Chronicles of Quixotic - Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

?????????When Zara arrived in the kitchen area, all was still dark, with only one fireplace blazing. she rummaged through the shelves until she found a three-section chafing dish. Setting it aside, she grabbed two skillets, a griddle, and that funny looking coffeepot. Menu - scrambled eggs, sausage, and fried potatoes.

???????????As food was frying, she gathered plates, flatware, and cups. Locating a large serving table on wheels she loaded everything. Just as the golden sky was breaking, she finished cooking and cleaning up. Before heading out the door she posted a large note on the icebox:

???????????????????????????????????Criterion Meal - East Garden – All are Welcome!

????????????Zara had just poured herself a steaming cup of coffee when the cook arrived.

???????????“I see you are making yourself at home in me kitchen again.” He chuckled. “You make enough food for army.”

???????????“I sort of expect more company. We’ll see. Help yourself; the sky should begin to change in the next few rims.” A rimt later she saw Sebastian walk around the corner.

???????????“Maxwell, it looks like she’s going to put you out of business,” he remarked, looking from her to the cook to all the food.

???????????“Shhh,” she shushed, “sit down; the sky is starting to change.” Right then, Valerian stepped into view. “Et-oh my number’s up,” she hissed, sliding down in her chair. Stopping at the buffet table, he prepared himself a plate and a cup of coffee and then took a seat opposite her.

???????????“We need to have a talk young lady,” he said sternly. Then smelling the irresistible aroma of sausage, he added, “immediately following criterion meal.”

???????????“Yes Sir,” she answered, glad to have a few more rims.

????????????The changing of the sky was spectacular. By its completion, Maxwell had begun cleaning up, fetching a couple servants to help, leaving her free to accompany Valerian.

???????????“We’ll go to my office,” he said. “I think it will help you to realize that I am the King, and what I say goes.” Cringing, she followed him into the palace. He barely gave her time to sit down, and he does yell when he’s mad.

???????????“I told you not to leave the palace without an escort!”

???????????“Fraya was with me,” she ventured.

???????????“She took you, she didn’t stay with you,” he countered angrily.

???????????“I don’t need a babysitter,” she muttered under her breath.

???????????“Excuse me!” the King bellowed.

???????????“I don’t need a babysitter,” she unwisely retorted sharply.

???????????“I’ll tell you what you do and don’t need, and one thing you do need is an escort; is that clear!”

???????????“Yes Sir,” she mumbled, turning up her nose.

???????????“Stop doing that,” he snapped. “I will know where you are at, at all times! Now, I want to know if you have anything to do with the tugging I’m feeling from Zuleika?”

???????????“It’s from Zyburg, not Zuleika,” she corrected.

???????????“So, it is you!” he exclaimed. “What’s going on?”

???????????“I really don’t know much about what’s happening, so I guess I shouldn’t tell you anything,” she answered flippantly.

???????????“You need a spanking,” his snarl threatened. “Now explain everything you know, from the beginning.”

???????????She told him the same information Merlin and she had discussed two riterion earlier. “The recent disruption, I assume, was because I left Acacia, seeing as it has stopped since I returned,” she concluded. “Can I go now,” she asked smartly, jumping to her feet.

???????????“No!” he snapped, “Sit down!”

???????????“Jeez,” she belly-ached, flopping back down in the chair.

???????????Glaring at her, he grabbed a footstool. Placing it so they were knee to knee, he straddled it, facing her.

???????????“Young lady, you are new here and you are family, but I am only going to tell you this once,” he spoke firmly, looking her directly in the eye. “You are now living in a realm that totally believes in corporal punishment. The men are head of their households and responsible for everyone within that household; distant relations included. From here on you will at all times show me respect and do as I say. If you do not, I am going to put you over my knee, bare your backside, and paddle you till you can’t sit down, and I don’t care who is around to see. Do I make myself clear?”

???????????“Yes Sir, very clear,” she whispered, scrunching snuggly into her chair. ?

???????????Standing, he kicked the stool back in place. “Now, you may be excused. You are not to leave the palace grounds for any reason.”

