 
## The Great Succession Crisis

7th Anniversary Edition

The Romantic prequel to The Ghosts of the Past and Princess Anyu Returns

Laurel A. Rockefeller

The Great Succession Crisis 7th Anniversary Edition is a work of fiction by Laurel A. Rockefeller set on the planet Beinan. All characters are works of fiction without direct reference to any real person, living or dead. While inspired in part by the real-life challenges faced by historical persons, any names or characteristics similar to any person, past, present, or future, is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2019 Laurel A. Rockefeller

First Edition Copyright © 2012 Laurel A. Rockefeller

Cover art by Laurel A. Rockefeller

There's more to the Peers of Beinan Series than the three principle novels! Discover the backstory behind "The Great Succession Crisis" with the prequel novella "Good-bye A672E92 Quintus."

The history of planet Beinan and evolution of Beinarian society is yours to explore in "The Complete Data Files."

Listen to original music from The Great Succession Crisis when you visit www.laurelarockefeller.co.uk

## Table of Contents

Introduction

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

Long Live the King

Behind the Scenes

A Matter of Faith

Beinarian Astronomy

Challenging Einstein

From Middle Earth to Beinan

About the Series

# Introduction to the Seventh Anniversary Edition

It began with a casual search on Netflix. In November, 2010 I was feeling nostalgic for a short-run science fiction series called "Benji, Zax, and the Alien Prince" I LOVED watching on CBS back in 1983. Not expecting to find anything so obscure, I was delighted to find that they did, indeed offer it. Renting the series, I quickly found myself swept away into both my youth and another galaxy as the beloved tale of a young prince from Antars exiled to Earth after a coup d'état unfolded again before me. As I repeatedly binge watched the series across the remainder of 2010, a story idea started to unfold inside me for a fan-fiction prequel novel telling the story of Prince Yubi before he reached Earth and how the constitutional monarchy on Antars fell into ruin and the eventual tyranny of Lord Zanu.

It was a great idea—but with one problem: how could I hope to publish such a novel without the express consent of "Benji, Zax, and the Alien Prince" creator Joe Camp?

With an apparently hopeless situation in front of me, I found myself with two choices: abandon the story idea or transform the stories into my head away from the BZAP canon in favour if my own story universe.

With about thirty pages already written, I chose the second option. Across 2011 I gradually, if clumsily made important changes to my book (see "The Lost Tales"). Prince Yubi became first Princess Anlei, then Princess Anyu as the story expanded from a single book to a full-scale trilogy with only the final chapter holding any real resemblance to my original story ideas. The Earth exile would still happen—but only after several generations of decline and through the quiet efforts of a hidden enemy working in the shadows. Wrist cyphers would still protect the princess on Earth. But no droid would follow her into exile (the "Zax" element mostly appears in the first story about Princess Anlei), and there certainly was not going to be a quadruped (aka Benji) following the princess around on her adventures, let alone outsmarting anyone from Beinan interested in insuring she never returned to Beinan –though "the hunters" still appear in "Princess Anyu Returns" in a different form and with a different back story to them.

Like any other first novel or series, the resulting "Great Succession Crisis," "Ghosts of the Past," and "Princess Anyu Returns" came about somewhat clumsily. Mistakes were made that I had to continually fix both before and after I first submitted what I thought was going to be the first and only version of the book on 12 August, 2012.

Initial consensus in 2012: good story, but I had some serious formatting and punctuation issues in that first edition which I worked to correct that autumn. A commercial failure in its first edition, I gave away over 200 paperback copies (if you find one, it is worth some money now) and spend hundreds of US dollars trying to make it work.

In 2013, I decided it was time to make more extreme edits, releasing an "Extended Edition" under ISBN 1482340550 and 978-1482340556 and finally a Third Edition in 2015. The text that follows this introduction is that final, definitive Third Edition. No story changes have been made between the Third Edition and this 7th Anniversary Edition. But there ARE significant differences between the first edition and what lays before you, most notably the first edition ended with the epilogue whereas subsequent versions take the story further, transitioning into Ghosts of the Past which is the exciting dystopian core adventure to the entire Peers of Beinan Series.

But the Great Succession Crisis has meaning far beyond the Peers of Beinan series. Despite its being buried among the thousands of science fiction novels published since the summer of 2012, this is the novel where I developed my personal writing style. This story, more than any other, taught me the writing profession. As clumsy as the journey this particular story has taken me on, its fires refined me into a biographical historian and successful narrative history author.

The story of the Legendary Women of World History Series stands alone and is probably better told elsewhere, especially on my website, www.laurelarockefeller.com or www.laurelarockefeller.co.uk. But significantly it came about precisely because it became clear in the wake of "The Ghosts of the Past'" publication that winter that I needed to take a new direction from the social science fiction of this series and take on a bigger, bolder world much more directly. Where the Peers of Beinan cloaks the issues important to me in fiction and lavish world building mostly set in a distance galaxy, The Legendary Women of World History series takes on the mostly biased history narratives we've been taught our whole lives, especially where women are concerned. In a field where more than 80% of the stories focus on men, the LWWH tells the stories of women and of world events as women experienced them. Even "His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis du Richelieu" presents his story from a much more female point of view, focusing on his relationship with close friend and nurse, Anne Rochefeuille (who likely shared common ancestors with this author as our name was still spelled Rochefeuille during Louis XIII's reign).

The LWWH is inherits many key features from The Great Succession Crisis and from the Peers of Beinan Series as a whole. My habit for prologues and epilogues starts here. So does my penchant for including original poetry and music –albeit in the LWWH the music is historical to when the biography subject lived. The appendices that follow this novel's narrative evolved into a separate book, "The Complete Data Files." The habit for writing appendices at the end of my books continues to this day in nearly every new title I release.

The Great Succession Crisis is therefore more than simply the clean romance that emerged out of an impulse to write fan fiction. It is the true beginning of my journey as a writer, as a professional, and as the person I am today.

I will never write another book like GSC. For one thing, my experiences regarding love and romance have evolved in the last seven years. I've grown so much as a person, as a professional, and as a soul and understand the universe so very differently than I did in 2012. This book is a time-capsule, a glimpse into my mind as certain and as vivid as any diary I've filled and subsequently burned (another habit of mine). But unlike my diaries, I will not destroy this book. This book is for you. To escape the milky way galaxy with. To renew yourself in the innocence of true love with. And most of all, to understand me by. Whatever my legacy becomes over the years, let this be your first step in discovering it and me. I promise, it will be filled with music.

\--Laurel A. Rockefeller

14th August, 2019

# Prologue

"Your Majesty, are you sure you want to do this?" asked Lord Knight Elendir of house Ten-Ar protectively, his red-fielded heraldry barely visible among the steam and smoke of only recently extinguished fires.

"What else can I do?" replied Queen Anyu. Against her will tears filled her eyes from more than just the toxic bilast in the air. At 58.67 cun寸tall and a mere forty yen-ars age, the fair skinned and grey eyed adolescent queen felt the weight of her journey heavily. How many died in this war of vengeance and why? Her mind struggled to find the answers as she carefully navigated the dangers of her half-destroyed royal office adjacent to the sovereign's personal apartment. Against her will her hand caressed the remains of the same conference table her mother Queen Constance so often sat at and where the queen gave permission to her to study with the engineers of house Xing-li, training that saved her life even more than the countless shir-ors mastering fencing.

At length, the noble Elendir whose own journey of loss and pain in this war exceeded hers managed to activate the interstellar communications system. Finding a single chair among the ruins, he dusted it off for her and helped her sit down, "Is there anything further I may do for you, Your Majesty?"

"Wait a shir-or, then send for my husbands and children, please," commanded Queen Anyu politely.

"You do not need to send this message now, Your Majesty. There is so much that needs to be done. We do not even know how many are dead yet!"

"We will mourn, Old Friend. But right now, I owe those who preserved my life an explanation. Maybe I did not have a choice – or not much of one – but I still lied. Allow me to make amends. I will never see these people again; I do not wish to part without telling the story to them."

Lord Elendir nodded, his own heart heavy, "As you wish." Bowing, he left the queen to attend to taming the chaos around them.

Saying a small serenity prayer in her mind, Anyu steadied herself before raising her voice to the computer, "Computer, begin recording and transmit to coordinates 23978 by 29458 by 5492. This is Queen Anyu to my friends and loyal allies throughout the known universe. My greatest apologies for not writing sooner. Many of you know of some of my adventures during my exile. Few of you know what happened after I returned home nor of the history behind my story. Forgive me for my many deceits during my exile. If I had revealed my true identity my life most certainly would have been in greater peril than it ended up being.

"Much has happened to me since my return home. Much remains to be done. But one thing is for certain: with hard work and determination we shall rebuild and restore the beauty of Beinan to its former glory. The road is long and hard. But now I have ascended to my mother's throne, I have little doubt the lessons of my exile will serve my people well.

"That is the future. The past still remains veiled. Forgive me for this and allow me to tell you the full story of my people. Understand that the deceit that kept this story from you before truly was necessary to preserve my life. Fault me not for wishing to neither perish from the differences in our biology nor from the threats from home that inevitably came to destroy me. Here, now, I shall tell you all."

# Chapter One: At the Great Council

"Are you certain you want to do this, Your Highness?" asked Lady Gillian of house Ana nervously, trying to match the quick strides of Lord Prince Bevin through the corridors of the Great Hall of the Assembly.

"Can you think of any one better to propose my amendment?" stared Lord Prince Bevin, slowing his pace slightly.

"Perhaps someone from one of the other houses?" quivered Lady Gillian. "Forgive me, Sire, but as the queen's consort, I fear the Council will consider you...biased!"

"Who do you aide for, Lady Gillian?"

"My lady is none other than Lady Councilor Juliana, head of our humble yet equally noble house Ana!"

Bevin met her eyes, "Would Lady Councilor Juliana propose my amendment? House Ana was, after all, one of the houses who forbade the ascent of daughters to their mother's positions of leadership back on A672E92 Quintus! Gurun and Miyoo never held such a rule. We have no problem with female leadership!"

"And yet you are a knight of Ten-Ar and therefore subject to the tradition of your house," countered Gillian. "How can you claim innocence on the matter when Ten-Arian blood flows through your veins?"

"I was not born of Ten-Ar, Lady Gillian. My knighthood is a matter of merit, not heredity. House Balister, recognizing the prowess of female archers, stood against grandfathering this...custom into our laws. Or so the records state," asserted Bevin, his patience with this aide waning even as he turned the corner and approached the assembly chamber.

"Then who will you represent in chambers, my lord?"

"I represent the interests of all Beinarians, as is my duty as prince consort, particularly when I appear as her majesty's proxy. I do so now to express our royal opinion regarding the succession," declared Prince Consort Bevin, opening the heavy wooden doors separating the corridor from the council chambers.

A herald noted Bevin's arrival, crying, "Please rise for Lord Bevin, prince-consort of Beinan and knight of Ten-Ar." With a thunderous pound of one hundred ninety feet, the councilors all rose in Beinarian precision and unison, falling suddenly silent in their voices.

Formally Bevin processed into the council chamber, his head held high and his face stern. He bowed to the herald at the waist as he approached the podium used to address the assembly. The Honorable Lady Kalar of house Cashmarie bowed slightly to Bevin, the metallic white threads making up the sails on her green heraldic kirtle sparkling like silver upon the golden masts of the Cashmarie ship emblem, "Welcome, Your Highness, to council."

Bevin acknowledged Honorable Lady Kalar with a bow from his neck and shoulders, "Your Honor, it is a pleasure to see you again. How fares the efforts to redact replica sailing vessels such as were used on A672E92 Quintus?"

"The efforts go well. Soon we shall master once more the ancient sailing arts, grounding ourselves in that which ennobled us long ago," smiled Lady Kalar.

"Your Honor, may I address the council?"

"Of course," bowed Honorable Lady Kalar, stepping aside for him.

"Wise councilors of the Great Council, I come to you now concerning the royal succession. As all of you know, five yen-ars ago, on BE 6321, beinor 1 Isabelle of house Gurun became our sovereign queen following the resignation of the crown by King Ejen. Her coronation came after our son, Anwell, legally ceded his right to become king after her in favor of our first born, Princess Anlei. This was well known across Beinan at the time of her majesty's coronation. For five yen-ars this council has failed to solidify the succession. I come before all of you to ask for a vote to resolve this matter. Will you accept Princess Anlei as heiress to the throne of Beinan?" questioned Bevin resolutely.

Lord Esreile of house Shem approached Prince Consort Bevin, "We have postponed that vote, Your Highness, out of deference to her majesty...and her position as equal heiress to house Miyoo. High Priestess Wehe is no one to trifle with; her reputation precedes her as highly skilled in-arts house Shem refuses to dabble in."

"This matter concerns the future of Beinan. Let us not use the debate as an excuse to advance religious causes. I understand that house Shem disagrees with the high priestess on matters of religion and spirituality. However, her grace is not the focus on this discussion, nor are the differences in theology espoused by houses Shem and Miyoo," asserted Bevin. "Rather, let us examine why a custom that predates the Great Migration and arose out of our bloody past should abide in this yen-ar of peace and diplomatic resolution of our many disagreements?"

"Very well," conceded Lord Arthur of house Xing-li, "I am happy to entertain such debates. After all, we lose nothing by discussing the matter."

"Thank you, Lord Arthur!" acknowledged Bevin with a slight bow to his head.

Lord Knight Eisiq of house Ten-Ar rose, "I have no personal grudge against Princess Anlei. All reports regarding her indicate a highly educated and politically engaged adolescent. She is perhaps one of the best candidates among us for the throne of Beinan. House Ten-Ar also approves of her bloodline among three great houses: Gurun, Ten-Ar, and Miyoo. She is the logical choice to ascend the throne."

"Perhaps," debated Lord Arthur, "but the law is itself quite clear on the matter. No noble woman may pass her power and authority to a daughter except for among the clergy. House Miyoo refuses to relent on that matter."

"Perhaps wisely," affirmed Lady Priestess Alicia, younger sister to High Priestess Wehe and a councilor from house Miyoo. "War and bloodshed are the pitiable heritage we are forced to endure from a time of virtual lawlessness and savage blood feuds. Let us always put aside our violent impulses in favor of adult discussion and logic."

"A noble goal to be certain, Lady Alicia, but perhaps not always pragmatic. Only our egos truly make us superior to the other races we encounter when we travel through the stars in our star craft. Violence is a way of life...an almost universal quality among humans across the charted universe," observed Lord Arthur.

"Must it be? Must we remain complacent and refuse to change when change is merited? This law from our past was not even a law before formation of the Great Council of Houses. It was a tradition, a custom maintained informally across tens of thousands of yen-ars by specific Beinarian houses, an outlet of patriarchal impulses interpreting females as inferiors leaders of war," defined Lady Alicia. "House Balister never maintained such a custom...and with good reason. Few Beinarians of any house, even Ten-Ar, can match the accuracy of Balister ladies with a bow of any sort – heritage or modern."

Bevin smiled. Alicia's words reminded him of the long-forgotten yen-ars he'd spent living with his mother, a house Balister lady of particular skill with a laser crossbow. That was before he met his first knight of Ten-Ar...before he made the decision to attempt to earn his place among Ten-Arians and pursue knighthood. "My mother was such a lady. I can affirm through first-hand experience the skills of the ladies of Balister. They are truly the best archers among our people, earning them leadership roles across our culture's history. Balister is wise to make leadership about merit, not gender."

"No one says that women are not effective leaders, Your Highness," declared Lord Arthur, "but that is not the question for us here and now. Rather it is whether or not this beinor is the beinor to make a dramatic change in our laws. As much as I respect Princess Anlei...I cannot find a solid legal imperative to change the law at this time. Right or wrong...this is a custom, a law, which has stood since before the Great Migration."

"I concur," agreed Lord Esreile. "This is not the time to change this law. Unless house Gurun can find a more pressing reason to overturn the law, I cannot endorse such a change."

Lady Kalar took her place as council chair, "Let us vote on this matter. Shall we overturn the law as requested by Queen Isabelle through her proxy, Prince Consort Bevin? Or shall we retain the law in all its strengths and weaknesses? How vote you on the Gurun resolution? House Ana?"

"Nay."

"House Shem?"

"Nay."

"House Cashmarie?"

"Nay."

"House Balister?"

"Yeah."

"House Ten-Ar?"

"Nay," answered Lord Knight Eisiq.

"House Xing-li?"

"Nay," answered Lord Arthur.

"House Gurun?"

"Yeah," answered Prince Bevin.

"House Miyoo?"

"Yeah," answered Lady Priestess Alicia.

"House Slabi?"

"Nay."

"Resolution denied six votes to three. The law will remain as it was. This council will hear further debate on how to handle the extant succession crisis on BE 6326, beinor 120, shir-or 9.50," proclaimed Honorable Lady Kalar. Bowing, Lord Prince Bevin took his leave of the council. Upon the closing of the massive wood doors, his eyes misted. Lengthening his stride, he controlled his composure until he was able to exit the building before letting his tears flow. The board was now set, the crisis now inevitable. Anlei would pay the price for the council's decision, one way or another.

# Chapter Two: A Knightly Education for Princess Anlei

Prince Consort Bevin bent over his computer in his private office off of his private apartment. Though he and Isabelle had almost always shared the same bed since their wedding, it was customary for the sovereign to maintain her or his own spacious apartment in the palace and the consort to maintain her or his own, separate but nearby apartment in the palace. The palace was designed to provide a private garden for each apartment—and a force field screen to prevent consort and sovereign from seeing one another should each choose to be in their gardens at the same time as a means of protecting each one's privacy. In political marriages where neither loved the other, this arrangement of space allowed each to maintain an official, if need be, lover, for those occasions when the sovereign was not interested in maintaining the relationship physically, though of course such practices were frowned upon, though not altogether unexpected—for either side.

Still, in matters of intimacy, the sovereign held power over the consort and yielded power only when it suited her or him. To ensure proper boundaries, even the closest of couples kept their respective personal belongings in their respective apartments and allowed servants to shuttle things like clothing back and forth as needed to accommodate practical use of only one bed for most of the time. This may have seemed inconvenient, but by doing so, each was also guaranteed her and his own space, a sanctum not shared by the other in times of stress.

Important to the design of each royal apartment was the office built into each. Spacious and exceedingly comfortable, the sovereign and consort each held their own work spaces, complete with the latest and best computer technologies and equipment.

Advanced communications equipment inside all the royal apartments enabled the royal family to speak to anyone on Beinan—and nearly any known star system for that matter. The current system had a range of more than two million light yen-ars, easily reaching systems nearby galaxies. On his last meeting with engineers, Prince Bevin was told that within one yen-ar they would be able to more than double the current range to 5.2 million light yen-ars and to expect someone to stop by in about fifty beinors with the upgrades. That was good. The better the communications, the more secure the planet would be. Among the reports on his desk: confirmation that his wife's younger sister's body had, indeed, been found by survey droid sent there to investigate what happened to her some 75 yen-ars ago on D425E25 Tertius, a distant world just under two million light yen-ars from Beinan.

The scans indicated she died when her cipher was removed from her neck. There were neither signs of the cipher nor of any other Beinarian technology for that matter to be found by the survey droid. Bevin knew, as a knight of Ten-Ar, that the princess had not been the first Beinarian to visit this planet on the edge of known space—not remotely. But Princess Anyu visited an unknown region of D425E25 Tertius, a natural move for a dedicated student scientist like Princess Anyu, but hard on High Priestess Wehe, particularly in the beinors following Anyu's final report. For twenty-one beinors High Priestess Wehe grieved, deeply depressed. Thirty beinors after Anyu's death according to the droid's report, Wehe returned to palace life to celebrate the wedding of her daughter Isabelle to then Lord Knight Bevin. Remembering back to his wedding beinor, Bevin recalled seeing grief reflected deep in his mother in law's eyes. Only now, with the final report on his wife's little sister's death did Bevin finally understand what clearly his mother in law knew without doubt at the time.

The door chimed. At first, Bevin did not hear it, so lost was he in memory. The chime rang again. Finally, Bevin looked up and commanded the door, "Come."

Lord Culain, an agile warrior 125 yen-ars old and, at 57.6 cun 寸 tall, a rather tall Beinarian, stepped into Bevin's office, his red hair flaming against his green eyes. At his side he carried a sword in an elaborate scabbard. Culain grinned at Bevin and hugged him warmly, "Lord Bevin. By the goddesses...how many yen-ars has it been?"

"It's 'prince' now...you may not have heard, but I married well," smirked Bevin.

Culain explored Bevin's office with a few steps and gave a careful, watchful look around, "Impressive. What girl did you bed this time?"

"Oh, no one important...just some girl named Isabelle. You may have heard of her. You were at her coronation five yen-ars ago," smiled Bevin. "Actually, make that at OUR coronation. Or don't you attend official functions of the knights of Ten-Ar anymore? Last I checked it was required for all living knights to swear personal fealty to newly crowned kings and queens of Beinan."

"You know how much I hate courts and politics. I made my appearance to please the knights and slipped away," grinned Culain.

"Oh, I see," teased Bevin.

"So old friend, what work keeps you so far from the monastery?"

"Politics! I have spent more shir-ors at the Great Hall of the Assembly than I ever thought possible. Don't these politicians on the Great Council understand how their decisions affect the rest of us? The way they prattle and posture, seeking power and compliments – it makes me annoyed at best," wringed a vexed Prince Bevin.

"If anyone can handle it, Bevin, it's you. You are so devoted to your wife and children...how can you not fight for what is in the best interests of Beinan. I was at your wedding vow renewal ceremony back in BE 6300, but I was disappointed not to see your son Alastair."

"Alastair died as an infant, just shy of his first natal beinor."

"How?"

"The healers of Gurun and Ten-Ar said – I can hardly believe their report – poison. Why would anyone want to poison my son?"

"You will never find the answer sitting here. Come, return with me to the monastery. Come home and see your brother and sister knights of Ten-Ar. I promise a grand surprise for you – and your lovely daughter if you can convince her to stop pouting like the adolescent she is...."

"Don't be too hard on Anlei, Culain. She's at that age when she should be thinking about marriage and finding a proper husband. Instead, I feel this anger in her. She doesn't believe in love or romance, only duty, the cold duty of a girl who feels like she must lie down, submit, and tolerate a future husband whose only interest in her is his own carnal lust and lust for power and wealth. I don't see her wanted marriage or children...just accepting that she must endure such things in order to bear enough children to secure the dynasty. She is, in fact, the only adolescent girl her age I have ever met who feels so cold towards her future. She doesn't dream romantic dreams like a girl, but feels...hunted. As a father it breaks my heart to see it."

"Then take her with you to house Ten-Ar, my liege. Do not delay in this. For I think there is someone, a squire perhaps, who may thaw your ice princess and inspire her towards greater optimism," hinted Lord Knight Culain.

"Make way. May way for His Royal Highness Prince Consort Bevin, lord of the knights of Ten-Ar," heralded one of the junior squires, a lad of no more than 14 yen-ars wearing simple brown tunic and green trousers with a muddy brown leather belt. Confidently, Prince Bevin strode through the main audience hall of the monastery, his bright green tunic with its royal Gurun heraldry embroidered in silver shined under his regal purple cloak. White trousers and red leather belt completed his royal ensemble. On his belt hung the elaborate platinum and gold broad sword of the knights of Ten-Ar. On his brow sat the Beinarian sapphire and Beinarian ruby coronet of the royal consorts of the Gurun dynasty. Behind him, walking just two paces away glided Princess Anlei in modest yet elegant crimson gown, its soft, flowing fabric billowing in the gentle breeze that filled the room from outside. Light touched the blue white gems sewn to her gown's bodice, making it sparkle. The fullness of her skirt trailed behind her as she walked as if she was dancing. Underneath the soft, almost clinging fabric her small breasts and petite waist beckoned seductively in the wind.

As she passed with the wind in her gown, she met eyes with a squire kneeling near the head of the hall, a great sword resting on the floor in front of him, his blue eyes sparkling brightly through his fair face. For just an instant he dared look up at her to touch her soft grey eyes with his own and let her see his face clearly. She felt her breath rush out of her in an instant.

Squire Corann smiled. Closing his eyes, he let his mind feel the contours of Princess Anlei's mind and heart, and let his own heart be enraptured for just an instant. He struggled to conceal an outburst of laughter. Who was this fair lady?

Forgetting himself, he ignored his training, his discipline for an instant and let himself explore her with his mind. Wonder and joy filled him, fascination and beauty.

"Squire. Squire," snapped Culain.

Suddenly Corann saw and felt only the present, his master, Lord Culain standing over him expectantly attempting to start the greeting ritual for Prince Consort Bevin and Princess Anlei "Sir! My lord Knight."

"Where were you?" asked Culain, kneeling and taking his hands gently.

Corann took his masters hands softly and kissed his palms like a servant whispering, "The flower of Abka Biya."

Compassion filled Lord Culain. His squire, Corann, was no ordinary young man. Born the bastard son of one of the house's greatest knights, Lord Cariadoc, it was said to a great priestess named Cordelia; he was born very different than most Beinarians. He was born feeling things that most Beinarians outside of the temple never felt and knowing things most outside of the priesthood never knew. Corann was house Ten-Ar by his father and house Miyoo by his priestess mother -- a rare collision of bloodline in patriarchal and matriarchal houses not unlike Queen Isabelle and Princess Anlei themselves.

Youth born to dual or, in Anlei's case, triple house affiliation, must choose as adolescents which house to call her or his house for political purposes. Corann chose house Ten-Ar, knowing full well that as a bastard, his choice would be questioned and scorned by many. Lord Culain, concerned about the young man's studies and social standing made a point to mentor him. When Corann passed his trials and was granted the rank of squire, Lord Knight Culain chose to train him personally, protecting the young prodigy from many dangers that otherwise would have assaulted him.

Lord Culain looked into Corann's eyes, returning both to the present. Pain, awe, wonder all flashed through Corann's mind at the question he sensed from his master. Understanding, Culain whispered back, "The flower of Abka Biya is covered in ice by the political storm around her. This is High Priestess Wehe's granddaughter, Corann, whom you knew before."

Lightning flashed in Corann's eyes. Anlei? How could it be? Had she really grown so much since last he saw her? Had his studies in house Ten-Ar made him forget everything he sensed around him while at the palace studying as Wehe's protégé? Wehe had taught him how to focus his mind instead of being perpetually distracted by the feelings and thoughts around him. But Anlei...she was different. In her presence he could never control his mental powers. To her, his mind was ever captivated, needing the soothing touch of her consciousness near him.

"Shall we begin?" asked Culain, tapping Corann on the shoulder to refocus his attention back to the ritual at hand. As the ritual began and the usual introductory remarks and speeches made to the assembly, Corann could not help looking at Anlei as often as the ritual allowed. He knew his place and his knew every word of this ritual, of course. He was an excellent student and had no problem doing everything required of him while still studying the beauty in front of him. How beautiful the princess looked in that gown! The fabric shifted ever so slightly over her delicate body when a breeze came up, complimenting the gentle curves of her breasts. Desire filled him; desire he had never known before living among all these men. Why had not the others spoken of such things before? Was this what it meant to want to marry someone? Was this the drive to leave training and take a wife...or at least to bring children into the world? Why did not the knights speak of this to him? Surely feeling what he was feeling for this girl was only natural. Corann suddenly realized...he had grown up as well since last he saw Anlei.

Corann breathed hard, and then restored his mental discipline. No matter the strange sensations filling his body—and his well-trained senses could easily detect the diversion of blood flow to that other part of his body where it had never diverted before—he was a squire of Ten-Ar, able to avoid such distractions with concentration.

These skills he found more useful now than ever before. He looked at her, and then closed his eyes, his fingers moving into the practiced meditative position. Lord Culain looked over at him for 0.7 xiao-shirs and noticed the shift in position to meditation but said nothing—though he suspected, as Corann's master, the cause. If anything, this sudden shift from the ritual to meditation pleased Lord Culain for it showed how well Corann had learned his lessons and was able to apply his training. Putting his attention back on his brother in the knighthood once more, Lord Culain continued the ceremony with Prince Bevin and Princess Anlei as Squire Corann focused and controlled his thoughts.

By the time Lord Culain finished the service and offered his bows to the royals, Corann felt normal again and ready to greet their guests as if they were any other esteemed visitors. With the last words of ritual now finished, Corann picked up the great sword on the floor, cradling it in his palms as he stood two paces behind Lord Culain. Culain put his right hand on his shoulder, "Your Highness, have you met my pupil? This is Squire Corann. Tonight, he is to be initiated as a full knight of Ten-Ar. It would do me great honor if you and your daughter would attend the ceremony...and the banquet afterwards. It would also do us honor if you would stay for the next few beinors here at the monastery as my guest. It's been many yen-ars, I think, old friend, since you slept in our humble quarters. Unless, of course, her majesty your wife requires you at the palace right away...."

Ignoring the joke, Bevin turned and positioned his hands in the form of the knightly salute to another brother, "Welcome to the brotherhood, Corann. I look forward to attending your ceremony...it has been a long time since I attended one. It would do me great honor to attend yours if you are willing."

Corann bowed, "The honor is mine, Your Highness. And if your daughter would grace me with her presence as well, it would be a kindness to me. Are all descendants of great kings and queens so fair – or only your daughter?" Corann blushed at the sudden moment of candor. He knew better than to let even a sliver of his attraction show.

Bevin regarded him, suddenly more father than knight of Ten-Ar. Was this squire, about to be a knight, attracted to Anlei? Corann... that name sounded familiar – was he? "Corann, are you the same Corann who spent countless beinors at the palace under the tutelage of High Priestess Wehe?"

Corann bowed, "I am. For some reason she sees something special in me beyond my humble origins."

Lord Prince Bevin smiled, "From what the queen has told me, you are her only pupil since she left residence at the Temple of Abka Biya upon her marriage to King Ejen. The honor extended to you is vast."

The knighting of a squire was one of the oldest and grandest ceremonies for the Knights of Ten-Ar—and proudest. In a cavern-like ceremonial chamber that resembled a temple built slightly underground, Lord Culain, Lord Prince Bevin, and several of the more academically accomplished squires of Ten-Ar processed to flutes, zithers, and the Beinarian version of a soprano shawm, a light, sweet double-reeded instrument. In the amphitheater-like setting sat Princess Anlei in a place of honor among other dignitaries.  Behind her were many of Corann's classmates, all dressed in their finest fabrics and brightest colours. As Bevin and Culain took their ritual places, the music changed to a heraldic tone, signaling those in attendance to rise. Corann glided in his processional in a crimson tunic and trousers, his clothing unbelted and unmarked in any way; even his soft black leather shoes were unremarkable.

Though his heart soared, especially when he dared to look at Anlei in her lavender gown, he maintained the composure of a man who had been in vigil all beinor long and endured many trials and tribulations to reach this point. As much as his spiritual abilities allowed him to survey the soft contours of her soft body, he refused to show anything, though deep in his heart and even reaching his conscious mind, he felt pleased at her beauty. He noticed the way Anlei had braided and ornamented her hair in silver ribbons and white pearls around and through her crown braid. Silver and lavender ribbon streamers fell out of the pins placed in her hair and a white rose-like flower with the softest and most alluring fragrance served as a center piece comb at the center back of the braid, just above it and anchoring just under it.

Anlei was... breath taking.

Almost against his will, Corann smiled at her as he reached his assigned ceremonial spot. Anlei smiled back. Composing himself once more, he knelt and looked into Lord Culain's green eyes. Lord Culain laid his hands on the crown of Corann's head, "Corann, son of Cariadoc, for many yen-ars have you studied and suffered, enduring the trials set before you of mind, body, heart, and spirit. Now the journey's end has come and a choice lies before you. Do you choose to join the brotherhood of Knights of Ten-Ar as is your birth right by your father, Lord Cariadoc – or leave this monastery for the temple that is also, through your mother, your birth right?"

Corann's grey eyes beamed with spiritual devotion as he grasped Culain's wrists ceremoniously, "Master, hear me now before these witnesses. I choose as I have always chosen all my life: to dedicate my mind, body, heart, and soul to this house and this place. If the brotherhood will have me, I vow myself to be, now and for forevermore, sword brother and peer, a lord of Ten-Ar."

Lord Culain removed his hands from Corann's head and anointed the center of his brow with fragrant sacred oil, "Then in the name of the Knights of Ten-Ar and as your master, I confer on you the rank of Knight and Lord of Ten-Ar." With a nod, one of the squires knelt nearby, bearing a great sword in a gold and silver scabbard and on a strong leather belt in a bright green. Kneeling, Lord Culain girt it about Lord Corann's waist.

