The Anialwch Connection
Chapter 10
Celyn had not completely understood The Prophesy when Donte told her the first time, but as he spoke to the colonists in the meeting, it all fit into place. Maybe she understood better because she was now working with Donte. Up until this meeting, the idea of exchanging vows with him had been a romantic idea. Now it was frightening. They could be killed. The colonists could unite and kill them. Wasn’t that part of The Prophesy – that the colonists would turn against the Mascots?
When Donte had first come to their colony, he had seemed invincible. In fact, she had seen him that way until he said anyone should be able to rule. What was he thinking? What if they decided to remove her father? He was the rightful king. One day she would be queen. She had always imagined Donte at her side, protecting her. Instead, he would be helping the colonists carry her out of the palace.
But Donte wasn’t encouraging the colonists to turn on the Mascots. Quite the opposite. Donte wanted them to make coexistence a top priority. One thing Donte didn’t say troubled her. He said that he was currently Pieter’s second. Did he expect that to change? No one else appeared to pick up on that comment.
After they left the meeting and were heading back to Kliffen, Nieke was riding ahead of them so Celyn urged her mount close to Donte’s. When he looked at her, she leaned toward him, speaking quietly in the tongue of the Anialwch.
“You told the colonists that you were currently Pieter’s second.”
His gaze drifted over her face and came back to her eyes. “Yes.”
She lifted her brows. “What about later – a year or six from now?”
He shrugged. “Who can tell what will happen?”
She met his gaze. “Pieter?”
He shrugged again.
She released a long breath. “Is that what you were talking to the man about at the tram station before we left Bergen?”
He shifted in the saddle. “I don’t know what is going to happen, Celyn.”
“You don’t trust me.”
He looked at her. “You’re one of the few people I would trust with my life.”
She stared at him. Donte wouldn’t say something like that unless he meant it. “Why?”
He smiled. “You have already saved my life.”
“Is it because of The Prophesy?”
He laughed. “Celyn, do you understand why you like or trust certain people, or do you simply accept your good judgment?”
“I trust you, because…” She hesitated. She had trusted him from the beginning, but was it merely because of the vision? She met his amused gaze. “Because I always have.”
“I think the word we are both searching for is destiny. We were meant to trust one another.” He glanced around. “He’s not with us.”
“Maybe he wasn’t following us.”
“He was following us, but I don’t know why. I’ll find out though.”
She frowned. “How?”
“I’ll ask him.”
“You know him? Will he tell you?”
“Yes. I know him, and I think he will tell me if I ask him.”
Nieke stopped and turned her equine. “You two are talking in another language again.”
Donte rode up and joined her. “I’m sorry.” He shrugged. “We were discussing the fact that the person following us earlier is no longer with us.”
They had discussed that, among other things. Celyn had the feeling that Donte didn’t trust Nieke. It was obvious that Nieke’s feelings for Donte went a lot deeper than simply liking him. He must be used to that, though. Everywhere they went, girls watched him. Neither Donte nor Rianne appeared to notice, though. It wasn’t simply the fact that he was good looking. There was something about him that made a person want to stare at him. In fact, that was what she was doing at the moment. She looked away.
Nieke glanced at Celyn and then looked at Donte. “I think the two of you can find your way back now. I don’t live far from here, so there is no need for me to go all the way to Kliffen and then come back.”
Donte nodded. “I know the way. Thank you for riding with us and leading us to the meeting. I appreciate your efforts in getting this together.
She nodded. Turning her equine, she left them.
Celyn rode up beside Donte. “I think we hurt her feelings.”
Donte watched Nieke ride away. “I’m afraid so. We shouldn’t have talked in a language she couldn’t understand. It was rude. It was my fault. I should have known better.”
“You don’t trust her.”
He looked at her. “I don’t distrust her. I simply think she jumps to conclusions and repeats too much.”
“Do you think I talk too much too?”
He smiled. “No. Sometimes I wish you would give me a better idea about what is on your mind.”
She smiled up at him. “I like you.”
“I like you too.”
She loved him, but she liked him too. It was the first time she had made that distinction.
They reached Kliffen before dark and got a room. Donte didn’t want her to stay in a room by herself, so he got a room with two beds. She felt as safe with him as she did with her father.
***
When Nieke left Celyn and Donte, she headed home. They didn’t need her and they could talk to each other without feeling the need to speak in another language. She never would have thought Donte would do such a thing. It was like whispering behind a person’s back. She didn’t think they were talking about her. In fact, she doubted that she even crossed their minds. They were far too preoccupied with each other.
