Chapter Twelve
Detis had had enough. The pleasantries that went with the medal giving were making her ill. She was only interested in the top winners, not the peons, who had risen once in rank.
“So here’s your medal, blah, blah, blah. Next!”
She scanned the room for a Zardite dignitary to dump the rest of the ceremony on, but couldn’t see any in the crowd. “Where do they all go when I need them?” she snarled at the Mevot inhabitant receiving his medal. He looked up, but had no idea who Detis was asking about. Flinging the medal at his head, Detis noticed Thor standing in the corner of the room. How could she have missed him, he took up half the space and dwarfed all of the inhabitants beside him. Well, she thought with a sneer, Thor wants to be a Zardite so, why don’t I let him.
“Thor of Veectors come to the stage. I need your assistance,” she commanded.
With a concerned look on his face he slowly approached her and said, “My Princess, how can I help?”
“Attention all, the General of the Camp will now continue with the medal giving!” Dropping the rest of the medals onto the floor in a clump, Detis hurried off the stage focused on getting far away from the pitiful low-life inhabitants, who filled the room.
Veectoreze Dignitary Pont, overseeing the event and sitting in one of the last rows, jumped up at his opportunity to speak to Detis. Running after her he called out. “Your Majesty, please can we speak?”
Stopping in her tracks, Detis waited for him and turned around to see if any inhabitant was listening.
“Did you see that? Saturna and the Zardite dignitaries dumped the medal giving on me. I’m not a servant!” she exclaimed with disgust, her eyes narrowing.
“Of course not Your Majesty, you’re meant for greater things.”
“What do you want, Pont? We shouldn’t be seen speaking. I have work to do tonight, or have you forgotten?”
“That’s why we need to speak,” he said lowering his voice, “the space pod we ordered, hasn’t arrived.”
“You have one thing to do and you can’t accomplish it, you idiot! Get word to me when the pod is here or you’ll be sorry,” she replied, pushing him aside. Picking up her skirt, Detis flew past him and up the winding staircase.
“Peep, where are you? I have a surprise,” called Saturna, looking first in the gold box on her dresser and then on the little, satin pillow on the bed where she usually slept. Hearing a noise coming from her desk, Saturna turned to see Peep standing at the edge, holding out her arms.
“There you are my little Farilight. Look at what I had made for you. Surprise!”
Gently picking Peep up from the desk, Saturna positioned the pixy so she was able to see the four Urite servants who held a beautiful miniature castle made of grey rock. Five turrets topped with shiny gold cupolas rose majestically above the walls on each corner. A wide, grand staircase made from cut blue opal lead to the entrance, where two embossed gold doors overwhelmed the viewer. It was a replica of Zard castle.
“This is your new home Peep, it’s fully furnished with hand carved furniture and the bedroom has a closet full of clothes! I thought it was about time for you to have a home of your own. I hope you like it,” said Saturna excitedly.
Peep stood very still on Saturna’s outstretched hand, her big eyes wide with delight. She couldn’t believe how exquisite the castle was and that Saturna was giving it to her.
“Well go on, have a look around,” said Saturna giggling as she placed Peep on the entrance steps. “I wish I could join you, but I’m a little too big.”
Running up the staircase into the miniature castle, Peep began to explore. Saturna could hear the opening and shutting of doors and movement between the rooms, but was having trouble locating Peep, although she tried to look for her through the windows.
“I really hope you like it. You’ve been through so much,” whispered Saturna, feeling pleased.
The Urite servants had placed Peep’s castle near the window on an engraved table by Saturna’s desk, positioning it so Peep could look outside from the upper balcony of her new home. As Saturna stood there waiting for Peep to reappear, she noticed an unread document on her desk. Opening the pink envelope she sighed at the embossed invitation. She had been invited to meet the eligible bachelors of the Solar System, one bachelor from every planet, except Veectors.
This is too much, she thought. I need time to just be the Queen and get my kingdom in order before I think about a husband! Hearing the small pitter patter of feet coming from the mini castle, Saturna turned to look. There standing on the landing was Peep, dressed in a long, purple velvet dress with a matching tam perched upon her head. Little green shoes peeked out from the bottom of the gown.
Peep made her way slowly forward. “My Queen,” she said, bowing before Saturna. “You are most gracious. Thank you.”
Saturna gasped. She was shocked to hear Peep speak and to then hear her speak Zardian so perfectly! “You’re welcome. Peep, I thought you didn’t understand our language or that you were unable to speak! I can’t tell you how happy I am! Do you understand everything I say?” asked Saturna, enunciating very slowly.
“Your Majesty, you don’t need to speak slowly for me. I’ve been able to understand your language for a while. Farilights are interpreters and can process over four hundred languages at the same time. It takes us approximately sixty minutes to learn a language by using a cybernetic feedback system.”
“I see,” said Saturna, still puzzled. “May I ask then why you chose not to speak if you understood our language?”
Sitting down on the opal stair, Peep clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m sorry if you feel I have let you down. But the truth is, I was very close to speaking. You are the first inhabitant to treat me like an intelligent being. I was a child when I was taken from my planet by a Galaxy trader. I had wandered a little too far from home when he picked me up and put me in a cage. I knew that as a Farilight interpreter, I was worth much gold. So I refused to speak and have not spoken for eight years.”
“Oh Peep, what a horrible eight years you must have had!”
“It wasn’t too awful. The Galaxy trader kept me for only a short time and sold me to another, who eventually sold me to the Eros dignitary. The Erosian bought me to use me as a spy and was very upset when I wouldn’t speak. It was actually quite funny. But now I’m with you and extremely happy. Thank you again for your wonderful gift.”
Leaning back against her desk, Saturna thought for a moment, “Pardon my ignorance, but I don’t even know where your planet is. Maybe we could find a way to transport you home.”
“My home is millions of light years away. It took over four years to get to your Solar System and I don’t wish to return. I’m happy on Zard and more than happy to live here and serve you if you will have me?” Standing up she bowed dramatically again.
“I’d be delighted and proud to work with you, Peep,” replied Saturna, knowing they would become good friends.