CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
 
 

Brailian presented his offering with a smile.  "Thank you," he said quietly, going back to visit with his family.  He noticed Brast was curled up on his wife's chest and smiled, waving at her.  "Is he all right?"

"He's got a fever and he's grumpy but it helps him to rest on me," she said with a smile for him.  "How is our son?"

"Hell on the nerves," he admitted lightly. "He's driven Gerian to a nap because he only wants to hear one story and she's read it three times in the last few hours."  He sat down across from them.  "Brast?"  He got a grunt.  "Do you need anything?"

"Do you remember our celebration after Alesar about ten years ago?  After that flying competition?" he asked, lifting his head to look at his best friend.  Brailian smiled smugly and nodded.  "I feel that way right now."  He put his head back down.   "If you act like the second story is a continuation of the first, he'll let you read him anything but he prefers to be told stories since you usually stare down at him and he loves being the center of attention."

"I usually think out loud for his benefit while I'm working on something," Sivya offered. "Did he scowl at you and Gerian?"

"Quite a lot," Brailian agreed happily.  "He's a wonderful little boy, very expressive. He loves my wife, he always smiles at her, even when she's not being obliging and reading that one story."

"Is it the one about the goat?" Sivya asked.  Brailian nodded.

"Goat?" Brast asked.

"It's a book I found him a few weeks back.  It's about a little goat child who likes two-foots and who shows a child how to treat animals.  I usually show him all the various animals and tell him what they are."

"No wonder he scowled at Gerian when she was turning pages."  Brailian shook his head. "Fyester likes that story as well, fortunately.  Should we plan on taking you book shopping when you're free of here?"

"If we're very lucky it'll be when I'm done being sick," Brast told him.  "If not, she'll get it again."

"How?" she asked.  "I just had it."

"It can happen," the men assured her. "We've seen it before."

She grimaced.  "If you say so.  How is Constantine? She wouldn't answer a call earlier when we were checking on her."

"I haven't heard from her either.  I've heard from her husband, he was sent ahead to Diadesa to make sure everything was ready for them."  Sivya frowned, he could see she was.  "She's still on her rant about hating men."

"Still.  She should want him there with her, to comfort her and to fetch things for her.  Gerian and I both wanted our mates there with us to handle things and to soothe our tempers and try to help us."  She covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, Brailian."

"It's all right," he assured her.  "You made sure I got home to her as often as I could."

"You left her alone?" Brast asked.  She pinched him.  "Ow!"

"Quit," she said gently.  "That contract took him away from his son and wife," she said quietly.  "Plus, it was why he wasn't protected at the end."

Brast hugged her.  "You can't blame yourself for that, Sivya."

"But I do," she told him.  "It was my selfishness.  He was supposed to have left later that night for another run home."

"It was only right for me to be beside you at that time," Brailian assured her.  "Gerian and I don't hate you for needing us.  Tyvana would be teasing you to no end if she could hear you."  He got up with a small smile for her.  "Don't do that yourself, Sivya.  It was not your fault.  It was the fault of the people who attacked, no one else."

"But I don't feel it was."

"You need to let that go," Brast said gently.  "I'll have one of the priests talk to you about it."

"Lass, we chose to be there.  We could have walked off," Brailian assured her.  "I could have sent her ahead of me. It was no one's fault but those people who attacked us.  Not yours."  He gave her a gentle smile.  "Now, forget such foolishness and I'll bring your son back next visit.  All right?"   She nodded, letting Brast hold her again.  "Thank you, Sivya.  You rest.  You need it to get better and not catch this again.  You as well, Brast."  He walked off, heading home.  He slammed the kitchen door, shaking his head at his wife.  "She's upset.  She blames herself for Tyvana."

"I did," Gerian admitted.  "She's the one who said you had to be there.  Then I realized someone was advising her wrong."

"If we weren't, think about how much worse it would have been," he pointed out, pulling her over to hug her.  "We agreed with her reasons, Gerian.  It's not Sivya's fault.   We talked it over and we agreed she had been right. We'd been hearing rumors of an attack for a few weeks.  We weren't sure we'd be able to leave later that night to come home for you because of them.  She needed us.  We took a contract to protect her from animals like those and we nearly failed.  Instead of her being mad that we couldn't protect her, she blames herself for the deaths that happened and especially for Tyvana's."  He gently gave her a squeeze.  "We've got to deal with our grief without involving her, Gerian.  We miss her, I always will, but I cannot blame that one.  She did everything she could to protect us and to let us be home all the time.  I almost asked you to come up to be with us when we moved," he admitted.  "She's the one who said that it was going to be too stressful for Fyester and you.  She told me to bring you back when I came back."