Rising, Culain turned to Bevin who in turn turned to a second squire bearing a narrow silver-like circlet on a cushion. At the front center of the very narrow band was a great marquise-like cut Beinarian sapphire with strong, triangular corners that sparkled like an earth diamond and displayed a pattern of light onto other objects when the Beinarian sunlight shone strongly upon it. Lord Prince Bevin picked up this circlet and handed it to Culain who ritually held it over Lord Corann's head, "Lord Corann, Knight of Ten-Ar, this, as much as your sword, is the sacred symbol of our house. As your sword aids in obtaining the peace, let this blue stone of wisdom guide you in keeping the peace. May your soul always travel in harmony with the goddesses and may they always help you find paths that will unite, and never divide, our people," Corann's grey eyes met his as the circlet softly lowered onto his head and into his hair. He felt the weight and the stone's energies at once as Lord Culain kissed his forehead like a father and with his forearm raised him up from his long kneeling position. "Brothers of Ten-Ar, nobles of many houses, I give you Lord Corann, Knight of Ten-Ar."

Realizing he was on his feet and fully initiated, Corann allowed himself to smile, but his gaze quickly wandered to Princess Anlei who smiled at him discretely like a shrewd political princess. As the gathering rushed to greet him and congratulate him, he noticed that she did not, waiting and keeping her gaze as far from the crowd as she could. Lord Corann could not help but to recognize the training and allowed the crowd to thin on him before he made his own moves towards her direction. Food and drink by now were being served as part of a formal reception. Lord Corann grabbed two glasses of something that resembled a sparkling wine and walked to Anlei, extending a glass to her, "You look like you were waiting for something to happen...or perhaps someone."

"A princess does not need to rush into the fray like some starving creature, but moves deliberately, with a purpose. I did not think for a moment that this gathering would end without you speaking to me at some point," she smiled, accepting the glass and taking a sip.

"You know me well for someone who has only known me a few xiao-shir," smiled Corann.

"You forget, I've seen you around the palace many times. Do you really think that you and grandmother were completely alone during all those meetings? Grandmother let me get away with more things than you realize."

Corann laughed, thinking about times at the palace as a youth when High Priestess Wehe tutored him, "People think your grandmother is the evil queen at times, but she's really not that bad. She can be a real kind and generous soul. I would not be surprised at all if you turned out more like her than people guess."

Anlei laughed, "Who me? Like my grandmother? Her royal priestessness? Perish the thought. I'm a woman of science, not faith. I am not sure any of these goddesses are real at all...and I don't see any point in this religious mumbo jumbo. Why anyone would confuse her and I beyond the obvious genetic similarities is beyond me."

Corann tilted his head and opened his mind psychically, allowing himself to sense her more deeply. This was, after all, his first real time alone with Anlei to speak to her as two people. He blushed from what he sensed. What is it with her to enchant him so? Such a soul. Could any soul be more beautiful? Why did she try to cloak it with this faux atheism? Or could it be that she did not herself realize how much she actually believed in the goddesses? "Maybe on some level you think all that is religious nonsense. But I wonder if perhaps your adverse opinion of religion has more to do with the practice of religion than with divinity itself, Anlei. It's important not to confuse the two. One may see the faults with the way that people worship or talk about religion and see abuses in our religious system—and these are valid. But the system and practice is not the same thing as theology or the beings behind it. They say that on many other worlds, other cultures struggle with these issues. It is not just you remotely."

"You surprise me, Lord Corann. I know you are a student of my grandmother's, but I did not think of theology as the first subject of interest to any knight of Ten-Ar."

Corann smiled softly, "You might be surprised how we knights of Ten-Ar are actually educated. In arts of war, yes, certainly, but that is only perhaps 20% of our education now. Hundreds of yen-ars ago...yes, it was much more about fighting and defense of our people. But now we understand that the best way to defend our people is with clear thought and strong minds. We are a house of peace more than war. It should really not be so surprising my father Lord Cariadoc fell in lust with one of the most powerful priestesses in the temple...well, so they say. "

Anlei smiled back, "You mean as my grandfather fell in lust with my grandmother?"

"Something like that yes. Isn't it strange how we both owe our existence to the lust of some man over some powerful priestess – and that same priestess's willingness to use his desire to attain something she wanted? Your grandmother wanted to become queen and bear legitimate heirs to the throne. My mother wanted to stay in the temple, but bear some powerful son who would merge two powerful lines and still have the right to be part of this noble house. I am sure that even the best efforts to protect the innocence of a princess have not kept you from hearing of that most unfortunate custom among the houses regarding the best way to disgrace a rival house—or rival individual for that matter?" Lord Corann spoke carefully now, particularly of such a delicate subject, no doubt, to a woman now entering prime age to be victimized.

Anlei looked into his eyes, suddenly afraid and vulnerable, "I am aware of it, yes."

Corann met her eyes. Perhaps it was his training, and perhaps it was an immediate effect of his elevation; he felt this overwhelming need to protect her, "Do not fear it from me, Your Highness." Taking her hand, he knelt, "I pledge to you, my princess, ever shall I serve you. The sovereignty of your house is in my heart. I pledge by my life and by my death as a knight of Ten-Ar, never shall a man place a hand on you in violence or hate—or if he should and evade my sword at the time, I swear by my life and death to avenge you." Turning her hand, he kissed her palm to seal his vow, then kissed her palm twice more very tenderly out of desire. Anlei felt a wave of spiritual energy crawl up her arm from his kiss, stealing her breath. She stumbled by a step. Instinctively, Lord Corann steadied her with his hand softly on her delicate waist. The soft fabric caressed his fingers. The sweetness of her body for just that tiny instant enraptured him.

Steadied by him, Anlei regained her footing and with her hand tugged on Corann to rise again. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear. Resuming a more appropriate distance of two friends talking, she replied, "Your service is accepted, Lord Knight Corann. Gladly will I take you as my protector. Keep your vow to me always, Lord Knight Corann and never let anyone—not yourself, not a friend, not a foe -- common, noble, or royal -- lay a hand on my body except in kindness, friendship, or love. As daughter of Queen Isabelle, I charge you with this task for all the beinors of your life and mine."

Lord Corann drew his sword. It gleamed brightly and sharply in the hidden lights, "From this moment until death, I am yours: protector, friend, and servant."

# Chapter Three: Bevin's Royal Challenge

"Your highness. Your highness," whirled RK6. "You must get up your highness." RK6 hovered nervously around the modest bed provided to Princess Anlei in the student quarters in the monastery. Comfortable, but very modest, she was put in a two-person dormitory with two beds, one each on opposite sides of the wall. In the other bed laid Lord Corann who was already dressed. With his vows made as protector to the princess, his belongings had been transferred to Anlei's room. He was officially a royal servant now and Anlei's aide in particular. RK6 might be the perfect political droid skilled at helping the princess with managing the court, of, course, serving as her constant lady in waiting, but as such, she was strictly civilian and incapable of keeping the princess out of danger like the young knight of Ten-Ar. RK6's programming, of course, saw Corann as both an asset and a political inconvenience. A man sleeping so close to her highness? This was scandalous. A female protector would have been far better. At least then the court would not gossip regarding the princess's chastity.

While RK6 hovered and fretted, Anlei did her best to ignore the droid. Why should she actually get up, even if the damn droid was making too much noise to keep sleeping? Half asleep Anlei decided to pretend she heard nothing.

But Corann suspected the truth from across the room. Perhaps the beautiful Anlei needed an incentive to wake up. Perhaps, if she were attracted to him, a bit of flirtation might be enough to convince her. Motioning to RK6 to be quiet, he slowly crept to her side of the room. Slowly, deliberately, carefully, he moved just enough of his body over her to hover over her without touching her at all – until with a feather's touch his lips lightly brushed hers softly, just barely at first, then more fully into a complete kiss. Still touching her lips to his, he kissed her again, fully and completely, and a third time before backing away, heart racing. Had he dared what he had just dared?

Anlei opened her eyes with Corann simply sitting beside her as if just watching over her as a protector, "Corann. I had the strangest dream."

"Tell me your dream, dear friend," smiled Corann softly, taking her fingers into his own tenderly.

Anlei smiled, her eyes lighting up, and her voice laughing with delight at points, "We were dancing... some sort of ball or masquerade by my father. And instead of being my protector, you were like my prince charming. You were dressed just like royalty or something. Very handsome. We were in the grand ballroom and dancing so happily. And I felt your strong arms around me. Oh, how strong you are or must be after all those yen-ars of training. And somewhere as we are dancing this ancient dance of our people you sweep me up so close and I feel your soft lips on mine. Oh Corann, in my dreams your kiss was the sweetest touch in the entire world. And I knew in that instant that you were so much dearer to me than any friend. You were the only man I could bear to marry. And in my dream, you knelt down to me and told me that you love me. And I never heard such a sweet sound in all my life from anyone. And all I could think about in the dream is how much I wanted to receive the betrothal gift from you so I could – oh, I have never thought that or dreamed I would think that about anyone. It's not logical, nor particularly realistic for me – but it was just a dream...."

Just a dream. Oh how Anlei did not understand her own bloodline, thought Corann. The daughter of the daughter of one of Beinan's most talented priestesses did not simply have dreams any more than Corann simply dreamed. How is it possible her grandmother never explained the Sight to her – or did she merely refuse to listen?

How innocently Anlei related her dream vision to Corann? Corann's training, between High Priestess Wehe and the knights of Ten-Ar, made him rather adept at understanding prophesy and recognizing it. Corann's heart raced at the prophesy, yet he maintained his composure, "What a beautiful dream, my friend, I wish you could see your face. I have never seen such joy or delight in you before. You light up the room this morning – and my heart with it. I can see everything you dreamed so well, you are so happy." A smile escaped Corann's face. He was overjoyed at the joy in her right now. Oh that life would let him bring back the joy on her face again.

"Am I? Maybe it's waking up feeling truly safe. I've never woken up with someone beside me before."

"I was near you, Anlei, not beside you.  I slept across the room at a proper distance, remember? The only way I can truly sleep beside you is as your husband and only if you should wish it," corrected Corann.

"Would you wish it?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want to be my husband?"

"Anlei, that's a political decision. I'm not at liberty to make those for you. I haven't even been a full knight for a full beinor yet. And even if I were an established knight of 100 yen-ars old and not just over sixty yen-ars old, it would still not be my place to verbalize an opinion on this matter. Who you marry will decide the fate of house Gurun in the Great Council. I'm no politician. I cannot say who would be good for your house—or for you personally. I find life confusing enough without adding the complications of the Great Council and the nuances of Beinarian politics." Turning to RK6's direction he added, "Besides, you have a political droid to help you in these matters. I'd rather you ask her regarding your options. You don't rely on RK6 nearly as much as you should, Your Highness." Corann started to shift his body to rise from his sitting position.

Anlei stopped him with her fingers, "Corann. What do you want? Forget about my heritage and my name. What do you want?"

"Are you asking me in a perfect world, if our choices did not affect the lives of billions, what would I want? What would I wish if you were truly free? If you were not King Ejen's granddaughter?"

"Yes. For one xiao-shir, forget I'm Princess Anlei. Let me just be Anlei, some ordinary girl, what would you choose? What does your heart say?"

"Anlei if there were no houses, no politics, no games of flesh and blood, I promise you that every minute since I met you would have gone different. I have felt you in my mind since the xiao-shir I laid eyes on you. You are in my very heart and being. Oh Anlei if you were not princess I would dare to say what is in my heart I would dare to be true to myself."

Anlei sat up and stroked his cheek, "But you can't can you?" A tear rolled from Corann's eye into her hand as he shook his head. "If I were not a princess, I would dare to love you too. But I don't dare fall in love, do I?"

Corann shook his head painfully, "Not until you are married, no. If you were to fall in love with someone other than the man you must marry for political reasons, you might put yourself into grave danger, Your Highness. You would not wish your heirs conceived in violence which many husbands would be inclined to do, I think, especially if jealous of another man. And – I probably should tell you that there are legal limits to how much and far I may protect you from your own consort. "

"What do I do?"

"Do you love me, Anlei?"

"No. Not so soon. I like you; you are already a good and loyal friend. And it was a good and beautiful dream. But in love with you right now, no, though I cannot say I would be unhappy if next beinor I learned that my father chose you for me. I think that would please me better than most other possibilities. But that is not the same as being in love."

"No, it is not. Believe me; I value your friendship, Your Highness. Always. No matter what the yen-ars bring us, you shall have it, no matter who is chosen for you...even me."

"But your feelings?"

Corann smiled humbly, "I can handle them, if you can handle a protector who admires you and thinks you are especially beautiful."

"Your esteem honors me and elevates me, Lord Corann. Never leave my side. Since it is possible that perhaps one beinor you will wed me, I would like you to stay closer to my person than is traditional for a male protector. I do not doubt your integrity or your self-control, Corann, towards my person. If you are willing to deal with temptations that few men have ever faced, I am willing to have you closer and nearer than any man save a consort has ever been to a princess. Are you willing?"

Corann smiled, "If you tempt me so, I may fail and offer you affections of my heart instead of merely my sword."

Anlei put his hand on her waist under the blankets. The thin fabric of her nightgown let him feel her soft skin very tangibly. Instinctively he explored a little, finding her belly button and noticing its contours. Oh what a handful she could be. "Well, what are friends for?"

Corann laughed and shook his head, then, feeling daring from her bold move quietly moved towards her lips with his own. She moved forward to meet him. This time it would be no attempts to hide as he kissed her lips tenderly...and she gently returned his. Daring only a moment of kissing, Corann and Anlei embraced in friendship and almost fear of too much romantic contact with each other.

For Corann, his fear was about losing control of himself and unleashing too much of his feelings, his needs for Anlei into the moment. For Anlei, she was very much afraid of stimulating Corann too much and pleasing him or teasing him to the point of cruelty. Cruel indeed would it be for her to give more of herself to him than her heart truly felt for him—or politics would truly allow. He deserved better, bastard or not. She had no desire to play him physically or emotionally. Yes, she wanted to experience that kiss, to know what it felt like, especially coming from Corann...could anyone be a finer choice for her first kiss?

But she had to be careful about it too, balancing her curiosities about dating and sexuality with her very real situation and with his needs. This was a friend and someone who was becoming a very close friend at that. His feelings mattered very much to her already. And if she knew nothing else, it was that Corann wanted to kiss her too. That much she could give him from time to time. That much, at least until she was married, was a gift she could offer him...as well as that proximity. Perhaps it was not sleeping in the same bed...but moving his closer to hers would keep her very safe. Besides...for the moment, she was a very big target for assassination. Anwell was just a little TOO unready.

Anlei stroked Corann's hair softly, "So was there something in particular that we needed to do this morning, Lord Corann?"

Corann gazed into her eyes, the temptation of her flashing through them as he spoke up, "RK6, the schedule, please."

"Thank goodness. I thought for sure you would never stop your politically unwise course of action. My lady, your father has been waiting for you for 0.0137 shir-ors in the temple where Lord Corann's elevation was held the previous beinor. He said that there is something important he wanted to discuss with both of you," announced RK6 formally.

Taking his eyes off her, Corann addressed RK6 directly, "Thank you, RK6, please go on to see Lord Prince Bevin and inform him that I will personally ensure her highness gets there within seven xiao-shir and please extend our apologies for making him wait."

In compliance, RK6 turned and floated away, leaving their chamber and Corann and Anlei alone. Anlei turned to him, "You do realize that now you will have to help me dress in order to be ready that soon."

Corann embraced her from behind and put his very strong arms around her, clasping his hands around her tiny waist. He kissed her cheek softly and briefly, "That is what you had in mind when you asked me to be even closer to guard you. You knew full well I would have to help you with that as well...and you want me to. You rather enjoy the prospect of that flirtation with me, my young, beautiful princess. If that is your will, Your Highness, I will comply...now let's get you dressed and quickly." Corann put a pastel blue dress in her hands.

Anlei's particular night gown had very long laces from the waist to a high neck, allowing her, in theory, to begin pulling another gown over her head while she undid the night gown and simply pulled it off her body. The blue dress in front of her laced up in back with a modest scoop front and long bell sleeves. The dress body was lined for modesty from the very light fabric, keeping the sleeves sheer. Standing in front of her, Corann held the blue dress up, taut at the shoulders. Anlei stepped into it without putting her arms into the sleeves, and then worked on the laces of her nightgown, Corann looking straight into her eyes and both smiling at each other. The night gown fell and Anlei carefully stepped outside it while still without the boundaries of the blue dress. Navigating Corann's hand, she found the left shoulder of the dress with her left hand and slid her hand into the sleeve completely. Her left hand caressed Corann's right arm to tease him before she raised her left arm to the right shoulder to help Corann. No longer needed to protect her modesty per se, he helped her find the right sleeve and slip into it. The gown started to conform to Anlei's body. Moving behind her, Corann worked at the lacing to fasten the gown and deftly secured it together. Why did it feel almost like an act of worship to dress her? Any other royal servant would consider this a chore. But to touch her, to see her like this...this was no chore, but a pleasure...that she wanted him to do it.

As Anlei dressed her hair slightly, Corann sighed softly, and then belted on his sword...it was time to go see the prince consort of Beinan.

Arriving in the temple of the monastery, Anlei and Corann found Lord Prince Bevin waiting for them with RK6 hovering quietly in the background. Bevin was reading an aged book that looked more than 500 yen-ars old and was probably more than two thousand. The physical archives of Ten-Ar extended back to OW 40,000 with some books dating to as early as OW 10,000 in copied form. Bevin looked up from his book as his daughter and her new protector entered, "My daughter, I do not think you have mastered punctuality yet."

Corann bowed, "My liege, if you will kindly accept my insight, your daughter was experiencing her matrilineal heritage this morning...even if I think she is still in denial that her Miyoo blood has any impact on her life...."

Bevin raised an eyebrow, "Was she? Intriguing, particularly when you realize how often Anlei scoffs at religion and spirituality. Getting Anlei to attend religious services is more difficult than mastering one of house Balister's heritage bows."

"You find Balister heritage bows difficult, lord knight? I would think as someone whose mother is one of the finest archers on all Beinan that you personally would take to archery as readily as a newborn child takes to her mother's breast...." implied Lord Corann.

"How do you know anything about my mother, young knight?"

"Her Grace, your mother-in-law, made a point to tell me when I first came to the palace to study mental control. I believe her remarks at the time were to the effect that she felt you should spend more time on the firing range practicing. You know...less swords, more bows?"

Bevin rolled his eyes, "Beware of mothers-in-law, young knight, you never know where you will find disapproval from them. And just to think I thought I had her grace's approval after I began devoting so much of my time on raising Anlei and Anwell...."

Corann laughed, thinking about all his time studying with High Priestess Wehe, "Oh, I think you have her approval. She just wants you to be perfect, that's all. No less than she demands of herself."

Bevin returned his laughter. For a young knight whose acquaintance he was just now making, this Corann seemed unusually familiar, understanding the subtle family dynamics Bevin lived in as a prince consort as if he were a member of the family, "You are a unique man, Corann. I will give you that. It is almost as if you know my family better than I do."

"Well, I am Lady Priestess Cordelia's son and High Priestess Wehe's protégé. Before her grace taught me how to control my Miyoo heritage I learned a lot about all of you – quite without intension of intruding. It took me ten yen-ars to learn how to shield myself to only sense the minds and hearts of others when I wanted to. Sometimes, my liege, you shout," implied Corann, understanding that the subject of the Sight and his own talent for empathy and telepathy was not socially acceptable outside of house Miyoo. This outward taboo towards sensory spiritual abilities took Corann a long time to understand. Even this beinor he found it illogical. How and why should an ability that all Beinarians possessed to some degree remain contentious among most of the populace simply made no sense to Corann. Were latents really that afraid of learning to control their natural senses?

Sensing Lord Knight Bevin was beginning to get impatient, Corann changed the subject, refocusing to the present and shifting his body physically to a more formal posture, "My liege, you have called this meeting for a reason, I presume. Would you care to enlighten us?"

"Yes, of course," paced Bevin. "I want to know why you suddenly made that vow to my daughter."

"Sir?"

"You heard me."

"Yes sir. And I'm puzzled by the question coming from another knight. You know full well as both consort and knight that any knight of Ten-Ar may make such a pledge to any noble that he or she deems worthy. No explanation is ever required under the code. Not to the person receiving the pledge and certainly not outside the bond. Strictly speaking, Your Highness, your question is illegal," asserted Lord Corann.

"Corann?" exclaimed Anlei.

"RK6, recite the law and Ten-Arian code regarding fealty oaths of protection," commanded Lord Corann.

RK6 floating prominently among them and raised herself up high, "Statute 57325. Enacted GM 97, beinor 5 by Great Council. Proposed by King Tristen the Just of house Balister: 'Oaths of fealty shall be sacrosanct between master or mistress and she or he offering fealty in civil matters where both parties operate in full and complete consent of the arrangement and where neither party exploits nor injuries the person or reputation of the other.' Historical note: King Tristen the Just is a direct ancestor of Lord Prince Bevin, formerly of house Balister and now of House Ten-Ar. Ten-Arian Code of Honor. Article 5 subsection 35 paragraph 612: 'A knight of Ten-Ar shall, at her or his discretion, enter into fealty contracts with other knights or members of any house deemed personally worthy by that individual. The individual has the right of personal discretion in making decisions regarding with whom, under what terms, and for how long such contracts shall endure and may both enter and leave such contracts honorably without explanation towards any individual with whom she or he is not contracted. This rule applies to members of house Ten-Ar, biological family members of the individual, family members of the liege lord or liege lady, and even towards members of the Great Council itself. No individual shall request or require a knight of Ten-Ar to disclose any information regarding a fealty contract without challenging the legality of the contract and permitting that challenge to be answered by whatever method the knight deems suitable to protect her or his charge or her or his honor as appropriate. This article of the code was passed by unanimous consent of House Ten-Ar on OW 7000, beinor 27.'"

Lord Corann made the Ten-Arian gesture of respect towards RK6, "Thank you, RK6." He turned towards Lord Bevin, "Your Highness, I think the law and the code speak for itself."

"I'm still her father, Corann. And I have a responsibility to ensure her safety."

"I understand. To that end, please allow me to assure you that I share your protectiveness. But more than this I cannot disclose without breaching the Ten-Arian code of honor. As a fellow knight, I would think you would respect that code and wish to uphold it."

"You really are not going to tell me what pledge the two of you have between each other, are you?"

"It's not about what is between us or not between us, my lord. It is about the Ten-Arian code and the laws of Beinan which all of us must obey. Has anything transpired between your daughter and I that a father could find fault with? Well, if you find fault with getting your daughter to a royal summons when you request it as opposed to following her own schedule, then perhaps. Is she contracted to wed me or even considering it? Far from it, if that is what you are worried about, Your Highness. Nothing of that nature is remotely in either of our minds, much less in fealty between each other. But we are friends. I think you will find my friendship with her a far more effective tool than anything you have tried before. As Lord Culain says so often, 'a peer induces changes in our hearts that neither parent nor mentor may persuade.'"

"Culain says that? Does he?"

"Yes, of course. He is good mentor and a great friend. It will be strange transitioning from student to friend now. I am so used to thinking of myself as his squire."

"Culain is a good man, as is my friend, Lord Eisiq. You can count on either one of them to guide you on the right path, Corann."

"I know, Your Highness. Lord Eisiq was one of my sword masters. He is very formidable, as are you, from what I understand. I would be willing to give young Princess Anlei a demonstration of our melee tactics in the practice hall with you with as many weapons and of your choice as you desire...if you are up for a nice workout? I'm sure it has been a while," challenged Corann playfully.

"It has been a while, Lord Corann, but I am sure that even at 170.4467 yen-ars, I can still beat a young knight like you with a laser broad sword."

"Any time," smiled Lord Corann, his eyes sparkling like grey chalcedony.

The practice hall in the north wing of the monastery gleamed with more than two dozen floor to ceiling windows on the north and south sides of the huge gymnasium-like room. The opaque clouds of Beinan were all high elevation, leaving the mid and lower atmospheres that were within the range of normal-sighted Beinarians to shimmer green on a clear beinor like this beinor or a grey-red on a stormy beinor. This beinor, the sky was clear and beautiful, casting a field of green as far as the eye could see. In the air, some nearby traffic lanes filled with low-altitude shuttles moved steadily by 1.2 li from the grounds. Princess Anlei looked out the windows for a moment before gliding near her father and Lord Corann as they readied the numerous practice weapons and armor they would need for their training exercises.

The first weapon drawn for their practice looked like a simple quarterstaff or long rod of rattan fitted with a couple metal grips on it that held buttons. Smiling at each other, Corann and Bevin held their staffs vertical to salute each other with the Ten-Arian salute between knights, then picked up their weapons horizontally and circled in the center of the well-defined fighting space. Pressing the center button, a small force field spanning 2 cun 寸 in each direction surrounded the weapon except at the hand holds.

Bevin attacked first, raising his staff above his head to cut down towards Corann. Corann blocked it easily with a hiss from his force fields and redirected the energy back towards Bevin deftly with a short, slicing motion. Whirling in fluid motion from the blow, Corann let his staff follow through, hitting Bevin squarely in the back as he jumped to avoid Bevin's staff. Bevin grunted from the impact, smiling. Regaining his footing, he counter-attacked, carefully working under Corann's defenses, almost landing a blow at Corann's heart but missing as Corann brought his stave up at the last second to deflect. The dance of staffs continued for 200 xiao-shirs before switching weapons to heritage spears, both men barely breaking a sweat even though both attacked and blocked aggressively, sometimes even using unnecessary amounts of motion to show off with both laser quarterstaff and with spear. As the fighting lasted for .064 shir-ors, Corann noticed Anlei growing restless and pacing as she watched. Corann motioned Bevin to cease while he walked over to Anlei, "Your Highness, are you alright?"

"I do not see the point of all of this, Lord Corann? Why are we here?"

"To demonstrate to you that I can protect you from danger and to demonstrate to your father that I can handle whatever dangers may cross your path. This exercise also is intended to show you a little of what goes into becoming a knight of Ten-Ar. From all accounts, I hear you have avoided watching such exercises, even when they are performed in court for the review of your grandfather and your mother."

"True," admitted Anlei. "I am a woman of science and peace; why should I care about these...martial activities? Don't our people have more important things to do than fight one another?"

"A people of peace must not forget how to defend themselves, Your Highness, nor should they lose the discipline of training. Our martial arts are far less about war than they are about self-discipline and mental-spiritual prowess. It takes a great deal of focus to sustain these exercises, particularly for more than 0.4 shir-ors. At that point, the body fatigues, even for those in optimal physical condition. Continuing these exercises means channeling the soul to strengthen the body. Such conditioning becomes important in times of crisis or stress. In such times, life or death often depends on such mastery of the flesh by the soul. We are not immune to the power of our own planet, after all. It takes only one storm or volcanic eruption to test that which we knights, no matter what house we came from, are trained to survive," explained Corann.

Looking up at Lord Prince Bevin and noticing some impatience on the prince's part, he added, "Now, dear friend, I think your father wants to get in more practice. Please sit and forebear the next shir-or or two? Besides, you might even enjoy watching me demonstrate my full physical prowess once he truly puts it to the test...the staff and the spear you saw us battling with so far are only basic weapons...the others in this room are far more deadly, even in practice form."

Striding up to Bevin, Corann bowed respectfully. Bevin assumed the stance of royal consort, "Done flirting with my daughter are you?"

"With all due respect, Sire, I was trying to educate her in the necessity of what we are doing here. She expressed...extreme boredom at the chore of watching our exercises. Is she always this impatient with marital arts?" asked Corann.

Bevin tried and failed to avoid laughing, "Oh. You noticed that? Well, if you are finished chatting, are you up for more?"

Corann picked up two laser pikes from the wall, throwing one to Bevin which he caught easily, "Always! EN GARDE!" Corann attacked. Bevin parried. The fight was on.

For four solid shir-ors, Corann and Bevin fought relentlessly, energetically with first the laser pike, then a practice version of the Ten-Arian laser broad sword. Shifting protective gear from military to civilian, they dueled with first épées, then schlagers and rapiers. During one fierce moment in the many intense clashes, Bevin landed a solid blow on Corann's chest over the left shoulder, cutting through his tunic and into Corann's pectoral muscle. Blood gushed through the wound. Corann kept fighting. Finally, after another shir-or of intense dueling, the pain showed on his face.

Bevin ceased his attack, "Are you okay?"

"Nothing I cannot handle. Shall we continue?"

"Is the target range still where it used to be?"

"I don't think the house elders have moved it in a thousand yen-ars, merely upgraded the targets used," remarked Corann.

"Well then, if you are certain you are truly unhurt, shall we test our skills on the firing line?" proposed Bevin.

"Lead the way, my liege," accepted Corann.

Against Anlei's will, Bevin and Corann lead her through the labyrinth of corridors connecting the Ten-Arian campus. Finally, they emerged into a court yard adjacent to the principle buildings used by the healers of Ten-Ar. The location was carefully chosen; injuries during martial practices were to be expected, giving ample opportunities for student healers to practice their arts on live patients. At the range Lord Knight Eisiq fired a laser cross bow, its bolts discharging deadly plasma upon impact with flesh, its high energy "strings" making the crossbow easier to draw than with a heritage cross bow. Lord Eisiq aimed carefully at a laser cross bow target set up 5 zhang from the firing line, and then fired. The bolt sizzled as it hit near the bull's eye. Putting down his cross bow, he greeted Bevin and Corann warmly, "Congratulations, Lord Knight Corann on your elevation yesterday. How does it feel to be a knight at last?"

"I am already assigned as a protector, Master," reported Corann.

Lord Eisiq looked at Anlei, "Is this your charge, Corann?"

"Yes, my lord, Princess Anlei, daughter of Lord Knight Bevin," replied Corann.

"Your daughter, my liege? It's been too many yen-ars, Bevin. Last I saw Anlei was at Prince Alastair's dedication ceremony in Bira Hecen; you've grown up, young lady," remarked Lord Eisiq.

Bevin hugged his friend affectionately, "Good to see you too, Eisiq. And yes, she's grown a great deal since last you saw her – in most ways, anyway. She still does not respect her grace, High Priestess Wehe. Religion remains a fallacy to her."

"Are you sure she's the queen's daughter? She sounds like a star warrior of Xing-li: all science and no faith...."

"The queen will allow Anlei to go exploring in a star craft about the day our sun turns green. Her sister Anyu perished out on the edge of known space, remember?" reminded Bevin.

"I heard the rumor; it's been confirmed?"

"Yes – Princess Anyu's remains were found on D425E25 Tertius," reported Bevin.

"I-I-I'm speechless," stammered Eisiq. "Please send my condolences to her majesty."

Anlei, feeling bored once more, surveyed the equipment carefully hung on nearby racks. Curious, she picked up a target arrow and started to play with it. Eisiq noticed her, "Do you shoot, Your Highness?"

"N-n-no – I have never seen an arrow up close before in my life. Weapons of war are not fit for a princess," gibed Anlei.

"There was a time, my lady, when bows were the preferred weapons of house leaders, especially female house leaders. Your own paternal grandmother is such a woman. Throughout much of your father's childhood she represented house Balister on the Great Council, her leadership gained through her speed and accuracy with a bow just like this one. It is part of your heritage, Your Highness, even though the connection between your father and his mother are rarely recognized. Here, let me show you how it's done." Eisiq picked up a Balister heritage bow, it's recurve making it stronger and more powerful than simple longbows. Notching an arrow into its string, he drew the string to his ear and fired at one of the heritage bow targets. It thumped five cun to the right of the bull's eye, a good but imperfect shot.

Bevin noticed Eisiq's imperfect accuracy, inspiring him to walk up to them, select a bow and string it, "May I?"

"Please," welcomed Lord Eisiq.

Bevin fired. The arrow effortlessly landed at the center of the bull's eye. Corann picked up a bow and aimed, joining in the demonstration. As he pulled the string to his ear, he felt a stabbing agony in his shoulder. Trained to ignore pain, Corann calmed himself and took careful aim, releasing the arrow as gently as his first kiss with Anlei. The arrow plunged deep into the target, slicing against Bevin's arrow and shaving off the side of it. Anlei's eyes widened in disbelief, "How did you...?"

"Practice," exclaimed Corann, surprised at her interest.

Anlei hugged Corann excitedly. Blood stained her dress. Stunned, she jumped back aghast, "Corann! You're bleeding."

Lord Eisiq looked at the wound with the skilled practice of a warrior accustomed to such injuries. After a xiao-shir, he pressed a button on his belt. Two xiao-shirs later, a refined lady healer 105 yen-ars old stepped out onto the firing range holding a medical scanner in her hands. Eisiq looked at her with surprise, "Lady Healer Cara, what are you doing home? I thought you were assigned to the palace as chief healer?"

Cara raised an eyebrow, "Nice to see you too, Lord Eisiq. I came for Lord Knight Corann's elevation last beinor. Lord Knight Culain is my brother, after all. Besides, my instincts told me one of you knights would get into trouble somehow. These elevations seem to bring out your worst instincts, giving we healers way too much work to do."

