Nalyra couldn’t help but stare in disbelief. Stilling someone so completely as to stop their awareness of their surroundings was difficult, against even the weakest mind. Against one like this Ydani’s, it should have been a grueling task, maybe even impossible.
Queen Matriarch Azora did it with the same ease as Nalyra would lift a fork.
Yet, the Ydani was clearly completely Stilled. There was but the faint hum of his subconscious, every other thought frozen in his head.
The Queen started to circle the now stationary Ydani, looking him over closely.
“They are quite handsome, these Ydani.” She said thoughtfully. Nalyra watched as her gaze went to his ash gray hair, his broad chest, his golden eye. “Not quite as gorgeous as the aliens Zikara uplifted, but still rather good-looking.”
Nalyra couldn’t stop one of her ears from flicking in irritation at the mention of her twin.
“While your sister delivered me a gem,” the Queen started, glancing over at Nalyra. “You, my daughter, have delivered me a true prize. One of the greatest I could hope to receive.”
“My Queen?” Nalyra asked, slightly puzzled.
“I watched the recordings you sent to Leora. The scenes of these Ydani in action. It was almost breathtaking.” She said quietly, nearly humming with satisfaction. “Can you imagine, daughter? Ydani boarding crews on every Zakkili warship, ready to deliver the judgement of the Monarchy. Ydani bodyguards protecting our Crown-kin cousins. Ydani soldiers, peacekeepers, and agents. Ydani husbands, faithfully devoted to their wives’ safety.”
One of Nalyra’s crownthreads shivered at the last one, the hunger in her mother’s voice obvious.
“And they can be ours. Willingly.” The Queen gave a beatific smile. “All we need to do is soothe the weary and battered souls of their people.”
“...they would be a valuable asset, Majesty.” Nalyra admitted. This wasn’t how she expected any of this to go.
“They would, daughter. They will be.” The Queen glanced at the still frozen Ydani. “I think they shall fit quite nicely into the Monarchy. A much more suitable home for them.”
For a moment, Nalyra imagined the future her mother was describing. Ydani troops, in those monstrous suits of theirs, storming the corridors of a pirate frigate, directed by Zakkili commandos. It was a glorious vision.
Then that word came back to her. Husbands. Another civilization carved up like a gevak crab, the choicest bits snatched up by the Monarchy and Zakkili noblewomen. A sour taste filled her mouth.
But that was the point, wasn’t it? Yes, they would dismantle Ydani society, but they would rebuild it, far better and part of the Monarchy, connected to trillions of faithful souls, with comforts they could scarcely even imagine now.
Nalyra did her best to push the thoughts from her mind. Now was not the time for a philosophical debate. The uncomfortable questions could wait for later.
Perhaps a bit of her discomfort did bleed out – when she looked up, she found her mother staring at her, a glimmer of compassion in her purple eyes.
“They need this far more than we need them, Nalyra.” She said quietly. “They are an almost broken people. I could hear it in his voice, taste it in his thoughts. We will take them in, heal them, make them into far more than what they have fallen to.”
Nalyra could only nod, unable to disagree. Her mind went back to the stripped down Ydani ships. Her eyes went to her captive’s utilitarian uniform, then briefly to the dagger at her own belt. Surely they had not always been so barren. Perhaps that was worse.
“Now then.” The face of the Queen Matriarch returned. “Your duty is not yet finished, Crown Daughter.”
“Yes, Majesty?”
“Know that I do not give you this task lightly. Keep this Ydani aboard the Saint’s Aegis. Keep him close by. Watch him. Learn about him. Understand how he thinks. If I am to put on this elaborate performance, I would have every advantage possible.” She ordered. “You will send me regular reports. Do whatever is necessary. Delve deeply into his mind, if needed. I trust your prudence in the matter. You will have the full authority of the Monarchy behind you. I consider this one of my most important, most urgent projects. I know you will complete it gracefully and thoroughly, Crown Daughter.”
Nalyra bowed low, curtsying again.
“It shall be done, Queen Matriarch.”
“Excellent.” The Queen turned back to the Ydani, looking over him one last time. “Now, let us see what our guest has to say.”
With a flick of her hand, she released him from her Stilling.
He staggered, his eye darting left and right. The look on his face was clear. He could tell that something had happened to him, but couldn’t decipher what.
