CHAPTER ONESivya placed the jade-colored cups which held her breasts in place over their magnets, securing the corners so they would stay on, even if she had to run. She shuddered at the thought, but she made sure that they were secure enough to stay on no matter what. The two matching sheer panels that fell from her waist, front and back, were next and they too were secured to their magnets. She looked over herself in the mirror, admiring the way the intense green set off her pale gray skin and almost-white hair. She smiled as she caught sight of the chains that held her clothes in place before, the last thing removed when she had been passed the first adult stage of life now hanging beside her dressing mirror.
She placed the slim platinum, as the humans that had recently started to immigrate called it, and jeweled collar around her neck. In doing so, she reaccepted the responsibility of being a higher Thinker. She clipped the almost-invisible chain to it, attaching the other end to the matching collar that went around her waist, that one that marked her as able to use the energies that flowed around everything. Magic wasn't known about in the general population, and those who had the ability were quickly marked, taught, and then hidden. That's why she attached the light deflector to her collar, so that no one would see that she was both, and especially not see the chain that mean she could use them in tandem. She brushed the now-invisible chain over so it lay in the gap between her breasts cups, comfortably nestled in the average cleft.
She picked up the hair clips lying on her desk, attaching the gravity-deferment devices to her braid so it wouldn't weigh her down. Everyone had been adamant that she not cut her hair, she had always been allowed to trim it but she could never cut the thick, heavy, soft mass. Not even when it had mildewed when she had been six. A few of the thin strands wound their way around her hand and she shook it off, silently cursing the person who had blessed her with *lively* hair. She attached the silver veil to the middle-top of her head, it signified her standing as a priestess in her faith. Then came the gold, smaller one, over it, marking her as one who had been called to become a High Priestess.
"Siiiivvvvyyyaaaaaaa," floated down the hall, making her groan. She stood up, grabbing an outer robe to pull on over her street clothes, clasping it right below her breasts. She would need it later when she went to the underground archives. She twitched the ankle-length translucent folds of fabric that matched her skin into place before heading to her door.
In the hall, she ran into one of her priestesses, pulling her into a greeting hug. "What now?" she asked, her voice rough and almost harsh sounding, evidence of trauma to her throat.
"Visitors," the other woman whispered. "Here to look us over."
Sivya gave her a short kiss of calming, a ritual between the Priestesses. "I'll deal with it. You," she said with a glance down at the other priestess' body, "finish getting dressed." She started walking again, heading for the outer chamber of the temple, checking the three men over mentally and visually long before she got to them. "Who sends *men* to disturb my temple?" she asked them.
The man not carrying the dark purple box bowed to her. "We are Guardians of the Crown. One has asked to search here for a successor."
"One of the Queens died?"
"No, High Priestess, the man who was holding the Empire Crown until a suitable candidate appeared died. We search for a new Empress." A few of the priestesses who had gathered to listen gasped. "We ask to search for her here."
Sivya looked at the box two of the silent men carried, knowing that inside was a small tiara made of a semi-sentient metal. The older knowledge said that the metal contained a microscopic, telepathic organism that had an ability and a duty to the Empire. The crowns the planetary Queens wore chose them, as did the Empire crown. She nodded and stepped out of their way. "Let it lead you where it may," she said as she turned to head for the altar. She closed the doors behind her, pushing the veils over her shoulders as she knelt before the magic-charged stone.
A candle on the altar lit, the only light in the room, a sign that her Goddess was listening.
"Goddess Alia, I praise you. Blessed you be for the upcoming day. Blessed you be for the life we lead and the joys you show us." She bowed her head, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Please, Alia, protect me from the prophecy. I have all I need and more than I want here." She stopped as the doors opened, stiffening and mentally arranging her clothes to cover her birthmarks. "You should not be here," she called. "Only the faithful may enter this room."
A heavy, but somehow light, weight settled on her head, sliding itself under her veils. "The crown says it is so."
Sivya stood up, turning to look at the Crown's Guardian, one of the men who could hear the crown but never wear it, and pleaded with her Goddess to help her. The candle on the altar went out and she slipped out of the room, heading out through a sacred chamber that few knew still existed. She made it out into the street before she realized that she still wore the crown, silently handing it to the first female child she saw, giving it over with a smile. "Here, I need this not," she whispered as she walked on. As soon as she was out of sight of the temple, she broke into a run, heading for a place that she knew was safe. One that she had hidden in after her family had all died. Only she and her Goddess knew about the caves; none of the other priestesses cared about the old knowledge and ways, so they wouldn't have found it. Once inside, she headed back to the chamber that she did her research in. It was safe enough back there. No one knew where she would be, even if they guessed she had come to the catacombs.
~*~*~*~
Sivya sat upright as a scraping sound started in the outer room. She slowly got to her feet and slid around the walls to the doorway, peering out through a gap in the ancient curtain. She winced as she saw not only the Guardians of the Crown, but the Guardians. They were the police force for the Empire, the ones that were sent to stop wars, capture the worst criminals, and to retrieve that which was most precious to the Empire. She wasn't sure which category she fit into, but she knew they were here for her. She started to slid backwards, hoping to hide in one of the deeper shadows, but she ran into a warm firmness that shouldn't been in the room. She looked up and gasped in shock. There was a man standing there smiling at her.
He took her hand and squeezed it. "Have no fear, little one, you're not in trouble." He touched her light deflector with a gentle fingertip. "You need never have fear of us, we serve you and you alone." He kissed her on the forehead. "We'll even come running after you when you try to escape your life." He kissed the back of her hand and led her out into the main room, making sure that everyone knew she was safe. No one tried to come near them, not even the Crown's Guardians, before he led her out to their waiting vehicle. He got her into the comfortable seat and pushed the button, letting the floating platform move down the road. "You really should bathe before we introduce you around," he said thoughtfully.
