Al Koben Ra

The Retrieval

Qe'eiress stood breathing hard, her sword drawn, pointed at the star viking before her. His arrogance irritating her all the more as he stood unconcerned with her attempt at defense. 

"Did you honestly think you could hide from me?" His voice rolled with deep amusement. 

"Who are you? Why have you attacked my people, my home?"

"First, put this away before you hurt yourself, so primitive..." He pinched the tip of her sword, moving it back from him, "...second they are not your people, but ours." He tried to patiently explain.

"Our people? Don't be absurd! As for my sword, know that it can still remove a few fingers, perhaps even a hand. Care for a demonstration?"

"Ah, nice - fiery, I like that, put the toy away and come along, I haven't a day to waste, we have much to see to this day, you and I - our ship is here."

"Our? We? What insanity plagues you? I'm going nowhere with you. Why have you taken possession of my village? How did you get in? No one has access to the code that gives entry, only myself and other leaders."

"And... your emperor, your husband."

"Emperor - husband? I have no such beasts!" She retaliated confused by his audacity.

Caesar threw his head back, roaring in laughter. "Yes, I see interesting times ahead, certainly none of them boring. I'm afraid you have such a beast, you see, I am your emperor! I am your husband."

"Liar! You're obviously suffering from a mental ailment of old! Have you missed the vaccine?"

Caesar sighed, hating being forced to explain, "Your clothing, all of them bears our family's badge of the wolf, as you can see, so do I. On a more private level, your right rear cheek bears a tattoo that is my name, our badge and a week after your birth it was placed there - two days before you became my wife. Your clan and my clan, or rather our parents, made a pact, you see, as racial divisions helped to destroy the past world where only so many survived - our parents for instance. To keep this from happening again, they pledged their first born daughter and first born son - that the two would be man and wife, leaders of the new world. I will explain more later. Come along now."

"You are mad! I don't know you, nor of these things you speak! Also, I have a sneaking suspicion that you are most certainly, not a man I would take a liking to. In fact, I'm certain of it."

"Yes - well, given time with me, that will all change. Especially tonight when I affirm and accept their pledge by our consummation. This way - wife."

Qe'eiress could only stare in disbelief as her people had already been taken upon the mighty ships. In order to get them out, she had to leave with them. For now that is, until she found out what was going on. This pledge he spoke of. She urgently needed her brother, Emeric, he was no doubt off doing what was most pleasing to him, or with Xara. Once she was able to contact him, he would correct this and they would come up with a plan to deal with Nox Vadorium. He was becoming more powerful. A plan to deal with him successfully needed to be formulated.

In the meantime, she relented, putting away her weapon, "I will go for now, but there will be no such ceremony and certainly no consummation!" Sheathing her sword, she charged ahead of her grinning 'husband', both of them boarding the waiting ship.

To be continued - Next - How & Where it Began - Episode 2