Walking briskly Saturna returned to her quarters by way of the secret passage. She entered her chambers through the hidden door and went quickly to the chair where her red gown lay. Fast asleep on the sleeve of the gown was Peep. “Oh my goodness” exclaimed Saturna as she gently moved Peep to the pillow at the top of bed. Donning the red taffeta gown once more and quickly combing her hair, Saturna went to check on Peep before she returned to the arena. Peep now awake was holding out her arms to Saturna.
“I know you’d like to come to the arena, Peep, but I don’t have a pocket on my gown.” Peep looked disheartened and let out several little squeaks in protest while keeping her arms extended. “Well alright, I’ll put the wool cape back over my shoulders, and you can slip into the crest pocket right here.”
Before Saturna had the wool cape fastened, Peep ran up the skirt of the gown to the cloak and into the pocket opening. The start time for the final rounds was quickly approaching and Saturna decided it would be best to take a faster route through the gold door and down the castle hallways. She hurried out of her suite, through the gold door to the guard’s confusion--they had not seen her arrive and had no idea how she had entered her quarters. Saturna realized this, but offered no explanation. Suddenly the door opposite the royal chambers opened and Anton in full military dress exited with great urgency.
“Your Majesty,” he said, abruptly halting. He was very surprised to see her in the hallway with the competitions still going on. “You fought and you won,” he whispered with a polite bow of his head, noticing the guards at the gold door watching them.
“Yes Anton. I only pray you are strong enough for the finals. The Wisdom Keeper told me you must fight Thor of Veectors.”
“He is a fine warrior. I must try and recall any weakness in his handling of the bullen. Did you see him fight today, My Queen?” asked Anton, mesmerized by her beauty.
“I missed his match, but I shall find out what I can for you Anton,” whispered Saturna. Looking up at him she again felt a linking of minds and her heart began to pound rapidly. “I wish you luck,” she said through their mind link.
“I will win for you as you won for me,” he replied through thought. Bowing he turned to go to the arena and although he wanted to turn back and look at Saturna once more, he knew he should not. Although he was an officer of the kingdom, he had no royal blood and therefore any hopes he might have to marry the Queen, were totally out of the question.
Saturna hurried in the opposite direction to her box, patting her pocket several times to ensure Peep was secure. She needed to find out information about Thor, and knew Gondee was the one she had to speak too. As Saturna retook her place in the cubicle she observed several inhabitants gawking. Some of them had noticed her absence. She locked eyes and stared back at them, and they quickly turned around. She hoped they hadn’t associated her with the previous match.
The last and final competition was about to begin. It was the match the inhabitants with great anticipation had waited anxiously for.
“Zard Officer Anton against Veectors Officer Thor” said the announcer. The board flashed the odds, weighted slightly in Thor’s favor. Inhabitants had stood in long lines to bet on this competition as the payout for the last match was very large.
Saturna sighed looking at the board nervously. “I feel responsible for the whole situation. What was I thinking? The way I fought has affected the odds,” she said to herself.
Detis, still in the Veectoreze box, stood up for a closer look at the fighters as they paraded around the arena. Smiling, she applauded herself for her quick thinking. With Anton in his weakened state, Thor should have no problem in carrying out her plan. And when Thor was charged with criminal intent to harm, the act done before thousands of witnesses, he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. No one would believe his excuse. It’s too bad to get rid of Anton though, he would have made a good servant and Thor in prison following the act that was also a waste, however some sacrifices just had to be made. “Oh well,” she snickered, “two down with one stone. Not a bad day’s work.”
Beside Detis sat her Veectoreze friends clutching their betting tickets. Detis had advised them the odds would be against Anton and this proved right when the board flashed the numbers. The Veectoreze inhabitants were conversing rapidly, smiling at Detis and at each other for the good luck and advice. All of them were now on the edge of their seats, waiting for the match to begin. Just looking at the size difference between Anton and Thor, as they walked their heppals around the arena saluting the crowd, the Veectoreze knew their chances of losing were zero. Because of Detis, they had increased their bets dramatically and would all come into easy money very soon. Turning back to see Saturna, Detis was exhilarated at her worried expression.
“I sense you need me,” said Gondee, bowing before Saturna.
