Authors: S L Dearing
The walls were made of stone that was eight feet thick and secured by steel, and the two main gates at the front and rear of the colony had been fortified by giant metal portcullises.
The entire area was reminiscent of a medieval castle, save for bits of technology like the windmills that grew from behind homes and parapets, and solar panels that were attached to the highest roofs and turrets.
The rays of the sun rose higher in the sky and began to reflect off the panels, causing the light to dance and sparkle.
Sean Lantry, the captain of the guard, appeared from the lower hall of the barracks and moved steadily across the courtyard to the stairs of the eastern wall.
His lean, muscular build advanced easily up the steps.
As he approached the battlement, his gaze was turned to the rising sun.
The light reflected against his long, wavy brown hair, blowing gently around his stubble-strewn, darkly tanned face.
He closed his eyes to a squint in an attempt to make out the figures riding from the edge of the valley.
"Creegan! Jones!"
He pointed towards the moving figures.
The two guards looked in the direction their captain had ordered.
Molly Creegan, a tall, thin woman in her mid-twenties with short black hair and almond-shaped gray eyes, grabbed a pair of binoculars and looked to the east, positioning them to get the best angle without being blinded by the ever-increasing light of the sun.
There, in the distance, she saw six riders approaching the village.
No banner was waving, but they rode in a familiar fashion.
The other guard, Arthur Jones, then adjusted his eyeglass and recognized the lead figure.
"It's her, Captain," he shouted.
Sean grinned and called to the soldiers by the entrance.
"Open the gate!"
Sean turned back to Molly.
"Did she catch anything?"
Molly looked back through the binoculars and began to smile, then pulled the binoculars down and looked slyly at her partner.
Arthur Jones was a short, stocky young man, with a head full of short, strawberry-blond hair; he too began to smile as if in anticipation of what she was going to say.
"Well, she appears to have a hell of a catch on her horse, Sir, but my gut tells me that it isn't hers," Molly said.
Sean smiled and waved Jones and Molly back to their posts.
The two soldiers laughed and turned as Sean trotted down the winding steps, back to the courtyard.
The first signs of activity began to fill the village as the soldiers moved to the front of the parapet where several more guards were pulling the gates open.
Despite the early hour, several faces looked out their windows into the courtyard as the soldiers' shouts echoed against the
stone walls
.
As Sean approached the bottom step, Vivian Shorely, chancellor to the queen, was waiting in anticipation.
"What is she doing out there unattended, Captain?"
Sean looked at the thin, pinched face of the middle-aged woman and smiled slowly, cocking his head.
"I have no idea, Chancellor, I wasn't invited."
He moved around Vivian and continued towards the gate.
Vivian's mouth dropped open at the obvious dismissal.
She shook her head and spun on her heel in pursuit.
"See here, Captain!
It is your responsibility to look after the safety of the queen, is it not?"
Sean turned to the woman, who had to stop suddenly so as not to run into him.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked.
"I said," she began sarcastically, "is she or is she not your responsibility?"
Vivian folded her arms in front of her as she smugly completed her sentence.
Sean took a step up to her and put his face to hers.
"See here, Woman…"
She gasped, "Woman?!"
"I realize to some it might be hard to tell, but you are a woman, right?”
Vivian scrunched her little face into a frown as Sean continued.
“Yeah, here's the deal… it’s my job to make sure
everyone
in this village is protected and if the queen should choose to leave the safety of these walls, which is her prerogative, then I have no control over that."
Vivian's tight face became even more pinched as she tried to respond, but was once again rebuffed as Sean turned and walked in the direction of the approaching riders.
From the wall above, a young sentry called out, "Here they come!"
Through the gates, the horses pounded into the quad, led by the queen.
Her auburn hair looked like spiral flames as it flowed behind her.
She wore a small leather top and long leather pants.
The sun glistened off her tanned and muscled body as steam rose from her skin, while she reigned in the giant animal.
Several stable hands came forward and grabbed the horses' reins as the riders dismounted.
The queen jumped down from the left side of her horse and began to walk towards Sean, and he watched her with wonder and pride.
She was the queen of Lia Fail, Alia Stark.
She demanded respect and her people gladly gave it.
Not one person in Lia Fail could look into those mysterious gold eyes and help but pledge their loyalty.
