ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) (43 page)

One sweet bird chirping at dawn could be a very pleasant way to be awakened. However, hundreds of exotic winged creatures screeching and squawking their good mornings was a different matter entirely. Aster and Rom turned their heads toward each other at the same moment and laughed at their mutual reaction to nature's alarm clock.

"Good morning, shallar," Aster said softly. "Apparently, our neighbors think it's time to be up and about."

"Hmmm." Rom shifted to his side and propped himself up on his elbow. "Awake, maybe, but there's no reason to be up and about." He gently kissed her eyelids, her nose, her lips, while his hand crept under the sheet to caress her hip.

Aster returned his touch and warmed to his kisses. Just as he moved against her, the vidcom beeped.

Rom felt Aster stiffen beneath him. "Ignore it," he commanded.

The whole purpose of being in his sanctuary was to be left alone and he returned his attention to his love. But she was distracted by the consistent beeping. When the vidcom finally switched over to its message mode, Rom's father's voice filled the room.

"Romulus. This is important. I know you can't be asleep. The sun is up and so are the birds, so get out of that bed."

Rom groaned. He would not easily recover his passionate mood with his father talking in the background so he got up and went to the desk.

"And good morning to you too, Father. What's so important?" Rom grumbled in a barely civilized tone. When he saw Aster frown at him, he switched to a more polite tack. "Were you expecting us for breakfast? I didn't realize..."

"No, no, nothing so trivial, son. Turn on your video. Your mother wants to see your face when I tell you the news. I'd have you both come over but we can't wait."

Rom did as requested and instantly his parents appeared on his screen. He unconsciously gripped the arm of his chair as he waited for his father to speak again. There could only be one subject worthy of such prelude. "Well?"

"We can't see Aster. Can she hear me?"

Rom smiled at Aster. Clutching the sheet over her nakedness, shaking her head and waving her hand all at the same time, there was no doubt she preferred not to be seen in her present state. "She can hear you fine. Now will you please get on with it?"

Marcus blurted out his announcement. "The Tribunal sent us a courtesy copy of a message to you. I guess they really wanted to make sure you saw it first thing this morning." An instant later, the message appeared on the screen.

Romulus Locke:

The Ruling Tribunal of Norona is pleased to confirm the unanimous approval of your appointment as the next Governor of Innerworld, the term of which will commence in ninety days.

Investigation of Aster Mackenzie is completed. It has been verified that she is a descendant of one of the Noronian rebels originally exiled on Outerworld Terra. Her Noronian ancestry was awakened upon contact with her own race. The citizens of Innerworld will be informed.

Felicitations on your upcoming joining.

You will both reappear before the Tribunal three days hence for the swearing-in ceremony.

Lamed/Mem/Nun

Aster let out a cry. Regardless of her lack of attire, she needed to be next to Rom. Hurriedly wrapping the sheet around her, she ran to his arms. On the screen, Marcus and Yulan hugged each other also.

Brushing a happy tear off her cheek, Aster said, "You did it, shallar. You beat the system, as they say in my country."

"You mean,
we
did it, shalla. But I'm stunned. I had such a strong feeling that at least one of them was going to hold to tradition and deny us." He kissed her hard. "We'll be joined tonight. Mother? Father? Do you approve now?"

Yulan turned toward them again. "It was never a question of us approving, Romulus, only one of concern for you both. Let's see, I'll help Marcus rearrange his schedule and you bring Aster to me when you're ready."

"Fine. See you shortly." Rom touched the screen and the picture vanished.

Aster let go of the sheet and threw her arms around Rom's neck, pulling his head down to receive her excited kisses. "I don't know whether to be thrilled or scared. It seems like we've been talking about joining forever." Aster kissed him again then pulled back as she recalled the full message. "What do you think about that business of my having a Noronian ancestor?"

"It helps to explain everything that's happened to you. And since it was a factor in the Tribunal's decision, I'm certainly not going to question it. I hate to admit it but that pronouncement is going to make a difference in how easily some Innerworlders will accept you as Co-Governor. Maybe it won't matter anymore when our children grow up. Let's just be grateful whether it's true or not."

"I will be very grateful, if you will finish what you started,
Governor
Romulus," Aster murmured, her body brushing against his.

As he carried her back to the bed, she considered his casual comment. Yes, there would be children. And like those American immigrants he had once compared her to, the reasons for prejudice against Terrans would begin to dissipate with the mixed blood of the next generation.

Romulus made a concerted effort to love her slowly. It would be the last time they would share their bodies as separate individuals. He wanted it to be as memorable as everything else that would occur that day. Also, he wanted her to be as relaxed and receptive as possible as the events of the day and night unfolded.

The sun was well above the horizon when Aster reminded Rom that Yulan was expecting them. "Shouldn't we be going soon? Where will the ceremony take place? I remember the book said it had to begin at midnight and we are each to spend the day in preparation with one of our own parents. Is that why your mother said to bring me to her? Will she be able to stand in as my mother?"

"Slow down," Rom said with a laugh. "Yes, it will be tonight at midnight. My father and I will erect the necessary structure near here and my mother will bring you to us when it is time. She will provide your joining robe and will spend the day with you reviewing the ritual. It will be a good opportunity for the both of you to get to know each other better. We will have to be on our way soon but I'm not anxious to leave you, even if it is the last separation we will experience."

Aster wondered at the serious expression on his face as he stroked her jaw with his thumb. "What's wrong?"

"I love you so much. I don't know what I would have done if you had continued to refuse me. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course I do, but I didn't, did I? So why are you looking at me like that?" Aster felt the tension growing between them and pulled back to look at him better as he spoke.