???????????“Yes Sir,” she submitted softly, coming to her feet.

???????????Holding the door open for her she slipped humbly passed him and went straight to her chambers. What have I gotten myself into? I must learn the rules around here and quick. I’m in trouble too much lately. Getting out the Zalakan grammar book she had borrowed, she studied it for a couple of rions, finally falling asleep with it on her lap. When she woke it was dark and she was hungry. Heading for the kitchen who did she run into -Valerian.

???????????“I expected you at nuri meal,” he said.

???????????“I fell asleep. Is it all right to get something now?” she asked politely.

???????????“Of course, but you will be joining us in the dining chamber for meals after this.”

???????????“Do I have to,” she whined. Receiving an irritated glare, she quickly rephrased her remark. “I would prefer to wait until Merlin returns. I still feel a little out of place around here.”

???????????“I quite understand; your choice until after his return.”

???????????“Unless you want to join me again for criterion meal in the garden,” she called back happily, disappearing down the stairs.

???????????Maxwell wasn’t around, so she prepared a couple of sandwiches and took a half-full bottle of wine back to the chamber. She ate and went back to bed. She must have been exhausted because the next thing she knew, someone was knocking at the door, and it was fully light outside.

???????????“Mistress Zara,” a male voice implored. “There is someone in the main hall asking for you.”

???????????“Thank you, I’m coming,” she called out. When she opened the door, he was gone. Little did she know he had gone to inform Valerian.??

???????????Going down the stairs, she saw that the visitor was her grandfather. Excited, she increased her pace but as she got closer, she noticed he was in an awful state of mind and slowed down. Valerian and Or'Lena arrived in the main hall just as she stopped in front of Grandpa. Sebastian, Vashti, and Marshall had come in from different directions simultaneously.

???????????“Are your affairs in order,” Grandpa demanded gruffly.

???????????“Yes Sir,” she answered, taken back by his abruptness.

???????????“Seen to the business about the house and bank accounts?”

???????????“Yes Sir.”

???????????“Have you told your sons,” he barked fiercely.

???????????“Yes Sir.”

???????????Everyone was keeping their distance as they listened to the fierce confrontation between the two of them.

???????????“What about you and this Quixotican Demon Warlock,” he snarled, raising his cane towards her. Sebastian started to move to assist, but Valerian stopped him.

???????????“You will not call Merlin names, Grandfather,” she countered.

???????????“I will say what I like, when I like!” he shouted angrily.

???????????“Not to me you won’t!” she shouted back, taking a threatening step toward him.

???????????Bah!! You don’t belong here,” he argued, pushing her back as he spit the words out.

???????????“Why,” she exclaimed.

???????????“When you’re hurt and alone don’t come to me,” he hissed, thumping her chest with his cane. “For that matter don’t ever come to me for anything again.” Pushing her away, he reached for the door. She stood rooted to the spot, unable to think of anything to say.

???????????“Grandpa, wait,” she gasped, heartbroken and helpless. “Grandpa,” she choked.

???????????“Bah!!” he growled, slamming the door behind him. Zara stood gazing at the big wooden door. Turning around she saw everyone standing in the hall watching her. ???????????

“Zara,” Valerian said softly, as Or'Lena reached to take her arm. Backing away out of her reach, knowing if Or’Lena touched her she would lose control, she turned for the stairs.

???????????“It’s okay,” she said quietly. “He needed to get it off his chest. I... I... will... go see him in a few riterions,” she stuttered. Hurrying down the hall, she stopped short. As she turned around her eyes were agleam with tears. “Oh... may... I... be excused please,” she requested, biting back a sob; Valerian nodded.

???????????Zara still doesn’t know how she got up all fifty-six steps without tripping. She went numbly into their chambers and once there cried her heart out. ?

???????????Or'Lena stopped by at twylyt to check on her. “Do you want to talk about what happened,” she asked.

???????????“No ma’am. I just don’t understand. Everything will be all right, I’m sure. I brought you something back from Earth,” she said, changing the subject and retrieved the books and typewriter. Sitting down at the desk, she demonstrated to her what Braille felt like.

