The Switch Chapter 9
And this is where we get a third puzzle piece together. Warning, angst ahead.
The Switch
Chapter 9
Once you got all that business done and out of the way, then you went to Yekmeni but by the time you got there, it was already so late, you barely had time to get something to eat from the market that was starting to close up for the night. Before you were shown your rooms and promised an audience with the King and Queen the next day as you had Mildred direct your trunk full of much finer clothes be brought in as you worriedly went through it and started laying the outfits out and worrying that they would be too wrinkled or not good enough.
“Tessa, you do not need to worry about this. It’s Audrey and Lukher. The most Audrey likes to be called by is Savia which all that means is she is Lukher’s favorite person. And tomorrow when I introduce you to them, I’ll be introducing you as my favorite too. That’s it. That’s all the formality you need to have.” Kragan tried to soothe you as he could see that you were getting worked up about it.
“But it’s the King and Queen of Yekmeni. Look around us, there is more wealth and luxury here than even my own King and Queen’s Palace back in Solowards and this is just a guest room! Maybe I should wear those jewels my father got me. They would be more appropriate right?” You asked as you asked for Mildred to have the trunk that had all your finer jewelry in it be brought in too.
“No, trust me, with Audrey- less is more. She’s The Queen and even she dresses down and simply dresses comfortably and with simple sophistication and with minor jewels except for special occasions. That’s all she will want from you- is to be comfortable. She’s thankfully unlike any other royalty. She’s a lot like you- doesn’t like a lot of formality or pretense. Just genuine personality and honest, and surprisingly frank conversation. She’s fun you’ll love her. And you have like a 99% chance of being her new best friend. She’ll be very happy to be yours too. If you ever wanted a strong amazing ally, Audrey is it.” He reassured you.
“So what you’re saying is I need to wait until the market opens and buy an outfit there so I look like I belong here and am Yekmenian myself.” You concluded.
“I mean if you want us to settle down here and become Yekmenians, I’m all for that. Yekmeni is awesome and I wouldn’t mind calling this place home or building you an estate that rivals even this palace here. Especially since if we make Yekmeni our home base. That would be ideal, good workers and craftsman, good food, comfortable clothes. Royalty and Nobility that are already close friends. None of that primogeniture bullshit or hypocritical or sexist bullshit either. My sisters and the rest of my siblings as well as you would always be my equal in every way and have just as many rights and freedoms as everyone else. It would be a win win.” Kragan shrugged.
“Then what is keeping you from doing just that?” You asked him.
“It’s not my decision to make- it’s yours. I will move wherever you feel the most comfortable and the most welcome and at ease at. I don’t care where. As long as we both get to call it home.” Kragan reassured you as he helped massage the stress and anxiety in your shoulders and keep you from getting too worked up and stressed about it before Mildred came in with the trunk that had all your jewelry in it.
“Thank you Mildred. I just…I’m tired from traveling, please, can I get my regular nightly medication?” You requested as the emotional and mental strain was wearing on you on top of the strain from traveling and still keeping your secret away from your husband and his family was starting to become a lot to bear. You felt so guilty for trying to keep up this charade as Mildred got into her special case that she always carried your variety of medications in and put the vial down on your bedside table for you before she bid you both good night. Then Kragan happily helped you get undressed from your traveling clothes since your nightgown was laid out on the bed already since your sleeping mask continued to rest in the tea in the shallow bowl next to the bed as well that was cooling off.
“Could I try to fuck the nerves out of you?” Kragan offered hopefully which got you to snort a laugh as once your body was bared to him, he had a hard time not groping you. Honestly, since the moment he was allowed to touch you, he couldn’t keep his hands off of you. Even after the honeymoon since seeing you blush and smile and give him those ‘keep it up and you’re gonna have to finish what you’re starting’ looks from you had him eager to answer such wordless invitations.
“You can try. I doubt you’ll succeed, but you can try.” You offered.
“No harm in trying.” Kragan shrugged as he quickly and easily seemed to slink out of his own clothes that were very clearly more Yekmenian and were rather simple and easy to get dressed and undressed in before he happily ushered you into the bed and into the silk sheets and covers and only when you had both met your satisfaction did you take your medicine and apply your mask and promptly fall asleep in his arms.
But come morning, you awoke to Kragan not in bed with you as the bed was quite cold where he had been laying what felt like a moment before.
“My Lady!” Mildred called out- outside your room and her tone of voice came out in a panicked tone and it caused you to gasp and practically spring out of bed and open your door to see Mildred being restrained by two orc guards and three young women who looked stoney and armed.
“What is going on?! Let her go!” You ordered.
“Duchess Salgria, are you aware that your Lady in Waiting is poisoning you to death?” One of the ladies behind the first accused.
“What? No she is not!” You argued.
“Duchess Salgria, I’m Queen Audravienne Azurah. You must know that in Yekmeni, it is forbidden to bring poison into Yekmeni, and the punishment for such a crime is death. Your Lady in Waiting has been found with poison on her person, and…” Audrey began before you shushsed them.
“Shhh!” You uncharacteristically shushed The Queen as you looked around to see who was in the hall to make sure that Kragan wasn’t here to hear this. As Queen Audravienne and the two women with her and her guards looked surprised and offended that you would shush their Queen.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I can not have this matter discussed here in the hall and so openly. Please, would you let me explain this situation in full? If you’re going to put anyone to death for breaking your law, it should be me. But before you decide one way or another, please, just give me a chance to explain myself and my situation.” You pleaded as she raised a curious, if not critical brow.
