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Greetings everyone! I hope the start of the week wasn't too rough for any of you. In this neck of the woods my partner is down for the count with some kind of vital infection. This pretty much means I am taking care of everything, while they rest. Normally this wouldn't be a pain; however, as they watch TV in the next room while I work, this becomes very distracting, very quickly. Guess I'll just have to turn up the volume of my music.

Karesh was nervous. So nervous in fact that he did not want Myla to see it as he had sent her and the children ahead of him to the ceremony. He still had the letter clutched in his hand. He read it again before balling it up and throwing it against the wall with a grunt of displeasure. On all the days that this could have happened why today?

You cannot welcome a new child without me being there.

He growled under his breath and kicked at the balled-up piece of paper. “Puppet King.”

Human royalty had pretty much remained the same all these centuries in Karesh’s family. The eldest male heir ruled. However, Karesh was not the eldest of the children in his family. He had a sister or rather he had had a sister.

She had been born well before him and was heavily doted on by their parents for many years. Always a son would come in due time, they had not cared who their daughter fell in love with or married. The problem came in when the Old Queen and Princess both became pregnant with sons. The first son to be born would be the ruler and the oldest male heir. The old King would have none of that and sent his only daughter and future grandson as far away as he could. When the father had heard of this, he had made a plea to the King to return his wife, even saying that he would denounce the throne, but the Old King refused it and banished the husband along with the Princess.

Karesh was born and was never the wiser until his sister had returned when he was about five demanding to see her parents. She refused to speak of her children or the father of the children. With Karesh’s position secured on the throne, their parents had allowed her to return. Kara always acted friendly to him but as the years progressed, he became painfully aware that it was all a facade. She hated him with every breath she took but never allowed it to show. It wasn’t until Karesh was much older than his parents accidentally let slip that there had been another male heir that had threatened his position on the throne. He was so young then he had raced right to his sister to demand the truth. He still remembered her words to this day as they were the last, she had ever spoken to him.

“If you hadn’t been born, I could have kept my son.”

Karesh scratched at his head in irritation. He had never gotten over the guilt of that and when his own firstborn had been a son it had started the downward spiral that would eventually lead to him finding his sister with slit wrists in a bath. He never forgave his deceased parents because of that. They had taken the only family he had ever known away from him. After burying his sister, he had spared no expense at finding the man she had had her son with, hoping to bury the hatchet between them. It had been a disaster. Though Karesh had been born before his nephew, Pura, the boy’s father, Furor never forgave his wife’s family for what they had done to them. He also never forgave his wife for returning and leaving their family to return to royalty. Pura hadn’t been the only child. There had been a set of twins born before Kara returned home.

Furor was bitter and angry and had been stewing in these emotions for almost two decades. By the time Karesh sought him out he was not pleased with being tracked down by the person he had blamed all these years. He had nothing but harsh words for Karesh and even a few choice ones which are best not repeated. Karesh hadn’t even gotten to see his sister’s children before being runoff. He hadn’t even realised his deadly mistake until it was far too late, and his own eldest son was dead.

The takeover had happened so quickly. He was barely one foot off the planet before Furor became regent whilst his son Pura was being trained to be King. A puppet king was then installed by the lizard overlords. The Lizards knew that the humans would never bend to knee to one of their own, but they would if it was proved that one of their royal bloods sat upon the throne. All which Karesh had provided for them.

He sighed heavily and then looked at the other letter that had arrived. This was a very gaudy letter, trimmed with gold and written in large looping letters.

We are pleased that another has been chosen.

He wanted to scream internally. Furor and the Heavenly were coming to the coronation and he wasn’t able to stop either of them. Furor was welcome on the planet as long as he brought no lizards, and no one could stop the Heavenly from doing anything they wanted.

Though the Heavenly looked like humans this was a pure facade. They looked like whatever they needed to gain the trust of the people to whom they were talking. They were ancient beyond anything and often shoved their noses into businesses which were not theirs, however, they were tolerated by all races for one reason and one reason only.