???????????“What I’ll do with the typewriter,” she explained, “is overlay the keys with the raised Braille dots so you will be able to tell which letter is which. Everybody types by touch anyway; you won’t need to see the letters.”

???????????“Could I take the beginning books with me,” Or’Lena asked.

???????????“Sure, they’re yours. We can practice every riterion if you like. We can help each other. I need to learn Zalakan.”

???????????“I don’t want Valerian to know yet,” Or’Lena said with her gentle smile. “I want to surprise him when I read from one of the books. He rarely comes into the studio, so we can work in there. Well, I better start talking Zalakan to you.” She laughed pleasantly.

???????????“Better take it slowly,” Zara replied hesitantly in Zalakan. “I have only plowed through my first book.”

???????????“That was excellent. How did you learn that much so quickly?”

???????????“I was born with a weird, sort of a computer brain. I’ve seen all those words in the book, and then I put them in the proper order to make the sentence,” she said, almost all in Zalakan.

???????????“I hope I can learn Braille as quickly. You make it seem so easy.” Or’Lena laughed. They worked together on Zara’s Zalakan for a while then in the Braille book. Or'Lena had a sharp mind and caught on very quickly. “I will have dots dancing in my head all nyt.” She chuckled.

???????????She didn’t hear from Merlin through twylyt and with the dym tevis events playing repeatedly in her mind, she ended up crying herself to sleep sometime shortly before criterion. Never fear though, by the time the sky began to turn she was her old self again, and in the kitchen, preparing a light criterion meal. She was sitting in the East Garden with her coffee and Danish when Sebastian arrived.

???????????“Missed you recently,” he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

???????????“Overslept. Staying up for two or more riterion at a time does that to me,” she commented, dimples readily visible. “This time variance isn’t helping anything either.”

???????????“What time do you usually get down here anyway?”

???????????“Oh, before the sky turns. I jog through the garden when I first come down. I’ve mapped out about five miles, and then I enjoy the changing sky and my coffee. Nice way to get the riterion started.”

Later that riterion, she was out walking along the far perimeter of the palace grounds when she heard an awful growling sound. Slowly turning around, she saw four monstrous beasts cautiously surrounding her. They were massive. The top of their heads easily as high as her ribs, their short knotty ears would probably just brush the underside of her breast. Their short silky coats were varied in color, ranging from solid black to buff to brindle. The smallest creature had to weigh at least two hundred pounds, the biggest twice that. Their snouts resembled a fighting dog, but the length of their teeth, especially the canines, were long sharp things like a grizzly bear. Her first thought was there isn’t much else that can happen to her around this place. Surely Valerian wouldn’t have dangerous animals loose on the castle grounds and there definitely was no handler in sight. ?

So generally, animals like her; her next thought was to put her best foot forward and offered the back of her hand for them to sniff. All four in one motion moved forward and to her surprise her hand was still intact a rim later. Reaching over, she scratched the nearest one’s ear.

“Well, aren’t you guys just the ugliest creatures I’ve ever seen,” she spoke in her sweetest voice. Their ragged ears perked up and one of them licked the back of her hand. Was that a creepy feeling; his tongue was like sandpaper.??

????????????“So, what are you guys,” she asked, in a sweet baby doll voice. The one nearest gave a type of bark so she would go with dog. “Do you fellas know how to play fetch?” Picking up a stick, she waved it in front of them then threw it. All four silly creatures just stood there looking from her to the stick and back. ?

???????????Again, in her baby doll voice she commented, “You boys aren’t too smart either.”

???????????She went over and picked up the stick with them following at her ankles. Placing the stick in the mouth of the closest one she led him around for a rim and then threw it again. This time that one chased the stick; but then he ate it. Okay, partial success. She tried again. Finally, one of them made it back to her before he had eaten the whole stick. Easing it out of his mouth, she praised him: scratching behind his ear and cooing over him.

