The Mutant World (46 page)

Manuel smiled, and sipping his beer said, “These things take time. It took Mavie two hundred years to wake the beast. It may take two hundred years to put it back to sleep for good. Already the ball is rolling. A union between your son and the Illyrian Princess would be a good step in that direction.”

“Prince Pantherus is already to be mated to the Princess Bellasaris and that Mavie cow, Queen Bal,” said Roc miserably. “He…”

“Not him,” said Manuel. “The boy you left in Barrat. Prince Tidor. That Princess Miko is quite a
juicy
catch. She has no mate because there are none here in the empire strong enough for the job. At least, none not too closely related to her. There have been the occasional others; men not of her blood that had potential, but they did not have the proper qualifications to find favor in her eyes. The men of your house, on the other hand, are famously strong. They have the right bloodlines
and
the fiery natures that turn these females on. The match is ideal. That is the
real
reason the empress sent her daughter to Barrat. Do you object?”

Roc hadn’t known that an Illyrian Princess had gone to Barratia until recently. He grinned and said, “No. But Tidor is not one to be swayed by big tits and a fat round ass. He has never had a thing for voluptuous women. He likes slim females with small breasts.”

“Hmmm, where does he get that from,” asked Manuel, his eyebrows rising.

“Damned if I know,” laughed Roc. “I like my women thick! So did my father, his father and my other sons.”

“How many son’s do you have?” said Manuel, now curious. As far as he knew Roc had one daughter and two sons.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Roc picking up a goblet. A servant girl poured him a drink.

******

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MURPHY’S LAW

Dinos City, Barrat

P
rincess Miko sat with Prince Tidor in his private gardens. The young prince and the Illyrian Princess were being watched by two people, one mutant, the other human, and for very different reasons. The Illyrian woman had moved very slowly, but by now it was obvious that she had her sights set on Tidor for her mate. This had confused the Barratian Princess until Miko explained. Princess Sandra grasped the situation easily, but she made no bones to the Illyrian Princess about her reasons for allowing this to happen. If the Illyrian succeeded in winning over Prince Tidor as her mate then she would find Sandra a mate from among the princes of Illyria. Princess Miko assured Sandra that there were many who were more than strong enough and capable of becoming her mate. All she had to do was find one she liked and Miko would make the proper arrangements. Again, Princess Miko was apologizing for her deception on the day of her arrival to Prince Tidor.

“No, Cousin,” said Prince Tidor smiling. “I take no offense at your little deception. In fact, I am relieved and pleased that you are my kinswoman and not the other noble lady that was posing as you. No offense to the vassal, she is indeed loyal and I think more highly of her courage now that I know she was making herself the target for any potential assassin or kidnapper. But she did not do our noble ancestor’s blood credit as a princess of Cato’s line.”

“I take it, I meet your approval,” chuckled Princess Miko.

“Yes, indeed I am most impressed,” laughed Tidor. “I must congratulate you again on your victory over the beast Stragg the other night. Stragg, whatever else he is, is a very powerful warrior. Yet you defeated him rather handily, using both strength and skill.”

“Actually,” said Miko, “I relied more on skill than strength to defeat him. I am forced to admit that the brute was one of the few men I’ve ever met outside our bloodline that was actually stronger than me.” Then she looked at Tidor slyly and said, “I would imagine that in a contest of pure strength,
you
could defeat him though.”

Tidor made a face that bespoke contempt and said, “Easily.”

“Really?” chuckled Miko. After what she’d seen Jawara do to Stragg, she had little doubt that his brother was almost, if not equally, as powerful. “A man such as you would need the right woman to sit beside him when he rules, one not too fragile. I would imagine that…”

“That is not usually a problem with mutant men,” laughed Tidor. “It’s you women who seem to lose it in the bedroom…some more than others,” he said giving Princess Miko a sly smile. Everyone knew the reputation of the women of the imperial house, even in Barrat.