“My Lady, we should discuss this in the throne room. If she is to make an official plea...” Seyda reminded her mistress.
“Please, no, you can put me to death right now, but you must ensure that Mildred has safe passage home first.” You pleaded.
“You have five minutes of my time to plead your case.” Audrey decided before she nodded for everyone to come into your room.
“My Lady, no, please! Just let them put me to death! You can’t do this to yourself, not when…” Mildred tried to dissuade you as the guards brought her into the room and you shut the door.
“Mildred, it’s ok. Please, just sit down. I only have five minutes. Let me talk.” You urged her as she was forced down into a chair before you went over to the bed and shakily collapsed to sit down on the bed now that the adrenaline in your system had subsided.
“So I’m assuming you have tested the substances in all the bottles that were marked to be my medicine with a name that didn’t fit what was in the bottle?” You assumed.
“That is correct.” Hayati answered.
“Since I know that you are a master of medicine and poison alike. I know you must have tested it thoroughly and found quite a number of poisonous substances in the mixture that I take as medicine. Violet Eye for complexion, energy and also for warding off pregnancy…” You began as you listed off all the ingredients since you had studied and knew each one by heart as the Queen and her attendants just frowned deeper and deeper at you.
“If you knew what was in it, why would you take it?” Queen Audravienne asked.
“To hide this.” You answered as you pulled the face mask off to reveal your true self to her as she and her attendants gasped softly.
“Your Majesty, this is not how I wanted our first meeting to go. I was hoping it would be under much better circumstances. But maybe it’s best that our first meeting is as what we really are. You are a Queen of Yekmeni, and I- am just a desperate woman who is dying of cancer and side sickness and trying to hide that fact from my husband and his family and the rest of the world. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with very advanced side-sickness and a cancerous growth that is- as we speak- eating it’s way through my abdomen and has already eaten most of my liver and my side. Even now you can touch it if you were to touch my right side, as excruciating as that is for me to endure since any touch there is extremely painful for me.” You confessed.
“My father is a Duke of Solowards. And has many businesses and is quite wealthy compared to most. But even he- could not buy a cure for me. He inquired of the collared mouras in Dorierra how much it would cost to cure me and they answered back with a million gold bouillon. Which I’ve come to know that a gold bouillon is the same as one of your gold drakars. If my father sold every business he had, every inch of land and every house and every jewel from every girl and woman in my family owns- he would not even be able to come up with a quarter of such a sum. And no bank in the world would have given him the rest on loan for anything. When I was diagnosed, I was only given a few months to live. And I’m already past that. So every day that I wake up is on borrowed time already. To keep my father and my family from ruination- I told my father not to sell everything to try to cure me. Which even if they did, I doubt they could fully cure me, even for such a sum.” You began as Queen Audravienne and her attendants breathed in sharply and their eyes went wide at the news of such a high price even though they could understand that such a high price would be warranted to heal such a severe ailment.
“Since I was two- I have been betrothed to a man I hated, who hated me just as much. But because of the nature of our betrothal, it might as well have been written in stone and neither of us could break out of it. Solowards is a primogeniture patriarchal society your Majesty. Women are the property of their fathers until they marry and then are the property of their husbands once they do marry. My betrothed had already served me with an ultimatum when I was 15. Either I gave him two sons within the first two years of marriage to him when he would finally marry me- or he would divorce me and publicly shame me to the point I could never return home to my family. And I would live only off of what jewels I could sell after the fact and that the moment the sons’ umbilicles were cut- the sons would be removed from me to be raised by his favorite mistress instead and all of his bastards would be considered legitimate and have an equal standing in his house. If I ever talked back to him or argued with him or outsmarted him or embarrassed him in any way, I would be put out into the street immediately. And his wealth, and station, even though he is of a noble title less than my fathers- still eclipses my father because he and his family have been in the nobility for the last several dynasties from Solowards.” You explained as Queen Audravinne’s eyes blazed with anger as a scowl was on her face and her nose flared as her breasts ached to be nursing Ahi right now and wanted nothing more than Lukher’s arms around her at such a horrible prospect while declaring war and executing such a horrible man.
“And then a year before we were supposed to be married, which was only a few months ago- I was diagnosed with cancer and side sickness and left with only a few months left to live. And then two days later, Kragan’s father- Thaddius- his offer of marriage for Kragan came in. And instead of a bride having a dowry, it was the groom who did and his dowry was twice what mine was. The offer was actually for my younger sister Millicent since she was unbetrothed and I was already betrothed.” You began to explain.
“But Millie only heard that Kragan was an orc and a sailor and threw a fit that my father agreed to it. She tought that he was just some filthy whoring sailor. And that she was too good for him and that such a match would not only ruin her but ruin the family and ruin the familiy honor and standing within Solowardian Society. And to a degree, she was right. Solowadian high society hates Kragan and his family. And are extremely prejudinced against them. But my father had already agreed and given his word and could not go back on it.” You explained.
