by Twila

Feedback is always welcome: twila@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2009 by Twila. All Rights Reserved.

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“Talah, do you know where the Queen is? I need to meet her for noon meal. Is it too early?” Kylker asked as she came to stand beside Talah who was watching some of her warriors work out.

“She’s always in the library before lunch, teaching the kids,” Talah replied.

Kylker stared at her. “Teaching them?” she questioned, surprised.

“Yes, it’s part of her duties to pass on our history to the next generation,” Talah explained turning to smile at the awestruck look on Kylker’s face.

“Oh. Well, I guess she meant for me to join her,” Kylker said, recovering from her shock. “Will you keep an eye on my girls?”

“You bet. Have fun,” Talah called as Kylker set off.

Kylker approached the library and could hear a muffled voice inside. She hoped she wasn’t supposed to wait until the Queen was done. She gently and quietly opened the door and peeked in. The Queen was seated on a sofa and surrounded by about a dozen or so children, the oldest appearing to be about nine.

Queen Myla heard the door open and turned to smile at Kylker. “Come and join us, Warrior. Children, this is Warrior Kylker for those of you who haven’t met her.” Myla smiled at the children.

“Hi,” Kylker said shyly. She wasn’t use to being around children this young.

Queen Myla patted the spot beside her. “You can sit here. The children and I had just started our question and answer period.”

Kylker walked around the children sitting on the floor and took the seat that the Queen had indicated. She looked over the smiling faces of the children in front of her and wondered just how old they were. Some of them were awful tiny.

“These are our youngest children in school,” Queen Myla said and Kylker could have sworn she was reading her mind. “They start at four. This group goes up to about age eight.” Kylker nodded to show her understanding.

Queen Myla turned to speak to the children again. “Okay, who has the next question?”

A little dark haired girl, probably around six, raised her hand. When the Queen pointed to her, she jumped to her knees and smiled at the Queen. “Can I be Queen one day?”

Queen Myla laughed and Kylker loved hearing it. It sounded very musical and full. “May I, Calli and I’m afraid the answer is no. Only one of my daughters may be Queen.”

“But you don’t have any daughters,” Calli continued, her eyebrows furrowed into a frown.

Queen Myla laughed again. “That’s right. I don’t at the moment, but I’m sure some day the Goddess will give me a daughter.”

“What if she doesn’t?” asked a little red-haired girl beside Calli.

“That has never happened in the history of our village,” the Queen explained.

“What if it does?” the same little girl asked.

“Then I guess we’ll solve that problem when it occurs.”

Kylker marveled at the patience of the Queen. She assumed she had a hundred things she needed to be doing, but she didn’t appear to be in any hurry to rush through her session with the girls.

“Who has the next question?” Myla asked. “Yes, Talar?” The queen pointed to the next little girl with her hand raised.

“May I be a pilot, Queen Myla?” the little girl asked shyly and with a slight lisp.

Myla smiled at her. “Well, Binta, that all depends on what your talent is. All girls are tested after their twelfth birthing day to see just what talents they have.”

“What if they don’t have any?” Binta asked in a whisper.

“All girls have talents, Binta. It’s just that your strongest talent will determine which field of work you go into. If your strongest talent is piloting, that’s where you go. If it’s farming, you will become a farmer after training.”

“Who’d want to be a farmer when they could be a pilot?” one of the oldest girls grumbled.

Queen Myla’s smile wasn’t as bright at this comment. “Who do you think provides all the food for your meals, Marta? Pilots have an exciting job and an important one, but not as important as providing food for the entire village. Right?”

“Yes ma’am,” Marta replied, blushing at the slight rebuke from her Queen.

“Who’s next?”

The tiniest little girl seated toward the back raised her little hand, waving it eagerly at the Queen.

Myla smiled her biggest smile yet. “Yes Miss Ramse?”

The tiny girl jumped to her knees. “Can I,” she began and at the Queen’s raised eyebrow corrected herself. “May I ask the Warrior a question, Queen Myla?”

Myla turned to smile at Kylker. “Is that okay with you?”

“Of course,” Kylker said, “although I don’t know if I’m as good at answering them as you are,” she complimented her Queen.

The Queen smiled again and then turned and nodded to Ramse.

“How did you learn to fight as well as you do? Did your mother’s teach you?”

Queen Myla tensed, knowing that Kylker’s past was not something she talked about. Myla had tried to find out about it, but Kylker would clam up. She was biding her time until Kylker relaxed enough in her presence to be comfortable enough to talk about it. “Ramse,” Myla began when she felt a hand on her knee. She turned inquiringly to Kylker.

“It’s okay. I’ve got this one,” Kylker told her, giving her a little smile. She then turned to look at Ramse as she answered her question. “No, Ramse. My mother’s died when I was probably your age and I was sent to an orphanage.”

“What’s an orphanage?” Ramse interrupted.

“Ramse,” Myla said in a scolding tone.

“It’s okay,” Kylker said to Myla again. “An orphanage is a place that they send children to who don’t have any parents. You don’t have that here I guess?” This addressed to Queen Myla, who shook her head.

“No, children are given to other mother’s if something happens to theirs.”

“Well, this orphanage is a place where children live together and a few adults watch them. I learned a lot of things there, not all of them good, but one thing I learned to do was to fight. See, I was very small for my age,” Kylker smiled at Ramse. “And the bigger kids liked to pick on me. I learned by watching them fight, just how to fight them. When I was older, I had a trainer.”

Myla let her stop here, knowing there was much more to that story, but not one the children needed to hear.