Favours.

Akin to having mystic powers, the Heavenly were thought to be messengers from gods, or creatures beyond mortal understanding, depending on what dogma you followed. They would bestow favours to whomever they thought was worthy. These favours allowed the receiver to ask for anything. Anything. It had been centuries since the last favour had been bestowed and it hadn’t been since the birth of Aleux that Karesh had received a letter from them. Myla did not like them one bit as her science could not explain them and telling her to just believe would be disastrous.

Rubbing at his eyes Karesh muttered under his breath. “I was hoping to shelter the girl from politics a little longer. It doesn’t look like that will be possible. I could have handled the Heavenly or Furor but not both!”
He knew he couldn’t keep his family waiting for too much longer, but he had to play his cards right. He had always suspected Furor was the reason the assassins had managed to get to his son in the first place but there had been no proof. With a new royal being welcomed today would he try again?

Doran hated these official ceremonies but as the King’s right-hand man he had no choice but to be there for the presentation. However, he had been waylaid by a messenger early that morning with a note. It had been written in military shorthand which explained the two assassination attempts and alluded to the possibility of another today. He knew this way of writing. It was Lizard script, something he had forced himself to learn how to read when he was younger. It had been signed with an odd stick figure.

“A lizard signing as a mammal. How odd.” He whispered.

He was not sure if this was a hoax or truth, but he could not risk doing anything. The first thing he had done was to send a warning to the Royal family, but they had already left for the ceremony grounds. Then he sent soldiers to find them and return them to the safety of the compound which he had already searched from top to bottom with his own life force. He was exhausted by the time it was completed. There was nothing here that wasn’t someone he knew and trusted with his life. If there were to be another attack today it would not be here.

With the compound now clear he forced himself to rush to the ceremony grounds where he finally caught up to Karesh. Before he could even open his mouth, the King said. “I know.”

“Then why are you continuing this!?” Demanded Doran.

“Because the Heavenly are here.” He whispered so the other guards wouldn’t hear.

“What?” Doran paled. “Here? As in, they are here personally? Why?”

The warrior shook his head suddenly and said. “Wait, how exactly do you know what I was going to say?”

“Saita told me about her night-time visitor. Saseric.” Karesh ground his teeth. “The girl has no fear. She had no idea to whom she was casually talking.”

“Saseric? Is she sure? How is she alive!?”

Karesh pointed to the extra guards milling around the stand he was seated in. “I don’t know what game he is playing with her, but she was extremely lucky. These are the guards that were protecting Dock 18, I had them recalled as soon as Saita told me. He should have left quite some time ago.”

“Karesh are you mad!?” Doran exclaimed in a harsh whisper. “Saseric is the most…”

“He could have killed everyone in the compound last night, but he decided to speak to a little girl. Made a trade with her.” Karesh fiddled with a letter in his hands. “I suppose you were handed a letter this morning in Lizard script?”

“Yes but…”

“I got one as soon as I arrived. Saseric already has people on this planet that work for him. The Lizard assassin has humans working for him. The people are discontent, this proves it. We need to make moves to take our planet back.” Karesh opened the letter. “Look.”

This letter was not written in shorthand but full length and was very detailed about the potential attack today. Karesh snorted and said. “And how would he know anything? If he has left, how would he know what is going to happen.”

Karesh took his time explaining what Saita had told him very early that morning. Doran was pale with fear and anger. He could not believe that Saita had just casually spoken to the number one assassin to the Lizard kind.

“Does she not realise the danger she placed herself in?” He demanded.

“How would she know?” Said Karesh as he stuffed the letter back into a pocket. “We have been so busy preparing her speech and abilities that we didn’t think to explain our enemies by name.”

“And now the Heavenly are here. What do they want?”

“Likely the same thing as Furor: to meet Saita.”

