Terran Times Second Wave # 10 - Liberty (5 page)

“Your Grace, the Yinshin ambassador has arrived. He has a peculiar proposal for you.”

Rajon got to his feet and nodded. “Of course he does. They never do anything the easy way.”

He offered his hand to Libby, and she let him help her to her feet.

Shoklek trailed behind them as they walked the halls but slipped ahead of them to announce them as they returned to the audience chamber.

“His Grace, Duke Rajon Nor Gweahkin and his Death Seer, Liberty Trout.”

The room went quiet and a path divided for them so that they could return to the dais where the duke held court.

The Yinshin delegation was standing near the edge of the crowd, and they gasped and spoke amongst themselves when Libby was settled next to the duke’s seat.

Shoklek tapped his staff on the ground. “His Grace will now hear your request.”

A pasty yellow-green man with straw-like hair and a solid physique stepped forward. He bowed low to the duke.

“Ambassador Ubracki, here to announce his petition.” Shoklek spoke slowly and tapped his staff. “Begin.”

Ubracki bowed again and stood with his head high. “Duke Gweahkin, as you know, the Yinshin have no psychic talents in our bloodlines. It has come to our attention that there is a new species that is able to breed with ours and they have a heavy streak of developing talent.”

The duke kept his hold on Libby’s hand. “I am aware of it.”

The ambassador looked a little nervous as he stared at the duke. “We have a proposal for you that will grant you mining rights on three worlds.”

“What is your proposal?”

“We wish to purchase your Death Seer and breed her to one of our people. We wish her to become the mother of a new portion of evolution for our race.”

Libby’s knees buckled, but she kept herself upright. They were trying to buy her.

“My Death Seer is not for sale. She is a contract employee, not a possession.” The duke tugged her closer.

Her thigh pressed against his throne as the Yinshin ambassador began to weave an increase in the offered trade and minerals. To her relief, Rajon was standing firm. He was not parting with her.

It should have worried her, but she found it extremely comforting under the circumstances. When her vision came, it broke the tension of the moment and added more.

Libby bent and whispered frantically in Rajon’s ear. “The short Yinshin is carrying a weapon, and it is about to go off. When the servant drops the tray, get out of your chair. The weapon will blast the area behind the throne, and two of his own people will suffer from the burns.”

“Rise again and remain at my side until it occurs.”

She nodded and straightened. He ran his fingers across a pad on the arm of his seat.

The Yinshin continued to press their suit, and when Rajon leaned forward and clapped his hands together, they froze.

“Enough. She is not yours to purchase and not mine to sell. Cease the request. The Death Seer is staying on Miexhar. It is not negotiable.” The duke’s words were absolute.

The Yinshin reached for his weapon, and the servant bumped into him. The moment that the tray hit the floor, Rajon was out of his seat and had taken her in his arms as he bore her away from the weapon as it misfired.

The weapon strike hit the wall behind the throne, and Libby was cradled in Rajon’s arms as he swept her to safety.

Libby saw the staff of Shoklek aim for the man with the weapon, and to her surprise, a blast of energy sent the Yinshin spinning across the room to lie dead at the foot of a statue. Two medics came from nowhere and began treating burns while the ambassador stuttered apology.

He was cuffed and led off in restraints while the wounded members of his party were treated and locked up as well.

Libby hung on to Rajon as he left the audience chamber with long strides.

He was muttering in a language that she hadn’t learned yet.

“Um, Rajon, you can put me down now. I am fine to walk.”

He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “I will hold you until I tire of it.”

She looked around, didn’t see any of the guards and delivered a short, sharp hit to his ribs.

He dropped her as his arms went numb. “What the hell?”

She rolled in a swath of fabric and limbs. With care, she got to her feet. “I told you, I was good at self-defence.”

He slowly flexed his hands. “How did you do that?”

“Pressure points. Miexhar musculature crossed with me not wanting to be hauled around.” She brushed her hands against her skirts.

