Falco Invictus: On the Forge of War (11 page)

“Who are those golden armored women that
wait upon the Drakorian?” Frederika asked Mia. She had already
learned of the fierce Drakorian elite guard who served the Shotar.
Their distinctive angled blood red and black armor disturbingly
familiar to her from her persistent visions.

“The Valküri.”

The German girl wondered if that had been
intentional. “Valküri? Like Wotan's warrior maidens?”

“Supposedly, these women have mystical
powers. They tend the Rishaak trees when not garbed for war. The
Queen herself is their Reverend Mother.”

Frederika made a soundless “O”, while she
watched the warrior women pour a milky yellow liquid into goblets
fashioned like inverted pyramids, clutched by tri-claw talons. The
female claw-boot she noticed were slightly different from what she
had seen male Falcanians sport. Instead of remaining apart like the
male claws the forward talons met at a point and the rear talon
were like that of a high-heeled shoe which added height to the
noble-looking women.

“His Imperial Excellency, the Padishah
Shotar Sharr Khan Mingh Drakonis!” Chancellor Shreik Trakan
announced amid the pounding of drums which signaled the Imperial
families' entrance into the hall. All stood to greet their
Padishah. Enormous egg-shaped emerald doors slid into the wall to
allow the Imperial presence to enter the audience chamber. They
were preceded by a group of Drakorian Guard that marched in
triangle formation, the Shotar soon ascended to his mighty throne
which had been mounted on a dais. Beside him his Queen and their
daughter walked. All held hands.

Behind them were the other princesses and
their mothers, the Imperial Concubines.

Frederika's eyes went wide as the entourage
moved past.

Garbed in a red and black version of his
normal jodtok, as much everyday clothing as they were battle togs,
Sharr’s regalia recalled to one a 1930’s aviator jacket worn with
jodhpurs. The notion of flight stitched into its make, with its
high fur collar. The outfit looked snug, yet comfy. Sharr Khan
marched toward his royal seat. On his belt he wore the compass that
Sitara had given him. A heavy golden “Phoenix" emblem hung from a
chain off the white fur collar of his uniform and shined in the
firelight. As promised, he wore Jaikra secured at his side, his
gloved hand resting easily on the weapon.

Proud, alight with fiery intelligence, the
Valküri Reverend Mother and Falcanian Queen wore a blueberry-hued,
off the shoulder outfit with simple gold armbands. Nadia’s dark
hair reached in sumptuous layers down her bare back, a delicate
tiara on her head. The jeweled crown sparkled under the bright
light of the hall. Sheathed in a jeweled scabbard that hung from a
belly chain, her curved Valkris dagger remained in close reach.

Princess Sitara had chosen an ensemble which
reflected both her social standing and one that would convey a
religious subtext. From a hair ornament, a golden eight-pointed
Tarik compass star dangled. It was set with an octagonal ruby, a
guiding symbol of the Tarik Way. Her outfit, Imperial blood-red and
gold, just as her father wore. Her attire minimal, meant to show
off the tops of her breasts which were decorated with henna in the
form of Kaliburn characters and a complex geometric pattern that
numerically spoke of threes and its multiples. An OM symbol rested
on a thin gold chain between the cleft of her generous breasts.
Sitara wore the OM not only to acknowledge her Hindu heritage, but
also because it served as a symbol of the Tarik Way. She had put a
diamond stud in her nose, twisted wire bands were clasped to her
upper arms, an iridescent opal placed in each. The Tarik symbol
also decorated her navel and radiated outward from her bellybutton.
Like her mother, a Valkris dagger hung close on her hip.

Frederika watched the Shotar sit in his
massive throne. Nadia and Sitara were placed to either side of him
on low-backed embroidered ottomans.

“Who is that girl to his left?” asked
Frederika. “A concubine or wife?”

“Neither. That's Princess Sitara. She has a
twin sister,” Mia said. “Both are highly intelligent and I
understand that Sitara is a commander in the Falcanian Armada.”

“They're so beautiful, Nadia und
Sitara.”

Frederika looked in awe as the Shotar easily
leaned back in his burgundy covered mahogany throne. She locked
eyes with him for a fleeting second before he returned her gaze
with open approval. In the Shotar's glance she could make out age
and wisdom and a thing she had not thought to find, pain and
regret. To her, he carried the weight of the world on him.

