Vankara (Book 1) (12 page)

“I finally got her
to lay down for her midday nap,” Emily explained, coming to stand in front of
us.

Gabriel looked at
me.  “A nap would do you some good too, your majesty.  It’s been a long day and
tonight will be even longer.”

Now that a nap was
mentioned, I was feeling a definite urge to lie down on a soft clean mattress.

“I think you’re
right.  A nap might help replenish my strength for the festivities later this
evening.”  I looked at Emily.  “Why don’t you take a few hours for yourself? 
I’ll open the door between my room and Dena’s.  I’m sure if she needs anything
she’ll find me and let me know.”

“Are you sure,
your majesty?”  It was obvious Emily’s mind was now filled with doubt in my
ability to take care of the princess.  It was something I would definitely have
to extinguish as quickly as possible.

“Yes.  I would
like some time alone with my daughter.  Come back this evening when it’s time
to get ready for her party.”

Emily curtsied
stiffly, uncertainty lingering in her every movement.  “As you wish, your
majesty.”

After Emily left
the room, Gabriel said, “I hope she doesn’t start spreading rumors about the
princess’ reaction to you.  That’s all we need.”

“If she does, what
can we do?”

“Dismiss her,”
Gabriel replied bluntly.

“No,” I was quick
to respond.  “I don’t want to cause Dena anymore distress.  Taking away one of
the people she knows and relies on isn’t a solution.  I just need some time
with Dena.  Children her age sometimes need a little coaxing to get used to
someone new.  I’ll handle it, Gabriel.  Don’t do anything rash.”

“You’re probably
right,” he agreed begrudgingly.  “Hopefully it won’t take Dena long to come
around.  Right now, you need to get some rest.  I’m sure you’re still feeling
the effects of the transformation.  I’ll come back later this evening to escort
you and Dena to the party.”

After Gabriel
left, I stood in the center of the Queen’s living quarters and looked around
me, trying to soak in the feelings of the woman who had decorated her sanctuary
as an eternal homage to springtime.  As I studied the floral patterns combined
with simple lines surrounding me, I couldn’t help but wonder who Emma Vankar
had truly been.  Had she been as affable as the soft furnishings she surrounded
her self with or had she used them to conceal a harder nature to those who
would oppose her?  I wanted to believe she found a way to be both.  I hoped I
could be just as strong. 

I walked over to
my bedroom door and turned the iron knob letting the door swing gently open. 
The Queen had decorated her room tastefully with a large four-poster bed with
an egg shell colored silk canopy and curtains twisted around the posts.  There
were two doors a distance away from the bed on either side.  I assumed one was
the bathroom and one the Queen’s clothes closet.  On the left was a small door
I could only assume led to Dena’s bedroom.  Along that wall was a dressing area
replete with a mirrored vanity, cushioned chair and full length mirror.  I
walked up to the full length mirror forcing myself to come face to face with my
new reflection.

The moment wasn’t
the complete nightmare I had envisioned.  I suppose it helped the Queen had
been blessed with gorgeous features.  So many women would love to look like her
and now I did.  I lifted my hands to my new face running my fingers against
high cheekbones and pale flawless skin.  Even though the eyes were a pale
violet now instead of brown, I was surprised I could still see myself in the
depths of the eyes staring back at me.  The essence of who I was hadn’t been
lost in the transformation.  My physical state had simply altered to meet the
challenges the Queen had set before me.

I turned from my
reflection to look out the large bay window on the other side of the room.  The
cushioned seating area was large enough for a full grown person to lie down on
if they wished to take a comfortable nap.  Silk draperies tinted with a hint of
peach adorned the enclosure which looked out onto the private garden.  Through
the glass in the far distance, I spied the large oak tree the Queen had chased
Dena around in the memory which surfaced in my consciousness during my
transformation.

I walked to the
small door connecting to Dena’s room and opened it.  I peeked in to see the
little princess sleeping in a miniature version of her mother’s bed.  Her head
was laid to the side and knees bent underneath her causing her bottom to point
straight up into the air.  I couldn’t help but grin at the pure picture of
innocence she made.