Miko chuckled and said, “It is true. But really we can’t be blamed. Human women have never been the ones who needed to control themselves or their strength during sex. It was always the men who had to strive not to be too rough or (giggle) too loud. But when mutants began to appear that started to change. Then, with the genetic manipulation by the humans on Bain, the shit really hit the fan. We just kept getting stronger. Now, because of our original genetic programing and generations of selective breeding, women of
Bainian
mutant origins are a breed apart from our human and non-Bainian mutant sisters. I don’t think we’re any more passionate than other females during sex, but we’re ten times hornier and a hundred times stronger!” Both Tidor and Miko burst out laughing at this. “I trust you see our problem,” said Princess Miko chuckling. “I, for instance, have searched long for a man strong enough to go the distance with me without injury or death. Perhaps…” Miko, who, as was the custom of women in this region, was topless, moved closer and leaned over a little and her rather large breast swayed forward. Many men would be drooling now and would have succumbed to this blatant attempt at seduction, but Tidor did not care for such overdevelopment in women. He also knew that Princess Miko did not truly desire him. He would have smelled her heat if she did. It was true that he fit all the requirements to be her mate physically, thus she would certainly gain in that respect, but the real motivation here was political and he knew it.

“I understand that you and my brother, Lord Jawara, get along very well,” said Tidor making a little space between himself and the large Illyrian woman. “HE is
very
strong, indeed, stronger than I.” At this Miko’s body trembled just a little, but she quickly recovered. It was a very subtle thing that would have been missed by most, but Tidor saw it. Briefly, he smelled her scent arise, but it was now dissipating.

“Yes…I’m sure he is,” said the Illyrian Princess sitting back. “I think very highly of him,” she said truthfully. “But…I’m more interest in you, Prince. That you should be left here to rule in your father’s absence speaks much of his confidence in you.”

“You do me too much honor, Princess,” said Tidor smiling. “In fact,” he said returning to his place, “the fact that my brother would be sent here now speaks just the opposite. I think my brother would please you better than I.” In amusement, Tidor noticed Miko becoming a little less composed. Her scent was rising again,

“Prince Tidor,” said Miko, “I believe you may be misinterpreting your father’s intention. Besides…as the younger brother it was correct protocol for King Roc to summon the elder brother to advise his heir.” Tidor nodded. Again Princess Miko leaned forward.

“Cousin,” said Tidor smiling, “are you making advances on me?”

Miko grinned and said, “I’ve already told you, I haven’t found a man that was not either too closely related to me or who I found unappealing before now. I am only thinking that we could share a little fun. I don’t think I’ll be getting this opportunity again anytime soon after I leave. My mother had to wait thirty five years for my father to be born and grown to young manhood before she could enjoy love-play even with the rings.”

“I see,” said Tidor, “but there is plenty of time for that.”

Stubborn little shit!
thought Miko in irritation.
His brother couldn’t take his eyes off these babies.
At the thought of Jawara Miko became a little excited. She really wished it was Jawara that was crown prince instead of this cold boy. Quickly she dismissed that thought and another took its place.
Don’t tell me this kid prefers men! No. If this was the case his sister would have told me right off. Perhaps he’s just a little overly shy. Yes, an inexperienced youth. That could be a good thing.

“Cousin, you are right,” said Miko. “But I really do like you. Don’t you think it would be good for our nations if we became closer? I must confess, I believe that this is what the old lady back in Illyria had in mind by sending me here.”

Tidor chuckled. “Perhaps you’re right. But I hear that my brother Pantherus has been claimed by your sister? Shouldn’t that…”

“My sister
and
the Mavie queen,” said Miko. “See the problem?”

“Indeed!” laughed Tidor. “But let’s wait and see how things play out.”

“You will be a king someday,” said Miko. “I know you would make change in this land if you could. I also know that this will not be easy. People tend to fight change in favor of tradition…even flawed tradition. Your enemies, the Mavie, are the best example of this. You can see the advantages of having the right allies in the right places and the right queen beside you. Can you think of a stronger ally than the empire? Think well on this.”

With that, Princess Miko rose and left the garden. As soon as she was certain the big mutant girl was gone a tiny human slave girl appeared. She meekly approached the prince who smiled and rubbed his nose against hers.

“The…The Illyrian Princess wants you,” said the human girl.

“No,” said Tidor. “She doesn’t want me, she wants a political union. Indeed, there is another that she would love to have all over those huge tits. The very mention of his name made her begin to go into heat. I don’t think she even realizes it.”

“What are you going to do?” asked the human girl. “Will you marry her, but keep me as your slave? Or will you…”

“Shush,” said Tidor gently. “When I am king I will do what my father was too weak to do with the woman he loved. By all rights my brother should be the heir apparent, not I. He is certainly more worthy of the job. But it was father’s decision. Personally, I think Jawara was done a favor. He can live as he likes away from these animals. But I…I
will
change this land!”