"Why would I need to be introduced?" she said, trying to sound haughty instead of scared, which she was. She was terrified that what had been foretold would become true. That she would bring the downfall of the Empire by wanting what was best for it. "Who are you to tell me such things? Me, a High Priestess of Alia!"
"You are no longer a High Priestess," he said quietly. "You'd better get used to that fact now, Empress. I am your head Guardian. I am the one who guards you." He turned and bowed to her. "I am Rethna, Captain of your personal guards."
She nodded. "All right. That explains part of this. How did you know where I was?"
"Your grandmother used to go in there all the time when she was young and trying to escape the pirates."
"You knew my Grandmother?"
"No, my father knew your Grandmother, she used to teach him. She brought him on many forays into the catacombs. Even though he was a man, she thought he needed to know more than his household duties and how to make polite conversation."
She relaxed slowly while he talked. "You're very soothing," she mumbled, yawning. She had been asleep for a while when they had shown up, she didn't know what was wrong with her.
"Sleep," he whispered, laying a hand on her forehead. "It's one of the gifts I was chosen for. You need to rest through this next part so you don't have to deal with the people." He finished putting her to sleep with his soothing mental broadcasting, smiling when she fell against his side. "Yes, you'll do fine at the job, don't let a little prophecy stand in your way, Sivya. Never let them stand in your way." He pulled her veils down to cover her arms, she didn't need more exposure to the elements on the way to her new home.
~*~*~*~
Sivya woke up in an unfamiliar bed, and sat up as she looked around in panic. She climbed out of the enormous bed and ran over to the window, looking up at the night sky. "A different planet?" she gasped. They had moved her without her knowing it? She turned at the knock at the door, trying to cover herself. "Go away," she called.
"It's me," Rethna called as he opened the door. He smiled at her and held out a pile of cloth. "Here, wear this. I'll call your maids in to help you bathe." He turned away once she had taken the simple robe and put it on, sticking his head out the door. He let the three women into the room and watched as they carefully approached their new mistress. "Relax," he warned her. "They're yours, they've served the last three rulers." He crossed his arms as he watched her be led into the baths, standing in front of the open door so that none of the other people who wanted to bother her could.
Sivya sank down onto the padded bench that was pointed to and watched in interest as the three women ran water into a very deep hole in the floor. "That's a bathtub?" she asked.
One of the women waved her over and pointed at the dials, working each one to show her what they did. One raised the bottom so it was more shallow, all the way down until it looked like a regular tub. One of them elongated the opening that was open to the air. The last one turned on some jets that made the water bubble and spin. She looked up at her and nodded, getting a nod in return from Sivya. She stepped away and held out her hands, motioning for the robe.
"You don't speak my language do you?" she asked. The woman shook her head. "Ah." She took off her robe and climbed into the water, sighing in relief. She was sore and she was still tired. Maybe a hot bath was what she needed after all. She flinched as one of the women unwound her hair for her, trying to pull away from her. She got swatted lightly and water was poured over her hair. "Really, that's not necessary," she tried. She got swatted again and one of the women walked around and handed her a brush and some soft soap. "Think I smell?" She could hear a laugh from the other room and frowned at the doorway. "Rethna? Come tell me what they're saying?"
"My, you sound like the Empress already," he noted lightly as he stepped into the bathroom. "Which one?"
"Well, there's the fussy one behind me."
"Ah, that would be Tharman. She's one of the people who will be taking care of any children you and your family might have." He nodded at her and said something in a strange language. She laughed and nodded, going back to washing the fine, thick hair. "She said you were being stubborn and you had slept too long. She's decided to treat you like one of the children she's taken care of." Sivya frowned at him. "What?"
"I'm not a child, but my hair's too heavy when it's wet."
"Oh." He said something to her and one of the gravity-deferment pins was replaced into her hair, giving her a little relief. "Is that better?"
"Much," she sighed, enjoying the jets under the water. "Can I go back to bed after this?"
"After a few meetings," he agreed, weathering her glare. "I know you're tired, Empress, but it must be this way. You will be able to rest for a few hours between your first appointment and going through the preparations for your coronation." He saw her grimace and shrugged. "If you don't, this will be a very lavish affair the likes of which have never been seen. With the Regent having been the last one appointed, most people's celebrating was quashed. They've been waiting for you to be found to begin the real celebrations."
Her grimace got deeper. "Will I be able to stop them?"
"Definitely," he said confidently, "to some degree. You'll be able to fight more things in a few days, including who you pick as a husband." She did glare at him this time and he could feel the heat of her mental touch. "I'm sorry, but during the coronation, you'll have to be presented as having a family already. It's the law actually." He came and sat beside her. "Do you know how the family system works in the Empire? I know you were young when you lost yours."
"I know that a woman heads it, that she has the right to have both husbands and wives."
"Actually, her first wife is her champion and her first husband runs the household for her," Rethna corrected. "It is the first wife's job to take care of the head while she works. It's also her job to manage the other wives and to see if the children are being raised correctly by the fathers."
"Why?" she asked.
