The period of mourning for Queen Revulo lasted three days, but the hurt in the hearts of the citizens of Bok would last for years. The queen was still widely beloved by the people. Penny and Tannis had to scramble in order to make preparations for the final laying to rest. Although centuries of tradition set out all of the usual rituals to perform, the logistics of some of the events still required careful attention.
Penny was using this time to both focus her attention on acting like a leader, which the planet sorely needed right now, as well as pushing out of her mind what Eltar had said. What if someone came forward, and claimed her true rights to the throne? Then again, Eltar was not clear if the descendant was male or female. Men were forbidden to assume the throne of Bok. Plus, a bastard child might not be regarded highly in Boccan tradition.
Revulo's body was burned in the sacred flames of Bamsala, which was a pile of branches from the white agondish tree. The tree had lived for over a thousand years, and was planted by the very first ruler of the entire planet. Her ashes were stored in the Ice Temple, alongside many, many other rulers of Bok.
Once the funeral was finished, Penny set to work on a new peace plan. Gathering up the ministers, she conferred with them about what to do about the Voltan separatists. Tannis was right by her side. "I don't want to have a target on my back," Penny cautioned the ministers. Her summit with them was being televised. "We are willing to meet with the Voltans, and discuss peace with them. I am making this my first official act as the queen."
The plans were underway. The summit would have Penny show up with several ministers, delegates, and half of the Majestic Guard. They were all converging on the capital to prepare for the trip to the Voltan province.
Oola confronted Penny in the palace hallway. "Your excellency," Oola started. "When do we depart?"
Penny smiled and gave Oola a shoulder pat. "Not this time, Oola," Penny mentioned. "I have a ton of the Majestic Guard coming out. I need you to stay here and hold things over for me, okay?"
"B-but, I am your personal bodyguard!" Oola was taken back by the dismissal.
"I'll have so many guards I won't know what to do," Penny replied dismissively. They heard footsteps behind them. "Oh, hey, Lolo! Thanks for coming out!"
Lolo hugged Penny tightly. "I am so sorry, your excellency," Lolo said with small gasps.
"I know," Penny replied. "I wish she had more time. Believe me, I still don't feel ready for this. Now, I want you to work with Tannis. Diplomacy is probably still not her strong suit yet, and I know you'll do well for coaching her."
Lolo pushed her long silver hair out of her eyes, a few strands having slipped from her hair bun. "I confess that I have not had much in the way of face-to-face contact with the Voltans. However, I believe their desire for peace is sincere." She gave Penny a playful slap on the shoulder. "Barza is coming with us, by the way."
"Hoo! Nice!" Penny looked over at Oola. "Oh! Oola, this is Lolo. I don't think you to got to meet before." She dashed off. "Tannis will show you to a room, Lolo. We leave at third hour tomorrow."
Oola folded her arms and growled at Lolo. "So, you get to go on the trip, and I do not." Lolo fiddled with her fingertips nervously. "You are also the one romancing Girtan, yes?"
Lolo's eyes went wide. She made a small adjustment to her spectacles. "Does this bother you?"
Oola made a sneer. "Why should it? Just because you have...large breasts and a tiny waistline, and long legs, and you are cultured well.
Grrr!
Why are you doing this to me?"
Lolo reached out and put a hand on Oola's large bicep. "I would not do anything to purposely cause you grief! Why, I had assumed you were romantically linked yourself!"
"I am!" Oola stomped her foot. "I just...want to be sure that Girtan is well looked after."
Lolo put a tongue in her cheek and nodded. "And you assume that the best-qualified person to do so is you, correct?"
"Yes. Maybe." Oola pouted some more.
Lolo smiled and rested another hand on Oola's shoulder. "I vow that I would never dishonour her. For one thing, I fear that you would become enraged by such behaviour. If I was not with Girtan, I would hope that she could find someone as brave and passionate as you to be able to be with her."
Oola brightened up. "Do you swear this true?"
"Of course," Lolo replied. Oola grabbed Lolo in a huge hug, then realized Lolo's large bosom was rubbing into her own chest a bit too much.
"Ooh, I must...I am sorry." She let go of Lolo, who looked as if she enjoyed being in a strong woman's arms.
"I will be thinking of you," Lolo said, then walked away.
That did it for Oola. She needed to find Groovi, and find her now. She went up to Groovi's private quarters and entered. Groovi was sitting on her bed, reading from the texts of the four goddesses.
"Groovi, darling, are you still sad?" Oola crouched down on the floor by the bed.
Groovi did not peel her eyes away from the text. "The myxlos are fed and brushed," she reported in a robotic tone. "Pashi is shovelling the waste." She began to cry. "Why did she have to die, Oola?
Why?
"
Oola gave her love a hug. "She had served us all for over fifty years," she reminded Groovi. "The queen was quite old. She is now with the goddesses." Oola smelled Groovi's hair. "Oh my. You have been with the myxlos for some time. Would you like to cleanse?"
Groovi nodded, then Oola took her to the bath and got it warmed up for her. Oola got Groovi undressed, then got her to sit in. Oola was gentle in helping her scrub and rinse out her hair.
Groovi sat there, seemingly unable to move. "Oh. We have not made the beast in several days. I am sorry."
"I do not need you to make the beast with me," Oola said with a small laugh. "I want you to feel better."
"Can I..." Groovi began with a sniffle. "Can I use the hang-down?"
"Oh, all right," Oola responded. She went and got one from the nightstand, then stripped off and got in the tub. She rubbed her breasts and other intimate parts, then got herself in position in the tub. "Proceed."
Groovi had the strapon cinched up, and went to enter Oola. The two of them had a pleasant fuck. Oola would only on occasion submit to the receiver, and she figured to get Groovi feeling her usual perky self, she had better let her.