“Well now, that’s a bit harsh, don’t you think, my boy?” Kikbax protested mildly.
“It’s only the truth. I’m not trying to be cruel, understand—just realistic,” Hennessy said, his green-blue eyes flashing maliciously. “I mean, in order to breed her, I must be able to…er, raise the flag to a full salute, you might say. And if I must bear the sight of her mutations, that simply won’t be possible. No…” He shook his head decisively. “The lights must be off. Also, as soon as I get you with a healthy heir, I want it understood that will be the end of any kind of carnal relations between us.” He gave Ellina a sneering look. “You won’t miss them anyhow, since you haven’t the correct organs to appreciate any kind of pleasure.”
“Now, Baron Tolland…” the High Priest said, frowning a bit.
“Well, it’s true,” Hennessy exclaimed. “You know she doesn’t. We’ve all seen it in the purification chambers when we visited the Holy Mists—for all she tries to hide it. Anyway, back to the subject at hand,” he went on. “After I get an heir on you, I will be free of any obligation of fidelity. At that time I’ll take a concubine of my own—possibly two or three—I’ll be able to afford them since you will, of course, be paying me a generous monthly allowance. We’ll live separate lives except during state functions when I will be by your side to guide you in all that is correct and right. Someone must, I suppose.”
He shook his head as though Ellina was a half-wit who must be taught how to act in Court and this job was his burden to bear.
“And of course, once you become pregnant with an heir, I will take the more difficult decisions out of your hands, my dear,” the High Priest chimed in. “For once your belly starts to swell, you’ll want nothing more to do with the difficult business of governing. A female’s heart turns to motherhood at that time—as well it should—so you need not worry about doing anything but sitting at the head of the banquet table from time to time and looking royal.” He smiled at Ellina benevolently, as though he was doing her a huge favor.
Hennessy cleared his throat.
“Well…now that everything’s settled, I really must be going.” He looked around Ellina’s apartments and made a face. “Might I suggest you spruce things up a bit in here? It’s dreadfully plain. I don’t want to be embarrassed if I’m ever obliged to invite friends over once we’re joined.” His chewchie—a bluish-green beast the color of his eyes—screeched in agreement.
“Just a moment.” Ellina found her voice at last as the two men began to rise from her table. She had been sitting there, rendered speechless at their gall. The sheer temerity of planning her life for her! “Just a moment, if you please,” she said again and Lor screeched loudly for their attention.
“Yes, my dear?” Kikbax said, frowning just a little. “Do you have a question or a comment?”
“I most certainly do.” Ellina’s voice shook with anger. “I cannot believe that the two of you think you can come in here and take over my kingdom—take over my entire life—and I won’t raise a shred of protest!” she exclaimed, glaring at them.
Kikbax and Hennessy exchanged uneasy glances and the High Priest said, “Now, Ellina, my dear, please don’t let your emotions control you this way. You know what we’re suggesting only makes sense. Why, Baron Tolland here has the most stellar bloodlines of all the nobles—his skin is almost Sacred Blue so it’s very likely he’ll help you conceive an heir who will become the next Potentate.”
“I am not being emotional—though I would be completely within my rights if I was,” Ellina said, speaking calmly and clearly, though her blood was rushing loudly in her ears and Lor was still screeching with anger. “If you think that I would ever accept Hennessy as my consort, you clearly don’t know me,” she told Kikbax. “I don’t care what color his skin is, I find him utterly abhorrent.”
As she spoke, Lor launched himself from her head and landed on the table in front of Hennessy’s own chewchie. The two of them began to fight, rolling over and over in a ball of fur as they clawed and bit at each other.
“Well! How dare you insult me like this?” Hennessy stared at her, his eyes wide with outrage.
“I insult you?” Ellina could hardly believe him. “After you sat here and demanded that we keep the lights off if you should breed me, because the sight of me makes you too ill to get your puny shaft up?”
“I beg your pardon, it is not puny!” Hennessy stormed at her.
Ellina glared up at him.
“Don’t forget, Hennessy, I’ve seen you in the Holy Mists, too,” she said coolly.
“That is enough! I won’t stay here and be insulted by this…this freak.” Rising, Hennessy threw down his napkin and reached for his chewchie, who had gotten the worst of the fight with Lor. It scampered up his arm, hissing and he turned as though to leave…only to run directly into a broad, muscular chest which had suddenly appeared in his way.
“What did you call my Lady?” Ty’s voice was a low, dangerous growl and the look he was giving Hennessy could have melted solid plasti-steel. He must have come in quietly while the three of them were arguing, Ellina thought as she gathered Lor to her and
