The Mutant World (50 page)

Empress Dido lost much respect because of that war. It would take a long time for her to repair the damage to her image. As for those who had Mavie sympathies and urged military aide to them, they were dismissed from the council or resigned. The truth of the situation and the cost of their short sightedness had now been driven brutally home. But the damage was done. The kings would tolerate no more attacks against Barrat, or for that matter, many of the vassal queen’s male lords and common subjects. Total civil war had been avoided, but the Bellasarians’ own society and social structure was endangered now. There were some men who were beginning to wonder if the Barratians were right and if the women of their lands really were trying to keep them on leashes.
That
line of thought had to be stopped at all cost. The Women of the noble houses’ acted quickly to repair the damage, beginning with the withdrawal of major support to the Mavie. The Mavie would never receive aid on such a level again from the empire. They were on their own now.

Yes, the conservative’s deed had had forever blackened the reputation of the Mavie women and their losses during the war were terrible. Worse, unlike the empire, their warriors were not as easy to replace and much more desperately needed. Also, many Mavie women defected and abandoned their former homeland altogether once the imperial warriors began to leave. Many had wished to anyway and now was their chance. Their former countrywomen could do nothing now to stop them. The defectors were under Bellasarian protection. Naturally, this depleted their numbers even more. This loss of fighting women would tell greatly against them a few years later when the Barratians began to make raids into their land. The raiding parties became larger as the years went by and the Barratians began to recoup their numbers. As predicted by Queen Maya long ago, the Mavie were unable to match their rate of repopulation. As also predicted, Mavieland’s own captured women contributed greatly to the Barratian population recovery. Eventually war parties numbering in the hundreds were attacking, and soon armies. Trying at first to buy time, and finally in sincerity, the Mavie leadership begged for truce and lasting peace. But all offers were contemptuously brushed aside. Finally, even the fanatics couldn’t deny the truth any longer.

The Mavie reformed their government and promised a better life and home for any male mutants who’d come there. But it was now too late. Shameless incentives were also given as well, but there was nothing the Mavie could offer that could not be had by men in their own lands and the Mavie couldn’t shake their past. They were notorious for treachery, especially where men were concerned. Many mutant men believed that once they were in their power they would be locked into slave collars, depowered and used like animals. Besides…the Mavie society was still a dead end for any man with honor. Although well-treated now, men in Mavieland had little say in their government and even less respect in the eyes of other men. The Barratians saw mutant men who
willingly
joined the Mavie as beneath contempt, and for that matter, most Bellasarian and Akkadian men too. Aside from sex and being pampered by women (which was not something men couldn’t have anywhere in the empire) the rewards did not equal the risks. Joining the Mavie meant fighting the Barratians and the men of the empire had no wish to do so and for many reasons…certainly not with “Stud Service” and a comfortable home being their only reward and status in that society.

Naturally, the few men who did join the Mavie were not the best. If they couldn’t find mates in their own lands among the most aggressive and hot-blooded females ever known, there was a reason. Sadly for the Mavie, mutant males who
came
to them were almost always of inferior quality, both mentally and physically. The hard truth for the Mavie was that their mutant men were too few and even the ones they had were no match for the Barratians.

In desperation, the Mavie increasingly began to accept and even kidnap human men to fill the gaps for war and reproduction. This was easier for the Mavie women to do than other mutant women because men of both species were originally lumped into one inferior category to begin with in their land. Even their nobles, much to the disgust of the Bellasarian nobility, began mating with them.

But these men were no match for the Barratian mutants in battle and their hybrid human-mutant offspring were of inferior might as well. It was the end at last for the Amazons of Bellasaria. But by this time, the old king had finally begun to succumb to the agony of losing his bonded mate. Rage and vengeance had held it off, but now that the worst was over, he more and more became desponded. Sadly, the death of one’s mate doesn’t always break the ties between two equally bonded people. Realizing what was happening; the king stepped down in favor of his son, Roc, and soon died. The new king had visited the empire as a youth and had seen what it had to offer in terms of technology and comfort. He also had seen that the men and women there seemed to exist quite differently and happily together, and had come home with strange ideas in his head. Reeducating him had only been partially successful. The former king should NEVER have allowed the prince to visit there, but he had needed to know all he could of the imperial family in case of another invasion and so deemed that would the best way. Besides…Empress Dido had insisted that he should form closer ties with his kin in the empire to prevent any more bloodshed between them. Sending his heir was the best way to prove his desire for peace with Bellasaria.

Once king, Roc began to slowly given certain basic privileges back to free female Barratian citizens. Worse, he was finally persuaded to sign a treaty creating closer ties with the empire. Basically, becoming part of the empire…but still remaining largely autonomous. Terrence knew that this had given the women of Bellasaria only a tiny foothold in Barrat, but one that would grow if they were not careful. Then the new damned empress decided to open relations with their
many times proven
untrustworthy cousins on Earth. This stupid move had brought all the great nations and clans together all at once for the first time in centuries with the unforeseen results of lots of bonding’s and unions among the princes and princesses. Not to mention a few queens and kings as well. Barrat’s mortal enemy, Queen Bal of Mavie even bonded with Roc’s youngest son. And now this!

