Center Worlds - Spark

Ryo noticed that young Aya was gone after some time and that it was now very late, planet time. To him, running on ship time, it was just mid-evening, so he did not even feel remotely tired. When he also noticed that the Emperor was gone, something registered, and when he next was alone, he made his way out of the hall and towards the Emperor’s chambers.

Mistress Tya noticed the Fleet Commander had been looking over at the vacant chairs, and when he slipped out of the room, she made a quick call. “Wake him up, I don’t care where he is, get him up and to his chambers. We are going to have a problem with Lady Aya.”

Ryo walked down the hall and noticed that the doors to Tyo’s rooms were closed, and the guard who was supposed to be watching was fast asleep, a bottle of wine sitting beside him. Not unexpected, tonight was one of celebration. Who would think to do anything on such a night?

He pushed open the doors and saw Tyo’s immense bed. The man had an ego, to be sure. He saw two bodies in the bed, so came around to Tyo’s side, and went to wake him quietly. To his shock, it was not Tyo, but little Aya, soundly sleeping in the Emperor’s bed.

He lifted the sheets, saw that she was nude, and made a firm throat-clearing noise that woke the girl up immediately. As she sat up, looking at him with a bit of surprise and shock herself, Ryo growled.

“So this is how he has protected you for the past fourteen cycles, by sharing his bed? Get up, you’re coming with me.”

Aya rose and stood on the bed so that she was at eye level with the angry military man standing before her, She ignored the fact that she was fully naked, this was not right.

“You may be my father, but that does not give you the right to command me like an errant child.” She snapped at him.

“I come back from over a deca of war to find my daughter in his bed? What am I to think?” Ryo demanded.

“He has been more of a father to me than you have. I don’t even know you.” Aya almost snarled, then turned as she felt Kya move. “Kya, go back to sleep. I’m handling this.”

“My lady, you are naked,” Kya whispered.

“I know I’m naked. Father, this is who I am. This is what your war has caused. That injury that I received fourteen cycles ago? It made me into this. I am a pixie. Less than three-fifths the normal adult height for a Clanswomen of Camelin. Look at me!” she snapped as Ryo tried not to focus on her bareness.

The snap in her voice was Camelin, because Ryo instinctively obeyed, just like her mother, he thought. All fire and full of spirit. This tiny girl was willing to face him down and probably fight him bodily if he didn’t yield.

“The damage from the assassination attempt that killed my mother fused my spine. The only way they could heal it properly was to deny my body full growth hormone. So that many nano treatments could slowly repair the spinal damage as I grew, and not impact the nerves or synapses. So I grew, perfectly formed, as Doctor Solonae put it, but small. Petite, but strong.” Aya explained.

“That doesn’t explain why you are here, child.” Ryo started.

“I am not a child! Lord Camelin, I have turned Eighteen cycles. Under Confederacy law, which you claim to uphold, I am now Majority. An Adult, like yourself. Do not disrespect me, or yourself by referring to me as anything other than Lady Camelin. I am your daughter, however, I do not know you. Do you even know me?” She asked him, feeling her body vibrating with tension and stress.

Ryo slowly shook his head, then turned as Tyo came running in, tunic half-opened as if he too had been sleeping and had just been woken up.

“Tyo, would you care to explain this?” Ryo asked in a tone that brooked no disagreement.

“They were both exhausted, Ryo. The safest place to put them was here, with a guard at the door to ensure they were not disturbed. I slept elsewhere.” Tyo explained, catching his breath.

“So then you are not intimate with my daughter?” Ryo asked him.

“No, my Lord Camelin. Kya can confirm, that nothing happened between Lady Aya and myself other than dancing and entertainment tonight. Ryo, you need to calm down. Come with me.” Tyo said, then held his hand and indicated for the larger Commander to be led out of the chamber. The Emperor turned and bowed to the two girls as he again swung the doors shut.

He walked the Commander a short distance down the hall, then turned and grabbed the guard who was now standing at attention and struck him so hard the man’s helmet flew off to roll down the hallway.

“Next time you are given an order, if you survive, I expect it to be obeyed to the letter. Tomorrow, you’ll be able to see what a clustercat is, up close. Now stand to your duty!”

Kya sat up and waited as Aya still stood at the edge of the bed, trembling, then she finally turned and fell into Kya’s embrace as they heard a muffled shout and loud thump outside the closed doors.

“I think Tyo just clocked the guard who was supposed to be keeping us undisturbed. Maybe he had too much wine also.” Aya muttered.

Kya chuckled and began to massage away the tension.

Aya suddenly rose and rested her chin between Kya’s breasts. “Do you realize that the Lord Emperor just technically lied to Ryo Camelin?”

