Wray (25 page)

“Aren’t you the one responsible to make sure
those shipments are sent?”

“Of course! And I have! They were! The
problem must be on the Kaliszian end.”

“You are accusing Emperor Liron of starving
his own people? Of him lying to
me
?”

“No
,
Majesty
,
but there is a great deal to be
gained if someone is diverting the shipments for their own
ends.”

“Explain.” Wray ordered.

“Sire, from what I’ve been told, there are
problems within the Kaliszian Empire with the fair distribution of
food supplies. There are those that feel they are not receiving
their share. It has created an environment where some are willing
to steal food supplies so they can be sold for extreme
amounts.”

“Who is telling you this
,
Lord Reeve?”

“No one
,
M
ajesty, as I said, I’ve only heard
rumors. Had I any hard evidence I would have reported it to
you.”

“So you are stating here, to me, that the
shipments leaving Vesta are full.”

“Yes sire! Every shipment is inspected by one
of my Captains before it leaves Vesta as is required by Tornian
Law. It is documented.”

“And your Captains will vow to this.”

“Yes, sire.”

“I want to see them
,
Lord Reeve.”

“My Captains?”

“Yes. Have them brought to me
immediately.”

“Yes
,
M
ajesty.” Reeve replied and with a slight bow quickly
exited the room.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Kim stood staring out a large window,
watching the shadows lengthen with the setting of the sun. Wray had
been gone for several hours and she’d spent that time exploring
their rooms. All twelve of them. Actually, they had been given an
entire three-story wing, a wing that had surprisingly been mostly
empty, its rooms dark and cold.

Where was the furniture? The rugs to cover
the rough stone floors? The cave had a warmer, friendlier feel than
these rooms.

At least their resting chamber had been warm
and comfortable. It hadn’t been filled with the luxury she’d
thought an Emperor on Earth would have had, but it did have large
rugs covering the cold floors and in its center was the largest bed
she’d ever seen, filled with plush pillows and thick blankets.

A fire had been started in the large hearth,
warming the stones to give extra warmth to the room as the sun
lowered. Turning from the window, she went and sat on the oversized
couch in front of the fire.

‘
Okay,’
she thought,
‘oversized for
me.’
and found herself smiling. It seemed like everything in
this strange new world was oversized. She knew she would eventually
adjust to all this, but right now she was tired. Pulling her legs
up, she curled them underneath her and tipped her head back.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“You are adjusting well
,
little one.” The melodic voice had Kim turning to
find herself once again in the presence of the Goddess.

“I didn’t really have much of a choice, now
did I.” she replied, facing the Goddess.

“Everyone has a choice. You could have
responded differently to what has occurred to you.”

“Occurred to me… such a nice way of putting
it.”

“Would you prefer I go into detail? Describe
every second of your time with the Ganglians?”

“No!” Kim denied, paling at the thought of
reliving that.

“Good, because I do not wish to relive it any
more than you do.”

“Why would you relive it?”

“You think because I am a Goddess that I do
not feel what other females feel? That I haven’t experienced it
myself?” The world around them darkened with the Goddess’ anger and
pain.

“Daco…” Kim whispered, her eyes searching the
Goddess’. “Wray said warriors from House Berto saved you before you
were forced to Join with him.”

The Goddess’ voice said nothing.

Her eyes said everything.

Kim instinctively reached out, putting an
understanding hand on the Goddess’ arm, suddenly realizing that she
and this amazing creature had a great deal in common. “If they
didn’t get to you in time, why did you bless them?” she asked
softly.

“Because it wasn’t their fault,” the Goddess
said covering Kim’s hand with one of her own, “they did what they
could. Just as your male did. There are those in every species who
would destroy what they cannot have and there are those who try to
prevent it. Those that deserve every blessing I can give them.”

“But you withdrew it.” Kim reminded her.
“It’s why
I
was raped, because
you
made them enjoy
it.”

“Yes.” Regret filled the Goddess’ eyes. “I
was angry… I was… hasty in my retribution.”

Kim opened her mouth to agree, to blame the
Goddess
.
S
lowly
she shut it. How many times had
she
spoken without thinking?
How many had
she
hurt by her actions? She didn’t have the
power to affect an entire species, but she had affected the people
she loved and that, to her, was worse. The people she loved should
be the ones she
never
hurt, by word or deed.

“Then correct it.” Kim whispered.

“I cannot.”

“Why?”

“Because it was caused by how the Emperor
treated his females then. It can only be corrected by how the
Emperor treats his female now. By how Wray treats
you
.”

“But…”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“Kim…” Wray sat down next to her on the couch
and gently rubbed her leg. “Kim.” He said, trying again to wake
her. He didn’t like that she wouldn’t wake. She never slept like
this.

He was confident when he’d left her that his
warriors would be able to protect her… from anything. He had
assured her she would be safe. Now…

“Wray? What’s wrong?” Kim asked groggily.

Her sweet voice had his eyes flying back to
hers, finding them full of concern. “Are you alright?” He asked
gruffly.

“Of course I am.” Shifting, she sat up. “Why
wouldn’t I be? You left nearly all your warriors behind to protect
me.”

“You wouldn’t wake.” Lifting her into his
lap, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I was
worried.” He admitted burying his face in her neck.

“I’m sorry.” She said, her fingers slipping
into his hair. “I was just thinking about the day and must have
dozed off.”

“You need to rest more
,
my Kim.” He pulled back to tuck a piece of hair
behind her ear. “I should have brought Yakar with us so he could
monitor you.”

“No!” Kim immediately stiffened. “I don’t
want that male anywhere near me!”

“Kim…”

“No
,
Wray! I don’t
like him…”

“He would never harm you
,
Kim. He is a Healer and you are his Empress.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want him touching me.
I can’t explain to you why. It’s just the way I feel.”

