that? His illness had already taken away so much from him…his ability to be my husband, to be male…” Lisa’s eyes fill with tears.
“I couldn’t take anything else away from him.”
“He did things you didn’t like?” Grim can’t hide his shock.
“Yes and I would say nothing. I’d hide my anger, my pain and it would build until I either had to vent or explode.” She looks back to moons.
“At first I’d break dishes, lots and lots of dishes but that only meant I had to clean up the mess.” She shrugs at the memory.
“Later, when things got really bad, I’d get up in the middle of the night, go to the garage, and scream. Some nights I didn’t think I’d ever stop. I was so anger, so hurt, so alone.” Finally, she lets her tears fall for all she’d lost. “Then I’d get angry that I was angry. Can you understand that Grim? Being angry at yourself because you are angry?” She doesn’t wait for his answer. “And then Peter showed up.”
“Mark’s brother.” He steps close gently wiping away her tears with his thumbs. Tears do not belong on his Lisa’s face.
“Yes. I thought he’d come to help but he was only interested in helping himself.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Peter liked to live well and no longer had the means too. That’s why he was trying to take the girls that night. If he had control of them then he have control their trust funds.” She can see his confusion.
“A trust fund is a lot like your diamonds, it has great value.”
“Your Mark…provided well for you and your girls?”
“Very.”
“And Peter only wanted them because of that value.”
“Yes. He didn’t love them. Hell, he barely knew their names. If you hadn’t gone back for them…” She can’t hide her fear at what could have happened.
“They are safe my Lisa.” He comforts.
“Yes they are, because of you but I can’t go back to being that woman Grim…that female. The one that stands back and just agrees with everything the man she loves does and says. Especially, when she knows he’s wrong. It will destroy me.”
“I love you my Lisa. You are my life, I have to protect you.”
“And I want you to Grim, I need you too. I’m not a fool. I know I don’t stand a chance if one of your warriors wants to hurt me, but that’s not what happened today. Today it was about me making a decision, a decision that in no way affected my security.”
“I wasn’t there to protect you my Lisa.”
“I know, but there will be times when you won’t be, Grim. You have to trust me, in me, and in the males you’ve assigned to protect us, that we can do what’s necessary until you can get there.”
“I can only promise to try my Lisa.” He tells her.
“That’s all I ask Grim.” She gives him a naughty grin.
“So do you want to make up now?” Grim’s eyes flash.
“Let us return to our Chamber, my Lisa.” He’s surprised when she steps out of his reach, a playful smile on her lips, unbuttoning her shirt.
“Lisa!” Grim hisses quickly looks behind him.
“What are you doing?”
“Have the guards turn away Grim.” She tells him as she pulls the shirt out of her pants.
“What?” His mind won't function as her pale creamy skin glows under Luda’s moons.
“Unless you what them to get an eyeful of what is yours.” When he still doesn’t move she let the shirt fall revealing lace covered breasts, jerking Grim activates his comm, ordering the guards to turn around.
“See, that wasn’t so hard.” She walks up caressing his shaft.
“But something is.” She teases.
“Lisa…” He groans.
“You are the only male I want Grim, but I want it all, the good…the bad…the happy and the sad. I want to stand beside you, not behind. I want to be your Queen, Grim.” Grim can only watch as her pants fall away.
“Here under the moons of Luda, with the Raptor watching, I want you to make me yours and only yours.”
With the golden light of Luda’s moons raining down on them, Grim lifts Lisa, capturing her lips in a hungry kiss, wrapping her legs around her King, Lisa dives into the kiss. This is what she needs. This is the male she’s always needed.
“Grim…” She gasps, as he rips her remaining garments away, lowering her to the ground.
“You are mine Lisa!” He growls, tearing at his pants, he releases his engorged shaft setting it at her entrance. “Tell me!”
Lisa looks up in awe at the male above her. He is bathed in the light of the moons, his eyes glittering like Gahan’s Raptor. He truly is the Raptor…her Raptor.
“Tell me!” He demands again, refusing to move.
“I am your Grim! Only yours!” With the moons of Luda as witnesses, the King claims his Queen.
Waking Lisa reaches out to find Grim, only to find his spot cool, telling her he's been gone for a while. Stretching her arms over her head, she smiles. Grim really liked making up, insisting they make up repeatedly. No wonder she’s tired but the girls will be up soon and Gahan will be here after midday with Grim's gift. She also wants to speak with Agee about her idea for her Guards symbol, rising she starts her day.
