* * *
The earlier jovial clamor was greatly quieted now that most of the breakfast party had departed the eatery to attend to other duties. Some had lingered, awaiting Paul and Mihai’s arrival only to surrender the hour up to unfinished work, often making good-natured comments as to Mihai’s increased tardiness since she had taken a shine to that ‘Paul fellow’. The number remaining was but five until Trisha and Zadar arrived fashionably late, surprising some and raising the eyebrows of others. They had tucked themselves away in the corner of a tabled booth, soon to be joined by the few who still waited upon their wayward friends.
Symeon had arrived to see the others off, but his mind was so troubled with coming events as to be of little company to anyone. Having moved to the booth at Eutychus’ request to join him, he now fidgeted with some tiny trinket picked up from the table. “His mind’s been in another place ever since learning of his girl. Isn’t good for anything…” Eutychus whispered, leaning in close to Trisha so Symeon wouldn’t hear him.
Trisha nodded, glancing down in surprise to see she was holding tight to Zadar’s hand. She chose not to let go. Then, looking around the table, she began to muse over the people seated in her company.
Well, there was Eutychus. Everybody knew the story of the sleepyhead boy who fell to his death from a window only to be returned to life by Paul – a tale many were eager to recount when in the man’s company. But a boy he no longer was. Eutychus was a giant, even dwarfing Euroaquilo, but ever so shy was he, as well as mild-tempered and soft-spoken. She once heard Paul speak of him as the man who would apologize for you hitting him. Still she felt there was something about the fellow that needed more attention. It might do well for her to get to know him better.
Jonathan sat next to Zadar in quiet conversation. A reclusive man, naturally so, he just did not reveal his inner self. Trisha knew little about him outside his earlier writings except that he and Anna were attached at the hip so to speak, they having journeyed throughout the Northern Rim colonies for parts of several years on diplomatic missions. Upon his arrival in these realms, Anna had taken such a liking to him she nearly begged Lowenah to be his mentor. After receiving approval, the two became inseparable, Jonathan also becoming very fond of her.
“I refused to give him quarter! And, on my next turnabout, drove the bastard from the sky!” Planetee hit her fist on the table at the last exclamation, having finished telling a very distracted Symeon about one of her recent military escapades.
Trisha nodded. Planetee was a warrior of pure blood, but what was the price for her loyalty? She was bone and spirit with Mihai. As if one breath were the two. Should something occur at the Prisoner Exchange, on which side would she stand? Close Trisha and Planetee were not, she having soundly dressed Trisha down in public over some misunderstood comment long ago. Neither was ever more than cordial toward the other since that time.
‘Drinks too much. I smell it on her now.’ Trisha thought. Still, the reports of her stalwart defense of Darla in front of the Council and the woman’s unbridled bravery, coupled with her tactical mind, also Lowenah’s private considerations, this Planetee could be very useful, if she survives the Prisoner Exchange.
“Now be a good fellow and let me have a look-see.” Anna nudged ever closer to Jonathan, he just having been given some little bauble by Zadar.
Trisha frowned. Anna was most charming a companion… when the mood took her. She was well respected by all the children and deeply loved by Mihai. Trisha was uncomfortable around her, especially when alone in her company. Anna always seemed too attentive, seeking more than casual intercourse with Trisha. A shudder ran down the woman’s back - a mixed feeling of disgust and arousal. Anna had cornered her once and delivered such a passionate kiss on her lips as to make the woman swoon. Had it not been for her old taboos, Trisha was sure she would have made her way to Anna’s bed that very hour.
It was the sensual power Anna had over others and how she used it that troubled Trisha. She was only beginning to understand the mind share. Anna was a witch extraordinaire at using it. Oh well, the children of this world and their ways. Anna had always been stellar with her and helpful when Trisha needed her assistance in kingly matters. Trisha shrugged, ‘I must learn their ways and accept their customs, for I am stuck here.’
A man broke away from some officers and their small talk, making straight for Trisha’s booth. Planetee recognized him immediately, calling out his name as he approached. “Well, Major Garlock – it’s still major, isn’t it – haven’t been demoted since our last meeting, have you? It’s good to see you!”
Jebbson laughed, taking up Planetee’s hand as he gracefully bowed. “Only in my self-esteem, my dear General, only in my self-esteem, that is since you have never entertained my proposal for dinner and song at one of our fine eateries in Oros.” He kissed her hand, offering sweet disappointments. “The sun is so beautiful as it breaks upon Oros’ high peaks. You should stand there with me at morning break to gather in its many splendors.”
Planetee grinned, offering gentle rebuff. “As legend has it, I would have to pick a number and wait many long mornings to have my turn to view it with you. Besides, I have been to Oros when it was a lush garden city, the Iris Sea spreading to its very gates. Countless were the times my lovers and I viewed those high peaks, long before the morning chill swept…”
The smiled vanished from Planetee’s face, she hesitating for but a moment. Shaking Jebbson’s hand, she thanked him for his generous offer. “You stir up many memories with your pleasantries, Major. Oros, oh Oros, if not for your harlotry with war there should be little more than decaying ruins of you now. In many ways you have become much like many of us, empty shells of glory past, hiding the decay within.” She shook his hand again, bidding her goodbyes.
