Cora waited outside the throne room. She was now fed, bathed, and clothed in another very impractical dress.
Well, maybe not too impractical. I could run in this, I think.
She looked down at the sheer orange fabric. It reminded her of something Ancient Greek, what was basically a bedsheet belted at the waist with a finely embroidered sash. It was even nicer than the dress she'd been given before.
Milo and Tara stopped just outside the doors. "Please don't let her know that I told you. I just wanted to prevent, maybe, an unsavory reaction. Do you understand?" Tara's eyes were wide, concern apparent. Cora nodded, offering her a pat on the arm. She'd seen other Sheevae do it to be reassuring.
It worked. Tara relaxed, smiling faintly. "Good. Now let's go in."
Cora waited for the princess to acknowledge her before she entered. It felt like a good idea to be extra cautious.
"Come in, sit." Tarina gestured at the ground just in front of the throne, where a small, plush rug had been placed. The room had been cleaned well, smoke rising from small dishes in each corner. "Leave us." Milo and Tara shut the doors, leaving them alone in the room. Cora knelt nervously, trying to find a comfortable seated position that kept her knees together.
Leaning forward, Tarina regarded Cora with an unclear expression. "You know, Cora, you've put me in a difficult position."
Cora clasped her hands together. "I'm sorry."
Tarina's hearty laugh surprised her. "Relax. My people, generally speaking, liked things the way they were. They liked our ruler earning their place on the throne through combat. The idea of a chosen successor disgusts them. It's rather funny, they would have supported
you
wholeheartedly."
Cora frowned, confused. "Wouldn't they rather have someone from your kind? I can't even speak your language."
"That's not a problem. Roshak is one of our more widely-spoken languages, and you speak it very well.
Now
, returning to what I was saying, they'll be unhappy with
my
being here, because they knew my mother intended for me to take this throne. I can see the news now; they'll be saying I had you kill her for me."
"That makes sense."
"
However
." She leaned forward slightly, an odd look in her eyes. Trepidation, maybe. "If they see us as equals, you and I, they won't be quite so upset. It may even lessen the future assassination attempts I'll be dealing with."
"Equals in what way?"
Assassination attempts? That's not something I want to deal with while-
Tarina cut off her uneasy thoughts. "A good Roshak term for it is
mates,
though the concept is a little different in our society."
Cora was relieved that Tara had warned her. There was no way she would have responded as calmly as she was now. Nodding slowly, she turned the idea over in her mind. "I don't have any problems with it, but I'm not sure how my other mates would feel about it."
Tarina was quick. "You'll have to remind them that you
did
kill my mother, leaving our people without a queen and me without, well, my mother. I wasn't particularly close with her as of recent but I am still mourning, in my own way. You could consider this a peace offering on your part, seeing as I would be well within sense to see it as a political assassination by Roshak." Her tone stayed conversational, softening the blow of her words.
Still, Cora hadn't considered this.
Oops.
"Nevermind. I'm sure they'll understand. Come to think of it," she paused, chewing at her lower lip. "My only genuine concern is the children we already have. We're supposed to return to Roshak in a rotation or so. There's,"
Door's closed, don't think he's in hearing distance.
"four, counting an egg that should be hatching soon."
Tarina frowned. "There is quite a bit of rioting happening on Roshak right now. Last report I received said it was widespread across the western and southern regions. Is that what you're worried about?"
"Yes." Cora nodded. "Three are staying with Tor's mother in the south, while the egg is with a colony near the western mountains."
Leaning back in her throne, Tarina laced her fingers thoughtfully. "I'd rather you not take the risk of leaving them there. I've planned a meeting of sorts with the Foshar leader, trying to fix my mother's complete
fuckup
of our nations' relations. Our ship will be near enough that your mates can go retrieve them."
Cora wasn't sure if it was true or not, but Tarina had a directness and honesty that her mother really could have benefited from. She was easy to trust.
"But may I pry?" There was a sly smile on Tarina's face.
"Of course."
"Why the secrecy about the egg? I noticed you checking the door as you mentioned it."
Cora cringed. Of course she'd noticed. "It's, uh, well. Mar was born in the cities, so he's been on heat suppressants for most of his life. Until he ran out of them and didn't tell anyone. They allegedly cause permanent infertility, so we're not sure if the egg will even hatch. So he doesn't know. I'm trying to stay positive, because it would make him really happy, but... it's not likely."
"Hm. Interesting. I never understood the need for suppressants. What's that phrase, cutting off your nose to spite your face?"
Cora nodded. "I think I've heard that one before. Especially considering the population issues." She winced, trying to ignore the rapidly worsening cramp in her thigh. "I'm guessing it's because colonies are a lot harder to govern." She shifted again, the cramp shooting down her leg.
"Let me help." Tarina moved quickly, kneeling down by Cora's side before cradling her spasming thigh. Her palms were calloused, but cool to the touch.
Her thumb pressed firm circles into the muscle. "Ah-" Cora giggled, jerking back but unable to go anywhere. "That's- that's tender." Her breath hitched as Tarina worked at the knot, her eyes occasionally flicking up to meet Cora's.
When the spasms faded, Tarina sat back, leaning on one hand. "I don't expect an answer from you at the moment. Would you come to a meeting with my staff?"
Cora sat at the low table, genuinely uncertain why she was there. The looks ranging from disdain to confusion surrounding her made it obvious that the Sheevae officers felt the same. But of course she'd said yes.
A hand rested gently on her shoulder. One of the royal servants stood behind her. "I'm going to be translating for you today, Cora."
Her voice was soft and incredibly pleasant. "Oh- Okay." Cora moved to the side, allowing her to sit. Their arms brushed as she settled onto the soft rug.
Tarina entered, flanked by two servants that she quickly outpaced.
"I won't waste time with introductions. We all know each other. Yes, I invited Cora here. She has more experience with interspecies relations than all of us combined, both in combat and diplomacy."
I do?
Cora kept her expression neutral with a dash of humble as an afterthought.
I mean, maybe. I guess I do. If sex and needless violence count.
"I don't know how many of you had the
treat
of receiving my mother's honesty, but I'm assuming it wasn't very many of you." She paused, waiting for the translator to finish whispering. "I strongly advise against admitting it if you knew what she was planning."