He patted her on the bare shoulder. "I'll tell you while you bathe. You really should hurry, keeping a few of those ministers waiting will give you problems for years to come." She took the held-out brush and soap again, starting with her feet. "In our system, each race is allowed to have their own ways. In the main one, the one that has spread through much of the Empire, each family is a unit. It is headed by a woman, who then picks the ones she wants to help her run the family while she works for it's greater glory and security." She nodded, switching to one of her ankles. "The first wife is your emissary. The only thing she doesn't handle for you is the family's publicity, that's the first husband's or a chosen aunt's job." She nodded again, switching sides and starting up her legs. "Now then, your first husband will be the one who takes care of the house and the children. It will be him that will actually run the house." He was watching the brush but controlled himself and turned so he wouldn't have to watch her bathe. "Your first wife will be the one who you send to make deals for the family, or for the family business. She's your assistant in making the family secure." He heard a splash and winced. "Are you all right?"
"I slipped," she said, her whole tone sounding like she was grimacing. "So, how do I choose them?"
"You will be presented with an eligible list of women for a first wife. You need to worry about that one first."
"And when will this happen?"
"Within the next five days. As for husbands, you will be presented with a lot of candidates for that also. I suggest you find one that's compatible with you. Even though, by law, you're supposed to have a large number of husbands and wives, the top two will be your most common companions."
"That's why the tub's so big," she sighed, rolling her head around to ease the strain in her neck. "Please have her put another pin in?" He said something and another of her hair pins were stuck into her hair, making her sigh in relief. "Thank you." She smiled at the woman trying to work the knots out of her hair, who smiled back and pushed her head back around, pointing at the floating brush. "Then what?"
"Well, there is a faster way to choose husbands, once you get past all the invitations I'm sure you'll be getting. Your Minister will take you to a place where you will be able to view many of them. These will make up the corps of your family, the mass that has to be there and be loyal, but doesn't necessarily have to interact with you on a daily basis."
"That seems rather cold," she noted as she started scrubbing her arms. "Why wouldn't I want to pick them individually?"
"Because you'll have to have at least twenty in your family when you are crowned, it's the law, laid down many centuries ago by another Empress. It was so you have protectors and people who can work as emissaries and ambassadors to your will. They are there to support you and only you, that's why the usual five are expanded to up to a hundred spouses." He tipped his head back in time to see her disgusted look. "Also, all marriages start out with a one year probation. At any time it can be dissolved by you, and if you don't reapply for your marriage, then it automatically expires." She shook her head, closing her eyes as she thought about it. "So, even if you make a bad choice the first time, you'll have time to correct it and find someone to take their place."
"The first wife and husband?"
"Even those have a years probation time."
"So I have to pick someone to make do with until I can find someone compatible?"
"No, you really should try to choose one that fits you. The more stable your family appears, the better you appear to the rest of the Empire." He heard her choking and turned his head to look at her. "Are you all right, Empress?"
"Call me that again and I'm going to decapitate you," she warned.
"Fine, as you wish," he said with a smile, turning back around. He checked the time and shook his head. "You have only an hour to finish your bath and get ready," he warned.
"An hour?" she squeaked. "My hair will mildew again."
"We have ways around that," he assured her. "We do have a device that will dry it faster."
She shoved him. "I had one of those too, it made my hair unmanageable. That's why I let it air dry."
"Then we'll bathe you again tonight," he said calmly. "Showing up with wet hair isn't going to be seen as something bad. Everyone knows that you were too tired from the trip to get up early today." Again, he felt the heat of her mental touch. "It was the only way," he told her quietly. "You have to be presented here. After that, you can switch your main palace anywhere you want. Though, it does switch every year." He stood up and turned, bowing to her. "I will find you something to wear. On the way down, I'll tell you about the people you'll be meeting." He left the bathroom, going to do what he had said, and to recover. She was a very strong willed woman.
Sivya finished her bath and stood up, accepting the robe from the servants as she climbed out of the bath. She peeked around the corner of the bathroom door, then made a dash for her vanity, sitting down to start in on her unruly hair.
~*~*~*~
Sivya walked in beside her guardian and took the seat he subtly pointed her to, looking at the people across the table from her. "You wished to speak with me?" she asked, watching the translator's face as her words were changed to this new, strange language. The translator smiled at her and she knew that this one wouldn't lead her false, yet. She turned her attention back to the four Ministers sitting across from her. "What do you do?" she asked the first one.
"I am the Minister for the Courts," he said through the translator. "I am your representative to our legal system."
She nodded. "Good, then you'll be able to explain it to me, correct?" He nodded quickly. "Good. And you?" she asked, looking at the second one. That one unnerved her, her empathic abilities were telling her not to trust this Minister, no matter what. "What is your area?"
"I am over the Court that you reign over," he told her smoothly. "I am your go-between for the different delegates."
She nodded. "How were you appointed?"
"I was chosen by the last Empress," he told her.
"I'll be needing a list of everything she put into place, I suppose," she said, glancing at Rethna, who nodded slightly. "Will you get me that so I may look it over?"
"Of course," he said, but his thoughts said he wasn't happy about it. "Empress, if I may say so, there's many differences between the Court and your home temple."
"Of course there are," she said quietly. "I've figured that much out for myself. I will be making my own decisions about how to meld the two. When I do, I'll inform you so you can tell everyone else." She nodded at the translator. "As soon as possible, I'd like to take lessons from this one so I may learn your language."
"Of course," the Minister of the Court said grimly. He made a note on the computer pad in front of him. "I'll arrange that for your free time this afternoon."
"And you?" she asked the third.
"I am the Minister of your Household. I serve until your own family is settled in, and I am here to help you arrange it so they start to work well from the start."
"Agreeable," she noted. "I assume we'll be talking about this later. Schedule a long time for us to speak tonight - you, I, and Rethna." He nodded and made a note on the pad in front of him. "You?" she asked the last one.
"I'm actually one of the many delegates to the Court," he told her. "I am here because I was the Regent's confidant and it was thought I would be wanted by you."