"So what do you think?" Lisa waits as Agee stares at the drawing she's done. It is the black medallion the King’s Elite Guard currently wears. Embellished to imitate Gahan's Raptor using Miki's crayons.
"My Queen?" Agee looks back to her.
"I know it's not a very good rendition, Gahan will be able to do better, but I wanted your opinion before I approached him."
"My opinion?" She can tell she's confused him.
"On whether you and your warriors would be willing to wear this,” She gestures to the drawing.
“As the symbol of the Queen's Elite Guard."
"You want this for your Guard?" Agee can't hide his shock. He assumed this was meant for her and the young ones, symbolizing to whom they belong too, not her Guard.
"Well yes..." She looks at him uncertainly.
"It has charoite in it!" He can’t hide his astonishment.
"Uh…Okay..."
"Charoite is an expensive gem, my Queen.” He tries to make her understand.
“Even with the small amount used in the Raptor's eyes."
"So you’re saying the warriors won't want to wear it?" Lisa's shoulders sag in disappointment. She'd been so excited about this.
"No!" Agee bursts out causing Lisa to jump. "No my Queen, that's not what I'm saying at all." He looks from the drawing, back to her, forcing himself to control his tone. "Any warrior would be honored to wear such a symbol! The prestige of having two charoites..."
"Four." Lisa relaxes at his reply. "This would be for everyday and this," She pulls out an identical drawing with the addition of its rim being colored with the purple of the House of Luanda. "This would be for formal occasions."
"Formal?"
"When you wear your dress uniform." Lisa sees his confusion. "Am I wrong? Don't you have two uniforms, one for a day like today and then another if there is an important event, like something dealing with the Emperor or other Kings?" She sees Agee finally understands.
"You mean a court uniform. Yes every guard would have this." Agee looks at his Queen, wondering if she truly understands what she is giving her Guard. It’s more than a symbol, it let’s all know her opinion on her warrior’s worth, which is great. It gives them a greater chance of attracting a female.
"Good. So it meets with your approval?" She asks again.
"My approval my Queen?" Agee can't believe she has to ask.
"You are the Captain of my Guard, your opinion is important to me. I can't approach Grim with this, not until the Raptor is delivered. And until I talk to Gahan I’m not even sure if it can be made but none of that matters if you and your warriors won't wear it."
"There won’t be a warrior on Luda that won’t want to wear your symbol my Queen." Agee's truth easily heard.
"Will the King’s Guard?” She looks at him uncertainly.
“I was also thinking that the King's symbol could be updated, with just the eyes for everyday and the eyes and rim for formal...court wear." She pulls out two more sheets. "It would link the guards when needed but still give them their individuality. Would they mind?" Lisa watches as Agee and the guard at the door exchanging a look. "Agee..." She prompts.
"They would not mind my Queen."
"Then it's settled, I'll talk to Gahan."
Gahan sits in the Royal living area, that alone should have him stunned, but it’s the task the Queen's just presented him that has him speechless.
“So is it possible?” Lisa waits looks at him hopefully.
“The Queen asked you a question Gahan.” Agee prompts, knowing the young male is in shock.
“I…” Gahan looks down at the drawings again, trying to get his mind to function. What she’s proposed is astonishing. It has never been seen before, for a Guard to be given such a symbol that not only states his rank but his worth to his King, or in this case his Queen is unprecedented but could it be done? He frowns.
“You would want twelve of each style?” He looks at the four drawings.
“Yes, with protective storage cases for each set, made from the finest wood on Luda.” Gahan looks at her.
“I know of someone who could make such a case. He is young but talented.”
“So they can be made?” Lisa asks excitedly.
“The medallions?” Gahan looks at the drawing one last time before answering.
“Yes, I can make the changes to the medallions, but the eyes….” Lisa had been about ready to get up and do her happy dance when the ‘but’ came in.
“The eyes?” She prompts.
“Charoite is expensive my Queen. It took me three years to acquire it for the Raptor.”
“Because of the expense or the rarity?” She asks.
“It’s expense and in this case for the quantity I would need.”
“Ninety-six, two for each medallion, twenty-four for my guards, and twenty-four for the King’s.”
“Yes my Queen.”
“How much would you need?”
“My Queen,” Gahan gives her a sad look.
“I’m not sure they would even be sold to me.”
“Why not? You are the Queen’s Master Glassmaker. You require the charoite in the service to your Queen. Who would deny you?”
Gahan looks at her unable to speak. He still finds it hard to believe she wants him as her Master Glassmaker.
“My Queen,” Agee speaks up.