“Your offer intrigues me, Ydani.” The Queen said, the captive’s gaze flying to her face. Cautiously, he straightened up, composing himself once more.
“I assume you have some way to contact your leaders?” She asked.
“I…I do, Majesty.” He said, hesitating just slightly. Then that bit of steel entered him once more, hardening his voice. “Our communications networks are not as advanced as yours, so we cannot connect through your Q-comm relays. However, there is a small buoy, at the edge of Ydani space. If one of your ships pings it, there will be a response from one of our fleets. A cautious response, undoubtedly, but one open to communications. From there, direct contact can be made with High Command.”
“And just where is this buoy, Ydani?” Nalyra asked, looking up at him.
He rattled off a set of coordinates without pause, clearly having memorized them. The Queen closed her eyes for a heartbeat, most likely sending the coordinates to one of her stewards psychically.
“Wonderful.” She said, opening her eyes once more. “I shall contact your people, and the negotiations may begin. Until that time…” She turned to face the Ydani. “With the authority of the Crown, I proclaim you a provisional subject of the Zakkili Divine Monarchy, and give you all the rights and protections that go along with that privilege. I also place you under the direct service of Crown Daughter Nalyra. She is to be your superior, though perhaps ‘commander’ is a better term for you, Ydani.”
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The Queen lowered her voice and leaned forward, a steely glint in her eyes.
“Your attitude and behavior shall reflect upon your people, both in the public’s eyes and in mine. Do keep that in mind.”
“Yes, Majesty.” The Ydani answered her quietly.
“Good, good.” The Queen bestowed another smile upon them. Upon her daughter and the alien she had just tethered to her. The Ydani didn’t know it, but their fates were now bound. It felt like an itch had settled deep inside Nalyra’s brain, and she had to fight to keep a swell of irritation from bleeding out.
“I believe that shall be all.” Queen Matriarch Azora looked between her two subjects. She turned in the direction of her throne room, before glancing back, as if she just remembered something.
“Ah, also, Nalyra,” she said, her eyes finding her daughter. “Keep the Aegis in the system. The Sororal Conclave meets tomorrow. There have been some…concerning developments.” Her smile slipped for heartbeat, then the Royal mask was back.
The Queen Matriarch swept down the corridor, leaving Nalyra alone with her new charge.
“Sororal Conclave…?” The Ydani muttered, and Nalyra had to suppress another surge of annoyance. Right, he could speak Zakkili now. Another thorn to stick in her side.
Her gaze went to him, and a small spark of regret passed through her.
The Ydani was fiddling with his translator, the now-useless device’s screen dark. The expression on his face was not one she’d seen him make before, and Nalyra didn’t know what to make of it.
“It’s a meeting of the Crown Daughters,” she said quietly. “Usually to discuss happenings across the Monarchy.” She set off down the corridor, taking a route she knew would lead back to the waiting room where her Armswomen and Admiral were. The Ydani fell in behind her.
“What positions do the other Crown Daughters hold? I assume you aren’t all Royal Hands.”
Nalyra checked a sigh, burying her irritation at her charge’s pointless curiosity. It was clear what he was doing. Anything to take his mind off of what he had just lost. What he had just agreed to on behalf of his people.
“Three of us are.” She answered shortly. “Another two work under the Queen Matriarch here in the High Fortress. One is an Archpriestess in the Maker’s Covenant. The last is a Planetary Governor.”
The Ydani fell silent, and Nalyra made her way through the massive corridors, taking them back to the same room they had waited in to meet with the Queen.
A simple gesture, and Vessa and the squad of Armswomen fell in around them. Silence settled over the group, and Nalyra wasn’t inclined to break it. Information was power, and her sister Viora had ears everywhere in the High Fortress. The less that little witch knew about the Ydani situation, the better.
It wasn’t until her shuttle was climbing through the clouds of Zakkil that Nalyra spoke again.
“Admiral, I need you to update the Aegis’s biometric scanners with the Ydani’s data. For both the Mid Deck and the Under Deck.”
Nalyra could sense the Armswomen exchanging glances. Vessa hesitated for just a moment.
“Crown Daughter?”
The Ydani perked up a bit at this.
“You’re going to let me move around the ship?”