"Good," she said with a smile. "You and I will have the longest talk of them all," she said, standing up. "Was there something else to be accomplished today besides this meeting?"
"No," the Minister for the Household said quietly. "We thought it'd be best to introduce ourselves and to make you feel comfortable with us, giving you our versions of what the state of the Empire is at this moment."
"Good. Then let us do this in individual meetings. I'll be better able to absorb it all that way." Everyone nodded and watched as she walked out. Sivya stopped the first servant she saw, physically pulling the person up from the floor where they had fallen when they realized who she was. "Which way is it to my rooms?" she asked her.
"Down the blue hallway," she said timidly, pointing.
Sivya smiled. "Thank you. You can pass along that I'm not a bad person to serve under. My Priestesses all enjoyed my reign at the Temple." She walked away, heading for her rooms so he long hair could be finished off for the day. She would take her meetings in there. There was a nice, neutral sitting area and she could feel comfortable in there where she might not in any of the formal meeting areas yet.
~*~*~*~
Sivya sat up as the door to her suite opened, sighing in relief when she saw a Priestess she knew. She got up and gave the local High Priestess a hug. "Do you serve here?" she asked, leading the older woman over to the couches and sitting down beside her.
"Yes, we do," she said quietly, looking at the young woman who had taken over her former temple when she had been called to another. "I was sent to explain something to you." She took Sivya's hands to hold and looked in the young woman's eyes. "You must appear to be all religions now, even the ones that are against Alia's teachings." Sivya frowned. "I know, it is not what you feel is best, but it is for the best. If you seem partial to one, then the others will come to you with more complaints and scheme against you."
"Which makes sense," Sivya agreed glumly, "but what about those that we've been working on getting abolished? The bad ones who do bad things?"
"*Those* you can do something about," she said with a faint smile. "As long as you don't seem to be doing it in Alia's name." She got a nod so went on. "If you can find a way to make it look like you're doing it for the good of all, then you can protect those that are being victimized by those religions. If not, then you have to *find* a reason." She let the young woman go. "I will be there as you are crowned, but you need to name an heir to your position, Sivya. Your temple needs your guidance and Alia has demanded it." She stood up. "I will be here for you to call upon, but do remember that I'm not the only one here to do that with." She bowed to her new ruler and left, making sure the door was closed behind her.
Sivya sat and thought about it. She really was never going to be able to go back. Not if she had to name a successor. Maybe if she prayed Alia would inspire her, there were too many young Priestesses at her temple and none of them stuck out to her at the moment. She went to the small altar she had built and knelt before it, sending a silent prayer to her Goddess to help her through this decision and all the ones she would have to make in the next few weeks.
~*~*~*~
Sivya yawned as the first of the diplomats walked through her door. She got up but the man waved her back down. "Thank you," she said quietly. She curled up on the comfortable couch, considering what little she knew of this man's race. She knew that they were naturally homosexual, that procreation happened between a secondary husband and the first husband's sister, and that it was very ritualized and a spiritual matter for them. She knew that somewhere in their past, this race had a common ancestor with the race on the planet she was currently on, some sort of telepathic feline. It showed in this race though, this diplomat was lightly furred with a short haired, light bluish fur. She smiled at him and put her hands together, bowing to him.
"Ah, you have heard of us," he said, bowing back. "I will be very pleased to work with you, Empress."
"I have a name," Sivya reminded him calmly. "I used to spend my life in the catacombs. I had no interest in being like the rest of my race and trying to forget what has come before." She looked around, but everyone had left them alone. "So," she said, turning nervous. Her mental abilities could not pierce his mind. "What shall we talk about?"
He leaned over and laid a hand on her leg. "You have no need to fear me. Unless you try to destroy all that my race hold as truth, I have no quarrel with you." She relaxed and he nodded. "I was the Regent's favorite confidants and it was thought that we might become friends also. If you would wish, we can hold this discussion off until the madness of your coronation happens."
"No," she said quickly. "A friendly face would be a nice thing to have. You have no interest in what I do, which is even better." She glanced back at the sleeping area. "Actually, it would be nice to have someone who didn't care what I did or said for a little while."
He chuckled. "Of course it would. Tell me about your world, Sivya."
"My world was mostly slow paced. We lived peacefully for the most part, but it was idyllic mostly. Being raised in the Temple, I rarely went out with the rest of the populace. Except to the market, I went there often. Most of the Priestess hated going so they sent me instead."
"Ah. So you do know about people?"
"Being a Priestess means that you have to know about people. I heard many petitions and solved many arguments when it was required of me. In between my studies and those duties, I spent a lot of time with my fellow Priestesses. I felt it was my duty to help them along as the older ones had helped me when I was first starting out."
He noticed how sad she seemed and reached over to touch her again, the tender gesture of a friend. "What of the older ones, Sivya?"
"They moved to a temple on a warmer planet. They had all passed into that last stage of life and went to live out the rest of their times in a more peaceful and calm environment." She shook her melancholy off. "It doesn't matter. I'll have to name a Priestess to take over soon enough." She looked at him. "Have you ever wanted to be anything else?"
"Yes, I wanted to be an artist. My father had been the emissary to the Court though, so I inherited the job. It's not so bad, I still get to paint at times. When it's calm," he said with a smile. "I'm sure I'll get some time to do that soon."
She nodded. "Hopefully. I'd like some to resume my studies."
"Now you have the knowledge of *all* the Empire at your feet," he reminded her. "You can carry it with you at all times and study between petitions."
She snorted. "If I do that, I'll not remember people are around," she told him.
"Ah, you have that temperament. We had all wondered about that."
"Is everyone curious about who and what I am?" she asked.