Wray studied her silently for several
minutes, then slowly nodded. “If that is the way you
feel
,
my Kim
,
then that is the way it shall be… as long as you are well.”

“I am
,
Wray. My
vow.” Kim waited for his nod before snuggling deeper into his arms.
“So tell me what you discovered about the food shipments.”

“Reeve claims they were full when they left
Vesta.” Wray was surprised at how natural it seemed for him to
share this with her.

“And were they?”

“It is what his Captains claim.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s true.”

Wray looked down at her surprised she would
realize that. “No, but they vow it. Reeve is getting the
documentation. He has suggested, that Kaliszians themselves, are
stealing the supplies to make a profit.”

“Is that possible?” Kim thought of General
Rayner and couldn’t see him doing such a thing.

“Anything is possible.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet. I have Veron investigating
further.”

Kim silently gazed into the fire for several
minutes thinking about her next question. “Wray?”

“Yes
,
my Kim?”

“Reeve said Tora was on Vesta.”

“He is.” Wray said then answered her unasked
question. “When a male reaches a certain age, his manno will send
him to a warrior that has proven himself fit and worthy to be
trained. Once he has completed that training, he will then serve
that warrior and his Lord for five years. After that, he is free to
offer his services to anyone he wishes. Every male does this. Every
male except the future Emperor.”

“He is treated differently.”

“Yes. He travels and trains for a time at
each of the twelve Houses of the Tornian Empire. It gives him a
better understanding of the people and places he will one day rule.
His final year of training is always on Luda and it is the King of
Luda he will serve until his twenty fifth year or until
,
like me
,
he is crowned
Emperor.”

“You became Emperor before you turned twenty
five?” Kim pulled back to look at him in surprise.

“Yes. My manno was killed while on a hunt on
Betelgeuse.”

“I’m sorry
,
Wray.”

“It was… unexpected. My manno’s blood
brother, King Rask of Luda, helped guide me until his death. Then
my
blood brother, Grim, took his place.”

“You care a great deal for your brother.”

“Yes.”

“And for your son, your first male,
Tora.”

“Of course.”

“Will I get to meet him?”

“You would want to?” Wray gave her a
surprised look.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Kim said, confused.

“He is my first male offspring… from another
female.”

“I know.”

“Most females shun other female’s
offspring.”

“But I’m not most females now am
I
,
Wray.”

“No
,
Kim, you are
not and I am grateful.” Leaning down, he gave her a hard kiss.
‘When Tora arrives, I would very much like to introduce you to
him.”

Kim’s eyes widened in surprise when the
clothier entered their chamber. It wasn’t his appearance that
surprised her. Although it should have. It wasn't every day she saw
a male with onyx colored skin, shockingly blue eyes and rainbow
colored hair that flowed over his shoulders.

No.

What surprised her was that following close
behind the tall male was a female. The first Kim had seen since
she’d been taken from Earth and she was just as striking as the
male except she had long thin braids in every color. It should have
looked ridiculous... but on her, it seemed… right.

“You are in need of a clothier
,
M
ajesty?” The male asked
with a voice that was as deep as the bow he gave Wray. The female
silently followed suit.

“Yes, for the Empress.” Wray said, gesturing
for the male to rise.

"The Empress?" The male couldn’t hide his
shock and his eyes immediately flew to Kim then frowned at what he
saw. Surely, the Emperor couldn't mean this strange tiny female
beside him…

“Yes.” Wray growled threateningly. He did not
like the way the clothier was looking at Kim. He didn’t like how
every
male looked at Kim as if she were strange. She was
his
and she would have their respect. “This is Empress Kim,
your
Empress,” Wray’s eyes were as cold as his voice. “She
is in need of coverings and you will produce them. What materials
have you brought?”

“I have brought all that was available within
House Reeve
,
M
ajesty,” The male's eyes quickly flew back to Wray
and realized he had angered the Emperor, something no one wanted to
do, especially an Auyangian. “But I’m not sure any of it is
suitable for an Empress
,
sire.”

“Why not?” Wray questioned.

“Because Lord Reeve’s female left very little
material behind suitable for a female's needs.”

“Why hasn’t Lord Reeve had it replaced?” Wray
demanded.

“I would not know, majesty.”

“Wray.” Kim puts a calming hand on his arm.
“I’m sure whatever he has will be fine. It has to be better than
what I have, which is nothing.”

“You are the Empress." Wray growled. "You
deserve the finest the Empire has to offer.”

“And I
do
.” She said squeezing his
arm. “I have
you
.”

The clothier’s mouth fell open at Kim’s
words. He hadn’t just heard what he thought he had heard? Had he?
No, it was impossible. No Tornian female thought her male was the
finest the Empire had to offer, not even the Emperor.

Wray felt his throat tighten at Kim's words.
She had always expressed her feeling to him, but it had always been
in private. For her to do so now, even though it was only before an
Auyangian clothier…

“There is a bolt that might do.” A soft
feminine voice spoke up. “I believe Lady Estee left it behind by
mistake.” Three sets of eyes turned to the female.

“Caitir!” The clothier rounded on the smaller
female.

“What is the material?” Kim asked, taking a
step forward, stopping the argument before it began, between the
male and female.

“It is Himroo, majesty.” Carter said, bowing
to her. “If I may?” she gestured behind her and waited for
permission to move.

“Please.” Kim said and followed her as she
moved to the table in the outer chamber that had been piled high
with the cloth they had brought. “Tell me more about the
cloth.”

“Himroo is made by hand in
Aurangabad
,
majesty.” Caitir said,
reaching for the bolt she wanted. “It takes a skilled craftsman a
great deal of time to weave making it very sought after.”