Bevin smirked at Cara's witty retort. She was right, of course, that much Bevin had learned in his many yen-ars of close friendship with her brother. Bevin was one of the few knights to observe the sibling relationship between Cara and Culain up close, a merry war of wit between the siblings who were as different in world outlook and politics as their professions were to one another. Cara was the consummate pacifist while Culain gloried in skillfully applied martial arts. Cara's world view tended towards scientific atheism while Culain largely maintained a very spiritual outlook on the world. They were an odd pair bound together by mutual parentage and equal skills in witty debate that often put both of them in the same social sphere. Half against her will, Lady Healer Cara found herself cleaning up the physical messes made by her brother, Lord Eisiq, and Lord Bevin.

Noticing Corann's bloody tunic, Lady Cara scanned his wound, "How did you do this?"

"Lord Knight Bevin landed a solid blow with his rapier," answer Corann as Cara inspected the wound with her gloved fingers, wincing reflexively. Cara eyed him suspiciously. Recognizing her stern countenance, he added, "Then I fired a Balister heritage bow."

"That would do it," scolded Cara.

"How bad is it?" asked Bevin.

"Bad enough – he needs surgery. I suggest something more primitive than your typical laser sutures. Filament sutures will work more effectively given the location so close to his heart, especially since I cannot imagine him actually following my instructions and not moving his shoulder for at least forty-five beinors. It's deeper than it looks; I estimate an extended healing period," assessed Lady Healer Cara. "I can do the sutures now – but he really should come to the palace healing center so I can watch him more carefully. Just a hunch, but I think you end up re-opening that wound before it's healed. Bring him to my office here at our main healing center in ten xiao-shirs. I should have everything ready by then."

Bevin bowed to Lady Healer Cara, "Thank you, lady healer. We will comply with your instructions."

"That would be a change," teased Cara, returning to the healing complex.

As Eisiq and Bevin watched Cara leave, Anlei pulled Corann aside, "I – I am so sorry, Corann."

"You did nothing, Your Highness."

"But you did all this, this display of martial prowess to try to teach me a lesson. You only took me out here to the range because I was so bored with your...whatever you call that."

"You would not be the first princess or noble lady for that matter to fail to appreciate the material arts, my lady. But I do agree with your father that it's only proper for you to educate yourself in martial arts. There may come a time when you need to know at least the basics."

"But isn't that why you took your vows to me last night? Aren't you here to protect me?"

"There are... limits to what I may do, Your Highness, particularly once you are wed. In such a situation, your husband may not welcome my close proximity to you – especially given my attraction towards you."

"What are you saying, he would be worried that one beinor I might indulge myself with you at his expense?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I care deeply for you, Anlei. That is a powerful thing, especially to a rival for your favors," implied Corann.

"But we are just friends; friends love each other if they are close...."

"Some men see women as trophies of the bedroom, Your Highness. Such men would do anything to have their property and their perceived carnal rights protected. Or have you forgotten the romantic songs of our antiquity?" Thinking hard, Corann began to sing a verse in an ancient tune,

"Lady fair I am yours this morning.

Lady fair I serve you.

In your royal grace,

Illuminate my face.

And grace me with your love.

I am yours my liege;

Serving you to please.

My lady fairest queen.

Anlei smiled at the song. Blushing, she took his left hand, "Do you mean the words of the song, Corann?"

Corann played with a lock of her hair, "I think you know the answer to that, Your Highness."

Anlei blushed, "I do; if only things were different. If only I dared believe that someone like me can have someone like you...."

"Take heart, Your Highness. Your life is not over yet. This great succession crisis has only just begun. Not even the wisest knows for sure how this will end up." Noticing a signal from Bevin and Eisiq to head indoors for medical treatment, Corann bowed, "Now if you will excuse me, my liege, Lady Healer Cara is waiting for me." Anlei nodded her consent and watched him leave.

The next morning the blue-white sun struggled to peak at all through the dense upper clouds, leaving the ground dark and gloomy. As Anlei and Bevin prepared to leave, the sky turned red-grey above them. Thunder rolled through the sky and huge swirling storms filled the sky. A large upper atmosphere hurricane raged above them, descending closer down with high li-per-shir-or winds and torrents of fierce rain. The air crackled as a lower atmosphere storm merged with the hurricane, a storm so large it was visible from space. In the massive Amba Mederi Ocean, the waves responded to the power of storm, increasing tidal waves into almost tsunami proportions. This beinor was not going to be nice – not at all.

With Corann injured and resting in the healing center, it was up to RK6 to help Princess Anlei dress. Anlei felt sedated as she placed a necklace of Beinarian blue chalcedony around her neck to compliment her pale red-violet gown, a regal color considering the expense of any red or reddish hue or tint. Concerned for Corann, she quietly walked behind RK6 as the droid led her to Corann's room in the healing center and rang the chime. "Come," called Corann's voice from within and the door opened. Anlei entered to find Corann only half dressed with his trousers secured but his shirt off for the inability to figure out how to dress himself.

In all her yen-ars, Anlei had never seen a man naked down to his waist before. For just an instant, she felt shocked, but resisted the urge to say something. Instead, her eyes quickly honed onto his wound. A bandage covered Corann's sutures and most of his left shoulder, partially in an attempt to immobilize it. Her eyes drifted towards the rest of Corann's body, well concealed before under his tunics, strong, athletic, and well-toned without excessive muscles. Pleasure at the sight crept up inside Anlei, catching her off guard. In all her cold academics, she had never looked at a man with any sort of attraction; if anything she always felt disdain towards the male physical form. But not with Corann who seemed someone helpless under all those bandages.

Finally, Anlei found her voice, "I was worried about you. How are you feeling?"

"I was offered help and I turned it down. Now look at me. I'm as helpless as a fabku," he cried in frustration, sitting down once more.

Anlei sat beside him and took his left hand, "You are no fabku. No fabku could have lasted 0.001 shir-ors with that wound and you lasted a full shir-or fighting as aggressively as before. I still cannot believe you did that."

"I had something to prove."

"What good did that do? How can you protect me like this?"

"Nothing negates my vows to you. I spoke to Lady Cara; I will be coming with you in the royal low altitude shuttle when it leaves in 400 xiao-shirs. I'll be under the supervision of Lady Healer Cara – but I will still serve you. I'll just have to do it from my old bed chamber in the palace. Your father tells me that it's still unoccupied. At least until this crisis is resolved, I will be living there, only seventy zhang from your apartment."

"That's something at least. I was afraid this was going to be goodbye."

"You cannot get rid of me that easily, Anlei. Ten-Arian code of honor forbids it." Corann put his right arm around Anlei's shoulders and leaned in towards her, daring to kiss her with a feather touch of his lips. Anlei returned the kiss.

"Thank you, my Anlei."

Anlei shook her head playfully, "I am still up for grabs, you know."

"Yes, I know, the game of who gets to be king and will house Gurun keep control after all. But may I remind you, Crown Princess, that I have one of the best bloodlines of all the nobles," he flirted. "And I have one thing to my advantage that no other nobleman has...."

"And what is that, Lord Corann?" posed Anlei.

"You love me," announced Corann.

"I DO NOT!"

"We will see, my young princess, daughter of Queen Isabelle, daughter of High Priestess Wehe of House Miyoo. Or have you forgotten that not only I am I your grandmother's protégé, but so is my mother? I know what it means to be house Miyoo. For the first fifteen yen-ars of my life I lived in that temple and was trained as a priest before assuming my place in house Ten-Ar. Oh, my dear princess – we will see," challenged the knight.

Blushing, Anlei found the tunic the droids had left for Corann to wear for his trip to the capital city of Hejing and its palace, "I am sure we will, dear friend. However, right now, I think I owe you a favor. May I assist you?"

Corann grinned as she offered him the tunic, "What is good for the fabku is good for the fafiku." Slowly, gently, carefully to avoid reopening the wound, she helped him put first his left arm into the left sleeve then slid the right arm into the sleeve with minimal motion to the left shoulder. Cautiously she pulled the tunic over his head. Corann cringed momentary as the shoulder moved slightly, but his sutures stayed intact. With the tunic basically on, Anlei belted his Ten-Arian sword onto his waist. Corann was, at last, ready for travel. Carefully Anlei helped Corann take his trek to the low altitude shuttle which launched on schedule. Neither would ever be the same again.

# Chapter Four: Anlei Unmasqued

The trip to Hejing took six full shir-ors. Dinner was being served at the palace by the time the royal low-altitude shuttle arrived.

High Priestess Wehe called for a family dinner in the family dining room. Everyone was there—Queen Isabelle, Prince Consort Bevin, King Ejen, High Priestess Wehe, all of the servants, and the usual attendant droids like RK6. Everyone except Corann—and Anlei's brother Anwell, only the goddesses could tell where he was off to this time. Though the meal was exceptional and included many favorites, Anlei picked at her food. After the second course of this, Wehe rose and knelt next to her chair, "Anlei, what is it? You aren't eating and you haven't said a word since you returned."

Anlei met eyes with her grandmother, "I-I-I-not here. Not now."

"You've learned. Would you like to pause and talk for moment out in the antechamber?" solicited the high priestess. Anlei nodded nervously. Wehe hugged her affectionately, "It's okay, baobei. I'm here. Let's go." Taking Anlei's hand as if she were only ten yen-ars old again, Wehe rose and addressed the family, "Please excuse us for a moment and continue the meal. Banumu Hehe bless you." Quietly Wehe lead Anlei into the small antechamber used for private conversations best kept away from the dinner table or for private prayers before meals. Soft benches lined three of the antechamber walls. Wehe sat down and guided Anlei to sit beside her, "Baobei?"

"I don't think you have ever brought me in here during dinner."

"You are so strong and strong willed; I knew you would never come. Tonight, you are different. What happened?"

"Corann. If it wasn't for me, he would not be hurt at all. Don't you know, this is my fault?"

"That's not what your father says; it was a simple training accident," declared Wehe.

"That's not what he told me; he said he did that for my benefit.  I think on some level he must love me in some strange way."

Wehe laughed, "I've known that for yen-ars, Anlei. You think that with my abilities as high priestess I did not see that coming? No, course I did. He's adored you since the first beinor he saw you in the palace."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"And interfere with the visions I've had for all these yen-ars? No, baobei. I would not be so cruel. I've known for most of your life that Corann was going to be important to your future and that if I just let things happen as they were meant to that he would do everything I foresaw him doing. When a vision is positive, Anlei, you try to stay out of history's way. It is too easy in trying to bring about a positive future to utterly prevent it in the attempt. No; it is best to let things happen naturally."

"Corann seems convinced somehow that I have inherited some priestly skills from you, I think – I don't know where he gets that," she snickered ironically.

"Corann's very perceptive, Anlei; don't underestimate him. If he hints at something like that or tells you outright something, you would be wise to believe it, no matter how outrageous it sounds."

"Even something about myself or my own heart that I don't see or perceive?"

Wehe smirked, "ESPECIALLY if it's something you don't see or perceive grand-daughter. House Miyoo desperately wants him to assume the high priesthood. He has all the skills we want in a high priest – and the bloodline. He is Lady Cordelia's only son and heir. The only bloodline from house Miyoo that is stronger in power is mine – which is why the death of your aunt and your uncles is a greater loss than you can possibly understand. Your mother had to inherit the throne when it was hoped that she could have taken over for me as head of House Miyoo. And, what you may not know, Anlei, is that house Miyoo covets lineage by the mother's side, not the father's. To them, you are House Miyoo. Confusing, eh? I bet you did not know you are wildly regarded as the next high priestess of Beinan."

"What? You're kidding me."

"NO. I never kid about that, Anlei. By the rules of House Miyoo, you are supposed to ascend as high priestess. Technically I should be training you to take my place. Since you are so stubborn, I had to train Corann. He does have most of the training for a high priest. Knight or not, he can assume that role with just a little more work from me. If it comes to it, I will defer your training to him."

Shock filled Anlei. She did not even believe the goddesses were real and now this talk of her taking over House Miyoo. What was this?

"Okay, Your Highness, before I completely freak out, I do owe you an explanation why I am not eating...."

"Sitting with you like this, I already know. Shall I send for Corann to join us? Would you eat if he sat beside you?"

"Will it endanger his life to do so?"

"He's had 1.6 shir-ors to rest and settle in; I think he can handle dinner with the rest of us, especially if it gets you to eat. Knowing him and his sense of duty, he probably would be as upset as you are at the separation. You two are becoming a couple of fabku, aren't you, always needing to perch together, crying out if you don't see one another? Yes, I think you are starting to bond like a pair of fabku. Good. Good. I am glad to see this happening at last." Rising, Wehe opened the door and led Anlei out. Wehe whispered to a servant who rushed off to get Corann. Anlei sat down.

In 0.02 shir-ors, Corann entered the room and sat weakly down besides the smiling Anlei whispering in her ear, "I heard you refused to eat until they sent for me."

Whispering back at him, she replied, "Grandmother called us a couple of fabku on a perch, always needing each other. Yes, of course I did. They took you away too abruptly."

"Thank you for caring so much, Anlei. These family dinners are always exclusive to the royal family; no one outside is ever allowed to partake."

"Injury or not, you are my protector. You stay with me. If that means I need to sit near your bed to make sure we stay together, then I will do it. Friends forever."

Corann picked up her hand and kissed it, "Forever. Thank you. Now EAT or I'll have to reopen my wound making you." Corann and Anlei giggled together as they both ate, becoming the world to each other and with Anlei determined to help feed him. Usually so independent minded, Corann let her help however she wanted. She obviously was gaining pleasure from playing nurse. Anything that brought her pleasure should be encouraged, especially if it were within political bounds. From across the table Wehe watch approvingly, watching what was for her another step-in prophesy coming to fruition. Ejen watched her watch them and wondered exactly what she saw and knew, what mysteries still abounded.

After dinner, Corann was sent back to his room. Anlei was forced to stay with her family for briefing and debriefing regarding the trip. After such a long beinor...work when all she wanted was to relax and visit Corann whom she felt certain wanted the company. In the throne room there was a formal ceremony and the usual court business. Anlei took it like a proper royal, but felt relieved when the herald dismissed everyone. The shir-or was 12.55 and at last it was allowed for gentles to prepare for bed, or at least, relaxation if she or he wished.

Anlei headed straight to Corann's room and knocked softly, then entered without waiting for a word. The light was still on and Corann was still up, trying to read something, his tunic off and set up for bed, wearing only a pair of trousers. His bandage had been changed to a new one. Corann expressed his surprise at the sudden visit, "Anlei? What are you doing here? Especially this late, RK6 will fret and, most likely, report you to the palace guards. Or worse, tell your mother or half the court."

Anlei sat down on his bed beside him, "Do you want me to leave?"

"No.  But I don't want you to get in trouble either. I would not want your integrity questioned or someone thinking you and I had done something that would compromise you politically. Even not doing that, the sheer rumor could cost house Gurun control of the monarchy. I cannot let you do that." Corann took her fingers into his left hand, "You know I don't want you to go. Not now, not ever when it comes to it." Corann leaned forward, his lips parted slightly as if begging for a kiss. She leaned towards him and met his lips, allowing him to kiss her and returning his caress with her own kiss. For a moment they dared to exchange kisses before Corann's political senses stopped his own desires.

"I have a strange confession to make to you, Corann, as my best friend."

"Tell me."

"I enjoy your kisses. I don't know why, I know it's probably political suicide, but I enjoy...I want more," she confessed meekly.

"You have no idea how many yen-ars I have wanted to kiss you, Anlei. I'm a 15.335 yen-ars older than you, you know. I ah noticed you a long time ago and thought about you long before you ever set foot...." Embarrassed, Corann could not finish his sentence.

"Worth the wait?"

"Absolutely," he pulled her with his free arm closer and kissed her again. He felt her yield more to his kiss than ever before. Did admitting that she liked it make her more willing to kiss him? Oh, the temptation.

"Corann. Corann," Anlei broke the kiss. "There is something you must know. While my father and I were away, the Great Council debated about the future of house Gurun and the monarchy."

Suddenly pain flared through Corann's lung and shoulder. Did she just say what he thought she said? "What?"

"The Great Council met. My mother attended the proceedings. They proposed that I be courted by all of the eligible candidates from all of the greater houses, no less than seven prime candidates from each house. In fact, they required of my mother or said that summarily they would elect a new king from another house to follow after my mother after she steps down from the throne. My mother said there was no way I could be courted by over sixty noblemen effectively or safely in a roughly five yen-ar period, so at least one compromise was accepted at her suggestion," briefed Anlei.

"Let me guess: some sort of grand ball or masquerade? Bring all of the candidates out to the palace in one night for one big celebration where you can meet each one, dance with each one, and eliminate most of the candidates from consideration in one evening?" described Corann.

"How did you know?" exclaimed Anlei, incredulous.

"You already told me, Anlei; you dreamed this only last beinor, remember? I knew when you told me your dream came from the Sight. No doubt when your mother made the pact you felt it in your mind and your soul and foresaw the details in your heart. Oh Anlei, you already know how this turns out; you know in great detail each phase of this process. And, I think, Anlei, you know who you are going to marry."

Anlei blushed and avoided looking at him, "That's impossible."

"Not for the granddaughter of High Priestess Wehe, it's not. If anything, that's pretty damn likely. You are her heiress and heiress to house Miyoo. You are twice royal, dear friend. Royal as the daughter of a sovereign queen and royal as the daughter of the daughter of our high priestess. You are special beyond your comprehension. Just like me, I suppose, only you don't appreciate your bloodline like I've been taught to."

"You really think I should give this religion thing a chance, Corann?"

"I think you should give your heritage a chance, Anlei, not religion. There is a huge difference. I think you should stop fighting yourself and start learning to listen to your inner heart. Forget about organized religion for a few shir-ors or beinors or even yen-ars if you will. Just learn to listen to your own heart, find your own voice, learn who Anlei the woman is. I do remember you asking me before to forget about politics and titles with you and to see that woman in you...I think you need to discover her for yourself."

"But me – high priestess – Corann – I don't know. I can't see that for myself. I'm the queen's daughter; this makes no sense to me."

Corann closed his eyes and tried to breathe. It was hard through all the pain. His lung hurt deeply. Trying to breathe deeply to meditate and focus spiritually was the most painful thing he could try to do besides, he supposed, pick up a sword. He reached for her fingers which she readily gave him and squeezed her hand. She felt his pain in the tightness of his grip. Corann was not complaining, but serious pain surged through him. Still, he tried to focus, to quiet his mind. He knew the discipline well; this should not matter. Finally, at last, the many yen-ars of practice with Wehe paid off and he felt her mind merge with his. Oh, the sweetness of that touch. His physical pain eased as her mind filled his skull and his hand loosened. His expression shifted to pleasure. Anlei kissed him twice as he lay back, almost daring to climb onto the bed on top of the covers to lie beside him. In their joined minds, Corann touched her, explored deeply. Where were the answers she sought? Why did she resist her powers so much and exactly what had she inherited from her grandmother? Why was Anlei so afraid of herself?

In his psychic explorations, Corann's breath grew shallow, barely existent to the untrained eye. He looked deathly to Anlei who began to panic, "Corann. Corann. Abka Biya have mercy on him, please don't let him die." She began to whimper and weep.

Slowly, weakly, Corann caressed the back her left hand, "I'm okay, sweetheart. I'm okay. Oh, that somehow some beinor you might kiss me because you know you love me instead of your mind playing this game with both of us." He slowly met her eyes, fighting the pain that started to surge once more through his body, "I was searching for the answers you seek, deep in your mind. I was trying to help you. What are friends for, right?"

Anlei tried to brush away her tears, but the torrent would not stop, "I thought you were dead."

Corann stroked her hair, "I felt that. No, sweetheart, I'm not dead...just too in tune with your mind to care right now about political correctness. Don't tell your parents I called you 'sweetheart,' please and don't mind my lack of protocol. I really do need to sleep and recover from this. Maybe I put on a brave face for everyone, but this is worse than it even looks."

Anlei brushed her tears and looked him in the eye, "Would you like some company, someone to sit with you and alleviate the boredom while you stay in bed rest? I cannot imagine you sitting still for thirty beinors. Actually, I cannot imagine you sitting still for five beinors, no matter how injured you are."

Corann chuckled through his pain, "You are really getting to know me, young lady. By Abka Biya you are tempting me to ask for your hand in marriage right now. There is no better friend, no better companion in all of Beinan for me than you. They say if you get to marry your best friend you are extremely fortunate. Ah – maybe it's the pain. I don't feel like repressing my every thought and feeling tonight."

Anlei kissed his forehead, "I noticed."

"Do you mind that I called you that?"

"No. Not at all. I've never been anyone's sweetheart before," she blushed. "Corann, do you wish to be my suitor?"

"Yes. If there is to be some competition for your hand in marriage, then I wish to be part of it. My bloodline is greater than most of those who might vie for your hand in marriage and I think our existing relationship makes me more than suitable for you. I hereby request your permission, Anlei, daughter of Queen Isabelle, to court you as a nobleman of the court and as a Knight of Ten-Ar."

"Then, young suitor, court me and win your prize," she challenged.

"You are no prize, no object to be won for the sake of winning, my Anlei. You are the rarest gift and most precious being any man can hope to have in his life. Being near you is like being in the direct presence of Abka Biya, Banumu Hehe, and Abka Gahun combined. You, my lady, are holy ground and your body is the holy of holies. Let no man touch you unworthily."

Inspired, Anlei kissed him passionately and aggressively...new feelings surged within her. She felt herself bring her body only the bed and start to climb up towards his body to lie upon him, the blankets and her gown between them. Sensing what she was thinking, and knowing the political implications of even kissing him from that position, he blocked her, preventing her body from touching his beyond the kiss, "Don't tempt me. You are a princess, not a wench. Not yet, sweetheart. It pains me more than you know to forbid this, my princess, but NOT YET."

Anlei sat up, then stood next to the bed, deeply confused, "You don't – I was only going to kiss you – I don't understand."

"I do, more than you can know, Anlei. I want your touch, to feel your body in every single way it can be touched more than you can imagine. Oh Anlei, you are so innocent in the ways of men. I told you before I do not dare express myself. I do not dare speak my mind or act on my heart. If we were not nobles, if we were mere servants or cobblers or miners or the most base and simple of folks, don't you know I would have accepted what you offered and given you much more in return? You would have lain in this bed all night with me and felt a sweetness you have not ever known. I would have given you a joy that would please us both to no end...as I have wanted to for more than twenty yen-ars, sweetheart. Oh Anlei, you have no idea what is really in my heart and how much I care for you and your crown. I am not rejecting you...I am protecting you from your enemies, from those who would violate your flesh and do those horrible things you know can happen for political reasons against a powerful woman of great bloodline. Don't you see that? I deny my flesh, my heart, my soul for all these yen-ars knowing that this is the right way to help you. True love protects and sacrifices, always putting the other ahead of self. Can you truly have any doubt of my heart?"

"NO. Oh Corann, there are times in my heart I wish I were just a farmer's daughter or a miner's or someone of no importance so that it would matter so much less whether I stayed so perfectly chaste in appearance and reality before I marry for some stupid political purpose. I cannot do anything, associate with any one; make any choice without it affecting the government in some way. I hate this. I wish I could run away from all of it and just be a woman."

"You could always run away to the temple..."

Anlei laughed, "No, I couldn't. They'd expect me to run the place."

"Not at first...you could spend time as a first level student for a while and even change your name for a bit to be anonymous."

"Dare to dream, Corann"

"I always dream, Anlei...I've been dreaming the moment I laid eyes on you."

Anlei turned and sat back down beside him, "Yes, you have. Maybe I've been too. I'm about..."

"It's okay..."

"Mom's going to kill me if she finds me here...though I am sure she wouldn't be surprised."

"A proper princess should not be in a man's room after shir-or 11.50. It is late, Anlei. I would not create trouble for yourself if I were you, even for me."

"Always the protector."

"Courting you formally won't change that, Anlei. My vows to you still hold. Only death can release me from that promise."

"May you never be injured again on my behalf."

"Now THAT I won't argue with," chuckled Corann.

"As usual, I don't want to say goodbye."

"Then kiss me goodnight, my sweetheart, and check on me in the morning," suggested Corann. Caressing his cheek and running her fingers through his hair, Anlei kissed him repeatedly which he just as eagerly returned repeatedly. Finally, she held him close in a tight embrace before kissing his cheek, then his forehead, and only then releasing him.

Queen Isabelle sat in her bed. Prince Bevin bowed to her, "You summoned me, my lady?"

Isabelle smiled, "Come here, husband and undress yourself, I have not had a wife's privilege in many beinors." Bowing, he removed his sword which he now started to carry again as a knight of Ten-Ar. Smiling, he removed his tunic before approaching the great royal bed and closing the curtains around them.

After a shir-or, Bevin laid back down into the bed, cuddling Isabelle, "How was that? Are you pleased, your majesty – or should I try again to please you better?" He kissed her affectionately and playfully.

"After fifteen beinors without you, it feels like forever since you did that – and yes, I want more, don't you?" asked a mostly pleased Isabelle.

Bevin cuddled his wife, "Well if you would just take a beinor off for a change, I would suggest we stay in this room for the next ten shir-ors and keep practicing. We could even try for number four – what do you say? After all the trouble these two are making for us; let's have another one – or at least practice for one."

"Why Prince Bevin, are you trying to seduce me?"

"Always," cuddled Bevin, his kisses covering her lips and face.

"Oh you – after fifteen beinors – it's working; come here and show me just how well you remember how get me with child," she teased as she felt her husband comply with her wishes and offer her the sweetness of his physical love.

Half a shir-or passed. Bevin kissed Isabelle affectionately as this second round of their physical enjoyment of each other finished. Breathing deeply and holding Isabelle close, Bevin caressed his wife, "Am I improving, your majesty?"

"Ummm, more practice tonight, definitely. I am rather happy where I am," guffawed the queen.

"As much as you want, my love," he kissed her. "Oh, to think, Anlei will be feeling this soon. Maybe she already has and she never told us."

"Anlei would never destroy her honor that way. She is too cool and logical for that. Heck, I think her logic is a good part of the reason she and mother cannot get along. She cannot reconcile science with religion or faith."

"Maybe, but she and Corann certainly spend a lot of time together, not just as princess and protector. I've seen things, Isabelle, the sorts of things that make me wonder about him and his motives."

"Mother's protégé? Lord Corann is the most honorable knight of Ten-Ar, Bevin, more honorable than you, even. If he did have an ulterior motive for wanting to be near her, I would bet ten thousand tai-or that he would take the honorable path in his conduct and sacrifice himself and anything or anyone else in pursuit of that honor. No...even if he does want her like that, I would estimate he would do everything in his power to protect her chastity and her honor at all costs."

"I saw them kissing, Isabelle."

"A friend's kiss is no slight on anyone's honor, Bevin. She almost overdue to be kissed at her age. If he wants to kiss her, by all means, allow him that much. She might end up in a miserable match arranged strictly for politics, after all. If this time with Corann gives her joy...let it be. There is no better steward for her person or her honor than him. He'll die before he'll let anyone touch her inappropriately. I promise you that."

In the beinors that followed, Anlei found herself tending to Corann as often as she could. In light of the new decree from the Great Counsel, Queen Isabelle often put Princess Anlei at new studies, assigning not only RK6, but three legal advisors and tutors to the princess to educate her in the details of Beinarian politics. At first these studies were in Anlei's own office, a sort of a private study where she was customarily tutored for school and where she could do her homework without being bothered by servants or anyone else for that matter. Yet after a beinor or two, Anlei realized that Corann's room also had a similar configuration and, as crown princess, she did have some prerogative regarding exactly WHERE she studied as long as she did it. Assuming she had the authority to set the location of her tutoring, she slyly instructed the tutors that she wished to conduct her work in the study adjacent to Corann's chamber...and with the door between these rooms kept open so Corann could observe her work and still protect her from bed if he so wished. When one tutor questioned her argument, she reminded him that the sacred trust between knight and princess was understood as bi-directional and that she was under a sacred obligation according to the mandates of Abka Gahun to stay at his side as much as he was obligated to stay at hers.

The argument, and therefore the applied lessons of the beinor before, worked and from that time onward, Princess Anlei studied and worked from mere cun 寸 from Corann's bed while he "rested" and took interest in her work.

While Anlei listened to all of her tutors and was put through what felt like the training of some well-disciplined animal, her eyes drifted to Corann periodically whose expression often brought her solace and encouragement. Finally, as the third beinor ended, she was free to attend him directly, "How do you feel?"

"Not nearly as tired as you, my friend. You look like hell, you know that."

Anlei giggled at his candor. Only Corann would dare such brutal honesty. "Of course, I do...you heard most of that, didn't you?"

"I did. Your mother is worried about this ball, obviously."

"So am I. A lot is riding on it."

"You know who you'll choose already."

"I don't even know the names of half of the suitors. I know almost nothing about this...competition for my crown. I know I know – but that is what it feels like. They won't want me, Corann, just the power and chance to make policy for our people. They just want House Gurun to not be in charge anymore."

"Jealousy does that. Yes, I am sure to more than half of these men, you are just a sexual trophy, some nice thing to have once in a while to go along with the power your breeding produces."

"House Ten-Ar has never taken this power though...."

"No...and I don't think anyone from house Ten-Ar really wants it, despite the track record of numerous royal consorts from our house...male and female both. I'm sure if you look at your genealogy you will discover many foremothers as well as forefathers were House Ten-Ar and you never knew it. Some were knights, others just sons and daughters of knights who pursued other interests. Not everyone born to House Ten-Ar pursues the training, you know. Every one of the House's healers is born to the house. Many skilled healers are Ten-Arian, actually. Well, Ten-Arian or Slabian. Healers do tend towards the neutrality in war," taught Corann.

"Isn't it strange, my dear dear friend that after all these shir-ors of endless studies I find myself most interested in what you have to teach me? I'm bored with these aggressive political lessons. It feels...forced. But simply sitting and talking to you.... I learn so much. I feel...so content with you right here."

"Come here," beckoned Corann with his free arm. Anlei moved closer from her chair next to his bed. Corann held her and caressed her lips with his own in a lingering kiss. Enjoying the feel of his lips, she returned it eagerly. "You know what you want to do, my dear. You know how this ball turns out. Trust your senses. Trust your own heart. You know what you must do. The answer to everything is right before you...trust your spirit and only your spirit. Your soul knows the path you must take, the path that will save all of Beinan from chaos and war...and will bring you happiness for all the beinors of your life," he whispered into her ear.

"What you ask of me sounds like it is personal gain."

"I have no interest in your power or your name, Anlei. If anything, I am sworn to uphold both. In my visions I see House Gurun standing for hundreds of yen-ars more...but only if you and I do what we know we must now. No, my dear...my interest is in the interest of all of Beinan...House Gurun is the only hope for our people. If another house should seize power...it will be the end of all," fear filled Corann's eyes as he uttered his prophesy, as his powers as the chosen high priest of House Miyoo filled his mind, obscuring all else. "I fear for Beinan, my dear Anlei...I see...I see...oh by all that is holy...a man shall rise...from another house, from a blood that hates House Gurun...and by sweet words he shall seduce the people. Anlei...I see a usurper to all we have striven to build. He who hates House Ten-Ar and House Gurun...a personal vendetta, I see not clearly. But he shall rise and he shall strive to wipe out all we have built. And this city...Hejing, shall BURN in the fires of his revolution...unless...unless a Knight of Ten-Ar should stop him," tears poured down Corann's eyes. Anlei had never seen such terror and sorrow in anyone's face before in her life. She began to sob with him and hold him close defensively.

"What do we do? I do not understand. Is this a vision of what will be or only things that may be if we do nothing to stop them?" begged Anlei for a clearer understanding.

"I do not know right now, Anlei, but I think this revolution of this dark one may yet be prevented...I think what you choose to do with this ball of the Great Council's will make a difference in this prophesy."

"You want me to choose you to avoid the prophesy?"

"I want you to do what is right, Anlei. I cannot think of myself on that. I have too much self-interest there. Do I want to be your husband...yes? Nothing in all of Beinan would bring me more happiness. But can I tell you for certain that marrying me will prevent the prophesy...I cannot say? For all I know right now, marrying me is what triggers this dark one to rise to power. But I do know is that if you do not choose wisely, dearest friend, if somehow this other man should wrest power away from House Gurun...there may be worse things for our society than some future dark ruler who means our respective houses ill will. I think if you do not choose wisely now, there will not be a Beinan for this dark one to rise up in. Every bone in my body tells me this. But choosing wisely for this beinor may, indeed, have consequences for the future."

Fourteen beinors passed. Lady Healer Cara checked on Corann and finally cleared Corann to leave his room and resume his duties as Anlei's protector on the condition that he still not try to use any sort of weapon and rested as needed. Eager to leave his room, Lord Corann agreed and agreed to not wear his sword until his wound was sound enough for him to draw it again. Satisfied, the healer released him from his limited movement clearance in the palace. He was, at last, free to move about as Anlei's protector and go about as either he, or she, pleased.

He was also finally able to dress himself again, though granted, it hurt like hell to do so. Raising his arms to put on a tunic pulled too much at the tender flesh trying to knit in his shoulder and in his lung. Inevitably, he would gasp in pain at any attempt to do so.