There was something going on between them, and it had nothing to do with sexual attraction. When they looked into each other’s eyes, it was as if they were reading each other’s minds. Separately, they were each a little strange, but together they were downright eerie.
She had no doubt that they were being followed, though she had seen no indication. Donte somehow knew. She had heard stories about the way he sensed the presence of animals near him. She had been in Bergen less than a day before she heard the story of the ursidae hunt. How Celyn worked with Donte was a mystery he apparently wanted to keep that way. Celyn was doing something that kept him watching her, but Nieke was never able to determine what it was.
Strange as the two of them were, and as insignificant as she felt in their presence, there was something else that troubled her more. It shouldn’t, but it did. It was the realization that Donte was attracted to and surrounded by beautiful women – something she wasn’t. Rianne was the most beautiful woman that she had ever seen, and Celyn was a close second. She had never thought of herself as ugly, but she certainly wasn’t beautiful. Compared to Rianne and Celyn, she felt completely unattractive.
Even more confusing was the fact that it mattered to her. She knew Donte loved Rianne, and even if Rianne and Celyn weren’t in his life, she never would be. She never expected to be, so why was she so upset? She had long ago accepted the fact that she had fallen in love with a man who would never return her love. Now, suddenly seeing him with both women, she felt melancholy – as if she had lost him.
When she got home, she put her equine in the barn and went to her cottage. There she went to bed without eating the evening meal and cried herself to sleep. The next morning, she made a resolution. She had done what she promised. Donte had plenty of qualified people to help him. He didn’t need her help. She had been making a fool of herself, but more importantly, she had been making a pest of herself. She would not see Donte again. She had to get him out of her mind.
***
Neirin had second thoughts about leaving Celyn with Donte. Watching them ride away from the tram with Nieke, it had seemed innocent enough, but as darkness approached, he thought about their sleeping arrangements. He didn’t like the idea of Celyn being alone, but the idea of Celyn sleeping in the same room with Donte was even less appealing. He trusted Donte and he didn’t actually know why. That was a troubling thought in itself. Did Donte have some kind of power over people? He hadn’t heard of one person who didn’t like him. That wasn’t natural. Even Rianne trusted him in a situation that defied reason. Celyn’s vision had revealed that she and Donte would exchange vows when she turned nineteen. Rianne didn’t seem to be the least concerned about that. It simply wasn’t normal for a mate not to feel any jealousy under the circumstances. Was Donte as good as he appeared to be, or did he have them all fooled? Was that what Donte and Pieter were quarreling about? Did Pieter know something about Donte that others didn’t?
Neirin looked up from his food to find Quade and Akira watching him.
Quade smiled. “She will be safe with Donte.”
“How do you know? Why do you have so much faith in him?”
Quade looked surprised. “I have known Donte all his life. He isn’t perfect. No one is, but he is a good person. He has more integrity than anyone I’ve ever known.”
Of course, Quade would see his son that way. Why not? Everyone else did. Except…He looked at Quade. “It seems Pieter doesn’t have as much confidence in him.”
Quade laughed without humor. “Pieter doesn’t have much confidence in anyone.”
“I have thought about Donte’s conversation with the cabinet member at the station and I wonder if Pieter would like someone else to take his place.”
Quade’s nod was sober. “I wondered about that.”
“That would make you feel uncomfortable about giving Donte your support? The Prophesy says that he will lead the colonists to freedom in the uniform of Bergen.”
Quade glanced at Akira and fixed his attention on Neirin. “I think when you say you will stand behind someone, that doesn’t mean as long as things are going as planned. I have faith in Donte - and The Prophesy. I will support him all the way – even if it means resigning my position as president. But I don’t think it will come to that. Donte is popular here in Libertad as well as Bergen and Bosvrouwen.”
Of course, he was right. Donte hadn’t done anything to make them think he couldn’t be trusted or was incapable of handling the situation. With Pieter acting as he was, things were likely to get a lot worse. Donte needed their unconditional support. Unless Donte did something to make it obvious that he was incapable or untrustworthy, Neirin was going to back him. As Donte would say; a Mascot doesn’t renege on his word.
Neirin nodded. “Perhaps I am an overprotective father.”
Quade smiled. “I know the feeling.”
Mid-morning the next day, Neirin received a message from Donte. They were back in Bergen. He felt relieved. The next morning, he took the tram to Playa and there a ship back to Anialwch. It was a lonesome trip and it took a while to adjust to her absence, but it was inevitable.