“And so- as a last ditch effort to save Millie, and to save my family- I suggested to my father to switch Millie and I. Suddenly, my previous betrothed groom dropped all his hatred and horrible disposition and transformed from spoiled, selfish brat- to Prince Charming for Millie. Because she’s younger than him and much prettier and skinnier than I am and almost infinitely more stupid than I am. And because he was not intimidated or emasculated by her intellect as he was with me and mine. My doctors who diagnosed me, came up with a fake diagnosis and a fake accident to tell my betrothed and his family. And simply said that I was in an accident, has been kicked by a horse and was now barren. And that was finally enough for them to release me from the betrothal and accept Millie instead. Because after they all examined her- they found her in perfect health and her womb ready and able to bear as many children as a husband could put into her. And with my ex-betrothed- being free of being betrothed to me, he took one look at Millie and fell in love with her. Because she was everything he had ever wanted. Young, beautiful and naive. And I was older, uglier, wiser and fatter.” You explained.
“You’re perfectly lovely, unless your sister is as beautiful as a goddess…” Queen Audravienne began to waive off.
“Oh no, she is, she’s ten times more beautiful than I could ever be even in my wildest dreams. And they both get to be happy and content that they’re both young and beautiful, rich, powerful and most importantly- popular among their peers. All the things I never was.” You interjected as you leaned against the headboard and hugged your pillow to keep the sheerness of your nightgown from being a distraction to anyone.
“For me, I didn’t care if Kragan was an orc or an elf or drow or a drider or what he did for a living. Whether it be sailing the seas or skies or could work in a whorehouse for all I cared. Or if he were poor or wealthy or powerful or powerless or ugly or handsome or blind, deaf and dumb or anything like that. The only thing I cared about was that he would be kind to me. Since I had spent all my life being betrothed to a man who was as ruthless and cruel as he was handsome.” You explained as Audrey just shook her head at such nonsense. But knew you had a very good point.
“And so in order for myself and my family to secure Kragan’s dowry and not put myself and my family under suspicion and for my father not to get sued for plying a “lame” bride onto an unsuspecting groom. Because such a thing does exist and grooms, when their new wives do not come to be with child immediately- often do sue their father in laws for plying “lame” brides who can be considered lame for any number of “defects”.” You began to reveal.
“Even “defects” as simple as having a mole in a place they find displeasing. Or mismanaging household finances or their lady’s maids having bad manners. Or the Lady’s not falling pregnant within the first month after marriage to a disagreement over anything and everything. And I didn’t want my family to be sued. Especially for such a crime as this- for selling me as a bride who only had a few weeks to a few months left to live. So I asked for two of the five doctors to make my “medicine” knowing full well it was poisonous. But only to take it long enough to hide the truth. All five doctors, all of them world reknowned and masters and professionals at their fields- who bled me until I passed out and tested my blood and every other bodily fluid I had and all the tests came back with the same result. Cancer and incurable side sickness. And with a cancer in my liver and no doubt many other vital organs- to operate on me would be to kill me since the cancer is very deeply rooted.” You revealed.
“So if you are going to insist on justice for breaking your law, kill me by whatever means you feel apprpriate. Because I was the one who knowingly broke your law and purposefully did so. Because and all you will do is shorten my life by a few weeks at the most. I don’t have long now. Obviously. And all that substance in those bottles was doing was masking the truth until I could get to Kragan’s home and tell him myself once we were safely there. I wanted him to be on his home soil, surrounded by his friends and family to recieve the most support possible and be far enough away from Solowards that he couldn’t retaliate against my family, in particular my father- who is solely responsible for the care and wellbeing of my family and after him, my younger brother Saffiro will be since he is the first born son.” You insisted.
“And on our trip so far, I have simply been on the lookout for any other who had their eye on him before his father had forced him to marry me. So that when I do have to leave him. He will have someone to pick him back up, put him back together and help him move on and move forward.” You confessed as you wracked a sob and hugged your pillow for comfort.
“Do you not love him?” Queen Audravienne asked as she came forward and sat beside you and reached for your hand and held it comfortingly in both of hers.
“No, I do! I love him more than anything! I want him to succeed and be happy more than anything. I fell so hopelessly in love with him and had we met under any other circumstances. I would have tried my best to break out of my previous betrothal to run away with him. Kragan is everything I never knew I always wanted. He’s not just kind, he’s loving and caring and thoughtful and he loves me so much. And we are so strongly and deeply and we’re genuinely attracted to each other. And we’re so happy together. And it breaks my heart that Fate would be so cruel to deal me this death blow and then bring me my perfect match. So that even though I don’t have long left, at least I get to take my first and last adventure and it’s with him. A fellow adventurer.” You sobbed as you used your sleeves to soak up your tears.
“And when we went to Fitsdale, there were so many girls there that were sweet on him. And while he was embarrassed by their attempts at advances on him- he wore me and my love like a shield against them. And he has been nothing but loyal and faithful to me even before he met me. Even when his father matched him with me, he stopped using whores, he cut off all ties to any other woman in an effort to be free of all restraints just for me and he hadn’t even met me. Or knew me. Just on the principal and his honor alone. Meanwhile it was only after my previous bethrothed- Ron- met Millie and promptely fell in love with her at first sight that he finally got rid of his mistresses. And all those horrible threats and agreements he made me agree to- he withdrew them and ripped them up and wouldn’t dream of doing, let alone threatening such things against Millie, which I’m eternally grateful for.” You explained.