“A missive from you, on the King’s stationery, would allow Master Gahan to purchase the charoite.”
“That’s all it will take?” Lisa looks at him disbelieving.
“Yes my Queen.” Rising Lisa goes to the desk that she’d cleaned out last week. Sitting she writes, when finished she hands it to Agee.
“Will that suffice?” She asks. Agee quickly reads.
“Yes my Queen.”
“Good, now how much will this charoite cost Gahan?”
“Cost my Queen?” He looks at her in shock.
“What you gave me yesterday will easily cover this, my Queen.”
“No, I want this to be separate for that. This is for the Elite Guard and only the Elite Guard, you will need to make sure you have enough supplies so you can make repairs when needed.” Pulling the pouch out of her pocket, she opens it.
“Which one?”
Gahan's panicked eyes fly to Agee, pleading for help. Slowly Agee reaches over choosing two stones.
“This will not only purchase the stones my Queen but allow Gahan to secure the other supplies he will need.”
“Thank you Agee.” She smiles at her Captain then Gahan.
“And thank you Gahan.” A knock on the door stops the men from replying.
"The King is in his Command Room my Queen." Kirk informs her.
Grim’s rage burns hotter than Luda's sun and if he doesn't get some answers soon he will implode. He'd awoken, to the sun's gentle rays caressing the beauty that is his Lisa. He planned to wake her with gentle kisses, followed by more making up. Instead, he'd been interrupted by the ringing of his comm.
Planetary defensive systems had discovered an unauthorized ship landing not fifty hectors from Luanda. By the time warriors were dispatched it had taken off, evading the planets defenses, leaving behind evidence of at least a dozen warriors disembarking. His warriors were scouring the area but none had yet been found.
"How were they able to get so far undetected?" Grim demands, slamming his fist down on his desk.
"I have personally reviewed the log sire.” Junius, Commander of the Luda's Planetary Defense Systems stands stiffly in front of him. "Our shields where shut down for three minutes, it is why the alarm wasn't immediately raised. The ship then entered the normal traffic flow for deliveries, it is only when it deviated to land that we became aware of its presence."
"Who." Grim demands.
"Sire, at the moment I only have my suspicions, I don't want to falsely accuse a loyal male."
"They landed within fifty hectors of my Queen and offspring Junius and we didn't even know it!" Grim again slams his fist down. "I will have the name!"
"Yes sire.” Junius has served his King for many years and in all that time, he’d never seen him so enraged.
“The shields were lowered over the Andeen Region sire. Baccuus was on duty when they were lowered, he manno, Lord Focke, rules that region."
"Have him brought to Luanda. I will question him personally."
"Yes sire."
"Alger, status on the intruders?"
"They still haven't been located." Grim growls his displeasure.
"I want the guards on the walls doubled!"
"Yes sire."
Grim has never felt so ineffective in all his life! Never have intruders made it to the planet's surface undetected and now, when he has females, they are within fifty hectors! It is unacceptable.
“My King.” Both men turn when a Guard speaks.
“The Queen is requesting to speak with you.”
"Tell her I am busy." The guard doesn't move.
"My King, she waits, just outside the door. The two young ones are with her, along with Agee, Kirk and a male I do not know."
“A male!” Grim’s eyes fly to Alger.
“Yes my King, he arrived a short while ago and was escorted to the Royal Wing by Warrior Kirk.” He says no more, just looks at Alger.
"Commander, I want Baccuus here within the hour and find me those warriors!"
"Yes my King." With a bow, he exits, only to step aside for the Queen. Junius is shocked when she smiles at him before walking up to the King, putting her lips against his. She is followed by two tiny females, they too smile at him. He's heard rumors about them, that they are very different from Tornian females but he expected the stories to be exaggerations, now he's not so sure.
"Hi." Lisa smiles at him. "I hope we aren’t interrupting. We have a surprise for you." Grim is about to tell her he doesn't have the time when Miki takes his hand, her little eyes shining with such excitement that he can't bring himself to extinguish it.
"I have only a few minutes." He replies grudgingly.
"That will be fine." Lisa turns and Grim tenses at the sight of a young male he doesn’t know. He is flanked by Agee and Kirk and followed by two of Montfort’s men carrying a large crate.
“Over there.” Lisa directs them.
“Thank you Trist. Thank you Shaw. Grim this is Gahan.” She holds out her hand, indicating he should join them.
“He’s going to be my Master Glassmaker.” Lisa informs him.
“Sire.” Gahan gives him an awkward bow.