A glow distracted Frederika, her attention
turned to look at the other gathered princesses. She noticed Kheira
who had joined her sisters at a table near her father's throne. By
their looks they ranged in age from six to nineteen. The princesses
talked and laughed with their fellow Imperial progeny. Clearly the
Shotar had his fill of women to produce so many daughters. “Und
that one?” asked Frederika as she nodded at the table of
princesses. The vibrant light from Kheira fascinated her.

“Kheira. She has a genetic anomaly.”

Kheira sensed that they looked at her,
turned her attention toward her father's exotic dancers, offered an
imperious glance, but took a moment to give Frederika a curious,
focused stare. She shook her head, to at last return her attention
to her many sister’s gossip and admiration of young Drakorian.

“It is called rahli'ka,” Mia added. “The
Tahru, the 'priest' caste, seek the Nadira, the Pinnacle, and the
one who shall bridge the way for the Falcanians in their ascendancy
as gods. They believe those with the rahli'ka to be honored
beings.”

T’Saar Sharr Khan! Jai, jai,
jai!
, filled the domed hall.

Sharr Khan let the cheering go on for a
minutes. At last the Shotar raised his hand to bring silence to his
gathered friends and Drakorian Guard. “My thanks,” the Falcanian
ruler said and stood, his right hand rested on the ornate hilt at
his hip. Sharr motioned for the holosphere to be activated so all
his people could hear what he had to say. “Together we have built
much…” his thoughts trailed off to a time before the war, when life
had been much less complex. Sharr had not intended to give a
speech, but the moment called for him to speak. “The world has
changed in these decades. It’s become a world of technological
feudalism. Our lives, what we are, have been made possible by
genetic engineering, the blind have been made to see and those
paralyzed can yet now walk. The prominent role of technology in our
lives must be recognized. True ,miracles have been brought forth by
the science of genetic engineering. Cures for ailments that only a
god could once have undone now are ours to hold.”

The Shotar paused in his speech, glanced
over at his wife and daughter, who smiled up at him.

“Today begins the Falcanian Kralin,”
declared the Shotar. “Let us salute that Rai who guided Arntiraas
Drakonis in his self-evolution. Let us recall the teachings of the
shards and what they mean to us all.” His hand dropped to a pouch
on his belt that contained the so called
Phoenix Puzzle
. “I
thank you all for these many years that you have stood with me upon
the 'long road'. Inside you a Falcanian heart beats, a primal spark
drives us forward to become Charis!” Sharr drew Alira's gift from
his hip and raised the vajra above his head. He knew the moment was
right for his salute. “Falcania Jai!” shouted the Shotar; his
holographic image appeared over Vanguard Island and the palace in
Kuras. The sight of the vajra held aloft above him would be an
inspiration to his people. He pressed the firing node to extend the
coruscating electric blade.

More cheers overtook the hall.
“Falcania
jai!”
rang through-out the domed room.

Frederika's emerald eyes widened, enraptured
by the scene that unfolded before her. Her lips parted, she watched
Sharr Khan tap into the primal urges of his people.

Once the cheers lessened, Sharr replaced
Jaikra into its holster and sat back on his throne. The Queen
leaned close and kissed her mate on the lips.

Again the musicians began and the lights
dimmed. A lone Falcanian female stood with her hands crossed before
her face. Her amber-wings caught the diminished light and diffused
it through the membrane to make it seem as if they glowed with an
internal fire. The rhythmic music played and Tanusri parted her
hands, revealing golden eyes. The concubine's hips swung and
whipped her tail about dancing enticingly for her Lord. Her curly
hair bounced around her with each pulsation. A teasing expression
brightened her oval face. Hands still on her hips she thrust her
upper body forward seductively swaying before the Shotar. Up the
dais she gyrated, her pierced navel, its diamond stud refracting
the flames in the hall. In a pause in the music Tanusri blew Sharr
a kiss. She turned and placed her hands on her hips. Then from over
her shoulder she winked suggestively at Sharr to give him a
scorching smile that oozed with allusions of sex and love to be
given later. With a bow the concubine finished, she walked up the
dais where she planted a kiss on Sharr Khan. They exchanged some
quiet words. Sharr Khan motioned for an ottoman to be brought for
his favorite concubine which denoted her status as a prize among
his treasures. Once she had sat, Tanusri nodded for her sitar.
Nadia bent forward,and whispered to the concubine as she strummed
on her instrument which had been placed beside her maroon ottoman.
Clearly the two women shared not only the fondness of the same man
but also a close relationship.

