Princess of Zenina Read online

  Marina and her distant cousin, Dalzina’s, teams were currently in first and second positions in the league respectively and this was therefore the final. The Fireflies held the title which they had taken off Dalzina’s team the year before. However, Marina’s friends insisted that the Lizards had had a bye that year, as Marina herself had been off planet for most of the season and had missed the final match.

  Dalzina and Marina had never been friends, but had always been rivals. Dalzina’s family line had ruled before Marina’s grandmother, Glarina, and they resented their displacement. In personality they were as different as was possible. Dalzina resented being compared unfavourably with her younger cousin. She felt only contempt for Princess Plavina, believing she could kill her whenever she wished. Plavina would not be an obstacle to her aspirations to reign. Princess Marina, who would fight for her elder sister, would be.

  Dalzina had tried for many years to get rid of Marina, but her plots always failed. Marina heard something wrong when her hover-car had been sabotaged and got clear before the explosion. Attacks made by hired assassins on other planets also failed. Usually they never reported how they were thwarted. Dalzina heard later when their bodies were discovered, after Marina moved to pastures new. Dalzina’s rashest attempt had been when she put the blaster in Xenxia’s hands as she fell back into the crowd. That too had failed, causing a deal of trouble making sure witnesses did not remember her part in the affair at the subsequent enquiry.

  Chapter Twenty-Three - King Ga’Mishrin

  Marina had been negotiating a new treaty, at her mother’s behest, with King Ga’Mishrin of the Kurgian Empire, when she had missed the pelozia final two years earlier. She had once confessed to Father O’Flaherty that her feelings towards that devious monarch were of the warmest. She wished he would burn in the hottest fires of the place Niall called ‘Hell.’ Being allowed the honour of lighting his pyre was her fondest dream. His death before his cremation was not, in Marina’s mind, a necessity. She would be satisfied to send him to his ultimate destination screaming. In this desire she was not alone, most of his long suffering family desired the same end, except they felt his being burnt alive too quick and painless a death. For those he ruled, the majority dreamed of expectorating or urinating on his grave.

  Princess Marina was amazed by the vehemence of the loathing she felt for the man. He made her skin crawl. She had tried to blot out her memories of his fetid breath upon her hair, his crawling, papery-skinned hands touching her body. The obscenity of his nakedness, with the smell of decay that hung around him, filled her worse nightmares. How she had kept her face from showing her fear, her disgust, and her hatred of Ga’Mishrin while smiling and permitting him to touch her, she did not know. Her mother had known he would insist on sealing their treaty that way, which was why she had sent Marina, not Plavina.

  Plavina’s actions in that situation would have been less obedient to Queen Kerina’s instructions, bringing about the full scale war Kerina sought to avoid. Princess Marina was traumatised by the experience, her dislike of Kurgians strengthened, but she had brought home the treaty, signed. She had held Ga’Mishrin at arms’ length, whilst they haggled over each clause of the treaty. At last it had been finalised, he refused to sign the treaty.

  She protested at the delay and he stated the final condition on which he would sign it. He had played with her like a fat old cat with a mouse. There would be no getting out of it. He was determined.

  “My mother’s instructions were quite clear. I am not to mix business with pleasure. When our business is completed,” she said airily “is another matter. Until the treaty is signed, your request is out of the question. It might be said in Zenina that my affection for you had clouded my judgement as negotiator for the Zeninan Empire.”

  She twisted one of the loose curls of her deep red hair around her finger as she teased and cajoled him into signing the treaty. Ga’Mishrin wanted her agreement settled.

  “If you’ll share my bed tonight I’ll sign now. If not, you can tear it up.”

  Princess Marina had no option but to agree. She hated playing the part of an acquiescent nymphomaniac who desired and flattered this decrepit pervert. The excesses of his dissolute life were taking their toll on his heart. The over rich food he gorged, the wine he guzzled and the narcotics he consumed, to maintain his appetite for very young girls and boys who were the regular occupants of his bed, had done lasting damage. Marina knew Ga’Mishrin desired her, not only for her body and the power he would temporarily have over her, he hoped by sleeping with a Zeninan Gold, it would repair his damaged heart.

