Stardust (26 page)

Jalon pulled his queen close, holding her tightly within his still surprisingly strong arms.
“
How you enjoy taunting me, little one, even after so many moons.
”

Lalona looked into his brilliant green eyes, the dark brow
n of her own seeped in love for
her chosen one.
“
Would not life be dull and boring if I were not so?
”

“
Indeed it would, my queen. Indeed it would.
”
Jalon murmured right before his lips met hers.

“
Excuse me, your greatness.
”
Darvek cleared his throat noisily.

Jalon raised his head slowly.
“
By all that is holy,
”
he said.
“
Cannot a man enjoy himself?
”

Darvek grinned knowingly.
“
I would not have disturbed you in, shall we say, such intimate surroundings. But I feel we should move to shelter.
”
Even as they stood, the third sun joined the first two orbs already high in the sky, becoming completely obliterated by the clouds that had gathered.
“
Another storm approaches from the sea.
”

Selina raised her hand to cover her eyes as the wind picked up, blowing about small pieces of dust and debris.
“
There have been many such happenings of late.
”

Jalon focused his attention on the young woman.
“
What do you know of such things?
”
he queried.

Selina returned his regard steadily, ignoring the thumping of fear in her heart.
“
I know things of importance, King Jalon. Things I believe you, as the true ruler of Palermos, should know. If you would
deem me worthy of an audience.
”
She knelt humbly before him.

“
Rise, my child. There is no need for that here.
”
He did not meet his wife
’
s mocking gaze.

“
Come, let us sit outside while we listen. The storm will not be upon us just yet.
”
Queen Lalona put a supportive hand on Selina
’
s arm and together the four made their way to a bench beneath the sprawling tree and sat down.

“
It is good to feel the wind on our faces once again and to smell the flowers upon the breeze, is it not?
”
It was more a statement than a question and Lalona gave Darvek a conspiratorial wink over Jalon
’
s head.
“
We owe you a debt of gratitude –
and our lives, Mistress Selina. If it were not for your brave act, we three could very well have perished within the darkness of the palace dungeon.
”

Darvek bowed deeply over Selina
’
s hand, touching it lightly with his lips.

Lalona poked her recalcitrant husband none to gently in the ribs and he jumped with a startled yelp of pain. He threw his wife a baleful glare but she merely chuckled at his indignant look. Rubbing his bruised ribs, he turned an impassive face to the woman Darvek had chosen so hastily.
“
I,
too, am grateful to you for my, mmm,
for all o
f our lives. But I am sure
you will und
erstand my words when I say
I cannot fully trust your motives in doing so.
”

“
What?
”
Both Lalona and Darvek spoke up hastily, only to have their words stopped by one upraised hand from their king.

Jalon did not glance away from Selina but continued to speak.

“
I know
you have been a key figure in Bartok
’
s household during the time of Bartok
’
s reign of Palermos. Now, I do not know for
certain, but I would wager
you were with Bartok also during his time on Yulon. In the house of Saatan. Is that not so?
”

She was being tested. Selina know the time had come to make clear her conscience. But no matter how deep the love she felt of the warrior, she was still hesitant to believe he would love her after hearing of the
life she had lead. She began to speak,
never lowering her eyes as she replied.
“
Yes, my lord, I was with Bartok on Yulon.
”
Her gaze met the gentle eyes of Lalona and the understanding ones of Darvek before settling once again on Jalon. Looking him straight in the eye, her heart beating as though it would burst from her chest, she said,
“
I have been with Bartok from the year of his fifteenth moon. I was given to him as a present from his uncle Saatan who bought me from The House of the Unloved.
”

The audible gasp of Queen Lalona threw fear into Selina
’
s heart. Had she spoken too crudely? Would she now be punished for affronting the older woman
’
s sensibilities?

“
Oh, my dear child.
”
Queen Lalona moved next to the younger woman and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“
How horrible for you. And so young, too.
”
Lalona threw Jalon a mutinous glare over the bowed head of the younger woman and he had the grace to look suitably chastised.
“
You do not have to say anything more. I
’
m sure you
’
re very tired after all you
’
ve been through.
”

Selina looked into the queen
’
s soft brown eyes an
d saw a depth of caring
she had never thought
to see from another individual –
especially another female. Squeezing the older woman
’
s hand, she smiled her thanks at the quietly offered comfort.
“
I appreciate you concern, Queen Lalona
, but I must continue. I want to tell you everything.
”
She looked at King Jalon, the light of battle in her eyes.
“
You see, I intend to be a part of Darvek
’
s life for a very long time. And I would like it very much if his king, and his friends, accepted me. But, if not, one cannot say I haven
’
t tried.
”

Darvek
’
s smile was filled with pride as he gazed at his beloved. Yet Jalon
’
s chuckle, when it came, shocked both Lalona and Darvek.