She nodded against his chest. "I know.  I guess it was where I couldn't blame Brast for asking you to take her on as a contract."  She looked up at him, seeing the love in his eyes.  "I'm sorry, it's uncharitable."

"No, love.  She was yours first.  You loved her more than me, I realize that."  He gave her a gentle kiss.  "We'll talk about it if you want."

She shook her head.  "It won't do any good.  If I need to, I'll talk with a priest or priestess.  They should understand."  She stroked his cheek.  "I'm sorry, tell her that?"

"She would probably agree that you should since she's blaming herself."

"She is a gentle soul.  It was that event that changed her," she agreed, giving him a gentle kiss.  "Dinner is nearly done."

"Thank you, love.  Are we hosting Ambri again tonight?" he teased.  She nodded. "Are we sure he isn't wrong?"

"No, he misses his family.  He had seventeen siblings if I remember right.  Besides, he'll protect them both with his life if necessary."  She pulled back.  "He had good news.  He's been singled out for more intensive training from the High Priestess."

"So either he bounced too much or he's to move up the ladder of command?" he teased. He stole a quick kiss with a smile.  "That is good news.  Is he telling them stories?  I found out how to make him take other stories."

"Good!  How!"

"Make it seem like the next book is a continuation of the first or simply tell him stories.  He likes to be watched while you tell them to him."  He smiled and winked.  "She was also showing him what each animal in the books were.  That's why he scowled the first few times you read to him."

"No wonder!"  She rolled her eyes and shook her head.  "Fine. It could be easier.  I can tell good stories."

"I'm assuming that's what Ambri is doing."

"Actually he's bathing them since they got very messy in the grass."  He smiled, going to help.  "Watch out for the bubbles, I heard splashing," she called.

Brailian leaned in the bathroom.  "Are they destroying the bathroom like they did the yard?"

"Yes, Lord Brailian, but I'll gladly clean it up," Ambri offered. He held up Fyester, who was wrapped in a towel.  "He was having fun playing but has graciously allowed himself to be taken out and dressed."  He patted the other baby dry, earning happy wiggles and squeals.  "Are you ticklish?" he teased, attacking the small belly to make the baby laugh.  "You're a happy baby today."

"He'll get to visit his mother and father tomorrow," Brailian offered.  He looked at his son.  "Come, son, let's get you dressed.  Green today you think?  Your mother likes you in that outfit."  He went to reclothe him in a baby pirate outfit of black pants and a green shirt, taking him out so he could cuddle his mother while she worked.

"Don't you look so cute," Gerian cooed, smiling at him.  "Such a pretty little pirate baby!"  Fyester giggled and patted her cheek.  "Thank you, son.  Now, go have your father tell you a story about treasure while I finish dinner."

"Of course."  He walked out, gathering the other child.  "Well!  You both look like pirates today," he praised.  "Thank you, Ambri."

"You're welcome, Lord Brailian.  Let me clean up that mess."

"Why?  It's probably already cleaned by the menial robots," he said dryly.  "Sit."  The young man sat, staring at him.  "Do you want to be a high priest someday?"  Ambri shook his head.  "No?"

"No, I'd rather be a mentor or a teacher, not one of the Highest of High.  The same as I really don't feel the urge to go wander to other temples.  I want to be the one who students come to, like Priest Grovas."

"I remember him fondly for boring me to death with my studies," Brailian admitted with a smile for him. "I can see you doing that."

"He was also the one that young priests went to for comfort and to be our mentor and father- figure.  When we lost him, it left a great many of us in pain for quite a long time.  I can only hope to live up to his expectations.  He told me that I'd be taking over his spot some day."

"I believe you will," Brailian agreed.  "I hope you do.  Otherwise we'll have to let someone else teach these two the proper ways."  Ambri smiled at that.  "Have you noticed if Fyester has any special attentions yet?" he asked gently.