Karesh watched Doran’s face turn a dark purple of pure rage. “Furor is coming?”

“Sadly, yes.”

“And you gave him permission!”

“This is a neutral planet, what would you have me do?” Karesh ground his teeth once more. “As long as there are no lizards, he is welcome on this planet.”

“He had your son killed!”

“Despite our mutual feelings about this, there was never any proof.” Said Karesh sadly. “Guess we will have to see what happens.”

“Shall I have more guards summoned?”

“What difference would it really make? Anyway, Saita is with Aleux, and you are with me. We couldn’t get better protection even if we tried.” Karesh sighed. “Look down there.”

Doran noticed the Queen and her son in deep conversation while the soon to be Princess stood off to one side. She was scanning the people who moved around below her with a look of pure concentration.

“She has been trained.” Said Karesh. “It may not be in her memory, but it has been engrained somehow. She managed to creep into our room this morning without alerting the guards and woke me to tell me about Saseric. When I demanded why she had not called for me much earlier, do you know what she said?”

“I could guess ‘I didn’t feel threatened’.” Doran snorted.

“Let that sink in for a minute. She isn’t scared of Saseric who has thousands of names under his belt, but she is terrified of the thing she ran from. What am I dragging my family into?”

“If you want to back out Karesh now is the time to do it. You have a valid reason.”

“Myla would kill me and no. I have made my decision.” Karesh waved to the girl child who just noticed him talking to Doran.

She waved back and grinned before bounding over to them much to the surprise of Aleux and Myla.

“Saseric sent the letters, right?” She said with a grin.

Doran was about to tell her off for her idiocy, but Karesh bent over to look her in the eyes. “You know that next time you see a Lizard you need to speak to me first, right?”

“Hmm.” She pouted.

“You could have been hurt.” Added Doran.

“No.” Said the girl. “Not this time. Could feel he was honest but was tired. Next time I will call the guard.”

“What else do you feel?” Asked Karesh. “I saw you looking into the crowd. Are you nervous?”

She shook her head. “I’m not nervous but I feel a lot of anger. Like when you get angry.”

“Furor.” Said Doran with a hiss.

“No...that isn’t his name.” She shook her head. “This is...Vir...Viree...I can’t say his name.

“Viribus?” Queried Karesh with a pale face.

“Maybe…”

“How…?” Doran started.

“Uhm…” Saita tapped her head. “Feel things sometimes. Know things other times. Not sure why, started about a week ago.”

“Her puberty is making abilities come to light.” Said Myla as she joined them with Aleux in tow. “Did I hear you say Viribus? Does that mean…?”

“I didn’t want to worry you.” Started Karesh. “Furor plans to be here today. I suppose being open about Saita had some disadvantages.”

Myla smiled sadly. “You cannot blame him for Natus.”

“Whether he had a direct role or he contributed doesn’t matter.” Growled Karesh. “He and his son are puppet Kings installed by the Lizards. That is my throne.”

“Is it so terrible here for you?” She asked sadly.

Before Karesh could answer Saita jumped down several stairs to stand before someone who had slowly made his way toward the royal couple. He was a tall man that easily towered over Saita. Muscular arms ending in large hands gripped the railing whilst pulling a lithe body forward. Messy, long black hair hung loose which caused some to hang in his green eyes. Saita looked him up and down with a massive smile on her face. She genuinely looked pleased to see this person. To anyone seeing this, they would have thought that she was meeting an old family member she had not seen in a long time but those that knew the man would know that she had no idea who he was.

“Pura!” She exclaimed excitedly. “I heard you. Come, come.”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him up towards Karesh and Myla. The man looked a little bewildered but allowed the child to lead him toward the waiting royals. He found it very difficult to look either of them in the eye when he came to stand next to them.

“Will keep a lookout!” Exclaimed Saita as she released him and ran back to the only entrance of the stands.

“So that is Saita.” The man named Pura smiled. “Myla, you couldn’t have chosen a more talented child.”