Some beinors before, Anlei, ever doting upon him to the extent her increasing royal duties permitted, ordered tunics for him with long, front lacing for closure that could be put on and removed with less stress to the shoulder than his higher necked, more simply styled Ten-Arian tunics. She ordered four such tunics for him to begin with almost from the moment his bed rest began, one each in white, saffron, a clear blue that complimented his fair skin and grey eyes, and sky green. These tunics were finally ready in time for his release from bed rest. As Corann returned to his room from his visit to the palace healing center, scratching from the medical examination robe they put over him above his linen-like blue trousers, he found them on his bed with a handwritten note from her...and a bloom from her personal garden on top of them, "Free to serve and be yourself. Meet me in my gazebo."

Pleased, Lord Corann chose the white tunic with gold lacing and discarded the hated medical robe. Carefully and minding the well-placed laces designed to be easy for him to manage the wound with, he put his hands through the sleeves, then cautiously pulled the tunic over his body. The fine wool was smooth on his skin and cozy, yet also warm, designed to both retain heat as he needed it, or repel it if he overheated. Finding a common belt such as he wore before his knighting, he glided to a mirror to help him cinch the laces and tie them, and then noticed the fine details on his tunic. It was truly quite princely, the shirt of a consort, not a mere servant. Fine gold piping and bias accented all the edges and seams. Careful embroidery graced the hem and neckline with symbols of house Ten-Ar and house Miyoo. Studying the tunic in the mirror and his own, more civilian look, Lord Corann felt wonder and amazement at the amount of work done on just this tunic alone. How many servants did she employ for this act of devotion?

Lost in thought, he smelled the bloom then strode confidently towards Princess Anlei's apartment and her garden, happy with his gift.

When Lord Corann reached the garden, he saw Princess Anlei a vision of lavender among the white wood gazebo nestled among huge white and pale-yellow trees with green and orange leaves. Wanting to run among the grass...then remembering how it would tax his lung, he strode briskly, yet carefully among her garden's paths and around its waters. As he reached her, he bowed formally and kissed her hand, "Lord Corann of the Knights of Ten-Ar reporting as requested, Your Highness."

Anlei embraced him warmly, "Welcome back, my knight."

Finally, able to reach her with both arms, Corann enveloped with both and kissed her as he had wanted to for many beinors, his grey eyes sparkling, "Thank you. Royal gifts indeed."

"Your life and your friendship honors us and pleases us. How could I do less?"

"There is one thing my heart dares to want...if only I dared to think you would grant it," confessed Corann.

Anlei kissed him sweetly, then laid her head on his shoulder. Corann was not saying it, but she knew what he wanted. But how could she grant it when she did not love him like that? As a friend...yes...but though she loved his kisses and the way it felt when he held her, her intellect wondered if that was truly all there was to love and being in love. Physically, she felt curious. On a strictly noblesse oblige level, she felt she owed it to him. Of all the men she had ever met in her life, he was the most kind, the most tender, and the most companionable. But was that enough for marriage? Was she ready to accept his heraldry and lay in that great bed with him to seal that betrothal? Was he the one she wanted for all of her life? What would the political consequences be of such a match? It was still too confusing for her. Life was so much simpler with him as her best friend, even knowing that on some level giving him those kisses and that physical closeness must be maddening to a man whose real desire was for marriage and physical intimacy with her. "Corann, what would happen if I married you?"

Corann stroked her hair and held her close, as if he feared she might melt away in his arms like snow on a hot beinor, "What do you mean what would happen?"

"Beinan, the council, our people? Us? What would happen?" she repeated, her eyes deep in sorrow and worry.

"I have the bloodline to be more than acceptable to the council, Anlei. I am Cariadoc's first born son. That counts for something; should I ever want it, I can assume the high priesthood for all of Beinan, my status as Lady Cordelia's only son guarantee's that.  I think the Council would prefer I marry well, that I marry a woman of strong bloodlines, perhaps with a strong Miyoo background who can match or nearly match my credentials with that house. They have not had a suitable high priest in some time, you know. You do have such a Miyoo bloodline, you know. The only Miyoo line better than mine, I think. So, on that, we would be the perfect match. Then there is your crown, of course. Should you choose me as your husband, I am perfectly willing to defer the throne to our son, as long as I can do my job and sire one out of you."

"So, you are saying you are the safest choice."

"I'm saying that many of your political problems and concerns would be resolved with me as your consort."

"And what about us? Lord Corann, I still am not sure I love you."

"You don't love the others either, nor do I think you are likely to. This is a political decision in your mind, Anlei. Why are you making this about being in love or not being in love with me when no such issue exists with other suitors?"

"Perhaps I am afraid, Corann, afraid of losing you as you are this beinor."

"Your marriage will change us as we are this beinor no matter what, my sweetheart. Once you are betrothed, I will no longer be able to kiss you again unless it I whom you have chosen. The change will happen...and soon. No matter whom you choose or when, Anlei, things will have to change between us. Nothing can stop that. All either of us can do is strengthen the bond so that come what may nothing may divide us – no one and no circumstance."

Eighteen beinors passed and, at last, the beinor of the Great Masquerade arrived. In preparation for the main event itself, many of the more noble representatives were invited to a private reception in the state dining room to meet with the royal family before facing the crowds of the masquerade itself. This would be Anlei's first chance to meet her most eligible suitors, those with the best political credentials and best pedigrees.

From her private chamber, Anlei paced nervously. Corann walked in wearing his sky green tunic with gold embroidery and edging and his Ten-Arian broad sword. He was absolutely stunning to Anlei's eyes as she looked for a necklace to compliment her blue bliaut. Smiling, Corann moved to her jewelry boxes and found a faceted blue gem necklace to frame her neck and collar bone beautifully and casually put it on her neck. Anlei smiled at him through the mirror. Corann turned her and kissed her sweetly, "You look beautiful, sweetheart. Absolutely perfect. I could marry you right now if you only bade me to. Just say the word and I'm yours."

Anlei hugged him tightly, "Corann, I'm afraid. What will these men do?"

"I do not think anything dangerous, sweetheart, especially if you introduce me as your protector from the onset. My shoulder is still not one hundred percent yet, but I am perfectly willing to lay down my life to protect you. No one is going to hurt you so long as I am still alive. You must know that."

"Corann...oh my Corann...no one has ever been so good to me. You don't require I give myself to you at all, do you? Your protection is not dependent on my choice...."

"No.  Never. I am yours no matter what happens. Do not be afraid, sweetheart. I am here and I will keep an eye on everything. If you feel afraid, edge closer to me; I will keep you safe."

"How is it possible that you should care so deeply for me, Corann?"

Corann smiled at her, "I think you know the answer to that."

"Things are about to change between us, aren't they?" she trembled.

Corann struggled to maintain his composure, his voice almost breaking from his emotion, "As soon as we walk into that room, Sweetheart; I will never again be able to call you that again not unless you ask me to offer you...." His voice cracked. Tears flowed openly now. "You cannot know how these beinors with you have meant to me. Being at your side, even injured as I've been...I have never come so close to something I wanted so much." Corann kissed her cheek with the tenderness of his unrequited romantic love for her. Anlei gazed into his eyes, and then kissed him passionately. Oh, the price of politics. This man whose love for her was forbidden by titles and political necessities did not dare, even now, say the words even though his eyes burned with the need to speak. Honor, dignity, and protocol forbade his speech – unless she could release him.

Instead, Anlei kissed him, passionately, her own fears shaping her behavior. Corann felt the fear and unleashed some of his own into his kisses upon her. Everything changed here and now. Nothing could be the same anymore even though the flirtations, the kisses, and the cuddles had given them an illusion of a world different than it was. For a few short beinors they had pretended no titles nor Houses nor high stakes ruled their lives and had dared tried to live with some measure of free hearts.

But the hearts of those high born are never free. Their minds, bodies, and hearts are bound in the chains of their societies. Money, bloodlines, and politics dictated for them where the peasant was most free.

They could pretend for only half a xiao-shir more. They were already late. Both were afraid to breathe, to move, to let the moment go. Tears flowed. And then...finally, both remembered themselves, their many yen-ars of discipline and training. They took deep breaths, straightened their postures and, each assuming her or his proper social role, and began the formal procession. They would never be the same again.

# Chapter Five: The Great Masquerade

"Make way. Make way for her Royal Highness, Anlei, Crown Princess of Beinan," cried the herald as Anlei entered the state dining room where the reception for the most important suitors was already in full swing. Lord Corann kept a single pace behind her, visibly protecting her and yet not overly obtrusively. Anlei could feel the warmth of his body near her as she moved and felt glad for it in this intimidating setting filled with so many richly dressed Beinarians representing so much power and prestige.

Gazing around the room, she saw her parents, and then noticed several groupings of young men, many with their fathers. As her presence became noticed, Anlei attended to the posture and disposition of these men. Many of them were richly dressed with crimson belts, embroidery, and trims to their tunics. As a group they seemed to be somewhere between thirty and seventy yen-ars with an air of self-confidence and ego, mostly in their physical appearance, she could tell, by the way they preened and showed off as she passed. These men were obviously interested in a trophy wife, not her.

Overwhelmed by what felt like a wall of men wanting to devour her, Anlei clutched Corann's arm, trying to conceal her fear. Corann put his hand over hers, trying to both comfort her and cover the fear in her hand, transforming the grasp into a secure escorting hold. "Courage," he whispered into her ear.

Navigating away from the first group of young men as far as she could in the crowd, Anlei bowed courteously but did not approach them too closely. Suddenly an older gentleman wearing a Ten-Arian broad sword turned into her path, stopping her in her tracks. His eyes were a bright grey and his hair was a medium brown that curled into wavy locks. He was 56.8 cun 寸 tall and very athletic in build, his muscles well defined under his fine pale-yellow wool tunic embroidered in silver symbols. Just as stunning to Princess Anlei was the way his face and the way he carried himself reminded her of Corann. Suddenly she realized who he was, "Good afternoon, my lord. Would I have the honor of speaking to none other than Lord Cariadoc of House Ten-Ar?"

Lord Cariadoc bowed graciously, "Indeed, Your Highness...but it is House Shem that I represent in your fair hall. Many yen-ars ago I gave my soul to the Shemai; though I am a brother of Ten-Ar, it is my devotion to my faith that calls my heart first and foremost thanks to my lady wife. I am blessed, Your Highness, to be the father of and extend my name to many sons and daughters."

"Not all, my lord," corrected Lord Corann from behind Anlei. He knew it was against protocol to speak now, but he was eye to eye with his father for the first time in his adult life. Surely Cariadoc knew from his face who he was. "You have a son, your first born – and he is a Knight of Ten-Ar."

Cariadoc eyed Corann with veiled contempt, "You are Corann, I presume?"

"I am."

"What are you doing here? Are you courting the princess?" demanded Cariadoc.

"I am vowed to her side as knight protector. No man shall harm her as long as I am alive. I have a sacred trust to fulfill, to stand always at her side in friendship and in service to her. Her highness is my dearest friend for whom I would gladly lay down my life if called upon to do so as a true knight of Ten-Ar," declared Lord Corann with pride.

"A beautiful woman of House Miyoo is a dangerous creature, Lord Knight Corann, I would be careful of falling to the magic of your charge. You may find yourself in regret one beinor."

"Is that why you avoid me, Father? You feel some sort of regret that I exist?"

"You have no father, young one. All you have is a witch's spell that entrapped an honorable man into dishonorable lust until you were made of that abomination. "

"I was more than a yen-ar old when you left, Father. You knew me as an infant and yet you chose to leave. Do not blame the prayers of House Miyoo for your actions. No one made you leave. Nor did anyone make you ignore me all these yen-ars. How many yen-ars did I train in the monastery – ever once did you speak to me, did you say my name, or admit that I am your son? I never asked much of you, only that you admit that you sired me."

"The Shemai help us all that such a spell was cast over my body, that I ever laid with your mother, boy. Did I lay with your mother, the Lady Cordelia, until you were born of that lust? You want me to say it? YES. I did – for it there has never been a beinor of my life I have not felt the judgment of The Shemai on my head. He will judge all of Beinan for it; destroy us all because of my lust, because I was too weak to prevent your making. I have sinned and I can never undo my sin. This is why I never acknowledged you. You are a mark of shame upon my flesh, Lord Corann. You are an abomination before the god I worship. I beg my wife every beinor to forgive your making and in penance, I have given her many children, only some of whom have survived. My eldest sons, Kaleb and Janus are here. THEY are the sons of my hopes and dreams," asserted Lord Cariadoc.

Anlei felt Corann's slow temper rising. It was very difficult to stir Corann to anger, she knew, but this time she could tell, Lord Knight Cariadoc was actually insulting him enough to do it. Fearing for her friend for whom she cared deeply, her many yen-ars of training and practice asserted themselves, "Perhaps, Lord Knight Cariadoc, in a less formal setting the three of us may re-convene in a quieter place to discuss the past in more serene and genial environments. Perhaps this is not the best setting for healing old wounds which clearly need to be healed. Not speaking after all these yen-ars have obviously wounded both of you. If you are amenable, I would be happy to serve as arbiter in your dispute and help end this misunderstanding between you. I understand, my lords, that the past is unpleasant for both of you. But we ARE civilized Beinarian nobles, are we not? Have we learned nothing from the beinors of clan warfare when such misunderstandings were resolved at the points of blades and arrows, with generations of clan feuds, endless and needless bloodshed?"

Cariadoc tried to suppress a laugh and failed, his guffaw escaping his lips against his will, "Well, young one, you have trained your princess well. Perhaps this can be settled in more genial environments. That is, if you really do want a few xiao-shirs of clearing the air between us?"

"Lord Knight Cariadoc – father – I have wanted little else from you in all my life. Just to sit and TALK to you for a bit. I am sixty yen-ars old; I do not need a father per se. But I would like to know who you are and how you have lived your life since you left Lady Cordelia and me. And I would like it very much if you would take some miniscule interest in some part of my life. Right or wrong in what she did; I am innocent in this. I had no choice in how I was made or why," answered Lord Corann.

Cariadoc softened, "No you had no choice, you are right. Your Highness, if you are willing to arbitrate, I am willing conference with your protector in, say, ten beinors?"

"Agreed," answered Anlei.

"Agreed," answered Corann.

"Until then," bowed Cariadoc, leaving them both.

Corann and Anlei tried to recover mentally from the confrontation with Cariadoc which, by this xiao-shir, had left them both with headaches. Before either could move from their spot, even to look for refreshments, Prince Anwell, her younger brother, rushed up behind her, "There you are. Where have you been?"

"I might ask the same thing of you, Anwell. You were not at grandmother's dinner when father, Corann, and I came back from the Ten-Arian monastery. I'm surprised grandmother did not have your hide. You know how grandmother feels about those formal dinners. You – you – you...." Anlei could not finish her sentence.

Corann laughed behind her, "My dear friend, can I reasonably presume this is your brother Anwell? You've grown since last I saw you."

"Friend? Or lover boy?" teased Anwell. "Father told me you two were kissing back there in house Ten-Ar. Any truth, Lord Knight?"

Anlei eyed her brother with contempt, "Lord Corann, this is indeed my younger brother by seven yen-ars, Prince Anwell the Unready, 37 yen-ars old and still acting 17."

Anwell returned her dirty look as Corann addressed him, "What is true, Your Highness is that I am the sworn protector of your sister and that it is my job to lay down my life in her personal defense should either honor or physical danger be threatened. I would hate to use my sword on someone as royal as your person, Your Highness, but as I said, my vow to her includes Her Highnesses honor." Corann met his eyes steely, scaring the irresponsible prince.

"You wouldn't...." implied Prince Anwell.

Corann put his dominant left hand on the hint and drew the sword two cun 寸 to demonstrate his intent, "I would if you pressed the matter. Do you intend to keep pressing it, Your Highness?"

Convinced at last, Anwell backed off, "NO SIR!"

Corann smiled and returned the blade to its natural position in its sheath, "I did not think so."

Lord Prince Bevin, from a few zhang across the room, naturally saw the slight drawing of the Ten-Arian sword and joined the conversation, "Is there a problem here?"

Corann answered him, "Your son does not respect house Ten-Ar, Your Highness. I had to teach him a small lesson in...respect."

Bevin laughed, "Well done, my lord. Carry on." He strode off to resume his conversations with the fathers of candidates for Anlei's hand.

Anwell's expression changed, his posture shifting to one of great caution, his voice softening so that Corann and Anlei could barely hear him even after he put his arms around both and huddled the trio close together, "Actually, sister, I do respect your knight very much. But I had to know how trustworthy you are, Lord Knight Corann."

"I don't understand," replied Corann, just as softly.

"I've been in this room longer than both of you and I'm not nearly as 'unready' as I seem to be, Sister. I just don't want the throne in this political climate. After all, it claimed Prince Alastair's life when I was just a toddler. That tells me that someone or something is very interested in seizing power for himself, someone prudent enough to realize that our little brother would have readily made a proper king successor for mother. Anyone with that sort of – political ambition is a danger to us all. I for one am not interested in dying at the hands of some social climber. A knight of Ten-Ar as consort can protect this house better than anyone can—everyone in this family knows that. Why do you think mother managed to become queen? She married a knight. You think our father doesn't have the skills to repel an attack on this palace? Sure, he does...and the skill needed to avenge anyone who tries to kill mother, let alone succeeds. That is why; I think the assassin did not try to take mother's life when doubtless he had the chance. The security recordings I've seen show that father was barely two steps away from mother when we were little. No murderer chances getting a knight of Ten-Ar involved like that; they are too fierce of warriors with too many different weapons. Even the knights of Gurun mostly train with modern weapons, not the heritage ones from A672E92 Quintus," explained Anwell.

The fine hair on Corann's arms stood up on end under his tunic. Was Anwell saying was that he was actually playing this political game quite astutely, trying to avoid assassination and trying to keep his sister alive in the process? "How do you know so much about the training of knights of different houses, Your Highness?"

"What do you think I've been doing the past thirty yen-ars? Sister...I know you think I've been doing little more than playing our whole lives...you even came up with that awful nickname that seems to stick with me everywhere I go. But in truth what I've done is infiltrate most of the other houses, learning what they know and don't know – especially what they won't say in Council chambers. Our constitutional monarchy is much more fragile than anyone here seems to realize – or at least, if they know, they are not speaking of it. Taking an interest in martial arts and in technology is the perfect way to learn what they know, Anlei. I've travelled our planet – from Nan-li in Xi-Nan Fang to Belarn to Olos-Mir and beyond.... There is a predator in the fold, one very well hidden. I do not think you will catch him before it is too late. But you might prevent him from striking, Corann – if you can bring yourself to do what you know you must," riddled Anwell. "The time to stop him is now. Do not wait for tonight, no matter what her visions may say. Stop him now, noble knight. He will strike in a way you will not see until too late – but will recognize from your own past, I think." Anwell slipped away and melted into the crowd like vapor.

Anlei stood shocked, "He doesn't..."

Corann's senses from Lady Cordelia carefully marked Anwell's words, "Oh, but he does. He's just as house Miyoo as you are. There is no reason to believe he hasn't foreseen something. He just doesn't want to tell us outright anything."

"Why do I feel afraid?" trembled Anlei.

"I think we both have a good reason to be afraid now, Your Highness," replied Corann. Escorting her gently through the crowd, he brought her to a buffet table and found her a cup which he filled with the contents of a nearby silver pitcher filled with nanla wine. He handed her the cup, then filled one for himself and drank deeply. Both started to sigh a bit of relief and tried to relax.

"Have you tried the kelan fruit, it's quite good?" offered a 55.5 cun 寸 tall bright blue-eyed nobleman with short blond hair. Lord Janus smiled at Lord Corann and Princess Anlei genially.

"No – I – we have not had the chance yet. Too much politics in this room for us to make it to any food," replied Anlei.

"Are you here as a couple?" asked Janus.

"You may not realize this, my lord, but I suppose I am the lady this whole thing here is all about. I am Princess Anlei...this is my protector, Lord Corann, Knight of Ten-Ar. He stays close to me to ensure all of you behave yourselves," she answered.

"Oh, of course. Royalty can never be too careful these beinors. All the rumors of those kidnappings and so forth are enough to make any noble woman nervous. You know the older of my two sisters Lady Ecter had that happen to her. Her child, a daughter, is two yen-ars old now. No husband – and the bastard is quite proud of what he did to her, of course," replied Lord Janus.

"I'm – I'm – speechless," answered Anlei. "I have never met anyone who was affected by such violence before."

Lord Janus eyed Corann, recognizing his looks, "Oh, I am sure that if one looks close enough, one will find these practices are more common than one thinks. But enough of our sorrows. This is a party and, if you will permit me, Your Highness, I brought you a gift that I hope you will honor me by accepting."

Anlei deferred to Corann as Janus brought out a small box from a pocket and offered it to her, "Corann, what do you think?"

"I think you should be careful, Your Highness. You do not know this man and, whatever it is, you should not fully accept it without security fully testing it," answered Corann cautiously.

Janus' pride struck out, "Are you utterly paranoid or is that just your self-interest as a suitor of the princess talking that you don't want her to accept a gift from me? What is it, Knight? Yes, I know who you are, Corann, son of Cariadoc of house Ten-Ar. Oh, I don't dare challenge you by the old rules...you could kill me in an instant and call it 'protecting' her. But what is really at play is that you want her for yourself. Everyone knows it. You've been in love with her for yen-ars." Janus' raised voice judiciously drew the attention of everyone in the room.

Janus' words lashed at Corann. As Lord Knight Culain's squire he had served as his master's aide when the Great Council was in session along with Lord Eisiq and his squire, Lady Elda, the daughter of Lady Cara and her late husband, a knight of Gurun. Together, Corann and Elda had learned to recognize members of the Great Council by sight. In just the seven xiao-shirs since Anlei and his arrival, Corann counted at least twenty such councilors in the room, making Janus' accusation politically damaging to his protection of the princess.

Corann stayed calm, remembering his training and avoiding Janus' flagrant attempts to provoke him. Corann knew palace security protocols as well as any knight of Ten-Ar, a factor of the close relationship between houses Ten-Ar and Gurun. Standard procedure was to never let a royal accept anything potentially dangerous and unknown without certain tests being run. Tests for poisons, for enchantments, for technologies, weapons, and so forth had to be run. This had nothing to do with him. Any palace guard would have insisted upon it. No foreign object could be brought into the palace without first rigorous tests, much less offered to a royal. So how did this gift get past all that security? What had Cariadoc and his family done to bypass these protocols? How many tai-ors had been paid out as bribes to get this far?

Concerned about attention Janus attracted yet even more concerned for Anlei's safety, Corann took the high road, "Anlei... there are rules for these things, basic security procedures that have to be followed in the palace. That he is offering this without my advanced knowledge tells me that something is wrong, that none of these rules have been followed. Your safety could be at stake. I know all of these words are designed to discredit me because he makes it sound like the issue is not your safety, but our friendship and my feelings for you. But I beg you. Listen to wisdom and reason. Do not accept this until all of the normal tests have been run. If you do not believe me, summon one of the knights of Gurun charged with protecting your mother during court. Every knight and guard in the palace can tell you this box is not on our list—and it has to be on our lists before it is allowed anywhere near a royal or a dignitary for that matter. Nothing presented to royalty comes to you without our first knowing about it. This is how we keep you alive in dangerous times. Please, I beg you...let me keep you safe."

Anlei smiled at Corann, taking the box and handing it to him, "As you wish, Lord Knight Corann. My life is in your capable hands. Summon the knights of Gurun charged with palace security and begin testing this at once. If it is safe, I would be most pleased to accept the gift. If it is not, I think we both know what happens then." As Corann moved to a nearby panel in the room to bring in security, Anlei took Janus aside, "That was very badly done of you, Lord Janus. Corann is my best friend and closest confidant. Humiliating him is not the way to win my heart. I know he loves me more than he will ever tell me. He knows I cannot return his feelings. We have...and understanding on this matter. But as friends, I am just as protective of him as he is protective of me. You want to win my hand and possibly my crown? That was NOT the way to do it."

Shamed, Lord Janus bowed deeply, "Forgive me, Your Highness, I did not know. I thought more to play to the crowd – and to impress my older brother, Kaleb. My father loves Kaleb much more than me, you know."

"Your father has given poor Corann nothing but contempt his entire life, something he does not deserve. Corann is the finest example of house Ten-Ar I have ever known. There is no finer man in all of Beinan. If my father had arranged him for me, I would have felt lucky to be his wife."

"Why didn't you marry him? I hear he practically grew up around the palace, that he's your grandmother's protégé?" asked Janus.

"I don't know," she replied. "I guess there is something intimidating about knowing someone is in love with you when your heart is just not there. I grew up in such a political world. I never had a chance to think about love. Corann is so...passionate, so tender. I guess I figured I would be a poor choice for a wife for him, that he deserves better than me."

"Political marriages. Ever we arrange our lives around power and prestige, never love. We bed people we don't want to spend any time with normally out of just pure...physical instinct or political obligation to procreate. And all the time, we feel like we would rather be somewhere else as we feel our bodies just automatically act. What a strange world we nobles live in. You gotta envy House Cashmarie for their ordinariness. They at least get to enjoy sex with their spouses."

Anlei smiled, "You are very perceptive, Lord Janus."

"Well, I am a son of Cariadoc. I suppose some good has to come of that."

"Who is your mother?"

"Oh, the Lady Jebez of House Shem, a very fine but serious woman. She bore Cariadoc ten children, only five of us survived past forty yen-ars. She and father really enjoy being close. Naturally, my father doesn't believe in using technology when it comes to affecting procreation, one way or the other. I think one or two of my siblings would have lived longer if he did...just using modern medicine to heal their illnesses. Instead, when they became seriously ill, we went to our religious house to pray and The Shemai chose to take them in death instead. Unlike your religion, we do not believe we are reborn after this life. We only believe in one life and once only. So, my siblings are gone – never their like to be seen again."

"Are you done talking to her?" asked a low voice from behind. It was the grey-eyed Lord Kaleb, the eldest of Cariadoc's children by Lady Jabez.

Bowing, Janus introduced them, "Princess Anlei, may I introduce to you my older brother, Lord Kaleb, first born of Lord Cariadoc."

"Second born," she corrected. "You are the first born of your mother, but you do have an older half-brother, you know."

"Temporarily," sneered Lord Kaleb.

"Indeed?" squirmed Anlei, gliding over to Lord Corann and grabbing his arm. The tightness of her fingers said it all.

Kaleb turned to his brother, "So what was all that about?"

"A setback – for now – but there are a still a few shir-ors before the masquerade, brother. We still have time. See what we can do about that; this is not over, not at all," schemed Lord Janus.

The great masquerade arrived at shir-or 10.00 sharply in the palace's grand ballroom. In more than 500 yen-ars, few gatherings in all of Hejing sparkled more exquisitely nor was the food ever more lavishly prepared for its 293 some esteemed guests, most of them the crème de la crème of Beinarian society. Jewels of incalculable worth glittered everywhere—in the decorations, on the tables, and most especially on both royal and guests' bodies in every configuration, color, size, and cut imaginable. Some guests chose the small, understated options while others went for the gaudiest of everything. Nothing seen across the known universe could be compared with this, at least on the surface. Royal blue carpets, symbols of status on Beinan, were unrolled and strewed everywhere for guests. This was the night of all nights when maybe, just maybe, some fortunate man may walk away with his token upon the breast, wrist, or throat of the princess – and with her in her royal chamber to consummate the deed. Dreams were in the eyes and hearts of the many eligible men who slowly assembled and waited for the herald to announce them. Who would the princess choose?

As the announcements started, Anlei herself knelt in her crimson gown in her gazebo, this time a heavy fabric brocaded with platinum fibers forming the design of House Gurun as a design. Her gown was modest with a high, Queen Anne neckline that framed her face. The skirt was full with several petticoats underneath; she hoped to deter the unchivalrous man who might otherwise wish to slip his hand under her dress. The midriff of her gown was runched and decorated with silver rosettes on her left hip. She was a vision of royalty incarnate.

Yet her beauty betrayed her heart full of fear, sadness, and trepidation about the future. Tears streamed down her angelic face. She whimpered in prayer, perhaps her first prayer of her life, a prayer heard, she presumed, only by the flowers around her.

Corann found her, kneeling and praying, weeping uncontrollably. In his white tunic and wearing his sword of Ten-Ar, he looked stunning, his Ten-Arian circlet sparkling regally, almost in conversation with his Ten-Arian ceremonial sword. Against his sword belt he also wore a second belt, this one the standard belt worn by Anlei's palace guards that included a communication device. Press two buttons and the entire hall would be sealed off nearly instantly. Corann stepped into the gazebo and audibly heard her sobs. His hands gently reached her shoulders and began massaging them lovingly, "They are waiting for you, my liege."

"In all our time together, you have never called me that," she cried.

"Can I call you otherwise tonight? You are not mine, no matter how much I want you to be. You have made that clear."

Anlei rose to her feet, "Hold me. Dance with me. Be the first dance."

Tears filled Corann's eyes. Nodding, he knelt and took her hand, kissing it sweetly, "Your Highness, may I?" Then he rose and took her in his arms and clasped his hand around her waist with one arm and her hand with the other. In the massive gazebo, he whirled her around in waltz, feeling her heart. After a few turns around the floor, the tears in his eyes overwhelmed him, "Anlei, Anlei, there is something I must tell you." He stopped and sat her upon a perimeter bench.

Falling to both knees, he drew out from his trouser pocket a small necklace with Ten-Arian pendent. Anlei gasped as she saw it. How long had he had that? Finding words, he dared now to speak, "Anlei, I have been afraid to speak to you all of our lives, but now I will. I love you, Anlei. I have been in love with you since the beinor I first walked into this palace. There has never been a doubt in my mind that you were the one I wanted to...offer this to. This is – this is the same one my father gave my mother when he – he – she wore it the first time they were – together. My mother told me to never tell anyone they were legally betrothed at the time. Oh, he doesn't remember, of course, and they never formalized it as a marriage, but...under law, I am in all ways not a bastard."

"Does my grandmother know?"

"Yes. She told me not to tell you until I was ready to—"

As Corann sought his words, RK6 flew through the garden violently, "Your Highness...you must enter the ball room. They have been looking EVERYWHERE FOR YOU. I am afraid a major political incident will begin if you do not come in there to calm things down."

Anlei rose to her feet, "Then tell my father I've been at prayer in my garden, then tell grandmother I've been at prayer and then tell everyone else I'll be there as soon as my feet will carry me. You can hover faster than I can walk. So, go be a good political droid and get going."

Corann trembled; it took him so many yen-ars to find the courage to talk to her and now – this. Cheated of his chance to speak his heart, he felt as if the wind had just been knocked out of him and in far more shock than Bevin's sword stroke had created all those beinors ago. His hands shook as he recovered his heirloom and put it back in his pocket, his question unasked. Corann reached for Anlei who gave him a hand to his feet. He genuinely looked visibly shaken. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Corann hugged her tightly, "I don't know."

"We have to go."

"Anlei, did you hear what I told you?"

"I don't have time to think about that."

"The old Anlei would not hesitate to kiss me. Predator in the fold is right. I should have said something before. I am doomed," pronounced Lord Corann.

As Anlei and Corann arrived at the ballroom, Anlei found that the situation had calmed considerably. Apparently, rumor had it; Lord Kaleb had started a fight with one of the waiters over one of the dishes and some sort of religious issue. One of her guards came to her and reported that during the scuffled, Lord Janus was nowhere to be found and had disappeared from security cameras.

Anlei herself felt irritated at Corann. How dare he make something up like a proclamation of LOVE right before her big evening? Love? What an idiot's delusion, she thought to herself. Only fools think of marrying for love. And so, as the evening began, rather than staying close to Lord Corann, she distanced herself from him, treating him as a mere suitor in a crowd of them. She smiled and flirted with many of the young men and unfastened her gown a bit to be less conservative and expose her body a little more. She would show that Corann about LOVE. How dare he? And to display that pendant? What did he intend to do? PROPOSE MARRIAGE TO HER? By what right and what authority? Who on Beinan was he?

Lord Corann watched her from a distance, trying to protect her in her obviously reckless frame of mind, but he felt utterly helpless. Prince Anwell strode up to him as he watched Kaja, the grandson of the same Kaja of house Xing-li who had received his sister Beinaer's final transmission from D435E25 Tertius; start to dance with Anlei, pawing at her body inappropriately. Corann's blood began to boil at the attack on her honor. Anwell stopped him, "Until she protests, you can't intervene, my friend. The predator has her."

"What really happened here?"

"The predator unleashed his attack, of course, an attack you should find familiar, my lord knight. That box you confiscated is missing," informed Anwell.

"Is it?" inquired Corann.

"What kind of attack is a latent like her most vulnerable to, Lord Corann?" riddled Anwell.

"Spells and charms, of course. Latents have no defenses against them. Their minds are not trained to counter them..."

"House Shem claims to abhor the ways of house Miyoo, but I say 'same dance, different tune.' What is good for the fafiku is good for the fabku."

"Agreed. Now how do I stop this predator before it is far too late?"