"Very," he said with a smile. "There's also a worry why the Crown waited so long to choose you. After all, the Regent had the position for almost twenty years and you wouldn't have been the first infant to have ruled the Empire."
"Maybe it didn't realize I was the one until a few years ago when I was made High Priestess," she said with a shrug. "Tell me, what did you and the Regent speak of?"
"Mostly of his frustration at having so little free time," he said dryly. "He was constantly embroiled in a fight with everyone over the changes he wanted to make, but he didn't have the power to make them happen. His whole reign was one long attempt to make people see his side of any argument." He looked her over and pointed at her collar. "How good are you?"
"I get feelings, and pictures from those feelings, but nothing else," she admitted, not wanting anyone to know the real truth behind her skills. That was one thing she didn't need, for everyone to know that not only could she read minds, but she could read them from far away and deeper than most people were comfortable with.
He nodded. "I meant the chain that obviously links the two collars you wear," he said quietly. "Can you use both?"
"Together," she agreed. "I have more of a talent with water than with the elemental skills. That is something that I don't want bandied around though. It could be quite harmful if people learned I could those sort of skills."
"We haven't put anyone to death for it in a few decades," he said lightly as he stood. "You should rest. You'll be hitting the wall of the Minister of the Household later. That should be an interesting collision if I've read you right." He bowed to her again. "Have peace with your rest, Sivya. Send someone to find me if you have need of my friendship." He walked out and left her alone, going back to his husbands to consider the young woman.
Sivya sighed and scooted down on the couch, deciding to take her rest right there. It was comfortable enough.
~*~*~*~
Sivya looked over at the Minister to the Royal Court and mentally tagged him so she would know it was him as he ran up behind her again. "What do I need to know most?" she asked him.
He looked over his list, written on the old fashioned parchment. "First, there's already three petitions waiting on you," he said, handing the parchment over. "The second thing you need to know is that there isn't a lot of goodwill between a few of the ambassadors. That's more a matter of protocol, you never sit them next to each other and the like." She nodded, still reading over the first petition. "The third thing you have to know is that the Court is very worried about what you'll be doing. They didn't particularly like the Regent's ideas about universal suffrage and the like." She did look up at that. "It was felt that he was pushing an extremist point of view."
She put the parchment down. "I see no reason for everyone to not have a say. I would never force them to use it, but I see no reason to discriminate against someone because of what they are." She started to go through what she knew already, and came up with the fact that men didn't have much representation in the government or the courts. "I will look over his proposals, see if there's anything in there that I'd like to change to suit myself." The Minister nodded but he didn't make a note of it. "Were you one of those that was worried?"
"To be frank," he said lightly, "my people don't expect both sexes to work. They expect the individuals to fulfill their destined place."
"Which is great, but what happens when a man from here is charged falsely?" she asked. "Who speaks for him?"
"There are advocates," he reminded her.
"Who know nothing about this man, or why he might have done something. Everything I've studied said that the majority culture in the Empire was very stringent about keeping men in their place, and I do not like that. I feel that a man can be equal to a woman in all things, and he should have the opportunity to prove it, but never forced to prove it. That is how I will be looking at things. You can tell the rest of the Court if you wish, but I'm not going to change my mind." She picked up the parchment. "Why does this race want the Empire's permission to kill these people?"
"They committed adultery, and in their culture it is punishable by death," he said simply. "Getting your approval really is a formality."
"And the dog?"
"It witnessed it so therefore is soiled," he said with a shrug.
"I will not take up this matter until after the coronation," she decided, putting the parchment aside again.
"Empress, it really is only a formality. Most likely, those people are already dead. Every separate planet has the right of individual rule. It's in matters like this that you need strong advisors."
"Yes, but I also abhor the thought of innocent men and women put to death because they were forced into a marriage that didn't suit them, which they have no way out of. Making the best of it doesn't lead to happiness or productivity," she reminded him. "And I do know all about the individual rule proclamation. I studied as did every other citizen in the Empire. I've even studied the original document down in the catacombs on my world." He looked a little worried at that. "Yes, I am *that* sort of person. There were clauses put into the original document to help protect peoples from tyranny. As a matter of fact, I will be setting up someone to help me research policy decisions. Please send me competent applicants?"
The Minister nodded and made a note on his pad. "Yes, M'lady," he said, bowing his head to her. "Do you wish to hear about the different ambassadors now?"
"No, I'd rather have a briefing before I meet each of them, or I might not remember." He nodded. "Was there anything else?" He shook his head. "Thank you for your time, Minister." She nodded and he left her alone.
Rethna stepped out of the bathroom. "You just made a powerful enemy," he warned.
She looked over at him. "I know, but there's a few things I can't stand. Things like this," she said, holding up the parchment, "is one of them. Besides, I was serious, I will research the old decisions and see the intent behind them." She looked at the door as it was knocked on. "Come in?" she called.
A young woman walked in and bowed to her. "M'lady, I'm here for your language lessons." She smiled at Rethna. "He suggested that your interpreter not be the one to teach you so there would be no treachery." She closed the door at the wave and walked in to sit across from her. Then she handed over a small screen. "These are my credentials."
Sivya looked over the listing of education and prior postings. "How many languages do you know?" she asked in her native tongue.
"Yours and three others, M'lady," she replied in the same language, flawlessly. "I'm learning another two, but one is an ancient one that's no longer used. I'm to be your beginning teacher, and if you show the need or desire to learn more than I can teach you, I'll be passing you on to one of my teachers, who knows over sixty."
Sivya passed back the small screen. "All right. Should we start today? I should warn you, I read and write languages better than I speak them."