"He doesn't like gold.  Most babies will play with my chain when I dangle it for them but he won't.  He does stare at the ships though."

"That's not a bad thing," Brailian agreed, looking down at his son.  "You still have to learn how to appreciate treasures, son.  In all the many forms."

"Maybe he'll go for different treasures, those of jewels, cash, or of the flesh.  Or he could be one of those who likes the flying, like Lord Brast. He's never been one for large treasures, but what's his is his and he's fierce over it.  He's also one of the best combat fliers the clans have these days."

"True," Brailian admitted, he hadn't thought of that.  "I'll have his Godfather teach him if that's the case."  He smoothed down the boy's hair.  "You're both getting very fuzzy on top."  The babies cooed at each other.  He looked over, seeing Ambri staring at the boys.  "Do you see something?"

"Fyester will be a Rep, some day.  He will be like his uncle," he said in a calm, still, deep voice.  "Cabiael will be a priest who makes sure we go on.  He is very strong.  Very like his mother.  He will leave and be called back into service to save us.  He'll lead us to a new world when the time comes and then protect us.  Fyester will have many children with a few different women."  Brailian would have groaned but he didn't want to break the boy's trance.  "Some will be like you, some will be like him, and one will not be a proper pirate but will like doing the administration.  Cabiael will have five children.  Three mothers.  Two of them his, one who refused him and refused to tell him if the child was his.  She'll be exactly like his mother so he'll know and petition for contact.  That will not be a happy joining, not his idea either.  The others will take him from the priesthood but not from the Lord.  He will come back from the first because he must to save us all.  She'll leave him for that.  His daughter with her will come back to him after the war is over, bringing a new woman to his side after a few years.  Very pretty and very much like Gerian.  A proper pirate who understands and stands by him when it happens a second time.  He'll retire again after leading us to the new homeworld."  He shook himself, looking up at him.  "Was I gone?"

"You were," he agreed gently.  "It was a good sign though.  They both have good futures."

"Remember, the future is open to change," he warned.

"I know, but it is special.  Thank you, Ambri.  Were they good for you?"

"No, they were horrible," he admitted with a small smile. "Fyester tried to bury Cabiael in the dirt and then kept pouncing him.  Cabiael learned to crawl to get away from him.  He nearly made it to a ship before I noticed."

Brailian smiled at the boy.  "That's my godson.  Your father will be very proud of you, Cabiael."  He kissed him on the head.  "You, son, must not pounce your friend.  He'll pounce you back some day."  He kissed his son on the head. "Are you staying for dinner, Ambri?  There's plenty."

"No thank you, Lord Brast.  I'm needed back at the temple for evening services."  He stood up and bowed.  "Call me if I can come sit them again."

"Come anytime, Ambri.  There's not many children around for you to play with.  Be at peace, I will not react more than plan for training funds."  Ambri smiled and nodded, leaving to go back to the temple.  "We'll just have to teach you both how to fly very well."  He kissed them again. "All right, let's see, a story about treasure.  How about a giant sapphire we released a few years back?"  The babies looked up at him, looking very attentive.

Ambri walked back into the temple and up to the High Priestess.  "M'lady, I had something odd happen.  I foresaw."

She gave him a gentle hug, walking him off.  "Tell me of it, child.  Not many of us do that but I knew you could.  You will be a pleasing mentor when it is your time."

"Even to those two?  I saw them learning and playing together, but also fighting terribly.  I held that truth back from the father."

"As was wise," she agreed.  "They will be together when the last assault happens.  That will be what enrages Cabiael and forces him back to us to protect us."  She let him into her private suite.  "Come, we will discuss your future here.  I believe you will be an excellent mentor and teacher."  She closed them in to find him a spot.  He was ready to move on. He had proven it.

~*~*~*~
 

Brast looked over as something slapping was coming up the hall, sitting up.  "You're mobile," he said in awe.  "Sivya?"  She woke up so he pointed at the baby staring at them.  "Look who crawled back to us."

She sat up and smiled.  "Son," she said proudly, getting up to crouch near the shield.  "Were you moving?"  The baby crawled closer.  "No, stay there.  We don't want you sick."  She stroked the shield, and he patted it with a happy squeal of noise.  "You are so good."

