Hers to Command (33 page)

“
Ari, stop.” Doral’s voice shook with intensity. “I thank the Goddess that Elder Patricio took that bolt instead of you or Fleur. I deeply regret not being able to stop the whole tragedy. But, Ari, don’t make him into someone he wasn’t. He was a single-minded, manipulative taskmaster. And as for liking you? Ari, it is impossible
not
to like you. By Her ruby red tits, Ari, half this planet is in
love
with you. Grieve, yes. But don’t eviscerate yourself. He was an old man in failing health who has immortalized himself in Verdantia’s recorded history from today forward. Elder Patricio could not have scripted a more heroic death.”

Ari
eyed Doral’s handsome, earnest face mulling over his words. “No one should ever mistake your quietness for a lack of intellect, lover,” he observed softly.

Thinking of
how the elder would have used saving the
Tetriarch
for his own ends brought a genuine smile to Ari’s face. “Patricio would have reveled in being a hero.” On further reflection, Ari could not prevent a long groan. “He would have been
insufferable
.”

Doral’s lips quirked
. Fleur gave a soft huff of laughter.

Ari
drew Fleur into his arms and hugged her tightly. “We almost lost you. I can’t bear to think about it.” He buried his face in her hair for a long moment before looking up again.

“
We are going to start a new fashion,” he announced. “In the future, all our social functions will require complete nudity. No concealed weapons that way.”

With a wobbly laugh, Fleur looked at him in disbelief
. “Ari, think, Tryterion Ambassador Jaunty, nude? LFP Council head Gilla, nude?”

“
Council Chair Tetaria,” Doral muttered under his breath.

Fleur shuddered
. “Not an attractive picture. Besides,
your
weapons
should
be concealed.” She looked pointedly at their groins. “We provoke enough comment as it is.”

Doral grunted softly
. Ari chuckled. “I’ll concede loin cloths.”

Suddenly serious again,
Ari’s eyes sought Doral. “I hear what you are saying, Doral.”

He
reached for Doral and pulled him into their embrace, resting his forehead on Doral’s broad shoulder, allowing Doral’s strong body to support some of his weight. “You take extraordinary care of me, Visconte. I do notice.”

Doral rested his chee
k against Ari’s head. “On the rare occasions you allow it, my Lord.”

Fleur tightened her arms around them both.

* * * * *

Elder
Patricio’s funeral contained enough pomp and ceremony to gladden even
his
shriveled heart. Due to the timing, the entire governing council for the LFP and all of their entourage attended. The assassination attempt on Queen Constante spawned unprecedented outrage among the League members.

Ari, Fleur and Doral watched
the endless file of dignitaries as they “paid their last respects” to the elder.

“
Do you think this outrage is really about Herrimon’s assassination attempt?” Fleur looked at Ari then Doral in question. “Or fear of the possibility we would retaliate by prohibiting any export of
cinnagin
?”

Her two men exchanged glances.

“Never mind. I know the answer,” Fleur said.

Ari
drew her to him and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. “Their priorities are misplaced.”

Doral stroked her cheek
. “Very.”

Six months later:

Doral stood behind Fleur, his arms wrapping her in a protective embrace. They watched through a large viewport as the newly re-christened,
VRN Progress
left the orbiting space dock. Though well insulated, the carbon-fiber walls and honeycombed floor vibrated as the massively powerful thrusters pushed the hyper-light battle cruiser away from the gantry tower. Then she blinked into the blackness of space.

“
That is the last of them, Doral. Our new fleet will please Ari enormously. I didn’t realize Augoust Herrimon was so wealthy. His personal navy was massive.” She snuggled back against his chest with a satisfied purr.

“
We cannot prove it to the LFP’s satisfaction, my Queen, but the Haarb had been supplying him ships for several years in preparation for the Verdantian occupation. I imagine Krakoll is beyond livid at the confiscation of Herrimon’s property by the LFP. I am certain he counted on getting those vessels back at some point.”

“
What is your best guess at a recovery timetable for our people?”

“
The mining asteroids of AEtel and XEno are the first targets. The records indicated many of our men were sold there. But the brothel ships and pleasure planets won’t be so easy. It will still take longer than I would like, my Queen. I am afraid—years.”

Fleur sighed
. “It is a miracle it is happening at all.” She turned in his arms and rose awkwardly on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Thank you. You and Ari make a formidable pair. I should never doubt you.”

“
You are welcome. Come on, sweetheart, let me get you back planet-side. I know you tire easily these days.”

She
smiled sweetly. “Can you work one more miracle and get Ari back within the next three months?”

He
gazed down at her, caressing the precious swelling in her midsection. “I miss him, too.” He smiled. “And he will be here in three days. I didn’t say anything beca––” The rest was strangled by Fleur’s exclamation as she leapt to give him a joyous hug. Laughing, Doral supported her as she slid down.

“
The legal proceedings to transfer all Augoust’s real property to the Sovereign Planet of Verdantia were expedited due to ‘egregious violation of the principles and directives of the LFP’.” Doral’s face betrayed his satisfaction. “Seems they frown on assassination attempts and Lockwood really held their feet to the fire. Ari was able to wrap up the legal paperwork and leave much sooner than he thought possible.”

“
Oh, Doral! Can we contact him?”

“
I am afraid not, kitten. Ari will be hyper-light and inter-spacial right now. When he drops out of hyper-light we can reach him—late tomorrow evening, most probably.”

