TICEES (35 page)

Ticees stood and smiled warmly at her. “Welcome, my Lady. You are here sooner than I expected, but I am pleased.”

Chelan forced a smile and walked into the room, allowing the doors to close behind her.

“Here,” he said without preamble. “I had this made for you,” and he presented her with a beautiful pink cloak.

Chelan’s eyes widened, and Ticees beamed with delight. “I tracked down Dredon to find out what you had used to dye that beautiful pink gown. I also noticed how lovely you looked in your white cloak, so I had this one made.”

Ticees walked up to her and placed it gently over her shoulders. Chelan sank her fingers into the plush exotic fur and looked down at the beautiful garment. The outside of the hood was decorated with the same sequins as her gown, and she was in awe. “Thank you,” she whispered, in genuine appreciation.

“It’s the least I can do, my Lady. It befits your graceful beauty, and I assure you that there will be many more where that came from.”

Ticees smiled at her and then turned away to retrieve his shroud and weapons. “Shall we go?” he asked, offering her his arm and pointing to the door.

Chelan finally returned a sincere smile, partially out of thanks for the cloak, but mostly out of relief for leaving his chambers untouched.

The walk was fairly short and pleasant as he led her along the inner Palace wall and through several large rooms. The whole area was lavish and rich, abounding with fine tapestries, luxurious furniture, and beautiful precious metals and fine wood carvings. It was a picture of opulence, a true fantasy palace fit for kings and queens.

They passed through a highly fortified security area, and there he stopped and turned to her. “We have to go outside for a bit, my Lady, and it is extremely cold. Some of my personal guards will accompany us as far as the entrance to the gardens, but from there we will be on our own. I have given the workers the morning off so that there will be no interruptions. My guards have already been through the grounds, and all is secure.”

Chelan’s eyes remained fixed to his handsome features as he continued. “Now, though the walk outside is relatively short, it is very cold, and the winds are high. So, my Lady, I hope you do not take offense, but you are wise to allow me to carry you. Even with the fur, the cloak will not be sufficient to protect you adequately, and your face will be too sensitive.”

Chelan swallowed hard, not wishing any contact with him, but she knew it was folly for her to protest.

“Now, sit down,” he instructed as he pointed to a chair.

Chelan sat, and he knelt down before her. He gently pushed her legs up and back, gathering the cloak about her legs and feet. Then, carefully, he bound the bottom of the cloak upon itself, the material adhering together as the shrouds did to the warriors’ boots and gloves.

“Okay,” he said, looking up into her face. “I want you to hug your arms around your torso.”

Chelan nodded and complied.

Ticees smiled. “Now, the cloak will not insulate you as well as our uniforms or shrouds, so when I pick you up, I’m going to tuck you inside mine. I also want you to bury your face in my neck for protection. Use my hair to help.”

Chelan flinched, and Ticees smiled. “Don’t worry, Chelan. I’m not going to bite.”

Chelan smiled unexpectedly and then finally spoke. “Is it really that cold out there?”

Ticees grinned as he stood. “You’ll see. Even with my precautions, you will feel the bite. In the future, I will get you a proper Imperial uniform and a mask so that you can go outside for short periods of time and at least survive.”

Chelan looked down and thought of telling him that Fremma had supplied her with a uniform, but for some reason she knew it was unwise to inform the Emperor that she had such a garment. She glanced up at him and watched as he drew his long hair along the sides of his face and then pulled the hood of his shroud over. Then he reached for her hair, pulling it alongside her face and drawing her hood over her head.

“Okay,” he announced, “refrigerator time.”

With one fluid motion, he picked her up and pressed her tightly to him, allowing his shroud to cascade over her. He walked to the main doors and then looked down at her wide eyes. “Ready,” he said, shifting her weight slightly and raising her up. “Tuck into me.”

Chelan took a shaky breath as she turned to him, and then tilted her face into his warm, powerful neck. Ticees pressed down on her with his cheek and stepped out through the doors.

Chelan immediately gasped and squeezed forcefully into him, every muscle contracting violently against the assault of the air. She felt as though she had stepped naked into a blizzard; her skin felt as though it was being abraded by steel wool. And that said nothing of the assault on her lungs. She could hardly breathe.

