Chloë (24 page)

Chloë
sat tight next to Heather as the great starcruiser started to descend through
the atmosphere.  It was one of the largest ships around that could do a
proper landing; anything larger had to use drop ships to ferry people to the
surface.  It was only with great expense that a ship that large could
land.  Expense and decadence!  They were landing just outside the
minor palace where her mother was staying.  The conversation with the
traffic control on their descent had been awkward at best, but ultimately it
was the wordsmithing of Earl Kevin of the Lakes that was able to smooth things
over.  The great Shukurae ships held in orbit, watching, waiting. 
Chloë still had some comfort that Watzkel and her troops were still with
her.  The complement of minor nobles on board were giddy with
anticipation, but none wanted to be at ground zero when the Prince and Princess
met!  It was unclear from the comm traffic if Prince Philip was en route
or already there.  Chloë took small satisfaction that none of the ships
they passed had Amsterval livery, only Heigen Livery.  The livery of her
grandmother’s house.

Mother. 
Birth mother.  Chloë cringed and tried to set her mind at peace.  It
had been ten years since she had met her birth mother.  She wanted to
believe everything could somehow be made magically perfect.  But she still
held House Stratford and dear
dear
Heather so close to her heart. 
“Um, Heather.  Growing up, multiple mothers, how do you
not
have a
favorite?”

Heather
grinned, “Still worried about meeting your mother after all these years? 
Having more mothers just means there is more love to go around.  If I need
strength, I go to Ivy, comfort—Maria, tenderness—Gwen, humor—April and May,
hope—Moria.  You can’t run out of love.”

“Do
you mind calling Caleigh ‘mother?’”

Heather
grinned, “That is the first time I’ve heard you call her by name!  You are
my sister, that makes Caleigh my mother, too!”

Chloë
managed a smile, “Thank you.  Thank you for everything.”

Heather
laughed, “I’m your sister, you don’t need to thank me for anything!  And
quite honestly, you probably shouldn’t, the day is not over yet…”

The
cruiser creaked and groaned as it settled and recalibrated its artificial
gravity.  Chloë stood, still holding Heather’s hand as they marched to the
front of the ship and the great loading ramp.  Raymond followed close
behind as did Earl Kevin.  Further behind yet followed half of Watzkel’s
troops.  The other half of troops had already started to spread out across
the palace grounds…

Sunlight
and fresh air!  Oh, Chloë needed that!  Birdsong didn’t hurt either
nor did the smell of fresh cut grass.  Fresh cut grass… Chloë laughed to
herself, that was something the Highlands lacked, although she would happily
trade the smell of a meadow full of wildflowers for cut grass any day! 
They soon found themselves in the outer and well-manicured hedge garden. 
A playful maze on her few visits so many years ago, it now served only to
heighten her nostalgia and giddy anticipation.

As
they left the hedge rows and entered the outer flower garden, Chloë could just
make out the palace itself and the three flags flying overhead.

“What’s
with the flags?” asked Heather with a mischievous grin.

“They
are the coats of arms of the residents.  The first two are Amsterval and
Heigen.  I don’t recognize the third.  It is of a visitor seeing my
mother or grandmother.”

Heather
grinned, “I know what the third one is…”

“Please
tell me it is
not
Beyscones!”

“Nope. 
Green field, one black and one white gryphon chasing each other in a circle…
that is ours!  House Stratford!”

They
were announced to the sitting room and soon Chloë found herself looking at her
mother.  Ten long years.  Ten long and lonely years…  Chloë
broke down crying as she rushed Caleigh and hugged her tight.  It was only
after several long minutes did she finally realize that not only was her grandmother
in the room, but so was Maria Stratford!

“I’m
sorry Second Mother,” Chloë started to blubber but Maria would have none of
that!

“Hush
dear!  Hold her tight!” admonished Maria with a smile.  “She needs
you as much as you need her!”

Heather
gave Maria a quick hug and then sat next to her, “Um, Second Mother… I’d like
you to meet Sir Raymond.  We’ve…we’re kinda…”

“A
couple,” finished Maria.  “It’s about time you found a nice boy!” 
Maria’s incurable smile flooded the room and she shook hands with the flustered
but beaming Raymond.  “You are most welcome to come by and visit our house
at any time.”

