Stardust (31 page)

Somora inclined her head, quietly accepting the sincere apology.

“
I will not allow myself to be deterred from the course of action I feel best for our people. And I care not to hear Nalene
’
s name mentioned again.
”
Slamock
’
s voice was weary, his massive shoulder
’
s drooped in defeat.

Somora leaned forward eagerly.
“
But m
y son, Nalene is not dead. She –
”

“
Mother, please.
”
Sadness etched his pinched features as he raised a hand to stop her words.
“
Nalene is lost to me. I want to hear no more on the subject.
”

“
Very well, my son. It will be as you wish.
”
There was nothing more she could say. Her son must face the consequences of his actions. And even though she believed him wrong in this instance, she would now aid him in his mission.

* * *

“
Enter,
”
Aurora whispered from her pallet on the floor. She could not summon the energy to rise from the bed place. For the last two mornings she had become deathly ill upon awakening. If she had not known better, she would have sworn Slamock had been tainting her nourishment with the Palermonian pocco berry, a substance known throughout the galaxy as a slow killing poison.

Somora opened the heavy door carrying a steaming cup of liquid.
“
How do you feel this morning?
”
she asked, kneeling beside Aurora
’
s prostrate figure.

“
I am feeling much stronger,
”
Aurora said. Her earlier fears dissolved in the wake of the older woman
’
s concern.

“
I have brought you a drink which should ease your stomach.
”
As Aurora sat up, Somora handed her the beverage.

Aurora sipped the brown-colored liquid, its taste reminding her of a long forgotten remedy used by the servants in her Uncle Darvek
’
s dwelling.
“
Thank you, Somora. This is most pleasant.
”

Somora smiled happily.
“
You are a most beautiful girl,
”
she said softly, her hand reaching out to touch Aurora
’
s dark strands.
“
I would be most honored to have you as part of my family.
”

Aurora finished the drink, her queasiness completely gone.
“
Will you not help me?
”
she begged.
“
I cannot join with your son.
”

The older woman took Aurora
’
s hand in hers.
“
I do not wish anything wrong upon you. I too have grave misgivings concerning the union between you and my son, but Slamock is determined to procreate our lineage. With the spell Saatan brought upon our planet, my son feels his only choice of a wife is with an outsider. The warriors will not mate with the daughters who have survived.
”

“
My mother is most correct. But with you by my side, I will show the others it is accepted to form unions once again.
”
Slamock had entered Aurora
’
s quarters on silent feet. He walked to her pallet and withdrew her hands from his mother
’
s, tugging until she rose to her feet.
“
Today you will become my queen. Queen Aurora.
”

Aurora found herself unable to turn away from Slamock
’
s gaze. His eyes had turned into a bright liquid yellow. She looked deeper into the brightness, swaying closer to the snake creature
’
s body.

“
Slamock,
”
Somora begged quietly.
“
Please do not.
”

“
This is how it must be,
”
he said softly, never allowing his eyes to stray from Aurora
’
s.
“
My destiny is determined.
”

Somora
’
s own eyes were angry as she gazed upon her son and the almost hypnotic glaze that had fallen upon Aurora.
“
You, yourself, have made your own fate. Were you not so stubborn as to believe, all of this could have been avoided. Do you not dream, my son?
”

Slamock spared his mother a speaking glance, his tone sharp.
“
My dreams have no meanings, old woman. And I will hear no more of your foolish stories. Our light keeper is gone. The stone is gone. There is nothing more to be said.
”

He turned once again to Aurora.
“
Will you become my chosen one?
”
he asked.

Aurora could not turn from the brightness as she felt herself growing weak.
“
Yes, Slamock. I will become your mate.
”

Releasing her hands, he stepped back.
“
See, Mother, Aurora has agreed to this of her own free will.
”

“
Do not mock me,
”
Somora warned.
“
I am still queen of Krossos until the exchange takes place. Please afford me some respect until such time.
”

“
Of course, Queen Somora,
”
Slamock bowed formally before her.
“
Will you prepare Aurora for the ceremony?
”

Somora
’
s bow was equally as regal.
“
If is it so ordered.
”

Slamock straightened, readjusting his headdress.
“
Please bring her to my chambers when you are done.
”

Somora sighed in regret as her son left. She called to the gods that somehow, someone would intervene and the life path of her son would be restored to its former rightness. Until then there was nothing she could do but follow her own given wa
y –
prepare Aurora for the joining ceremony
.

