Wray (27 page)

“No!” Bertos immediately denied. “It is not
yet the time. We do not yet have enough support in the
Assembly.”

“How can you not! You are a direct descendant
of the original Emperor.”

“Yes, yet some still doubt me. I need to be
able to prove to them that I can give them what they need.”

“How will you do that?”

“I have a plan. Now this is what I want you
to do about the female.”

Kim slowly turned getting a feel for
the
dress flowing around her as she walked
into the outer chamber. Caitir and Jael had arrived shortly after
the midday meal as promised, loaded down with multiple dresses.

“It’s lovely
,
Caitir.” Kim told her then looked at Wray for his opinion and was
surprised by the storm of emotion raging in his eyes. “Wray?”

Wray moved towards her, his eyes slowly
traveling over her now fully covered in House Vasteri blue. She had
pulled her hair up in some sort of twist while she and Caitir had
been in the resting chamber putting on the covering. It made her
look regal but he found he missed seeing it flowing long and free.
He also missed the beauty of her bare legs.

“You look beautiful
,
my Kim,” he told her gently cupping her cheek. “More beautiful than
any Empress ever has.”

The sincerity in Wray’s voice had Kim’s eyes
filling. She may not be total
ly
comfortable with the new role and the new world she’d been thrust
into but she knew when Wray looked at her like this she would find
a way to get comfortable.

“Thank you.” She whispered, kissing his
palm.

“I’m telling you
the
truth, my Kim.” Remembering they are not alone, Wray let his hand
fall away and turned to Jael. “My thanks for getting it done so
quickly.”

“It was an honor to make coverings for your
Empress
,
sire
,
and now that we are confident with the final fitting and length we
can finish the rest.”

“I would like this one finished immediately.
The Empress will be meeting my first male later today and will need
something suitable.”

“Of course
,
majesty,
the hem is all that is left on this covering. It won’t take
long”

“Majesty.” Veron stepped into the room and
waited for the Emperor to acknowledge him.

“What is it
,
Captain.” Wray’s asked.

“Lord Reeve and...” he paused, glancing at
Kim, “and the others are awaiting for you in the ruling
chamber.”

“I will be there shortly.” Wray said
curtly.

“Yes
,
majesty.”
Turning Veron left.

“Can it be finished here?” Kim asked and
walked towards Jael. She understood that Wray was used to taking
control of… well, everything and that Tornian females didn’t
directly address a male, but these were her coverings and she
would
have some say in what was happening here today. It
involved her too.

“I…” Jael’s eyes widened as she walked
towards him. He couldn’t stay here with her alone.

“Kim…” Wray began.

“What?” She asked.

“Jael can’t stay here with you
,
Kim.” Wray ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
“And I need to leave.”

“But Caitir can. Right?” Kim looked to Caitir
and saw she had shocked the other female. “You do know how to
finish the dress
,
don’t you
,
Caitir?”

“I…” Caitir’s eyes flew to Jael for
guidance.

“She does
,
Empress.”
Jael admitted carefully. “But…”

“But what?” Kim frowned, looking from Jael to
Caitir, when neither spoke, she gave Wray a frustrated look.

“Kim, Auyangian females…” Wray struggled with
what to say.

“Auyangian females what???” Kim demanded.

“Are considered available when not in the
presence of their protector.” Caitir finally answered her in a
quiet voice.

“Available…” Kim frowned at Caitir, hoping
she had misunderstood what Caitir was saying, but the look in her
eyes told her she hadn’t. “Well
,
that
won’t
be a problem here.
Will
it Wray,” Kim demanded,
turning hard eyes to Wray. “Because your warriors are fit and
worthy. Your warriors
protect
females. They
never
abuse them.”

“They do not
,
my
Kim.” Wray reassured her then looked to Jael. “Jael, no harm will
come to Caitir if she were to stay with my Empress, my vow.”

“I believe you
,
sire,” Jael told him nervously and forced himself to look the
Emperor in the eye. “But the choice must be Caitir’s.”