“No
he can’t!” laughed Heather.  “Chloë said he can’t come by until he’s
bought me bells!”

Maria
grinned, “Bells on rings is it?  Well then, we shall expect to see a great
deal of you.”

“Yes,
ma’am.  I’m looking forward to meeting the entire family.”

“Is
that your father’s old sword he’s wearing?” teased Maria.

“Well,
he needed a weapon for a formal challenge and that sword went a long way to
scare the… well… thoroughly unhinge his opponent!”  grinned Heather. 
“It’s still mine, though.  For now…”

Caleigh
finally fought through enough of her own tears to speak, “Maria, I can’t tell
you how happy I am that your family took in dear Chloë.  Whatever it takes
to get her clear of this dreadful place.  Maybe if things settle, I can
take my exile to Afon.  I do so miss my daughter, but she needs a
family.  A family like yours.”

“Your
Highness,” began Earl Kevin from the periphery.  “I own two villas on
Afon.  While not palatial, they are quite comfortable.  I invite you
to visit them at any time.”

“You
are most kind,” beamed Caleigh.

“When
did you buy those?” asked the ever curious Heather.

“Two
weeks ago, my lady.  It was a given Anna was not returning.”

Chloë
had a good laugh at that, “You are a dirty old man!”

“Do
you still desire your commoner?” fished Caleigh.  “I understand she may
never completely recover from her injuries.”

“There
is nothing common about her!” beamed the earl. “I know of her injuries superficially:
I am paying her surgeons.  My greatest relief came from talking with Lady
Chloë, hearing that Anna’s heart is still with her.”

“You
two are certain to cause a scandal,” teased Caleigh.  “You, trying to run
off with my best friend!”

“Ah,
I fear we will be a footnote compared to Lady Chloë and the storm we all know
is brewing.”

“He
will be here late tonight,” replied Caleigh to the question that was hanging in
the air.

“Then
by morning we will be on our way,” grinned Heather.

“It
may not be that simple…” began Caleigh.

“Things
are only complicated because we choose to make them that way,” interrupted
Chloë with a broad grin.  “Did I get that right, Heather?”

“Perfect!”

“I’m
not sure you could handle politics on our level,” teased Caleigh with a laugh.

“Nah,”
beamed Chloë.  “I’m not sure they could survive
her!
”

They
all laughed and it felt good.

“Um,
Second Mother…” began Heather.  “Why did you come?  Not that I’m not
tickled pink you are here!”

“I
came because it was a given you two were going to need an escort back.  We
may have been wrong there; Raymond may do just fine!”  Maria
grinned.  “We got here early this morning.  Arranging transport was
not an issue: we had many offers.”

“We?”
asked Chloë.

Caleigh
laughed, “There are five ever so delightful young girls she brought
along.  They are here, some place, exploring the grounds and playing.”

“Um,
Lily, Lilac, Violet, Rose and Iris?” asked Chloë.

“Yes
indeed,” replied Maria.  “It seemed the perfect outing.”

“Ma’am,”
began Raymond nervously, “I’m not sure this is the best time for such an
outing.  Things may become tense.  Honestly I wish your husband had
come along.”

Maria
just smiled and beeped Raymond on the nose, “He does try to be all noble
doesn’t he?”  Maria laughed, “The girls can take care of themselves; I’m
sure Heather has already demonstrated that to some regard.  And no, my
husband will not violate treaty unless
asked
to come here by a treaty
signatory or unless one of his children is in danger for their life.”

“What
about Gavin?” asked Heather with an evil grin.

Maria
laughed, “We are
trying
to do this without starting a fight!”

“Um,
mother?” asked Chloë suddenly to Caleigh.  “Does it bother you that I also
call them mother and father?”

“Will
you still call me ‘mother’?” she asked with a grin.

“Of
course!”

“Then
why
should
it bother me?  There is always room for more love to go
around!”

“That
is what Heather said,” grinned Chloë.

