The Mutant World (28 page)

“Honored kinsman,” said the empress to Barrat, “I am most pleased to see you face to face at last. I and indeed all of your kin have longed to see you.”

Barrat nodded and smiled in return. “I too have wanted to meet my family, but I’ve been busy with serious matters here. I still have reservations about doing this, but the elders here,” said Barrat motioning to Bellasaris and Gorgo, “convinced me to bring my family here to see you. They have sworn on their own lives their safety. My legions will see that this oath is kept should any evil befalls them.”

Empress Shoko II’s eyes widened at this open threat against Bellasaris, Gorgo and perhaps herself. His tone was definitely sinister and his eyes deadly serious. She sent forth her mind and recoiled in sadness. There was much pain and distrust there. Bellasaris and Gorgo had earned his trust to a very large degree, if not completely, but he was wisely reluctant to expose his children and mate to the Mavie. Indeed, if it were not for the fact that the ‘Great Mothers’ had requested it and that she, the empress, was also present, these people would be as far away from the battlefield as possible.

“It saddens me that noncombatants, even children and pregnant females, cannot watch a contest in safety in this land,” said Shoko II. “Have mutants become little better than humans in these western regions? Be at ease, kinsman. Any attack against your family will be seen as not only a dastardly act of treachery, but also an attack against my family as well, as indeed they are.” Shoko II looked at the assembled Mavie coldly. “The blood of one of my own innocent kin has already been shed I understand, a muteling of tender years. A horrible crime! A crime repulsive to even humans!” Shoko then looked again to, Barrat. “I grieve for the loss of your son, King Barrat.
I pray that deed be avenged this day!”
she said mentally to the king, who nodded in grim resolution. “No treachery will be tolerated by either side,” said Shoko verbally, loud enough for all to hear.

The watching Mavie and their leadership had little doubt as to whom the empress favored in this duel. Nor could many hide their shame of their misdeeds. Barrat motioned his family forward to meet the empress. The Lady Sonja bowed before the empress.

“I am honored to meet you, Your Highness,” said Sonja.

“I too am honored,” said Shoko.

The empress smiled and looked the woman over. She could see that Barrat had a Catonian’s taste in women. There really wasn’t much left to the imagination as far as her body went. Like most of the people of the Forest Kingdom and the tribes and nations beyond, she wore very little in the way of clothes, but with a face and body like hers, no one was complaining. The empress looked at the large youth beside her. The boy was definitely of her line.

“This is our son,” said Sonja proudly. “Prince Ken.”

The prince nodded, in respect, but did not smile or bow. The empress found the same distrust of all things female (aside from his own mother) in his mind as those of most of the males she’d met in this sad land.
Surly little cub!
Shoko thought to herself in amusement.
If I could get his ass back to my land the women there would fix his thinking. I dare say my daughters wouldn’t mind showing him around Illyria themselves.

“These are my other children,” said Sonja, motioning the nurse forward. One was a toddler of about two years of age. She was larger than a human child of the same age. The other was a child of about one year old. Obviously, Sonja had wasted little time once her mate’s problem was taken care of. Queen Maya watched the children in misery and regret. They all had the look of their father. “This is my daughter, Gorgo,” said Sonja, presenting the two year old, “and this is Barracka,” she said, taking the one year old.

“Oh my! By the goddess! They’re so adorable,” said Shoko taking the one year old. The baby laughed happily as the empress began playing with him. “Barracka, eh? Hmmmm, I
like
that name. He’s strong too, for a yearling…even a mutant yearling.” The empress finger was in the boys grasp. It was almost painful, and she was far stronger and durable than a human.
I’m not kidding! This little guy is very strong!
thought Shoko in amazement.
After a quick kiss, the empress returned the boy to his mother. “Allow me to introduce you to High Lord Kang, my husband,” said the empress with a smile.