Sean marveled at the round soft features of her face, a contradiction to the strength of this lady.
She was forty-eight, he knew that, but she didn’t look a day over thirty.
Sean walked towards the queen, quickly followed by Vivian.
“Anxious?” Sean asked as he raised his eyebrows.
Alia furrowed her brow and looked at Sean.
Her eyes blazed as brightly as her hair.
A slight smile appeared on her face.
“You trying to say something, Lantry?”
“No, Ma'am.” He smiled and shook his head.
“It’s just that you don’t usually take off so early in the morning, especially to hunt.”
Vivian moved forward, pushing Sean out of the way, causing him to roll his eyes as he was forced to take several steps back, shaking his head.
“Your Highness!”
The chancellor spoke loudly and with a shrill forcefulness that made Alia take a step back and frowned.
“Your Highness,” Vivian continued, “the Gathering is starting today."
"I know, Vivian."
"Then how can you behave so irresponsibly and go off riding without a proper escort?
What if something had happened to you?
There is so much to be done.
You have petitioners in just a few hours, the cakes have to be checked, the breads tasted, the wine chosen, then you have to begin getting dressed for your presentation…”
Vivian stopped short and sharply inhaled, only to look directly into the face of the queen, who was now right in front of her, hands on her hips.
The furrow had deepened considerably.
“I…well, I …things…” Vivian stammered and stopped as Alia held her hand in front of the chancellor's face.
Sean turned around so that no one could see him smirk, on the verge of laughter.
“Vivian, I go where I want, when I want,” Alia stated.
“Please remember that… and for the record, I did have an escort.
I also understand the importance of this day and I'm aware of all the things that must be done prior to the arrival of our guests.”
Alia stepped back and motioned for the chefs to take the game.
Gordon Hutton, the head chef, stepped forward and patted a fat deer, which was slung across the back of the queen’s horse.
“Most excellent, Your Majesty!
That’s quite a prize you took down!”
“Sorry, Gordon, I only got a few ducks and quail.
Quinn and Todd brought this bad boy down.”
The two large men in their early twenties smiled at Gordon and smashed their fists together and then curled their arms around and under like body builders.
They were physical opposites of one another.
Quinn was pale and blond, where Todd was dark skinned and had black hair.
Gordon frowned and shook his head as he walked towards the kitchens, hurrying his butchers and chefs along as he did.
"Don't be sore, Gordo," Quinn yelled after him.
"He's still pissed about that cake."
Todd looked at Quinn, who looked around, then slyly smiled.
"Good cake.
Alia smiled and looked to her captain.
“Hey!” barked Sean.
“You two still have sentry duty in a few hours.
So put your horses up and get some food.”
“Yes, Sir!”
They smirked until they saw that Sean was not laughing.
Only when their backs were turned and they had headed off to the stables did their captain break into a grin and wink at Alia.
Vivian's face grew crimson, the color spreading from her neck to the top of her head while she watched the commotion.
She fidgeted and bounced in her tightly laced shoes, slightly tapping her toes in annoyance.
Alia gave Sean a knowing look and slowly turned to face her chancellor.
“Alright, Vivian, here we go.
Please check with Janeen and her staff verifying the assigned areas for our guests, both tent housing and vendor booths.
Also, check with Duncan Worley and verify that his staff is also prepared to assist our guests with any help they might need…Oh, and make sure they are prepared for plumbing issues.
Please make sure that your staff keep the petitioners to an hour today.
With everything going on, I'm just not going to have time.
Also, I'm putting you in charge of keeping the kitchens on time, which includes picking the wine and making sure the beer is cold, and that breakfast, lunch and dinner are on time.
Please assist Gordon with whatever he needs, and be willing to take his advice, as he is our head chef.
I know he and his staff have been working very hard for the last month trying to perfect their recipes and for the last week they've been up almost every night.
I'm sure they could use more help setting up the stands.
Pay special attention to the cakes and pastries, Vivian, I would hate for the Crystals to show us up in that department like they did at the last Gathering.
It all comes down to you."
She took Vivian by the shoulders and looked her squarely in the eye.
"Make me proud.”
Vivian’s face brightened.
She turned and strode off in the direction of the main hall.
"And Vivian…"
Vivian turned and looked at the queen in earnest.
"Be on the lookout for Quinn and Todd.
You know how they are about cakes."