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Months passed, winter turned into the rainy season in the Southern Kingdom marking the beginning of spring. Ninallia thought about the changes in her friends. Arturon and Sayeri had rekindled their romance. She could see the smiles and gentle touches they exchanged. Happiness gave a glow to Sayeri’s face. Ninallia frowned. Houston and Tegani were still dancing around their feelings for each other.
Her due date nearing caused her to walk in slow, cumbersome steps. She was uncomfortable and eager to get the child born. To make matters worse, the nursery maid hired by Sayeri was unable to take the job. The replacement seemed like a nice girl, and she came with excellent references, but there was something solemn and almost sad about her. She was too quiet to suit Ninallia.
The rain slackened to a cool damp mist. She decided to venture onto the veranda when a sharp pain nearly doubled her over. A flood of wetness ran between her legs. Sayeri had prepared her for this—her water had broken. She turned to go back in and slipped. She fell hard onto the stone floor of the veranda and cried out in pain.
Ninallia’s call found someone, and her friends rushed to find her lying on the cold wet stones of the veranda. They eased Ninallia to a sitting position, then the men gently lifted and carried her inside.
The healer arrived and examined her. “There are a few bruises, but nothing is broken. She’s young, healthy, and is in the early stages of labor. The baby will be here soon.” He smiled as he gave the good news.
“Praise the Spirits,” Sayeri said.
Ninallia yelped in pain as contractions began. It was a long evening of waiting, pacing, pushing and sweating with effort. Before dawn the new emperor was born.
“He’s beautiful,” Tegani sighed.
“All babies are beautiful,” Sayeri added.
Beaming, Ninallia held her son as Arturon drew the necessary material for a paternity test.
He assured them, “The late emperor’s information is on file in both the Bengarian and League data bases. I’ve uploaded the data from the sample and now we wait for the results.”
~ * ~
“What do they mean a week?” Ninallia fumed. “It cannot not take longer than a day or two.”
“Of course not, if we want to alert Hanoree to the fact the child has been born. The tests are being run secretly, and the results will be sent to us by an indirect route. Have patience, dear girl. We are almost at the end of this journey.”
A week came and went with no word on the test results. Ninallia recovered, and Hiroto was eating, sleeping, and growing as babies were meant to do. The nursery maid shared the duties, giving Ninallia time to rest. She insisted on having the crib in her bedroom, so her son could sleep near.
It was the middle of the second week. The nursery maid brought a warm cup of tea and milk for Ninallia. “You drink this, and I’ll get the baby ready for bed.”
“Thank you, Dorna.” Ninallia placed the squirming infant in the nurse’s hands, and he was soon settled in his crib.
“Goodnight, Miss Ninallia,” said Dorna as she closed the door.
Ninallia had finally started warming up to Dorna, and their relationship had turned companionable. Ninallia started to drink the tea, and a sudden fit of sneezing caused her to spill it. Dorna would insist on fixing her another cup, and the nurse needed her own rest. Hiroto seemed to thrive on keeping everyone busy.
Ninallia got up long enough to take off the wet covers and remake the bed, then tried to sleep.
It wasn’t long before she heard a sound. She froze as Dorna slipped back into Ninallia’s room. “Shush baby, this won’t hurt a bit,” Dorna crooned.
“What are you doing?” Ninallia cried in alarm.
Dorna drew a knife from her pocket. “Don’t make a sound. Stay there, or I’ll use the knife, and it won’t be painless.”
“Dorna, why?” In horror, she watched as Dorna used a thumb to open the vial.
“There can only be one emperor; Hanoree is our emperor. Anyone else will lead to a civil war.” She tilted the vial down to the infant’s mouth.
“No!” Ninallia screamed as she lunged toward Dorna and fell.
A dark figure crashed through the window and wrestled the knife from her hand. Houston pushed her to the floor. She scrambled for the vial and swallowed the liquid. Within seconds a strange look appeared on her face, and her hands flew to her throat. She died quickly.
The commotion woke the others, and soon they were crowded into Ninallia’s room staring in disbelief at Dorna’s body.
“I can’t believe this. I’ve known Lady Kittel for many years, and she recommended Dorna.” Sayeri was beside herself with anger and grief. She stared at the infant. “At least he is unharmed, thank the Spirits.”
“Apparently Hanoree’s hands extend even here,” Arturon said.
Ninallia was rocking Hiroto and crying. She could not stop. After catching her breath, she asked. “How did you know?”
“You called me. I heard you say Houston, I need you. The window. Hurry. I got a picture of what was happening, and I came in through the window.”
“Amazing, she can send to non-gifted people,” Arturon observed.
“Thank the Spirits,” said Sayeri. “I think we need to get some sleep and decide on a new plan of action in the morning.”
Ninallia agreed but wasn’t sure she’d sleep.
~ * ~
Tegani slept fitfully. It was evident Hanoree knew where Ninallia was hiding. He had known long enough to arrange for that stupid girl to kill the baby. Tegani shuddered, remembering how close the woman had come to succeeding. When the first light of morning began to peek through the window she got up.
Sayeri and Arturon were in the kitchen at the small table drinking a hot beverage. Houston was sleeping on the floor near Ninallia’s bed and Hiroto’s crib.
“Morning, Sister. Brother,” Tegani said as she poured her own cup.
She and the others were somber. She couldn’t stop from remembering how narrowly they had escaped disaster and how lucky they were the heir and Ninallia were both alive and well.
“Do you think Hanoree is the reason the paternity test is delayed?” Sayeri asked.
“We must assume so. I foresaw something like this and sent multiple samples under different names. We will receive the results we need in time.” Arturon looked older this morning. The troubled night showed on his face and the way he held himself. His usual ramrod straight posture was slightly stooped.
“I think it is time to take the fight to Hanoree,” said Tegani. She had given this much thought in the sleepless night. “What if we make our case publicly? We don’t have to accuse Hanoree. We can present Ninallia’s son as emperor. Make the announcement public.”
“Why not make sure the whole is planet watching?” Houston came in the room. Behind him a pale Ninallia carried Hiroto
“Can you do that?” asked Tegani.
“I think Interplanetary Governor Bashari can make it happen,” he answered.
“My Lady can persuade the nine kingdoms to broadcast the news. With the rest of Bengar watching, Hanoree can hardly suppress the broadcast.” Arturon began to show signs of his usual strong nature.
“Has anyone stopped to think we don’t have any paternity results, and we may not get them any time soon?” Ninallia asked.
“Hanoree doesn’t know that. We will proceed as if the results are in and we have them in hand. It’s bluffing, but it’s the best chance of getting our little emperor before the Council of Nobles alive.”
“I agree,” said Arturon. “If we declare ourselves, any friends we have on the council will have to step up or prove their cowardly natures.”
“Do we have any friends on the council?” Ninallia asked.
“There are many who served Emperor Rhealgar, and they may choose to support his son instead of Hanoree. They must guess or suspect he was behind the murders.” Sayeri put an arm around Ninallia.
“Let’s get it arranged. I’ll contact My Lady, and Houston can contact the League,” Arturon said, standing and heading for the door.
“I think I should let Lord Ellino know what we’re doing. He deserves a heads up.” Sayeri hurried out.
“Courage, ladies. This is what we have been working for,” said Houston.
The broadcast was shown planet wide and relayed to every world in the League.