"Take it away of course," smiled Anwell, melting away.

Encouraged, Corann moved in Anlei's direction, "May I cut in, Your Highness?"

"No. You may not," she replied.

"Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but I think I should," urged Corann, taking her hand and waist firmly and assertively. Even in her compromised state of mind, Anlei felt some shock. This was most unexpected. Sensing her mind, Lord Corann smiled and whirled her strongly. No one had dared to dance with her like this. Somehow it felt almost exhilarating.

In his anger and frustration, he let forth his passion, taking a strong, forceful lead dancing with her, not speaking a word, only dancing with her formally, precisely, as one well trained in mind, body, and soul. Now, he would be both protector and suitor and show this insolent little creature some manners. As they danced, he led her into a private area where few people gathered and there he stopped to let her catch her breath. She panted under the strength and speed of his dancing, breathless. "Now, maybe, your highness, you will listen to me."

"What is with you tonight?"

"I might ask you the same thing, except I think I already know. Remember your brother's warning about a predator in the fold? Anlei, you have already succumbed to it. Look at your dress!" Looking down, she noticed how she had practically unfastened half of the bodice to her gown, exposing parts of her upper body she had never displayed in public before, very immodestly, like a whore selling her wares. "May I?" asked Corann as her friend. Nodding with shame, Corann gently and lovingly refastened her gown all the way, returning her to proper modesty. "You are under a spell, my love."

Anlei began to tremble and caress Corann's head, "What do I do?"

"Let me protect you. I love you as a man loves the woman he marries when she's fortunate to be truly and deeply loved. Let me show you how much I love you. Oh Anlei, I've held onto my heart for many yen-ars. So many yen-ars I've wanted to show you, to tell you how deeply I love you." Frightened, she stroked his hair. In the privacy of that space, exactly as she had foreseen before, he kissed her lovingly and tenderly and with passionate and need behind his lips than he had never dared before. This was not the kiss of a friend, but a lover, yet he restricted his kiss to just her lips. It felt better than in her dream prophesy. Anlei could not believe how sweet the kiss was.

Yet before she could respond to the sweetness of that kiss, she suddenly felt an overwhelming vertigo. Anlei stumbled, collapsing as if suddenly plunged into a deep abyss. Corann caught her, but with his spiritual senses, he knew the source. Somewhere in the ballroom lurked the predator, prowling with his dangerous toy, whatever it was. Half resigned to the predator and half fighting, Lord Corann kissed Anlei sweetly, almost desperately as he guided her to a bench and helped her sit down. Whoever he was, he would strike soon.

"Self-interest, indeed, my lord," proclaimed Lord Janus from behind, watching the kiss. Corann felt his presence even without seeing him, his hair on his arms standing underneath his tunic as he heard Janus' footsteps on the short steps that were a few zhang from where he put Anlei. There was his predator, none other than his own half-brother. It had to be. His instincts abounded. Had Janus seen that kiss?

His heart on the line, it took all his courage to turn his face towards the gloating politician behind him, eying him like a predator "Is it self-interest to care for one's charge and see to her safety?" asked Corann.

"Convenient lies, knight. You love her. That kiss comes only from true love. A rare thing among our people, I will grant. But futile nonetheless. You cannot win her, Knight. She is much too smart to fall in love," taunted Janus.

"Love is not futile, brother. Love is the only thing worth living for. Maybe neither of us was begotten for love, but she, above all others on Beinan deserves it. You cannot possibly understand her like I do. House Miyoo flows in both her blood and mine. She is a born priestess," asserted Corann.

"Priestess, you say? Then she should simply abdicate her Gurun blood and let the Council choose another House, another more WORTHY house to rule us. House Gurun is stagnant with its own success. No House, no clan has tried to rule for so long. Our people need fresh blood, fresh ideas. She stands in the way of all of that – shame too, such a pretty thing. Yes, she will make a fine trophy for my bedroom."

"Is that all you see?" laughed Corann, disbelieving.

Janus smirked, "You'll never know, Corann. You are not ambitious enough to see my mind."

Corann laughed, "I am the protégé of High Priestess Wehe herself, boy. I am well trained in arts that Father never bothered to learn. Oh, our father is gifted in those and for that reason, my mother chose him to merge his blood with hers...to make the perfect child, the perfect high priest. You think it is a shame I exist, but now you make me proud of my blood. Saying what I can and cannot know. How dare you. I am, by every right, High Priest of Beinan, the chosen of House Miyoo. No Knight of Ten-Ar has ever been requested for such an honor, boy. I am the perfect knight and the perfect priest. I am everything father never could be. Don't you dare tempt me to do all that I can. To protect her, the rules say I can do anything I have to."

All would have been saved and the predator dispatched had not one terrible coincidence risen up...Anlei chose that moment to recover from her vertigo. Not knowing the full context of the conversation and having not heard Janus' words regarding her as a trophy, she saw only what seemed like over-the-top protective behavior towards her...and against the very attractive Lord Janus, "Corann? Corann? What is going on?"

"He's mad. That's what is going on," replied Janus defensively.

"Don't listen to him, Your Highness. This is the predator we were warned about. He's the one who has affected your behavior all evening. Trust me, Your Highness. Trust all we have built together," countered Corann.

"You've got to be kidding. Look at him rant and rave. He's obviously insane. You're a better politician than that, Your Highness," mocked Janus.

"Why ARE you attacking him like this, Corann? What grudge do you have against Lord Janus? He is such a kind and generous man...who are you to attack him so?" she agreed.

"Who am I? Who am I? I am offering my life to you to save yours. I am trying to prevent your death and dishonor, My Princess. You must have been unconscious when he threatened your person," defended Corann.

"Threaten you? He's mad. I would never threaten you. You are far too beautiful," flattered Janus, kneeling before her and kissing her hand. With his other hand, he pulled out the box that had previously been taken away by Lord Corann, "I found this for you, please accept it?"

"If it is a betrothal gift, you know I cannot..." countered Anlei.

Janus laughed, "Oh, no such thing." He opened the box to show her. It was a lovely, delicate bracelet.

The moment he saw the gems, a psychic surge hit Corann's mind, "No, Anlei—refuse it. Danger!"

"What could be dangerous about such a lovely bracelet? There are no symbols on it, just jewels. The perfect gift for the perfect princess," slithered Janus.

Anlei blushed, "It IS beautiful." She picked it up and let Janus help her fasten it to her left wrist. The moment it was fully fastened on her body, the light in her eyes went out, as if strongly drugged. Anlei's spirit latently sent Corann a scream. Corann clutched his head, falling back and nearly fainting.

Anlei put her arms around Janus' neck. Seductively, Janus kissed her, first softly, then like a hungry tiger, even undoing part of her dress to re-expose her bosom somewhat. His hand slid down into her gown to caress her breast. She did nothing. Janus smiled at her, "Do you like that, my love?"

"Of course. You may do anything you wish," she replied blankly.

"Then take me to your room," commanded Lord Janus, taking her hand. As they rose, Janus kicked the half fainted Corann on the ground, striking his still healing left shoulder and lung, with disgust. Corann gasped in agony as the blow landed.

# Chapter Six: Queen Isabelle's Fateful Ruling

But Corann was only down, not out; as soon as Janus and Anlei moved 20 zhang from him, he found himself out of range of the bracelet and fully functional. Corann hit the combination of buttons on his belt that allowed him to speak to palace security, "Fafiku to Lord Eisiq. Code fabku. Repeat, code fabku. House Shem, Lord Janus. Cordelia il y a Cariadoc. Vais chambre."

Lord Eisiq answered his alert on his communicator, "Fafiku. Code fabku acknowledged. All is ready. See you there."

Moving swiftly down in concert with many hidden knights of Gurun, Corann raced through hidden corridors that he had mastered thanks to the help of his friend, Lady Knight Elda. Though Janus had a head start on him, Corann navigated the palace expertly and opened Anlei's chamber doors.

He found Janus on the bed with her, starting to move on top of her – and his house Shem pendant of betrothal around her neck.

But under law, no betrothal was legal until Janus had deflowered his prize. Anlei's gown was mostly open, revealing the corset she chose to wear underneath for the ball. Janus was climbing on top of her, his tunic off, his hands starting to slide her skirt and petticoats up to claim his prize, already up to her knees. Janus' hand seizing her inner thigh ravenously with a bruising grip. Corann knew he had to do something – and quick.

Anlei's arms were around his neck expectantly...Corann attacked the source of Janus' power and grabbed the bracelet, causing a tiny cut on Anlei's wrist as he did so and making her cry out in pain as she bled, "Corann!"

Corann threw the bracelet out of the room. Lord Knight Eisiq recovered the bracelet, handing it over to the waiting hands of Lady Knight Elda, but knew not to interfere – yet. Immediately Lady Knight Elda gave the bracelet to a nearby analysis droid.

With the bracelet's effects now blocked by the shielding of the droid, the light in Anlei's eyes returned, "Where am I...what? Lord Janus, how dare you?" Then she felt her neck and the dreaded necklace, noticing her state of undress, "Corann, help me."

Janus slapped Anlei vengefully, "Deny me, will you? I will show you. You are mine."

"Anlei, take off the necklace. Quickly!" commanded Corann.

As she struggled with the clasp, Janus grabbed her wrist to stop her, his body pinning to the bed so tightly she could feel his readiness to claim his prize.

"No, you don't," screamed Corann, grabbing Janus and wrestling him away from Anlei. Janus loosened his grip on Anlei's wrist. Anlei tussled her hand free, immediately working at the clasp to get the house Shem pendant off her neck, rolling away from the battling Corann and Janus.

Corann threw Janus off the bed using a well-practiced deflection technique drilled into him since childhood. Janus rolled, scrambling to his feet. Corann sprang upon him from the bed, knocking him down angrily. Janus threw a punch at Corann's face. Corann evaded it and returned with a punch to Janus' ribs.

A dot of blood 0.16 cun 寸 wide seeped into Corann's tunic as his wound reopened his wound. Janus observed the blood as a sign of vulnerability, punching the wound as hard as he could. "You have no right," cried Janus. "She's MINE."

Anlei removed the house Shem necklace and threw it across the room, "Corann – stop him."

"Forced betrothal? I think she has every right. How dare you try to rape the heir to the throne?" scuffled Corann, determined to keep Janus from getting near the princess again.

"A mere WOMAN. She's NOTHING. She doesn't deserve to rule," shrieked Janus.

Corann turned to the gathered knights waiting outside Anlei's chamber, "Knights of Gurun and Ten-Ar have you heard enough?"

As Lord Eisiq prepared to answer, the assembly bowed suddenly as Queen Isabelle stepped into the room, motioning for Corann to rise off the defeated Janus. Lord Knight Eisiq and Lady Knight Elda followed the queen, seizing Janus and binding his hands. Fury flashed on the face of the queen, "A woman is nothing is she? My only daughter is nothing? Was your sister, Lady Ecter, nothing, Lord Janus? Or are you merely trying to cover the shame that it was YOU who impregnated your own sister to prevent her from marrying my cousin, Lord Priest Adelmar, son of Princess Alicia?" Motioning for Lord Eisiq and Lady Elda to enter the room, she commanded, "Lord Knight Eisiq, Lady Knight Elda, search his person."

Bruised and somewhat battered Corann rose to his feet, binding Janus to prevent him from breaking free. Lord Eisiq and Lady Elda rifled through Janus' clothes, none to gently. From Janus' belt they recovered several strange technical devices and handed them to the queen. Queen Isabelle inspected them carefully, "Husband, do you know what these are?"

Lord Prince Bevin stepped forward, "I do. They are portable fertility devices used to force impregnate a woman after a single episode of traditional intercourse. This particular device here stimulates ovulation, this one here collects the sperm and directs it at the ovum, and this one accelerates fetal growth so that in a few shir-ors time, one night perhaps, the pregnancy can typically be beyond undoing short of risking harm to the mother."

"Lord Knight Corann," addressed Queen Isabelle, "is it your testimony that Lord Janus intended to use these devices on my daughter, that he came into this room with reasonable intent to rape and impregnate my daughter without her expressed and complete free consent to do so and without the benefit of a freely-made betrothal contract?"

"My Queen, Princess Anlei has known Lord Janus not even two shir-ors across two brief meetings. In my experienced judgment as her protector, I can conceive of absolutely no way she could imagine consenting to anything beyond the more formal of conversations with him in Council chambers. It is inconceivable he would be invited to any private meeting, even in the presence of family or friends, and even less likely to desire to be alone with him, without protection from myself. It is a million times more likely your dear sister Princess Anyu will return to Beinan from D425E25 Tertius than this would be so," assessed Corann.

Isabelle smiled at Corann's memorial to her lost sister Anyu, "Point taken, my lord knight. Well then, Janus of house Shem, the evidence against you is clear. It is the ruling of this court that you be banished from Beinarian nobility. You shall be relocated to Xi-Nan Fang to one of the towns or cities of your choosing, I care not where, so long as you stay there for the rest of your life and never set foot in Dong-Bei again. There, in Xi-Nan Fang, you shall learn the value of hard work as you earn an honest living doing whatever labor you see fit and marrying whoever will take you. Your name and everything you have as house Shem shall be stricken from official records and taken away as you took away these things from your own sister and tried to take them from my own daughter. The child you imposed on your sister, Lady Ecter, shall receive the bounty of what is stripped from you and for your crime; we shall elevate her, giving her grace where you felt women deserve none. You are now, as of this shir-or, of no house, no name. Guards...get this filth out of my presence."

Three knights of Gurun seized Janus, no longer now a lord nor of house Shem. Kicking and snarling, he resisted as Isabelle's heavily armed knights grabbed him, "Xi-Nan Fang is worse than death and everyone knows it. It's a filthy cesspool of disease and slow death. Mercy and royalty? Blah. There's none in you. But you'll regret letting me live. You haven't heard the last from me, Your Majesty. Your dynasty is still doomed, and I will be the cause. House Gurun will fall. Mark my words...maybe not this yen-ar or even in ten...but mark me well...the Gurun dynasty is DOOMED.  I will have my revenge."

With Janus now carried out of the room, the betrothal necklace now shined golden on the floor. Sadly, Corann picked it up and offered it to Queen Isabelle, "Your Majesty...here is the dread pendant he used...."

"Lady Elda, will you put this in the evidence file with the rest of the objects we prosecuted him with as proof of his crimes? Let no one object or appeal the wisdom of what we achieved this evening. May posterity ever uphold our right judgment as just. They must know always why we did what we did tonight. This was a good and necessary thing to protect not only our crown princess, but all our daughters. And now, my lords, I ask for a private moment with my daughter; Lord Corann, you may stay." At the queen's command, everyone except Corann filtered out of the room. Anlei still trembled on the bed, bewildered at what had nearly happened. Isabelle the mother pulled up a chair and sat next to her, "Are you okay?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"This is your room, Anlei, and we are in private...somehow I don't think we need protocol around Corann. I think 'mother' will do right now...." answered Isabelle.

"Thank you, Mother. I don't think I could have without Corann. He saved me," cried Anlei, shaking visibly.

"I always will, Anlei. You know that. I promise you," reassured Corann.

"You know I have watched the two of you over these beinors; think he is a lot better to you than you give him credit for," observed Isabelle. "He gives you everything, yet wants so little in return. There is no finer man in all of Beinan, Anlei. As a mother, I would suggest you never take him for granted. The men who are like Janus are far more numerous than those like Corann. Choose wisely, my daughter, how you wish to be treated," hinted Isabelle.

Catching the hint and still shaking, Anlei raised her eyes to her mother, "Mother...would you excuse Corann and I for a while? I think he and I need to talk...." Rising, Isabelle smiled and left. "Corann?" called Anlei.

Corann bent over her from his chair next to the bed and caressed her brow with one hand while moving her skirts modestly back down to their proper positions, "I am here."

"I am so scared. He nearly raped me, didn't he?"

Corann's heart jumped to his throat at the thought, "YES. He did -- almost."

"I should have listened to you. Why couldn't I hear you?"

"You were enspelled, Anlei, just like my father was. Janus was a predator in the fold. Your brother foresaw everything; I think even the part where he was on top of you, starting to...."

"You weren't fooled."

Corann smiled sorrowfully, trying to hold back his tears, "I was trained in the temple by mother until I was fifteen yen-ars old, remember? And then after I became Lord Knight Culain's squire, your grandmother took me as her protégé. I've been well trained to spot these things...and fight them."

"I wish I had learned how to," she cried, weeping and trembling.

Uncertain what to do, Corann wept until he finally dared hold her in his arms. She threw her arms around him and clutched at him like a drowning woman, afraid to let go. "There was never a need for you to learn, my princess. You were the heiress to the throne. If you rejected your Miyoo blood, then that was your right."

"I've been a fool, Corann, a fool in every way. Only now am I starting to remember how he...touched me, he grabbed me. In my dreams I thought only my husband would...touch me in those places. He didn't just dare...he undressed me where all of Beinarian polite society could see. I was nothing more than a whore to him."

"But always my princess, my queen to me.... Oh Anlei, did you hear my heart in the chaos? Do you know how I feel about you?" wept Corann.

Anlei broke his embrace and covered her half bare breasts shamefully, "I am not worthy now. He destroyed my virtue. I am no better than some common woman selling her favors on the street."

Corann's tears ended and with tender eyes he met hers assertively, "No, sweetheart. Not to me. Perhaps to them who do not know who cannot see the truth--but never to me. I know the real you. And know what he did and how. You are as pure tonight in my eyes as ever you were. My feelings for you are unchanged."

"Tell me your feelings, Corann."

"You know them well, Your Highness."

"PLEASE," she begged. "I am tired of taking you for granted. Let me hear the truth, all of it. You started to say something in the garden that I was too enspelled to hear. Tell me now. I beg you. There is...a gift I want of you."

Corann breathed hard, understanding her meaning well, "Are you sure?"

Anlei placed his left hand on her right side, just under her breast and breathed hard, "I am sure. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. Tell me how you feel. Hold nothing back now."

Corann met her eyes, "Anlei, Crown Princess of Beinan, Heiress of house Gurun, I love you. I have been in love with you since the moment I met you and felt your heart in my mind. Your heart burns in my heart. Your mind dances in my mind. In my dreams, I hear your song. In my body, I have desired but one woman for my wife for all of my life. In my heart of hearts, I have known but one truth above all others: that your soul and mine are joined in the sacred dance of the goddesses, never to be separate and never complete until we are fully joined in mind, heart, and flesh. I have needed you since the first moment I gazed into your eyes. I have been in torment every moment you have failed to love me. Anlei, sweetest Anlei, will you marry me?" With his final words he offered the Ten-Arian necklace he had tried to offer her before, holding it up so she merely needed to put her head through the chain if she accepted it.

Smiling and trembling somewhat, Anlei leaned forward and put her head through the chain. Almost weeping, Corann laid the pendant on her upper chest as she answered, "YES, Corann...I will marry you."

Corann let his lips drift near hers, "May I?" Anlei nodded as Corann climbed onto the bed and began to kiss her. She softly received and returned his kisses. These kisses were different now. Now they were kisses to claim her, tender and yet tenuous, as if Corann feared she would change her mind. After a moment of two, Corann propped himself on his arm, being careful in all this time not to lay on Anlei at all, "Anlei...you know you are not truly mine until we...." Corann's hand drifted to her knee to hint at what she needed to do.

"I know...." she breathed hard, understanding what was required and remembering the law. "Corann, are you sure you want me?"

Corann nodded at her and kissed her hand, "I am sure. I've always been sure. But what do you want? Once done, Anlei neither of us can undo it. The law is very specific regarding the conditions that can break a consummated betrothal. Once you take me, we are truly sealed."

Anlei breathed deeply, thinking carefully about her choice. He was right...what she said now would settle the matter of her marriage irrevocably. Once the token was accepted and once she received him physically...her life was sealed as well.

Like a bride, weighing her options, she took the moment Corann asked of her to make absolutely sure of this. The law was strict regarding breaking such a commitment and for a woman of her stature, even after her wedding, divorce would be hard to achieve. This was the moment of decision for her life, the moment she had delayed about for yen-ars.

Corann was right all along...she knew long ago how this night would end, what she would choose. Anlei chose to finally un-masque her heart, "Then seal me to your side forever, my love. Oh Corann...seal me with your body, make me your bride. Make me yours. With all my heart, I want you. I've always wanted you. Corann, sweetest Corann...I love you."

Slowly, carefully Corann climbed onto Anlei and let one hand drift under her skirt. Anlei smiled as she felt the weight of him and felt him start to kiss her. Tugging at his sword belt, she unfastened it. The precious sword of Ten-Ar made a loud thump as it fell off her large bed. Pulling off his tunic and noticing his wound, she knew to touch him gently as she put her arms around him and let destiny seal their fate.

In the shir-ors before morning, Anlei would feel the sweetness of Corann's true love seal her into her new destiny. Enjoying his touch all through the night she wondered if this is what it meant to be a wife as she drifted in and out of sleep in his arms, a sealed bride at last.

Anlei woke a shir-or before dawn naked in her bed and with Corann's arms around her, his body equally naked. Was it a dream? She felt her neck, the Ten-Arian sword heraldry certainly felt real. The pile of scattered clothes around her curtained bed hinted of the previous night's activities. No, not a dream, and she felt nice and warm where she was. Her hand drifted to Corann's wound; it was clearly still a bit tender even after all these beinors. He had never complained about the pain. What a marvel. Had she chosen correctly? The choice was done. She could feel in her body as more and more of her body took a waking mode that certainly she felt differently physically than before. Strange sensations inside her, and yet somehow she did not mind. What was it about him that made her not mind feeling uncomfortable in odd places? Being young and inquisitive, she wondered if Corann felt uncomfortable in odd places too. No...she would not dare ask that. Instead she kissed his brow, uncertain what to do next. She had never woken up in the same bed with someone before. This was a strange, new experience.

As she thought, she heard Corann moan awake, then open his eyes, "Good morning, my love. How is my bride?" Corann started to kiss her. So strange to kiss like this, but she yielded and accepted his kisses.

"Did we? Did we?" she asked, almost confused.

"Yes. Legally, in every way we are fully betrothed, Anlei. You are my bride to be. We are sealed together in this. Nothing can undo what we chose last night," described Corann.

"What happened?" Anlei felt somewhat confused in a way, her body sending out dizzying sensations.

"You let yourself love me completely last night instead of thinking like a politician. You chose with your heart." Corann held her close sweetly.

"I can barely remember."

Corann propped himself up, "Would you like me to remind you how we were feeling last night?"

Anlei simply nodded vigorously. Corann kissed her hand, drew the curtains to the bed, and then tenderly made love to her. From outside the curtains, RK6 could hear Anlei say, "I love you," over and over again.

After a quarter shir-or, Corann had finished. Lying next to her again and cuddling her, he kissed his bride, "Feel better?"

Anlei caught her breath, "Much. Forgive me for doubting you."

Corann kissed her, "There is nothing to forgive. However, sweetheart, I think I should dress and return to my room for a bit. Our engagement has not been announced and I would not want your reputation harmed by someone finding me here before your parents know that you chose me and sealed our engagement. I can hardly have my bride looking unchaste." Corann slide out of the bed, behind the bed curtains, and clothed his lower body discretely.

"I don't want you to go," begged Anlei. "I want you hold me."

Reaching for his tunic, Corann climbed back onto the bed and reached for her, with a sheet and some blankets between their bodies, he held her close, caressing her bare back, "Believe me, I want nothing more than to stay with you and be close. But that wouldn't be proper yet and I must do what is right for you." He kissed her tenderly, "Don't worry, my princess. Soon we will be announced and before you know it, we will be wed. I'm not content just to be your bride groom. You, young lady, are going to be a wife." Embracing her again, he kissed her lips, then her neck, and finally let go, putting on his tunic and his sword as he left for his room.

RK6 floated to her, "Is it true, Your Highness, did Lord Corann spend the night here in your bed? Did I over hear what I thought I overheard?"

Anlei looked at her droid, already missing Corann's touch, "Yes, RK6...he was here with me after the arrest and trial of Janus. He asked for my hand in marriage and I accepted. Once more, a knight of Ten-Ar will marry an heiress to this throne. He and I are sealed in our betrothal. What you thought you heard was correct. Though I do ask you not share the specifics of my intimacy with others, merely that you witnessed it and that my betrothal is fully valid."

"Of course, Your Highness," replied RK6, her programming being very strict on what was and was not allowed to report to others regarding these matters.

"RK6, will you help me dress now?" asked Anlei.

"Yes, Your Highness. Of course, Your Highness. I believe you plan on going to court this morning?'

"I do," she replied.

Being a sensible droid, RK6 put her in a soft green gossamer gown. Anlei decided to go to Corann's room to check on him before heading to the family dining room for breakfast. She rang the chime then entered. Corann had already changed clothes to a pale blue tunic and to black trousers. He belted onto his waist his Ten-Arian sword and, reverentially, lowered his Ten-Arian circlet upon his head. The sight of him in his circlet pleased Anlei. She hugged him warmly, "I missed you."

Corann embraced her and caressed her back, "It's only been a quarter shir-or, my love. Am I having that kind of effect on you already?"

"It's been a rough past twelve shir-ors. I need my knight," she begged, caressing his hair.

"I'm here," he reminded her, kissing her sweetly.

"You know you are royal family now, Lord Corann once we are announced, you become Prince-intended Corann," she teased seductively.

"I don't need a title, Anlei. I have what I want right here, right now. I have you."

"Yes, you do. Finally, my prince," she laughed, taking delight in giving that title. "Come, Prince-intended Corann...you get to eat at the royal table for breakfast."

# Chapter Seven: A Long-Awaited Wedding

Queen Isabelle's throne room sparkled with the morning sun. At shir-or 5.00, the hall filled with sunlight, spilling dazzling displays of color onto the floor from the many stained-glass windows. In cerulean blue sat Queen Isabelle and Prince Consort Bevin. Wehe and Ejen sat in their side thrones in saffron. It was a beautiful morning. "Make way, make way for her Royal Highness, Anlei, Crown Princess of Beinan and for Lord Corann, Knight of Ten-Ar," called the heralds.

In their emerald green and sapphire blue respectively, Anlei and Corann strode side by side through the throne room confidentially, crossing the many zhang to the proper honoring space for Her Majesty and His Highness. Knowing protocol, both issued the proper reverences, still hand in hand. Princess Anlei spoke first, "Your Majesty, may I approach the throne and address this noble court?"

"You may," granted Queen Isabelle.

Anlei reluctantly let go of Corann's fingers and ascended onto the dais at her mother's side, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, peers of Beinan, I come to you with glad tidings of great joy which I hope will meet with your approval. My heart has chosen and my body has sealed he who shall wed me in the appointed shir-or. I am, in full accordance of our laws, now betrothed to be wed to one of the finest of Beinarian nobles."

"We are well pleased to hear you have chosen," replied Queen Isabelle. "Is this your beloved whose heart and flesh is joined to yours?"

"My people, may I introduce my chosen consort, Lord Knight Corann of house Ten-Ar?" proclaimed Anlei, taking Corann's hand ceremoniously and ascending the dais to the queen.

Isabelle put her hand on theirs, smiling with approval, "Hand to hand, heart to heart, flesh to flesh, blood to blood. May this union bring both of you joy. May your marriage be fertile that the Gurun dynasty may continue after our deaths. And may the One whose faces are revealed as Abka Biya, Banumu Hehe, and Abka Gahun bless you both."

High Priestess Wehe blessed them, "Hand to hand, heart to heart, flesh to flesh, blood to blood, soul to soul. As your souls have found one another, let them never be parted again, in this life or in lives to come. Let your minds, hearts, and souls be ever enriched by one another. May your bodies be blessed with children who thrive and live many yen-ars after you are gone...and may you know only love for one another as long as you both shall live." Smiling, Wehe embraced both in open court and kissed their cheeks.

Bevin then rose and accepted a cup from his steward. Cups filled with nanla juice were handed to each member of the royal family. Bevin raised his chalice, "This is my daughter, the hope of Beinan. Long may she live in love, happiness, and peace. To marriage of Anlei and Corann!"

"Anlei and Corann," echoed the assembled peers of Beinan, drinking deeply. Anlei and Corann linked their arms as they drank the toast, glad for Bevin's approval. Yet one approval Corann knew he would never receive, that of Cariadoc himself. Could Cariadoc ever forget that Corann was the instrument of his son's disgrace? Would Cariadoc ever recognize Janus as the criminal and traitor he was?

Not likely. As the crowds shouted, Corann could not help remembering his own father's hatred of him – and the words of vengeance shouted as the guards seized Janus. Beinan was in danger, perhaps perpetually so. Corann took the first steps in securing Beinan away from that threat, but the road out would still be long and maybe, just maybe, impossible to avoid.

Still frightened for his bride he knew the only thing he could do was wed her as soon as possible and conceive, as naturally as possible, her son and heir.

With the betrothal announced, Corann was able to spend the night openly with Anlei in her room; in fact, it was practically required of them by custom for the first seven beinors after the announcement. Anlei found herself becoming more and more eager for bedtime, some evenings even undressing herself completely and sneaking under the covers before Corann could come into the room, forcing him to undress in front of her. As terrifying as the first time had been, with practice, it was becoming easier, this expected conduct between them, almost a habit. She anticipated his touch, his kisses, the way the sheets and blankets felt. Every night, he bedded her at least twice and encouraged her to touch him, explore, feel and express her desires, even if he were asleep when she felt them. Losing sleep was part of being married, she was learning – or at least, being engaged.

On the seventh night, Corann, kissed her very tenderly after finishing the first time and asked, "When should we set the wedding date, my love? How soon can we get married?"

"How soon do you want to?" she asked him.

"It is beinor 167; any chance we can pull off a wedding on beinor 1? Is 30 beinors enough? Can the staff do it that fast?" asked Corann, kissing her lips and neck. "Prince-Intended is not enough for me after all this time waiting for you. I want to be your husband. I love you."

Anlei caressed him softly, well pleased by him, "I want to be your wife. I don't know about my gown, but if you want me on beinor 1, then take me on beinor 1, my love. Marry me."

"Who needs a fancy dress, my love? All we need is each other." caressed Corann touching her seductively and starting a whole round of passion. Anlei breathed deeply, then pulled the covers over both of them as she let the fires of love consume her.

"I Anlei, take you, Corann to be my lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish, to seek and to find, to need and to replenish all the beinors of my life. With my first soul's breath I found you and with the last breath of my flesh I will keep you. Ever faithful, every devoted to you and to our family forevermore. So mote it be," vowed Anlei, her pale lavender and white bliaut billowing in her gazebo for the small family wedding.

"I Corann, take you, Anlei to be my lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish, to seek and to find, to need and to replenish all the beinors of my life. With my first soul's breath I found you and with the last breath of my flesh I will keep you. Ever faithful, every devoted to you and to our love forevermore. So mote it be," vowed Corann. Though it was not a Beinarian custom per se, Corann chose at this moment to also place a Beinarian silver ring on Anlei's hand, "This is the promise of my love, Anlei. Wear it proudly as my true love and wife of my heart."

Turning to RK6 who dispensed a gilded Beinarian platinum ring to Anlei's hand, she placed it on Corann's finger as well, "This is my promise of my love, Corann. Wear this ring of my love proudly as my true love and husband of my heart."

Clasping hands and facing each other, they heard the nearby High Priestess Wehe instruct, "You have made your pledges and your vows as husband and wife and given the tokens of the same in the form of your choosing. Therefore, by the power vested in me as high priestess of Beinan, I pronounce you husband and wife...you may seal your marriage with a kiss." Corann whirled Anlei into a spin, then dipped her and kissed her very passionately. Anlei returned his kisses, lingering and oblivious to the many friends and family gathered in the gazebo and in her garden. Finally, Corann pulled her upright, releasing their kiss. The crowd applauded. They were finally wed.

Corann put his arm around his wife and escorted her out of the gazebo. The formal, royal reception was to be held in the state ballroom and hosted for a much larger group of well-wishers. At the reception, they would need to behave as heiress and heir-consort, a role the knight found himself not quite willing to step into quite yet as he felt the soft grass under his shoes. Affectionately he kissed Anlei's cheek and hair as they walked, careful not to undo the elaborate pins used to secure her hair into its curls, braids, and coils. Perhaps there was not much time to create the regalest of gowns for her...but the staff did do a beautiful job working on her soft, fine hair. Whispering in her ear, he asked, "Anlei, do we have a quarter shir-or before they need us?"

"I think they can spare us a quarter shir-or or so...why?" she asked.

"Let's stay here in your room for a bit, just you and I," he beckoned.

"Okay..." she consented, allowing the rest of her family to go on without her. Wehe and Anwell noticed the way the young couple cuddled and understood...the newlyweds needed a few moments alone together before facing that massive reception.

When at last everyone left the garden and her royal apartment, she closed the doors and locked them, "So, my husband...what now?"

"Come here," Prince Corann beckoned seductively. She came. Corann unfastened the back of her gown, kissing her as he did so.

"Corann, what are you doing?"

"I think you know."

