Stardust (6 page)

“
You have no right to keep us here.
”
Even at the age of sixty moons, Lalona was still the most beautiful queen ever to grace the throne of Palermos. Bartok had thought of her as a mother.

“
I have no right?!
”
His eyes flashed dangerously.
“
I have every right, my lady,
”
he drawled sneeringly.
“
I am now the ruler of Palermos.
”

“
We have not forgotten, Bartok.
”
The weakened voice of King Jalon was but a mere whisper.
“
What we do not understand is why you have done this.
”

“
Surely you jest.
”
Bartok gripped the bars tightly in his anger.
“
You know exactly what brought this about. It has been twenty moons but I am sure everyone in this room knows my reasons.
”

“
Surely you cannot still think we sent you away because we wanted to?
”
Queen Lalona stretched forth her hand, pleading with their captor.

“
I know what you did all those years ago. You blamed me for the accident and you sent me away from the only real home I had ever known.
”
Rage contorted Bartok
’
s face into an evil mask. Many years ago, Palermos and Argon had enjoyed a favorable trade treaty. The planets had been fast neighbors, its citizens traveling easily to and fro. That had all ended upon the sudden death of Bartok
’
s father, whereupon Saatan had named himself ruler.

“
No, Bartok, that is not true.
”
Jalon
’
s voice was stronger.
“
We never blamed you for the accident.
”

“
You did! I heard you in the garden the day before you sent me away. I believe your words were,
‘
Why did it have to be Darton? Why could it not have been another?
’
And I know you meant me.
”
Bartok
’
s shoulders slumped wearily.

“
No!
”

“
Yes. Do not lie any longer.
”
Bartok straightened, eyeing his prisoners hatefully.
“
For ten moons I visited this palace. I played with Darton and sl
ept in the same room. This was s
uch as my own home. You were my family.
”
Bartok stepped away from the cell.
“
And you betrayed me.
”

“
No, Bartok, we never thought...
”
Again Lalona tried to soothe Bartok
’
s ire.

“
This is the last time we will speak of this. But I tell you now; I
did not cause the accident which
took Darton from among us. I grieved his passing as I would
my own brother
’
s but the family I loved
turned from me. And now you will pay for the years of misery I have suffered at your hands.
”
He turned toward the stairs, the pleas of his captors falling on deaf ears.

Swiftly he made his way to the front of the palace where a large Argonian stallion awaited. Already mounted were his armored escort and a caravan of servants.
“
Come,
”
he called.
“
Let us journey.
”

* * *

The way to the Mountain of Life was long and tiring, a two-moon passage from the palace, but the encampment was well established by the time Bartok arrived. He had sent Marvock and the expedition off in the wee hours of the morning, before the celebration had ended.

The leader of the group bowed before him.
“
My lord, it is an honor to have you among us this day.
”

Bartok removed his riding gloves and l
ooked about. The small cave which
housed the camp was sparsely furnished.
“
What have you discovered?
”

The man shook with apprehension.
“
We have only been here a short while. I sought to see to your comfort first.
”

“
Enough,
”
Bartok ordered.
“
You have taken my quecs and have nothing to show for it but this filthy dwelling. The secret of the mountain must be found.
”

The man knelt at his feet.
“
Yes, my lord. We will work day and night.
”

Bartok sighed in resignation. He would get nowhere browbeating the man.
“
Rise, my friend. Yo
u will be judged by the outcome.
”
H
is voice
was
sweetly insincere.
“
Report to me by the passing of the third moon. Until then, I will see what this primitive place has to offer.
”

He clapped his hands, summoning his servants. Perhaps he should have insisted Selina accompany him; she knew how to please him. But then Selina had become quite complacent in her efforts. Already he found the need to take others to his pallet. His eyes lit with excitement as a servant
girl carried a churn of water into
the cavern.
“
Who are you my beauty?
”
he asked as he felt his
manhood swelling.

Her hair had the same raven coloring of Aurora
’
s. He pushed the dark hair from her face, relishing the trembling of her body. He gave her no time to reply as he pushed her to the hard ground, ripping the brown tunic from her body. He swiftly unleashed his eng
orged flesh, his need
great. Aurora would be his before many more moons would pass. Without preliminaries he thrust inside the female
’
s body, de
lighting in her tightness. Yes,
his mind screamed as he took her again and again. Soon Aurora would feel the power of his being.

Within minutes he finished. He levered his body away, leaving the unfortunate servant trembling in the dirt.