“I am pleased to meet you, my lords and ladies,” said Kang. Lord Kang was a medium built man of obvious Asian descent. He looked human enough, and rather unimpressive to Barrat and Ken, but both men knew that with mutants, looks could be VERY deceiving. If this man was the empress’s consort he must be powerful indeed. The women of the Illyrian royal family were famed for their strength even this far off the map. Not just anyone could mate with them.

The empress then looked to Queen Maya and her people. The Mavie leaders began to approach and the Barratians moved away.

“I am honored to meet you finally in person, Empress Shoko,” said Queen Maya, bowing.

The empress looked at her coldly for a moment, and then replied politely in return. “Your land is very lovely, Queen Maya. Thank You.” It did not go unnoticed that the empress had not expressed mutual pleasure at meeting Queen Mavie. “Well, I do believe I’ve met your family already, Queen Maya,” said Shoko dryly, “let’s get on with this, shall we?”

“Wait, Your Highness. There is one member of my…
family
that you have not met.” Maya looked to Lady Kima and she immediately motioned to some women behind her who then shoved a bound and collared Mavie woman forward. “This is my former mate, the Lady Rachel. She is a female shapeshifter who is also capable of cross-gender shifting. She is my daughter’s other parent.”

Empress Shoko looked at the bound woman. She was not unattractive, but she was in a sorry state. She had been much whipped and her long dirty blond hair was straggly and unkempt. The most confusing and shocking thing was that she, a woman, a Mavie woman, was wearing an inhibitor/slave collar.

“Why is this woman in such a wretched state if she was your mate?” said the empress, looking at Maya closely. Obviously, she was not trying to read the queen’s mind…yet.

Maya answered the empress’s question, but turned to face Barrat. “Yes, this woman was my mate…but she is also the real criminal behind the rapes that Barrat was accused off.” Maya then looked at Rachel and snarled, “Show them!”

Immediately, Lady Kima pressed a button on her bracelet, turning off and releasing the collar. A lash prodded the sad woman when she hesitated. Rachel then transformed into a large youth that looked almost identical to Barrat, except that his hair was brown, Barrat’s original color, with his body Barrat’s original size and unscarred. There was a gasp from the surrounding Barratians and others at this. Three women then came forward. Two walked under their own power, one was carried out and laid before Barrat. One of the women was a small, but curvaceous blond woman with blue eyes. Another was an equally well-made black woman with long braids, but taller. The third was the warrior whom Barrat had effortlessly dispatched in the first battle with the Mavie army after his escape. She had never walked again, but with the aid of mutant healers, had gained some limited use of her upper body. All of these women were the ones who had accused Barrat of raping them, and later, castrated him. The women all verified that this was indeed the real culprit and then the two who could still walk prostrated themselves before Barrat and his kin while the third cried silently. All offered themselves to Barrat for his justice. The Barratians were shocked, none more so than Barrat himself.

“Get up,” said Barrat finally. “You were as much victims as I. Besides…what you did to me was undone, so it’s forgiven…if not forgotten.” Barrat looked at the paralyzed woman.
“Can anything be done for her?”
he asked Bellasaris telepathically.

“Perhaps if I was able to take her back to Illyria,”
said Bellasaris.
“By myself with only my gifts I’m not sure if even I could do more than the healers of her own land could. Her neck was broken and her spine damaged. But back in the empire, with the aid of both mutants and highly trained human physicians and equipment, perhaps she could walk again. Not like before of course, but still…”

“I ask your favor, honored Grandmother. No matter how this turns out, I’d like you to do this for that woman,”
said Barrat. Bellasaris smiled and nodded.

“And what of this one?” asked Maya, pointing at Rachel. She had been truly shocked by Barrat’s mercy concerning the three women. The paralyzed one she could understand, she had more than paid for her offense, but the other two?!? Perhaps his madness was somehow cured…or maybe he’d just gone soft. Maya would learn that neither was the case.

“Well, I don’t know,” said Barrat. “After all, she didn’t act alone did she? I’d bet my restored balls that your mother was behind this, or at least involved. And where is your little bastard? You murdered my son because he was the son of a serial rapist and you didn’t want that legacy in your bloodline, right? Well? If that
is
the culprit, then your daughter is the real spawn of the rapist. Why is she still breathing?” Maya looked at Barrat in sadness. “Bring them both forward to be judged with this twisted bitch.”