***
Donte had two messages when he returned to Bergen. The first was that Donica had a baby boy that morning. Both mother and baby were doing well. The second was from Pieter. He wanted to see Donte alone as soon as he arrived.
He sent a message to Neirin and took the coach to the Groot Thuis with Celyn. He left Celyn in the company of Saskia and went to Pieter’s office. When he entered, Pieter was sitting in his wheelchair behind his desk. He looked tired. He sat up straight as Donte entered and didn’t completely conceal the expression of relief.
“I expected you to come back with the others. I wondered if you would come back at all.” He gave Donte a wry smile. “But Rianne and Petra are here.” He indicated a chair. “Sit down and talk to me. You are always running from one meeting to another. We never have time to talk.”
Donte sat in the chair Pieter indicated. “I had a message from Donica. She had a baby boy this morning.”
Pieter nodded. “Saskia received a message as well. It is good. She had almost given up on ever having a child.” He folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. “Did you enjoy the tour?”
“Yes, I did. It was nice talking to everyone. I’m sorry you and Nana couldn’t go. I’m sure you would have enjoyed it as much as I did.”
Pieter studied Donte’s face silently for a while. His expression was sober and his voice gentle when he finally spoke.
“Donte, it seems that we are always arguing. I want you to know that I am proud of you, and I do trust you. We simply don’t see things from the same perspective.”
Donte didn’t have a clue what he was trying to say. It wasn’t like Pieter to engage in meaningless conversation, but maybe he wanted to lighten the mood before they got into another argument. He waited for him to continue.
Pieter sighed. “You are so much like your father.”
Donte smiled. “Rianne seems to think I’m a lot like you.”
A spark of humor came into Pieter’s eyes. “This is a good thing, right?”
Warmth crawled up Donte’s neck. Actually, Rianne had indicated they were both stubborn. “She says you are a good ruler.”
Pieter looked like he was trying to suppress a grin. “I’m sure that wasn’t why she thought we were alike.” He finally broke down and grinned. “Painted yourself into a corner, didn’t you?”
If Donte’s face got any warmer, it would burst into flame. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing.
Pieter sobered and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “So, tell me. What did you learn at the meeting in Vlaktes?”
“Not much that I didn’t already know.”
“Then it was a wasted trip?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Pieter watched him for a moment. Finally, he shook his head and sighed. “Donte, are we going to talk around this thing, or are we going to talk about it?”
Pieter had a right to know the results of the meeting – and the reason for it, as far as that went. How could he make good decisions when he didn’t have all the facts? Donte didn’t want to reveal his source, but he had spoken openly about Pieter in the meeting.
“I was told that some colonists were concerned about Lochfowk putting only Mascots on their council. They wanted to form a militia to protect themselves.”
Pieter looked startled. “A militia to fight the Mascots?”
“In essence. They felt threatened.”
Pieter eyed him with suspicion. “What did you tell them?”
“There wasn’t much I could say. I didn’t know how much of what they feared was actually true. I told them about The Prophesy and said that when the scientists returned, we would be unable to defend ourselves if we were fighting each other.”
Pieter thought about it for a few minutes and then shrugged. “I suppose it would have been pointless to tell them not to form a militia.” He studied Donte’s face. “In the future, I would appreciate it if you would come to me about things like this. Did you tell Damian?”
Donte shook his head.
“And yet, you were in his territory.”
“I didn’t go there as an official – except in the sense of The Prophesy.”
Pieter leaned back in his chair, clearly agitated. “I will be so happy when the timeline of this Prophesy ends and nothing has happened. It seems to me that you are obsessed with it to the point of being incapable of filling the position of a ruler.”
His words stung like salt on an open wound. Was it possible that he couldn’t do both? It seemed that the positions were the same, but to the skeptical, they probably appeared to be incompatible. While the words Pieter used were painful, at least he was revealing his objections.”
“I think the two work together. Either way, the colonies unite. If we unite and The Prophesy never happens, what have we lost?”
Pieter frowned. “I know you mean well, but you don’t understand. If you don’t flex your muscles, the people will assume you have none.
“The Prophesy says that we will lead the colonists to freedom. It doesn’t say that we will herd, coerce or oppress them to freedom.”
Pieter’s frown deepened. “It serves no purpose to quote The Prophesy to me in a debate. I don’t believe in it, so it has no merit.”