“My Queen if I may?” He gestures to the crate.
“Yes, yes, of course, on that table.” Gahan nods then turns to his task of uncrating the Raptor. Grim watches him closely before looking around the room, surprised to see Junius still in the doorway.
“Commander Junius, isn’t there something you're supposed to be doing?” Grim’s question is deadly softly.
“Yes sire!” Quickly he exits.
“Hello Captain Alger.”
“My Queen.” He gives her a slight bow but his eyes never leave Gahan.
“Gahan is an exceptional artist. I have a great many plans for him.”
“Artist?” Grim questions.
“Someone who makes beautiful things and what he’s brought today is beyond beautiful, it is magnificent.”
“Lisa...” He doesn't have time for her pretty things right now. There is a threat and he needs to end it.
“It really is Grim.” Carly pipes in.
“When mommy saw it, she said you had to have it.” Grim swallows his harsh words. Looking to this Gahan, he finds Agee and Kirk blocking his view. He gives a low growl of displeasure.
“Ready my Queen.” Gahan announces stepping away from the table, with a nod from Lisa, Agee and Kirk part.
What’s revealed has Grim stunned. It's a Raptor caught the moment before it strikes, its wings spread, its talons extended, its mouth screeching a silent war cry. The bird’s body is black as midnight, giving it stealth, but it still pulses with power and movement as rays of light strike the colors subtlety embedded in its wings. However, the eyes are most startling…they are piercing, revealing the bird’s total commitment to its task and it’s ruthlessness to complete it. He has never seen anything like it.
“You made this?” Grim questions, looking to Gahan.
“Yes sire.”
“Do you like it Grim?” Miki hesitatingly touches his hand, looking down he sees the doubt in her eyes.
“It’s a Raptor like you, like your warriors.” She informs him.
“I can see that Miki and I like it very much.”
“Really?” Her face blooms with joy.
Lisa can tell Grim is struggling with his impatience at their interruption. Obviously, he’d been in the middle of something important when they’d arrived.
“Girls I think Cook is waiting for you.” She reminds them that Cook had promised to let them make the Luda version of cookies today.
“Trist and Shaw will take you.”
“Okay mommy. Bye Grim.” They both give him kisses then head for the door.
"Take Kirk with you!" Grim orders, causing Lisa to raise an eyebrow before she turns to Gahan.
“Gahan, if you’d wait for me in the hall, I’ll be out in a few minutes, and we can finalize the plans.”
“Yes my Queen.” Grim notices the bow he gives Lisa is much more relaxed than the one given him.
“My King.” Turning he leaves. Lisa waits until the door is closed before turning back to Grim.
“I won’t stay long. I can tell you’re busy. I just wanted to discuss with you my plans for the Guard medallions.”
“Medallions?”
“Yes, to designate they are members of the Elite Guard. You told me to think about it and I have.”
“I’m sure whatever you decide will be fine.”
“I want your input.” She hands him the drawings. "I also want to update your Guard medallion.”
“Lisa…” The ringing of his comm has Grim moving to his desk.
“Yes.” He demands.
“Sire, Baccuus is missing.”
“I want him found Commander. Now!”
“Yes sire.” Grim runs a frustrated hand through his hair, turning to address Alger he sees Lisa still there.
“I don’t have time for this Lisa.” He informs her impatiently.
“Just a few more minutes, please, just look at the drawings. These two would be for my Guard and these two for yours.” Grim forces himself to look at the wrinkled sheets she’s carefully pulling from his hands. They appear to be of the current medallion with some insignificant changes.
“Why two?” He forces himself ask.
“One for every day.” She holds out the two.
“And one for court dress.” She indicates the others.
“The medallions, while different, will indicate that both Guards are from the same House, the House of Luanda.”
“Your Guard won't need court dress.” Grim flings the papers onto his desk.
“Of course they will, for whatever functions we need to attend as King and Queen of Luda.”
“You will not attend such functions. Have one made for your Guard if it pleases you, my Guard will not want it.”
“Grim…” His comm rings again.
“I don’t have time for this Lisa! Do as you have since you’ve arrived, it makes no difference to me or my warriors.” Grim answers his comm.
Alger’s watches the Queen’s body go completely still before she slowly turns. He is shocked at how pale she’s become, her eyes bruised, her lips trembling.
Realizing she’s drawn his gaze, Lisa stiffens, her face becoming an emotionless mask. Giving him a barely discernible nod, she walks from the room. Agee shoots him a furious look as he follows her.