“Oh Gondee,” Saturna cried through her auri, “Anton’s burden is mine. I’m sure he has no chance against Thor having just risen from his sick bed. And look at the odds! If anything happens it will be my fault. I’ve caused this!”
“First of all, My Queen, let me sit below you. The inhabitants stare. Now remember, you are the Queen of Zard and must portray indifference at all times. You must not be seen to favor one inhabitant over another. Your subjects must have faith in you and your ability to rule the kingdom. Thor is indeed a great fighter. However no one matches Anton’s speed and accuracy with the bullen. If Anton has the strength to last through the first few strikes, he will do well,” whispered Gondee.
The horns blew a signal for the fighters to ready themselves back at the starting gate. The tension was mounting as the crowd waited. Nervous inhabitants shifted in their seats to get a better view. When the shot was fired there was a low rumble in the stands followed by deathly silence.
Anton and Thor galloped thunderously towards each other, a cloud of dust rising behind them. They both struck out with their weapons and there was a grating clang as the bullens met, but neither player fell. The minute the bullens were pulled back from the strike; the warriors move away from one another, only to turn and prepare to charge again. Both of these seasoned fighters knew you had to be the aggressor to win the competition.
Anton could feel the sweat beneath his gloves and the ache between his shoulders as he lifted the bullen again and again to strike and block. The dust was making it difficult to see a weakness in his opponent. The only oddness about the way Thor was fighting was how he was raising the bullen just slightly above the height restriction as if he was aiming for Anton’s head. This unusual maneuver was throwing Thor’s balance off somewhat. And Anton figured his opponent was trying to tire him out before a final strike. It was working. He struggled to lift the bullen as Thor bore down upon him.
If he did not do something very quickly, Anton knew Thor would be the victor. He tried to focus on a match he had seen Thor win, many years before, remembering Thor was a superior fighter in strength, but finesse, nimbleness and agility in his handling of the bullen were all lacking. If he could strike rapidly before Thor could block, he might have a chance. Anton’s eyes felt gritty and he wanted to close them for a second and rest, but there was no opportunity. Shaking his head, Anton focused on Thor’s bulk and his awkward movements outwardly apparent when the giant adjusted the height of his weapon. Anton desperately needed an opening, just one and he would be ready to strike and take Thor down.
Rapidly turning his heppal around, Anton became the aggressor approaching Thor at a full gallop. With every clang of metal, the crowd roared with a pulsing, infectious excitement. Most of the inhabitants were standing so they could see the action, waving the dust coming from the arena out of their way. Visibility was limited as great quantities of dust floated into the stands, but it only seemed to inflame the crowd. Soon screaming and banging of the seats began, as the inhabitants attempted to rouse their competitor to win.
Saturna was concentrating intently on the match and jumped w
hen she heard a great sneeze coming from her cape. Looking down she saw Peep hanging by one arm over the edge of her pocket. “Peep!” she yelled, grabbing on to the little body just in time. “You could have fallen! What are you doing? Are you trying to get a better view?” Saturna asked sighing. She placed Peep in an indented portion of the gold plated railing, which surrounded the box. “Now, we need to focus on Anton and somehow help him win this match,” she said quietly as she looked back to the arena, not really knowing if the little pixie understood.
Everyone seemed wildly provoked except Saturna, who desperately tried to have no facial expression as she helplessly watched the event. She could feel every strike and knew Anton was losing his strength. She had to do something to help, but what?
“Gondee, what do you observe of Thor and the way he is handling the bullen?” Saturna asked using her auri.
“I see as Thor is tiring, he is favoring his right side. Tell Anton after the next encounter to turn quickly using speed, and strike to Thor’s right” replied Gondee.
Saturna attempted to reach Anton’s thoughts, concentrating with all her might, but she was finding it difficult with the intense noise from the crowd.
“I can’t reach him Gondee,” said a worried Saturna.
“Relax little one and use your mind-link. Although you have not used it much, you are one-half Turnti and have reached Anton this way before. My auri tells me.”
Suddenly Anton turned and circled not to the left but to the right and struck quickly to his opponent’s chest. Thor fell to the ground and the crowd became uncontrollably crazy. The yelling and stomping was so intense that the vibration it created was felt throughout the stands. The inhabitants, who had gambled on Thor to win, called for a penalty to Anton. While the few who had bet on Anton to win, almost stampeded to the betting windows.