Wray stared at the Auyangian male and found
he admired his courage. Few would speak to him thusly; they
especially would not give the female a choice.

“Of course it is.” Wray said and turned his
gaze to Caitir.

Caitir couldn’t believe what was taking
place. The Empress wanted her to remain with her? The Emperor vowed
that she would be protected? An Auyangian?

“Caitir?” Jael prompted quietly, when she
didn’t speak.

“I’ll stay.” Caitir quickly replied, looking
from Wray to Jael. “You will return for me when it is time?”

“Of course.” Jael immediately replied.

“Wonderful.” Kim said, smiling. “When will
Tora be arriving?”

“Shortly before last meal.” Wray informed
her.

“Will he be eating with us?” Kim asked.

“If that is what you want.”

“Well, I think it also depends on what you
and Tora want.”

“I would be thrilled to have him share last
meal with us
,
Kim. I’m sure Tora will feel
the same.”

“You’re sure?” She asked and Wray heard her
doubt.

“I am
,
Kim.” Wray
ran a reassuring hand down her cheek.

Caitir stood before the Empress, unsure of
what she should do. Jael and the Emperor had left moments ago and
now she was alone with this small, strange looking female. She had
never seen a Tornian like her before.

“That’s because I’m not one.” Kim said and
Caitir paled when she realized she’d voiced her thoughts.

“Empress… my deepest apologizes.” Caitir
dropped to her knees, bowed her head and prayed to the Goddess that
the Empress wouldn’t withdrawal her protection.

“For what?” Kim asked and was shocked when
Caitir dropped to her knees. “What are you doing?”

“Please
,
Empress… I
meant no offense.”

“Of course you didn’t and I wasn’t. Offended
that is. I’m
not
Tornian.” Kim reached down a hand.
“Please
,
Caitir. Please get up.”

Caitir raised her eyes to the Empress and
found no anger, just honest confusion and looked at the extended
hand. Slowly she reached out and took it.

Kim smiled as she helped Caitir up. She
wasn’t sure what had just happened, wasn’t sure why it had
happened, but she would make sure it didn’t happen again.

“You’re not Tornian?” Caitir asked
hesitantly.

“No. I’m from a planet called Earth. I guess
you’d call me an Earthling.”

“Earthling… I have never heard of them
before.”

“I know. No one has. Why did you think your
words would upset me?”

“I was not respectful. Females… Tornian
females would never allow one like me to speak about her as I did.
She would become upset and have me punished… or worse.”

“Worse?” Kim frowned.

“She would demand I leave… alone… without
protection.”

“I see.” Kim turned away from Caitir, her
anger for Tornian females growing. That they would do such a thing,
knowing what would happen, sickened her. “Has this happened to you
before? Here on Vesta? With Lady Estee?”

“No, Jael would never have left me alone with
Lady Estee. She never would have allowed it. Lord Reeve was with us
at all times. For her even to speak to me would have been
considered an insult. It would have upset her. If that
happened…”

“I understand.” Kim cut her off and turned
back to face her. “I want you to understand something
,
Caitir.
That
will never happen with me. I am
not Tornian and refuse to behave like them. I greatly appreciate
you being honest with me
.
T
here is still much of this world that I don't know.”
Kim saw she didn’t believe her. “You don’t believe me.”

“I… of course I do, Empress.”

“No you don’t but I guess I can understand
that.” Kim gave her a slight smile. “You don’t know me and I don’t
know you. All I know is your name is Caitir, which is as beautiful
as you are. You are Auyangian, which is supposed to mean something
to me, and that your uncle’s name is Jael. Oh, and you are a very
talented clothier.”

“I… you’ve never heard of Auyangians?” Caitir
couldn't hide her shock.

“Nope.” Kim sat down in a chair and gestured
to Caitir to do the same. “Just like you’ve never heard of
Earthlings, I’ve never heard of Auyangians. So tell me what
everyone thinks I should know.”

