Chapter Four
Anton sat on his furry jet-black heppal, supervising the crowd. He had a unique way with animals. It wasn’t just the way the heppal responded to him; it was as if the beast could understand his thoughts. Anton had captured this heppal at night on the northern plains when he had joined the Zardite army.
It was a part of army training for new recruits to capture and break their own heppal, a horse-like creature, which roamed the colder parts of the planet. Tightly pressed against their bodies, almost hidden, were gently folded wings, which carried the animal safely over the large canyons and crevasses carved into the plains. As the herd ran and flew from the others who frantically attempted to chase down any heppal, Anton had simply held out his hand and called softly to Serenity. The heppal had come to him directly and without a rope had followed Anton obediently back to camp.
Anton had always known he would become an army officer, a position his father had once held. But although he had been in the army for six years, it was only ten days ago that he finally earned his promotion. The recruits under his command were aware Anton was kind and always fair, but they had also seen him when he had been challenged, watching him fight as though he possessed unnatural powers. The soldiers had cheered loudly when they learned about his advancement, and because this type of comradeship was very uncommon on Zard, it proved Anton’s promotion was just.
Detis stood rigidly at the base of the stairs and leered at the dispersing crowd. Where were her servants? Where was Hete? She was fuming! “Am I supposed to take care of myself and make my own way back to the castle? They should be worried about me, I’m the one who is under terrible emotional distress and no one, not even Saturna, seems to care! Someone shall pay for this!” she said under her breath.
Suddenly she noticed Anton, a gorgeous, strong, dark-haired vision upon a black stallion and her anger instantly vanished. She stood for a moment observing the orders he was giving to the sentries to move the crowd towards the castle. Why hadn’t she noticed him before? Anton looked so confident and regal in his red uniform, his face was intoxicating. Detis actually smiled thinking he would make a perfect addition to her royal entourage.
"You officer!" she called waving at him. "We will have a word."
Anton rode towards her and dismounted. "How can I help you, Princess Detis?" he asked with a polite nod of his head.
"I would like to inform you that I have need of a personal assistant and body-guard of sorts. There have been a few changes since the King’s parting and after a long deliberation, I have selected you. You’ll excuse yourself from the army on my command and come with me immediately."
"Although I am honored, Princess Detis, I’m afraid you have no authority to remove me from my post," stated Anton confidently, making eye to eye contact.
"What! You defy me! You will serve me now! On your knees and beg for forgiveness!" she yelled, as her anger returned with a vengeance.
Anton remained standing unsure of how to respond. Full kneeling before royalty had been banned for centuries. Holding his ground Anton remained standing, but inclined his head downward in respect. “Princess Detis, orders of this type must come from Yuko, The Security Keeper. Have you discussed this with him?” asked Anton, already positive she had not.
“Do not dare to question me or my authority. I said on your knees!” Detis was not about to tolerate any more insolence from anyone. “Guards, come at once, I order you!" she screamed at the sentries standing several paces away when Anton failed to follow her command.
Two of the guards came immediately and sank fearfully to their knees, hoping this would appease her. "Arrest this sentry, he assaulted me," Detis hissed, pointing at Anton. The two sentries stood and looked with uncertainty at Anton, who said nothing. "Do as I say or I will have you all thrown into the dungeon!" added Detis, scowling.
The sentries slowly walked to Anton. Taking either arm, they motioned him towards the army barracks. Whispering one asked, "What’s this all about Officer Anton?"
"I don’t know, but follow her orders and we will straighten it out at the barracks," murmured Anton softly so Detis, who was trailing behind wouldn’t hear.
They entered a grey-beige rock fort passing several sentries posted at the entrance. The structure was huge, yet it was difficult at first glance to assess the enormity because the fort, so similar in color to the surrounding landscape, blended into the hillside.
Once inside, there was an immediate coolness to the air counteracting the outside heat. Although there was much initial confusion and yelling, within minutes Anton was being marched along corridor floors of well-worn marble. He was placed in a single cell chosen by Detis at the very back of the barracks. Anton stood facing her at the doorway, looking regal in his royal red uniform. Four sentries stood behind Detis, in similar uniforms, looking extremely confused.
"Princess Detis, would you like to reconsider placing me in this cell?" Anton questioned politely.
"Only, if you kiss my feet and pledge to serve only me!" She replied with a smirk. Anton stood perfectly still and did not reply. "I see you have made your choice--the wrong one!" Detis exclaimed. Springing forward, she slammed the door, turned the old-fashioned lock, and removed the key. "This will teach you to cross me. When you’re ready to beg for forgiveness, send word!" she said laughing to herself as she put the key in her pocket and rudely pushed past the sentries, uncaring about what anyone thought. Intense blackness filled the corridors as Detis made her way out of the fort towards the castle and the night of celebration.
