Petlu had a screen watching the shuttle accelerate toward the sun. Soon it was lost in the bright atomic fire. “It’s too close to escape the star’s gravity, Your Majesty.”
Talben smiled as Maranda was escorted into the throne room by a guard. Talben nodded and the guard left. “Very nicely done. Sit down and relax.” Talben hit a button on his console and a young girl came in with a tray of drinks and food. She came next to the throne and Talben hit her in the face, knocking her away from his throne. The tray scattered the food and soaked the young girl in red stain. “You call this food for a King?”
Maranda jumped up and felt her rage almost explode, but caught herself. Scotty, watching from the back of the room, loaded an arrow when he saw Petlu move behind Maranda and pull a blaster from his belt. Maranda lifted the little girl, who was crying. Maranda took a deep breath and composed herself, “Would you like me to take this one out and dispose of her? Such a stupid child.”
Talben laughed out loud, “No. Just make sure she doesn’t make the same mistake again. I had to burn the last one.”
Maranda walked the stunned child to the door and motioned two housekeepers in. They cleaned up the mess and another child brought a different tray. “Now, that’s better.”
Maranda looked and saw it had the same items that were on the last tray. Her father enjoyed hitting children. She took a goblet and sat down.
A tone from his communications panel took Talben’s attention. He smiled and looked at Petlu. Petlu came around in front of Maranda and pointed his blaster at her. Talben said, “My child, you have made it so easy for me to dispose of you. Before I do, I want to thank you for eliminating that weak sister of yours. She can’t be from my loins. I also want to show you what I’m going to do to your husband’s capital.” Talben pushed a button, “Ntwer, how far out are your ships?”
“We’re holding station fifty thousand miles out. The planetary defenses can’t hit us here.”
“We’ll take care of them momentarily.” Talben hit another button and he said, “Are your ships ready?”
“Waiting for the command, Your Majesty.”
“Go now and destroy that city.”
Talben turned from his board, looked at Maranda, then nodded to Petlu. Maranda had picked up one of the knives from the dropped tray and was close enough to have stabbed her father. She was getting ready to do just that when she looked into the eyes of the little girl that had been struck by her Father. She wondered how many little girls would die if she attacked him. Suddenly she knew she had lost her opportunity. She stared at her Father and saw Petlu smile broadly just before an arrow went into his forehead. Petlu had a stunned expression, then dropped like a bag of concrete. She heard, “Now, Anglo,” and her father disappeared.
She turned and saw the blond hair warrior standing behind her. Maranda shook her head, “You didn’t trust me to wait?”
“When you picked up that knife, you caused me to worry. Why didn’t you strike?”
Maranda slowly shook her head, “I wondered how many little girls would die if I did. I couldn’t do it.”
Scotty raised his com, “Anglo, send them.”
Suddenly, Ashley and her family were there. Maranda ran up to Ashley and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry I had to deceive you.”
“Jess told us.”
Scotty said, “Now is the time, Your Majesty.”
Maranda jerked at the title, then walked to the throne. She hit a switch and began, “I am sorry to announce that King Talben has been killed in an attack against King Varner’s capital. He planned a sneak attack against our ally and was killed during the battle. I am the next in succession to the throne. I am calling off our attack and will see if we can make amends for my Father’s actions. I request you to pray for our Kingdom, and know that we are protecting you.” Maranda hit a button and said, “Dillem, please report to the throne room.” She hit another switch and said, “Admiral Chandze, please report to the throne room.” She hit the button again, “General Nejick, please report to the throne room.”
Ashley recognized those officers as Maranda’s closest friends. She looked at Glenn and began to worry. Maranda picked up Jenna and tickled her again.
After twenty minutes, the three had arrived and Maranda said, “Everyone sit down.”
The three officers looked at each other and sat. Maranda shook her head, “You’re worried about why I’ve called you here.”
The officer’s looked at each other and Dillem said, “Maranda, you aren’t the same person we grew up with. You’ve become very much like your father.”
Maranda took a shallow breath and nodded, “You’re right. However, I have just notified our armed forces that Dillem will be responsible for the safety of the Royal Family. My Admiral and General friends here will assume the overall command of our armies and navies.”
The three looked at each other in confusion. Maranda continued, “I am going to announce that I am abdicating the throne and that Ashley will be the new Queen of our Kingdom.”
Ashley shook her head, “What are you doing, Maranda?”
“I am charging you to follow her commands and protect her at all costs. Her heart is good, and you can trust her to be honest with you. Will you pledge to do that for me?”
The three nodded, and bowed to Ashley.
Ashley ran to Maranda, “You are not going to go back to that planet!”
Maranda looked in her sister’s eyes and said, “I must. It is what I deserve for being twisted and poisoned by our father.” She looked at Dillem and said, “I would appreciate it if you would round up Richard and ship him out to Highler. I think farming would suit him well. You’ll probably find him out somewhere killing small animals. Do not ever allow him to leave that world. His soul is black. He’ll attempt a coup when he gets older. I expect you to prevent that.”
Dillem nodded, “You may depend on me to handle him.”
Maranda looked hard at Dillem and he nodded. Good. Knowing Dillem, Richard would arrive as fertilizer. Ashley would never make that kind of decision, yet. Once she begins protecting her citizens, she will do what’s necessary. All good mothers protect their family.
Ashley held on to Maranda, “You can’t go. I won’t let you go.”
Maranda felt her tears, and pushed Ashley back to arms length, “Oh, Ashley. You are so much like I once was. But I am accountable for my crimes. I had Wesley’s wife killed. I built lodges that killed thousands of a gentle species of flying creatures. Our father killed Lem to make me into someone just like him. He succeeded and I feel the pain of those I’ve harmed. The only way to find my way back to honor is to accept my punishment. Just promise me you will rule the Kingdom with your heart.”
Ashley was crying. She looked at Maranda and nodded. Glenn came and took Ashley in his arms. “Glenn, I expect you to help her stay true to herself.”
Glenn looked at Maranda and said, “I will, Your Majesty.”
Maranda shook her head, “I am no longer Royalty; Ashley is now Queen.”
Glenn said, “You will always be Royalty in my mind.”
Maranda handed Jenna to Ashley and hugged Glenn, “Take care of my sister.”
Glenn nodded as Ashley wailed in his arms.
Maranda stepped back and looked at the back of the room, where she knew the archer was hiding. Scotty hit his com and Maranda disappeared from the room.
“Anglo, what’s happening at Criston?”
“It’s all over.”
“What?!?”
“I told you BC could handle it.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“The ten Ultras jumped in next to the planet and started to aim their primary beams. BC fired a beam into the Admiral’s ship and cut it from stem to stern. Sorta like opening one of those shell creatures.”
“Go on.”
“He then told them if any of them so much as turned on a screen he would do the same thing to them. One ship didn’t heed his warning, then there were two Ultras on the half shell. BC then split the two ships into twenty pieces for me to teleport to Bristone for the use of their metals.”