“I…” Caitir slowly sat down trying to decide
what to say.

“Please, Caitir, the truth.” Kim asked and
Caitir slowly nodded.

This strange female seemed honestly puzzled
as to why Auyangian females were thought so little of. She was the
Empress, but considered
her
beautiful... and
talented
... Had the universes ended?

“Auyang is a very hostile place," Caitir
began. "Where life is harsh and for many short. To survive there
great sacrifices must be made… mostly by females.” When the Empress
said nothing, just listened intently, Caitir continued.

“Families with multiple females often sell
the extras to pleasure houses so the rest of the family can
survive.”

“Extras!” Kim was glad she was sitting
otherwise her knees would have given out.

“Yes, it is a common practice, especially if
a female is weak or sickly. They are sold off, thereby lessening
the strain on the family’s resources.”

“You were sold?”

“No, although I would have been if it wasn’t
for my uncle. My mother did not survive presenting me and I was
very sickly. My manno decided it would be a waste of precious
resources to continue to support me.”

“How old were you?” Kim asked, aghast.

“Eight.” Caitir said simply.

“Eight! Your manno was going to sell an eight
year old to a pleasure house?”

“Yes, but my uncle bought me before he
could.”

“Your uncle bought you….”

“It was the only way he could protect me.”
Caitir said, frowning at Kim. “Jael was my mother’s brother. He
left Auyang at a very young age, but vowed he would return for her.
Since he was unable to save her, he decided to save me. He bought
me from my manno and taught me how to make coverings.”

“He treated you as if you were his own.”

“No
,
he treated me
better than that. He treated me as if I
mattered
.”

"Of course you
matter
!" Kim leaned
over and squeezed Caitir's hand "
Everyone
matters Caitir. It
doesn't matter if
they're
male or female.
It doesn't matter what color they are or where they are from. What
matters
is that they try to live a worthy and fit life that
they can be proud of."

"That is what you do?"

"I'm trying to. I'm not perfect. I've made a
lot of mistakes, but I'm trying to learn from them so I don't make
them again. It was hard enough on Earth where I knew the
rules
.
H
ere..."
Kim's voice trailed off as she thought of all the mistakes she has
made so far.

"I have heard of no... mistakes...
majesty."

"The way you say that makes me think you have
heard something though."

"I..."

"Please
,
Caitir."
Kim's eyes pleaded with her.

"There is talk of the great honor you gave
Warrior Damir on Pontus."

"Great honor? I don't know what you are
talking about
,
Caitir." Kim frowned. What
had she done?

"You placed your
hand
on his body. You
bowed
your head to him. You
followed
his body onto
the shuttle." With each sentence, Caitir's tone became more
intense.

"Well, yeah but anyone would have done
that."

"
Not
a Tornian female." Caitir
insisted. "A Tornian female would
never
have touched Damir.
She
never
would have bowed her head, recognizing his
sacrifice. She would have felt it was beneath her. A
Tornian
female would never have allowed Damir's body to be transported on
the same shuttle as her. She would have demanded he be left
behind." Caitir watched the Empress' eyes widen as she spoke. "Your
actions have every male wondering about the female the Emperor has
claimed. Wondering and hoping for the same honor.”

“They want to die in a shuttle crash?”

“They want to be considered so worthy by a
female that she would show it in front of other males.”

“Oh.” Kim said quietly, she was still having
a hard time believing how Tornian females treated their males and
how most males treated their females.

“It is something that is not done, not even
between a male and female that have Joined.”

“It shouldn’t be that way.”

“You could change that.”

“
You are the beginning.”

The words of the Goddess drifted through her
mind and Kim was finally beginning to believe. “Perhaps
you're
right.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“You did what?!! Reeve demanded.

“She’s not Tornian. There was no male there
protecting her. You could still smell that she had Joined with the
Ganglians. So we acted on it. There was no reason for us to believe
she was under his protection. Let alone under
him
.” Fala
smirked finding himself humorous.