I quietly left her
room and returned to my own, leaving the connecting door wide open.  After
slipping off my shoes, I crawled underneath the floral comforter and sunk into
the mound of pillows at the head of the bed.  I turned to look out the bay of
windows in the room and noticed a streak of lightening cut through a quickly
darkening sky.  As I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, I heard the
faint, deep rumble of distant thunder.

I felt the
tentative touch of small warm hands on my cheeks pulling me from the darkness
of my dream world.  When I opened my eyes, Dena’s face was hovering above mine,
her bright blue eyes stretched wide in fear.  Just then a bolt of lightening
struck something close by causing the bay windows to rattle in their casings. 
Dena wrapped her arms around my neck and began to cry softly.  It was the most
pitiful, heart wrenching sound I had ever heard.  I wrapped my arms around her
and pulled her underneath the warmth of the comforter with me.  I ran a hand up
and down her back trying to sooth her, hoping it would ease her fears.

Without even
thinking about it, I began to sing her a song I had never personally heard
before.

Hush my baby,
hush

I will protect
you, nothing will harm you

Even in the
darkest of times, I will always be near to watch over you

Hush my baby
hush, Mummy is with you

After repeating
the song three times, Dena finally looked up at me with her red puffy eyes and
tear stained cheeks.  I could see the uncertainty from our first meeting melt
away, completely replaced with acceptance.  She leaned in, puckered her lips
and gave me a tear salted kiss on the lips.

“Sing, Mummy,
sing,” she requested quietly, putting her thumb in her mouth and laying her
head snuggly against my chest.

I sang the song to
her again and even began singing another song I had never heard before.  I
could only assume they were from the Queen’s memories and silently thanked my
predecessor for letting me share a part of herself her daughter could so
readily recognize. 

I held Dena close
to my heart and continued to sing to her until she fell into a peaceful
slumber.  I’m not sure how long I stared at the small fragile angel cradled
within my arms.  Never in my life had I felt such a need to shelter someone
from all harm.  I knew then I would do whatever it took to keep Dena safe and
see her mother’s last wishes fulfilled.  A bright streak of lightening drew my
gaze back to the bay windows.  The dark storm brewing outside seemed to hold an
ominous warning of danger.  I felt a shiver of dread run down my spine and
pulled Dena in even closer finding safety and comfort in her warmth.

By the time Emily
came back, Dena and I were playing a game of chase.  Dena’s carefree giggles
filled the drawing room with joy and welcome, like the first warm day of
spring, complementing the décor the Queen had surrounded her daughter in.

“Well, I guess a
nap was just what she needed.” Emily smiled with approval as she stood with a
silver covered tray in her hands watching Dena try to evade my clutches
unsuccessfully.

I swept Dena up
into my arms and planted a kiss on each of her apple red cheeks as she
half-heartedly tried to squirm out of my arms laughing all the while.

“I think a nap did
us both a world of good,” I replied as I set Dena down on the floor.

“Is it already
time for us to get ready for the party?” I asked, not realizing we had slept
and played for so long.

“Almost.  I
brought you both something to eat before you need to get ready.  I thought you
might like to have dinner in private this evening since that
man
is in
the castle.”

Emily walked to
the table in front of the sofa and laid down the tray.  She took the cover off
revealing a dish of roasted chicken, potatoes and sautéed baby carrots.

I sat down on the
sofa and Dena climbed up to sit beside me.

“What man are you
referring too?” I asked, unfolding the white napkin on the tray and laying it
across my lap.

“The king of
Chromis, of course,” Emily replied, like I should have known who she was talking
about.

“Oh, yes, him.”  I
had completely forgotten about Aleksander Chromis.  I hoped that was a sign his
charms wouldn’t have any lasting effects on my psyche, if only wishful thinking
could prove to be fact.

“He’s extremely
handsome,” Emily admitted reluctantly.  “But there’s something about him that
just doesn’t set quite right with me, if you don’t mind me saying, your
majesty.  He’s nothing like your late husband, Lord rest his soul.”

