“A duke and a princess will enter that city. I hope that they are waiting for us.” Suddenly nervous, she took a hopping step and sat sideways on the horse. Her skirt would not allow anything else.
“They will be. From dispatches that I have received, anyone with royal blood is going to be welcome beyond measure.” His words confused her, but before she could ask, he took her horse’s reins and tugged it to follow his.
She took the hint and remained quiet while he took her down the road. They passed several farmers and wagons loaded with goods on the way, but aside from a few curious looks, no one spoke to her.
The city gates were wide open, a peculiar decoration was everywhere. Black ribbons and swags of fabric covered windows and ran across doors. A sombre attitude was in the people that they saw in their differing conveyances. Here in the capitol it was practical to have the multiple tech levels racing around. Out in the wastelands and the farmlands, the vehicles were more specialized and suited to the environment.
When her horse drew even with Arnolth’s, she noticed a tightness around his mouth. She kept her voice low, “What is it?”
“There has been a death in the royal family. It is recent or I would have heard of it.”
She nodded while she wondered if her father had been the one to pass on.
When they entered the bailey of the palace, grooms came forward and took the reins. Rapunzel dismounted by sliding off the saddle.
A man in an embroidered tunic bustled toward them. “Duke Carria, you have been eagerly awaited.”
Arnolth nodded to the man while lifting Rapunzel’s hand. “Encar, may I present to you her royal highness, Princess Rapunzel of the Xefar.”
The man froze in place, his expression going from excited to mournful in a second. “I am delighted to meet you, Princess. I am Encar, major domo to the house of Jarok, at your service.”
“Pleased to meet you, Encar. I need to speak with the head of the house of Jarok, it is a matter of urgency.” She inclined her coronet and her hair glowed brightly in the afternoon sun.
“Ah. Of course. Please come inside so I may explain the situation.” Encar bowed low and escorted them into the palace.
Black covered every inch of the palace surfaces and they walked through endless hallways with quiet black-clad staff moving silently past them.
Their destination was a huge council hall, the head table empty, but the rest of the benches filled to capacity.
Encar took a deep breath. “Gentlemen, may I present our Queen, Rapunzel of the Xefar.”
The men stood and applauded while Rapunzel looked frantically from face to face. “What?”
“Take your seat and I will explain.” Encar’s voice was not unkind, but he was firm.
Arnolth led her to an ornate chair and helped her to sit. He stood off to one side.
“Duke Carria, please take your seat.”
“I would prefer that he stay near me, this is a bit of a shock.”
Encar’s eyes widened, but he nodded. “As some of you are aware, our treaty with the Xefar is all that allows us to remain on this planet. What most of you do not know, is that the Jarok family is the sole point of entitlement. If there is no member of that family on this world, all of the settlers must leave.”
He dragged in a heavy breath. “To that end, the Corx government paid to have a virus created to wipe out the entire Jarok line. It was released on the east coast and killed the last member of the royal family two days ago.”
Rapunzel blinked. “But I live to the east.”
“We know. Either the energy in your system made you immune, or the Xefar queen kept you safe, either way, she sent you here to us after our frantic plea.”
She sat back and drummed her fingers on the edge of the chair. “What about the breeding strands for the queen?”
“They are on their way. We dispatched them the moment she sent the messenger to let us know you were coming.”
Rapunzel sighed. It was like her mother to do something of this nature. “What if the virus kills me?”
“It is inert already. The Coalition has charged the Corx with attempted genocide of a family line.”
“So, what is there for me to do?”
Encar and the others looked at her in shock. “You can lead us. Sign treaties, negotiate, meet with dignitaries. Standard duties of a ruling house.”
Rapunzel thought of her desk in the colony. The hours she had spent pouring over treaties and histories. “I suppose that I can manage that.”
“Now, there is one matter for your immediate consideration. As you are the last of your line, you will need an heir as soon as possible. Being a female, this requires that you choose a mate—”
“Arnolth.”
A murmur of unease ran through the crowds. Several men near her age looked offended.
“Now, my queen, there is no need to choose immediately. Perhaps a moment of introduction or contemplation—”
“Arnolth if he will agree.” Rapunzel looked to her travel companion and noted his surprised, pleased grin.
“I will.”
Encar shifted and pulled at his neckline. “Well, if you insist, Duke Carria has the requisite bloodlines. I will make formal arrangements immediately.”
Rapunzel sat back and watched the men, nobles she guessed, argue and fight about her choice of mate. She beckoned to Arnolth and her hair reached out to gently wrap around his neck and pull him closer the moment he was within range.
She kissed his smiling mouth and when she let him break apart, the room was silent. “I think that cooled their jets, to use a space traveler phrase.”
“I believe that it did indeed work.”
Rapunzel grinned and looked around her. She had ended up in Arnolth’s lap and the room was slowly emptying. Encar left them with a wink and a whisper that he would be on the other side of the door.
“So, are you shocked by these events?” Arnolth was stroking her cheek, neck and breast in turn.
“Less so than I should have been. Mother has always been a schemer. It will be good to communicate with her electronically though.” She sighed and looped her arms around his neck, letting her hair resume its twisted coil on her head.
“Do you think you can do this? As the sole heir to the Jarok fortunes, you can leave and boot all of the colonists back to the stars.”
“I can do this. I want to stay near mother in her last years. When she gets her strands, she will create the next queen and as soon as it can breed, she will die. She has already lived beyond her time because of me. There is only one matter to consider…”
“What is that, Rapunzel?”
“In Xefar tradition, I believe that you should be neutered after I have the requisite number of children from you.” She kept her face straight.
He looked nervous. “How many children?”
“Well, mother had thousands, but I think I will be happy with ten or so.” She laughed at his relieved grin. “We will revisit neutering if you ever happen to try breeding with another woman.”
He pressed his lips to hers. “As long as you don’t find another drone to emasculate before that moment.”
“Deal.”
Chuckling as she moved to straddle him, she tried to strip herself and him, fighting the discomfort of clothing, aching for skin on skin.
Arnolth asked quickly. “What are we doing?”
“If I am right…defiling a throne. If not we are furthering my education.”
“Righto, excellent.”
All other words were shoved aside as she mounted him and let him slide deep. Details were for another time. She was all for living in the moment.
The moment was wonderful and filled with possibilities for the future.
About the Author
Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.
Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.