Kya nodded. “It was that, or face him in a duel. The Lord Emperor does not want to lose Ryo, nor does he want to die this soon. So he simply left out a few facts.”

“I was scared, Kya. I wake up to see him standing there, glaring at me. He said ’This is how you are protected, by being in his bed? Get up, you’re coming with me. That was when you woke up.” Aya said, relaxing under the constant finger pressure on her tight muscles.

“Lord Tyo will handle Lord Camelin, Aya. You need to let me handle you. It is zero dark thirty still, and you have only been asleep maybe an hour.” Kya said, gently rubbing and kneading Aya’s back muscles, making them relax and helping the girl to begin to unwind.

Aya turned her head to rest on Kya’s breast, using it as a pillow like she did so many times. “You think my Father will hurt Tyo, if he finds out I slept with him?”

Kya sighed, then continued to knead and relax her Mistress. “I think, thoughts of that nature are best left unspoken. Let the Emperor handle the Commander. You, my darling, need to sleep.”

“Come Ryo, let us sit, away from the noise, and the festivities, This will work fine,” Tyo said as he again guided the Commander into an anteroom some distance from his bedchamber and ordered a cart with wine and beverages, then looking at Ryo, also ordered some foodstuffs.

“Sit down, Ryo, please. You make me nervous when you stand like that.” Tyo said, sitting down with a deep sigh on a couch with a flagon of light ale.

Ryo sat down with another sigh, then took the flagon from the attendant and took a draught.

“The spitting image of her mother, just in miniature.” He said after a few minutes’ silence.

Tyo nodded. “I know. I’ve watched her grow into a fine woman, Ryo. You and Lya did a good job with her.”

“Is it true, what Aya said, about her growth being medically stunted?” Ryo asked as he had another sip of the ale.

“Yes. I had many discussions with Doctor Solonae, who is now on your Clanworld, by the way. As well as other specialists in the fields that were affected. They determined the best way to heal her was to either break her spine and then give her a full nano treatment, which would have kept her under sedation for another full cycle, or, let her grow and make adjustments as we went.” Tyo explained.

“I don’t know much about little girls, Ryo. I went with the best advice we had available. Keeping her asleep for another full cycle would have impacted how she grew, mentally, developmentally, education, and even memory would have been effected. Keeping her small, and allowing her to develop naturally seemed like the best way, and it still does. She has no injury or loss of function. She may be only 150 cims tall, but I think she could probably arm wrestle you to the ground.” The Emperor finished with a slight chuckle.

“How do you mean?” Ryo asked.

“She is small and compact. Full adult muscle on that small frame. Her muscles are equal to mine or yours, just smaller, so there is more power packed into the fibres. It was an unexpected side effect of the reduced growth hormone. Her body was not allowed to develop longer bones, so the excess went into muscle groups, ligaments, and sinews. She is faster and stronger than a lot of Tarans I know. If she wasn’t a Lady we would have her competing in sporting events.” Tyo said, jotting down points on his fingers as he went.

“This is better?” Ryo asked as he finished the flagon and it was replaced silently with another.

“Ryo, you weren’t there. You couldn’t be there. I had no idea how to raise a little girl, especially one who had just lost her mother in a tragic disaster. You had Gya, you sent Aya to us to keep her safe. Gods know I would do anything for you, Cousin. I was determined not to fail you in this.” Tyo said, then drained his flagon and took the next offered one. He gazed into the pale liquid for a moment.

“We found her a playmate. Kya Desinlo. An orphan from one of the earlier attacks. She had been brought to Tara almost a cycle past and was living with the palace Lari’Sota. Five cycles old, she was a good match for Aya. She has also grown up into an dedicated servant to your daughter. Kya would lay down her life to protect Aya.” Tyo said, then fixed Ryo with his gaze. “By the Gods above, Ryo Camelin, don’t get on that girl’s bad side.”

Ryo sat back and took a sip of the ale.

“You may as well tell me everything, Tyo. I’m here now, I want to get to know her, so I may as well know the full story.”

“Truth be told, Commander. I’m exhausted. I know ships’ time keeps you up all hours, but we’re on planetary time here. I’ll keep going, just don’t expect me to be all bouncy or bright.” Tyo said, then grinned at Ryo’s smirk.

“We found her a mother figure. Tya Veritas. She had been a Lari’Sota for several years and had a strong maternal instinct. I’ll have you meet her in the morning. You’ll like her. She looks similar enough to Lya that Aya wasn’t badly shocked when Tya was close by. She became a mother to those two girls, and she raised them. The girls developed properly, took to their lessons like fish to water, and caused no end of merry Helva to the palace and me in particular.” Tyo said, then laughed.