“But when I went to Fitsdale and saw and met the others, I wrote down all their names so that when I do have to pass, at least Kragan has somewhere to start looking for another to replace me. And while I know I will love him for the rest of my life. It kills me that it won’t be for very long. And I know my loss will devastate him and I’m so scared that it’ll destroy him. Sending him careening down and crashing instead of staying on the breeze and soaring the way he was always meant to.” You sobbed as Audrey gave you a sympathetic smile and started petting your arm as even her sensitive touches told her that you were very sick. But she had not quite begun to learn or differentiate between all the senses of sickness so while she could sense you were sick, and gravely so. That’s all she could decipher.
“I saw him for the first time was at the same ball at my house that Ron first laid eyes on Millie. Ron and his family came through first and I was all the way at the end of the recieving line so that Ron wouldn’t even have me in his field of vision when he first walked it. And the moment Ron came in- his gaze narrowed and concentrated on Millie who was dressed up like a proper Princess. And he barely breathed. He was in utter awe of her beauty and elegance and that’s all it took. She took his arm as he led her into the rest of the ball and the rest of the night and from that night on- he only had eyes for her and his heart was already divorced from the very idea of me. So it wasn’t hard for his heart to go to her and hers to do the same. Because besides the Crown Prince- Count Ronchalres Lavine was the most eligable bachelor in all of Solowards. And Millie couldn’t be happier that she caught him. And was happy he was human and the cream of the crop so to speak because that’s what she is. And when she came out into society only 5 months ago- she debuted as “A Diamond of the first Crown” which the Queen and all the Princesses all bestowed upon her when she was presented in the Queen’s court and the only rank higher is ‘A Diamond of the Imperial Crown’ which is what the Princesses all automatically debuted at.” You explained.
“I only debued as “A Pearl of the First Solowardian Sea” because I debuted as already betrothed two years ago. Which is still a the highest an already betrothed Lady can achieve. And that was only because Countess Lavine, Ron’s mother and my own insisted on such a thing to the Queen and the Princesses since Countess Lavine debuted me as her future daughter in law and my mother debuted me as her eldest daughter.” You added.
“But Kragan didn’t know any of that or care. His father had promised him to me and to him- he was terrified I was just like Millie. And I was terrified he was just like Ron.” You began to recount.
“But all of that worrying was for nothing. Because the moment he came through the door, he was dressed up like an eagle wearing a peacock’s feathers and he couldn’t be more uncomfortable and he looked like a masculine version of a damsel in distress. And I instantly just wanted to rescue him. So I just took his arm and led him away from the ball and we just talked…for hours and hours we just talked. And instead of it being stiff and full of nothing but formalities and pleasantries- I told him to forget all of that nonesense. And invited him to just be himself because that’s all I wanted- I just wanted to get to know the real him and see if there was even a chance we could at least be friendly and kind to each other as friends first and foremost.” You recalled fondly as you smiled through your tears at the memories.
“And he was surprised and hesitant at first. But when I did the same, he began to relax and open up. And talking to him was like talking to an old friend I had known all my life. There was instant comfort and camaraderie and instant rapport. And I let him take off those ridiculous peacock feathers so to speak and reveal himself as the eagle that he is and I just let him fly and he soared cloud high. And it was beautiful. He’s beautiful, inside and out. And he’s wonderful, inside and out. He’s extremely intelligent, and worldly, well traveled, and an adventurer. And he’s been taking my hand ever since and taking me on my first and last and greatest adventure. And I couldn’t be happier that I switched.” You insisted.
“And I’m so angry at Fate for finally giving me a great love only to ask me to leave it all too soon. I don’t want to die. But I don’t want to ruin him by him selling and risking everything he has- for him to try to buy me a cure either. I don’t want his dreams to tank and sink before they have a chance to take flight. And even now, all we have is on the Violet Skye and it’s still not enough. It’s only a fraction of what would be asked to cure me and not even completely cure me, but only a partial curing at that. And it would ruin him and his family and Salgria Shipping. And even though it’s poised to become the greatest shipping magnate on the supersphere. That dream won’t be realized for another five to ten years at least. And I feel like I only have five to ten days.” You insisted.
"And I he has already given so much more than he ever should have and he has already had to pay such a high price just to marry me. I dare not ask him to pay anything else. I’m in his debt and he continues to give to me without a thought or care of being paid back. Which is why I do everything I can, every day to give him back in kind. He saved me. He saved me from Solowards and their awful, backstabbing, brutal and cruel high society. He saved me from my betrothed who would have been a monster, had I not been sick and had married him anyway. I would have wished my current circumstances to befall me so I wouldn’t have to live with such a vicious beast that Ron, my ex betrothed had been while he was betrothed to me.” You explained.
“And it was like I was caged and Kragan just bought the cage and opened the doors wide and let me soar for the first time in my life and he soars right along side me. And it’s wonderful but for soaring so high, I know I will dive soon enough. And when I do- there is no winds or wonders that could ever save me. And I just hope it is a quick and painless end for us both. Because I don’t want him to suffer watching me suffer.” You insisted.