Ticees walked quickly, but Chelan wished he would run. Though the trip was only several minutes, it was almost more than she could endure. But then she heard a door close, and her discomfort eased as welcome warm air infused her abused airways. Ticees sat down with her on his lap. He released his pressure on her head, and she pulled back. She straightened and instantly began to shiver. He pulled back her hood and then his own. She exhaled sharply and then shivered again. “Is it always that cold?” she chattered.

Ticees chuckled. “No, it’s usually colder.”

Chelan threw him a tentative smile and then drew her knees up under her cloak and hugged herself, still shivering.

Ticees watched her, his concern mounting. “Are you okay?”

Chelan nodded, “Just a little cold yet,” she admitted.

“You’ll warm soon. This structure is kept hot.” He smiled as he released the binding on the cloak. Then he helped her untangle herself from his shroud and set her on her feet.

Only then did she become aware of the magnificent building that she was in. The air was scented with millions of fragrant flowers. Her eyes grew large. Everywhere, for as far as she could see down the main corridor, there were brilliant, exotic blooms. Numerous tall plants and trees festooned the building, reaching majestically for the sky and the Iceanean sun. To Chelan, it looked like a fantasy tropical paradise, its beauty beyond description, the colors confounding the senses.

Ticees watched her, pleased by the spark he saw ignite in the alien’s unbelieving eyes. To him, she was as beautiful as the gardens, and it was as if she belonged there, flowering right alongside the richest and the sweetest of blooms. He smiled and turned, beckoning her to follow.

He led her about the massive building for a couple of hours, and she hardly spoke the whole time, absolutely stunned by the proliferation of beauty that abounded before her. Even the little insects that buzzed about intrigued her.

Chelan followed him everywhere, afraid to miss a single thing. And to her surprise, he seemed to know each and every flower, each and every plant, its name, its home world, and its origin. She could tell he took pride in his vast selection, sometimes handling the delicate blossoms with a tenderness and a reverence that struck her. He explained to her that some of the specimens were the last vestiges of destroyed worlds, the last remaining samples of a planet’s beauty before its destruction. The collected splendor of the known galaxy was here within these walls.

The time passed quickly, and Chelan was finally beginning to feel more at ease with the giant man. She watched him as he studied his prizes, and she saw caring in his eyes and heard pride in his voice. She found herself wondering if indeed her fears of him were unfounded, as Korba had indicated. Maybe her Earth experiences had tainted her perception of the man. Only time would tell.

All too soon, their time in the garden came to an end, and he led her back to the main doors. “Ready for the trip back?” he asked.

Chelan smiled but quaked with dread. “I don’t know if anyone can be truly ready for that,” she commented honestly.

Ticees chuckled as he offered her a seat and then knelt before her and bound the cloak. “Were you okay coming here?”

Chelan nodded. “Relatively.”

Ticees looked up at her. “Do you think you could stand it for a short time longer?”

Chelan looked up at him as he stood, reluctant to voice her doubt. “I think so. Why?”

“Because I want to go back through a different entrance and do a security check with a system that shut down a while ago. It was repaired recently, and I like to keep track of things personally. I’ll leave it for another time if you think it will be a problem. I will not compromise you for the sake of something that can wait.”

Chelan shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

Ticees smiled. “Okay, then. Same routine,” he said, scooping her up effortlessly.

Chelan hesitated as she looked into his deep brown eyes. “Can I come back here sometime soon?” she asked, her voice a melodic whisper.

Ticees stared back at her, temporarily rendered speechless by her beauty and her soft request. “Yes,” he whispered. “Any time, my Lady. You have only to ask, and your wish will be granted.”

Chelan smiled and then hugged into his neck, pressing tightly to him. Ticees drew a deep breath as her warm skin on his neck sent a wave of heat through his body, and he nestled her even closer. Then he stepped out into the icy air and began their journey hurriedly.

The walk was only a few minutes longer, but Chelan realized immediately that it had taken her beyond the limits of her tolerance. Her skin was burning, and she felt like crying. But worse than anything, she felt her concentration numbing, her thoughts becoming lodged in the sludge that clogged her mind.

