Her shoulders heaved with heavy breathing and Kilmister had no other choice but to pick her up, shaking his head as he did. He took her to a bedroom and set her on the sheets, red dust falling from her like her name sake. It took a while for her to open her eyes and while he waited he wondered what she saw in slumber.
Bugs, chirping, clicking, making noise. A late night bird singing. The air was cold. She opened her eyes and looked up into a dark blue night sky as stars swirled into view. She reached up and touched them, they trickled through his fingers like water. The night sky rippled from her touch and spread to the horizon. The sounds of nature proceeded to grow louder and she could only stare as a figure strode towards her in the dark. She couldn't tell who it was their eyes flashed and their whisper told her to wake up.....
When she opened her eyes once more it was back into the face of Kilmister. No words needed to be said when their eyes asked and said everything in a glance. She sat up and with a sharp twist of her head, a pop in her stiff neck, she sighed. He held up the coin she had given him before falling unconscious.
“You know them?” She rasped.
They met eyes. “I do. This is Fell Wylde. The foremost leader of the coupe that overthrew the Starriders. He sent me after you, thinking I was loyal. Looks like he's the King or whatever they instilled.”
They stared at each other. He kept the coin and his grip tightened on it, she didn't mind, she had others. He had her sit up and leaned forward so that he could see the place that was now crusted with blood.
As she sat and he began to work she asked. “And the man on the other side? It's two different men right?”
“That's Ryche Blackwell, the religious leader. He stayed the hand that would have killed the last King.”
“Do you have any family back on Mars?”
His eyes flashed. “Not any’more. They’re all dead.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I met someone. A guide, he said he was a steward for the last King. He told me many things, of myself, of Starrider history. Of Mars and the Spyders and the rebellions. But I know he did not reveal all there is to know. It was horribly obvious he hid things from me. I can only wonder why, still I am in debt to him.”
Kilmister stared at her from behind cigarette smoke. He thought to himself as he patched her head, “I thought everyone in the castle was dead.” He came back into focus. “What was ‘is name?”
“Ziggy, he said.” She sighed. “He was the man I dream of. Calling to me from Mars.”
There was heavy, thick, silence. A cloud of cig smoke.
“He aint no steward.”
“He aint no steward.”
“He isn’t?” She asked. “Then what is he?”
“The very king he told ya of. King Ziggy of the Lazarus family.” He puffed and moved away, finished with his work. “Last King of the Starriders.”
She stared at him. “That was the King?”
He nodded, puffed again. “Probably why he didn’t tell ya the whole truth of everything. Couldn’t bare to tell ya what happened.” He stood and seemed to be contemplating something.
But she had a thought and spoke first. “Why did you betray the Spyders and protect me?” Her eyes were wide. “Who was the King to you?”
He stared for a moment longer and then turned and left. She knew then and there that he knew the king in a personal way. When she opened the door she looked for him but he was shut away in his study. She did not wish to bother him further, not when he had done what she asked of him. He was a free man now, yet he stayed. Out in the yard her horse grazed and her saddle was well taken care of, resting on the railings of the front porch.
She descended the stairs to the house and turned at the bottom of them to look back at the structure in the darkness. She knew what she had wondered for so long. Or rather half the truth, a story unfinished. Yet she had no idea if she would ever finish the story. With a splitting head ache and a thirst that didn’t end she breathed in the early dawn air and saddled her horse. She led it out of the yard before mounting and began the trek in search of the nearest ally castle. She was tired, so very tired, and she wanted to go home.
*
Richi was a guest in the great hall of Deep Star castle. Lord Ianne himself had brought the Holy Woodian diplomat sanctuary. Richi had come to settle a land dispute with the Ianne family and some upper hill tribesmen, that was some time ago and Richi often paced about the castle as they waited out the land wars. Ianne had become used to it and didn't say a word to the somber looking man.
All of his children gazed in wonder at the lord from the epicenter of the known world. They were a fringe castle, once upon a long time ago, this castle had been a massive look out tower. From what no one knew but now it was the castle of an old royal family of the violet hills. Between the Dragoon mountains and the Sabbath marshes. The girls and boys with their long brown hair and blue eyes like their father.