“I was attempting to get you to safety.”

“We are safe. The pain and death are back in the audience chamber.”

Rajon nodded. “Are you well?”

“I am fine.”

He scowled. “I would feel better if you remained in medical until you have completely acclimated to Miexhar.”

She cocked her head. “Why?”

“Because I worry for you. A week in the tank wouldn’t hurt, and I would be able to make sure you were guarded and protected until you could manage it yourself.” Rajon had a scowl on his face that meant business.

“This isn’t optional, is it?”

“You are under my care while you are here. I will take you for immediate treatment.”

He grabbed her by the arm and hauled her through the halls until they were at the medical offices. He thrust her at the doctor. “It can’t wait. Tank. Now.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” The doctor went to the rear of the office and returned with his staff. “This way please, Death Seer.”

She took a step toward the physician when Rajon pulled her back into his arms. She held still as his mouth took rather than gave until he eased the pressure and brought her into the equation.

His hands gripped her waist, spanning it easily. His lips caressed hers until she let her arms creep up around his neck against her better judgement.

Her body stirred, and she felt arousal pulsing through her as he pressed her against him from top to toe. The fabric of her gown was no barrier to his skin blazing through the cloth of his shirt. He was hot and she wanted more.

Just as suddenly as he had grabbed her, he let her go.

When the doctor gently took her arm, she broke the staring contest with Rajon and followed the physician into the rear of the medical offices. She was headed into the tank.

One week of being watched, monitored and given supplements to speed her adaptation into whatever they wanted her to become and she didn’t see a difference in her body but she felt it. Her body was more alive, even the touch of the oxygenated liquid caused a reaction of enjoyment when she moved.

When decanting day arrived, she was lifted out of the tank on a rising platform until the assistants could drape her in drying sheets.

Abin-Da was waiting next to the shower, and he laced her into a gown designed in the colours of sunset. “It is a big day, Death Seer.”

She swayed on her feet. “Is it?”

He blinked. “They did not tell you.”

“It is decanting day. That is all I know. What is going on? Why the gown that covers everything?”

“I don’t mean to blow the surprise, but you are getting married today. The duke has spent the last week driving all caterers and folk in my profession insane with demands. You are going to wed him today.” He smiled at her from his dark eyes. “Now, on to your hair and makeup. We haven’t had a duchess in a very long time and you want to look your best.”

Libby blinked in surprise and tried to grapple with what she had just learned while the cosmetic and hair experts had their way with her.

Married to a man she had only known for two days? The outrage and panic should have been there, but she couldn’t manage it. It felt right to be linked to him and not just in her mind. Her brain knew what it wanted, and a flutter of unease was all she could manage while she was painted and pinned into whatever they wanted.

Shoklek arrived with a carved box held in his hands, and he smiled. “It is time, Death Seer.”

“What is in the box?” She rose to her feet and went to stand next to him.

“You will know when it is time. You look well, Death Seer.”

She sighed and inclined her head. “Thank you. It is amazing what a long soak can do for a girl.”

He grinned and gestured for her to accompany him. “They are waiting for you.”

“I think I knew you were going to say that.” She sighed and followed Shoklek through the halls, into a chamber she hadn’t seen before.

The heavily armed guards snapped to attention as she approached.
That’s new.

Shoklek passed through the columns of guards and tapped the base of his staff. “Guardians of the Miexhar court, I give you your lady, Liberty Trout, Death Seer of Miexhar.”

The guards slammed their left fist against their chests in acknowledgement.

Libby blinked and tried to clear her head, but all the auras she saw were the burning blue of those full of life with no sign of an early demise. It was comforting and peculiar. She had never seen normal living auras outside of a vision before.

Libby walked the path of guards, twisting and turning across the polished stone floor. The hem of her gown swept behind her in an arc, and she kept walking through the endless maze of guards, each one saluting as she passed.

Finally, there was an end in sight, and Shoklek walked up to the dais and stood facing her. Rajon was standing sideways, and she took her cue and walked up the steps to face him.