He was right, of course, and yet… “You and I were arguing this point before I knew anything about The Prophesy.”
Pieter nodded. “That much is true.”
“Times have changed, Papaw. The Parliament hasn’t been here in over thirty years. We can’t continue to act as if they will fix anything that goes wrong. We have to take care of our own problems. The colonists are frightened by the idea of an all-Mascot rule. One of the reasons Bergen has been so successful is because the colonists elect the cabinet members. Replacing the cabinet members with Mascots selected by the ruler would be tearing down a method that has been working since we arrived on Purlieu. It would become a dictatorship. The same is true in Lochfowk.”
Pieter stared at him a moment. “So that has been your objection.”
It seemed impossible that Pieter didn’t know why he objected to what was happening, but they had never actually discussed the issue. He’d like to blame Pieter because he was always issuing commands instead of listening, but that wasn’t the whole truth. They hadn’t been discussing the situation because Pieter had never had a discussion with him. It wasn’t all Pieter’s fault. It wasn’t Pieter who lost his temper and left the room.
Pieter leaned forward and put his arms on the desk, studying Donte’s face. He nodded. “I will give this some thought. Perhaps we can work together after all.” He was silent a moment, still watching Donte as if he had suddenly discovered his existence other than a grandson. “Is there talk of colonist unrest in Libertad and Anialwch?”
“I haven’t heard anything of it, if there is. Of course, I haven’t spent much time in either colony in the last four years.”
Pieter nodded. “Perhaps it would be a worthwhile investment in time.”
He was actually suggesting rather than ordering, and he was listening. There was one other thing Pieter needed to know. It was something he had thought to keep secret, but Pieter was obviously a master at keeping secrets.
“Papaw…” Donte hesitated, unsure how the information would be received. “Celyn and I are connecting.”
Pieter frowned. “Surely you don’t believe this thing about you two exchanging vows?”
Donte smiled. “No. I love Rianne. You know that.”
Pieter released his breath and leaned back. “What is this connection, then?”
“You know I can sense animals near me.”
Pieter nodded.
“She can use aves. I don’t know how she does it, but she flies with them – even directs them.”
Pieter nodded again. “I have heard this. Beier said she protected you during the ursidae hunt.”
Donte was momentarily distracted by the mention of Beier. He refocused and continued. “On the tram, with the tour group, she was flying over the tram…and she transferred the vision to me. Yesterday, when we were riding, I sensed someone following us. I was able to transfer that feeling to her. She included me in a vision as she flew over us and we could see the person who was following us.”
Pieter’s expression reflected surprise, even shock. That was to be expected. He had been a little shocked as well.
“Who was it?”
Donte watched Pieter’s face as he answered. “Beier.” He hesitated, but saw no indication that Pieter was involved, so he continued. “Did you send him?”
Pieter looked surprised. “Why would you think I sent him to follow you?”
If Pieter didn’t send him, who did? Rianne? He’d have to ask her. In the meantime, Pieter was waiting for an answer. He might as well be forthright with his answer.
“I didn’t tell you where I was going. I thought maybe you wanted to know….”
Pieter’s smile was wry. “Donte, if I want to know what you are doing, I’ll ask you.” He pulled out his desk drawer and reached in. “I want you to keep this with you at all times.” He handed Donte a laser weapon. “I did not send Beier. I’ll ask him why he followed you. Perhaps he thought I would want to know. In any case you need a method of protection while you are traveling – especially when you are in the company of women and children.”
Donte took the weapon and put it in his pocket. “I would like to keep the information about my connecting with Celyn confidential.”
Pieter nodded. “As you wish. Thank you for sharing it with me.” He rolled his chair around the desk. “I will not keep you any longer. Rianne and Petra will be waiting for you. I’m sure you would like to join them.”
Donte stood. “There is one other thing. Celyn will be staying with Rianne and me for a while.”
Pieter’s brows lifted. “Rianne is not upset with this arrangement?”
Donte smiled. “It was Rianne’s idea.”
Pieter nodded again. “I assume this has something to do with The Prophesy. If her presence in your house becomes a problem, she can stay with us. Saskia misses Donica. I think it would be good for her.”
For the first time in years, Donte left Pieter’s office feeling like things were going to get better, not worse. Their differences had not changed. They had simply developed the skill of communicating them without hostility. Pieter had not retracted his statement about naming another second and Donte had not denounced The Prophesy. They had simply come to terms with their differences. It felt good.
Soft Science Fiction