“That first night at the ball. Before he met me- he was so worried I would be exactly like my sister Millie. And be rude, shallow, selfish and self centered and have nothing but pretenses and hide my insults in pleasantries. And he was so happy and relieved that I was nothing like that. And I was worried he would be just like Ron who is just like any and every other man in Solowardian high society. Save for my own father and brothers. And I was so happy and relieved he was nothing like them too. And the greatest gift we gave to each other was to just be ourselves and show each other who we really were and what our true personalities really were.” You revealed.
“The reason he’s in Solowards at all is because The King of Solowards wanted was a wealthy merchant he could tax heavily to fill his coffers. And my father wanted all the money he could get his hands on to save me, even at the expense of the rest of his family. And Kragan is getting the short end of the stick in every way. He had to pay ten times the average man in titled nobility’s yearly income just to marry me. And he was sold a ridiculous piece of land that might as well have been a cliff face to build his main estate on. And only given the lowliest title of nobility by the King and only after he gave everyone in that class an upgrade in noble title so that the Salgrias were the only one in that lowliest of high society class. He wasn’t offered any interest at the banks on any money he would deposit. But instead forced to pay stupid, exhorbatant fees. The land he was sold was purposefully made to be as inaccessible as possible so that he would have to pay even more just to build a new road to access it. Because no one wanted to share even a path in the woods with him. Solowardian high society, literally chewed him up and spit him out in quick succession. My own father included. And all anyone else in Solowards sees when they look at him and his family is someone to take advantage of. And I feel like I’m the one who had done it most of all and that guilt eats at me just as much as this cancer does.” You sobbed.
“On our wedding day- Kragan designed the most beautiful and wonderful luxury sky ship and will be naming it after me. He has loved me to the point of invention. And today we were supposed to go to the foundries to commission adani anti-gravity disks for it. And commission for the artisans here to build it according to what you would think places like Dorierra or any other royal or wealthy family in the world would like to travel in. Between Salgria Shipping being a very popular shipping company for bulk goods. The Contessina Ships would be extremely popular among the supersphere’s elite and would make Salgria Shipping a force to be reckoned with. And would hopefully be lucrative enough that any kingdom both in and out of the D.A. would want to bend over backwards just to have a chance for the Salgria’s to have a home on their soil. And give them the highest ranking titles possible outside the royal families. And incedible interest rates at their national banks. And not only give them lands for their future estates but lands for the seaports and especially the skyports either in or next to all their major cities so that those who sail on The Contessina Ships will not only travel in style but become world travelers and see the all the major and wonderful attractions each country in the D.A. could offer.” You explained.
“But it would be a few- if not several years for that dream to become realized. And I don’t have that long. Every day since my wedding day, I wake up happy and relieved to be alive yet anxious to get as much into motion and gain as much momentum as possible. So that even when I die, Kragan will have something to live for. Reasons to keep going and not stop and not look back. But to look forward to a wonderful future, even if I’m not in it. And if I must go into the grave, I insist on not taking any other soul other than my own into it. Which is why just about every medicine and poison alike to ward off pregnancy is in it. I can’t risk it and I can’t take that from Kragan. My love and my life is already too much to take, I can’t take his child too.” You cried as you continued to use the sleeve on your night gown to wipe away your tears and snot from your nose.
“So yes, my medicine has poisons in it. In doses that I know are harming my body but my body is dying of worse things anyway. If you need to put me to death, I understand. But please, if you insist on justice- by my life, please, just make sure Mildred can make it back home safely. She has done nothing that she wasn’t explicitly asked by me to do. Do not punish her for carrying out my orders. She has looked after me and cared for me since my birth. And she insisted she follow me to the end. Wherever that will be.” You begged.
“And I know you are a collared moura, as are your attendants. But I know if Kragan were to find out here and now- he would give away his livelihood. And it would sink Salgria Shipping like a stone. And I know that all of you are new mothers. All of you have your own families to care for first and foremost and I am just a stranger. I dare not ask anyone here to risk their lives to save mine when mine is already so decidedly slipping from my hands and escaping my grasp like the wind. Please, if you demand justice I’m willing to pay that price. All I ask for is for mercy for those that I leave behind.” You pleaded with Queen Audravienne who was crying quite a bit herself, so moved and touched and heartbroken at the news.
“So how can I help?” Queen Audravienne asked.
“Make it easy for Kragan to come and stay here. He told me last night he would love to make Yekmeni his home. If the Contessina Ships are made here. Please, all I would ask of you is to guide the design and decoration of the ships so that they will appeal to Dorierra. Because surely such ships will help with the bride program. And then make sure that they will appeal to other royal tastes so that they are easily customized, furnished and arranged to suit the tastes of anyone and everyone wealthy enough to either buy or rent one.” You requested as she readily nodded in agreement to that request.
“Of course.” She immediately agreed.
“Salgria Shipping as it is- is already a well oiled and fine running machine. It’s The Contessina Ships that will need a good well trained eye. If I can not find someone to do that. If you could consider doing that until someone else could be found for it. And if you know of any woman, no matter what background she is- if she will see Kragan as himself, and the wonder that he is, and not his purse that is about to become larger and heavier than any other in the coming years. If you could just help him stay on the path. And stay true to the course. That’s already more than I could ever ask for. And please, ask whatever price you wish to, as long as it does not hurt Kragan and his company to pay it. But if you are to ask a price, ask it of me and me alone to pay it.” You tearfully pleaded with her.
