Chapter 476 (1/2)
The day was warm, a light warm breeze carrying the smell of animals, flowers, and green growing things. It had rained the night before, a wild thunderstorm that had rocked the valley with lightning and thunder even as the wind had howled through the valley, but by the time the sun was high in the sky the humidity had burned off to leave the day warm and dry. In the middle of the valley, on a large hill, surrounded by a village was a heavily fortified keep, the curtain wall covered with scaffolding.
A long line of people waited to enter the barbican and then the inner walls. There were people hawking small tokens, icons, food, and drink, to the line of pilgrims.
”A part of me is discontent,” Lady Keena said, astride a heavily built warhorse. She was wearing a robe over chainmail and leather, spurs on her boots, and a sword at her side hidden by the rough brown cloth of the robe. The brown skinned noblewoman/warlord was staring at the outside walls of her own keep and the gathered pilgrims.
Nakteti looked at her hostess from atop her own horse. She was still nervous about riding such a great beast. ”Why?”
Lady Keena looked over. ”Because my keep has been lost,” she waved her hands to where the wagons were full of loot, artwork, furniture, and other personal possessions. ”The banners of those who fell before me had to stay, I little more than a rootless vagabond barely above a pauper.”
Nakteti avoided laughing. The wagons were loaded with expensive furniture, gold filigreed crystal dining ware and goblets, and even more.
Lady Keena shook her head. ”The entire staircase you were sitting on turned onyx and white marble. One of the blank windows turned into a stained glass mosaic of you. The church bells are inlaid with golden warsteel, obsidian, and ivory.”
She clicked her tongue, urging her mount over by a wagon carrying a glass coffin with a man dressed in modern clothing inside. ”At least they let me take my brother,” she said.
”Why not stay? Why not guard it?” Nakteti asked, clumsily getting her mount to move over by Lady Keena.
”Why don't you stay? He revealed himself to you in the name of your people,” Lady Keena asked.
Nakteti shook her head. ”I've delayed long enough. I need to return to New Tnvaru, inform the ruling council what has happened, what is happening, and what might happen.”
”'Ware my words, for I tell unto thee so thou shalt know that which was, which is, and what might be,” Lady Keena said and Nakteti frowned, recognizing a quote but not where it was from.
”Basically,” Nakteti said. She looked at the coffin again. ”Why are you having him come with me, rather than keep him here?”
Lady Keena sighed, reaching out and touching the side of the wagon. ”It was part of the bargain to have your ship and crew check on the Space Force vessels that guard this system.”
Nakteti frowned. ”But I did not ask for such.”
”The King decided that in order to secure your services, and the services of your people, I would have to give up something immensely precious to me,” she said. ”My brother, ten of my sons, and ten of my daughters, as well as their families, to be your servants and hostages. Proof of King Nganto believes his people's fates, their weirds, are tied deeply with the Tnvaru people's kismet.”
”Why just you?” Nakteti asked.
It felt weird to the Tnvaru matron that she was part of a baggage train made up of hand crafted wooden wagons, carrying barbaric and primitive possessions, but heading for the shuttle that would take her into orbit to It Tastes Sweet, a modern spacecraft.
”Complicated politics,” Lady Keena said. She smiled suddenly. ”To remind me that despite the fact the Digital Omnimessiah Reborn manifested in my keep, to reveal himself to my guest, before my people, I am still his to command,” she waved in the vague direction of north. ”Which is why he's having me take over an old abandoned keep, to push his lands into the Blue Mist Forest, which has been unclaimed for a thousand years.”
”I will ensure that your children are well cared for,” Nakteti said.
Lady Keena nodded. ”I know you will. They are hostages, and any mistreatment,” she stared at Nakteti. ”Would end our friendship.”
Nakteti just nodded, hiding her sudden anxiety. ”I understand.”
Lady Keena smiled again. ”Good. I'm glad we're on the same page,” she looked up. ”Have you been to your home of New Tnvaru?”
Nakteti shook her head. ”No. I purchased the systems, but have yet to go there.”
”It is not good to separated from your home for too long. The soul begins to wither and your heart begins to grow cold,” Lady Keena said.
Soldiers began joining the caravan. Most of them wearing chainmail and leather, but a few dozen were wearing thick heavy metal plates. A few in robes moved through the ranks, and Nakteti could see the white bordered black dresses with the white veils of the Daughters of the Digital Omnimessiah moving with the 'servants' that were riding in carts.
Finally the landing field came into view. Men in heavy metal armor guarded her shuttle, standing stock still like statues, their hands crossed over the end of the pommel, their face guards carved metal to look like fierce faces.
To her surprise Duke Tangerran AKA ”Curtis” was standing near the ship with two men in the heavy plate armor.
When they drew near he bowed stiffly, then motioned at the two men. ”Two of my sons, and their retainers, to guard their siblings as well as your self and your family,” the Terran said.
Nakteti knew better than to argue. Terrans in general could be prickly about duty and honor, but the people of this particular planet were even more so.
”My daughter,” Duke Tangerran said, motioning at a pretty woman of indeterminate age who was sitting on a white draft animal, her clothing a pale blue. ”A powerful sorceress in her own right and my most dutiful student of mine own crafts and secrets. She will be accompanying you to watch over your sleeping guardian.”
”I thank you,” Nakteti said.
She wondered if they were going to keep the primitive and barbaric clothing, rituals, and customs all the way to Tnvaru.
”Be well, Nakteti of the Tnvaru Clans,” Duke Tangerran said. He went over and kissed his daughter on each cheek, then roughly embraced his sons, pound them on the back and making their armor ring.
Nakteti moved into the cockpit and waited as the 'hostages' boarded the shuttle.
”This is the last of them. We had to make several trips,” Zelprita, the shuttle pilot, said softly. ”They're very strange.”
Nakteti nodded. ”Indeed, they are.”
”I'm looking forward to seeing New Tnvaru,” Zelprita said softly. ”I escorted your mother to Terra. I have been away from a Tnvaru world for far too long.”
Nakteti nodded, moving slowly through the preflight checklist.
”As have I,” she said.
Terrans are exciting and fun to be around, but I'll be grateful for the calm and order of a Tnvaru world.
---------------