"What? Right now?" she trembled, feeling the stirrings that always came from the touch of his hands on her skin.

Corann turned her around and put his hands up her skirt, kissing her passionately, "Do you mind, my wife? May I? Please? I want to be fully yours. We aren't fully married until..."

Smiling, Anlei understood, "Marry me, Corann."

Pulling down her gown and touching her, Corann sealed his marriage and pleased his bride.

Anlei was pleased at the formal consummation of her marriage. Cuddling under the sheets in her bed after he finished, she reached for her fully sealed husband tenderly, "I love you Prince Corann. Always, my husband. Never stop being like this with me."

"Never, my love. You will always have my love, my body, my passion. I am yours," trembling, he finished, kissing her intensely.

"You held back before, didn't you?" she observed, feeling a difference in how he touched her.

"Before now you were not my wife. I was afraid despite the law...now we are sealed completely. I am yours and our duty lies ahead of us, my love. I cannot let that monster carry out his threat. I will not let him carry out his threat," asserted Corann.

Anlei lay back on the pillow, cuddling Corann closely, "Corann, what are you talking about?"

"We are still in danger, Anlei...until we produce a viable heir to the throne under law, one way or another. As long as your womb is empty my love, our lives could be forfeit. But before this wedding, I did not dare try to perform my duty. I could not risk a challenge to the legitimately of our child, even with the law clearly stating a child conceived during the engagement is still legally the same as conceived after the wedding. I was conceived within a legal engagement and yet I was always under the stigma of that label of 'bastard' because my parents never formally married. I could not do that to us. The succession is already on shaky enough grounds trying to force it into house Gurun when technically it should belong to house Ten-Ar. Bevin and I are both Ten-Arian, after all. Legally, Anlei, our son should be house Ten-Ar. Anything else is going to be challenged down the road," worried Prince Corann.

"Was it love or fear that motivated what we just did, Corann?"

"Both, my love. Forgive me for that. But don't you know me by now well enough to understand that if you were killed, I would not be able to live with myself? If Janus carried out his threat—and he still might find a way—I could not bear the agony on my heart. That someone might yet take your life or your honor. Anlei, I love you. I would rather die a thousand times than allow anyone to spill drop of your blood. He came so close to raping you before you felt his body. Don't you think I worry there might be a next time that I cannot stop?"

Anlei saw the fear in his eyes, the utter terror and understood her husband she caressed him and laid her head on his chest, "What can I do to help?"

"Let me get you with child. Secure our future by starting our family with me? Will you do an heir's duty by letting me do my duty upon you? I promise, the process will be...extremely pleasant," he kissed her affectionately.

"We're late for our wedding reception, Prince Corann, but after – I am yours.  Secure my family's future, noble prince. Do your duty to my family and my house. If that should mean confining me to my room for many shir-ors every beinor on end until our heir is quickened in my womb...then so be it," smiling at him and kissing him she added, "Never in my training as princess did they ever teach me that I might enjoy the duty of conceiving an heir to the throne....."

"How do you like your responsibility, princess?" flirted Corann.

Anlei flirted, "I...think I can handle it; how many sons do you want?"

"Oh, I am happy to get you with child quite often, my princess. If you thought you were bedded before during our betrothal, I have not begun to touch you, my Anlei. I plan on taking every yen-ar I waited for you out on you most vigorously."

"You tempt me."

"That is the idea...."

Aroused, Anlei breathed deeply, trying to assert control, "Come dress me, my love...we have a party to go to." Anlei picked up her wedding gown and gently eased herself into it. With a teasing caress Corann refastened her gown, and then dressed himself. In three xiao-shirs they were on their way to the reception. Barely more than a quarter shir-or had passed. No one noticed.

As Princess Anlei and Prince Corann entered the grand state ballroom, they felt somewhat different than before, as if marrying and consummating the marriage before the reception had somehow changed their relationship with their family and the court. Lord Cariadoc was absent from the crowd, but Corann did not expect him either. Instead he found Lord Culain, Lord Eisiq, Lady Elda, and Lady Cordelia talking in a small cluster near the high table. Corann's mother Lady Cordelia, looked stunning in a pale blue gossamer kirtle covered in Beinarian diamonds, her long, thick hair carefully curled and braided into an elaborate hairstyle piled mostly above her shoulders and filled with pearls, jewels, and ribbons, her grey eyes sparkling even brighter as she saw her son and his bride and raised a fluted glass to the couple, "To my son and daughter-in-law!"

Several near her overheard the toast and raised their glasses, joining her and echoing, "To the bride and groom."

Anlei blushed at the immediate attention from her mother-in law. Corann caressed her arm, "Good to see you too, Mother. It's been a while."

"That was a quiet entrance, Son – what took you so long?" asked Cordelia quietly with a wink, her powers obviously sensing the truth.

"Affairs of state, of course," smiled Corann in reply. Well, it was the truth – from a certain way of thinking.

"Already a prince. I'm impressed," smiled Cordelia.

"Well, I do have duties, you know. I did marry into house Gurun, after all and that does make me son-in-law to the reigning queen..." suggested Corann.

"Of course," winked Cordelia.

Anlei looked at both of them, still waiting for Corann to introduce her. Corann caught the hint in her posture, "Speaking of, Mother, you remember Her Highness and my wife, Crown Princess Anlei, daughter of Queen Isabelle, daughter of High Priestess Wehe of House Miyoo?"

Cordelia offered Anlei a Miyoo gesture of respect, then her hand in greeting, "Welcome to the family, Your Highness."

Anlei returned her gesture of respect, "It is pleasure and honor to see you again Lady Cordelia. Corann speaks very highly of you."

"I am glad; I think the Ten-Arian training suits him well. I heard what happened in the palace the night of your betrothal, Your Highness. I think if he had not pursued his Ten-Arian blood, things would have gone very badly for you. So, it pleases me beyond words that you had that training. You've done well for yourself, my son. I am very proud."

Corann relaxed and embraced his mother, "THANK YOU, MOTHER. You do not know what that means to me."

Cordelia patted him on the back, "Now you two go enjoy your own reception; there's plenty of food to eat, certainly, and I think the staff is waiting to you to sit at high table before they serve first course."

Corann bowed to his mother, "Of course." Taking hands, he and Anlei took their places at high table. Queen Isabelle and Bevin took their places of high honor next to them on their left while Prince Anwell, King Ejen and High Priestess Wehe sat on their right. Lord Eisiq, Lord Culain, Lady Elda, and Lady Cordelia assumed places of honor at high table. RK6 buzzed around the table and quickly communicated with other droids and with human servants that the first course was ready to be served.

The first plates of food were barely on the table for the servants to begin serving from when young woman with blond hair of barely 40 yen-ars age wearing torn clothing, covered in bruises broke into the state ball room, a tiny, poorly fed infant in her arms. At her arrival, the festive music playing in the background stopped and all gaped at her. Barely strong enough to stand, she ran across the room to the high table, "Is it true? A priestess of house Miyoo is here?"

Isabelle, Anlei, Wehe, and Cordelia all rose, but it was Cordelia who answered first, "We are here. Who calls upon the goddesses of mercy and kindness?"

"You...you are the Lady Cordelia," the girl cried out, smiling weakly.

"I am," she answered.

"I...I am Ecter, daughter of Cariadoc, sister of Janus whose name is no longer spoken in the houses, this is my daughter by Janus, Miriam," replied Ecter. At those names, Anlei gasped, realizing who the child was and remembering the horrors of her betrothal night. Corann was right.

"I am Princess Anlei, whom your brother tried to...assault," confessed Anlei, moving from her chair to the girl in sympathy. Corann feared for her, but could not stop her.

"He succeeded with me, noble one." Ecter handed Miriam to Anlei weakly.

Anlei motioned for a cup to be given to Ecter. She drank desperately.  Obviously, the poor girl had not been fed or given any basics of life in some time. Once given some drink and some fruits, she was better able to speak, "Forgive my intrusion, great ones. But I knew only you can help me. Right before he left my family responded in vengeance against me and this child for your judgment against my brother. I do not think my father or my brothers will forget your noble and righteous judgment upon him. I fear retaliation against this house and this government. If not now, then another beinor or yen-ar to come, my brother is bound to pursue his revenge. Please, I know my family. They do not feel they must follow the same rules as the rest of our society and are happy to use religion as an excuse when it suits them. I know this is not true, but they see injustice in our world, hatred of our faith in the Shemai where there is none. They make religion an excuse for not taking personal responsibility for their lives."

Cordelia stepped forward, "What would you have us do for you right now, Lady Ecter?"

"Take my daughter Miriam and raise her as house Miyoo, let her forget the shame of her siring. Raise her as a priestess to fight her father. Make her a hand of the goddesses. And if there is a mercy in your hearts, take me to the temple too. Train me in your faith. I am ashamed to be the daughter of Cariadoc and Jebez now. I am ashamed to be the sister of Janus. Let me learn how to fight those of my flesh and blood who would seek to destroy this royal house. Let me pray for the success of this monarchy and this constitution everyone else serves. And Your Highness, my half-brother, I do not know how, but if somehow there is redemption enough to one beinor call me 'sister' that is an honor I would ask of you...." begged Ecter.

Corann walked around the high table and to his half-sister. He offered her his hands which she kissed like a servant, "None of that, Ecter. You have been through enough of that. Come here and embrace me as my sister. I have never had a sister before; it would please me to no end to have one now."

Weeping, Ecter rose and embraced Prince Corann, kissing his cheek, "Bless you, Your Highness and bless your new wife. May your marriage be full of children."

Corann kissed her forehead, "Say those prayers for us in temple, Sister, that we may be safe from the threats made against us."

Nodding and taking his hands, their eyes meeting and understanding one another with deathly seriousness, she promised, "I understand. Every beinor, Brother. Mark this vow. Every beinor."

Queen Isabelle smiled and took over as hostess, "Well done, everyone.  So, I should ask you, Lady Ecter, no one can take you to the temple until next beinor. We have a wedding to celebrate. If you would like to stay, my servants would be happy to offer you a proper dress so you can join us."

Ecter nodded, "Thank you, I would be most happy to stay and celebrate the marriage of my brother."

From this point, the rest of the reception flowed smoothly. The food tasted superb, the happy couple relaxed, and the dancing continued for three shir-ors. Finally, Anlei and Corann had enough and bade the gathering good evening, retiring to Anlei's apartment. Corann took her hand, teasing her verbally, "So, your highness, do you grant me permission to stay here tonight with you? We already fulfilled our requirement, so you could say no, you know."

"What? The bride not spend her wedding night with her bridegroom? Half the court would talk. No, Lord Prince Corann, I command you to sleep here tonight. In fact, I command you to not hold back anything towards me of a marital nature any longer. You, young knight, are required to get me with child as soon as you can. That is, if you think you are man enough to do it...." teased Anlei verbally and with her body.

Corann picked her up and laid her on the massive bed, crawling on top of her, "Didn't I suffer a major wound I'm still not 100% over by trying to show you how manly I really am?"

"That's battle. This is...different."

"Oh, is it? So, you want me to prove my worth to you as a husband, do you?"

Anlei kissed him, her hands sliding under his tunic, "You think you can get me with child, do you? Prove it. I dare you to try."

"With pleasure," smiled Corann, removing his tunic and sliding the skirt of her bridal gown up.

The next morning, Corann woke finding himself tired, happy, his bride content, but with his shoulder hurting uncomfortably. It was shir-or 3.40 when the pain woke him, a little before dawn. Anlei slept contentedly against him after a full night of lovemaking. Stroking her hair, he hoped he had already quickened her womb with his efforts, but knew not to be quite that optimistic. Touching her bare back, he tried to focus on her, shutting out the pain. She was beautiful, an exquisite woman in every way, her body just as remarkably wondrous as the rest of her. Still suffering despite his best efforts to block it out, he kissed her and caressed her, trying to distract himself with her sensuality.

Anlei purred from his touch, and then stirred a little, finally opening her eyes, "I love you."

Corann met her eyes, trying not to show his increasing pain, "I love you sweetheart. You realize this is the first morning I wake up your husband?"

Anlei purred, "I love that word."

Corann kissed her, "Me too." Anlei tried to caress him...then touched his shoulder. The agony flashed across Corann's face before he could conceal it.

"What's wrong?" her eyes widened, fearfully.

"I need to see the healer, Anlei. There's something wrong with my shoulder still. It should not hurt like this."

"Do you want to go now?" worried Anlei.

"No. It's too early. Your family will be expecting us and if we come late, the whole court will find out and it will hurt us more. No, we will go to the family breakfast, then see Lady Cara. I want no cause for scandal in court. I bring enough of that just by marrying you."

"But you were born of a legal betrothal...."

"Only Lady Cordelia, High Priestess Wehe, you, and I know that, Anlei. My mother sacrificed her honor to protect Cariadoc – remember the law? If Cordelia had told the truth, Cariadoc would have been forced by the Great Council to marry her formally—with no chance of divorce. He offered his token, she accepted, and only then did she accept him physically. If anyone outside the family knew that, it would destroy Cariadoc."

"But Cariadoc and his progeny by that other woman would threaten us!" exclaimed Anlei.

"Well, no one said that life is fair.  Two wrongs don't make a right, Love," reminded Corann.

"I can't believe you would protect your father at the expense of...us."

Corann shook his hand, "I'm not. I'm honoring my mother's wishes. This is what she wants. I have to respect that. It is as much about her life and how she wants to spend it than it is about my honor. I would not force her to live other than she wishes. Surely a woman should choose who touches her and how she spends her beinors."

Anlei smiled at her husband's goodwill and kindness, "No argument there. Try to rest a bit; we'll get up soon, see the family for breakfast and then see about help for that wound."

At shir-or 5.5, the extended royal family gathered together in the family dining hall for a wedding breakfast for Prince Corann and Princess Anlei. Invited to the meal were Lord Knight Eisiq, Lord Knight Culain (a distant cousin of Queen Isabelle, as well as Corann's mentor), Lady Healer Cara, Lady Priestess Cordelia, Lady Knight Elda, Lady Ecter, Prince Anwell, King Ejen, High Priestess Wehe, Prince Bevin, Queen Isabelle, and of course Prince Corann and Princess Anlei. RK6 hovered around, communicating the needs of the family to the human staff members. The table was splendidly laid out with several Beinarian juices, a Beinarian dairy beverage, ten different assorted Beinarian fruits including nanla, kelan, and kara berries, a wide range of cold breakfast breads, and numerous hot breakfast dishes, including meats, vegetables, breads, fruits, and combinations of these. There were even hot breakfast desserts and Belarian waffles with kara berry syrup.

On a normal beinor, a family member would have to special request most of these hot dishes, but this beinor was different and the staff had prepared a feast for this large gathering to enjoy. The Beinarian version of cocoa which was placed immediately in front of Anlei and Corann as a special customary "good luck" token for their marriage – and hopeful speedy conception of a new heir to the throne. As the group chatted and sampled the buffet table of goodies, all stood at quiet attention as Anlei and Corann sat at their place of honor in front of the cocoa and raised their cups. Queen Isabelle toasted the couple with a raised glass of kelan juice, "To my daughter and her new husband. May the goddesses shine brightly on your marriage. May happiness fill your lives every beinor, and may you be blessed with children to bring you joy."

Anlei and Corann clinked their cups together and each sipped carefully from the hot cups, enjoying the well-prepared food and time with family. It was a needed respite before the storm to come.

One shir-or later, Corann and Anlei entered the palace healing center. Lady Healer Cara greeted them, "Lord Prince Corann? What a surprise. Have you come just to say hello or is there something I may do for you?"

"Actually, Aunt Cara, I woke up with severe pain in my shoulder. I did not say anything about it at breakfast because I did not want the court gossiping. But I'm feeling some rather stabbing pain in my shoulder still. I know I should have come to you right after I re-opened the wound but I was preoccupied in the xiao-shirs immediately following the attack by Janus. And after that...with the politics of the pronouncement...."

"As your mentor's sister, I understand. As a healer, it's my professional obligation to frown on your delay seeing me. I know my brother spoke to you about the need to seek medical attention after any sort of injury. Just like him, you display a habit of not acting on that knowledge and neglecting your health," acknowledged Cara. Turning to Anlei, she bowed courteously, "My lady... I am very strict about the confidentiality between healer and patient, particularly during diagnosis. I have found that most patients will not tell me everything while someone else is listening. May I ask you please kindly wait in the antechamber over here? My examination will not take long. Thank you." Respecting Lady Cara's professionalism, Princess Anlei stepped into the waiting area indicated and sat down into one of its many comfortable chairs.

Lady Cara directed Corann to a diagnostic scanner and removed his tunic for his examination. She looked at Corann's left shoulder, carefully attending to the healing around his sutures. The scanner showed unchecked internal bleeding. The wound was small, but not healing, "How bad was that fight with Janus?"

"He knew exactly where to hit me. I started to bleed during the combat; yes, you warned me about over stressing the area until it was healed. There was little choice, Cara. He...tried to force Anlei into an unwilling sealed betrothal. I did what I had to in order to protect her life and her honor. He put a contraband device on her to get into her room and suppress her ability to fight him," explained Corann.

"Some sort of drug?"

"More like a subliminal attack, the sort of thing that training in house Miyoo teaches one to counter—High Priestess Wehe must have foreseen I would need that training; it made all the difference. But...there was a physical struggle. I didn't draw my sword, but we fought. It was life or death, Cara...."

"I understand, nephew. Believe me I do; my scans indicate some unchecked internal bleeding, that is why your shoulder hurts so badly."

"What do you suggest?"

"I need to go back in, it looks like. The surgery should only take about 10 xiao-shirs, and then I can release you to bed rest. I will give you a sedative to encourage you to sleep so you can heal faster. If you are a good night and sleep, you can return to duty in ten beinors and resume your responsibilities with regards to your wife," diagnosed Cara.

"Aunt Cara, may I ask you questions about fertility and well, procreation, healer to patient? Before I never felt I needed to understand the details beyond the basics of procreation. Now I am married I require further education. Are there natural techniques that can help Anlei and I conceive an heir quickly?"

Lady Cara sat him down in a regular chair, "Corann, are you worried you can't fulfill your duties with regards to the succession?"

"I'm worried that Janus will strike again before I have the chance to. The only hope for us is to conceive son as quickly as possible. Once she's given birth to our first son, I think the risk of assassination will significantly drop – but until then...." Corann met her eyes, his terror showing, "Can you help me? Can you teach me? I cannot risk civil war, Aunt Cara. I need to give her a son."

"There are natural ways to influence things, both the chances of conception and the gender of the child without resorting to anything that someone might flag as technology or a medical treatment. Our ancestors used these methods to control their family sizes long ago...and learned the best ways of ensuring male and female children in the right numbers and balances...since the proper proportions are so vital for our political and social well-being. None of these constitute real technology in the modern sense...they all predate our arrival on Beinan. So I think you are pretty safe trying them...no promises, but worth your while, I think. Now lay back and relax while I take care of that would. Once I'm finished, I will send you home with some materials you will find useful in your family planning."

# Chapter Eight: Healing Old Wounds

Ten beinors later, Lady Cara checked on Lord Corann, surprised to find him in Anlei's room. Over the beinors, both Anlei and Corann cooperated with her instructions, speeding the healing. Sitting down besides Corann in a chair set up for the purpose, Lady Cara waved a hand scanner over Corann's shoulder. Unlacing his tunic, she guided her well trained hands over his left shoulder, pushing down occasionally to gauge Corann's reaction, "This is looking much better, more than 90% healed. How is the pain?"

"A little sore; I've kept to bed rest almost exclusively since I saw you and barely touched Anlei – not exactly easy right now."

"That's not hard to guess. In your bed rest, did you ever read what I gave you?"

"Yes, I made a point to read it when Anlei was out of the room – just in case."

"What do you think about the recommendations?"

"I think it's doable – but I don't know anything about her specifics," confessed Corann.

Lady Cara handed him a second tablet, "I pulled Anlei's medical records; her biorhythms have been recorded, of course, for several yen-ars. It's been a matter of planetary interest for certain kinds of records to be maintained regarding the likely heir to the throne. Nothing has been deleted on her. You will find that most comprehensive and useful in your family planning."

"Does she know this data exists?"

"Not likely; they were obtained through standard physical examination scans. Nothing she would notice; just an extra setting on the computer to collect data on. Not everything has to be done with patient awareness, Corann. Particularly with one who has not yet come of age. Strictly speaking, you are the only adult in this marriage until her fiftieth natal beinor. She's of legal age to marry, but she's not legally an adult yet. As her husband, you are her legal guardian, you know since you are of age," informed Lady Cara.

"I was not aware of that; I just assumed that her majesty retained her parental rights...."

"Husband always trumps parent in these things, Corann – unless abuse is involved; I know you. You'll die before anyone touches her inappropriately."

"Yes, I will," affirmed Corann. Corann looked at the data, "So when can I begin applying all this information...when is my shoulder sound enough?"

"It's sound enough right now for intimate activity, but give it another five beinors before you start really trying. Work your way up to your former activity level. I would start with some meditative martial arts for your workout – no swords, no spears, no archery or weapons of any kind. Do not practice with a partner for another twenty beinors. With the weakened muscles in the upper shoulder I am bit concerned about dislocation should you push too hard too fast. Ease into things, work the muscles, but work up to what you are used to. If you can do all that...I think you are fine to return to duty."

"Sounds reasonable to me; may I stop by your office later for a more detailed exercise plan?"

'How does next beinor morning sound?"

"Terrific."

"Good morning, Corann. I have not seen you here before," noted Lady Knight Elda as she attacked and parried with a rapier against a swinging target suspended from the ceiling of the Gurun practice chamber on the far side of the palace. This was Corann's first visit to the practice chamber since moving into the palace. The walls of the chamber were lined with practice weapons. A side door led out of doors to an enclosed courtyard spanning one hundred zhang by eighty zhang in size set up with a dozen different targets for different styles of archery and thrown weapons. A skylight filled the ceiling and fifteen floor-to-ceiling windows brought in natural light, making the room brightly lit in the morning and afternoon – storms notwithstanding.

Corann picked up a practice rapier from the far wall, "May I join you?"

"Of course, it's been a while," acknowledged Elda, walking to the free space at the center of the practice chamber with her rapier pointed towards the floor.

"Lady Healer Cara just cleared me to begin sword work again."

"That bad, eh? I knew Janus hit you pretty hard...."

"Harder than a knight is likely to admit to," confessed Corann, saluting Elda, then presenting his rapier to begin the duel.

Elda saluted Corann, and then engaged him with an attack au fer, "I understand. If someone attacked the queen, I would probably do exactly the same thing – and try to keep face by avoiding the healers after." Corann counter-parried, redirecting with a forward crossed riposte. Elda circled, testing Corann's defenses before counter-riposting. Corann feinted, and then lunged. Elda caught Corann's blade with her sword, deflecting it back towards him. Disengaged, the friends circled with the precision of expert martial artists. Elda cut towards Corann. Corann counter-parried.

For an entire shir-or the friends dueled amicably; neither side landed a blow on the other. Finally, with the duel in a perpetual stand-off, the friends saluted one another and disengaged, their workout highly productive.

Corann embraced his old friend, "I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a duel so much. It really has been a long time. Queen Isabelle took you into her direct service just twenty beinors after your elevation; I've barely seen you except in passing since. Even with the wedding breakfast, you were there more to watch over the queen than to socialize."

"Since the death of Prince Alastair, I think her majesty has needed her knights of Ten-Ar and of Gurun more than ever. I think in her heart she is afraid that something will happen to either Princess Anlei or Prince Anwell," admitted Elda.

"But surely Anwell is no longer a threat to anyone; he abdicated when he was twenty-five yen-ars old. I too could have stopped this madness, this crisis, Elda. High Priestess Wehe offered to adopt me and make me king. In truth, she has been a mother to me, perhaps even more than Lady Priestess Cordelia. But I couldn't. You remember my moral dilemma back then; how do you deny the crown to the rightful queen, take her place, as if born her sibling? For me, that was unconscionable. I just could not bring myself to do it. Now I wonder if I have not put everyone in jeopardy for it," mused Corann.

"You cannot blame yourself for not knowing the future, Corann. I am surprised you feel such remorse, as if all of the political firestorm you married into were your fault," reassured Elda.

"That's just it, Elda -- I should have known, I should have foreseen the trouble that has only just begun. I am some sort of spiritual prodigy, at least in the eyes of those in power. I should have done more to stop this crisis. Now, I feel like our planet is on the verge of falling apart...all for my self-righteous pride."

"Make way, make way for High Highness, Lord Prince Corann, Consort to Her Highness, Crown Princess Anlei, heir to the Throne of Beinan," announced the court herald as Lord Corann entered the throne room. Now beinor 40, Corann found himself fully healed from his wound and gaining strength as he followed Lady Healer Cara's recommendations for strengthening his shoulder with exercise. For Corann, his first morning workout dueling with Lady Knight Elda felt exceptionally refreshing, like rain on a drought-stressed garden.

Confidently, yet following protocol to the letter, Corann approached her majesty's presence, "Your Majesty, may I enter your royal presence?"

Queen Isabelle smiled at him, "Of course, Lord Prince Corann. Please approach. My lord, may we continue this later?" she asked of the young courtier in front of her. The courtier nodded then quietly melted into the crowds at court. "What may I do for you?"

Corann bowed and approached, "I come to you to report regarding my health and well-being, Your Majesty, for surely you are aware that in defense of this throne, my previous injuries were aggravated and I required surgery to repair the damage to my already weakened shoulder."

Bevin clutched Isabelle's ringed hand in worry as she graciously nodded, "Please continue."

"It pleases me to report to your most royal of majesties that the head healer of this palace, Lady Healer Cara, has finally released me fully from her watchful care and declared my wound fully healed. I am now 100% able to resume my duties—all of them—as vowed to you and to this family. I come offering my services to you, Your Majesty, as a knight of Ten-Ar."

Inside her heart, Isabelle laughed...duties...Corann knew the duty both of them most desired was not one of a public nature at all, but the most private and personal, familial duty of husband. Like Corann, she was eager for Anlei to conceive, eager to secure the throne and end this succession crisis, assuming a son by Anlei would appease the grid-locked Great Council.

On her face and through her voice, Isabelle, the practiced politician, could not convey her real mind, "Your chivalry honors us, and this house to which you have joined yourself in holy matrimony. Let the family celebrate this evening with feasting, music, and dance in celebration of your return to health and with it, the return to prosperity for all of Beinan."

Lord Prince Corann offered an appreciative bow, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall prepare myself and my wife for the festivities this evening."

"Is it true, Corann?" asked Anlei, rushing into her apartment as servants hastened to lay out a selection of elaborate ball gowns for her consideration.

Corann, finally strong enough, swept her into both his arms, picked her up, and twirled her around the room in a dizzy circle, "It's true, milady. Tonight, we feast, we dance, and then we dance all night in here to make our son." Stopping his spiral, he laid her down near the head of the bed, careful not to ruin any of the gowns laid out at the foot of the bed, then climbed on top of her expectantly, kissing her wildly.

"I can't wait. Corann are you really able to--can we?"

"You've never felt me so strong, so powerful, so...vigorous," he replied between kisses.

"Must we wait for tonight?"

Corann remembered the data he memorized, "YES.  Tonight, we celebrate and until tonight, my precious princess, you will just have to wait."

"Since when do you ever wait to bed me?" she teased.

"Oh, I don't know, since having major surgery on my shoulder and lung...." he reminded.

Anlei thought about the beinors since their reunion at the Ten-Arian monastery, "GOOD POINT. So why are we waiting right now?"

"Because tonight, after I dine and romance you, my love, it will be all the more special. Have I ever really had the opportunity to fully court you before? I cannot recall ever being able to. First the injury, then the great masquerade, betrothal, a wedding; it's all happened so fast. And so...let me court you tonight, my wife. Let me charm and seduce you and your cherished womb into giving me my heart's desire tonight."

"You really want this, don't you?" she asked, starry-eyed.

"I do."

"Just for the crown or do you genuinely want to be a father right now, Corann? Is this just about my safety?"

"I love you. What else can I do but show you my love for you in a way that creates children inside of you? How better can I show you how much I love you than by giving you children to assume your mother and grandfather's throne, then to nurture children out of your womb and then from the moment of birth, show them how much I love them because I love you? I love all that you are, Anlei. What else can I want but to bring new life out of your body, out of our love? In the past my love for you maddened me. Now, through your body, I can give my desires and my needs a clear direction, my life a new purpose. I live for you and the family we can make through your sacred body. Goddesses forgive me, but I worship you. You are the goddesses incarnated for me. I am fed by your breasts as we make love better than any tangible food." He reached for and gently caressed the under edge of one of her breasts through her clothes. Anlei breathed hard, moved and aroused by his words.

"What gown would please you best for tonight, my love?" she asked, caressing him showing him the six gowns laid out on her bed or hung up around the room. A glittering lavender organza and dupioni silk ball gown with white accents with a split skirt and white underskirt caught his eye, its corset like bodice and low, scoop neckline holding particular appeal. He picked it up and handed it to her. She held it against her body and twirled for his approval.

"PERFECT."

The grand ball ordered in Corann's honor may not have been as large as the Great Masquerade of BE 6326, beinor 160, but rarely did a gathering of family and friends sparkle more. In a mere six shir-ors time, Queen Isabelle and Lord Prince Bevin and their staff had arranged for approximately 200 extended family and friends from houses Gurun, Miyoo, Ten-Ar, and even one or two cousins from houses Xing-li and Balister. All of these were dressed formally, elegantly, in their finest fabrics and most expensive clothing. Those who could afford the high cost of red displayed it, if only in ribbons, sashes, belts, and other accent pieces. The purpose of the Great Masquerade had been to comply with the wishes of the Great Council to equitably help Princess Anlei find a suitable husband. This ball, quite to the contrary, was a pure celebration requested by the queen herself and therefore took on a genuine grandness the other lacked. This social affair the queen actually wanted.

Since the announcement, the kitchen staff worked tirelessly on a grand banquet, preparing both white meats and red meat dishes favored by both the royal family and across Dong-Bei. Fruits, vegetables, cakes, pies, desserts of every configuration and elaboration were prepared with exquisite skill and eye for detail. The staff knew how to impress when they put their skills towards grand parties. Tonight, they demonstrated those skills and artistry fully.

The evening began in the grand dining area with table after table set with the Beinarian version of fine china and elegant place settings on a form of linen-like table covering in royal white, silver, and gold. Goblets and flutes were filled with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices according to the tastes of each guest. Five generous courses filled even the amplest appetite of each guest, each one more sumptuous than the one before, and more daring. It was a banquet to be remembered with the immediate royal family at high table, Lord Prince Corann and Princess Anlei placed in seats of honor, her lavender and white ball gown glittering, the corset under her gown pushing up her small, milky white breasts to expose a pleasing amount of cleavage above the neckline, just enough to frame her almost Elvish-like body perfectly. Anlei was a vision of perfect Beinarian beauty. She wore a delicate necklace of lavender gemstones around her collar bone, completing the effect of perfection.

As the lavish banquet portion of the evening concluded with the numerous customary toasts to the royal hosts and to specific planetary government leaders, including those in the more important committees of the Great Council, RK6 found herself watching the princess more and more. Unlike the humans in attendance, RK6 possessed great objectivity and eyed the festivities with a wider, politically oriented view. The whole sudden and lavish evening felt illogical to her programming. Surely something more than a simple celebration must be at play.

With a calculating eye, RK6 watched as Lord Corann led Anlei onto the dance floor, their eyes never leaving each other's star-filled faces. A Beinarian form of waltz played, something resembling a combination of a Viennese waltz with a foxtrot if viewed with Earthling eyes. The music was soft, orchestral, yet filled with the Beinarian shawms that so dominated the music used at Corann's elevation to knighthood. With almost fascinated watchfulness she watched Corann twirl and spin his wife breathlessly around the ballroom, both laughing and giggling like youths merely thirty yen-ars old. The night was magical from a human perspective, yet RK6 wondered if the apparent beauty and fairytale like atmosphere was altogether the point.

As the evening progressed past shir-or 12.65, Corann led Anlei out of the ballroom and towards her private royal apartment. Entering into Anlei's private garden, Corann led her to a well-prepared bed of rich fabrics, cushions, and blankets under a massive protective tree resembling an oak tree, so strong and beautiful. There, finally, Corann bedded his wife, pleasuring the princess with not only the beauty of the night air, but what felt like a perfect evening. Well pleased, Anlei forgot about politics all through the evening and through the night that followed in Corann's arms. She would remember it only as one of the most beautiful and romantic beinors of her life, never guessing just how much of all she experienced was by Corann's masterful design.

# Chapter Nine: The Crisis's Unresolved Resolution

"Your highness, wake up," urged RK6.

From behind her bed's curtains Princess Anlei barely heard RK6's incessant and worried banter. She opened her eyes to find Corann was gone from their bed, unusual of him. Pulling back the curtains, Anlei found she could barely move, but answered, "What is it, RK6?"

"It is shir-or 6.00, Your Highness."