Jebbson bowed so politely, understanding far more than his words implied. “My Lady, the invitation still stands, and no number for you.” He offered his adieus to the others and hurried after two other officers departing the diner.
Trisha quietly mused. Now there was a man after her own heart! She had need of his abilities and must seek him out right away. He might prove very useful at the Prisoner Exchange.
Idle chitchat soon turned to the topic of the hour, the coming Prisoner Exchange. Anna managed to pester or cajole the others into explaining their roles in coming events, Anna beginning, smiling proud. “As you may know, Michael personally asked for my company, she depending so much on my counsel. With such an air of uncertainty as exists at the moment, she felt it especially important for me to be at her side. We took council together for the preparation of this trip, wanting nothing to interfere with its success. Isn’t that correct, General Planetee?”
Anna’s charming smile and cheerful speech did little to hide the gloating tone in her voice. Planetee had long since tired of the silly game Anna played, needing to remind everyone how important and valuable she is. True, Anna stayed loyal to Mother after the Rebellion began, even as her glory of former days faded into the shadows when the festivals ceased, lavishing her attention now upon Mihai during the woman’s long convalescing. And she had treated Darla with a great deal of kindness, much more than most of the others did. Also, her loyalty to her brothers and sisters had cost her months of torture and rape at the hands of enemy captors during the Gihon War. Still, couldn’t she leave it go, just this once?!
Planetee and Terey were the engineers behind the strategic plan for the children’s part at the Prisoner Exchange. They had gathered the intelligence, collected the ships, crews and materials, supplies, barter goods, and everything else needed. Yet Mihai had chosen not to use either one of them in an official capacity during proceedings at the exchange, asking them instead to act as little more than body guards for her – the real reason Terey chose to book aboard the Chisamore, resentful for being pushed aside after all the work she had done for coming events.
As Planetee
pondered her reply to Anna’s question, an anxious foreboding began to fill her heart and a shadow was cast over her mind. It was as if she could see the prophecy of future days arising from the ashes of the coming storm, ignited by nearing events. Something was telling her that this Prisoner Exchange was to be no ordinary one, and the future Armageddon of her world would be triggered by it.
In an instant of time she saw a woman-child with serpentine eyes and fanged teeth crying out to the heavens in anguish, seeking revenge and death at the same moment. Planetee watched also to see that this woman stood at the fork of two different roads, one leading into uncertainty and the other into nothingness. Suddenly, a smoldering spirit appeared between Planetee and the woman. It called out to Planetee in words unuttered, ‘Will you, too, deliver your soul up to the Queen of Darkness?’ At that, the spirit lifted a sword and drove it into Planetee’s heart.
Planetee jumped, the vision vanishing before her eyes. She looked around to see everyone staring, waiting for her to answer Anna’s question. Gathering her wits, she quickly replied, “I have a contingent of fighters that will be in my charge. Protection of the fleet and all, you know.” She turned away, a feeling of gloom growing ever stronger in her heart.
“And you, dear Eutychus, what is your part in this adventure?” Anna cooed affectionately.
Eutychus blushed, shaking his head. “I guess I’m just along for the ride.”
Anna kindly chided him. “No need for such modesty, Dear. You must realize just how important a valet is to this council. Your services are most appreciated. Why, I have been told that Mihai personally requested your assistance.”
Eutychus sheepishly nodded, grinning at the attention such an important person as Anna was giving him.
Jonathan explained he was replacing Symeon for reasons that were still somewhat unclear and that little was expected of him other than putting in a formal appearance. Everyone already knew what responsibilities Zadar had, they being loudly broadcast to everyone soon after his arrival at the dining hall.
“And of you, Dear, our new field marshal…” Anna smiled so politely. “What will your duties be?”
‘Snoop!’ Trisha thought, smiling so sweetly in return. Was Anna prying for information, or needling her because Mihai had left Trisha out of most of the preparations? Anna could get jealous at times. Maybe she was taking out on Trisha her displeasure over Paul’s intrusion into Mihai’s life. Or possibly Anna was ‘just being Anna’, if there ever was a ‘just being Anna’.
Trisha’s smile grew into a grin. “My duties are to do whatever it takes to return our people back to us safe and sound, by whatever means necessary.”
The tone in Trisha’s voice abruptly ended the conversation, Anna not attempting any more questions. Quickly changing the subject, Anna went on about a few unimportant matters relating to the day’s events, some of the others chiming in with little tidbits of news to share.