“It is Karesh who will take her, Pura.” Said Myla with a small smile. “Where is your father? I thought that he would…”

“Viribus is...acting out, he stayed back for a few minutes, and I thought this would be the most opportune time to speak without my words being manipulated.” Pura whispered. “Karesh...no, Uncle, we need to talk. There is to be a…”

“We know.” Said Doran.

“But...I…” The man lost his train of thought and was unable to continue.
“What do we know?” Asked Myla. “Not more surprises I hope.”

“You will need to trust me, please.” Said Pura. “I know that our families have warred for years and there have been deaths but please, you need to listen to me.”

“Saseric told us everything.” Said Karesh as he pulled a letter from his pocket. “However, I am somewhat on the fence with my feelings about this. Pleased that you admit that something is going to happen yet furious that you had the gall to organise something on a day like today.”

“Saseric? What’s going to happen?” Demanded the Queen.

“The male bloodline is being targeted.” Whispered Pura. “The Lizards want to ensure my position on the throne.”

“That explains a lot.” Said Aleux. “I have no stake in my father’s throne, yet I still get attacked. They want the eldest male line eliminated.”

Myla looked pale but her eyes blazed with fury. “Doran, take the children home this instant. This ceremony is over.”

“I am not leaving you two exposed…”

However, Myla interrupted him. “I will not lose another child because of the string-pulling of the Lizards and as for you!”

She turned to Pura, who paled, before continuing. “You risked your own life in coming to tell us.”

“Despite what happened between my parents and grandparents no child should have to suffer for that. I never wanted any of this. I would have been perfectly happy to have never known about the throne.”

“Anger coming!” Called Saita.

“I thought we would have more time. Damn it.” Pura hissed under his breath.
Saita took a few steps back as an exceptionally large man stepped forward. The resemblance to the thinner man was uncanny but where Pura was lithe, this man was far more muscular though shorter in stature. His messy black hair was hastily tied up and clearly hadn’t been brushed in a while. His dark blue eyes bore down on Saita who only stared up at him in wonder.

“You are strong.” She said.

Viribus only grunted and stood aside with his arms crossed, he clearly had not calmed down much from the temper tantrum he had had earlier. Close behind him was a woman whose body shape was more like Pura’s. She did not share the dark hair of her brothers but a lighter grey, much like her mother, when she still lived. Bright green eyes smiled at those around her, but the joy did not seem to go to her lips as she bent over to look at Saita.

“You must be the new princess.”

“Hmm.” Saita grinned shily and rubbed at her right arm nervously. “I guess.”

“You are adorable.” Finally, a smile appeared and a hand came forward.

Saita put her right hand forward to shake it, just as she had been taught, but the woman instead placed it on top of her head and gently stroked her hair. “Such a sweet kid. Don’t you think so Viribus?”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. She is far stronger than what she is letting on.” Mumbled the large man. “She is just barely tolerating your attention.”

“Spoilsport. What is your name, little one?”

“Saita and you are...uhm...Key...Keyah? I am not sure how to say it.”

“Kiai. Try saying it like this, key-aye-ee.”

“Kiai.” Saita blushed a little. “You understand.”

Kiai held her hand up and said. “Your manifestation is pure power, mine is read people. I understand.”

“Like Meedus!”

“I don’t know who Meedus is but yes, I suppose.”

“Stop playing with the child and let’s just...get this over with.” Said Viribus with a grunt.

“Viribus, always so impatient.”

Saita had never been good with being able to describe things but with this voice, she had an excellent idea of how to express oily now. From the stairs came a squat man, about the height of Karesh but stockier. He was heavily scarred and tattooed alike with no hair on his head. His dark eyes bore down on Saita who took a step away from him with a frown on her face.

“Oh? This thing is to be the new princess?” The man tilted his head and grinned at Karesh. “Couldn’t find anything else at the orphanage that suited your need to fill the hole of loss with Natus’ death?”