"That's not a problem," the young woman said with a smile. "You're going to get plenty of practice around here. Almost no one speaks your language as it's not a very populous planet." She clapped her hands together. "Rethna, may we please have the map? We'll start with the translations for all the ambassadors she'll have to meet with in the next week."
"Of course, Melyn." He went to get them a map.
Sivya thought about this girl's name and her accomplishments. All children were named according to some ancient code of the major culture of the Empire. Powerful children, or ones who were thought to have great futures, were always named with 's' names. It was usually also true that the greater the destiny, the longer the name. On the other hand, children with 'm' names were usually considered inferior. Back when the Empire had cloned beings, all the clones were given 'm' names to denote their status. Did this girl's name have anything to do with her abilities? Or was it just a status move?
Rethna lugged in a globe and put it between them. "It's the only one I could find," he explained. He looked at the two women. "She really is one of the best students of languages," he told his Empress. "Her mother was incredibly not fond of her."
"True, I was supposed to be a marriageable son," Melyn explained. "Because I was a daughter, my mother had to split her inheritance between myself and my sister, who's good at nothing. Fortunately, I'm good in something and she's married to someone my mother likes."
"Do you have brothers?" she asked her new helper.
"One, but he's not marrying. He's decided to work. You see, we're in the merchant guilds, so it's perfectly understandable for him to work until he can find a suitable match which pleases my mother. He's resisting quite hard right now, but she may be able to force him into it by not paying for his continued housing. His job's good for him, but it doesn't pay well."
"Does he do research?" Sivya asked. "I need at least one assistant to help me research old decisions for their intent." Both people looked at her. "What? I believe everyone should be judged equally, and if a male wants to continue to work then he should be allowed. Technically, men do have rights, including one to not be forced into marriage against their wills."
Rethna nodded. "Very true." He looked down at his friend. "Does he research?"
"No. He works in a medical clinic as a nurse. I could start asking around the school for researchers if you wanted, Empress," she offered. "Park School is one of the most prestigious. There should be some students in there who would jump at a chance to go through the archives. I know we have a few who all but live in our version of the catacombs, where the old and forbidden knowledge is."
"I lived there too," Sivya admitted with a smile. "Please, I don't trust the Minster to the Court to get me someone that won't push his agenda."
"You'll need more than one anyway," Rethna added. Both women nodded. "Will you need anything else? If not, I'm going to go eat."
"Please, don't ignore yourself for me," Sivya said, giving him a smile. He left after bowing to her and closed the door behind him.
"Empress, a word of caution, a Guardian may not become more than a friend to the people that they guard. It's forbidden by their rules."
"I know, but he's been so nice."
"That's his job, he's here to make your transition easier for you." Melyn leaned closer. "He really is handsome, but he's too attached to his job to do anything else, even if he were free to do so." She sat back. "Let's get started on the map, Empress. I know you've met the Caklain ambassador Rraaaaal, I saw him in the halls earlier. He was telling the staff that you were a nice and decent person, at least as far as he knew."
"I am until I'm without sleep," Sivya admitted. "Then I can get a bit on the... demanding side shall we say." Melyn snorted at that. "Not that I'm usually unreasonable, even in that state, but I'm not known to be as nice when I need sleep."
"I'll warn one of your serving girls, the word will get around fast enough." Melyn pointed at a small planet grouping, which expanded. "This is Caklain, the homeworld for this ambassador. From what I've heard, he's from the smaller of the three planets and from the main city there." She pointed it out, making it expand. "He inherited the job from his father." She let the display go and it shrank again. "The problem that you were handed earlier came from here," she said, touching another planet, this time a single one. "This is where the problematic parchment came from. They're very strict about many things after a social revolution about ten years back. Almost anyone who was worried has already left the planet, and most went around the same time as the revolution. They used to be known for a freer attitude towards personal matters, but now they're known for many strict rules regulating natural body functions." She shuddered. "The Dravans also known for their new modesty laws and for the belief that doing bad things in front of animals corrupts them also." She let the display go. "You'll be meeting that ambassador later today probably. He's here to hear your answer over their commandment."
"My answer is 'no'," she said simply. "Do you study the cultures?"
Melyn smiled. "No, I dated one of the manager-level people in the Ambassador's Corps. Every time he was assigned to help a new ambassador, he brought home his information packet. I spent a lot of my time with him helping him study." She looked down at the globe. "He's presently stuck helping that particular ambassador and wishes that he be reassigned, but they won't do it." She looked up. "Apparently he insulted one of the ambassadors by having a personal opinion about grooming habits so he's stuck until something worse comes along."
Sivya placed a hand on her arm. "I'll see about that also," she said lightly. "No one should be forced to stay in a position that makes them that unhappy." She saw the look at her collar and smiled. "Yes, I am one of them, and miserable people make me miserable too."
"Then you'll never feel right in the Court," Melyn said lightly. "None of them are ever happy with anything." She pointed at another planet group. "This one is where the Kartarsans live. They're banned from leaving their section of the Empire due to their intense problems dealing with other species. Even aid shipments are stopped at their border and shot across in unmanned pods." She shuddered. "Thankfully, they never sent an ambassador."
"Aren't they about six feet tall and look very jelly-like?" Sivya asked. Melyn nodded. "I've heard that they have a different definition of consent to sexual activity."
"To them, looking their direction is consent. Their code does allow for killing any of them that do break our taboos of rape." She wrapped her arms around her middle. "They expect us to kill them if they step over the line. It became so uncomfortable a few decades back that they accepted voluntary exile instead of losing another third of their population."
"If they have problems, how do they get word to us?"