Many wished to one day venture out of the isolated hills and to the busier cities that they only saw in dreams. Richi, however, did not see. He was wondering what antics Dawn was pulling in Holy Wood. He truly wouldn't be surprised if she had orchestrated his prolonged stay here. He had gone in search of the missing ambassadors and found them alive, here, holed up like he now was. In the midst of war and siege, Lord Ianne was unable to send messages outside the castle. Enemy lines kept shooting down birds and runners were gutted.
“Oh what a disaster!” Richi thought to himself. “Out of everything happening, he was furious at Star the most. She had been gone three solid months without word! If she had gone beyond the mountains he would understand but she had not told him anything of her plans! What a wretched woman! He prayed she was unharmed and-”
“Announcing the Queen of Holy Wood entering from the far west!” A sentry alerted at the doors of the great halls.
As if the universe had read his mind and given him what he asked for, he turned and saw her run in, covered in red dirt, her hair dyed a deep red but her knew her eyes, her face. He knew it was she. She had a bandage wrapped around her upper skull but she seemed otherwise unharmed. She was led to the King and they conversed hurriedly. She claimed to have had returned from a rough journey and had been ambushed by Spyders far into the wilderness, she claimed they held her prisoner and that she escaped. Lord Ianne graciously showed her that her cousin and steward was in attendance.
She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. He returned the act. He saw blood on her shoulder and up close could see faint signs of bleeding through her bandage on the left side of her head. She had a bruise and gash along her cheek but didn't seem bothered by them.
“What happened to you?!” He shouted. In a more steady voice he said. “The truth perhaps?”
She sighed happily and shook her head. Leaning on a hand she pressed to his shoulder, locking her elbow in place and bowing her head.
“You would not believe the journey I have had. Please!” She turned and faced the Lord with her cousin by her side. “I ask for a room.”
“Of course!” He said and stood in a sweeping glory, his son, named Gillan, stood by his side, a younger lad of twelve. Lord Ianne clapped his hands. “Show the Queen to the grand guest chambers!”
An attendant came forward and she nodded to him. “I thank you for you kindness!”
They were led away. Star had Richi wait while she drew her own bath and washed her body of blood and dust. She kept her clothes separate, placing them carefully on the bed, Richi stared at them. She intended on keeping them as proof to herself. He was confused about the dust he saw, it was nothing he knew. When she came out he looked up and saw her naked, bruises and gashes here and there, signs of fighting. But she came forward and sat on his lap, straddling him.
He touched her gently, kept in mind her injuries as he kissed her. She drew him into bed and they made love, they hadn't in a long while. She seemed happy to be alive and kissed him when they were through. Pleased and spent he was happy to have her fall asleep in his arms in the night. She was grateful for a warm and soft bed. No more alleyways and reed mats in decaying chateaus.
Whatever she was going to tell him, he admitted to himself before sleeping, it could wait until the dawn. Then they would return to Holy Wood and she would right whatever the Princess had done. With that peace of mind, Richi was able to fall asleep.
*
When they awoke she was dressing already. He turned on his side and watched her. She tossed his robes to the bed and began lacing her boots. She had been gifted new velvet trousers and blouse in place of the ones she had ruined, hidden in her bag.
Richi, too, dressed and all in silence. He turned to her. “Are you going to explain to me where you’ve been?”
She sighed and turned to face him, honesty in her face. “I can’t. You’ll have to use your imagination. Remember old legends and stories. And then recall all the rumors about me. I cannot tell you for risk of putting you in danger, like I already am.”
“Danger from who?”
“Our own people. There is something about my past that I don’t remember and its bigger than I ever thought it could be.” Her eyes pleaded with him to believe, to think and put her word puzzle together. “A life I don’t remember.” She seemed to be waiting for him to say something.
He eyed her, “Oh don’t worry,” he said with a sting of sarcasm. “I can read your mind I know what you think. That if you are what rumors say you are. . . .I will not abandon you. Whatever past you left behind, is over. You are my cousin and Queen. I will not betray you. But for FUCK’S sake!” He scowled. “What happened?!”
She shrugged, she might very well be a devil from another planet. “One hell of an adventure. I will tell you once we are in Ao’o, I don’t trust our host.”
“You don’t trust your own host?” He asked in a whisper. “It’s Lord Iaane, he’s perfectly trustworthy. He even gifted you with one of his sons, a young one to serve and foster in the castle.”
“As pleasing as that may be,” she looked around the room. “He may have eyes and ears everywhere. A large brood means a large group of people you can trust. And what I have to say cannot be said lightly.”