When the remaining inhabitants realized the judges had left the match as a win for Zard Officer Anton, they began to disperse unhappily grumbling.
The dust began to settle, and Saturna watched Anton painfully dismount his horse and extend his hand to Thor. She was pleased when Thor took the offer of friendship. At that exact moment loud arguing erupted from the stands. Someone was yelling wildly. Looking below Saturna could see the blackness encompassing the Veectoreze box and nearby inhabitants scurrying away. She saw Detis and her unhappy Veectoreze friends staring at their worthless tickets. Extremely exhausted by the tension of the last match, Saturna stood unmoving, staring at the commotion below.
“Shall I take care of this, Your Majesty?” asked Gondee.
”Yes, thank you. The issues with Detis never seem to end! What would I do without you, Gondee?” said Saturna with a slight grin as she returned Peep to her pocket and exited the box.
Gondee slowly approached the lower Veectoreze cubicle. “Princess Detis, by order of the Queen silence yourself and stop humiliating the royal family,” said Gondee. Detis turned slowly and glared at the little dwarf, who dared to address her.
“I won’t be told what or what not to do, by you hiding behind Saturna’s skirts. I have powers beyond your wildest dreams you ugly creature and if you were as wise as they say you are, you’d fall on your knees and serve me! Tell that to your child Queen,” hissed Detis. Picking up her cape Detis stomped away, kicking the littered betting tickets discarded by her Veectoreze friends.
Gondee looked at the blackness around him knowing evil powers, true to Detis’s words were growing. As a Urite, the blackness made him slightly uncomfortable, but he was not afraid. His only concern was the protection of Saturna. It was unfortunate Saturna had inherited the crown at such a young age. Saturna’s life was in great danger, of that Gondee was certain. He had to somehow help her understand without dampening her youthful spirit and zest for life.
It had been decided to tell Saturna only what she needed to know at this time, no more. There were many demands in running the kingdom and no point in causing Saturna to worry about her own security. Oron had been adamant and Gondee had agreed, however now he doubted that decision. These were not normal times and the unusual happenings, which were occurring on a daily basis, made Gondee extremely uneasy. He would speak to Oron tonight about his concern.
As he joined the crowd to walk back to the castle, he noticed the variety of inhabitants, who had come to Zard for the celebrations. Looking at the many interesting and different races, he wondered who was helping Detis. Gondee was aware Detis employed Kievils. She was entitled to a large stipend from the kingdom, money that Gondee personally organized and sent to her. The amount although great, was not enough to buy sentries and weapons to take over the realm. If this was her plan, she needed support and funding from someone else, but who?
He was sure Veectors was involved, and wondered if the sanctions placed against the planet following the Great War had been strict enough to prevent an accumulation of weapons. Veectors was not a rich planet, and had lost money and trading rights when the restrictions were put in place. It was still obvious even after eighteen years that they were resentful and looking for any opportunity to gain status and power in the kingdom.
Eros was another possibility, especially because it was originally a planet of thieves. Three hundred years ago, the planet had been used as a dumping ground for the criminals of the Zardian Solar System. Considered a dry, useless planet with very few resources, unsavory inhabitants were transported there and left without a way to leave. Over time the population had grown and flourished much to Zard’s dismay. Today, out of nine planets, Eros was placed as the fifth most important, but of course wanted desperately to move to second place, next to Zard.
When a pair of lanky, long armed and arrogant Jatteens cut in front of him, he thought about the second to last planet in the Solar System. Jattee was a dwarf planet with many valuable ground resources. Trillions of diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies of various colors and sizes could be found buried only inches under the surface of the soil. The immense wealth was a major problem for Jattee, and to protect it they were forced to install a magnetic field which completely surrounded the planet. They also had to strictly monitor all native and alien travelers to prevent theft of the jewels. Jattee had much wealth, but was only permitted to have a skeleton army. This required them to rely on Zard for protection. Bitter about this and the fact that Zard imposed taxes on their resources made Jattee often threaten to sever itself from the Solar System and become independent.
As the crowd inched slowly forward, Gondee listened to the many dialects and interesting conversations. The joyous inhabitants appeared to be totally oblivious to the impending doom Gondee felt encompassing him. Glancing back towards the Veectoreze box, Gondee watched the blackness creeping towards the castle. He had a very strong feeling something awful was about to occur!