He was wearing an elaborate metal breastplate and a heavily pleated floor-length skirt that matched her own gown. His hair was decorated with fiery gems.

The box was opened and Rajon removed a jewelled cuff. He held out his hand, and she placed her fingers against his. “Bound to my life.”

The cuff snapped over her wrist with a definite click.

He took another cuff out and waited until she put her fingers in his. “Bound to my heart.”

The sound echoed in the chamber when the cuff went on.

He took out a necklace and waited until she leaned forward. “Bound to my soul.”

The jewels warmed the moment that the necklace went around her skin.

She smiled at him and lifted her newly heavy hands. “I choose to be bound.”

He winked and removed the final piece in the box. “With this I crown, you are Duchess of Miexhar and second only to the Imperial family. No one may command you now.”

He settled a tiara on her hair and smiled. “You stand before me as my equal, Liberty Trout Nor Terra.”

She winked. “I have always been your equal. I am glad you are making it official.”

His shoulders shook with amusement, and he turned to Shoklek. “Is it recorded?”

Shoklek nodded. “It is official. The data file is being sent to the Imperium Archive as I speak.”

Rajon sighed with relief.

“Why the big sigh? I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Shoklek chuckled, “His Grace had received ten offers for you before you even arrived. Once you were here, the number tripled. He had to bind you to Miexhar or risk the Nyal Imperium trading you as an asset.”

Libby sighed. “You could have asked.”

Rajon grinned, “There was no time. You are now of Miexhar in every way but your birth and your obvious height deficiency.”

“I am perfectly suited to my species specifications.” She felt the weight of the cuffs and smiled at the sensual response that it sent through her. It seemed that everything that touched her skin today aroused her. It was either the tank or the alterations, but she hoped that the effect would wear off. Getting horny just because her gown was scraping against her nipples was not very duchess-y.

“You are no longer of your species. Miexhar is now your species; you are simply a smaller example of our people, Your Grace.” Shoklek bowed to her.

She made a face at him and looked up at Rajon. “What happens next?”

He grinned and rapidly clapped his hands. “You dance.”

The guards shifted out of position and one took her hand. In an instant, she saw his death, but then, he released her hand to the next man in line. She was swept into a dance that involved being passed from one guard to the next. By the time she had completed the rounds, the men were laughing and she had seen each and every one of them, and they had seen her. Their deaths would be various, but they were prepared for whatever came to them.

When the last guard handed her off, she tumbled into Rajon’s arms. He grinned. “And now we feast.”

Eating a meal after a week in the tank and reading the deaths of hundreds of people via hand-to-hand contact was not an easy feat, but Liberty managed to locate every individual dish that she could keep down.

“I admire your determination, Liberty.” Rajon was consuming his own fair share of the wedding feast.

The feast was just for the household so they could get used to seeing her face. This one day all the catering had come from outside the palace and the contractors were very nervous.

“Thank you, Rajon. I try hard not to waste the efforts of others.” She cleaned her plate and sat back with a glass of watered-down wine.

He lifted her free hand to his lips.

“Why are the contractors so nervous?”

He shifted his chair closer to hers and leaned in. “A spillover contract with the palace is very lucrative. All domestic arrangements fall in the purview of the duchess and the major domo. If they don’t please you, they won’t work here again.”

“Well, everything seems delightful, but my senses are a little skewed after the tank. What was done to me by the way?” She sipped at her wine, careful not to spill it on her gown.

He looked around at the assembly of palace servants and guards. “I do not believe that this is the proper venue for that discussion.”

As he spoke, musicians sparked up their instruments and tables shoved aside for some grand dances.

A dozen guards danced, jumped, twisted and stomped to drumbeats in a rhythm with military precision. They moved as one and it was hypnotic to watch.

When the housekeepers stepped forward and performed a similar dance with only minor changes, Liberty had to give them their due. They could really move.