It was almost an hour later before Hete opened one eye and then the other. Stretching as he always did in the morning, he wiggled his fingers and toes, happy to be alive. I wonder what’s for breakfast, he thought, when he suddenly remembered he was on the space pod with Saturna. Standing up, he looked at her sleeping soundly and then decided he should find the picnic basket. He began to head slowly in the direction of the control station, walking carefully as his eyes adjusted to the small amount of light in the room. Everything he saw was completely different! The fearful memory of Caverous flooded back, and Hete began to panic. Returning as quickly as he could to Saturna, he knelt down and called her, forgetting to use a formal address. “Saturna, wake up, this is an emergency! Saturna, Saturna!” he yelled, shaking her forcefully.
“Hete, what is it? I feel very tired and need to sleep,” replied Saturna, turning over to look at him.
“I’m sorry to tell you this, but we’re in the middle of the black hole and although the room is quite nice, there’s no food!” he muttered, wringing his hands with worry. “We’ll never escape from here. I’ve heard stories about travelers who were lost forever in black holes. What are we going to do about getting something to eat? I already looked to see if the picnic basket came with us and it didn’t,” said Hete, starting to cry.
“It’s alright, Hete. We’re not in the middle of the black hole. I believe we’re in the castle on Zard,” said Saturna, yawning.
“We are! We’re saved!” yelled Hete happily. “Let’s go to the kitchen for a snack, it has been such a busy day and I’m starving!”
Chuckling, Saturna stood up feeling more refreshed after her second nap, but still a little foggy. “I need to locate the door to the room. Hete, could you look for a light source please.”
Sticking her arms out in front of her, Saturna began to feel her way towards the wall which she thought contained the exit. They had been lying in the center of the archway made especially for her coronation and as she moved her hand upward she felt the beautifully, engraved flowers carved into the columns. The memory of the day came back to her and she felt incredible joy, but also sadness. The reality of being Queen was nothing like she could have ever imagined.
I had no idea ruling the kingdom would be so difficult and dangerous, she thought, I’m just glad we’re back in the castle where Gondee will help put things right. No wonder Detis wanted the royal ring! It had to have been the power of the ring that brought us home. As she located the door the lights came on, illuminating the room and a grinning Hete. Suddenly, her auri opened!
“Saturna, my little one,” called Gondee, using a childhood endearment. “There’s danger in the kingdom. You must stay where you are.”
“Gondee, don’t worry, Hete and I are safe in the Vaulted Room. I’m just about to open the door. If you could come and assist me and bring clothes,” replied Saturna through thought as she attempted to disengage the complicated lock on the door. Why was Gondee telling her to stay in the Vaulted Room? She was safe now that she was back in the castle, wasn’t she?
“This is very important, Saturna. Do not leave the Vaulted Room! The kingdom is under siege. The Veectoreze have taken over the castle and Detis has declared herself Queen of Zard. Zardite officials, sentries and castle servants have been taken into custody. We are being held in the barracks.”
Saturna paused and let her head fall against the door she was trying to open. She couldn’t believe what Gondee was telling her. Thoughts began to swirl rapidly through her mind. It had been one thing after another since she had been crowned. But give Detis the kingdom? I will not, she told herself. Detis doesn’t care about the inhabitants! It’s only wealth and power she wants! I refuse to give up my kingdom without a fight! Saturna began to gently pound the door in frustration.
Feeling a hand touch her arm, she heard Hete’s high-pitched voice, “Don’t be sad about the lock Saturna. I can break down the door.” In his hand swung a large metal bar.
“Hete, I’m sure there is a way to open the door easily. I just need some time to figure it out,” said Saturna, trying to compose herself. Taking a breath and relaxing a little she pulled from her inner strength and again opened her auri. “How can this be Gondee? Where are Anton, Oron, Yuko and Peep and my personal servants?”
“Everyone you asked about is also being held in the barracks, except Peep, who I believe is hiding in your room, and Maize, who was chosen to serve the Veectoreze.”
“I see. Do you think the Veectoreze know about Peep? That she is now speaking?” asked Saturna concerned the knowledge about her interpretive skills would put Peep in extreme danger.
“I do not think so. I returned Peep to her castle after she had acted as the interpreter for the stranger who arrived on Zard, the night you went missing. We found out through Peep the stranger was demanding payment for delivering a space pod, the space pod Detis placed you on.”
Things began to become clear as Gondee explained the details of what had happened that night and the following day. The more he told Saturna, the more frightened she became when she realized the inhabitants she had always depended on to help her, now needed her help. At least she could get advice from Gondee, but how was she ever going to take the kingdom back from the Veectoreze on her own?
What Gondee cleverly blocked from Saturna was that he had been severely beaten by the Veectoreze and was extremely weak. He was using the last of his strength to communicate with her now. Because Detis had not received the royal ring from Hete, she had demanded Gondee give her the hidden key to the Vaulted Room where the jewels of the kingdom were stored. Without a ring, the self-elected Queen required the elaborately jeweled crown of Zard as she realized she had to have something to show to the inhabitants of her realm. Gondee had utterly refused, risking his own life to protect Saturna. He was the only inhabitant in the kingdom who knew where Saturna would be transported--if she used the ring correctly.