"Shir-or 6.00, impossible. I never sleep past shir-or 4.00, even when I am sick," she asserted. "Where is Lord Prince Corann?"

"He rose from bed and joined your family for breakfast over three shir-ors ago, Your Highness," replied RK6 simply.

"What? What? Impossible. What is going on? What beinor is it?"

"Beinor 116, Your Highness."

"What?  Can't be. It was beinor 112 last beinor."

"Your highness has been asleep for over three beinors," hovered RK6, changing color from blue to violet. Concerned, RK6 hovered closer to the princess, noting her pallor had changed to an almost deathly white.

Anlei started to panic inside, yet felt too tired to move, "Three beinors? What is happening, RK6?"

"Perhaps I should summon a healer for you?" inquired the droid.

Anlei lay back on her pillows exhaustedly, "Yes. Yes please, RK6."

Lady Cara bowed and knelt at the princess's bedside, her medical instruments whirring around her. After 0.15 shir-ors, she rose and smiled.

Anlei looked at Lady Cara anxiously, "What-what is it, Lady Cara?"

"Congratulations are in order, Your Highness. You are not ill at all. But you are far from your previous normal self. Your body merely responded to the shock on its systems appropriately. You are perfectly healthy for a lady in your condition," beamed Cara.

"Condition? Condition? What condition? What are you talking about?"

"Your highness is expecting a son. Didn't you know? You have conceived, milady. Your body has accepted the baby and he's growing strong inside you," explained Lady Cara.

"Does Corann know?" asked the princess.

"Know with absolute certainly...not exactly. But I would say he has long suspected."

"You knew before?"

"Your...political position is well understood at court, milady," alluded Lady Cara.

Princess Anlei sighed.  Of course, everyone knew. They must have been talking about it for over a yen-ar. It embarrassed the princess, yet she knew the inevitability of her situation. This was her duty, all of it. She had little choice but to abide by the logical consequences of her royal blood.

"Now my daughter, PUSH. Push with all the strength you have," cried Isabelle. Princess Anlei lay on her soft birthing bed, tired, sweaty, and in agony. Trained well by her priestess mother, the queen coached her through this most difficult moment of her life.

Pregnancy and childbirth had not come easily for the young princess, still an adolescent by Beinarian standards. But through the many beinors, Anlei had barely complained of her many discomforts.

For her part, Queen Isabelle wished beyond hope that the Great Succession Crisis had not forced marriage and childbearing so soon upon her daughter. Yet the memory of Lord Janus—and his threats—clung like a pall over the court and over Anlei in particular, creating fits of melancholy and fear in even brave Lord Corann's eyes.

But politics was hardly the worry of this moment. For three beinors, Anlei labored her body too young to handle the stresses put upon it.

Anlei pushed with the next contraction, screaming. From outside the birthing chamber, Corann watched, waited, and prayed to the triple goddesses for her safety, begging divinity to help both of them...and begging them to spare the life of his beloved wife.

Finally, with a blood curdling scream, the sounds inside stopped. Lady Cara stepped into the waiting room, a small bundle in her arms, "Congratulations. You have a son."

Reaching for his son and clutching him protectively, Corann's terror stayed in his eyes, "Anlei..."

"Her Highness is alive, but badly torn by her labor. I've put her under heavy sedation to improve her chances. Sleep is the best medicine for her under the circumstances," described Lady Cara.

Corann fumbled for words, "Umm – umm – ummm – of course. Whatever you think is best, Lady Cara. As long as she recovers.... You know I cannot bear to lose her."

"I know, Corann, nephew; she WILL recover. Nature has its ways of dealing with these things. She just needs time."

Corann looked down at the floor, then the ceiling, then Lady Cara, "...I know. Just tell me you will do everything to make sure she fully recovers."

"I give my word," promised Lady Cara.

Ten beinors later, Anlei woke to find herself back in her bed, the curtains drawn to provide her security and solitude as she recovered from childbed. RK6 sat attentively next to her bed, her sensors ever monitoring the princess. As Anlei stirred, RK6 detected her first movements and signaled internally to a Beinarian form of pager. From the grand court filled with people, Corann saw the paging light on his belt. Bowing graciously to those near him, he excused himself, "Excuse me, Lord Jeffery."

Lord Jeffery bowed in reply, "Of course, Your Highness."

Once out of sight from most of the court, Corann rushed through the palace corridors and to the royal apartment where Anlei lay. She was barely awake when she saw him come to her and embrace her. "Oh darling! You are awake at last," cried Corann in relief.

"I don't understand."

Corann kissed her warmly, "You've been asleep for ten beinors, my love."

"T-ten beinors – wh-what – I don't understand."

"Your childbed was hard on you; the healers put you into a deep, healing sleep to help you recover. I was so worried I had lost you."

"So that wasn't a dream? I really did give birth?" asked Anlei.

"Not only did you give birth, my love, but he is strong and healthy. I named him 'Lyr'...if you don't mind?" asked Corann, picking up the infant from his nearby cradle and handing him to Anlei. The prince yawned and cooed at his parents.

Anlei looked at her son, "Didn't I have an ancestor by that name?"

Corann smiled, "Yes. Three Gurun kings have held that name, including King Ejen's own paternal grandfather, King Lyr III whose sudden death I fear to remind you of."

"Remind me the story, Corann."

"He was murdered in the throne room, pierced by cross bow quarrels."

"But the security systems scan for laser weapons; they are contraband except in the hands of the knights assigned to protect the palace...."

"He was not killed by a laser crossbow, Anlei, but a heritage one made of wood. Our security system is not designed to detect such a weapon, which is exactly why that weapon was chosen.

"But that is the past, a sorrowful part of our past. This beinor we have a healthy and strong son, a baby boy the Great Council is certain to accept. An unbroken line sits between the Gurun kings and queens of old and our child. This is cause for celebration," proclaimed Corann.

Anlei nodded, cuddling Prince Lyr, "Yes! This boy will be king, one way or another...."

"Make way, make way for Isabelle, Queen of Beinan," cried the herald as Lord Prince Bevin, Lord Prince Corann, and Princess Anlei, holding her son, processed into the Great Hall of the Assembly, seat of the Great Council of Beinan. The entire Great Council assembled for this meeting with the royal family. Cameras covered the long foyer to the main chambers, many of them broadcasting the proceedings through numerous news channels. While not allowed inside the chambers personally, journalists operated remote cameras covering the public and assembly spaces of the building which were connected to portable planetary and regional news broadcasting stations located mere li from the building.

As the royal family reached the heavy double doors that divided the foyer from the main assembly hall, each of them paused for a deep breath, looking at one another. Here the Secession Crisis would finally end—one way or another.

With regal grandeur and drama, Isabelle stepped onto the familiar floor. The normal chatter associated with the shir-or or so before a meeting of the council stopped to dead silence with the queen's first footfall. In silence, Queen Isabelle and her family followed the herald to the center of the hall filled with council members representing every corner of Beinan and every house. Huge black pillars lined the circular walls as pastel stained-glass windows encircled them, their geometric shapes creating a dance of brilliance on the marble-like floor with its mosaics telling the story of the Great Migration and of the first kings of their civilization. Classical and beautiful, it filled Anlei with awe and wonder. What a grand place to debate the planet's most important issues.

Scanning the costumes of the many council members, Anlei noticed the heraldry worn as jewelry or embroidery on each council member. The stars of Xing-li, the swords of Ten-Ar, the triple moons of Miyoo, the sailing ships of Cashmarie, the books of Shem, the bows of Balister, even the palmed hands of Ana filled her sight as she strove to recognize any of the faces in the crowd. This place was Beinan.

As the royal family reached the central podium where those recognized by the council's chair-person debated and proposed legislation, Lady Kalar, the current head of House Cashmarie, stepped forward to great them, her long, blue-lavender kirtle twinkling with iridescence and the midriff of her runched bodice embroidered in a silver sailing ship. Queen Isabelle bowed formally to her, "Lady Kalar, it is good to see you again. I hear you were re-elected as chair of this august body."

Lady Kalar returned the queen's polite bow, "Your Majesty, as ever, it is good to discuss the well-being of Beinan with you, though I do not believe you have ever brought any from your house with you – besides your gracious consort, of course," Lady Kalar motioned towards Lord Prince Bevin, acknowledging him.

"Indeed, Your Honor, there has never been a need before now to bring them to chambers. But, no doubt, you are aware of the challenges the conflict between the law and the better interests of Beinan has created. My daughter is prepared to rule when I can no longer do so. Yet the law forbids a daughter from succeeding her mother on the throne," replied Isabelle.

"Indeed. I do see the problem. Our laws are clear on this matter, Your Majesty. Either your son, Anwell, rescind his abdication or we choose a new ruler from another house," declared Lady Kalar. Though only 100 yen-ars old, and the youngest council chair since inception of the Great Council in OW 45000, Lady Kalar remained unusually politically astute. Across five terms as chair of the Great Council, she ruled wisely and well. Debating Lady Kalar was no simple matter, a fact known to all who worked with her, including Queen Isabelle.

"Honorable Lady Kalar, House Gurun contests the law on the grounds that it is antiquated and forbears skilled leadership in the form of choosing the best and wisest of Beinarian nobles to lead our world," contested Queen Isabelle.

"Your charge is a seriously one, Your Majesty. Have you forgotten that it is not your place to set or challenge our legislation? You are our chief executive in continuation of our many yen-ars of separating legislative from executive and judicial applications of our laws. You do not instruct this Council; you rule to obey our decrees," asserted Lady Kalar.

"With respect, Honorable Lady Kalar, this law was not directly passed by the Great Council, but by Houses Xing-li, Ten-Ar, Ana, Balister, Cashmarie, and House Shem on A672E92 Quintus over the course of many yen-ars between the yen-ars OW 30,000 and OW 33,000. When the Great Council of Clans formed in OW 38215, they grand-fathered the statute, despite its sexism," countered Queen Isabelle.

"Many of our laws were grand-fathered in our legal and political system as the traditional laws of our society. One of these traditional requires service in the Great Council by each head of each noble house. If not for that tradition, Your Majesty, you would sit on this body," reminded Lady Kalar.

"I yield to the veracity of your history, Honorable Lady Kalar, but it does not change the merits of my argument. House Gurun never ruled against the ascent of any woman to power except by virtue of personal defect. My daughter holds no such defect. She is intelligent and well trained, knowledgeable about our laws, traditions, and history, despite her youth," asserted Queen Isabelle.

"The wisdom of young Princess Anlei has been called into question," reminded Lord Arthur of House Xing-li. "Has she not rejected her own Miyoo heritage, despite being regarded by Miyoo as eligible for election to this Council on behalf of that house? Or has Miyoo rescinded its matriarchy?"

"Miyoo rescinds nothing," asserted High Priestess Wehe. "As High Priestess, I remain head of that house, as are my daughter and granddaughter so regarded in my stead. I grant that Princess Anlei has often questioned matters of religion; she is a gifted scientist, after all, despite this crisis diverting her attention from her passion for physics. Do not hold Anlei in contempt for pursuing her own spiritual journey of reconciliation between the physical and spiritual realms. All of us take that journey. At 45 yen-ars old, the age of decision is not yet hers." High Priestess Wehe's eyes flashed with power as she spoke. Few in chambers could maintain her gaze.

"That still does not change the matter at hand. Whether or not Princess Anlei is fit to rule as sovereign queen is not the center of this debate. I see little evidence to the contrary. But our laws are clear: it is illegal for the daughter of a female sovereign to ascend the throne. By law, it is no different than if you had no heirs at all," voiced Lady Khyber of House Balister.

Queen Isabelle inhaled; this debate was not supposed to be easy. She simply did not expect it to be quite so draining either, "Will this Council change the law to permit Princess Anlei to become sovereign queen?"

"No," asserted Lord Esreile of House Shem, "we will not."

Lady Kalar smiled, "House Xing-li, do you have one among you fit to rule when Queen Isabelle steps down?"

"Honorable Lady Kalar, House Xing-li remembers BE 1301 when power was removed from Xing-li King Caranden in favor of House Gurun's first king, Balar. Caranden forged an alliance against Balar, plunging Beinan into its last great civil war. As a matter of principal and perhaps karma, we wish to avoid a new civil war. Do not forget the power and tenacity of House Gurun. Since establishment of the monarchy on A672E92 Quintus, they have endured the longest," reminded Lord Arthur.

"Does this mean House Xing-li yields the throne?" queried Lady Kalar.

"No. We accept but propose a compromise on this matter, the same compromise that ended the civil war on BE 1301, beinor 118. We propose marriage between the young heiress to clan leadership for House Xing-li to the House Gurun heir, Princess Anlei's son here present in her arms," affirmed Lord Arthur.

Lord Esreile rose, "Who is this child and under what terms do you propose, Lord Arthur?"

Princess Anlei stepped forward, rocking her son back and forth to keep him calm and sleeping, "This is my son, Prince Lyr, born BE 6328, beinor 56. Our line is unbroken from King Balar through the yen-ars to King Ejen, Queen Isabelle to myself, and now to him."

Lord Arthur approached Anlei, "May I hold him, Your Highness?" Anlei nodded and handed her son to the Xing-li head. "Strong is this child's blood, ancient and powerful, the heir to many houses and great power. Your highness, I offer your son my own daughter, heiress of House Xing-li in memory of Princess Cirwen whose blood flows through yours. In BE 1301, she wed your Lord Balar as the price for peace. Balar and Cirwen shared sovereignty until Cirwen, moved by her devotion to raising her own children instead of putting their care in the hands of others, chose to resign her power in favor of her husband.

"Now I present as formal resolution that Prince Lyr wed Lady Eleanor of House Xing-li by BE 6380, beinor 1 and that a formal betrothal be offered in the presence of this Council on beinor 1 of the coming yen-ar. Should Prince Lyr fail to wed my daughter, power shall be hers and hers alone upon the completion of Queen Isabelle's reign. Yet should all be done as I propose, let both of them reign as joint sovereigns as Balar and Cirwen reigned together," proposed Lord Arthur.

"Your terms are logical and reasonable, Lord Arthur. Yet they still transfer power to House Xing-li. The Gurun dynasty ends with Queen Isabelle," responded Lord Knight Corann.

"It could end now," threatened Lady Kalar.

"Queen Isabelle is strong and fit ruler. On judicial matters, she's proven herself willing to take the hard road in favor of justice for all, even and especially when it would be politically advantageous for her to do otherwise," asserted Lord Arthur. "Perhaps a compromise would suit House Gurun. In exchange for the terms I just outlined regarding Prince Lyr and Lady Eleanor, I am willing to regard all their descendants as House Gurun. I ask only one further condition...."

"Name it," commanded King Ejen.

"Both the successor of Lyr and Eleanor and their successor must choose a queen or prince consort from house Xing-li. This will strengthen our position in the royal court and permit us to influence policy in our favor for the next two hundred yen-ars," demanded Lord Arthur.

"We accept your terms, Lord Arthur, all of them. But we warned: this new condition will shape our history far longer than two hundred yen-ars. Posterity may never forgive what is forged this shir-or," warned Queen Isabelle.

"The resolution has been offered and accepted by the Houses involved," summarized Lady Kalar. "How votes this council? House Ana?"

"Yeah."

"House Shem?"

"Yeah."

"House Cashmarie?"

"Yeah."

"House Balister?"

"Yeah."

"House Ten-Ar?"

"Yeah."

"House Xing-li?"

"Yeah," answered Lord Arthur.

"House Gurun?"

"Yeah," answered Queen Isabelle.

"House Miyoo?"

"Yeah," answered High Priestess Wehe

"House Slabi?"

"Yeah."

"Resolution carried. Betrothal ceremony to be held in this chamber on beinor 1. High Priestess Wehe, as high priestess of Beinan, we request you to conduct the ceremony," commanded Lady Kalar. Wehe nodded in response. "This session is adjourned. Long live Beinan."

#  Epilogue

"For all appearances, the Great Succession Crisis was, indeed, resolved on BE 6328, beinor 129. But appearances can be deceiving. Lord Knight Corann and Princess Anlei's son, Prince Lyr ascended to the throne on BE 6400, beinor 2 as all in House Gurun hoped -- but at a terrible price for all of Beinan. High Priestess Wehe, Princess Anlei, Lord Knight Corann they all hoped in BE 6328 that the future King Lyr would be able to put the tumult of the crisis behind all of them. But their hopes failed. As Corann long suspected, Lord Janus would have his revenge, even from the grave. Hate filled Janus' descendants, triggering the violence that was to come, violence that would grow until it consumed Beinan. What began with a few terrorist bombings grew to civil war with countless innocents murdered. For my own protection my parents sent me to D425E25 Tertius, as most of you know so well. But that, dear friends, is another story that I will tell in my next transmission. The shir-or is late right now. Time for some rest. Watch for my next transmission for in it I will tell you how the violence began and grew, how the ghosts of the past came to haunt us all...." finished Queen Anyu.

# Long Live the King

Annotation:

This is a story of loss and sorrow, happiness and celebration. In this story, Anlei and Corann's son Prince Lyr is all grown up and facing the burden of the treaty that ended the Great Succession Crisis.

"My lady, it's time," alerted RK6 as she circled the kneeling Princess Anlei in front of her devotional altar in her private sanctum, a small, window-filled half-round tower extension to her third-floor apartment in the Temple of Abka Biya in Bira Hecen. On the princess's head she wore the triple moon circlet of the high priestess of Beinan, her eyes filled with an air of solemnity, its previous fire diminished somewhat with sadness, maturity, and responsibility. On Anlei's crimson gown was embroidered the triple moon heraldry of house Miyoo, its silver white threads sparkling against its golden field.

Rising with careful ceremonial practice, Anlei eyed her devoted droid, "Thank you, RK6. Will you please ask his grace to join me in the main audience chamber?"

"Of course, Your Grace," acknowledged RK6, speeding out of Anlei's sanctum.

Without the customary attendants, Anlei strode through the labyrinth of corridors of the great temple, its many towers and spires branching from the foundational trapezoid like tree branches. Reaching the rotunda that was the main audience chamber, High Priestess Anlei ascended ten stair steps to her throne as four hundred nobles and clergy already assembled in the sanctuary rose respectfully. As Anlei sat down reverentially, Lord Knight Corann ascended the dais, taking his seat next to her with a respectful bow.

With a nod from Princess Anlei to RK6 for the ceremony to begin, a retinue of honor attendants filed into the rotunda ahead of gilded white wood casket carried by three knights of Gurun and three priests of Miyoo. Carefully the pall bearers guided the casket onto the stone altar six zhang from Anlei and Corann's thrones as Beinarian harps and flutes played a mournful lament. Prince Lyr and Princess Eleanor promenaded to the altar, both kneeling as they reached the casket.

High Priestess Anlei rose, "Sudden is the death of our most beloved Queen Isabelle, daughter of King Ejen and High Priestess Wehe. Though her reign was short, Queen Isabelle taught us the very meaning of dignity and honor, dedicating her life to peace and prosperity for all Beinarians during the 78.9644 yen-ars of her reign. She took on this responsibility pulled by the powerful political forces of her Miyoo and Gurun blood. As my mother, she taught me the true meaning of royalty, honor, and dignity.

"Prince Lyr, you are more than simply the heir to our beloved queen's throne. You are both my son and her foster son. As we pray for the strength to continue in the difficult beinors of mourning before we celebrate your assent, beinors made more difficult by the disappearance of our beloved father, grandfather, and prince consort, Lord Knight Bevin of house Ten-Ar, I charge you, Lyr of house Gurun, to meditate on all the lessons taught to you across the seventy-one yen-ars of your life that you, as King Lyr IV, may rule with equal wisdom as our beloved Queen Isabelle, guided in judgment by your queen, Eleanor."

With a signal from High Priestess Anlei, Prince Lyr and Princess Eleanor rose. Prince Lyr raised his eyes to his mother, "Your Grace, I am ever mindful of the meaning of our loss and the loss you, noble one, feel with me. It is perhaps a great bitterness that I stand before you as crown prince without first seeing the Gurun crown upon your head, noble one, for you truly deserve to wear it far more than I."

"Your words are kind, my prince," bowed High Priestess Anlei. "You do me greater honor than I deserve."

"No, Your Grace, I understate your value to Beinan. Not just as my mother, but as the successor to High Priestess Wehe. The crown that must be passed through the loss of our beloved queen truly belongs to you, not I. You are Queen Isabelle's one and only daughter, her true heir."

"It is for the Great Council to decide who bears the burden of king or queen of Beinan. The law is clear and their ruling is just. Long live King Lyr and Queen Eleanor!" proclaimed Anlei.

"Long live the king and queen," shouted the assembly in reply.

Princess Eleanor blushed at the shouts, her right hand playing with the fabric of her delicate saffron overdress nervously, "Our queen is dead, our prince consort Bevin is missing. Now is not the time to shout compliments towards either the crown prince or myself. This shir-or we are merely the successors of her majesty as decided by the Great Council in BE 6328. Do not think my heart is not troubled by the sudden death of her majesty and the odd disappearance of his highness so close to her death. Hear me, Beinan, as your future co-sovereign: we not yet your leaders. Defer to Her Grace, Dowager Princess Anlei, our high priestess and successor to the High Priestess Wehe, one of our greatest religious leaders since our people arrived here on Beinan after the Great Migration. I charge you all to defer to her grace and his grace, High Priest Corann. For their wisdom and experience is the greater. Theirs is a place of true merit, chosen by our wisest leaders among house Miyoo for their spiritual insight, wisdom, and intelligence. My husband and I rule at the pleasure of the Great Council of Beinan. But High Priestess Anlei and High Priest Corann rule at the pleasure of the divine. As for me and my husband, we shall follow where they lead, ever mindful of their greater counsel."

Shocked and pleased by her daughter-in-law's proclamation, Anlei stepped down the staircase separating her from her eldest son and daughter-in-law. Eleanor and Lyr kneeled before her. Anlei kissed their foreheads as Corann followed her down the steps, placing his left hand on his eldest son's right shoulder affectionately. Lyr looked up into his father's eyes for approval.

Corann smiled back at Eleanor, "You were not chosen by Lyr or even any of his blood, Your Highness. Yet your words touch me as his father. May this terrible loss for our family bring us all together that you may be the wife of his heart, not just out of the Great Council's bidding, a true member of our family."

A tear fell from Eleanor's eye, "Ever shall I strive to be so, Your Grace. For before our wedding, which you and her graced presided over, the queen told us the story of how all this came to be – all of it – even the pain and treachery that night of the Great Masquerade. Ever do I aspire to have what you have in love, life, and family."

"So mote it be," nodded Corann.

Suddenly a knight of Gurun burst into the assembly from a side door, "Your Highnesses, Your Grace, his highness has been found!"

Princess Eleanor stared at the knight in shock, "Who, lord knight?"

"Lord Knight Bevin, husband to her majesty and father to her grace," cried the knight.

Shock and bewilderment filled Anlei's eyes. Sensing Anlei's mind as well as during their courtship, Corann took the lead, "Where is he? Why does he not come here and now if he has been found?"

The knight's gaze darted around the room, "Your Grace misunderstands. He has not been found injured, but dead, Your Grace. The prince consort was brutally murdered and dumped into the Amur River." Against her will, Anlei fell to her knees, suddenly sick.

"WHERE?" shouted Prince Lyr assertively.

"N-n-near the palace...forty-two point six eight zhang from the court yard where royals and the most noble of Beinarians are cremated," stammered the knight.

"Call forth an honor guard to prepare his highness. As her majesty makes her final journey, let her prince and dearest companion journey with her in death as they were in life," commanded Prince Lyr, squeezing Princess Eleanor's hand for moral support. Turning to his mother he offered, "With your permission, Your Grace?"

Anlei tried to re-collect her breath, standing once more, "Granted, Prince Lyr. Our grief is doubled, yet in this at least our souls may be comforted: that in death our prince consort was no less devoted to she who stole his heart than while both lived."

With the sudden discovery of Bevin's body, the smoothness of the royal funeral derailed for two hundred xiao-shirs while knights, healers, and mourners regrouped to adapt to the sudden addition of Bevin to the royal cremation. At length, all was re-readied. In ceremonial silence, Lord Priest Corann lit a ceremonial torch which he passed to Lady Priestess Anlei, her face red with tears and grief, her body shaking perceptively. Corann touched her shoulders, projecting a measure of calm into her mind to buttress hers. With three deep breaths, Anlei stepped to the widened wooden platform upon which Queen Isabelle's casket had been placed. A wooden screen surrounded Bevin's body next to her, concealing the gruesome disfigurements Bevin suffered in his final xiao-shirs. Evidence of torture – and Bevin's own resistance – covered the body.

Touching the torch first to the queen's casket, then to the screen, Anlei watched the flames envelop her parents like a solar flare washing around a planet. Still in shock and feeling overwhelmed with grief, Anlei stumbled as she tried to step back to a safe distance from the raging flames already starting to send out embers and ashes as Isabelle and Bevin's bodies succumbed to the heat. Against protocol, Anlei wept openly, unable to meet anyone's gaze, completely consumed by grief, her hands still clutching the torch. Observing the unsteadiness of her grip, Corann gently took hold of the torch, passing it to Prince Lyr who gave it in turn to a knight of Gurun to extinguish.

Prince Lyr addressed the assembled gathering, "Citizens of Hejing, peers and nobles of Beinan. This shir-or we say farewell to our queen, the noble and mighty Isabelle of house Gurun, and to her consort, my grandfather, Lord Knight Bevin of house Ten-Ar. May the goddesses bless and keep us in these coming beinors of grief and mourning. Mourn we must. Remember we must. For these, our best leaders were true examples all of us must strive to emulate. Our wounds will heal, our sorrow will ebb. As the new yen-ar dawns, we will step forward into the future that is ours to live. But not this shir-or. For loss is something we must all feel, acknowledge, and rise through.

"Soon enough, I shall ascend the throne and take my place as your king, along with Eleanor of house Xing-li, the chosen co-sovereign queen of Beinan. Yet think not that either of us have designs to do this alone. The wisdom of our high priestess and high priest is proven. Ours is yet to be tested. As for me and my queen, we shall defer to them in matters personal and public. If the Great Council is wise, they shall respect our humility in this and honor these, the greatest religious leaders of our time, with the respect duly owed to them both." Lyr turned to High Priestess Anlei, struggling to hold back his tears, "Your Grace, will you lead us now in prayer?"

Anlei stepped forward, her mind calmed in part by Corann's ever present steadiness in her psyche, "Divine of many names unknown whose three faces are known to we limited Beinarians as Abka Biya, Banumu Hehe, and Abka Gahun, we call to thee in our beinor of grief and sorrow. We who are mere mortals do not understand that which is beyond our flesh. Even the wisest of us can only guess, not truly know. We bow to your mercy and everlasting blessings too often forgotten or ignored but always in our short lives. Our hearts are filled with sorrow at the loss of our beloved Queen Isabelle and Prince Consort Bevin. Ripped from us by violence and inexplicable malice, our wisdom fails to comprehend the purpose that surely must exist behind their deaths.

"Holy one that is three, we beg for your strength and understanding for the beinors that are to come, even as we prepare to welcome the new yen-ar and with it, new leadership for Beinan in Lyr and Eleanor. Guide us, Great Mother, and help us feel your presence in our lives. Forbid us forgetfulness that the lessons they taught us may never fail in our collective memory. So mote it be."

"So mote it be," echoed the assembled gathering watching the state funeral.

As if in answer to the prayer, an unexpected wind suddenly descended into Hejing from the upper atmosphere, a fierce gale sweeping through the inner city. The upper clouds broke, revealing a conjunction of Beinan's three moons. The Amur River surged upward in response to the pull of all three moons converging over the city. With a burst of intense wind that blew the gathering away from the cremation, the river swelled beyond its banks and into the already waning pyre, washing the ashes and bits of bone into the river. When at last the Amur returned to its banks and the wind subsided, Anlei's eyes widened. Not one trace remained of the bodies, not even a speck of ash. It was as if divinity had claimed Isabelle and Bevin, returning their remains to greater planet faster than they could have otherwise. In her heart, Anlei heard an unexpected voice, "I am here, daughter of light. Fear not. All is as it should be."

Seven beinors later, Hejing glittered with anticipation. Across the city, heraldic banners for houses Gurun and Xing-li flew from every window and building. After seven beinors of official morning, the city was ready to welcome the new yen-ar and celebrate it to the fullest. Inside the palace, Prince Lyr paced in the same garden gazebo where Corann had first attempted to propose to Anlei, mere fifteen zhang from where he was conceived, a fact carefully concealed to him out of its awkward nature. At last Anlei and Corann arrived. Lyr greeted them nervously, "Mother! Father! I am so glad to see you. How are my little brother and sister?"

"Londthol is sleeping like a good baby," smiled Anlei. "Abigail is at her studies right now...at least she WAS at her studies. Her tutor has a math test in mind for her this beinor...unless she finds some way to use her brother's coronation as an excuse to get out of it. She has been known to do that sometimes."

Lyr laughed, "I recall pulling that trick on you from time to time when you tutored me. If I recall, grandmother and great-grandmother used to get especially vexed at me for it."

Corann rolled his eyes, "Your great-grandmother was a firm believer that royalty should possess the highest possible education and devotion towards learning. It was one reason I think she was so aggressive in her seduction of then crown prince Ejen. She knew she could rule wiser and better than he could and had no trepidation about using her sexual charms to gain power through his bed. If I recall, she had herself declared queen against custom by using her superior power as high priestess to pressure the Great Council into awarding her that title."

Lyr shook his head in disbelief, "I-I never knew that about her. What I remember most about great-grandmother was the way she always seemed so...wise, so in control – unless I was intentionally vexing her."

Acknowledging Lyr's impressions, High Priestess Anlei refocused the conversation, "Is this a purely social visit, Lyr, or is there another reason you asked us to come here?"

"No...no, actually there is something I want to ask you."

"Name it."

"The staff wants to move my belongings out of this room and into the official sovereign's apartment. Though the Great Council regards my rule as equal to Eleanor's, the fact they chose our joint reign to fall under the Gurun dynasty means that my new apartment is to be the one held by grandmother; Eleanor will occupy the consort's apartment. But I...have some trepidation about this...at least about consenting to the move yet."

"What can your father and I do to help?"

"I...want both of you to stay in the official royal apartment tonight...and for the next seven beinors," requested Lyr.

"Does Eleanor know this?" asked Corann.

Lyr smirked, "She was actually the one who first suggested it to me after our wedding. She agrees with me that this whole ascension thing to king and queen is completely messed up. This is your throne, Mother, not ours."

"Long ago your uncle Anwell gave up his birthright; strictly speaking by law he should be taking the throne instead of either of us. But he did not want the throne, even knowing as children that rejecting it would certainly put us through the Great Succession Crisis we all had to work through. Anwell felt that it would make him a target for those who oppose our system of government. He was right."

"What happened to Uncle Anwell, Mother?"

'We don't know. The last anyone heard of him, he launched a star craft out of Olos-Mir, headquarters to house Xing-li. The last that was ever seen of him was on a tracking scanner as he reached the upper atmosphere. Then...his star craft disappeared from our sensors. He's not been seen or heard from since. If he travelled to another world, we have no clue to which one, not even the general region of space he headed for," described Anlei.

"Forgive me, Mother...I did not know."

"That information is classified. My mother disagreed with the ruling of the Great Council, as we all seemed to apparently. She could not openly oppose them – or lose not only her throne but the entire dynasty. But she could do small things like giving me security clearance and access to information generally reserved for the sovereign, consort, and heir to the throne. She did not transfer any such real information access to you until...let me see...three yen-ars ago, I think."

"It pleases me to learn that, Mother, and of the quiet resistance she showed. Now, please, allow us to demonstrate our own quiet resistance to this whole ascension matter. I would like you and father to enjoy the sovereign's bed for these next seven beinors."

Anlei embraced her son, "As you wish...just for seven beinors so you can micro-manage your own move to the big scary room...."

Lyr kissed his mother's cheek affectionately, "Thanks, Mom."

The coronation ceremony sparkled like a Beinarian ruby in the palace throne room filled with courtiers, nobles, friends, and family. On the raised dais stood the four thrones that felt somehow empty without Queen Isabelle. Before them stood Anlei and Corann, watching and waiting for the grand processional of shawms, flutes, harps, and horns. With a fanfare Lyr and Eleanor glided through the throne room with stately grace, their fingers intertwined happily. In the front row stood Eleanor's parents, Lord Councilor Arthur and Lady Viviane of house Xing-li. They bowed at the waist. Eleanor nodded her head in acknowledgement, and then quickly focused on High Priestess Anlei and High Priest Corann. Lyr and Eleanor kneeled before them.

Anlei addressed the gathering, "Peers of Beinan, lords, ladies, and laity, we are gathered this shir-or to bless the successors of Queen Isabelle as they jointly ascend to her throne as king and queen of Beinan. In this, we are reminded of responsibility they are about to assume, a responsibility that transcends whatever material benefits come with their duties. For here, now, they are charged with two important jobs. The first is to enforce the laws of our people. The second is to interpret them as the final legal authority on our world, responsible to our people as represented in the Great Council of Beinan. This authority was first exercised by King Malvyn and his queen, Brigid, high priestess to our people. This shir-or, we bestow the same power upon Lyr and Eleanor with reverence and respect for their office."