  King Ga’Mishrin, Emperor of the Kurgian Empire could not present himself at the Zeninan Embassy seeking medical assistance. They would not give it. His spies had informed him that the Zeninan medical profession’s view was that extending his life went against their vow to do no harm. The universe would be better off without him they had unanimously agreed.

  But taking a Gold woman to his bed would be nearly as good, he believed. Yet Marina cheated him of the cure in part. She had kept her internal force shield on full strength beneath the upper layers of her skin. Although a little of her healing emanations reached his body and some of her blood had smeared his lips when his teeth had torn into her, he was not cured. She had strengthened him, she knew the blood in his arteries flowed faster, but the beat of his heart was still irregular. She had not mended that diseased organ fully.

  Marina had hidden her disgust of him well. He had discerned no trace of it, but he knew it was there. Ga’Mishrin so desired Zeninans, he could no longer succeed in sex with an adult Kurgian woman; their bodies produced no response from him. But Zeninan women could not help themselves. Even though they despised him, their pride in their ability to seduce any man, would not let them fail. The knowledge they detested him and found his caresses repugnant only gave his lust more savour.

  Princess Marina had been a ripe plum. He had been tempted to keep her in his bed, even though it would cause war. Ga’Mishrin would have risked it, if he thought he had an even chance of winning, since a few million Kurgian and Zeninan dead would not bother him. But if he overthrew the Zeninan Empire, it would weaken his forces so the Kurgian Empire could be destroyed by other enemies. Reluctantly he let her go, with the signed treaty to her battle-ship, where she scrubbed away the stench of Mishrin which clung to her soul.

  Marina had rarely been sexually attracted to Kurgians even before she had met Ga’Mishrin. This was a learned response not an innate prejudice. A high proportion of the Kurgian men she had slept with had taken the opportunity of her repose to make an attempt on her life. That Kurgians thought her a threat she easily understood. Their repeated attempts informed her there was a high price on her head, but did not endear Kurgians to her. The knowledge that King Ga’Mishrin would personally prefer her alive and with him was no comfort to her either.

  Chapter Twenty-Four - Vellina and Tippy

  Marina landed outside the brain hospital and went inside. She slipped on a white coat, then she glanced at the notes of a number of patients, stopping to chat with a few she knew. Some of the long term patients remembered her, and talked about their activities. The hospital was a pleasant place with good facilities for the education, entertainment and treatment of its inmates. Most patients went home eventually cured, some retrained to live with whatever damage could not be mended. A few went home to die.

  Patients arrived there from all over the universe after their own doctors failed to cure them. Those that came to be regenerated did not usually stay long. Of the mentally ill patients, there were a host of different conditions. The hospital also housed a number of permanent inmates, some of whose brains had been destroyed by colour change. There were also a few patients whose colour change was being supervised at that time. Most of the patients that Marina spoke to were in the final stages of recovery and would soon leave the hospital.

  Having done her rounds, she spoke with the Ruby orderly sitting in the ante room to Vel
lina’s office.

  “How are you doing, Dinka?”

  “I’m fine, Doctor. Thank you for asking.”

  “Is Vellina free, can I go in?” As Vellina’s office was mind-proofed this was not an unnecessary question.

  “Yes, she was hoping you would be able to visit, ma’am,” the orderly replied.

  Marina remembered that Dinka had come to the hospital as a patient, together with another in a similar condition. Both had severe amnesia which was very unusual in Zeninans, but two in one day was unprecedented. Tests discovered the damage had been deliberately induced. Their memories were overwritten with something like white noise. Both functioned well except they had no memories before their arrival at the hospital. Vellina had been unable to repair the damage to them. The other Ruby had returned to live with her family.