Alger looks back to his King, still on the comm and wonders if he realizes the harm, he’s just caused. Reaching out, he looks at the drawings he’s been hearing whispers of all morning. Whispers, of the great honor the Queen wishes to bestow, not only on her Guard but also on the Kings.
Ending the communication, Grim turns back, finding Lisa gone and his Captain frowning over the drawings she’s left.
“There is still no sign of the warriors.”
“They will be found sire.” Grim isn’t sure what he sees in his Captain’s eyes when they finally meet his.
“What is it Alger?”
“I have been the Captain of your Guard since you became King and before that I served your Uncle.”
“I know this Alger.” Grim frowns at him.
“In all that time, I’ve been honored to serve such a noble House. The strength of character you’ve shown since you were injured is something every warrior here aspires too. But now….”
“Now?” Grim doesn’t try to hide his confusion. What could cause his most trusted friend to question his choice of serving him.
“Truth Alger!” He demands.
“Now I wonder if you truly understand your warriors at all.”
“Why would you say this Alger?”
“Because of this.” He holds up Lisa’s drawing of her ‘everyday’ symbol.
“What about it?” Grim demands.
“It’s nothing but a medallion with color.”
“It’s more than that,” Alger informs him quietly.
“At least to your warriors. Did you know she asked Agee’s opinion first?” He sees he didn’t.
“She was worried they would be ashamed to wear it, to wear her symbol, she doesn’t even understand what she is offering.”
“What is she offering Alger?” Grim growls.
“A symbol of their worth, my King.” Alger growls back not intimidated.
“For all to see. Did you even look at this?” He shakes the drawing at him.
“She's having the eyes made from charoite, two in each medallion! Charoite she’s paying for.” Grim frowns, picking up a drawing. “She also wants to put them in the King’s Guard medallion, so everyone knows how highly they are valued, that they matter. You of all people should understand that, my King.” He sees he has shocked Grim.
“You truly don’t understand what she has come to mean to your people do you.” Alger drops the formality and speaks to Grim as the friend he is.
“You brought this female to Luanda to maintain your position but that is not what has happened Grim. She has elevated it and not because her offspring are female.” Alger walks over to the Raptor.
“Look at this, she took one look at it and saw the truth. She saw you. Saw your worth. You are the Raptor Grim, you protect Luda but she…she makes it worth protecting, worth dying for. She is the beauty of Luda but makes every person believe it is them. She acknowledges an effort, thanks for the smallest of deed. She’s elevated half your household to some level of power, maybe only over one person but still…” Alger shakes his head feeling as if he’s talking about an ancient one.
"It is known that she rests with you. That she tends her offspring. She has taken all that you have given her and placed it for all to see and enjoy. Yesterday, she chose a common glassmaker, of questionable origins and made him the Queen’s Master Glassmaker, giving him the means to open his own shop. She is not Tornian but I tell you this, there is not one of your warriors that wouldn’t willingly die to protect her, she is theirs as much as yours.”
“They’ve heard of this?” Grim asks quietly, looking from the drawings to his friend.
“They want this?”
"Yes and now they may never receive it."
"What are you talking about, I told her to proceed." He demands.
"You told her to do as she wished because it didn't matter. To you or your warriors. That there is no reason for her Guard to have a court medallion because she wasn't worthy of attending to the duties of a Queen."
"I said no such thing." Grim refutes.
"It is what you implied in your impatience. It is what she heard. What I heard. You have made her your Queen, yet deny her all that entails. You treat her as you would one of our females and expect her to feel worthy? I saw the hurt you inflicted before she left."
Grim moves to follow Lisa, pausing when his comm rings, with his eyes still on the door, he answers his duty.
Lisa is numb as she walks out of the room. Grim didn't really mean that...did he? That nothing she’d done since arriving mattered. All the work she and his warriors had done to make Castle Luanda a home, a place to be proud off, had been allowed only to keep her busy...to please her. That she didn't matter, not to him, not like she thought, not in the way she wanted.
Last night they’d talked, really talked and she thought they finally understood each other, grown closer, but she’d been wrong. Suddenly, the tiredness she’d woken with returns with a vengeance. Looking up she sees Gahan’s hopeful face and forces a smile on to hers. She will not destroy this talented young male, she doesn't care what Grim's opinion is. He told her to do what she wished so she would.
"My Queen?" Gahan prompts.
"The King says you are to make the medallions Gahan, and I want them as soon as possible." She informs him.
"Yes my Queen!" His smile is brighter than Luda's sun. "And the drawings?" Lisa realizes she’d left them where Grim dropped them, she isn’t going back to get them.