"Sivya, back away from the shield," a priestess called.  "He is small enough to get through the food hole."

Sivya moved back, making sure her lap was covered up.  "I'm very proud of you, son.  Have you been having fun playing with Fyester?"  Her son tried to move closer.  "Son, stay."

"He's not a cub, he doesn't understand," Brast said, coming over to look at his son as well.  "Hello, son."  The baby babbled at him too, smiling and happy for now.

Brailian came jogging down the hall.  "Sorry, he got away from me and Ambri.  He's being sent to Quadasa."

"That's a prime teaching post," Sivya said in awe.  "I'm sure he'll be very happy there."

"He thinks so as well," Brailian agreed, sitting the baby in his lap once he was on the floor.  "There, now he can't crawl in there with you.  I've gotten him his inoculation so he'll only get a bit sick if he does, but we still shouldn't risk it."  He patted the baby's back, earning a belch.  "Thank you, godson."  He looked up at the smiling parents.  "He learned to crawl to get away from my son," he said proudly.  "Fyester was trying to bury him in the yard and kept pouncing him.  Ambri said he nearly got to the ships before he caught him."

"Good work, son," Brast said happily.  "I'm very proud of you."

"Ambri also said that he'll be one hell of a priest."  Sivya nodded at that.  "But Fyester will need flying lessons from his godfather."

"Gladly, as long as I get out of here before he has to take his trials."

Brailian smiled at him.  "I'm sure you'll be out by then. Maybe not this year, but by then surely."  He smiled down at the baby, watching as he sucked on his first finger.  "He's been very good.  He helped Fyester tear up the lawn yesterday and helped him soak the bathroom.  He even tried to eat off Gerian, but he decided to give up when she woke up."

"He crawled in with you?"

Brailian nodded. "Apparently it was too dark.  He hates the dark.  Very unusual."

"It is, but it explains why he lit a wall in the nursery on fire," Brast offered.

"He did what?"

"He lit a wall in the nursery on fire after Constantine put him in there.  They thought he was lighting up the dark."

"We'll just have to put up some lights for him, soft ones so he'll still sleep."

"No worries there," Brailian said with a grin.  "He decided to sleep on the lawn right before we came.  Fyester was knocked down and he was sleeping on his chest.   He had just gotten up so he wasn't really sleepy, he just likes to sleep in the daytime."

"That'll be something else he'll have to fix," Brast said patiently.  "I wish we could hold him."

"Then you'd have to deal with him in there," Brailian reminded him.  "It's better that he not be ill."

Someone came running down the halls.  "Empress!"

"I am not!" she said hotly.  He paused, staring at her.  "I'm not, I abdicated, I gave it up before they drove me insane and more people died."

"Sorry, Priestess, but you are again.  Constantine took off and no one knows where she is."  He sat down, looking at her.  "They said her healer went in and they left without being seen.  She lifted off, no one could catch her ship in time. She did a jump within seconds of gaining orbit and they don't know where.  They think she headed off for the Inner Rim's edge."

"Inner Rim?" Brast said, frowning at him.  "Why?  That's a forbidden zone.  The only people out there hate us.  Was there anything given over?"

"No, she was having a perfectly normal day and then this happened.  Since the crown had named her child Ki until further notice, that leaves only the second Ki.  Sivya."

"I can't.  I'm ill."

"I know, but we had to tell you.  Six Space Marines were dispatched to find her, ma'am, but we don't think they'll find her."

"I kept having dreams about this city with gold walls and blue skinned people with white hair," she admitted.  "I thought it was from the fever."

"No, that's a legend," Brast said calmly.

"They're mythical," Brailian agreed.  "But they would be in the direction of the Inner Rim."  He looked at her.  "How long have you had those?"

"On the way here with you."

"Oh."  He nodded.  "Understandable.  No wonder they wanted you tested."  He looked at the priest.  "Pass that information back to Rethna or whoever.  Maybe they can find her.  Her ship ...."

"Was at my house," Brast told him. "Did she take her ship?"  The priest shook his head.  "What did she take?"

"Marine Jump ship."

"Double Hells," Brailian said in awe.  "I've always wanted to fly one of those."