“
Get up, you foolish female and prepare my evening meal. When you have served
me
, return to my pallet.
”

While Bartok supped, Marvock returned.
“
We have great news, your highness. We have breached the Cavern of the Unknown.
”
He spread the maps before the ruler of Palermos, pointing to the seekers
’
position inside the great Mountain of Life.
“
See, we are within reach of the Great Ones.
”

Bartok stood, slinging the papyrus aside.
“
Fools!
”
he shouted.
“
They have tricked you. This is not the way.
”
As his words echoed off the walls, a roar sounded from deep within the mountain. The guards and servants rushed into the caverns in hopes of rescuing the seekers. Bartok silently removed his tunic, uncar
ing of the horrible deaths which
had just occurred. He stripped the serving tunic from the female and threw her on his pallet, turning her on her stomach. He arched forward and the female
’
s shrieks of pain joined the wails of the dying.

* * *

Selina made her way silently through the long hallways of the palace. She knew she was taking a chance, searching Bartok
’
s quarters in the light of day. But she had to find the secret. Saatan
’
s threats did not frighten her. She had endured much pain and humiliation during her twenty-four years of life. She stopped suddenly, her breathing harsh. The echo of footsteps sounded behind her and a guard appeared. She prepared to service the man if he questioned her right to be here. She could not be stopped. She sighed in relief as the guard continued down the hall, paying her no heed.

The door to Bartok
’
s quarters was closed. She twisted the handle and it opened at her touch. The fool, she thought, such easy prey. Does he not know of his uncle
’
s plans? Quickly she entered, making sure she secured the door behind her.

The quarters were as she had left them last night. She spared one glance to the platform in the corner. When she had returned from Saatan
’
s pod, Bartok had brought in a young maiden for his pleasure and she had been forced to watch the act, encouraging her master in his deprivation. But soon that would all be over. Surely the gods had not sent her the dream of a rugged warrior for any other purpose than to torment her ragged soul?

For several weeks, Bartok had taken to looking at the view from his window and Selina mimicked his movements now. What was it about the Mountain of Life that so fascinated her master? After several minutes she gave up trying to figure out what drove the man. She began her search of his chambers in far corners and several hours passed before she discovered what she had been sent to find. Hidden in the sacred coverings of the Craton lay the secret of the mountain.

She c
lutched the book
to her breasts. This was her freedom. With Bartok destroyed, she could dispose of Saatan. A few drops of juice from the Wato berry and the piteous old man would be gone. The sun sank low, casting the room in shadows. Bartok would be gone for one more passing of the
moon and it
was time to set her plan in motion. But first she must insure her own safety
. With the knowledge of the Craton, she could easily discover the object of Bartok
’
s obsession. Someone somewhere would be very willing to pay for such knowledge and then she would have more than enough quecs to pay for passage away from all corrupt rulers. Never again would she be subject to any male
’
s rule.

* * *

Saatan stood on the edge of the balcony. Below him the citizens of Yulon went about their business. The great planet seemed indifferent to the thoughts of its ruler. The darkened night sky filled with the great yellow orb of Yulon
’
s only moon. He gasped for breath as another huge ring of darkness appeared. Death. It was coming. Both to himself and his planet. He must find a way to prevent this happening. Trembling, his withered hands clutched the green stone around his neck and slowly his breathing eased.

A knock sounded at his door.
“
Come,
”
he ordered. His voice showed no sign of weakness.

A uniformed guard immediately appeared at the entryway.
“
Commander, the ship has arrived from Palermos.
”

Saatan motioned the guard forward.
“
Is the messenger well?
”

A masculine leer formed on the guard
’
s face.
“
Yes,
your highness, the messenger is
very well.
”
The guard bowed and left as the cloaked figure entered.

Selina removed the covering from her head.
“
I ha
ve brought good news, master
.
”

Saatan
’
s eyes lit with pleasure.
“
Have you discovered the secret my nephew guards?
”

“
Of course,
”
she snapped.
“
When have I ever disappointed you?
”

“
Do not toy with me, she-
cat. Show me what you have found.
”

Quickly she
spread the
papers across the huge bed which
dominated his chambers. Triumphantly she gestured him forward. For several long moments silence reigned as Saatan viewed the different maps and pages arranged haphazardly across his sleeping platform.

“
These all seem to be concerned with the Mountain of Life.
”
Saatan tapped his chin with one long finger.
“
What could he possibly have knowledge of that is so important?
”

The question was one which demanded no answer, yet Selina responded.
“
I do not know exactly for what Bartok searches.
”
She laid a slim hand upon his skinny forearm.
“
But I do know
he stayed upon the mount three complete moons before returning.
”