“
Alright, little spitfire, you may tell me the tale and I promise to listen with an unbiased ear.
”
A hint of warmth entered the old king
’
s eyes.

Lalona moved to sit beside her husband, giving his arm an affectionate squeeze. Both watched with acceptance as Darvek moved closer to Selina, taking her hand in his in unspoken encouragement.

Taking a deep breath, Selina again faced her new companions.

“
You must know
Bartok was not always as he appears to be now. When I was first brought to the royal household on Yulon, there was much confusion. Kroysol, Bartok
’
s father had just passed, a terrible freak accident upon Yulon
’
s great sea of fire.
”
She referred to the great body of boiling water formed by the eruption of a lava mountain on Yulon
’
s far side. The landscape held much attraction for the citizens of the planet despite its harshness, the former ruler especially.

“
Yes, my dear,
”
Jalon nodded knowingly.
“
Kroysol was a dear friend to me and Lalona. We mourned his passing greatly. Our home was even opened to Bartok for a short while after his death.
”

“
Bartok was never allowed to show his grief,
”
Selina explained.
“
Saatan appeared suddenly, claiming rule until Bartok came of age.
”
The look in her eyes told the others that she was no longer with them, but had been transported to another time.
“
Bartok was much too serious for his young age. Yet he was one of the gentlest men I had ever met. He studied books and charts ferociously.
He was so eager for knowledge he just seemed to absorb
things much like a dilithiam sponge absorbs water. I was so amazed. His knowledge seemed endless. I would sit in his room with him for hours, taking care to be quiet so he could concentrate. I was there for six months before Bartok ever joined me on my sleeping mat.
”

Selina hung her head, hiding her face from their knowing gazes.

“
It is alright, my love. We are not here to judge you, simply to listen.
”
Darvek
’
s hand caressed her cold one, chafing it gently, warming her with his touch.

Smiling her thanks, Selina continued.
“
Even after that first time, his visits to my chambers were sporadic at best. Usually though after he had been with me, he would fall asleep upon my mat. Then his dreams would begin. He would thrash about and call out for help to move the stones.
”
She shrugged.
“
I never understood what the dreams were about and he would never share anything about them with me.
”

Jalon gave his wife a quelling look as she started to speak.
“
Did Bartok ever leave
for long periods of times?
”

“
Yes, yes
, he did. No one knew where he went.
”
Selina looked as though she had just made the connection.
“
When he returned, however, he would be in good spirits and no mention would be made of his absence.
”

Selina shifted uncomfortably on the wooden seat.
“
Then one day, his uncle returned from a trading trip with Shivera of Krossos.
”

“
Yes,
”
King Jalon murmured, a gleam of anger in his eyes.
“
We have heard of Saatan
’
s supposed trade agreements throughout the galaxy.
”

Selina leaned forward, as if now eager to continue her tale.
“
Saatan would visit Bartok regularly and stay for days. While he was there, I was forbidden to visit the main chambers. Basically, I was confined to my own room and my meals were brought to me.
”

“
Did you not wonder about their conversations?
”
Jalon
’
s voice was neither condemning nor suspicious, merely questioning.

Selina smoothed the heavy swath of hair behind one ear.
“
Of course, my Lord, I was extremely curious. But I told myself to ignore everything. I was living bett
er than I had ever dreamed
I would. And Bartok was then a kind master. I
did not want to do anything which
would jeopardize my new position. The affluent lifestyle afforded me in Bartok
’
s household was more than I had ever thought I would have.
”

She raised her head proudly.
“
I know that sounds very self-serving to you, but if you have ever been cold or hungry or scared, then you would understand my reasons for asking no questions.
”

Darvek looked at his sovereigns and knew that they, too, were remembering their time in the dungeon beneath the castle.
“
We do understand. There is none here who would judge you harshly for looking to your best interests.
”
Darvek
’
s smile was like a warm caress, giving her much needed strength.

“
I have but one more question,
”
King Jalon said.
“
Did Bartok
’
s behavior change after Saatan
’
s return from Krossos?
”

Selina thought carefully before answering.
“
After the first shipment of goods arrived form the planet.
”
Hot, red color flooded her checks as she remembered the most pronounced change in Bartok
’
s person. Especially his behavior on the sleeping mat.

Queen Lalona noted the young woman
’
s flush and her eyebrows rose enquiringly. She exchanged a knowing look with Jalon.
“
I hate to ask this of you my dear, but it could be very important. Was it Bartok
’
s taste in the pleasure of the flesh that changed?
”