The mutant watching the two shook his head in disgust. He had been aware of the little human girl watching Tidor and Miko even though she was not aware of him. To think, that a descendant of the mighty Cato Curtis and King Barrat would carry on a not so secret love affair with a human slave. What he was hearing now set his teeth grinding. He was tempted to march right over there when he saw Lord Jawara entering the garden and spying the two walk over.

“Little Brother,” said Jawara. He looked at the human slave who trembled. “I saw the Illyrian Princess a ways off. I had assumed the best…until now.” Jawara looked at the human girl. He really couldn’t see his brother’s fascination with this creature. She was small, fragile and not nearly as impressive of form as a mutant woman. She certainly couldn’t compare to Princess Miko. For the first time in his life he wished that he was his father’s heir, not Tidor…especially now. “Send the human away,” said Jawara.

“No,” said Tidor. “She stays.”

“We have talked of this before,” said Jawara in disapproval, “but very well. I have received word from Akkadia, where Father and all the kings and queens of the empire are meeting with the humans of the homeworld. The high elders have emerged as well.”

“You…You mean…,” stammered Tidor.

“Yes,” said Jawara. “The Great Ancestor, Queen Bellasaris and many other ancient heroes and founders are there right now. The word from Father is this; YOU are to be the mate of Princess Miko. If the princess finds favor in you, and from what my nose told me just now she does, you will agree to become her mate for the good of Barrat. The empress wants this, Father wants this and Princess Miko wants this.”

“But I don’t,” said Tidor.

Jawara looked his brother in disbelief. “Little Brother, I suspect that you realize that as the eldest
legitimate
son of King Roc you have a duty to the people that overrides your own desires. You are in every way, suited to become king…except where your unnatural attraction to this human is concerned! Leave us!” snapped Jawara and the slave girl scurried away.

“You DARE, bastard!” cried Tidor in outrage. His fangs were exposed.

“I do!” snapped Jawara. “It is because I
am
a bastard that you will be king and not I!”

“I love her. Father loved your mother too, remember? I would think that you of all people would understand, Brother,” said Tidor, now regretting calling Jawara a bastard.

“My mother is a mutant,” said Jawara. “How would I understand
you
, a direct descendant of Cato, risking our future and provoking the Bellasarian Empire for a human? Are you really thinking of rejecting an Illyrian Princess for a human? A scrawny, flat-chested, ugly human
slave
at that?!”

“She is not ugly!” cried Tidor in outrage. This was true. Carol was petite, but she had a nice little figure. She wasn’t beautiful, but she had a face that could be described as so cute that it was adorable. Could she compare to Princess Miko? Well, that would be a matter of taste. But by the vast majority, the answer would be ‘No’. “Besides,” said Tidor, “the overdeveloped giant is in heat over you, not me! It was when I mention your name that she began to become hot.”

Jawara was surprised to hear this and he had his doubts. He wanted the big girl, almost from the moment he saw her, but she showed him only friendly interest. He was afraid that he had bonded with her, but she with another, namely his brother. This would have been good news, but…No, she had clearly chosen Tidor. And rightly so, he was a bastard with no standing while Tidor was next in line to the throne.

“Look,” said Jawara, “the matter is out of our hands. She has chosen you for the good of the empire. You will accept
her
for the good of Barrat!”

“Carol will be my queen!” snapped Tidor.

Jawara’s mouth opened and closed twice. He couldn’t speak. Finally he said in a low, serious and cold voice, “If you reject her daughter for the sake of a human slave girl, Empress Beral III will raise an army the likes this world has never seen and march on us. And not a single king or male chief will object. Hell, they’ll probably join her! This will be an unprecedented slap in the face to every mutant woman on the known planet! They’ll come into these mountains and burn Barrat to the ground! That or our men might kill you and that human creature themselves before that happens! Our whole family could be erased because of this!”

“You’re exaggerating!” shouted Tidor.

“No, I’m not!” retorted Jawara.

“Then we’ll just have to put it to the test, won’t we?” said Tidor.

Jawara looked at his brother in disbelief and then in fury stormed off. The old mutant watching from hiding could only shake his head and think,
Prince Tidor was right. Lord Jawara IS the more worthy of being the king’s successor than him. I should have defied the council and supported the king when he wanted to free Jawara’s mother and make her his second mate back then. Well, it’s too late now. But all of this drama might be turned to my advantage.