"Let's go. We're burning daylight," Ean commanded.
So they began walking, and after a rather long time of silence, Supreany worked her way up by Cecealye. "CC ..."
"Yes." Cecealye seemed emotionally drained, depressed.
"You ... You're not what I expected."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I don't know. You just seem more ... personable than I expected. I mean, I know you're a queen, and you don't act like a peasant, but you don't necessarily act all queenly either."
Cecealye looked over at her. "By queenly, do you mean snobbish or the like?"
"Well ..." Supreany didn't know what to say. She felt she'd set up a trap for herself and then walked right into it.
Cecealye took in a deep breath. "I suppose my upbringing is to blame for my manner. I was never meant to be queen. That role was to be fulfilled by my older sister, Bailey. Since infancy, protocol, how to walk, talk, look, smell, and sound like a queen had been drilled into her, all thanks to my mother. In reality, though, I think she learned little about how to reign over a kingdom, but rather, how to be married to the someone who did. She was to be married before she would be made queen, also another gift of my mother's. It's not traditional for an unmarried, non-widowed woman to reign; at the same time, there are no laws against it, either."
"I'm still not sure I understand why you're the way you are, though."
"Because my father traveled a great deal, he was never really able to form much of a relationship with his firstborn. Then I was born and after I turned three, he insisted that I go with him on his journeys. Of course, my mother threw a fit, but in the end, my father had his way. That resulted in me growing up around a group of men. I did, however, have a pair of maidens who went with me everywhere, and one elderly woman who acted as my official tutor. She was hand-picked by my mother. Naturally, she and my father didn't see eye to eye on many things. She was an insufferable woman."
She paused. "Bailey spent her days on a leash at the castle, being taught by many tutors, all her learning coming from books. Protocol and being proper were bred into her. Whereas I spent my days with hands-on learning: seeing how the quarry worked; how to keep our lumber industry healthy; the ins and outs of ships and the sea; witnessing proficient battle tactics; how to deal with foreign relations; and practicing combat, along with many other useful skills. I was taught how to proficiently use every weapon I came in contact with. Of course, I learned how to conduct myself and how to dress among other things, things of a scholarly nature. But in many ways, my father seemed to think that what I was learning by simply watching him and being with him was more important."
"What did your mother think about that?"
Cecealye smiled. "She hated it. She lived her life by protocol. She didn't understand how my father thought I could live my life with it just as a side dish ... I still remember an argument they had over it. She said he was treating me as though I were his son. She tried to make it to where I couldn't even interact with Bailey; she said I was a bad influence." She paused and looked away. "My mother did love me; she simply didn't understand, that's all."
Before they knew it, mid-day was upon them. Though the sun rose high into the sky, it was a cool day. Silence had once again washed over the group when Blaizen caught Supreany looking over her shoulder at him. She couldn't help but notice how silent he had been since that morning.
"So, Blaizen, tell me about your world. How did you end up coming here?"
A slight grin formed on his face. "Come on. You don't really believe that."
"And how is it you would know what I believe? Come, let us hear it."
He took in a deep sigh. "Where do I start ..."
"Well, what's it like? Is it anything like Hodesh Adoma?"
"Like this planet? No, not at all. Menteco is covered in a large city. It has buildings that go miles into the sky ..."
"Miles?"
"Yeah ... they're uh, just really tall. Far taller than anything on this planet."
"What are they made of?"
"Metal."
"Metal ..." She pulled out her dagger. "Like the alloy we make weapons from?"
"Yeah, but a little bit different. And there's always light. Lights are everywhere. If there is a place in all the universe that doesn't sleep, it's Menteco. Whatever isn't covered in city is a barren wasteland. And when I say barren, I mean it. It's nothing but a desert, with no chance of life returning to it."
"Why is that?"
"Because it's poisoned. The ground itself lets out a toxic gas. If any living thing stays there long, it's no longer living."
"Well, that doesn't sound very pleasant."
He gave out a chuckle. "And that's not even the worst of it. It's ruled by a tyrannical government. They claim to be a republic, but all they really are is a glorified military dictatorship."
"I'm guessing that's a bad thing."
"Darn skippy, it's bad. All they do is go around to other planets with intelligent life and conquer them and oppress the people and make them become part of their almighty army. They brainwash people and whoever they can't make do whatever they want, they kill. And they won't just kill you; they'll kill all your family too. They don't do it after you're dead, no siree. They'll kill 'em right in front of your eyes." He dropped his head. "I would know. I saw them do it a thousand times."
"I'm sorry." Supreany found herself at a loss for words and almost wishing she hadn't asked. 'Blaizen's world doesn't sound like a nice place at all. No wonder he left it.'
He shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Besides, that's in the past now."
"You're right. The past isn't some place you can live, you know. You have a chance to make a new life. You're with us now."
He looked up into her face and he was greeted with a warm smile. He knew she was trying to make him feel better. She turned away and walked ahead of him. 'Thanks, Supreany.'