“Father!” Hissed Kiai. “Not the place nor the time!”

Karesh would not be baited; Furor was not worth it. Not now, not today. He was concerned though when Saita simply walked past Furor to stand next to Viribus, who was leaning on the railing. She hopped up on the railing to look down below them.

“Can you sense them?” She asked the larger man.

“Hmm?” Viribus looked at her in surprise. “You too huh? Thought I was the only one who could sense them.”

“What are you babbling about boy?” Demanded Furor.

“The Heavenly are here.” Said the large man. “And not just one. Two at least.”

“Two Heavenly! I don’t even remember the last time I saw one!” Said Kiai as she went to the railing and looked down.

“The letter arrived this morning.” Said Karesh with a grin. “The fact that two actually showed up means something big is to happen today. Must be because you decided to join us Furor, with the whole family in tow.”

Furor’s jaw bulged but he said nothing. He was not going to be goaded by Karesh. However, the fact that the Heavenly were here meant that something indeed was going to transpire today. Letters were often sent but rarely did the strange people show up at any events. Viribus could sense them, and he had only sensed them on several planets a few times in his life.

“Where is Astec?” Asked Saita.

“Astec?” Karesh looked up at Furor. “You had more children? Last I heard the twins were the last of my sister’s brood.”

“Astec is mine.” Said Viribus softly. “My son.”

“I’m sorry.” Said Saita. “I am still learning to turn everything off…”

“You would not have known, young one.” Viribus laid a hand on her head. “No one outside of the family knows.”

“Viribus…” Kiai said softly. “Perhaps it is best you do not touch…”

“I am calm, sister.” He said. “Sad but calm.”

“He was a twin, wasn’t he?” Asked Saita as she put her hand on top of his hand.

There was silence for a while as they stared over the gathering masses before them. Viribus sighed and said. “His brother was born too weak, choked by his own birth cord. It was a mercy he passed soon. Astec will carry both of their names.”

“I’d like to meet him one day.” Saita grinned.

“Likely you will.” Said Furor who frowned. “Which is why I am here today to talk to your...father…”

Furor sighed and said softly. “We have hatred for each other, that is true. Things were done that were beyond my control, but I will not apologise for it. I will never apologise for it, but things today are not right.”

“Father…” Started Pura, somewhat surprised at his father’s words.

“The Heavenly are here boy!” Furor hissed. “Do you believe that there is any other way!”

Myla and Karesh looked at each other in confusion before Myla nudged Aleux towards his new sister. “Go to Saita, do not leave her side. Do you hear me?”

“Of course, Mother.” Aleux went to stand between Saita and Kiai.

“Speak freely now that little ears are no longer hear.” Said Myla with her stern voice.

“No doubt the boy has told you that there will be an assassination today.” Furor looked to Pura and the younger man seemed to shrink in on himself. “The plan is to remove the male bloodline.”

Karesh felt hot anger spread over his body, but his wife’s calming touch caused him to stop the angry words building in his chest.

“They think they are so clever.” Spat Furor. “I was blinded by my rage, my anger toward your family, your sister but…”

Here he paused to reach for Pura’s messy hair. He pulled his son closer to join their foreheads and he said softly. “She is the mother of my children and I love them. I cannot hate her if I love them, and I cannot hate you for what was done to our family.”

He released Pura to look at Karesh. “I wasn’t going to warn you. I was going to remain silent and see what happened but now the Heavenly are here.”

Myla was surprised to see the tears of frustration coming to Furor’s face. “The Lizards want to destroy both lines and take the riches of the humans as their own. No royals mean the humans can be enslaved with ease, we are not known for making allies and there is no one to protect us.”

“Why come at all then? Why not run and hide?” Spat Karesh.

“Because Myla doesn’t deserve my hate.” He said simply looking to the Queen before he bowed his head. “I will yield to your rule.”