“The price for my justice is that we must dump your “medicine”. Because I have to fulfill that demand that the law says that ‘all poison, once discovered- must be destroyed’. But I can not ask for your life or the life of anyone else. Since why you were taking such poisons as medicine- is perfectly understandable and actually very reasonable. And in such extreme circumstances, of course you had to take extreme measures. But I will have Hayati create for you a new medicine that is actually medicine with no poison at all. And while it won’t give quite the same effect as Violet Eye. It should be much better and kinder to your body. And I will have Thobin use his healing stones on you- since that won’t cost anyone anything. And while I want to heal your cancer, you are right, cancer is a very serious and heavy illness to cure. And for as advanced as I can see it to be in your face- I do have my family and my kingdom to think of first. And you have your husband and his family to think of first as well.” Audrey nodded in understanding and agreement.
“I respect your decision and your self sacrificing spirit and your need and want to make sure that you cause no one ruination- but help them instead, any way you can. If you will trust me to care for The Contessina project. I will make sure that each one is perfect for their intended buyer. And just the business of having such wonderful ships being built here and employing my people is enough. And I will only charge a very small, nominal fee for such a thing.” Audrey decided.
“Kragan has talked all morning about how wonderful you are and how brilliant you are and I can see that his praise has not fallen short. And I’m just sorry that you will have to leave him sooner than any of us want you to. I will help guard him from gold diggers and users. And I will also respect you and your decision to wait until the time is right to tell him. Because this is not a secret for me to tell. It is yours and yours alone since it is your body and your sickness. And I too respect your decision for wanting to be discreet about it. And wanting to put your husband on the best path possible. And the people in this room will keep it that way until the inevitable.” Audrey insisted as she turned to look at Seyda, Hayati and the two guards who all nodded their agreement to the command.
“I wish you peace and prosperity for as long as you live and for as long as Kragan and his family lives and countless generations more. Thank you for telling me the truth. Even at great personal cost to yourself. I will respect and keep your confidence.” Queen Audravienne offered.
“Thank you.” You thanked her before she pulled you into a hug.
“Guards, please let the Duchess’ Lady in Waiting go. But also, Lady Mildred, I ask that you hand over all of your Lady’s poisoned medicine to my guards and Hayati for destruction.” She requested as she hugged you tightly.
“Please Mildred.” You added.
“Of course Your Majesty.” She said as she quickly got her key and left with Hayati and the guards to go back onto the ship and hand over the chest that had your medicine.
“Is there anything else I can do?” Audrey asked.
“Be Kragan’s friend.” You requested.
“I already am. And I will happy- be yours, as well. Please, just call me Audrey. No need for titles or pretenses.” Audrey invited.
“Tessa, I’m no longer a Duchess.” You offered.
“To me you are. I am making Kragan and yourself and his family- Dukes and Duchess of Yekmeni. I will give whatever lands Kragan wants- to him. And any rooms he wishes to stay in- in this palace until he wants to build his own or can build his own. I will help him navigate the D.A. And I will make sure that Dorierra doesn’t steal him blind. And if Dorierra were to ask for such an abhorrently ridiculous price for your cure. I will make them pay through the nose for ships in your name when they couldn’t bother to be reasonable during your life. And in the meantime. Don’t give up hope. The stones can do many wonders. I just hope they can give you the one thing no one else can- time. Seyda, send for Thobin and I need him to use the stones on my friend Tessa today while Hayati makes her new medicine.” Audrey requested.
“Yes My Lady.” Seyda smiled bittersweetly and got up and left.
“Please, don’t say anything to Kragan, I want to explain this to him myself.” You requested.
“Of course.” Audrey agreed before Thobin came in a short while later.
“Thobin, meet my new friend Tessa, she’s very sick. I need you to use the stones on her and heal her as much as possible.” Audrey requested.
“It’s ok if you can’t heal all of it though.” You supplied.
“What am I trying to heal?” Thobin asked.
“Can you swear to me that you won’t tell anyone?” You asked before Thobin looked from you to Audrey who nodded.
“Yes.” Thobin answered wearily.
“I have very advanced side sickness and a deep rooted cancer that is eating my insides. I know it is already too much for any collared moura to cure. But I am already on borrowed time. Audrey was just hoping to try to give me more.” You explained.
“Oh, I’m so sorry Tessa. I don’t think these stones can quite cure cancer but hopefully it will help with the side sickness and slow the cancer down. I take it this is what the Violet Eye in your medicine was for?” Thobin ventured as you nodded.
“I’m sorry.” He offered sympathetically.
“In Solowards- where she is from, grooms can sue their inlaws for “defective” brides. And she has been trying to keep that from happening and keep her family from financial ruination if that were to happen. So Kragan doesn’t know and neither does his family. And I have already given her my word that none of us would tell him and that she would when she chose to. Since it’s her right and her body and her decision. And she doesn’t want Kragan to sink Salgria Shipping try to leverage that against the million drakar price Dorierra leveled against her to even attempt to cure her. So while I doubt any of us here could cure her. I would never ask for such a price for such a thing but I don’t know enough about moura healing to say either way. But the stones at least can help, at least a little and it would keep anyone else here from knowing about her ailments or getting involved and risk exposing Tessa before she’s ready for the truth to be known.” Audrey explained.
“That’s awful.” Thobin frowned.
“I know, but it’s just the way things are there.” You shrugged.