Planetee’s gloominess was growing upon her to the point of distraction, the vision only the more troubling for it. Eutychus, having observed the woman’s sudden sullenness, asked if something was amiss. The woman smiled sadly but, before she could reply, a joyous shout came from a man entering the door. “Hey there, General! I’ve a parchment for you. Smells pretty. Some blonde-haired fellow handed it to me, asking I give it to you.”
Planetee turned, smiling, calling back her hellos, that smile fleeing from her face when a woman accompanying the man stepped out from behind him to offer her salutations. Then she, too, when realizing who sat at the table, became somberly quiet.
Planetee’s mind raced to past events. ‘Bauglow… Has she ever forgiven me? Why, when I ruined her in body and mind?’
The woman, too, thought of that long ago event when all Hell opened upon her regiment, delivering slaughter upon eighty percent of those under her command in what came to be called the 'Battle of Bauglow'. ‘How can she ever forgive me for the waste of souls I allowed that day?’
The man saw none of that, and when the woman feigned her need to deliver the packages she carried to the culinary workers, he waved her over. “An attendant can wait upon that for you. We’ve only fleeting moments before work separates us. Now come here and be a good fellow. Long has it been since I’ve companied with some of these folks.”
Reluctantly, the woman surrendered her packages up to a nearby counter and, forcing a smile, followed the man over to Trisha’s table. Wishing her best upon the new arrivals, a very distraught Planetee begged her leave, giving up her place at the cozy booth, saying there were many duties for her to finish before ending of the morning watch. Concerned over Planetee’s welfare, Eutychus offered her his company. She gratefully accepted. Tucking the parchment into her blouse, Planetee tipped her head, saying her pleasantries, and departed with Eutychus.
As they waited for a passing motor coach to hitch a ride out to the fleet, some three miles’ distance, Eutychus attempted some small talk. It was futile, considering Planetee’s frame of mind. Although it was a pleasant, sunny day, Planetee stood shivering, rubbing her hands up and down her arms for warmth.
“Here! Take my coat.” Eutychus quickly removed his uniform jacket and draped it over Planetee’s shoulders. Smiling her thanks, she pulled it tight, wrapping up in it as though it were a giant cocoon.
The mood was quiet for some time. Finally, Planetee broke the silence. “I’m trying to stay off the stuff, you know, at least for the Prisoner Exchange.” She looked into Eutychus’ face. “Don’t tell anyone. Promise?”
Eutychus nodded.
Planetee cast her eyes toward the ground. “My friend, I’m sick, I mean really sick… inside. Something’s wrong, a cancer or something, maybe worse. I hurt all the time. That’s why I take to the drink. I coughed up a lot of blood last night.”
She looked into Eutychus’ eyes. “The healing machines help some, but I never have enough time to make a cure, if that’s possible. My friend, tell no one please. And my head is all screwed up with frightening dreams and wild visions. Sometimes I can’t tell what’s real. Oh, I don’t mean reality, like us being here right now. I mean what’s made up in my head, like a dream or something, and what may be coming from someplace else, like a vision or something. Had one just a little bit ago in the eatery. I still feel a burning in my heart from it.”
Reaching out a hand, Planetee grasped Eutychus’ upper arm. “I may be sick, but I am a witch and still have my powers of wit with me. I fear… I fear there is a great evil lurking among us. I felt it this morning when I went into this place.” She pointed back toward the diner. “Something tried to cloud my mind, succeeded in some way, that is until we came outside. Now I fear for the journey. If not for Mother’s company, I’d say we were sailing off into damnation!”
She looked up, not noticing the fluffy white clouds of a summer morning hurrying away toward the east. “My friend, there is a storm brewing as I speak. Ferocious and vicious it will be. I feel it… inside…” She put her hand to her heart. “I will not survive this one… see this coming conflagration on to its end. This war will be my last, for good or ill.”
As her eyes filled with tears, Planetee turned toward Eutychus, pleading, “If your kind do not succeed, no one will survive what’s coming. We, the children of this universe, have no power left within us. We’re burned out, burned up. There has been too much death, murder and treachery forced upon us. Your kind have been blessed with such short lifetimes, for your tribulations quickly pass. Ours never end. Please! Eutychus, promise me you will not fail me… me and my people!”
Eutychus stared back, wanting to ease Planetee’s concerns. Before he could reply, an open motor coach loaded with exuberant sailors turned the corner. Seeing the two people standing at the curb, the driver quickly veered toward them, noisily stopping right beside. Crying out cheerily, the driver asked, “Looking for a ride? Heading out to Staging Area Two, if that’s where you’re going,
or can take you on to Staging Area One, whichever. Got room for two more.”
Planetee nodded, smiling. “Two is fine.”
As the driver opened the door of the motor coach, Planetee turned to Eutychus, gripping his hand while softly beseeching, “You will stay with me today, at least for a while?”
Eutychus grinned, “My duties are finished until everyone’s boarded. I’ll stay as long as you like.”
The two climbed on, squeezing into the crowded machine. The driver called out a warning and throttled back into the street, hurrying for the far end of the spaceport.