At last, the time had come for Ch'Kran to
present the exotic dancers to his Lord. He stepped before the
throne and bowed to the Shotar. “T'Saar, my Shotar!"

“Welcome home, my friend.”

“Let me present to you my Lord these
beautiful valka to entertain and act as hostesses for your most
Imperial Self.” Ch'Kran knew how to be rather dramatic, not unlike
his own father the current Chancellor who had once served as the
Shotar's majordomo. “Each young woman comes from across the globe.”
Ch'Kran walked around the dancers. “From as near the Shogun's
Japan.” He informed as he went past a tiny Asian woman. “And as far
as Germany.” Ch'Kran deliberately stopped beside Frederika. “I hope
that they are to your liking my Lord.”

“Indeed they are.” Sharr eyed the array of
pretty women, his gaze lingered on Sabina and Frederika. To Mia he
gave a nod of recognition that caused the girl to blush.

Under the Shotar's inspection, Frederika
felt giddy. She could sense her moment to be close at hand. It was
clear to her that Sharr Khan thought her attractive. She noticed
the Queen also inspected her with curiosity. At first Frederika
assumed Nadia simply gauged the rivals for her mate's attention,
yet there seemed to be something else. A brief moment of dawning
had crossed the female Falcanian's dusky features, her lips parted
and brilliant-blue eyes suddenly lit up when she looked at
Frederika. The Queen buried her reaction, and leaned toward her
mate to whisper in his ear.

Nadia glanced at Frederika, recalling her
from a recent vision. This exquisite girl, hatching from out of a
green egg. She moved in close to Sharr and spoke in Skora, the
Falcanian language: “That blonde in the black jeans and halter top.
Ask her to sit with you.” purred Nadia while she took firm hold of
Sharr's hand.

“T'Kara why her?” asked the Shotar as he
breathed in the sweet aroma of his Queen while at the same time he
still eyed the blonde with great interest. Did Nadia play a game
with him? She of course knew his tastes. Indeed the blonde, who at
the moment gave him a sultry smile was very beautiful.

“I think she's the perfect gift for you,”
Nadia murmured.

The egg-shaped doors slid open. A group of
Drakorian walked in, Kulcarin Aranskrai at their lead. He was
dressed in full ox-blood Drakorian armor, his stylized bird helmet
under his arm. Aranskrai bowed while he looked up at Sitara beside
her father. She smiled back at him, yet he kept his expression
neutral, only acknowledging her with a nod. He and his crew found
themselves a place to sit.

“As you wish, Nadia.”

Sharr gestured at Frederika.

Her heart pounded. The Shotar had motioned
for her to come up the dais. Frederika had not expected to make
contact so easily. Ch'Kran gave her a nod of encouragement and made
it clear she should step up to the throne as commanded.

Clearly her father had taken an interest in
the blonde dancer. Sitara made up her mind to go to Kulcarin. He
had greeted her in an atypically cold manner. She sensed something
wrong with him. The blonde moved to join her father and so Sitara
excused herself and pressed on her sire's arm as she got up from
her ottoman.

One went while the other came, briefly
Frederika and Sitara passed one another. Two scions of genetic
manipulation crossed each other's path. The girls exchanged a
pleasant glance as they walked by. Sitara looked the tall
emerald-eyed blonde up and down and Frederika did the same with the
Princess. They both concluded that they approved of one
another.

Sharr focused on the blonde – but for a
minute he felt a ripple in the cyber network of Char. His blue-gray
eyes glanced around the hall to find the source. He noticed
Kulcarin with his crew at a table just back from their mission… the
sound of Urksa Vorskrai as he worked the gathered dignitaries
brought the Shotar's attention onto the young Guilthari Lord.

“What?” Nadia asked. It had been hard not to
notice the concerned look on her mate's face.

“I felt a surge in the cyber network,” Sharr
said quietly, still looking at Urksa surrounded by his wives as he
talked with a Drakorian. It didn't take long for the Guilthari to
notice Sitara going over toward Kulcarin.