Myla blinked a few times before roaring with laughter. “My rule? Surely you jest! I haven’t ever ruled. My family has been aligned to Karesh’s for so long they were seen as the true Human Royal line.”

“You misunderstand my father.” Said Pura. “He will yield to a female ruler.”

“Do you mean…?” Myla looked over to where Kiai was laughing with her two children and even the sour-faced Viribus was smiling. “Saita?”

“Viribus’ son is about her age. A union between the two of them sees the royal line secured not only through actual royal blood but also a child from you and Karesh.” Said Pura softly.

“You are King.” Said Karesh harshly. “Why give up your position to your nephew?”

“I told you before.” Said Pura. “I never wanted this. I never wanted the throne. I never wanted to deal with the Lizards and I sure as hell wanted no part in the death of your firstborn.”

“Enough boy.” Said Furor sternly. “Enough of that.”

“They are children.” Said Karesh. “They have no training…”

“They will have time if we can stop the assassination that is to happen today.” Said Furor.

“Why?” Demanded Karesh. “Why all this now!”

“Because the Heavenly.” Said Kiai from below them. “They changed his mind.”

“Stay out of my head girl.” Growled Furor.

“How do you expect me to just be okay with this?” Said Karesh. “My son is dead! Dead because of your hate.”

Myla gripped his hand tightly and whispered. “This is not a decision we can make whilst there are those planning to assassinate you. This is something that will take months, for now, let’s just get through the day and move on from there.”

Doran stood there seething in silent anger as he looked back and forth between the various royal family members. He could not, no, would not, believe that Furor was here out of the goodness of his heart. He did not buy the fact that he believed in the Heavenly and he sure as hell didn’t believe that he would so casually mention marrying off his own grandson to his soon-to-be-niece. There had to be a catch.

Snorting, the man jumped several steps to remove Saita from the bannister and he grabbed Aleux’s hand. He turned to face the royals and simply said. “I will take the children home.”

Myla looked torn; she had ordered it of him but now she was not so sure. She felt that Furor had been sincere, but she feared losing any more members of her family. Before she could say anything, there was a roar from the crowd. At first, she didn’t know what was happening but the next moment she was on the ground, dazed and even more confused. There was screaming, smoke and was that blood dripping into her eyes? She blinked and tried to rub at her face, but pain sheared through her right arm. She was pinned under something, and she did not know what. Fighting for consciousness she tried to pull her arm free which only resulted in sharp pain in the appendage before her vision faded to nothing.

An explosion, a rush of heat and then pain. That was what most on top of the stadium had experienced before the attack began. Humans ran in all directions trying to see where the attack had come from but of those that had planted the bombs, there was no trace. Why be there when the deed was done when you could be safely tucked away watching the carnage from safety? Surely the bombs would be enough? What royal family was dumb enough to gather all in one place where they could all be targeted?

The taste of fear was strong in the air as the cloaked figure pretended to flee in panic with the rest of the humans. Sure, there was the little twinge of guilt at having to kill children, but the money was so good who were they to pass up the opportunity. If nothing else, those scaly bastards paid well. No one saw the grin on the figure’s face as it turned down an alley.

“Not like we need the royals for anything.” It whispered. “Trade is good and we…”

A blade plunged into its chest and the man looked at it stupidly before looking up and seeing nothing but a glimmer in the air.

“One good turn deserves another.” Hissed a voice as the blade was slowly turned. “I missed all the vital organs, friend. What do you say to us having some fun?”

With the panic in the street, no one heard the screams in the alley.

Well, well, well. An arranged marriage and an attack on the human royals. Things are heating up. A bit of a long read today, so I hope you all enjoy.
If you want to enjoy more of my writing drop by and support @zakludick and my other book (a chain story) Mortis Custos. Part 19 dropped yesterday.
Remember, you are all welcome to reach out to ask questions, leave a comment, or a follow. If you want in or out of the reading list, just let me know and I'll adjust it.