  Dinka, however, had lived alone, but seemed content at the hospital. She relearned the essentials of life quickly. She had been taught how to look after herself, basic numeracy, reading and writing anew and been re-habilitated outside the hospital twice. In the morning she settled into her new life, vowing never to return. By night fall, she was back in her bed in the hospital. She could not remember getting there, but she had been seen coming out of the transporter on the second occasion. Princess Vellina had decided to employ her as an orderly. She seemed happy enough fulfilling the job and if occasionally she was prone to fits of weeping, over trying to remember something she could not, it was no real problem in a brain hospital used to such outbursts.

  Vellina sat in her office, waiting for Marina. She wore a gold-coloured powered exoskeleton to support her ancient frame. Over it she wore a beautiful, but faded evening dress of violet and royal blue silk with tarnished silver flowers and butterflies embroidered over the bodice and hem. She was hideously thin. Her white hair hung loosely in sparse thin strands.

  They went to visit the patient Tippy together. As they walked to his room, Vellina filled Marina in on the test results she had had carried out on him.

  “I’ve discounted your preliminary diagnosis of brain-shock, as the man has artificial damage to his memory. There is a similarity between his brain damage and that of the two Rubies, the overlays have the precision of a machine insertion, but are not as extensive. They dot about his mind in a seemingly random pattern unlike the large block blanking of the Rubies’ minds. I assume a similar instrument was used by a more skilled operator,” Vellina informed her.

  “We have never discovered what the device they used was. Nothing like this effect has ever shown up before, but the only possible reason for the mutilation would be to prevent the victim from talking without leaving a corpse,” Marina agreed.

  Before the two Rubies had arrived, there had been no cases of damage from the unknown instrument. Marina mentally ordered the Security Department to compile any information on unexplained memory damage, or reversion to childhood on other planetary systems, starting with Blengaria, Markaba, and also from the Kurgian Empire. This instrument had their love of symmetry about it.

  “A hunch, most unscientific, Marina” said Vellina.

  “They need some starting point and I can almost smell that putrid smell that reminds me of Ga’Mishrin. I used to smell it before he would enter a room. It lingered long after he left. This mutilation gives me the same revulsion. It makes me want to scrub myself clean.”

  Vellina had been concerned because when Marina had returned from Kurgia, she had needed therapy to stop her from scraping her skin off in a futile attempt to feel clean again.

  “I need to link with your mind Marina, that response is worrying,” Vellina said mentally. Marina took down her mental walls, submitting to full mind link with Vellina, but although Vellina’s inspection was painstakingly thorough, she failed to unearth any deep-seated problem. The only matters of note she found, which she had not been previously aware of was that Marina’s relationship with her nephew had deepened. Deeper inspection found nothing amiss, except a curiosity as to who his sire had been.

  “Plavina won’t tell me who he was. I ran Sebie’s genes. The genes of his sire came out as a high Gold if he survives change. The gene matching with Plavina is good but not optimal. Against my own genes they match perfectly. I don’t blame Plavina for keeping quiet about his existence but I’m tempted to take him for myself if he ever turns up,” Marina said in response to Vellina’s mental question.

  About Tippy there was little they could do until they had more background information on him.

  “It would help if we at least knew his full name,” sighed Vellina.

  “Markabans are automatically fingerprinted for their own Security forces.”

  “That’s a good idea to check them. I’ll get a gene break down done as well; never know we may be able to tie him to a family grouping.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five - Games of Various Kinds

  Charles took his time beating the Major at snooker, having to deliberately miss several shots to allow him some table time. They had a light meal and a couple of beers each. Cucat came in and talked to them for a while. Unlike most Zeninan males, he was wearing loose trousers with a shirt. He was moving rather stiffly and declined to sit with them, but stood rather awkwardly and grimaced in pain, as Charles greeted him with a slap on the back. Charles apologized for his stupidity, but Cucat only laughed bitterly.

  “I’ll remember it when Marina gets around to you. Klivina was certainly thorough. At least she has stuck by me. I stayed with Jelen as he fetched his things and left with Etapa. Zenla didn’t even say goodbye; she was closeted with a new Kurgian. Jelen says he’s broken-hearted, but at least he’s avoided a beating.”