"Something very strange and powerful will occur tonight. You're going to experience feelings and sensations unlike anything you've ever felt. You mustn't be frightened of any of it. I'll be feeling the same way but we'll be together through it all."

"What if I can't overcome my fear? Will we be unable to join?"

"No, once the ritual begins, there is no way to stop it. Perhaps I'm worrying over nothing. You see, the drink we will consume at the beginning of the ceremony contains an ingredient that will heighten our senses and our awareness of each other. It also tends to make you feel removed from your physical surroundings. If you accept that as what is supposed to happen, you should have no reason to be afraid."

"An ingredient? It sounds like a drug. I thought Noronians prohibited that sort of thing." Aster pulled slightly away from him. Drugs were one subject that could take precedence over her anxieties.

"It is an
ingredient
, one vital to the ceremony. That's really all I can tell you about it. Since it is only used in the joining ritual, I have never tried it. I do know that without it we would never reach the spiritual level where we must go. I wouldn't agree to anything that would harm you, shalla. Keep in mind, this is my first time too. For all I know, there are things my father will tell me today that are new to me. I have to bide my time as well."

Aster moved close to him again and sighed when his arms encircled her. "You're right, of course. I can do anything as long as you're with me. Whatever it takes, I want you right here." She tapped her temple with her index finger. "Then I won't be frightened of anything ever again."

Rom lifted her face to his and stared for a very long time into her eyes. Although she couldn't read his actual thoughts, she felt his strength and love injecting itself into her mind. She could do it. She had to.

Aster's nerves began to calm within minutes of being left alone with Yulan. The two women exchanged past experiences and plans and hopes for the future. The one common bond between them was their love of Locke men. Aster could not help but compare her life with what it might have been like if this intelligent, caring woman had been her mother. She could not change the past but she could look forward to the pleasure of having Yulan as a mother-in-law in the years ahead. By the time they sat down to dinner, Aster felt as though she had known Yulan her entire life.

"Yulan, how does it feel to have Marcus in your head all the time? On the one hand, I feel that's how it should be. On the other, it's such an alien concept, literally, I have no way of imagining it."

Yulan smiled. "It takes some getting used to, even for a Noronian. Eventually the advantages and mental companionship far outweigh any disadvantages. Aster, what you are doing tonight cannot be reversed in this lifetime. You will still be everything you were before but you will also be reborn as the creation of a new entity that is made up of the both of you. Do you understand that?"

"Yes." There was nothing more for Aster to say.

"Good. Then let's go over the ritual and start getting you ready."

The midnight hour approached. What Aster had expected to be the longest day in her life had sped by.

The scented soap Yulan gave her to bathe with left Aster's skin unusually sensitive. When she slipped the hooded, white caftan over her naked body, she swore she could feel every one of the silken threads in the robe. Aster stared at her reflection in the mirror. A beautiful stranger stood there, with shining silver hair and a soft glow radiating from her face. Only her eyes betrayed the fact that she was scared to death.

If Yulan had not led her by the hand out the door and onto a horse, Aster was positive she would not have made it. Just before they reached the lagoon, they dismounted. Yulan pulled the hood over Aster's hair and took her hand again. With a firm squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, Yulan let Aster know she would be fine.

When they stepped into the clearing, they halted again. Clearly visible in the moonlight was a large tent shaped like a pyramid. Four crystal poles joined at the top. The triangular, white chiffon sides gently billowed in and out from a subtle breeze, while shadows flickered behind the material.

Yulan raised the front flap and motioned for Aster to enter. Her bare feet welcomed the thick woven rug inside as her eyes adjusted to the firelight offered by candles in hurricane-style lamps.

Knowing she was not permitted to look directly at Romulus at this time, Aster kept her head bent. But it was easy enough to recognize his toes peeking out from beneath the hem of a white robe like hers. A glimpse of shoes and pant legs told her Marcus was positioned to Rom's right.

Marcus's voice penetrated the quiet of the shadowy tent. "I, Marcus Locke, mate of Yulan, have come to this place to witness the joining of the son of my body with his chosen mate. Romulus Locke, have you read and understood the sacred words and are you prepared to abide by them for all time, to become one with this woman?"

"I have and I am." Rom's answer was strong and sure and Aster drew courage from the sound.

"I, Yulan, mate of Marcus Locke, stand in the place of a blood relation to Aster Mackenzie. From this moment on, I will call her my daughter and she shall think of me as her mother. I have come to this place to witness the joining of my new daughter with her chosen mate. Aster Mackenzie, have you read and understood the sacred words and are you prepared to abide by them for all time, to become one with this man?"

Aster parted her lips, intending to speak as confidently as Rom had, but the words were a mere whisper. "I have and I am."

"Let it begin," Marcus declared.

Yulan continued to hold Aster's hand as she led her the few steps to a low table. When she felt a slight pressure on her shoulder, Aster sat down cross-legged on one side. With her head still lowered, she saw Rom being seated opposite her. His parents moved to a corner of the structure.

On the table in front of her was a silver chalice filled with a deep burgundy liquid. Aster's hands shook so badly she wondered how she would ever get it to her mouth without spilling any.

When Rom began speaking his vows, Aster flinched involuntarily.

"Aster Mackenzie, only you can satisfy my thirst and my desire. You are all the nourishment I shall ever need." His hand reached out and lifted the chalice, then replaced it, minus half the liquid.

It would only be a few more minutes before she could look up at his face. It had not seemed like it would take this long when she read the words in the book. "Romulus Locke, only you can provide my wants and needs. You are the only solace I shall ever need." Aster swallowed the first half of the drink. In spite of its color, it tasted like peppermint tea.