The atmosphere in the shuttle froze. Even Vessa stared wide-eyed at the alien in their midst, now suddenly speaking their tongue flawlessly.
Nalyra bit down the sharp retort that came to her tongue. No, it was better to just cauterize the wound now, rather than let it fester.
“The Queen Matriarch has declared him a provisional subject of the Monarchy. You will all treat him as such. And due to various…circumstances, yes, he speaks Zakkili now. Do each of you understand?”
She received an automatic chorus of “yes, Highness” from her troops, but their eyes remained glued to the Ydani.
“Vessa, circulate his name and likeness around the Aegis. I don’t want anyone panicking at the sight of a six foot tall alien walking the halls. Name him as…an envoy, of sorts. Here representing his people.”
“Of course, Crown Daughter.”
“And yes, Ydani. What the Queen Matriarch did wasn’t just a performative gesture. You have the same rights as any other subject on board. My people are not restrained to their rooms — you will be given civilian access, just as they are.” She fixed him with a firm gaze, and after a moment he nodded.
Nalyra settled back in her seat, closing her eyes and choosing to ignore the various whispers popping up around the shuttle. Hopefully her subjects would gossip themselves out about the new alien living in their midst. Even if that alien could speak perfect Zakkili.
Before long, the shuttle had docked aboard the Saint’s Aegis, and the passengers began to disembark. As their new guest moved to stand, Nalyra held up a hand.
“I require a moment of your time, Ydani.”
The alien glanced at her warily, then sat back down in the small seat.
“I recognize that this might seem…untimely. However, if you are to be a proper subject upon this ship, I need to loosen the restrictions I placed on your mind.”
In truth, Nalyra wanted nothing more than to simply reach into this alien’s mind and be done with it. But she knew, after what he had endured that day, such an act would likely destroy any chance she had of getting the Ydani to trust her. An avenue of approach she needed if she was to complete her mission.
“‘Loosen’? Not remove?”
“Yes, loosen.” She said firmly. “Even if you are now officially a subject, I cannot overlook how you came to be on this ship. The commands to not harm my people or my ship will stay in place. However, I cannot have you passing out while simply exploring your new home.”
The alien thought for a moment, then nodded.
“I understand.”
That was something, at least. He wasn’t weeping, or pleading, or arguing. A man like him clearly knew about the necessities of command.
The Ydani’s golden eye caught her gaze.
“Go ahead.” His jaw was set.
She reached forward, and again laid her fingers on his forehead. As soon as she touched his mind, she had to suppress both a physical and mental shudder. There was so much turmoil and grief, boiling beneath the surface of his thoughts.
Nalyra set to work. Gently, far more so than she would normally be, she started to tug at the edges of the Press she had laid upon him. She couldn’t help but be a bit impressed by his willpower. A storm of negative emotions raged in the depths of his mind, but barely a whisper of it seeped out, leaving her untouched while she worked inside his head.
After half a mark she was done, and she gently eased herself out of his mind. He shivered the slightest bit, but otherwise seemed unperturbed.
The Ydani was staring at her again, and a part of her wondered how he saw her now. After what he had experienced of the Monarchy. How much did he really understand of the Zakkili? Of what he had just sold his people to?
“Do you truly understand what you have done?” The question escaped her before she could stop it.
The alien stared at her, an odd expression on his scarred face.
“I do.”
Her face must have shone her doubt, or this Ydani could read her better than she’d like.
“I, my fellow Captains, my superiors…we’re not foolish. Or blindly optimistic. We know what you Zakkili will do to our people. Our worlds.”
“Then…why? If you know what vassalization will cost you, why do you sprint towards it?”
He narrowed his eye. As if the question was offensive, somehow.
“Because that is the only way my people will survive. Because even being consumed by your Monarchy is far better than the cultural death that’s waiting at the end of our current course.” His voice was low, nearly growling the Zakkili words.
“Now, if I’m dismissed, I plan to get escorted back to my cell.”
Without waiting for an answer, the Ydani exited the shuttle, ducking slightly to fit out the door. One of the Armswomen outside the shuttle glanced toward Nalyra. After a moment, the Crown Daughter gave the smallest nod, and the woman hurried after him.
The Crown Daughter sat there for nearly a mark, sorting through her thoughts.