???????????That was the trick; they liked lots of attention. After that, no matter what she threw, they brought it back. They spent the rest of dym tevis together and she even named them. There was Duke, he was the biggest, Spot who was brown and black, Mutt the runt, and her favorite Ralph, the brindle one. It was coming onto twylyt when she returned to the main entrance with her new friends following at her heels; each massive head bobbing under her hand as her fingers scratched each one’s ears in turn.

???????????“What the hell is she doing with my Grizzweilers,” shouted a tall, fierce looking man, clad in a buckskin outfit and a bow slung across his back. The creatures and Zara froze in place as this brute of a man came storming at them with several others close on his heels, Valerian included. Snatching at her, he grabbed her shoulder, jerking her in front of him. Big mistake, her knee caught him in the groin and then that automatic left uppercut of hers put him flat on the ground. Stepping back, she stood there, her hands resting on Ralph and Duke’s heads.

???????????“Those are my beasts,” he gasped. “Get away from them.”

???????????“Can’t anyone else pet your beasts,” she asked innocently, while the creatures happily nuzzled and licked her hands. Once again on his feet, he came at her. All four beasts moved in one motion coming between them.

???????????“Sit!” he commanded harshly, and they all sat down.

???????????“Fetch,” she countered calmly, tossing the sticks in her hand over her shoulder. They were gone in an instant. Smiling she walked past him... right into Valerian. “He started it!” she exclaimed.

???????????“Collin, this is Zara, Eugene’s granddaughter, and Merlin’s girlfriend,” Valerian introduced, casting an annoyed glare in her direction.

???????????“What did you think you were doing with my Grizzweilers,” Collin exclaimed, as the beasts came romping back with the sticks, dropping them at her feet.

???????????“Good boy Ralph, come here Spot, atta boy Mu...”

???????????“She’s named my beasts!!” he roared.

???????????“Jeez,” she exclaimed, wobbling her head crazily.

“Zara,” Valerian snapped. “Be still! Collin, take the creatures back to Myakka where they belong.” ?

???????????“But that’s not fair...” She began to protest. Valerian threw her that irritated, ‘shut up’ look, and she backed off. As Collin stomped across the yard, one of the beasts came back to her and licked her hand. It was Ralph. Valerian glared at her.

???????????“I didn’t do anything,” she yelped, sticking her hands in her pockets. Everyone had disappeared back inside, leaving her standing there with Valerian.

???????????“Congratulations Zara. You just decked Prince Collin. I don’t think he’s going to be very happy with you for kneeing him, or for that solid left hook you delivered.” Valerian chuckled.

???????????“I don’t think so either, Sir. I didn’t know they were his creatures. Ugly brutes aren’t they,” she remarked casually, a glint of amusement dancing in her hazel eyes.

???????????“Come on, let’s go inside.” Valerian chuckled, putting his arm around her shoulder.

???????????Zara stayed in their chambers through nuri meal, slipping down to the kitchen later for a snack. She didn’t run into anybody, much to her relief, and decided to stay in their chambers during the riterion until Merlin got back.

???????????It was nearing full vision time and she was still awake when she remembered the string instruments in the main dining chamber on this floor. Pulling on her jeans and a shirt, she barefooted it down to the dining chamber and slipped in, closing the door behind her. Tuning one of the violins, she began softly playing and wandered over to the windows that look down over the courtyard. Finishing one song, she decided to play one of her mother’s favorites. As she played and swayed to the music, the tears began to flow again. Oh, how she wished she weren’t so alone. As the song ended, she remained gazing out the window.

???????????“That was really lovely,” commented a deep, gentle voice behind her. It was that awful Prince Collin.

???????????“Thanks,” she said, brushing a stray tear from her cheek

???????????“You, okay?”

???????????“Always,” she answered smiling, and knowing she should apologize; him being a prince. “I’m sorry about what happened earlier. I didn’t realize who you were when I hit you.”

????????????“You certainly have a solid left for a little girl.” He scowled, rubbing his jaw.

???????????“I am not a little girl,” she said defiantly. “Anyway, I wasn’t hurting your ole beasts. You had no right to grab me.”