"There's a way for them to attach one to the unmanned pods. As far as I know, we've only had to deal with something for them once and it simply happened to them first. Their position on the border can be quite helpful. Even those discontent don't tend to come out into our space, they know that as soon as they misbehave the punishment is death, the same as it would be on their world."
"Then I won't have to worry about it. I'll leave that to the Marines." She looked at the map, pointing to a small, outlying planet. "What is this one?"
"That one is ours by treaty, Empress. It is Raithcan. It is a very small world, but their leaders made a pact with us to provide protection." She tapped another planet, one closer in. "This one is where the new immigrants are coming from, Sol 3, or Earth."
The Empress frowned. "I've never heard of them."
"They're part of the Empire by dint of being inside our space, but we don't have much contact with them. We did send some Watchers down to look them over, but we've only recently gotten in contact with them again." She let it go. "They're fairly standard, bipedal, smooth skinned with a light covering of hair."
"Then they look like us?"
"They're lighter skinned with brown and pink undertones as opposed to our own grays or greens." She highlighted the planet again. "It's not a unified world, which doesn't bother the Watchers too much. They say that they're moving closer to the point where they can be offered inclusion, maybe in the next century or so." Her boss nodded, looking thoughtful. "As they're having population explosions the Watchers requested that some be allowed to come up here and travel to the less settled worlds, where they'd feel more comfortable. They picked among those less fortunate, the ones who would most appreciate the land and the ability to farm." She folded her hands in her lap. "They also let some of the displaced farmers come up too. It was thought that they would be the most thankful. We've only got about two thousand immigrants at this point and we've set up official diplomatic relations with the planet."
"If they're divided..."
"We set up an official diplomatic embassy and we deal with all countries as far as I know," Melyn told her gently. "There have been a few problems but they're mostly able to handle it. We have one person in the Court who deals exclusively with them for you. You'll be meeting with them tomorrow." Sivya nodded. "There's also a few of them that are here in the city, most of them are men. Apparently their world is patrilineal."
"Really?" Sivya thought about that. Most of the Empire was matrilineal, the women had come into power and had used it well enough to keep it. There were only seven cultures that she knew about that were patrilineal, now apparently eight. "Is the whole planet like that?" Melyn nodded. "That is interesting. Have they had problems with that?"
"Yes," Melyn said, looking sad. "The Watchers have reported many things that we would not approve of."
"If they don't fix it?"
"Then they won't be offered inclusion until they have made some human rights concessions. If they do, then they'll be offered the first step. If not, they'll become one of the banned planets within the Empire. We have six others."
The Empress nodded. "I've seen the accounts. Do we have relations with them?"
Melyn shrugged. "I don't know. Not that I've heard, but we do seem to have a ship out there all the time just in case they need something. We try not to let anything happen to them as they're still under our protection. The higher reasoning or real facts would have to come from Minister T'Kuln. He's the big guy with the hair, you'll be meeting him after the coronation." She leaned closer. "Don't let his attitude get to you, he's just like that." She sat back up. "What else can I help you with?"
"Which language should I start first?"
"I think that should depend on where you want to move your Court. As you'll have to switch every year, Central Time, you'll probably be spending a lot of your time learning languages."
"What's the dominant language here in the palace? Won't I be taking most everyone with me?"
"No, you'll be taking the Court. As this is the Central Palace, almost everyone else will stay here. The reason the palace moves is to not show favoritism. Before you ask, you can decide where you move it, but you'll be presented a list each year, and every year there's going to be at least one on there that you won't want to go to. The ambassadors are always happy to talk about their homes, but they're not allowed to *directly* influence your position. It's a subtle play to get you to their planet because it would be good for them."
"Good. Then I'll wait until we figure out where we're going to learn an official language. Can you teach me some useful phrases for this palace as I'm only going to be here for a few more weeks?"
"Of course," Melyn agreed quickly. "Should we start with need words or want words?"
"Needs first," Sivya told her. "Things like food preferably. I seem to eat on a different schedule than everybody else."
~*~*~*~
Sivya walked around her garden. Though she was loath to call it 'her' garden, everyone else did so she probably should get used to the idea that she was the new Empress. She knew she had some bouts of temper recently, but she thought she was handling this all rather well. "I'm kidnaped from my ordinary existence and I don't do more than snap at my new guard, I'd say I was doing fantastic," she told herself as she strolled. "I could be doing much worse. When I was first brought to the temple as a youngling, barely into my first adult stage, I had a horrible adjustment and alienated nearly everyone. I'd say I was doing much better by that standard." She frowned, seeing a dark shadow under one bush where there shouldn't be one. She carefully moved closer, noticing it was furred. She knelt beside the bush and lifted up a branch, expecting to find a pet that had gotten lost or was napping. Instead she found one of the rarest creatures in the Empire, the founding species that so many lines had come from. The black fur and the green eyes proved that it was one of them. The mental hum of contentment proved that it was an adult, it didn't sound like a child in her mind. "Hello," she said quietly. "Do you live here too? Are you the Ferganis' ambassador?"
The cat gave her a look and a tail swish. Of course I'm not. We don't have ambassadors, it sent telepathically, delighting the Empress. Who are you?
"Apparently I'm the new Empress." She sat on the ground, making sure her skirts were decorous. "Do you live in the Palace? I know little of your race, only that they are protected and the rumors of what you should be able to do."
The cat gave her a smug look. Probably true, and I am here to lay a petition at your feet. Would you care to hear it now or later?
"Whenever suits you," Sivya said firmly. "What can I help you with, Great One? And what is your name?"
I am Sethyanas. I am the Lead Female of my Clan. We are on Prexdoans for the moment. She noticed the human was frowning and nodded. Exactly. We do not belong there. We were taken from our home by a ruthless being and forced into sport for him. We would like to go home.