Once inside, Ticees sat her down on a chair and moved off quickly to do his check. Chelan watched him, but she shivered uncontrollably, her fingers and toes insensate, her skin raw.

Ticees returned to her and released her legs. “Okay, back home,” he smiled, but Chelan could barely respond.

“I do … don’t know iffff ... I can walk,” she stuttered, her words forming with grave difficulty. “I can’t … feel my feet.”

Ticees immediately lost his smile. He dragged her off the chair and cradled her in his arms and hurried off. In no time he was in his chambers, and he sat her down gently on his bed.

He shed his shroud and let it drop to the floor as he knelt before her. Anxiously, he removed her cloak and then touched her feet, removing her shoes carefully. There appeared to be no damage, but Ticees cursed himself for not having thought of her extreme sensitivity, not to mention her insufferable shyness. He should have known she would not have protested or indicated her discomfort to him, and he became angry with himself. He held her ankle and moved his other hand up her gown, exposing her leg to him.

Ticees groaned as he saw Chelan’s normally powdery pink skin was now devoid of all color. “Damn it, Chelan. I’m sorry. Why didn’t you say something?”

“I’m … okay,” she reassured him, her body now frighteningly still.

Ticees looked intently at her. “Shit. No, you’re not. Don’t you ever endure pain for my sake or because you fear me. You tell me when you are in trouble.”

Chelan simply nodded. Then she furrowed her brow, trying desperately to concentrate, but her thoughts were still not coalescing properly.

Ticees sat back on his heels momentarily, his mind racing. He looked at her. “You’re hypothermic, Chelan. You’re not even shivering any more. I could put you in a lukewarm bath, but it would burn your skin. Your only other alternative is blankets.”

Ticees jumped to his feet and pulled down the sheets on his bed. Then he ran to a chest and drew out several large blankets and hurled them onto the bed.

Normally Chelan would have protested, but somehow through the haze she knew she needed help. She felt disoriented, and her arms and legs ached. She was chilled to the bone, and she did not feel at all well. She hurt, and she needed warmth.

Ticees’ face was racked with concern as he knelt before her. Slipping his hands up her legs, he began raising her gown. Chelan’s face paled further, and she started to object as her icy fingers attempted to thwart him, but her limbs were beyond proper functioning.

Ticees nodded to her. “No choice, my Lady. Please don’t fret.”

Chelan indeed had no choice but to allow him to strip her, well aware she was incapable of mounting a defense in her present state. Then he laid her back onto the bed and threw the blankets over her.

Chelan sighed with partial relief that her body was once again covered. Then she saw him recede from her vision. She closed her eyes and drew her knees up, trying desperately to warm herself. She continued to attempt to fully grasp her situation, but nothing was making sense. He had mentioned hypothermia, but how had it happened so fast? Suddenly, her eyes widened with shock as she felt Ticees’ nakedness surround her. She gasped and tried to scramble away, but her body was inert. All she could do was wilt into the bed as his arms surrounded her.

“I’m sorry, my Lady. Believe it or not, this is the best way to warm you. You needed your gown off so that the thermal blankets can come in contact with you while my body supplies the heat. Please don’t struggle. I won’t hurt you.”

Chelan’s breathing was labored and sporadic, and she closed her eyes, feeling oddly tranquilized as his arms hugged her tightly and he pressed her back into him. Then the acute shivering began as her body thawed. She tried to catch her breath and calm herself, now understanding that he was trying to help. But regardless of his intent, she was still trapped and completely defenseless.

Time oozed by slowly as her shivering finally relinquished total control over her. Though still groggy, she attempted to chain her thoughts. She began running down a list of Iceanean values, praying once again that everything she had been told was true. Finally, she released herself to her fate, and she let her muscles go limp.

Only then did Ticees finally relax. She had inexorably accepted his help, and he was instantly relieved. They lay quietly together for a long time, and eventually Chelan’s tremors subsided. Periodically, he could feel her muscles tighten, and he knew that she was in discomfort as the chill left her. He remained very still, not daring to rub her damaged flesh and cause her further pain. He closed his eyes, wishing that she had asked for help, and wishing that she hadn’t tried to conceal her misery from him.