Part 23 (1/2)

He spoke in the old language, High Cehn-Tahr, in which Madeline had been carefully tutored by Caneese.

She understood the phrases that would require her to speak in the affirmative, but much of it was too difficult to decipher.

She and Dtimun joined hands and repeated a certain phrase. The officiant nodded and Dtimun gently uncovered the opening in her gown so that the mark of bonding was visible. Now that she knew what it meant, she was proud to have it displayed.

The officiant p.r.o.nounced them bonded, welcomed them, and then the Allfaith representative from Trimerius greeted them and spoke a few words about fidelity and blessings and the miracle of childbearing. He p.r.o.nounced them bonded as well.

There was a long, sweet fanfare from the trumpets. The audience stood up and members of the various delegations bowed. There was another fanfare and the imperial family stood up and moved down from its position onto the carpeted floor.

”They're coming toward us!” Madeline exclaimed silently. ”What do I do? I've never met an emperor or empress before!”

Dtimun was laughing. ”You lower your eyes and nod, you do not bow.”

”But, look, everybody else is doing it!” she protested.

”You do not bow,” he repeated sternly.

She sighed. ”Yes, sir.”

He groaned.

”Sorry. I'm working on it,” she thought with irrepressible humor.

”If you salute me, there will be a scandal,” he promised, but amusedly.

She laughed silently. But there was no time to respond. The royal family had moved to face them and stopped. She looked at elegant jeweled gowns and slippered feet, and one pair of big black boots. Her heart was racing. She was so nervous...!

There was deep, familiar laughter. She looked up, right into the eyes of the old fellow. But he wasn't wearing his familiar blue uniform. He was wearing imperial robes of blue and gold, and a crown. A very expensive crown. Caneese was similiarly attired, also wearing a crown, as was the princess.

Madeline hoped she wasn't going to faint. She realized at once what she'd missed all along. The ”old fellow” was the emperor. Caneese was his mate, Lyceria his daughter. Around him was the kehmatemer, led by Rhemun. And now she knew what that word meant. This was the emperor's Pretorian Guard.

”A surprise, I gather,” the emperor told her, with twinkling eyes. ”And now you know whose life you saved at Ondar, do you not?” he concluded. ”Sir, I never realized...!” she began.

He touched her cheek and laid his forehead against hers. ”It is a great joy to welcome you to my family,”

he said gently, a comment that Madeline was too surprised to question. ”May your years be long and happy and fruitful.”

”Thank you,” she replied, still stunned.

Caneese repeated the ritual behavior and then hugged her. ”What a joyful addition to our family. You have been the means of reuniting it. All of it,” she added with a warm glance at her son, standing beside Madeline.

”We are greatly in your debt,” Lyceria added, laughing, and she hugged Madeline, too.

That was when it hit her. She looked up at Dtimun, with all the years of comrades.h.i.+p and arguments in her mind as she saw the puzzle pieces join together. He led the Holconcom. But he was also the heir to the throne of the Cehn-Tahr Empire. And she was carrying his heir in her womb.

”So sorry,” she whispered as her head began to spin. ”But I think I may...” She couldn't get out the word, ”faint,” before she demonstrated it.

When she came to, seconds later, Dtimun had her up in his arms, gown and all, and they were standing on the balcony, along with the rest of the family and Holt Stern and Strick Hahnson.

”It's just another burp,” Hahnson said as he read his wrist scanner. ”She's fine. The excitement, I dare say, has been a little much for her. Especially,” he added with a grin toward the emperor, ”the revelation of her new status.” He shook his head. ”I would never have guessed,” he told Dtimun. ”And I've known you a lot longer than the rest of the crew. Some secret.”

Dtimun nodded gravely. ”A source of great worry to my parents and siblings,” he mused with a smile.

”But I went my own way, as I always have.”

”And made us greatly proud,” the emperor said warmly. He glanced at Rhemun and growled something.

Rhemun grimaced. ”Forgive me, sir, I am so used to wearing it that I forget it is on my head.”

He pulled off the helmet. A thick, curly wave of black hair cascaded from his head around his broad shoulders and down his back, almost to his waist.

Lieutenant Commander Mallory, just joining the others, stopped in her tracks and just gaped at him with eyes full of wonder.

”Magnificent, is it not?” Caneese was amused at the little blonde human's expression. ”The Rojoks have placed a bounty on his head. His men insist that he wears the helmet in battle so that his hair does not show.”

”He could cut it,” the emperor suggested amusedly. ”There would be bonfires and protests all over the empire,” Lyceria teased. ”His hair is the glory of his Clan.”

”Something his mother would certainly affirm,” Madeline chuckled.

Dtimun glanced at her with narrowed eyes. He growled at Rhemun.

Rhemun saluted him, but his eyes were green. ”Permission to be dismissed, sir? The refreshment table has entots fruit,” he added.

”Dismissed,” the emperor p.r.o.nounced.

”If you eat all the fruit again, as you did once before, I will have your head shaved,” Dtimun warned.

Rhemun saluted him smartly, grinned and walked back into the great room where refreshments were being served on a long table with elegant settings.

A little later, Madeline was still trying to get over the shock of her new royal relations by marriage when the old fellow, as she still thought of him, joined her with Dtimun and Caneese and Princess Lyceria.

”And now you know why he speaks to me in such a manner when he is angry, yes?” Lyceria laughed, glancing at Dtimun. ”He is my brother.”

”I speak to everyone in such a manner when I am angry,” he said, unperturbed.

The old fellow laughed. ”Neither of us is famous for diplomacy. We only practice it in emergencies.”

Caneese moved forward, taking her mate's arm. ”I agree.” She smiled at Madeline. ”And now you are truly my daughter. I greet you with welcome and affection.”

So saying, she laid her forehead against Madeline's and touched her cheek. Madeline echoed the ritual. It was then performed both with the old fellow and Lyceria.

As Madeline looked at her mate, she realized the enormity of what Dtimun had been willing to sacrifice for her. He had told his father that he would relinquish the throne of an empire rather than give her up. It was humbling. For the first time, she realized that his feelings for her at least equaled hers for him.

”Stern, you and Hahnson can have access to the guest suite,” Tnurat told the two humans with a smile.

”The weavemaster will provide you with comfortable clothing. Come back and feast with us, and we will trade great lies about our prowess in battle.”

”Love to, sir, but you won't have to lie about yours,” Holt Stern chuckled.