Anlei took Lyr's dominate left hand and placed it on her heart, "Lyr, son of Princess Anlei of house Gurun and Lord Knight Corann of house Ten-Ar, do you swear to uphold the office of king of Beinan? Do you promise to rule with mercy, wisdom, and compassion, putting aside the interests of any single house and committing yourself to service to all – rich or poor, healthy or infirm, powerful or weak, urban or rural? Will you swear to protect the innocent while punishing the guilty through justice, not vengeance, ever humble before that which is greater than all of us?"

"By my life or death, I so swear, forfeiting all I possess should I fail to uphold this vow," swore Lyr.

"So mote it be," proclaimed Anlei, moving their joined hands from her heart to his. Lyr kissed her hand humbly with a bow as Anlei put his hand into Eleanor's which she placed onto Lyr's heart, "Eleanor, daughter of Lord Councilor Arthur and Lady Viviane of house Xing-li, do you swear to uphold the office of queen of Beinan? Do you promise to rule with mercy, wisdom, and compassion, putting aside the interests of any single house and committing yourself to service to all – rich or poor, healthy or infirm, powerful or weak, urban or rural? Will you swear to protect the innocent while punishing the guilty through justice, not vengeance, ever humble before that which is greater than all of us?"

"By my life or death, I so swear, forfeiting all I possess should I fail to uphold this vow," swore Eleanor. Anlei released Eleanor's hand.

High Priest Corann held aloft the Beinarian diamond and ruby coronet of the Gurun queens of Beinan so all could see it, "Eleanor of house Xing-li, I crown you Queen Eleanor the First." Gently, Corann lowered the coronet onto Eleanor's head.

Anlei took the king's coronet of house Gurun into her hands, raising it so all could see its Beinarian diamonds and rubies, "Lyr of house Gurun, I crown you King Lyr the Fourth." As Anlei lowered the crown onto her son's head, she felt a wave of pain and sorrow from his mind. Lyr tried to conceal his emotions...yet his mother knew him too well for that. In his eyes she felt his grief and frustration, even if no one else in the throne room, save his father perhaps, sensed it. In response, Corann took Anlei's hand, signally for her to rise Lyr up as he brought Eleanor to her feet. King Lyr IV and Queen Eleanor I faced the gathering as Anlei declared, "My people, it is my pleasure to introduce you to King Lyr IV and Queen Eleanor I. Long live the king!"

"Long live the king," echoed the gathered populace.

"Long live the queen," shouted Corann.

"Long live the queen."

"Long live the Gurun dynasty," shouted Corann and Anlei together.

"Long live the Gurun dynasty."

The grand ballroom shined with all the radiance and glamour expected at a coronation reception. The best and most formal dinnerware covered the dining tables in the dining room adjacent to the ballroom, leaving the main space open for dancing. Gilded carafes poured what seemed like an endless bounty of kelan and nanla wines in a six-course luncheon displaying the talents of the palace's many chefs.

There was even hot cocoa, despite the drink's association with weddings and bridal blessings, which flowed out of an ornate fountain luxuriously. Porcelain cups gilded in Beinarian platinum waited in a carefully built pyramid 0.85 zhang away from the fountain for the convenience of those indulging in the cocoa which has a slightly minty taste compared to chocolates consumed elsewhere in the universe with a mellower finish than most other chocolates.

On a special dessert table, guests were treated to delicate layered pastries, custards, cakes, even a tube-like pastry called a "slatko." Resembling Italian-American cannoli, the slatkos had baked pastry tube shells filled with a fruit filling. On the table sat six different types of slatkos. Some had icing on the tube edges. Others were dusted with sprinkles. Each had a different fruit filling to tempt guests. It was a lovely spread designed to please many different tastes.

As guests nibbled at the delicious food, Dowager Princess Anlei and Lord Knight Corann meandered around the dining room and ball room, checking people's reactions to the celebration and towards their new king and queen. In many ways, it reminded both of them of their own wedding reception held in the same ball room. As both turned towards the cocoa fountain, they noticed a familiar face waiting to fill her cup. Smiling, Corann embraced the green-gowned priestess, "Mother...so good to see you. I did not know you planned on attending."

Lady Priestess Cordelia turned to her son and kissed his cheek with a hug, "Corann...how is my beloved son?"

Corann thought for a xiao-shir about his response, "...proud, happy, relieved...sad, disappointed, frustrated. This should have been Anlei's coronation and for that my heart is heavy...but Lyr is a fine young man...he turned out perhaps better than either of us could have imagined. He's humbler than you would think, mindful of the awkward position the Great Council put him in and, I think, equally frustrated about the circumstances of his coronation. But we have one thing at least...now, no matter what anyone else says, our great succession crisis is finally, unequivocally, over."

"Yes, it is. How do you find our new queen? Do you know her well?" asked Cordelia.

"Not well enough," answered Anlei, "but then, nor does Lyr, I think. I can tell by the way he looks at her...I recognize that same look on my own face when I was growing up...before I realized just how much Corann loves me. It's hard to believe now how focused I was on duty; how ambivalent I was towards the idea of marriage or the prospect of spending my life tolerating an unwanted consort's lust or dutiful attempts to get me with child. How odd that at an age when most adolescents are filled with romantic dreams that I was all business.... Your son changed that about me; let me dare to dream of something better...so strange the way things have worked out."

"Strange indeed," agreed Cordelia. "Has Lyr met his little brother yet?"

"Londthol is only two yen-ars old...not old enough to be out in public. I only finished weaning him forty beinors ago."

"Are you going to try for another? How many grandchildren will you give me, Your Graces?" teased Cordelia.

Anlei smirked at her mother-in-law, "One at a time...Londthol is still an infant, after all. Once he's more independent...who knows?"

"Understood," acknowledged Cordelia, brushing back a stray lock of her hair back towards the elaborate braids pinned up with silver and pearl-tipped hair pins. Cordelia raised her eyes towards the faces of those around her, searching for someone, "Have you seen Lady Priestess Ecter yet?"

"No...is she here? Forgive me, but with everything happening with mother's death...I just have not had the time to study the reports on my desk. I thought Lady Ecter was off in Xi-Nan Fang visiting her family...." remarked Anlei.

"What family, Your Grace? Do you think she's forgotten what her brother did to her –and tried to do to you?" referred Cordelia.

"I do not think any of us involved with Janus' attempted coup can forget about it. He did, after all, threaten to destroy the Gurun dynasty. I have no doubt he will find a way to do exactly that...if only through others," added Corann.

"I can hardly argue with that," interjected Lady Priestess Ecter from behind Cordelia's back. Cordelia turned suddenly to see the daughter of Cariadoc a blossoming and rather beautiful young woman 114.061 yen-ars old. "But do not delude yourselves into thinking that everything my brother did was entirely of his own mind and motivation. Unlike our faith which encourages individual initiative and thought, clerics of The Shemai teach absolute obedience to authority, starting with one's father."

High Priest Corann bowed to Lady Priestess Ecter, "Your expertise in this matter is valued, Lady Priestess Ecter, for its uniqueness. Only you possess such insight and understanding into the minds and hearts of house Shem and worship of The Shemai."

"Let's be clear, everyone: they are not bad people. But religion has a way of polarizing people and motivating them towards thoughts and actions that would be inconceivable coming from another context. People will fight and die for their immortal soul as they will not for anything else. It is the politics of the clerics in Shemai temples, not the teachings of The Shemai himself that motivate hatred and violence in anyone. If anything, the Shemai is a god of peace, charity, and love!" explained Lady Ecter.

"If you do not mind me asking you...if you uphold what you were taught in Shemai temples, how and why would you choose to convert, to reject your god in favor of the goddesses?" asked Corann.

"I did not reject The Shemai, Your Grace, but I do reject the organized worship of him. For me, the faith of my family does not stand in contradiction to the faith I vowed to uphold as a priestess of Miyoo. We do not know the real name of that which we call the triple goddess. We do not presume to understand who and what that being or beings are really about. In my heart, there is room for both ways of understanding that which is beyond all of us. It really amounts to how you look at the greater universe; complete objective reality is beyond our abilities as human beings."

"Your wisdom is great, Lady Ecter, perhaps greater than mine. One must wonder why you were not chosen high priestess instead of me," observed Anlei.

"You do me honor, Your Grace. But I would not accept power if everyone in house Miyoo wished it. I was not born to wield it as you were nor do I have your nobility in blood. I serve because I know my brother and want to do my part to prevent him from hurting anyone else," explained Lady Ecter.

Suddenly everyone at the reception bowed as the herald cried, "Make way! Make way for his most royal of majesties, Lyr, king of Beinan and Eleanor, queen of Beinan."

King Lyr smiled as he strode through the parting crowd towards his parents, Queen Eleanor on his arm regally. As he neared his parents and grandmother, Princess Abigail ambled through the crowd and starred into her brother's eyes, "Are you really the king now?"

King Lyr swooped the ten yen-ar old princess into his arms playfully and kissed his sister's cheek, "What do you think, Abigail?"

Abigail shrugged, "I don't know."

Lyr hugged his sister affectionately, "Well, the law says I'm king, but you know what? I think I am still your big brother so you know what? If you need anything, you tell me. You don't have to bow or anything – not for at least five more yen-ars, okay? Do we have a deal?" Abigail nodded vigorously. Lyr squeezed her tight, and then put her down. Abigail wandered over to her mother and took her hand. Eleanor smiled proudly at Lyr as he addressed those in attendance, "Peers of Beinan, honored guests, I thank you for coming celebrate the new yen-ar with Queen Eleanor and myself. Though our sorrows will remain for a time, I pledge to serve you with wisdom, humility, and respect for all Beinarians, guided by the wisest among our many houses. To that end, I appoint our high priest and high priestess to my privy council. Not only are High Priest Corann and High Priestess Anlei some of the wisest among us, but I have the honor of being their first-born son. And so, I ask all of you to charge your glasses and salute them with me. Long live Corann and Anlei, High Priest and High Priestess of Beinan!"

As the crowds echoed the king's toast, Anlei felt an odd sensation in her heart, a tranquility that transcended circumstance and her grief over losing her parents. In that xiao-shir she grasped the future. Lyr and Eleanor were going to succeed where she and Corann could not, guided by the wisdom of house Miyoo, the strength of house Ten-Ar, and the passion for exploration of house Xing-li. In the yen-ars that followed, King Lyr IV and Queen Eleanor were true to their word. As part of the king and queen's Privy Council, they partnered with their son who never lost his humility towards them.

On BE 6458, beinor 33, Queen Eleanor gave birth to their first child, a daughter they named Elaine. Six point eight five two seven yen-ars later, on BE 6465, beinor 4, Prince Pellinore followed. On BE 6470, beinor 49 Eleanor gave birth to their son Gareth who ascended the throne himself in BE 6500. King Gareth II wed his cousin, Lady Lynessa of house Xing-li on BE 6526, beinor 46, despite Lynessa's sealed betrothal to his older brother Prince Pellinore.

On BE 6589, beinor 8, Princess Consort Lynessa gave birth to Gareth's only heir, Princess Darla. Princess Darla wed Lord Healer Torr of house Xing-li, one of house Xing-li's most skilled mind healers. Darla ascended the throne on BE 6749, beinor 185, giving birth to twins Kendric and Cathryn on BE 6750, beinor 22. Prince Kendric became childhood friends with his distant cousin Elendir, son of Lord Healer Devon and Lady Healer Keelia of house Ten-Ar, sweeping the entire royal family into the tumult that followed all the descendants of Anlei and Corann. For Cariadoc, and his children by Lady Jebez could not forget the disgrace of Janus, a name that would haunt Beinan for hundreds of yen-ars to come, a ghost from the past not readily dismissed.

#  Behind the Scenes

Research and supporting data behind the Great Succession Crisis.

* * * * *

# A Matter of Faith: Religion on Planet Beinan

Laudate domina luna. (Praise Lady Moon.)

Laudate deam terra. (Praise the goddess of the earth.)

Laudate deam albus falcones. (Praise the goddess of white falcons.)

De hac benedixit matutinus. (On this blessed morning)

Sea, beidh mé ag onóir an bandia anseo. (Yes, I will honor the goddess here.)

I fheiceann tú mé a aghaidh naofa. (I see your holy face.)

A bheith beannaithe an lá seo ag teacht. (Be blessed this day coming.)

Lig dúinn teacht ar gach ghrá. (Let us all find love.)

In this song from a wedding scene in book two, "Ghosts of the Past" we gain a glimpse into the dominate Beinarian religion, a goddess religion focusing on their three goddesses Abka Biya, Banumu Hehe, and Abka Gahun.

Religion is a huge part of the human experience, particularly in our so-called "middle ages" spanning from around the 6th century of the Common Era through the 15th century "Renaissance" (which means "rebirth") and 15th through 17th century "Reformation." Religion is part of who we are as societies of our planet. To create a truly comprehensive feudal society without religion would be to neglect its place in our cultures, our values, and our imagination.

Religion on planet Beinan follows two major religious currents in our societies: polytheism and monotheism. Across our history, polytheism has dominated; the idea of a single deity is brand new when put in the scope of human history and evolution. Archaeology shows us that our earliest human ancestors tended to believe in one or more goddesses who sometimes, but not always, had male consorts. In antiquity (some might call it "pre-historic"), the goddess or goddesses ruled our spiritual life. Time has erased the names of countless goddesses worshipped in our distant past. Yet the iconography and artwork do survive in burials and discovered ancient buildings, even if we have forgotten how to understand the physical evidence in front of us.

This known trend in human religious evolution is reflected in my decision to make the dominate religion on Beinan a triple goddess religion. Why a triple goddess? Why not a single male god or a large pantheon of goddesses and gods such as most of us are familiar with when learning about ancient Greek culture?

Perhaps the best answer to that is my own inner perception of the prevalence of trinity goddesses in ancient European beliefs. Indeed, that hypothesis seems largely validated by Jona Lendering's article, "Matres, Matronae, or Mothers" which describes a wide spread pattern of trinity goddesses across ancient Europe:

"The most remarkable aspect of this cult is the endless variety of (Celtic, Latin and Germanic) names. For example, we know that there were Alaferhuic mothers, Cartovallensic, Rumaneheic and Vatviaic-Nersihenic mothers. These names are believed to be topographical and may refer to springs, but this is an invalid argument, because the ancient topographical names are almost all unknown. Other names describe qualities of the mothers, like the Matres Paternae ('fatherly mothers' or 'ancestral mothers'). Some triplets seem to have limited their activities to one single ethnic unit, like the Hamavehic and the Hiannanefatic mothers of the Chamavi and Cananefates -- both living in the country that is now called The Netherlands. The shrine of the Aufanian mothers was at Bonn.

"It is a colorful set of names, but it is hard to give an interpretation of this cult. The first one to do so was the Roman general Julius Caesar, who wrote in the sixth book of his famous Commentaries on the War in Gaul that the Gauls venerated Minerva. Several modern scholars have taken this as a reference to the mothers. We know that in the continental Celtic religion triplism played a role. From Medieval Irish sources we know that the great goddess, queen Morrígan, resolved into three Morrígna: Morrígan, Badb, and Nemain. This would explain why Caesar could describe the triple goddess with one name."

While I have yet to establish a singular name for the Beinarian trinity goddess, you do see this trinity concept reflected in that sometimes I use the singular and sometimes the plural when referencing this trinity.

In Wicca, the trinity is also ever-present. Wiccans talk about "the Goddess" and "the God" not so much as a single being, but a trinity. The goddess is "mother, maiden, and crone" while the god is the male analogous "youth, father, and sage."

History and archaeology also point to the antiquity of the goddess or goddess and god belief compared to patriarchal monotheism. Archaeology tells us that the first known experiment with patriarchal monotheism was in Egypt under the 18th century BCE pharaoh Akhenaten. Akhenaten's religious revolution was very short lived. Centuries later, Judaism would slowly evolve into a patriarchal monotheistic religion, though perhaps not as early as most people believe. Artifacts found and interpreted by archaeologist William Dever point to a strong goddess-centric current (particularly among women) in ancient Israel that either pre-dated or co-existed (perhaps in conflict as suggested by Biblical accounts) with emerging monotheism. By the 1st or 2nd century of the Common Era, whatever currents of goddess-centrism mostly melted away, yet retained in certain cultural features of Jewish life such as counting Jewish blood matrilineally.

Perhaps the most surprising residual of ancient Hebrew goddess worship rests in one of the most iconic symbols of Judaism: the menorah. The first menorah is described in Exodus chapter 25, verses 31-37,

"Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand, there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it."

In "The First Couple: Yahweh and Asherah," librarian Vorjack cites Margaret Barker in describing this almond tree and floral design as symbolic of the Hebrew/Canaanite goddess Asherah. Most modern menorahs, of course, omit this floral motif in their design. But it is telling that the original menorah as mandated by Moses in the Torah was supposed to be fashioned in this almond tree design.

Menorahs, that most Jewish of symbols, reflects the Hebrew goddess and the many ancient and long forgotten cultural traditions that nevertheless ground this beinor's Jewish identity.

Judaism influences Beinarian society through the choice of the name "Shem" for my monotheistic noble house. A sort of counterpart to the goddess-centric house Miyoo, house Shem exists to provide a balance and sometimes dramatic tension against house Miyoo. Worship of "The Shemai" (if that name for Beinan's god directly means anything in any language, it is purely unintentional) gives a sort of nod to the Abrahamic religions of this planet: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Yet the religion itself does not represent any or all of them except in its most basic idea of worshipping a single, male god. Like J.R.R. Tolkien, I abhor allegory and its one-to-one symbolic relationship between the fiction and non-fiction.

Individuals in house Shem are like individuals in any of the other houses. Worship of The Shemai is not confined to house Shem, though it is not unusual for a convert to the religion to choose initiation in house Shem, just as the same person might choose initiation in house Miyoo or earn a place in house Ten-Ar (a feat achieved by Prince Consort Bevin, a knight of Ten-Ar born to house Balister).

As with any religion or religious identification, followers of The Shemai fall within a broad gambit of religious devotion and political viewpoints with fewer individuals at the extremes and most individuals possessing moderate views. These extreme positions create drama for the story, but in no way are intended to express judgment towards any religion or house affiliation.

In the story of Lord Knight Cariadoc (see data file one), Cariadoc is initially a middle of the road Beinarian when it comes to religion, not particularly caring one way or another. After Lady Priestess Cordelia uses her training to seduce Cariadoc into impregnating her, Cariadoc responds violently against what he feels is a violation of his free will. This leads him to the arms of Lady Jabez, a moderately devout woman from house Shem. Partially out of love and partially out of spite against Lady Cordelia, Cariadoc weds Lady Jabez in hopes of putting himself as far away as possible from house Miyoo in an act of open rebellion and spite towards Cordelia and the son Cariadoc never intended to sire.

This radicalizes Cariadoc, influencing all his children and spurring the fateful choices of his sons by Jabez. It is not religion that truly compels these men to do what they do so much as it is a hatred for what is perceived as an abuse of power by house Miyoo and a personal vendetta against Cordelia and her son Corann.

After Janus rapes and impregnates his sister Lady Ecter, Janus discovers that religion, at least in name, serves his quest for power and revenge better than any other socio-political tool available to him.

In his heart, Janus himself is not particularly religious – but he is willing to use religious rhetoric for political gain when expedient, as do those of his descendants willing to fulfill his promise of vengeance upon Corann, Anlei, and their descendants. Religion is a convenient excuse for Janus and his family. It is not the actual reason behind their actions.

Whatever your religion, it is my intent for the religious aspects of Beinarian culture to produce a level of realism to the story, reflecting our own human history here on Earth and reflecting our collective imagination. As divisive as religion can be, its presence in our consciousness and unconscious realties make it worth acknowledging as part of what makes us human – no matter what planet we belong to.

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Bibliography:

"Matres, Matronae, or Mothers," http://www.livius.org/man-md/matronae/matronae.html

"The Morrígan: Celtic Raven Goddess," http://www.novareinna.com/guard/morrigan.html

Dever, William. Did God Have a Wife? Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Pub Co, 2008.

"Akenaten," http://www.heptune.com/Akhnaten.html

"God's Wife, Asherah, May Have Been Edited Out Of The Bible Says Theologian,"  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/22/gods-wife-asherah_n_839226.html

"Exodus 25: 31-37,"  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+25%3A31-39&version=NIV

"The First Couple: Yahweh and Asherah," http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unreasonablefaith/2009/05/the-first-couple-yahweh-and-asherah/

#  Beinarian Astronomy: Names, Objects, and Locations Explained

Just as with modern Earth astronomy, stars, galaxies, and planets are named systematically. For example, D425E25 Tertius, LK39, and B105K7. These names are not random, but consist of specific elements used to specify an astronomical object's exact location. Here is exactly how a Beinarian object is named

Region of space: the first letter in an object's name indicates the region of space where it is located. This name runs from single letters to double letters. A single letter indicates the object is located 5 million light yen-ars away (15 million light Earth years) or closer, while a double letter is used for objects calculated as more distance than 5 million light yen-ars. Objects in the A region are located in Beinan's original lenticular galaxy. Objects in B region are located in Beinan's own galaxy. C represents the remaining galaxies in Beinan's local galactic group while D represents galaxies in the adjacent local group as observed through interstellar travel.

Since Beinarian astronomers observe the universe as "cauliflower shaped," it is understood that the number and location of objects in any given region of space will be highly variable.

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Galaxy designation: the numbers following the first letter(s) in the location name signify the specific galaxy within that region an object belongs. The galaxy designation number may consist of any number of digits, though seven is the greatest number observed for any specific region of space. Examples: LK39 is an elliptical galaxy 12 million light yen-ars on the edge of the known universe first observed during the Great Migration. D425 is a medium sized spiral galaxy located only 846,000 light yen-ars from slightly larger D395 galaxy.

On D425E25 Tertius, D395 is known as the "M31" galaxy.

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Star system name: star systems are assigned an alphanumeric name based on their exact location within their galaxy. Depending on the galaxy and type of galaxy, star systems may have up to three letters and from two to six numbers in their names. For example, E25, and DLG4821

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Object name: Objects (primarily planets and moons) are named by their position in their star system. Planets are named numerically (Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus, Septimus, Octivus, Nonus, Decimus, etc.). Moons are designated first by their planet location, then numbered, started with the closest moon to the planet. For example, D425E25 Quintus has sixteen moons large enough to be classified as moons (dwarf objects such as asteroids are not named). The nearest of these moons is therefore named D425E25 Quintus Primus whereas the most distant of these moons is named D425E25 Quintus Sextus-Decimus.

Dwarf objects, asteroid fields, rings, and other features are designated by the object they rotate around. For example, the asteroid field between D425E25 Tertius and D425E25 Quartus is named simply D425E25 Luanxing (pebble of the star) whereas the ring system around D425E25 Sextus is called D425E25 Sextus daixing (ribbon of the stars).

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Bibliography:

"Latin Numerals: Numerals with English Equivalents," http://wordinfo.info/unit/2356/ip:2/il:L

"The Andromeda Galaxy," http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0424.html

#  Challenging Einstein: Uniformity and the Cosmological Constant in Nature

General relativity...of all of Einstein's contributions to modern science, few outshine this set of principles which state, among other axioms, that the speed of light cannot be exceeded. Therefore, the distance of an object correlates with the amount of time it takes light from that object to reach another object. Or put simply, it takes 1 million years for light from an object 1 million light years away to reach Earth. Time and space are not separate, but tightly interwoven together.

For decades physicists have interpreted general relativity through the lens of what is called the "cosmological principle." In theory, this principle divorces us from our historic tendency to view Earth as the center of all creation. The University of Tennessee's online "Astronomy 162" course, describes the cosmological principle,

"Viewed on sufficiently large distance scales, there are no preferred directions or preferred places in the Universe. Stated simply, this principle means that averaged over large enough distances, one part of the Universe looks approximately like any other part."

This idea is also known as the "cosmological constant" which predicts uniformity in the universe across a spherical shell. This is, after all, what we tend to observe.

The presumption of a spherical shell is nothing new. The "celestial sphere" model, which put the Earth as the center of the universe with all the stars and planets circling around us, is also a spherical shell model. The most dramatic difference in these models is the re-assignment of Earth from the center of our solar system and replacing it with our sun. But in most other ways, both models assume a spherical uniformity to the rest of the visible universe.

This fundamental assumption of uniformity is at the heart of the perpetual universal expansion hypothesis which is broadly presumed to be established fact.

Perhaps it the combination of writer, scientist, and historian in me that always found that peculiar. After all, if relativity applies and it genuinely takes 10 billion years for light from an object 10 billion light years away to reach Earth, then WHY do physicists and astronomers almost universally use the PRESENT TENSE to describe an observation?

Genuinely, there is no such thing as a present tense when observing astronomical objects. All light takes anywhere from eight minutes to billions of years to reach our planet from any given star in the universe. Therefore, we only know what a given object's status was at the moment of time that given ray of light left its object, an object that may not (present tense) currently exist – but did exist x number of years ago. Any change in the object occurring after that time/space correlated distance will not be observed in this locality until potentially after our own sun dies out. This is the nature of time and space.

Yet there is something more fundamental to this axiom of a cosmological constant, to a big bang that infinitely expands in a fashion so universal and uniform that the universe itself looks completely the same no matter where in the universe one happens to be, that strikes me as illogical.

Nature is, overwhelmingly, NOT uniform. Whether we are talking about a planet, an apple, a river, or even the cells in your body, the habit of nature is irregularity. On a recent visit to an ophthalmologist, I learned just how irregular Nature likes to be. Upon detailed examination, the doctor discovered I have some irregularities in my cornea. These don't really affect my ability to see in any measurable way; the irregularities are slight enough to not distort light. But they are enough to create ocular dryness. The irregularities affect distribution of my tears when I blink, creating tiny areas that don't receive enough lubrication.

These natural irregularities in nature can be tiny or huge – such as the irregular meandering of rivers and streams. Perfectly straight lines, circles, spheres, and so forth are just not what Nature likes to do. It's why everything and everyone in the universe are individuals. Irregularity makes us who we are.

Mathematics, by contrast, loves uniformity in all its artificiality, even when applied to irregular nature. The cosmological constant is therefore mathematical, not natural.

For me, all it took to understand the irregular nature of Nature was to look no further than Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Kepler was the first to observe that planetary orbits in our solar system are elliptical, not circular. Ellipses have two foci, not one like in a circle. Spheres are three dimensional circles. So why, given our own planetary orbits are ellipses, assume a circular/spherical evolution of the universe from the Big Bang?

This is simply not logical. I therefore see the cosmological constant as a flawed idea inconsistent with even our most basic observations of our own solar system orbits. Irregularity, not symmetry, is the true universal constant.

My sense of logic and observations of Nature point to the universe expanding in an elliptical pattern with some areas still expanding and others perhaps reaching their maximum expansion distance in favor of either contraction back towards the Big Bang's locality or perhaps some other fate. Recognizing that the universe is as alive as any river on Earth, I glory it its irregularities, with the potential for so much more learning than we ever dreamed possible.

Let us therefore discard the celestial spheres of the years when the Church controlled scientific discovery in favor of a dynamic universe that we can all discover, divorced of human and Earth centrism. Whether the object is a million light years away...or a million nanometers, let us all open our hearts and minds to true scientific discovery and through these discovers, find the beauty in all things.

\--Originally published on Yahoo Voices on January 15. 2013.

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Bibliography:

"Astronomers identify structure so huge it disrupts cosmic uniformity,"  World Science News, January 11, 2013, http://www.world-science.net/othernews/130111_LQG

"The Cosmological Principle," http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/cosmology/cp.html

#  From Middle Earth to Beinan: Building New Literary Worlds

December 14th, 2012. Peter Jackson releases the long awaited "Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" nine years after Aragorn became King of Gondor in Jackson's film adaptation of "Return of the King." Hobbit mania is sweeping the world, along with a renewed interest in reading the novel.

Whatever you may think about Peter Jackson's adaptations, the best way to appreciate the works of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien remains the books themselves, books that taught me a great deal about what I feel works in science fiction and fantasy literature.

As a philologist (a person who studies language in historical documents), Tolkien observed how little "English" mythology was truly native to England. Tolkien decided to amend that by creating his own mythology for England. The results are the cherished books so many of us love this beinor.

Tolkien's goals were noble. His books are some of the most influential in modern American and English literature. I too am strongly influenced as a writer by Tolkien. This increased with time as I received my bachelor of arts, then continued reading and studying on my own across my adult life.

Tolkien accomplished what so few writers have ever attempted: he created a COMPLETE WORLD. From Numenor to Middle Earth, Tolkien took the time to figure out not just his characters, but the entire history and cultures behind them. Tolkien knew before penning his Fellowship of the Ring chapter "At the inn of the Prancing Pony" EXACTLY who this "Strider/Aragorn" fellow was – then took the time to tell us in the appendices for the Lord of the Rings. Tolkien told us about Elrond's daughter Arwen, about Aragorn's time living in Rivendell, about his exact connection to Isildur. Tolkien could do this because he took the time to figure it all out.

What this taught me as a writer is the importance of working out a complete world rather than borrowing from others. Tolkien taught me to write a solid foundation built on research and study and to take the time to do my homework.

I know that the fruits of this may be a little jarring to a few people who are not used to an author going to that much trouble. It must be a little challenging for people who are not used to Tolkien's style to enter a story and immediately be hit with words like "yen-ars" and "beinors," but I think it makes the story more believable. After all, we live in a world of many languages just here on Earth...of course a society on another planet has a different word for day or year than we do, just like they have different religions, different styles of building, and a different way of looking at the world.

Don't get me wrong, it is very hard to create an entire world of your own when you are writing. I spent an entire MONTH working out the math and science for my planet Beinan before I started writing even the first chapter. Without that work, I couldn't know what color the sky was or why my characters thought and acted the way they do. I had to do my homework.

But here's the secret for all of you thinking about writing a book of your own someday: the work I spent in that first month saved me enormous effort later in the process. It allowed my characters to flow across the page. During much of book one, "The Great Succession Crisis" I felt like a court reporter, just writing down what people said and did. Taking the time to build my foundation made all the difference in the world.

Of course, you are really the best judge of how well I did. Perhaps I did a terrible job in your eyes. I don't know. But I do know that as someone who loves literature, loves science, loves history, and loves learning above all else that at the end of the day what is on the page is something I feel comfortable with sharing with all of you. With all my heart, I hope you will grace me by visiting my planet Beinan yourself. Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you this beinor. I am deeply honored by your presence!

\--Originally published on Sienna Logan's "Lost to Books" blog on December 26th/27th, 2012 as a guest post to her blog. Join the conversation by reading the original at  http://losttobooks.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/guest-post-laurel-rockefeller.html.

Also available by Laurel A. Rockefeller:

Fiction

The Poisoned Ground

Good-bye A672E92 Quintus

The Great Succession Crisis

The Ghosts of the Past

Princess Anyu Returns

The Complete Data Files (companion book)

Non-Fiction

Boudicca: Britain's Queen of the Iceni

Catherine de Valois

Empress Wu Zetian

Mary Queen of the Scots

Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, the Warrior Princess of Deheubarth

Empress Matilda of England

Preparing for My First Cockatiel

Many titles are also available for the stage. Perfect for backyard play, community theatre, and educational use.

Select titles also available in audio edition.

# About the Series

The Peers of Beinan Series began in November 2010 with the first drafts of what would become the Legacy of Princess Anlei Trilogy, the core novels at the heart of the book series. Originally imagined as fan fiction to the 1983 television series "Benji, Zax, and the Alien Prince," the first draft originally told the back story to how and why Prince Yubi left Antars for exile on planet Earth. Some of this story remains in the unpolished draft chapters for "The Great Succession Crisis" and "Ghosts of the Past" that is found in the companion book "The Lost Tales."

But the original idea was not meant to be. As the story outline expanded from one book to three, a universe wholly different from Joe Camp's canon for BZAP emerged. The fan fiction idea was abandoned and the Peers of Beinan came into its own with tales of paranormal romance grounded in the author's extensive background in medieval history along with tales of murder and terror that hallmark "The Ghosts of the Past."

Original music, themes of hope in the darkest of situations, and the particularly vicious quality of Peers of Beinan villains all reflect the author's formative years growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska USA. Those interested in the largely private details of the author's biography should look to the second half of "The Poisoned Ground and the Healer Consort," and the entirety of "The Ghosts of the Past," and "Princess Anyu Returns" where those years are most intensely reflected in the plot and villains.

Through all the darkness, there is always hope and light. All it takes to break free of the most difficult times of your life is the belief that you will do so and the persistence to see it through until all that is sorrow and pain melts away into beauty, joy, and love.

Bright blessings to you and yours today and for all the days to come.

\--Laurel A. Rockefeller

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