“Death would be too merciful for my mother,” said Maya. “And one incredibly stupid mistake will not be made right with another. My daughter is innocent of any crime,” said Maya who then stifled a sob, “just as our son was. If you want my life along with this cow’s you may have it. We need not fight. But you cannot have my daughter.”

Barrat’s eyes blazed at this, and Empress Shoko and the other lords and ladies of the empire could now clearly see his madness.

“No! She dies! Just as my boy did!” snarled, Barrat. “I wanted to kill her before your eyes and make you suffer, but that will not be possible now. But don’t you worry, in the dark realm of the damned you will meet again! I’ll send her there after I’ve killed you! You, the ravager and your child will be one big happy family in the afterlife!”

“Now I must kill you,” said Queen Maya miserably. “May the goddess grant you peace, my love.” Barrat spit at this. “I ask but one favor. Please, when this is over…let me visit my son’s grave.”

“You DARE ask?!” shouted Barrat in fury. “You…You…” Barrat’s mouth worked in fury, but he couldn’t express what he wanted to say verbally. Finally, he regained control over himself and a grim smile appeared on his face. “Very well, creature.
If
you survive you may visit Brac’s grave, but you won’t survive. I’ll scatter your stinking pieces all over this field.”

“You swear it,” said Maya. “Even if you fall, your family will obey and comply with this wish?”

“They will!” said Barrat, looking at Prince Ken and Lady Sonja. Both nodded.

“Then let’s get this over with,” said Maya, sadly. “But what of that?” she said, pointing at Rachel.

“Kill her as you see fit!” said Barrat, already walking towards his warriors.

Maya looked at Rachel on her knees, still in her assumed form of Barrat. “Humph! Do you want to die in that form, as a man? I suppose it’s fitting. After all, that was the shape you had when you committed your crimes.” Rachel said nothing, but obviously agreed since she did not resume her true form. The truth was, she didn’t want her daughter to see her die in the form of her parent. “I’ve been thinking long and hard on what would be the best way to have you executed,” said Maya, “but in the end you’re right. You were but the hands of other devious minds and you are my daughter’s sire. I’ll have you killed before my mate…”

“
Former
mate,” said Rachel dryly, finally finding her voice.

“It speaks,” said Maya, sardonically. “But you are correct,
former
mate. And since others will,
must
, escape justice who deserves death even more than you, I’ll merely have you beheaded quickly. It also wouldn’t do for our daughter to remember me having you slowly put to death.” Maya looked at Empress Shoko, who grimly nodded in approval. Maya carried out Rachel’s sentence personally, with some small satisfaction. She then had the head sent to Barrat before marching back to her own people.

With great interest, the empress and the other imperial witnesses watched as the armies of the Barratians and Mavie grimly and silently formed up into their battle positions. The horns were sounding, but the usual ritual challenges were not coming forth. It was true that this would be a duel between the two leaders, but usually there was a bit of fighting and captive taking among the lesser chiefs and warriors…but not this time. Suddenly, a young woman who was clearly some new Mavie recruit from the east charged out onto the field.

“Hmmm, it’s about time,” said the empress.

The girl quickly began to run off her credentials. “I am Lady Shawna of Tabon! My mother fought the Bass and took the head of a chief! My great grandmother fought the Akkadians at the Bay of Wrath! My great, great grandfather fought the humans on Paolo, in the Earth realm! And my great, great, great grandparent’s parents fought with High Lord Cato himself against the Americans and won much glory! I challenge any of equally noble and ancient lineages to battle!” Much to the dismay of not only the girl, but the empress and the other easterners, not a single Barratian warrior came forward. “Anyone?” shouted the girl again, disappointment in her voice. The Barratians ignored her altogether. Quickly a Mavie warrior rode out and told the girl to return before she was filled with arrows.