I picked up the
plate of food from the tray and laid it on my lap.  Dena’s little hand appeared
over the dish quickly snatching up a carrot and stuffing it into her mouth.

“No, I understand
what you’re saying,” I told the nanny.  Unfortunately, I understood far too
well.

After Dena and I
finished supper, Emily took Dena to the bathroom connected to her room to wash
dinner off the little princess and begin the process of preparing her for her
big night.  I wasn’t quite sure what I was supposed to do and didn’t feel like
I should ask Emily if someone would be coming to help me prepare for the
festivities.  The answer to my question was answered soon enough.  There came a
soft knock on the door to the sitting room just as Emily and Dena disappeared
into the little princess’s bedchambers.

I stood from the
sofa and turned towards the door.

“Come in,” I
called.

I suppose I
shouldn’t have been surprised by what walked through the doorway, but it had
been so long since I last saw an automaton the sudden appearance of one in
front of me took me off guard and caused me to jump slightly.

“I’m sorry,” the
machine said through its life like lips.  “I did not mean to startle you, my Queen.”

“No, I’m fine,” I
told it.  “You did nothing wrong.  Please come in.”

The automaton came
inside the room and closed the door behind her.  I always found it strange how
their movements were as fluid and quiet as any human’s.  Being made mostly of
iron, it seemed reasonable to assume they would clank as they walked.  Yet,
their joints were so well made they walked without making the slightest sound. 
They only made the noises normally associated with movement: the rustling of
clothing and the tapping of shoes against a hard surface.   

This automaton was
dressed in the same dark maroon dress and white apron Emily wore.  I could only
assume it was the normal attire of the waiting staff at the palace
. 
Her
face was red with solid black eyes.  She wore a brown wig on her head drawn
back into a bun with a white cap pinned to the top of her head.  The wig added
a human element helping to create an illusion of humanity but a machine is a
machine, or so I thought at the time. 

“I’ve come to help
you prepare for the princesses birthday celebration, your majesty,” the machine
said to me in a voice which was meant to be soothing but unsettled me more than
anything.  It was too human, too understanding and kind.  Something so inhuman
shouldn’t possess such qualities.

As I looked at the
automaton, I wondered how I was supposed to address her.  As far as I knew,
none of the machines had names, they had alphanumeric designations.  I was
clueless as to what this machine might be called.

The automaton
walked to the door of my bedroom and stood there silently staring at it.  It
took me a few seconds to realize she was waiting for me to enter my room.  As I
walked to the door of my bedroom, the automaton reached out for the door knob
and opened the door for me.  She followed in after me, shutting it closed
behind us.

“If you will sit,
your majesty,” the machine said indicating my vanity, “I will style your hair
for this evening’s festivities.”

As I sat and
watched the machine style my hair, I marveled at the dexterity with which she
manipulated the strands with her metallic fingers.  She worked so quickly I had
a hard time following her movements.  In no time at all, she had my hair up in
a regal criss-cross bun embedded with small hairpins topped with diamonds and
amethysts.  While she was applying a small amount of powder and rouge to my
face, there was a knock on the bedroom door.

“Come in,” I
called, not knowing who to expect to walk in.

When the door
opened, I heard Inara’s voice say, “You first bucket of bolts.”

A male automaton
dressed in a black suit strolled in with a royal purple silk dress cradled in
his arms.  He walked over to the bed, gently laid the dress out and promptly left
the room without saying a word.

“Hello, MJ29,”
Inara said to the female automaton behind me.

Inara was carrying
a medium sized blue velvet box in her hands.   She was dressed in a tailored
suit, which was odd enough for a woman, but its cut was unlike anything I had
ever seen before.  The suit was black in color.  The jacket had a ruffled black
chiffon collar which trailed down the angled opening and around the edges, including
the wrists.  The pants were wide in the leg and almost looked like a skirt when
pressed together.  Her hair was pulled back from her face in a severe bun which
was hidden underneath a small black top hat slanted slightly to the right on
her head.