  “I’ll expect he’ll get his too. Most owners prefer to welcome their slaves like that. Do you intend to watch his sale?”

  “If Klivina permits, she’s placing restrictions on me, I have to behave!”

  “Do you want me to see to your back?” Charles offered.

  “No thanks, Klivina says if the stripes are gone before the match, she’ll put them straight back on after it.”

  Cucat had one beer and left. A few Zeninan women sat drinking with a group of Kurgian space crew. Men from various planets stood in clusters quaffing beer and ogling the Zeninan women who flitted in and out. Some couples paired off, leaving the bar for rooms above or their own quarters elsewhere. Charles and Bromarsh were approached a few times. Charles laughingly pleaded total exhaustion as Marina was home and he had to look after her friend. To one lady who showed a distinct interest in the Major, he stated he was completely untrained and very mediocre, not the thing to please a lady of her exquisite taste.

  “Is Princess Marina keeping him to herself?” the lady remarked.

  “Come to me, young man,” she said to Bromarsh, “when she tires of you.” With that she left without Charles or Bromarsh needing to reply.

  “Attractive lady,” remarked Bromarsh, a little flattered.

  “Yes, but she is not very gentle! Marina wouldn’t be pleased if I returned you with half your ribs cracked.”

  Lahoda walked in as Charles was potting the last ball of the frame. She saw him at once, hesitating in the doorway, undecided whether to stay or go. She had inspected the slaves for the following day’s sale at the market intending to leave a bid on a young giant whose open smiling face had appealed to her. Jelen had been brought in just before she placed her bid; she spent a few moments staring at the sulking slave.

  Lahoda had seen him about with Charles and knew they were friends, but Zenla was one of Dalzina’s cronies, Lahoda was not in Dalzina’s circle. She had never tried Jelen out, but he was certainly the most attractive slave on offer. Jelen became aware of her interest and knowing who she was, smiled back. He knew she would be a gentler mistress than Zenla, he wanted her; so he sought her mind, offering his services willingly, if she would buy him. “I’ll think about it,” she laughed without making promises.

  Cheerful, Lahoda left the market with the intention of bidding for Jelen on the morrow. T
here was time for a drink and some gentle exercise before the pelozia match. She had reserved her seat and she was determined to cheer Marina to her victory. Thinking of Jelen, she did not notice Charles was within as she entered. But seeing him, she decided to go.

  Charles turned and saw Lahoda, Marina had contacted him, so he knew of their peace-making; he felt responsible for her lovesickness. So he crossed the room and caught her arm.

  “Come and join us.”

  She correctly declined.

  “But you haven’t met my friend yet,” he said, drawing her along with him.

  He introduced her to Bromarsh. They sat together in a booth, ordering more drinks. Charles called over Suzela who was also Silver and had just come in. Charles seated himself opposite Bromarsh with Suzela negligently sprawled in his lap.

  “The Fireflies are bound to win, the Lizards are going to be thrashed,” Lahoda declared.

  “I accompanied Marina to watch the Lizards’ match against the Blue Monkeys, she was impressed and said they were in good condition,” Charles said reluctantly.

  “You are not saying that the Fireflies will not win, Charles? Dalzina will crow if they should win. I wish I could come but tickets are sold out,” Suzela said.

  “No I think the Fireflies will win, but I think it will be a close and hard fought game. If you want to come, then I can get you and Major Bromarsh in,” Charles said. Bromarsh smiled and did not say much. He was aware that the language being spoken around the barroom was very different from Markaban which the group he was with were talking. He now understood that they were talking in his language out of politeness and that around him the other Zeninans were speaking in their own native tongue. He tried to join in the conversation a little and Lahoda and Charles tried to explain the game of pelozia to him, although Suzela seemed more interested in chewing Charles’ ear.

  “Lahoda, would you mind looking after Major Bromarsh whilst I entertain Suzela?” Charles asked.