Raspberry! 
Heather, right on cue…

Chloë
stood in the garden and watched the display with fascination; lunch was just
going to have to wait!  There in the large gazebo in the middle of the
field of tulips, the younger girls were practicing Live Steel.  Or more
correctly, Lilac, Violet, Rose and Iris were practicing. Lily was just goofing
off and wiping the walls of the four of them!  Both sets of twins would
try to close, practice blades in hand, but Lily, her snow white fur flashing in
the sunlight just danced around them and sent them to the floor over and over
again.  The twins would shift back and forth from one weapon to the next,
playing games of range in speed in such a blur that there was an almost
constant shower of blue sparks.  Lily, however… well Lily was playing at a
whole different level!  Not once did Chloë catch sight of a weapon in
little Lily’s hand, just projections, manifestations of
parts
of weapons
would appear and disappeared in a truly dizzying array!

“
She’s
thirteen?
” asked Raymond in utter shock.

“Worried
about the girls being able to protect themselves, were you?” grinned Maria
proudly.

“And
before you ask, yes, Lily can kick my butt!” grinned Heather.  “Dad said I
could be as good as her if I just practiced more.”  Heather laughed, “I
guess I spent too much time dancing and playing the piano!  She… well…
Gavin and Dad are the only two that can keep her in check!  Even Uncle
Edward has a hard time against her!”

“But
you are masterful on the piano!” chimed Raymond.

“Oh? 
Finally have a chance to play?” grinned Maria.

“Yes,
Second Mother.  And apparently I’m
much
better on piano than I
thought.”

“We’ve
been trying to tell you that for years,” laughed Maria.

“So…
um… what of Lily?  I mean she can fight! But…,” began Chloë.

“She
has ‘Second Mother’ written all over her,” grinned Maria.  “She’s every bit
as good with an infant as she is with a sword.”

“That
is kind of scary,” murmured Chloë.

“It
is only scary if you try to mess with her charges!” laughed Maria.  “Of
the five, she is also the most shy and reserved.  She just really enjoys
Live Steel.  It is how she relaxes.”

“Dating
is going to be interesting for her,” laughed Caleigh.  “No boys in the
family?  Is this how your husband makes up for it?”

Maria
laughed, “Nope, no boys yet.  Ask again in late Spring and then again in
early Summer.  Llewellyn is happy to teach
anyone
.  He taught
me, Gwen as well as the Third Mothers.  He prefers teaching girls
actually; they pay better attention!”

“Um,
Spring
and
early Summer?” asked Heather.  “I knew about Moira,
but…”

“Ivy! 
First Mother!” laughed Chloë.  “Hey!  Even I figured that out!”

“We
are going to have to add a new wing to the house,” murmured Heather.

“Nah! 
By the time they move out of the nursery, they can have
your
old room!”
teased Chloë.  Chloë
tried
not to laugh as much as she did, but
with Heather’s fur straight on end, Chloë only had so much control.

“All
right, that is enough!  Everyone!  Lunch time!” called Maria.

The
afternoon pressed on, one distraction after another.  Chloë knew they were
just biding time, but at least she wasn’t spending it nervously pacing back and
forth!  She enjoyed watching both sets of twins out playing
badminton―much more lady like!  She found both amusement and comfort
watching Lily, terror of the Live Steel match, sedately and laughingly playing
with a toddler belonging to the young wife of the grounds keeper.  Little
Lily’s character was perfectly in line with what Maria had suggested
earlier.  Chloë had briefly caught Heather and Raymond alone in the gardens,
but they were just sitting there holding hands and talking.  Not much fun
to interrupt!

Contrasts! 
Personality!  No one was easy to read or superficial.  They all had
wide ranging aspects of their personality and they were all comfortable with
that.  The only one truly not comfortable was Mother Caleigh: tension was
weighing heavily on her.  While Chloë tried to talk and laugh with her,
things were distant.  Chloë was hurt at first, but thinking about it she
started to understand.  Her mother didn’t want to get too emotional with
Chloë if she was just going to get yanked away from her again. Chloë hurt, but
she knew it was a pale comparison to what Caleigh was feeling: to have her
daughter dangled and then yanked away again.  Nope!  That wasn’t
going to happen if Chloë could help it!  Chloë wanted Caleigh on
Afon!  Heather had taught her far too much to give up without a
fight.  A very serious fight!