“Well girls, I believe it is time for your exercise class. Lycol, will you lead the girls outside? I’m sure Palsima is waiting for you all.” Myla watched as they girls got to their feet, told the adults goodbye and headed out. She grinned when little Ramse waved at them. Myla turned to look at Kylker and realized she was grinning at Ramse too. She was beautiful when she smiled. Myla shook herself.

“What did you think? Did that answer some questions you’ve had?”

“Yes, thank you, it did. Have you always done this?” Kylker asked.

“From the time I became Queen and my mother did it before me. It’s a tradition in our village. Part of my job as Queen is to pass on our history to the next generation. This is an easy way to do that,” Myla explained.

“Only the younger ones?” Kylker asked, realizing no older girls had been present.

“No, I just do them separately. The older ones need more detailed information that just confuses the little ones. This way they both get the information.”

“When are the older girls due?”

“Tomorrow, same time. Would you like to join us?”

“Yes, I would. I think I have a lot to learn.”

Myla smiled at her. “Then I will see you at this time tomorrow. Are you ready for noon meal now?”

“Yes. Talah is watching my girls at present,” Kylker grinned.

Myla returned it, getting to her feet. “Let’s go enjoy our meal then.”

Kylker stepped back and let the queen precede her, not knowing exactly there they were headed. She was quite surprised to be heading inside and down the corridors of the palace, to a location she had not been to before. She was even more surprised to be shown into a sitting room that obviously joined the Queen’s bedchambers. A serving woman was setting up a meal as they entered.

“Thank you, Nala,” Myla said sincerely. “Go enjoy your meal now.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Nala bowed and headed out.

Kylker would have jumped up to serve them, but the queen had already grabbed plates and fixed them both while Kylker was preoccupied.

“Thank you,” Kylker took her plate and waited for the queen to start eating before beginning her own meal.

“So, Kylker, how have my warriors been treating you?” Myla smiled at her guest.

“They have been wonderful,” Kylker said. “I’ve never been treated so well in my life.”

“Good. I hope you realize that things won’t change if you decide to stay. They will still treat you the same. They aren’t trying to convince you to live with us.”

“I know. It’s just very strange to actually be wanted somewhere,” Kylker said softly.

Myla reached over and gently took Kylker by the hand. “I’m sorry that you’ve had such a rough life so far, Kylker. I only hope you can let us help you make the rest of it as enjoyable as possible.” Myla squeezed her hand and then closed her eyes, letting the tingling sensation invade her entire body. What a wonderful feeling and I only touched her hand. Myla could only guess what incredible feelings she’d have if she actually kissed this woman. I can’t even think along those lines yet. She hasn’t even agreed to stay on our world. I can’t let myself become attached in case she decides to leave.

“Majesty?” Kylker called again in concern.

Myla startled. “I’m sorry Kylker. I guess I was daydreaming.” She smiled at her in apology.

Kylker returned the smile. “That’s okay. I appreciate the offer to stay. I’m still considering it, although why, I’m not sure. It’s not like I have anywhere particular to be.”

“I guess the lure of traveling?”

Kylker gave a sardonic laugh at that. “I’ve traveled more in my life than I ever want to again and yet haven’t seen anything.”

Myla was again saddened by the warrior’s tone and the look on her face. “I’m sorry. One day maybe you can travel for pleasure.”

“Maybe. So what other interesting things are involved in your duties?” Kylker decided changing the subject was a good idea if she wanted her meal to stay down.

Myla recognized the technique, but allowed the change to a more neutral subject. They had a nice meal discussing many aspects of Myla’s rule and more about the community. Kylker seemed very intrigued by its workings and Myla loved talking about her people. The time passed quickly.

“I guess I should be getting back. Talah will want her meal too.” Kylker stood and started clearing plates.

“Leave that,” Myla instructed. “Someone will be along shortly to get it. I’ll walk you to the training grounds. Do you have time for me to change?”

“Of course,” Kylker said, although confused as to why she needed to. She was even more confused a few moments later when the queen appeared wearing almost the exact outfit she had on.

Myla laughed at the astonished look on Kylker’s face. “What? You don’t like it,” she teased. She laughed again when Kylker’s face turned bright red. Before she could start apologizing, Myla spoke. “I have training sessions, too. Talah has always insisted on them, since I was a young girl. She might even have me training with you today. Shall we go see?”

Kylker recovered and couldn’t help but stare at the queen as they headed to the grounds. Her figure had been mostly covered by the gowns she wore, but the trouser and tunic only enhanced a very fit and trim figure. Kylker caught her face flushing and tried to control her emotions. What is wrong with me? She’s the Queen for heaven’s sake. She’s not going to want to have anything to do with a lowly slave. Kylker berated herself all the way to the grounds.

“Queen Myla, I see you are ready for your lesson,” Talah called as Myla and Kylker walked onto the grounds.

Myla smiled at her warrior. “That I am. I also returned Kylker to you.”

Talah laughed. “I didn’t have any doubts that you wouldn’t. Kylker, would you like to join our lesson?”

“Oh, well, I guess if you need me to,” Kylker said, caught up in her thoughts and not sure if she needed to be around the queen anymore at the moment.

“I’d appreciate it if you would,” Talah said sincerely.

“Okay.”

“We’ll show you what we’ve been working on lately and maybe you can give us some pointers or guidance as we go. Sound alright?” Talah asked.

“Perfect.” Kylker had a seat on the bench and watched as Talah and the queen ran through some basic hand-to-hand fighting techniques, the queen efficiently blocked all of them. Kylker offered suggestions and even helped the queen with some of her blocks.

Continued in Chapter 4

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