***
Kate woke and found her two stones in her hands. Had she done that? She could not remember.
She remembered her dream though. So vivid.
She smiled. It is good to see an old friend again.
“Are you alright?”
Kate looked up. Talokta was sitting beside her.
“Oh, I, er, didn’t expect to see you here. Yeah, I’m fine. Were you worried about me, like what happened last night?”
“A little, you were in such distress. I did not want you to go through that again.”
Kate pulled herself up grinning. “I had another dream. It was so damn real and exciting. I’ve just been visited by Cemel, Leah’s alchemist from six thousand years ago. Wow, I sort of remember him. In fact, he has helped me remember certain things. The pieces of the puzzle are slowly fitting. He is well and on Heliostronus. I never realized he is in your Supreme Ruler’s service.”
Talokta was fully aware of Kalvich’s star prisoner. But why would Kalvich let the old man come to her alone? He would naturally warn her. Kalvich probably threatened to hurt Leah if he did not comply. Still, it just didn’t add up.
Whatever the reason, it had made Kate a damn sight happier. At this stage, that was all that mattered.
“I am looking forward to meeting Kalvich, er, again. I probably should tell you, I guess you should call me Leah now.”
Talokta stared at her. He took a deep breath. Cemel must have really got through to her.
“You mean Queen Leah,” he said with veneration. He stood and bowed deeply before her.
“Oh, please don’t do that. It’s embarrassing.” Talokta looked at her with steel eyes and spoke with an intense earnestness she had not encountered before. “No, Your Highness, by accepting who you are, it is mandatory you accept everything that goes with that title–the worship, duties, and respect from all others, no exception. It is the way.”
Kate slowly stood up, walked over to a mirror, and looked into it. Her eyes were sparkling, gone was the redness of tears and uncertainty. Good-bye Kate, hello Leah. A new feeling of self confidence soared through her soul.