One prince was bound to the imperial family
and
the Mavie royal house. The princess he had skillfully persuaded the king to have mated to that fool Stragg, thus removing her as a possible threat, was now lost to the empire as well. He blamed himself for that. He hated Stragg despite his part in arranging his betrothal to the Princess. He should have known that the girl would immediately seek protection from her kin in Illyria. But when the princess had begged to come and plead her brother’s case before the empress, Stragg, as usual, opened his mouth in protest. Terrence couldn’t resist the temptation to stick it to the fool. Unfortunately, in this case, Stragg was right. This was a catastrophe. The eldest legitimate son of the king was proven to be a weak fool where his emotions and women were concerned. The last hope for a strong leader among Barrat’s descendants before the damned Bellasarians got in was fleeing towards the borders of their domain. If he made it he could become an even greater enemy than the Mavie ever were, considering how he was treated, and the allies he made beyond the frontier. If the king caught him and brought him back he would send the boy to the empress in Illyria, the heart of the Bellasarian Empire. Once there, who knows what those damned women would do to his mind, especially now that he has bonded with one of their bitches.

Terrence cursed himself. If he had only befriended the boy when he had the chance he would have a powerful ally, but he didn’t. As for Roc…The king should have recognized Jawara’s talents too and defied the council (and him) as soon as the boy showed what he had between his legs. But instead, he set him up away from the capital to fight brigands and wild women to appease the jealous lords. Now the elder had no choice. He did have a backup plan.

Terrence didn’t want to go this road, it was a drastic solution to this worsening situation, but in his mind he had no choice. The king was weak. Terrence could see that now. He had been irreversibly tainted by his stay in Illyria as a youth and all his heirs were tainted as well. He had to go and a new line established before the women took over. The nation was greater than any one man or one family. Even if that family was the family of its founder! Still, he couldn’t let the bloodline of his beloved friend die either. He’d see Princess Sandra back in Barrat and married if it was the last thing he did.

There was only one man physically powerful enough (besides him) to take on King Roc and mate with the princess. The man had his flaws, but he was not the sort to be weakened by a woman’s charms. In fact, they were all terrified of him…and with good reason. To be honest, he wasn’t very popular among the men either, especially now. But that would work to Terrence’s favor too if all went well.

“True, he is a fool, but a controllable fool,” muttered Elder Terrence to himself. “And that’s the best kind!”

******

Chief Stragg sat apprehensively in the foyer of the High Elder’s residence not far from the palace. He knew the old man disliked him, but yet he had restored his position (if not his reputation) after his defeat at the hands of the Illyrian Princess. If he had known that bitch was of the house of Cato he would have been more careful, but it could not be undone now. The king would
never
let him take the Princess Sandra for his mate now. Stragg sighed. He had looked forward to breaking that stuck-up bitch. He knew she despised him, but that would make taking her all the more enjoyable. He loved the ones that fought. His mind flashed quickly to Princess Miko of Illyria and he shuddered. Yes, he liked the ones that fought, but only as long as they couldn’t win. The door opened and Elder Terrence entered the room. Stragg stood up.

“Chief Stragg,” said Elder Terrence, “please be at ease.” Elder Terrence motioned to the slave behind him and the girl entered quickly with refreshments. The two men settled down to speak as the slave kneeled nearby awaiting any service that might be required of her, eyes and head lowered.

“Elder,” said Stragg, “for what purpose have you called me here?”

“What I’m about to tell you might be of interest,”
said the elder telepathically.

“What is it?” replied Stragg verbally.

Terrence’s eye twitched. If he had wanted the slave to know what he was saying he would not have spoken mentally to this dullard.

“Chieftain,”
began the elder again,
“the girl there is human. I would prefer that we use telepathy in her presence since what I’m about to say is not for the ears of just anyone.”

“I see,” said Stragg. He then appraised the slave. She was dark haired and plump. Her skin was very white. She had a very attractive face. “I like a little meat on my bones,” said Stragg verbally. The girl stifled a sob. Everyone knew Stragg’s reputation. He was an animal. Human girls had been killed by him and others who were strong enough to survive were still in need of healers afterwards. Yet if the brute were to request her the elder would be obliged to give her to him out of courtesy. Stragg grinned as he saw the girl begin to tremble. He would enjoy this one.

“Susan,” said Elder Terrence, his face showing none of his disgust. “Please leave us now and return to your compartments, we shall have no further need of your services tonight.”

Tears of gratitude formed in the girl’s eyes and she bowed. “Y…Yes, master!” she said, and then hurried away. Stragg looked at the elder in confused frustration.

“This is important,”
said Terence curtly. The Elder wasn’t perfect, but even though he didn’t want to be ruled by women that didn’t mean he enjoyed abusing them, and he never liked men like Stragg who derived pleasure from brutality and fear. He then related everything that had happened and what the king was now preparing to do…and the implications. The elder wasn’t sure if Stragg had the brain power to process what all of that meant.

“I can’t believe it,”
said Stragg.
“I can see why the prince didn’t want to take the big Illyrian bitch for
his mate, but choosing a human slave over a mutant princess?! He’s mad! For once, I am on the side of that bastard, Jawara. And you’re right. Unless the king sires anymore young…”

“He will only raise them to be fools like himself, only worse because of the new ties with the empire,”
said Elder Terrence.
“We need to break these ties…permanently.”

“What?”
said Stragg.

Terrence looked at Stragg and said,
“Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be king?”

“Humph! If I were king I would put every woman in Barrat on her knees where they belong. And there would be none of this kissing the empire’s ass either!”
said the brutish Stragg.
“I would destroy those damned girl-lickers and teach them what their privates were really meant for! Heh! Then I’d push west and…”

“How would you like to be king,”
said Terrence, cutting off Stragg’s monologue.

“What?”
said Stragg.

“I think you’d be a great king,”
said the elder.

“Elder,”
said Stragg,
“don’t patronize me. I know you don’t really like me. Frankly I was surprised you restored my rank and invited me here.”