???????????“I’ll remember that.” He huffed. “But you need to stay away from my Grizzweilers. You could have been seriously hurt.”

???????????“Nah, they were out looking for a little company, and so was I. They’re just big babies.”

???????????“Stay away from them and I’ll forget it ever happened,” he proposed gruffly.

???????????Shrugging, she nodded, muttering, “There go the only friends I’ve made so far.”

???????????“Would you mind playing another song,” he asked, seating himself on the edge of the stage.

???????????Propping the violin back under her chin she asked, “Sure, anything special?”

???????????“Something similar to what you just played, without the tears,” he requested, the beginning of a smile touching the corners of his mouth.

???????????She played, he listened, and neither of them noticed Valerian and Or'Lena standing in the doorway.

???????????“She is amazing isn’t she,” Valerian whispered to Or'Lena. “She’s charmed nearly everyone in the palace in less than a cykle.”

???????????“Including you, my darling,” Or'Lena breathed, resting her head on her husband’s shoulder.

???????????Zara limited her activities to the library for reading, her chambers for meals and Or’Lena’s studio for studying over the next few riterion.

???????????She hadn’t heard from Merlin in three riterions, five rions, and twenty-seven rims. Boy, was she beginning to miss him a lot. It was the third nyt, and still she hadn’t heard from Merlin and couldn’t sleep at all.

???????????Lonely, she decided to slip down to the dining chamber again, first checking the library for occupants. The library is the only chamber physically connected to the dining chamber and you can hear the music. That’s how Collin caught her last time; all was clear. She proceeded to the dining chamber and sat down at the piano. She had been playing for nearly a rion when Merlin magically materialized before her. Next appeared Valerian, Sebastian, and another man who she knew had to be Fallon. Merlin quickly eased around the piano, sliding onto the bench beside her. Needless to say, she didn’t complete her song. They were enjoying an extremely long, moist kiss when Fallon politely interrupted them.

???????????“Excuse me, but I would like to meet this young lady, turiterion, if you don't mind?”

????????????“Mmm,” responded Merlin. Kissing her quickly once more, he cleared his throat. “Father, this is Zara. Zara, this is Prince Fallon of Acacia.”

???????????“Pleased to meet you, Sir,” she said, standing as she extended her hand.

???????????“I’m afraid, little one, a handshake is not adequate for meeting a Great, Great, Granddaughter,” he insisted stepping around the piano. Hugging her tightly, he stood back and admired what she looked like. A little self-conscious, she sat back down, and Merlin slipped his arm over her shoulder. Valerian was talking to Fallon as she turned to Merlin.

???????????“I’m so glad you’re back,” she whispered, kissing him. “Can we go now?”

???????????“In a rim, I promise,” he said, kissing her. “I love you,” he whispered.

???????????“Merlin, we still have a lot to talk about. I expect you in the library shortly,” Valerian said.

???????????“Yes Sir,” Merlin answered, and she dropped her elbow on several of the piano keys. Valerian’s attention fell to her immediately, their eyes meeting in a lethal glare.

???????????“Zara, Merlin will be with you later. We have business to discuss right now,” he said sternly, his eyes never leaving hers.

???????????“Yeesss... Sir...” she bit out through clenched teeth, eyes blazing as she stared at him. Valerian turned and nobly walked out. Fallon and Sebastian followed.

???????????Merlin gathered her in his arms, kissing her as her eyes welled with tears. She wanted to be with Merlin and resented having to yield to Valerian.

???????????“It’s okay... I’ll be with you in a little while,” he soothed, kissing her neck as he whispered in her ear. “Please... I have to go and talk with them.” Gently brushing away a tear, he soothed softly. “I love you.”

???????????“I love you too,” she gulped, trying not to cry. “I missed you so much.”

???????????He kissed her passionately for several rims. “I have to go,” he insisted, easing her away. Standing, he drew her to her feet. “Go back to bed. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he urged, holding her close.

???????????Two rions later Merlin finally was excused from the meeting. She woke up when he came in their bed chamber. “I love you,” she breathed, curling up in his arms. Making up for the past few riterion apart, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.