Returning to the castle on her own, Detis was not pleased, not pleased at all! Every one of her attending servants, except Hete had disappeared when she had been moved from the royal suite to the north tower. Nothing was going according to plan. She’d spent five grueling years trying to convince the King to make her his Queen, to no avail, five horrible years on the planet Zard! Oron, Gondee, Yuko--none of them had consulted her before the coronation. They would all pay for this when she gained power, and she would gain power! A child Queen, it was almost laughable and certainly doomed to fail. Another plan to take the throne had to be hatched immediately, but she wasn’t sure if she had enough energy at the moment.
Upon entering her suite, Detis paused at the doorway. The sides of her lips turned downward into an ugly scowl as she glared at the unbelievable spectacle before her. There was Hete happily dancing in front of her gilded mirror with her priceless tiara on his head.
“Shall I wear the blue pearls or the green opals? Oh you look very grand, if I do say so myself,” Hete said, imitating Detis and enjoying the sparkles the jewels reflected around the room as he danced. The darting colors made the gloomy atmosphere somewhat cheerful, and Hete laughed heartedly when he saw his reflection in the mirror.
“Hete, why are you playing with my POSSESSIONS when you should have been serving me at the suttee?” asked Detis, slamming the door.
Hete was extremely startled, but managed to grab and hold onto the tiara as it slipped off his head. Placing it very gently and carefully back on the bright yellow cushion, he let himself fall to his hands and knees. “I didn’t know where you were. There were too many inhabitants and so many of them are tall, I couldn’t see you. I looked and looked and then came back here to wait. Don’t be angry with me, My Queen,” he whined remorsefully.
“No harm done. Now my pet, we’re going to need a bit of help with a project I’m working on. Who can we get?” asked Detis calmly, knowing she needed him and a few more accomplices on the planet.
Surprised for just a second that he was not punished, Hete quickly forgot the incident. Still on the floor, he propped his head up on his elbow and started to think of recruits for the project. Of course it depended on the type of work. Detis always had interesting, but secretive things she entrusted him to do. He felt exceedingly important, which started him daydreaming about the wealth he would receive for his assistance. Feeli
ng very pleased with himself he began to hum.
“Well?” said Detis, trying to control her anger. “I’m waiting. I don’t have all night like it seems you do! Who can we trust to help us, Hete?”
“As you know, My Queen, I have many friends who would be more than happy to help you with your important project,” he replied exaggerating. “However it depends on the type of work you have in mind.” Hete hoped Detis would tell him exactly what she was planning.
“Just get four Kievils who’ll keep their mouths shut and I’ll tell you about the project if and when it’s necessary. I also need personal servants, to dress and attend to me. Where are my Urite servants anyway? And why didn’t they move with me to the north tower?” she asked, her rage returning.
Hete knew the answer to that question. The Urite servants, who had served Detis when she had been married to the King, had always been frightened of her temper. The minute the King’s death was announced, the Urite servants had asked Gondee for their leave. They had moved Detis’s possessions to the north tower, and once that was done, they assumed other jobs in the castle. Hete wasn’t brilliant, but he knew better than to tell Detis the truth, and sensing her foul mood, he lied and said, “I heard any servants of the King must leave the castle following his parting. I think it is tradition.” He rationalized the statement by convincing himself he had actually heard this somewhere.
Watching for Detis’s response, he couldn’t believe his luck when she pondered and replied, “Is that so? Well it’s not proper for a Queen to be unattended. Go immediately and employ another female Urite to serve me, one who won’t talk!”
Leaving the room, Hete scurried down the empty corridor and felt depressed. The Urite servants would hardly speak to him, let alone agree to work for Detis. What was he going to do now? He had trouble comprehending how her disposition changed so rapidly and didn’t like it when Detis was angry, but felt it was a small price to pay for his wonderful lifestyle in the castle. Yes, it was true the other Urite servants paid little attention to him. But this was probably because they were not used to working with a Kievil. He was the only Kievil he knew about in the castle, and although the Urites didn’t include him in their social activities, they did tolerate him if he attended. When he went to the kitchen for food, a place was set for him the second he sat down. And recently, he noticed the Urites would sometimes greet him with a nod before he said the first hello.
But when he really thought about it, not one Zardite or Urite really talked to him, except for Detis. Then he remembered the affectionate words from Saturna and smiled. “Saturna’s a good Queen and I like her!” So although he was sometimes lonely for his own kind, he focused on the good food and the warm bed he had at night, and felt very lucky. Humming a childhood tune, he completely forgot about the errand Detis had sent him on. Turning toward the kitchen, Hete decided to get a snack before bed.