As they left she righted her outfit and stroked purposefully down the hallways. “Now tell me dear Cousin, what public news of my daughter? If you are here she is undoubtedly on the throne as regent until our return yes?”
“Aye, that is so.” He rolled his eyes and hefted his bag of belongings. “You aren’t going to like it. As news just came the other day, she is readying for her wedding to the Dark Wizard, after which her coronation as Queen will commence.”
“HA!” Star laughed and did not break stride. “When I return everyone who has no choice but to be loyal to her will come back to me and my support will outweigh hers.A wedding I can allow, a coronation.” She laughed again. “Not as long as I’m on on this earth.”
In the stables where she was waiting for her horse, a young lad, quiet and eyes full of wonder, came up to her with a maid by his side. She curtsied and relayed a message.
“This is Gillan, seventh son of Lord Iaane. Our lordship gifts his son to you to teach him the ways of Holy Wood court.”
Bright blue eyes looked up into the honey colored ones of the Queen. A mighty figure of a far away kingdom. This young boy was being taken from his home, but she was not taking him. His father was making him go.
“Only if you, or a maid or man he is fond of can accompany him.”
The maid seemed happy. “I will be taking care of him if it pleases you.”
“What is your name woman?” Queen asked of her.
“Arrion, your highness.” As a horse was brought forward for the young lord and his nursemaid the queen continued.
“As he grows older I want him to understand that he is neither being tossed from his home nor am I taking him. He is being sent to learn from my court.”
“Of course your majesty,” Arrion dipped her head.
*
Dawn was in her chambers, choosing a wedding gown and jewels to go with it. Rosie sat on a divan looking towards the open terrace doors. She sighed. Dawn heard, the child had been sighing a lot of late. Since the news of her wedding was made public. Dawn knew Rosie wished that her birth father would return and they could be parents together, but that was a long time ago and Dawn had accepted that Appollonio might be dead.
"I hear you," she said. "It's ok to feel a little upset. But I love the Wizard and we are to be wed. I might make him Prince of Holy Wood."
"Nana won't like that," Rosie said in hushed voice.
Dawn had to gently laugh. "Nana is far from here, wherever she is." She knew that is what bothered her daughter, the matriarch's absence....the loon. "She has been gone without word for months, by laws if she does not return I will be crowned as I am next in the line of secession."
There was a knock and a guard came in. "Two messengers for the Queen Regent."
She set down her wears and nodded excitedly. "Send them in."
He nodded and did so. JB and Kyle had returned and entered, looking around the massive room in awe. Dawn waited for them and then cleared her throat.
"The men of Tenac! Your return has news I hope?"
Kyle nodded and nudged JB. "Dude read the scroll."
JB nodded back to attention. "Oh yeah! I got it!" He fumbled in his knapsack for a moment. "Its in here somewhere." He opened it and looked inside. "Now I know..its sun of a gun. Where are you you little bastard.."
Dawn pursed her lips. Kyle chuckled nervously, he elbowed JB.
"Dude she's looking at us."
"Now I know its in here," JB dumped his bag to the floor and there was no scroll. "Ah! Wait, no, stop," he said and reached into his sleeve. "I got it." He grinned as he opened the paper and cleared his throat.
Dawn waited. . .
"Your mother, Queen Star of Holy Wood was seen en route from Deep Star castle to Holy Wood."
She smiled. "How long ago?"
"A few days past."
"HA! She won't make it in time for the wedding. The race will be to the coronation."
"Should we stall her your greatness?" Kyle asked.
"Yeah we totally can!" JB said. "Oh yeah and one more thing! She was seen with a procession of travelers thought to be the ambassadors, Richi Blackmoore, a maid, and a young boy thought to be one of Lord Iaane's sons."
Dawn nodded. "Interesting. She always has intriguing company. No matter." She smiled and reached into a box on her table. Two large bags of gold were deposited on the cold marble surface. "For your troubles boys. Keep an eye of the Queen if you wish, any further reports will be met with reward. You may go now."
They scooped up the gold and didn't have to be told twice. When they left Rosie turned to her mother.
"They were spies? Watching Nana? Nana's coming back?"
Dawn smiled and held up a chain of black diamonds against her throat. "Yes my child, Nana's coming home and she brings guests." She smiled. "Lets see who gets to the crown first." She chuckled to herself.
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