“The King wishes to keep them.” Agee barely hides his surprise at the Queen’s lie.
“Do you need them?”
“No my Queen, I remember what you wanted.”
“Good, so you’ll start today?”
“Yes my Queen.”
“Agee would you see Gahan out?” She looks to her Captain, ignoring his concern.
“I’ll be in the Royal Wing.”
Storm clouds darken the afternoon sky, blocking out the light and warmth of Luda’s sun, perfectly reflecting Lisa’s mood. Returning to the Royal Wing, she finds her thoughts are in turmoil. Why had Grim spoken to her like that? Like she was some annoying houseguest. He’s proclaimed her his Queen and from the texts, she's read it is the same here as on Earth, yet Grim doesn’t want her to fulfill those duties. Why? Because she isn't Tornian?
Last night hey talked and she thought they were growing closer. Apparently, Grim was just trying to please her. Telling her whatever she wanted to hear to keep her with him.
“Mommy!” Straightening at Carly’s voice, she turns to see her daughter carrying a plate with what looks like cookies.
“Hey babies, what have you got there?” She forces her dark thoughts away.
“Cookies mommy!” Miki informs her excitedly as she rushes around her sister.
“They are soooo good.”
“And how many have you had already young lady?” Lisa can’t help but smile.
“Only a few mommy. Cook wouldn’t let us have too many, something about not eating our dinner.”
“Cook is right. Now let me try one of those cookies.” As the girls’ giggle, Lisa bites into one and her eyes start to fill.
“Mommy?” Carly looks at her and the quiver in her little voice has them overflowing.
“It’s alright baby.” Lisa finally gets out, after swallowing. Dropping to her knees, she pulls them close.
“These are just so good that they made me think of home.”
“I miss home sometimes too mommy.” Carly whispers, a sound behind them has Lisa tensing before she sees Kirk standing in the doorway.
“Thank you for bring the girls back Kirk, I have them.” She smiles at him but it doesn’t reach her eyes, it doesn’t reassure him, he’s heard what she said. She didn't consider this her home.
“Yes my Queen.” Turning away, he frowns. He is one of the first Guard to serve a Queen in nearly five hundred years. She has filled Luanda with light, pride and the laughter of offspring. She treats every male as if he were special, something none of them ever experienced before, while making it known that Grim is the only male she wants. She is his Queen and he not only wants her to stay, he wants her happy. He needs to speak with Agee.
“I miss home sometimes too baby, but everything that’s important is here on Luda, isn’t it.” Lisa turns her attention back to her girls.
“You two are here and that’s what matters to me.”
“And Grim mommy.” Miki reminds her. "You can't forget Grim."
“And Grim.” Lisa forces out, the girls missing the strain in her voice.
“Then why are you crying mommy?” Miki asks.
“I don’t know baby, I think maybe I’m just tired. We’ve been really busy lately haven’t we?”
“We’ve had lots of changes mommy.” Carly agrees.
“Come on, let’s sit down.” Moving to the couch, they snuggle together.
“I know things started out kind of rough here but we’re making it a home, aren’t we? Just look at this room.” They look around the room they’d helped create.
“We did a good job mommy.” Carly informs her.
“It’s bigger than our old room.” Miki nods in agreement.
“And the yard is bigger too but there’s no one else to play with.”
“I guess your right kiddo.” Lisa frowns wondering how she can handle this.
“I’ll talk to Montfort and see if we can’t set up a play date with other children alright?” Suddenly a loud explosion shakes the windows, followed by a bright flash of light, causing all of them to jump. The girls scream and before Lisa can calm them, guards rush into the room, weapons drawn.
“My Queen!” Dyer addresses her, his eyes flying around the room looking for the threat.
“What was that noise Dyer?”
“Noise my Queen?” Suddenly he understands and relaxes slightly.
“It is just a tempest my Queen, loud but nothing to fear, not inside Luanda.” He waits to see if she understands.
“Tempest…a storm.” Lisa rises to look out the window. Seeing the rain falling in the flashes of light, she turns back to the girls.
“It’s just a thunderstorm girls.” She looks back to the guards, seeing they still have their weapons drawn.
“We’re fine, there’s no threat. It just startled us. Thank you for responding so quickly.” With a nod, the guards leave and she moves back to the girls.
“What do you say we grab a bunch of pillows, throw them on the floor, eat cookies, and watch the storm?”
“Yeah!” They readily agree, rushing to get what they’ll need.