"That is barbaric," Sivya said, glaring at the palace. "Do you know this man's name?"
No. He did not mention it in front of us. Sethyanas stood up and stretched, giving her a gentle head-butt. We know you consider us to be protected beings, we would really like a homeland again if it is possible.
"You let me handle some of them. We'll see what's going on." She stood up. "Would you care to escort me, Sethyanas?"
If it would please you, she agreed, following her back into the palace. You have dirt on your tail.
Sivya smiled and brushed herself off. "Thank you. It's obvious you have many cubs."
Troublesome though they are, I do, she agreed. I also have one of the most rare, I have a male that behaves.
"A double rarity then," Sivya said happily. She found the door she was looking for and knocked before walking in. The man on the other side stood up, then his eyes went wide. "This is Sethyanas. She is one of our Ferganis' and came here with a complaint about some *barbaric* thing taking her Clan and turning them into sport hunting." His mouth fell open. "Who is the ambassador for Prexdoans?"
"Empress, he is not in residence. That is a private planet." The Minister to the Royal Court bowed to the cat. "If you had come to us, we would have found you a room and helped you faster, My Lady."
Sivya gave him a long look, then closed the door. "Let me give you what I think," she said quietly, making him give her a scared look. "I am a High Thinker, both of thoughts and emotions." She touched her collar, taking off the light deflector. "As you can tell by the rating engraved on it, I am very sensitive. Things like this piss me off. Things like this make me want to hurt people and then hand them to this noble and founding race to let them have the final blows. Ferganis are a very rare and special breed. I am one of those who support and honor the old ways. Even those older than the Regent did. I actually know how the Empire Crown was made and why it's able to talk to me." He whimpered and she moderated her voice until it sounded calmer. "This race shall be guarded as holy relics and given whatever they need to flourish. Even if it means we have to set up a small sanctuary with the palace for those who need to be moved to a new planet. Even if it means I have to send Space Marines into a planet's interior to stop this sort of sport." He nodded. "Now, where is this barbarian and how much leeway do I have in making his life miserable for doing such abominable deeds?"
"You have much leeway, Empress. Since it is a private planet, he is held responsible for the conduct of his tenants. If one of them did this, it is his right to punish them or to send them on to us for punishment. If he did so, then you have the right to revoke his ownership since the Ferganis are sentient and protected beings. If he did so, you can take his planet and make it a preserve planet, which they probably need another of anyway," he noted. Then he smiled and bowed. "I will remember that you are a reader of the old ways from now on. Some of them were quite good."
"I've even read that one of the old cultures had universal suffrage and equality," she told him. He swallowed hard. "I thought as much. I do like that idea. Not to force them to use it, but to give them that option. There should also be a male on all courts that deal with male crimes. There should also be male advocates so the males get a fair hearing. Even on places like that one planet that had the petition."
"Draven, M'lady?" he suggested.
"Yes, them," she agreed, giving him a smile. "Thank you. I'm horrible with names."
"That's fine. I'll warn the Court of such, M'lady." He bowed to the cat again. "Would you require a suite, Great One?"
I had been napping in the garden when the young one here found me, Sethyanas admitted. A sunny spot inside would not be against my will however. She smirked at him. It is nice to be heard out completely. My young never do that.
"Young of all species do not listen as they should," he shared. "Come with me, I will find you a great room inside the domed area. The light in there is very nice, yet subtly colored and indirect so it doesn't get too warm." He bowed to the Empress. "With your leave?"
"Yes, thank you," she agreed, smiling at him. "I'm glad I got that off my chest. I'm not made of glass, but I am stubborn."
"Of course you are. You're the Empress." He smiled and she left, then he shook his head. "She will definitely make waves. I am an old diplomat and she does not have those traits."
Being a diplomat is all well and good, the great predatory cat noted, but being blunt sometimes get things done faster. Ego stroking is for courting and negotiations. Being blunt is for one who rules the Clan with a softly covered metal fist. She is obviously used to dealing with lesser Clan members who have many personal problems. She followed him out of his office and into the dome attached to the palace. He found her a room against the outer wall and let her into it, making her hum in appreciation. I thank you. This is excellent. Be warned, she did mean it about the sanctuary and we could use one.
"I'll keep that in mind for future palace moves," he agreed, bowing to her. "I will assign one single maid to your quarters, Great One. That way you are not bothered by eternal chattering and begging for time to pet you." He bowed again and left, going to find the person in charge of servant assignments. He found her in the kitchen, overseeing the dinner. "We have a Ferganis in the palace, in the dome," he announced. She turned and gave him a shocked look. He kissed his wife on the cheek. "She is here because of the Prexdoans situation. The Empress has a righteous sense of anger about such things. She threatened to set up a sanctuary. For now, the Great One needs a servant."
"Of course!" his wife agreed, going to pick one of the least addled-minded of her servants to help that one. "Did she yell much?"
"No, she stated her case clearly. She is much like the Regent. She is a believer in the old ways. She's threatened to research things even." His wife smirked at him. "I know. We need one who is strong enough to deal with this and not bend or break. For now, there is much we have to get ready. Do you need my help?"
"Just get some of the ambassadors ready for the coronation. They don't appear to be hurrying at all right now, which means we'll have a last-minute panic." He nodded and went to do that. She looked up. "Goddess Mesgrina, Goddess of Mercy and Pain Relief, please grant me the patience to make it through the settling in period. Also, if you wouldn't mind not having her send us to your home planet, I wouldn't mind. The sand would drive us insane." She hurried off to check the dishes. The head cook was off today and it fell to her to make sure everything was up to spec.
To Index
To Chapter Two