"I've done it to get her to Central World for that announcement. They're fairly cramped.  They must sleep in their seats or fold down the table."  He looked at the priest.  "Talk to my ship, see if it can plot that course.  I tried to reach them once."  The priest nodded, getting up and hurrying off to share that information.  "Well, so much for easy days."  He looked at his wife, who was shaking.  "It'll be fine," he soothed, pulling her closer.  Cabiael squealed in outrage.  "I can hug the mother, son.  It's my right. She's mine just like she is yours."

"So, have you prayed to Alia to have the next one yet?" Brailian teased, earning a frown from Sivya.  "It's a joke, dear."

"No more kids."

Brast kissed her on the head. "If it happens it does," he reminded her.  "I haven't yet," he assured his best friend.  "But I have been thinking about it.  How could she do that!"

"I'm not sure why she did it," Brailian offered.  "Should I call someone to check?"  Sivya nodded.  "That's fine, I'll do that and be back in a few hours.  Say goodbye, Cabiael, and we'll go home for dinner then come back later."

A priestess walked up the hall, looking in the room.  "You need to call the palace."

"Fine."  She got up, going to call the palace.  She got Kathal.  "What happened!" she demanded hotly.  "She just takes off for no reason!"

"We believe her healer was tampering with her mind and influencing her to do so," he said calmly.  "We were trying to figure out what was going on when she came back for this week's session and then they left without any warning.  We don't even know how they left.  The healer had been doing so for weeks."

"Fine.  Check with her ship and Brast's ship to see if they can track her."

"Check with mine, I've got a tracer on her," Brast offered.

"Very well, Lord Brast.  How much longer are you in quarantine?"

"There was a death up the hall so Brast was holding me through the field when it came down.  He's ill.  We're in here together."  Kathal frowned.  "Sorry, but it's not something I can really help at this moment in time, Kathal."

"True," he agreed.  He considered it for a moment.  "Let me see if there's something I can do to speed you on your way back."

"She's starting a new course of illness," the priestess called.  "A light one.  It should be done in about two weeks, central time."

"Fine, I'll announce that," Kathal decided.  "Then we'll expect her to come back to Diadesa immediately."

"I don't want it."

"You don't have a choice, Empress.  You were named Second Ki.  The first one hadn't been born.  It's yours.  You must do your duty."  He stared her down.  "No more fighting it from you," he said quietly. "It looks wrong to the others.  You cannot at this time.  Perhaps when we find her, but for now you must step up again."  She sighed and slumped.  "Thank you.  Don't make me have you escorted."  He looked over at Brast.  "Are you coming back as well?"

"I'm her mate, I'd better," he said hotly.  "No one gets near her."

"Very well," he agreed.  "I'll see you within a few weeks."  He cut the connection, going to spread the news and get some support for her.  He took the message from the page, frowning at it.  "Someone check with her ship, see if it can trace her.  Lord Brast is doing the same thing."  He walked into the throne room, interrupting the gossiping and crying going on.  "Constantine was apparently called to a crisis on the Inner Rim," he announced.  Not quite a lie.  "We would see that healer so we can ask her if she knows what was going on."  A few people nodded.  "As is, Sivya is still ill.  Her husband breached the quarantine shield after a death of another ill person where she is and so they're sick together.  Once she is well, she is coming with us to Diadesa.  They have pledged to come as soon as they can."  That got some frowns but others looked relieved.  "So far, Cabiael is fine. He was with Lord Brailian."

"He lives?" one woman asked.

"He barely lived," Kathal corrected.  "He is healthy now however and watching their son while they're both ill.  He has a son of his own that's only a few months older."  Everyone smiled at that, at least a bit.  "So they will be back as soon as possible.  Sivya has agreed that it is her duty to take up the crown again as Second Ki since the first was the child Constantine is carrying."  He clasped his hands.  "For now, ready yourselves for the move.  It can be as long as two weeks before they're released."

"Do you need them escorted?" one of the generals asked.

"No, nor are you allowed near Brailian's world.  It would only cause problems," Kathal assured her.  "They've got to pass by the mall, meet up with her there if someone's there.  They should be in separate ships since they both have one."  She nodded, saluting him with the fist in the middle of her chest and a half-bow.  "Thank you.  For now, relax.  We're finding out what was so important and will help Constantine any way we can.  I'm sure she'll be checking in soon."  He looked over as Rethna came in, handing over the paper from the page.  "I'm sure you can get in there."

