5. Johree
JOHREE
I smiled down at Paxtil, who was looking adorable in his miniature set of Council ceremonial robes and governor’s sash.
He grinned up at me cheekily, his wings fluttering behind him and his tail wriggling as he tried and failed to rein in his excitement.
I held the pillow holding the key to the governor’s manse out to him, which he accepted.
“With this key,” I said, my voice solemn despite my smile, “I hand over the wellbeing of the people and planet to you. May they prosper under your leadership.”
We both turned towards the press, allowing them to see our smiling visages, my arm now around one of Paxtil’s shoulders, his father’s around the other.
Grekl allowed them to take photos and record their commentaries for a few moments, then stepped forward to urge us back inside the governor’s manse.
I breathed a sigh of relief that this part was over.
“I gots a whole planet now!” Paxtil crowed.
“You do,” Hulomin replied, smiling down at his son as he plucked the key off of the pillow, which he then handed over to Grekl. “But you’re not officially in charge here until you’re twenty. Until then, I’ll watch over it for you.”
“With the guidance of our esteemed council, naturally,” Grekl simpered.
My brother was too smart to fall for his attempt to usurp authority. He’d heard from me all too often about Grekl’s pompous attitude, and as Crown Prince, was all too aware of the nonsense he tried to trouble our father the king with.
“I’ll take your words of advice under consideration,” he replied diplomatically.
Grekl’s face took on a disgruntled look, which he pretended was entirely due to my continued presence as he turned it towards me.
“Well, your personal belongings are all aboard your vessel, which is waiting to take you to that backwater planet you’re going to,” he sniffed.
“At least there the yokels won’t be overly affected by your lack of respect for Dragonii traditions.
The humans will no doubt see your suggestions as innovative and exciting. I heard they like shiny, new things.”
“That’s quite enough, Grekl,” my brother said curtly.
“Johree has the complete confidence of the king and the rest of our family, as well as the Grand Council. He has maintained tradition without getting mired in it, and Radnath has benefited greatly under his sixteen years of guidance. Keep up with your outright animosity and disregard for the king’s wishes, and I will have to contact my father about it. ”
Grekl blanched, knowing he would lose his council seat there on Rednath at best, obliterating any chance at all of his advancing to a seat on the Grand Council. At worst, he could be investigated and possibly charged with treason as well.
“I just remembered I have another appointment to attend,” he said abruptly, fleeing.
“That one is a viper trying to hide in the grass,” one of his guards observed.
Hulomin’s lips thinned. “I think Johree’s suspicions regarding him and his followers’ intentions are most likely accurate.
Absolutely bold of him to make a move against him right here in front of me.
I want him and his associates and family members thoroughly investigated.
Have intelligence come up with ways to undermine his influence.
Rednath’s living museum is one thing, confined to Rednath Town and its environs, but the entire planet cannot remain static and thrive. There has to be some innovation.”
“He’s going to fight you hard on that,” I warned him.
“When I allowed farmers to employ machinery that was still vintage but much less antiquated, he became absolutely apoplectic. He and his minions have continued to vote in a block to restrict the use of modern flitters and cargo transports designed to look antique to move produce and livestock in revenge.”
Paxtil hopped from foot to foot. “Can I go watch Julop and the Zoomerites now?” he begged plaintively.
Hulomin nodded. “Go with Fewxthor to the media room, and I’ll ask the cook to prepare and bring you a snack.”
“Ah, to be so young again and have nothing more pressing than to get to stand around for a few moments before getting to go watch vids and eat fruit and cake,” I chuckled as the guard led my nephew away.
“Indeed. Still staying tonight?”
I shook my head. “I’d planned to originally, but given the travel time to reach New Haven, I decided to go ahead and leave.”
“That eager to leave Grekl behind, eh?”
I grimaced. “That, and arriving an extra day earlier than expected means I can see what’s happening there before anyone has time to prepare for my arrival, so if there’s anything they wish to hide from me, I have a better chance at sniffing it out.”
Hulomin nodded. “Not a bad idea. Though as small as the colony still is, I doubt there’s much going on other than people trying to establish crops and so on.”
“That less than a thousand figure we were told?” I snorted.
“Try five hundred. My main concern is to make certain illegal plants and animals aren’t making it through, or fertilizers and whatnot, in an attempt to cut corners or bump up yield without thinking of the environmental consequences down the line.
I want organic measures only that are approved for the planet’s ecosystem with its health in mind, and the use of bots for weed control.
” I smiled. “At least there I will not have to hold back on the use of advanced tech if that is the best choice.”
Hulomin clapped an arm on my shoulder. “New Haven will be a thriving colony with a healthy, growing economy in no time under your leadership!”
I beamed at his confidence in me and sincerely hoped that it would not turn out to be misplaced.
Integrating humans into an alien society was bound to have its ups and downs, and I still had a lot to read up on about their species and customs. I wanted New Haven to share the best of both cultures to create something new and vibrant.
“Share a meal and a drink with me before you go?” Hulomin cajoled, giving me a hopeful look.
“Well, I do need to eat,” I agreed.
“Excellent! Let’s go see what the cook has in store for us. And I promised Paxtil I’d have her send him a snack. I doubt he’ll eat much as he’s still far too excited.”