“Aya took particular pleasure in making pranks happen. She always dragged Kya into them, whether the other girl was willing or not. No matter the consequence or result, those two are inseparable. Half the time, I think Kya thought up the idea, and Aya figured out how to execute it. She has quite a strong analytical mind. She rewired the entire palace concierge one afternoon so that it replied to all queries with ‘Lari’Sota Central, How may we pleasure you?’ It took my team most of the next day to find all the hidden codes and reverse them. She has a strong programming sense. That was three cycles ago.” Tyo spoke, laughing as he remembered the antics of the two girls.

Ryo raised an eyebrow. “Lari’Sota Central?” He smiled. “Just who is Kya?”

“Kyasarin Kilvanysa Desinlo is a type of experiment, Ryo.” Tyo explained.”Aya needed somebody her age. This palace is not meant for children. We do a lot of things that young girls do not need to know. Kya has been trained from her age of development to become a special type of Lari’Sota. Not meant for the use of any Clansman or woman who has a need, she is exclusive to Aya only. Kya is one of a handful of Lari’Sota who have the right of refusal, backed up by the Palace guards and my direct authority.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard of any Lari’Sota ever having right of refusal. Not that it’s needed in this day and age.” Ryo mused as he finished his second flagon.

“Agreed, however the palace and I felt Aya needed somebody she could rely upon at all times. No distractions, no loss of focus by interruption. So Kya was trained and positioned to be hers only.” Tyo said as he sipped at his flagon, then reached over and grabbed a stalk of sweetgrass to chew on.

“I know you kept me informed as to her development, and for that, I thank you, Tyo. Truly, I am grateful. Without Lya I had no idea what to do. Gya refused to leave, but Aya needed real medical aid. I had no choice but to leave her.” Ryo said, the loss of his consort so many cycles ago still weighed heavily on him.

“She grew up safe and secure here, Ryo. The Gods themselves couldn’t touch her even if they tried. She was a handful, but then most teens are, especially when she had a conspirator like Kya right beside her all the way. She has grown into a strong-willed young Lady of the Court, ready to take on anybody who stands in her way. She has her mind, and has no fear of when to speak it, as you found out tonight.”

Ryo chuckled. “She got right up out of that bed and stood there, not caring that she was naked, and challenged me, directly challenged me, on a point of honor.”

Tyo nodded. “I know, they woke me as soon as you went in there, that’s why I came running. I could hear her clear as a bell as I came up the corridor. Lady Aya has no problem speaking her mind, to anybody.”

“Your guard wasn’t much help, Tyo. Don’t do anything else to the poor man, We were all celebrating. I did overstep my boundaries.” Ryo said, recalling what Tyo had said to the terrified Guard who had been asleep at his post when Ryo went past him and into the bedchamber.

“As you wish, Commander. I’m not impressed with his actions, but I know what was going on.” Tyo replied.

“I should have gone to find you, instead of confronting her in there. She is fully in her rights. At Eighteen she is a Lady, not a child. I – just – didn’t think.” Ryo finished.

Tyo leaned over and put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “Ryo, you’re fine. This will all wash over. Aya may not even remember it when she wakes up. We all had a bit too much wine, and the celebration went on a little too long. Come with me, I’ll find you a place to rest, if you are ready to, that is?”

Ryo nodded and followed the Emperor to another bed chamber.

“Ryo ... I am not too sure if I should ask but ... do you want company?” Tyo said, not directly looking at the Commander.

Ryo smiled and shook his head. “No Tyo. I am good. No woman or man has shared my bed since I lost Lya. I have lost the urge to enjoy myself in that fashion. I sleep alone, and I am very comfortable doing that.”

Tyo nodded. “I apologize, I did not mean anything disrespectful-” Ryo stopped him. “Tyo, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. This is a choice I made, and I am happy with it. I know that I have my choice of companions here if I want them. Ye Gods, on the ship I could have had my choice of two thousand willing women, not one of them would have objected at all. I just don’t have the desire anymore.”

Tyo gripped his Cousin’s shoulder, and Ryo patted him on the hand. “I’ll go rest now, in the morning, we’ll see what the sunsrise brings.”

Tyo walked out of the chamber and looked at the guard. “You may or may not have heard the altercation outside my quarters earlier. So I’ll fill you in. The man behind that door is not to be disturbed for any reason unless the palace is burning down. If he is disturbed, you will not sleep for a week, and I’ll have a clustercat chewing on your balls.”

Tyo gathered his robes around him and walked down the corridor back to his bed for the night, and the girl whom he had been enjoying when the incident had begun.