"Lasarae can," he admitted.  "Why?"  Kathal nodded at the paper so he read over it again.  "So?"

"I'll explain it later."  He looked at the courtiers and ambassadors.  "It'll be fine," he assured them.  "A priestess had been having dreams of a race out there needing help.  Since that sect does have foretold dreams, we're not sure if she's reacting to that or not."

"Is she all right?"

"I can't answer that.  I would assume so," he admitted.  "If not, the ship should have contacted us by now," Kathal reminded everyone.  "We'll keep watch.  For now, move the palace to Diadesa and follow the normal procedures for that."  He clapped his hands. "Now if you wouldn't mind."  Everyone wandered off, talking about this turn of events.  "What was she reading?"

"Some things that she had Sivya work on," Rethna admitted.  "She did say one was a diary of some sort that was sent over accidentally.  I can check it if you want."

"Please.  Try to contact her spouse again.  Just in case he didn't follow her."  Rethna nodded, hurrying to do that.  Kathal picked up the paper he had dropped, going to put it safely in a locking drawer, not thinking on it at all in case someone was listening.  It was not good if the Empress had went in search of a mythical people who were probably not going to be friendly.  He looked at the guard running his way.  "I want that healer found and questioned."

"Yes, sir," they agreed quickly, heading to do that.

"Did you have news?"  One of them turned and shook his head.  "Thank you.  I'll be in my office."  He went back there, finding his wife had sent him something for his headache and upset stomach.  "Blessed be the wife's soul," he prayed, meaning every word of it.

~*~*~*~
 

Sivya looked at Brast later that night, looking worried.  "What do you think happened?"

"I think she ran away," he admitted, reaching over to stroke her cheek.  "We should rest, we'll need it soon."  She nodded, moving closer on the small bed to hold him.  "I'll come back with you."

"You hate it."

"I may but I'm not leaving you alone," he vowed.  He gave her a gentle hug.  "It'll be fine.  We'll work it out together."  He yawned, putting his head above hers.  "It'll be fine.  I'll be looser this time since I won't be fighting touching you."  She smiled against his neck.  "We'll be fine."

"I still say I'm a bad ruler.  If people feel the need to rise up and start a civil war over what I've done, I'm a bad ruler and I shouldn't be allowed to."

"This time you'll be in more control than the crown," he reminded her.  "Before you blindly followed it.  Now you've got more judgement and experience.  It'll be fine."  He yawned again.  "Tell me a story?"

"Are you our son now?" she teased, nipping him on the shoulder.  He didn't answer.  "What did you want to hear about?"

"How about the Great Troubles?"

"That's nearly six thousand years long.  I don't think I could tell you all about that in the two weeks we've got left."  She felt him shift.  "Did you want any particular event?"

"How about the beginning?" he asked quietly.

"Sure.  Most people believe it started with Sovayette, but really it started two Empress' before her, with Caraminy."

"Really?  Which one was she?"

"She was the last Priestess to serve," she said dryly.  "There were many people who made comparisons in the first few weeks."  She nuzzled his neck, making him shift again.  "The reason she's the start is that she's the one who allowed herself to be led by the various religious leaders.  Since there were so many and most of them were in disagreement, she was often found figuring out things for herself, often after the emergency got too bad to deal with.  Things like droughts didn't get dealt with because the priests and her advisors were arguing over what to do about it.  There were a number of sects in that day that suggested the droughts were due to the planet's version of faith, or that making them deal with it was making them stronger and more worthy.  Since she was one of our youngest Empresses ever, she couldn't really refute it.  Her mother had her raised like that once she was announced to be Ki at age six months."  He shuddered.  "So she was raised by these same advisors.  Since her mother was in one of those sects that believed suffering gave you strength, she couldn't really find anyone to give her a more realistic view."

"That's what happened to Caravale."