She summoned one of her daughters to sit with Aurora while she went to her chambers. When she returned, Aurora still sat on her sleeping mat.
“
My dear, why are you sitting there daydreaming? We have a million things to do.
”

Somora
’
s brisk words echoed through Aurora
’
s numbed senses.

“
Daydreaming,
”
She wanted to laugh hysterically but could not summon the energy. The last thing she was doing was having fantasies about the coming evening. Nightmares were more like it.

“
Here, you must drink this. It will calm your nerves,
”
A silver goblet filled with a dark, black liquid was thrust into Aurora
’
s cold hand.

Without fuss, she lifted the heavy goblet and drank the contents without stopping. She had no will to resist. There was nothing more to fight for. Her li
fe –
if it could be called such –
would be spent in the caves beneath this barren p
lanet. She could only hope
someday she might be able to accept the cruel fate that had befallen her.

“
That
’
s it, my dear.
”
Somora took the empty goblet and set it on the wide table beside the sleeping mat. Stepping back several paces, she watched Aurora
’
s face. When she saw a light flush steal over her features and a near feverish light enter her eyes, she stepped forward quickly. Putting a hand under her arm she urged the younger woman to her feet.
“
Come, my child, the time draws nigh. We must prepare you for your groom.
”

Aurora, though still unable to sort through her confused thoughts, followed Somora
’
s orders. She felt an unfamiliar warmth stealing through her. As Somora slid the long dress of sheer Coronian silk over her head, Aurora could not control a small gasp. Her skin was so sensitive she felt as though she had just been caressed by a well-known lover. Such a thought caused erotic images to dance behind her eyes and her breathing became erratic.

Suddenly, she yearned for a pair of strong arms to hold her, a warm body to bring her pleasure. How could she be having such thoughts at a time when she should be concentrating on a plan of escape? She did not wish to be joined to such a one as Slamock. Did she?

She no longer knew her own mind. Her skin was on fire and she tingled with a longing so intense it threatened to bring her to her knees.

“
Sit before the mirror, my daughter, and let me complete your dress.
”
With deft hands, Somora twisted the long length of black hair into an exquisite cornet and placed a filmy veil of the same silky material as her dress upon the dark locks.
“
There, my dear. Now you are ready to meet your destiny.
”
Somora once again helped the younger woman to her feet.

Aurora stared with wide-eyed wonder at the transformation. Never had she thought she could look as she did at this moment.
“
This cannot be me reflected in the glass.
”
She turned puzzled eyes upon her soon-to-be mother.

Somora laughed delightedly.
“
Of course that is you, my sweet daughter. My son is indeed a very lucky Krossonian male.
”

Aurora dipped her head, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the crystal beading that graced the front of the gown. Somora
’
s words, though intended as high praise, only served to remind her of the fate that awaited.

Silently cursing her wayward tongue, Somora took Aurora
’
s soft hand in hers.
“
Come, my daughter. It is time.
”

“
No, wait,
”
Aurora said, looking around anxiously.
“
Where is Talena?
”

“
I do not know,
”
Somora answered, smiling slightly.
“
But I am sure she will be there for the ceremony. The guards know not to harm your friend.
”

* * *

“
You must hurry.
”
The soft hiss of Talena
’
s voice intruded upon Darton
’
s slumber, jerking him awake. He cursed himself soundly for falling asleep once again. For two interminable days he had been left in this cell, alone except for the presence of his great furry friend and the guard that had brought him food. It was as though Slamock had forgotten his existence.

“
What has gotten your goat?
”
he asked, his voice still husky from sleep.

Talena jumped on the jaguar
’
s back as the cat lay at Darton
’
s feet. For once she ignored Siara
’
s low-throated growl. Using Darton
’
s karta, she climbed higher. When her claws sank into the tender skin of his loins, he issued a furious shout.

“
You sand-flea-infected piece of talking fur! What are you doing? Have I not suffered enough?
”

Talena
’
s response was muffled, her mouth closed around the large object she carried. Once she reached Darton
’
s head, she stopped, dropping the thing none to gently upon his golden head.

“
Do you think it is easy carrying such a thing?
”
she complained, panting heavily.
“
It must be more than two mayales from Aurora
’
s chambers to yours.
”

Darton held himself perfectly still, resisting the urge to fling the turin across the room.
“
What do you have?
”
he asked quietly.

“
Turn your palm upward,
”
Talena commanded.

Darton obeyed reluctantly. It did his male pride much damage to rely on a creature such as a turin for help. But he would have endured a hundred such insults to be with Aurora. He squelched the cries of pain as the creature walked across his raw and swollen wrists, her roughened paws sending knifelike jabs of pain throughout his whole body.