“
I am not that tired. Can’t we stay here? Station Commander Huller’s quarters are very comfortable. We won’t be able to communicate if we are planetside.”

“
You are sure it is not too much for you?”

“
I am sure.” Her eyes gleamed with anticipation. “Sari and Camilla will complain but I don’t care.”

“
I have a very difficult time saying
no
to you. I’ll tell Station Commander Huller to bunk in with the officers for a couple more days.”

Sari had told Fleur she would sit on her if she didn’t get off her feet and rest
. So, Fleur was lying down, staring at the ceiling in her quarters and trying to quell her spiraling excitement at Ari’s imminent arrival when her private com line chimed.

“
Your Majesty?”

“
Yes, Captain O’her’d?”

“
I received an encoded communication from a Captain Eric DeStroia marked ‘Urgent-For Your Eyes Only’. The visconte threatened to dismember me if I disturbed you, but you might want to see this. Would you like me to relay it to your private com center for decoding?”

“
Yes, Captain. Thank you.”

Fleur waited impatiently as the communications downloaded from the decoding translator
. When the screen indicated a one hundred percent download, she pressed the print request then sat down and read DeStroia’s stunning findings. She sat for a long time trying to decide what to do with the information. Finally, she rang the call button in her quarters.

“
Yes, Your Majesty?”

“
Please locate Visconte DeLorion and tell him I would like to see him at his convenience.”

“
Yes, Your Majesty.”

“
Oh, and make sure he knows it is not an emergency. I don’t want him breaking his neck in a sprint to get here. He is a bit overly solicitous lately.”

A light chuckle crackled over the com line
. “Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll tell him but I don’t think it will do any good.”

Twenty minutes later, the door to her quarters burst open
. “Are you all right? Is anything wrong?” Doral hovered over her anxiously.

Fleur rolled her eyes
. “I hope you get over this. I plan to have several more babies. At this rate, you will make yourself, and me, insane. In the order you asked, ‘Yes, I am all right. No, nothing is wrong. No, it is not the twins’.” She leveled an exasperated look at Doral. “Sit.”

Chastened, he sat and watched her, his eyes unhappy.

Fleur gazed at her beautiful visconte for a few moments, her face softening with love. “I cannot stay upset with you so don’t look so worried.” A gentle smile graced her lips. He returned her gaze with one of equal feeling.

Fleur handed Doral the communications
. “I want you to read this all the way through before you say anything.”

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

To:                            Her Most Sovereign Majesty, Fleur de Luna Constante

From:
              Captain Eric DeStroia

Re:
                            The Subject of Dossier 137849

I traced the subject of your request to the Oshtesh village of Sh’r Un Kree
. You asked for verifiable information so be advised this is not officially documented, but I believe she was held under guard in Sylvan Mintoth by the LFP’s Captain Steffania Rickard for at least thirty days before being handed over to the Oshtesh. This would place her with Rickard a month prior to your request to verify her whereabouts.

Several reputable sources testified to her presence in the residence of Primus G’hed
. When I asked to see the subject, I was informed she had been sold off-world to the flesh-trader, Adluba dre Sallan. I was able to track the slaver to a sex-house on the planet Orillian.

Dre Sallan confirmed he had
previously had possession of the subject but had recently sold her to a Trill ore-trader for use as its egg host. He relayed the startling information that Primus G’hed had contacted him asking if he would take her off world. Dre Sallan said she was unpopular with his clientele and her constant escape attempts were very troublesome. After her last, almost successful attempt, he had her blinded. His comment was, “Now she cannot see to run”.

I located the Trill trader in the Vortian city of L’apellat
. It allowed me to observe the woman it had purchased and examine the sale documents from dre Sallan. She is the individual identified in your dossier.

The Trill kept her nude, chained to a wall with her arms loosely restrained by elbow cuffs and a chain run behind her back
. Her nipples and clitoris had been pierced with gold rings. And she was most definitely blind.

She appeared in good physical condition, well hydrated and well nourished
. I did not see any sores or open wounds. She was clean and in an advanced gravid condition.

Her housing, while utilitarian, was clean
. I was not allowed to speak with her and cannot advise as to her mental state.

The Trill trader was very pleased with her and indicated she would hatch its offspring in another
thirty NT solar days. It expected it would be able to get several hatchings from her before it had to replace her.

As you most likely know, Your Majesty, the insectoid Trill is both male and female in cycles
. During the female cycle, it uses an ovipositor to implant multiple eggs into the uterus of its egg host.

The egg host incubates the eggs until the Trill go into their
“male” cycle. At this time, the eggs are fertilized by an appendage similar to the human male’s penis. It indicated a restraint table was used to prevent any unavoidable injury to itself or the egg host during both egg implantation and fertilization.

The Trill ejaculate every hour or so during a fertilization period that can last several days
. Their ejaculate is caustic and scar tissue can form after several broods. When the egg host’s birthing channel is no longer elastic enough to accommodate the ovipositor or male fertilization organ, they are sold. This Trill trader had an agreement with a local weaving mill to purchase its “retired” egg hosts.

I returned to Sh’r Un Kree and again sought out Oshtesh Primus G’hed, determined to discover how he came to have the subject
. I sought the name of the individual who directed and authorized his actions. Again, I received no satisfactory answer from him. I know this is more than you requested but I must acknowledge a driving desire to know who would have the power to violate so many Verdantian laws.