She nodded.  "That is what happened.  She nearly let it pass her by but she intervened before they could all die out.  That planet's shifting had made it quite unstable and was causing all sorts of trouble.  She finally took control and ordered the military to remove the people from the planet and use something called 'smasher' that destroyed what little was left of the planet before it could crash into another one in that solar system."  She stroked his back, soothing him again.  "At that show of wills, her advisors got together and decided to take the matter of her spouse into hand. They managed to set her up with a former priest who was quite dour and had no backbone against bad suggestions but they managed to help each other a bit.  He was encouraging her to deal with more beings than the nature of the thoughts.  She was starting to come out of her thoughts when her former advisors tried to attack her.  She's the one who started the Space Marines to protect her, right before she ran for her life.  They used to be the ones who investigated treason and the like.  The advisors formed a council since they couldn't find her and tried to take over the government but she was active enough to prove she was alive and well.  She put out many edicts, including ones they fought tooth and nail.  They're the ones who decreed that all legislation had to be announced at Central World and the Courts agreed with them.  She made it through her first one, but the second one the Crown forced her to go to the Crowning chamber and to announce it there.  It was to dissolve the council."

"They killed her?" he asked quietly.

"They did.  They attacked her as she walked through the doors.  They tried to take over for a few months but anything they did got tossed out by the Courts since they didn't have the authority of a regent.  A few things should have stayed, they were helpful, but the Court couldn't allow the precedent.  After a few months, a new woman appeared with the crown in her hair and the voice of no God or Goddess in her ears.  From space she had the Council destroyed."

"She had them bombed?" he asked, sounding shocked.
 

"She did.  She released a bomb that destroyed half the city to get rid of them," she said quietly.  "She was one of the first pirates actually.  During Caraminy was the tragedies that started off the pirate clans on their quests for retribution."  He shivered, that wasn't a good part of their history.  "The first six pirate clans to take to the stars were due to her non-involvement," she said quietly.  "She's the one who didn't step in to stop the civil war on Targas soon enough."  He shuddered again.  "She was the one who botched the drought on Lind as well.  She sent the wrong foods and it insulted their religion, which was ruling the world.  It was nutritious, but against their beliefs and the people were basically threatened with their spirits dying without remembrance if they ate it.  Millions of people starved, even when she sent food that they could eat because they didn't believe it wasn't tainted by the first and by outsiders who disrespected them."

"Marak'd came from them," he said quietly.

"I know," she agreed.  "The Asban, Corady, and the Telvegas clans came from Targas."  She stroked his back again to calm him back down.  "When the Telvegas clan went into space, they went after an old enemy of their people, which brought the Trios clan and then a small clan of shippers formed into a peacekeeping clan to try to ease the wars that were destroying the shipping fields with mines and dead ships.  They suggested a Guild long before it was ever thought of by anyone else.   Of course, everyone ignored them and a few clans claimed a truce to blow them from the stars. The remaining ones were tossed onto Dionaes and Diadesa since they're in the same solar system.  The women on one and the men on the other."

"Then we went back to ripping each other apart," he said bitterly.  She nodded.  "Why?"

"Because each clan thought their honor had been rubbed in their faces.  The ones who saw past that excuse were silenced one way or another.  Until Hundrial during the last century of the Troubles, no one listened to anyone but the oldest of the old who rehashed the stories that were told to the young to make them want to fight.  Propaganda through the ages."

"We were so stupid," he complained.

"No, you're a very passionate people, Brast.  You felt your honor was taken from you so you went out to restore it.  Things kept escalating until there was basically a war going on and more clans were being split off and brought into it as more planets in that section of space were destroyed.  In the end, they solved it by kicking out two clans and setting the others to peace.  Hundrial was good at that.  He basically stole all the leaders and beat them senseless until they agreed to it by the histories I've seen."

"Actually, he took the top daughters, married them all and forced their fathers to agree to peace for the sake of the children.  There's about seven clans that can trace their bloodlines back to him, including Brailian's."  He kissed her.  "Beating them senseless probably would have went over better, but no one wanted to endanger their grandchildren since children are precious to us.  He's the one who set up the idea of five godparents so one would still be alive when the child needed a mentor and an apprenticeship."  He kissed her again, then yawned.  "Sorry."

"It's not a problem, you rest.  You need your rest so you get better.  Otherwise we'll probably have a battle when we show up."  She sighed and rested her face against his chest.  "Do we have to?"

"Yes, Sivya.  A pirate never gives up on his duties and never runs from them.  Instead he faces them head on and scares them into obedience and willingness to do things his way."

"Good, then you can have the crown and I'll be the supporting spouse," she joked.