“Ok, lay back in the bed and I’ll put the stones on you and we’ll see what we can do.” Thobin suggested as Audrey helped you get back into bed and comfortable before Thobin placed the stones on your head and could only shake his head at their dark maroon color as you fell into a coma.
“Can they help?” Audrey asked.
“Yes, but not completely and not all the way.” Thobin regretfully answered.
“Just do what you can. And do it all day and night if you need to.” Audrey urged him before she heard Kragan’s call for you but you were already under the stones.
“Kragan,” Audrey answered as she poked her head out of the door.
“Hey, is Tessa ok?” He asked worriedly.
“She will be. I noticed her medicine and talked to her about why she’s taking it and I’m having Thobin use the healing stones to help her so she doesn’t have to take such harsh medicine.” Audrey tried to delicately explain.
“I knew something was wrong with that stuff! She and Mildred won’t let me anywhere near it. And I think that medicine made her more sick than she was to begin with.” Kragan offered.
“Probably. You know these small, backwards countries who have no real medical knowledge and training. She was telling me a little about how awful Solowards is. And I am so happy you could rescue her from such a place.” Audrey smiled as she showed him in so he could see you laying there.
“Oh my gods, look at her face! No wonder she wanted to wear a mask all the time. She looks halfway to death!” Kragan noted in alarm.
“Well that’s what we’re trying to avoid for the present. Anyway, I talked with Tessa and she would love to have you guys settle here and she told me about the awful way Solowards treated you both. And how angry and upset she was over it. So I told her my counter offer and she accepted.” Audrey offered with a forced pleasant cheery smile.
“Oh good. Yeah, she’s been so happy and excited to come here and I wish she wasn’t so sick, I would have loved to show it to her today.” Kragan explained as he sat on the bed and held your hand and watched you sleep while the stoned worked their magic.
“Well for now, we should let her rest and heal. I’ll have Thobin do all he can with the stones. Come, she told me of her ideas for The Contessina ships. We should help her ideas come to fruition and reality.” She beckoned him and brought him out of the room and back to Lukher in the foundry as they were making the anti-gravity disks.
“Everything ok?” Lukher asked his wife when he saw the look on her face.
“Yeah, it’s just time to nurse Ahi.” She readily excused herself to find her way back to Ahi’s nursery in their suite of rooms as he was waking up from his mid morning nap and was eager to nurse again for lunch as she readily gathered him into her bosom and readily attached his mouth to her engorged breast and his mouth readily sucking deeply around the nipple as he happily nursed down as Audrey looked down and couldn’t help but smile through her tears as she watched her precious son nurse before Lukher joined her in the room.
“Audrey?” Lukher called.
“I’m in the rocker.” She called back.
“What’s wrong with Kragan’s wife?” Lukher asked.
“I swore to her I wouldn’t speak about her personal business and I’m already doing all I can for her.” Audrey tried to deflect as she just combed Ahi’s hair with her fingertips before wracking a sob and Lukher was kneeling at her feet in an instant as Ahi paused in nursing to look up at his mother questioningly.
“Audrey, I don’t care if you just entered a blood oath with her- you’re clearly upset. What is going on?” Lukher asked worriedly.
“She’s dying! She has an incurable disease and condition that even I can’t heal. Not even ten or a hundred mouras could heal her- because of how far-gone she is. She doesn’t have long left, and she knows it. She can feel it and so can I. She’s already on borrowed time and that poison we found in her medicine was just to mask her condition from her husband and inlaws. Because in Solowardian society, Kragan can sue her family for everything they have because of it. And if Kragan were to try to buy a cure, it would financially ruin him and kill Salgria Shipping in it’s tracks. And all she’s trying to do is save her family and save Kragan and his family and their business from ruination. Dorierra gave her a price of a million gold drakars to even attempt to heal her. And with how far gone she is- it would still not be enough. It would take at least a thousand mouras all working together to try and…there is no price high enough to warrant that. No price she or anyone else can pay for such a thing. And she refused to even ask me or anyone here to try because…she has already accepted that it’s too late for her.” Audrey cried as she held onto Ahi tightly in her arms and cried her eyemakeup off.
“And all she would ask me for is to help Kragan recover once she passes. That’s all she would and could ask and of course I gave her my word that would try. But she won’t tell Kragan until they get home. She wants him to be surrounded by his family and friends and have every help, comfort and support when she does tell him. And she’s just trying to give him enough momentum so that he won’t lose any when she does die. Lukher, if you had seen her and could have felt what I did. You would know that it would be impossible for me to even try to heal her because trying to save her life would surely cost mine and any other I would try to bring in to help. But I need to respect her wishes. And the fact that she is facing death head on and is still using every moment she’s alive for everyone’s benefit other than her own. Is so commendable. She doesn’t want Kragan to suffer unnecessarily and never wants him to be the victim ever again like Solowards has been victimizing him.” Audrey explained.
“And she’s so sick. Her skin is so yellow and green when it should be pink and cream for her fair skin. And for humans, that’s the color they get when they’re deathly ill. And she is, so deathly ill. And she pointed out that she’s just a stranger. And that I have Ahi and you and Yekmeni to consider and it would take weeks of negotiations to find enough mouras in the colonies to even find something, anything that they would willingly risk their lives to help cure. Because cancer is the one thing that even collared mouras have great difficulty in healing. And can cost a moura their own lives trying to pour that much magic to cure one with cancer. I have heard that even a hundred mouras would not be enough depending on the kind of cancer and where it is and it’s already in her vital organs and deeply rooted. It would take at least a thousand mouras to do it.” Audrey theroized.
“And as much as I want to heal her and her and help her- I can’t help any more than I already have. And it breaks my heart that I feel bound and restrained from doing so but even my own sense is telling me no. And you have to swear to me on Ahi- that you will not say anything to Kragan or his family. Like you can’t even hint at it. This is Tessa’s secret that she has bear until she’s sure that Kragan is in a safe place to hear it.” Audrey urged her husband.
“Ok.” Lukher reluctantly agreed as he wracked his brain, trying to think of something, anything that he could do to help but if his wife was at a loss. He didn’t think he could come up with a solution either.
Kragan came back to the room several times, and each time. While he could see the progress, it worried him that it was taking so long while Hayati did all she could to come up with a recipe that would be something similar to what you had but wouldn’t be detrimental to your inner health either. She exhausted every medical textbook she knew and felt like a failure for coming up with something that she felt was kind of just slapped together instead of actually crafted. But it was the best she could do based on the current situation and findings.
When you finally awoke. Thobin was taking the last stone away from your head and Kragan was anxiously pacing the room as Audrey and Lukher and Ahi were there too as Audrey and Thobin had used marinai and nadasi to translate what the stones were telling Thobin as Audrey tried to gently and carefully translate bits and pieces that weren’t so bad to Kragan. Thobin and Lukher weren’t happy or thrilled that Audrey was leaving so much out. But they simply kept quiet out of respect for the promise and word that Audrey had given.
“Hey, is everything ok?” You asked as you slowly let your eyes flutter open.
“Your medicine was successfully replaced.” Audrey offered.
“Tessa, do you know what was in it? Did you know it was actually poisonous?” Kragan asked you.
“I knew it had trace amounts of certain things, in particular, Violet Eye. To improve my complexion since after my accident, my complexion worsened.” You answered carefully.
“But it was paired with Green Tansey, which was supposed to counteract any negative side effects and counteract any negative effects Violet Eye can have when you take it alone. But because most places consider it a poison. It must have shown up when it was tested. That’s why it had to be destroyed, but thank you Audrey for replacing the medicine that had to be destroyed because of it. And extra thanks for not demanding my life for bringing it into Yekmeni.” You tried to smile at her as Thobin helped you sit up as your head was throbbing.
“Well your intent wasn’t to harm anyone or anything and you were under the belief that it wasn’t harmful at all. Thank you for allowing me to test it so thoroughly and being so flexible and accepting the other medicine. Hopefully this one won’t be as hard on you.” Audrey offered.
“I’m sure it’ll be a thousand times better than my old medicine.” You smiled weakly.
“Me too. Now it is, unfortunately late, dinner should be brought to your room soon. Eat and rest some more tonight and we can start fresh tomorrow.” Audrey offered.
“That would be wonderful, thank you.” You smiled before Audrey ushered her family and Thobin out of the room.
“Is that why you didn’t want me anywhere near it?” Kragan asked once everyone else had gone.
“Yes, I didn’t want you to sense the Violet Eye and think I was purposefully doing all I could to keep from getting pregnant. Since that’s one of the things you can still sue my father for by Solowardian Law.” You admitted.
“No! Why would I…? No- no, no, no. Solowards is literally a thousand miles away and it needs to be a million more miles away. Neither of us is either under Solowardian- anything. Especially arcaic and horrible laws such as suing for such a stupid thing. No. You are my wife and my mate. I only want what is best for you and for you to be happy and healthy. To hell with any other beauty standards and complexion. I mean there’s countries that still use lead powder in their faces and have horrible sores and those doctors were idiots. Yeah your complexion improved but at the cost of your health! They literally poisoned you just to achieve an aesthetic. Just like corsets can deform ribs. No. To hell with all of that. If anyone is going to sue anyone else it’s you and you should be suing those doctors for malpractice.” Kragan insisted as he got in bed with you and held your hands in his own.
“But I want them to stay a thousand miles away from me and a million more.” You decided to tease, with a soft laugh of relief.
“Well, yes I agree. From now on, if you’re sick, there are two places I want us coming. Here where there are mouras, or back to Fitsdale to have Agnes heal you herself. And honestly, I trust Agnes more than anything cause she’s saved my life more times than I can count.” Kragan insisted.
“Ok.” You agreed before dinner was brought in and you got to enjoy the warm, temperate climate of Yekmeni and the amazing food and views of the ocean just outside your balcony door.
Then Mildred came in with a royal decree and placed it into your hands that was the offer Audrey and Lukher offered for Kragan and yourself and the rest of his family to become Yekmenians. And Duke and Duchesses at that.
“Do I have to sign this now?” You asked Mildred.
“She said no, but she wanted you to have it all the same.” Mildred answered.
“Offer number one.” You told Kragan as you handed it over to him as he smiled when he read it himself.
“The one to beat.” Kragan answered.
“The one to beat.” You smiled as you put a piece of baklava into your mouth and thorougly enjoyed the feast that was sent to you as you did feel so much better thanks to the stones. And not that you had days left to live, but at least a few more months worth. And time- was the greatest gift of all.