"If a man could hold the crown, Hundrial probably would have taken it and ruled the empire with an iron fist," Brailian joked from the doorway.  "Are you trying to sleep?"

"Trying, but I'm not really tired," Brast admitted.  "She was telling me a story."  He grinned at his friend.  "She's very good.  She told me how the clans got started."

"A stupid woman in charge," he said blandly.

"Actually, Caraminy wasn't stupid, she had bad advisors who raised her since she was named Ki.  All the different hardline faiths had a priest sent to advise her and she had to listen to them because she didn't know any better."

"No wonder so many people died," he said in disgust.  "Did this not bother her?"

"It did greatly, but by the time she was able to get anything done most things were out of hand," she said as she sat up.  "She tried, Brailian, but every time she had an original or charitable thought they tried to stop her or stall her.  Fortunately most of those sects died off during the Troubles."  She shrugged.  "She did try and her diaries were so full of her ranting at the stupidity of her advisors that she couldn't figure out how to go around, at least until she had to run to save her life.  Then they were full of paranoia."

"Fine," he said, flicking a hand in the air.  "It's done and gone.  History is in the past.  What about now?"

"We've got to go or they'll pull us out of here by our hairs."

"True," he agreed dryly, smirking at her.  "Are you going to try to run?"

"I'm hoping they find her instead," she admitted.  "Brast said he's coming back with me."

"As he should.  Hopefully they don't get you because of your hair."

"I removed that for Constantine.  Since I abdicated, I'm a different Empress.  The precedent was started by Hovagath.  She got terminally ill and was put into stasis until she could be healed, but they named a new Empress.  When she was forced to come back for those ten months after being brought back and that disaster with the ship explosion, she was considered a different empress.  Therefore I am a new empress and subject to my edict that I can have short hair.  If anyone fusses, I can point that out to them.  She had a similar problem with her clothes.  At the time the rules stated she could not uncover her shoulders for some reason."

"The amount of knowledge in your head astounds me, Empress," Brailian said with a smirk.  "Do you have anything to go against the Space Marines hovering in orbit?"

"We're in quarantine and you don't have to let them land.  The planet owner's rights do extend to allowing and disallowing visitors and changing your mind on a case-by-case basis.  Besides, if they take us out of here, that would endanger life and health, which goes against their code, which means that they'd at least have to forfeit their jobs, if not their lives if someone else got sick from us."

"I'll point that out," he said with a gentle smile.  "Brast?"  He hummed, nearly asleep.  "I'll let you rest, Sivya.  Did you know you've got a new purple spot on your nose?"  He walked off, heading out to call the idiots back and inform them of that. Some people were in for a very rude shock if they thought they were going to run over Sivya this time.  He turned on the temple's communication system, linking to one of the ships immediately.  "I do have the right to refuse you to land by Empire decree as the owner of this planet," he told them.  "Also, your assertion that she'd have to be 'fixed' before she retook the throne is wrong.  She said something about someone named Hovagath."  He smirked at that news when it prompted a groan.  "So therefore you can wait by the mall.  You're in violation of our landing rules and are not allowed down here without a valid warrant.  Since they're both in quarantine, you can't do that anyway without breaching your own rules."  They glared at him.  "Tough.  Get over it and wait by the mall.  It'll only be a few more weeks.  She's just popped up a new sore."  He hung up and looked at the priestess.  "They can't invade, right?"

"If they do, that can be considered treason and they can be punished for that," the priestess advised.  "She does know that Hovagath's ruling was later overturned by someone who decreed it was not so because her daughter wanted to run away?"

He nodded. "Probably.  The woman has studied all the histories."  He shrugged.  "Brast's napping now.  She was telling him a story about Caraminy."  She winced.  "What she said made some sense.  No ruler could rule with any ability when they had bad advisors who were forcing each and every religious viewpoint on her at the same time."

"I hadn't known that.  That would have stalled her doing anything good," she said thoughtfully.  "I wonder where she got that information?"

"Probably in some dusty book.  She's the one who found the catacombs on Riven.  We nearly lost her for two weeks down there because no one knew that Riven had a catacomb system or that they kept their own history."  He walked out, going home to tell the Guild what had been said and done.  They would back him up or he'd kick the lot of them off his planet for a few months so he'd have peace and quiet.
 

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To Chapter Eighteen