"It has to do with the Seakings . . . . . . .. "Shamal said. Patti slumped away, in a dead faint. Shamal caught her. He looked worried. "I-I-I-is she all right?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes, I think she is just tired. She had a headache early, come to think of it, I have a headache now . . . . . . .." Now Karen slumped away, but just to sit down in her chair. He voice was shaky, "What have you learned?"
"I caught a sniper at my palace, or rather Patti's palace. I went to visit her. I came here as quick as I could. My lads are in the room, hiding. Roomble, come. This is my main lad. He saw the sniper and blasted him in time to save my life. You may leave, Roomble. Karen we need to double security. Twice as many lads and lasses. And it would be safer if Patti were to go into hiding. Has Patti ever told you about her ability to see into the future?"
"Why, yes, just recently. Do you think that is what they are after?" Karen said.
"I have no reason to doubt that. I think they are afraid that she will discover a plan or a . . . I don't know. I never could understand them. They aren't human; their blood proves that. Their odd ability to grow back limb within three hours of . . .I'm worried. Call a meeting of the Senate, immediately. Please, Empress, we need to address this problem!" Shamal was looking at Patti, and her pale face startled him. A feeling entered him that hadn't been there before, but he ignored it, not even taking time to identify it. The feeling bothered him somehow.
"Yes, of course. We could move her to her mainland palace, on Upper Chelestra. No, that would be dangerous. But, perhaps she should stay here, or with you. That's it! She will stay with you. Let me go and make certain her bags are pack, and to call the meeting. Where are her lasses?" Karen walked off, in search of the lasses.
"Oooo," Patti moaned. Shamal stepped closer, and touched her hand. Holding her hand, he rubbed it. Patti eyes flickered open, then closed, as if she slept. At that moment her lasses came in. Celene handed Shamal a glass filled with Cossava, then disappeared.
"Patti," Shamal said. Patti eyes opened, and her bluish-green eyes met with warm brown eyes. She rather liked them. She looked into those eyes deeply. Shamal turned his head, abashed and worried. About what, he didn't know. ~~ About the Seakings, of course. ~~ Shamal said to himself. Aloud he said, "Patti, here, drink this," he said. "Cossava," he informed her at he inquisitive look. He couldn't help but notice that Patti looked nice in blue. He took a small glance at Patti eyes again, and decided they were like the sea, always changing.
"Thank You," Patti was nervous. She looked at Shamal. Grabbing hold of his shoulder, Patti got up. She left her hand on his shoulder. She was a great friend with this boy, but her feelings were changing. This boy was an attractive young man. He wasn't a boy. He was old enough to be married and have children. (Though most men wait until they are at least sixteen or seventeen before they start courting, though Patti own father was twelve when Patti was born as his second and only living child.) Patti breathed deeply, as Karen entered the room. Her naive appearance made her great to confide in, but inside she was a totally different person than outside. He mother had said that Karen had been born ten years older than she really was. That must be why Karen never had a friend less than two years older than she. Karen smiled. She had been working for months to get these two together, but this wasn't exactly the time for lovemaking. From what her spies told her, this was a time for war.
Karen had changed, but was in another outfit that was totally white. The Seakings lived in the extreme north, and it was always white. She was in a white helmet with a white intercom on it. It had black sunglasses. Her helmet was connected to her shirt, which was white and very strong looking. She wore two shirts. Her shirts were connected to pants, which were connected to her boots. The inside was fur lined. She had several white pouches at her side, which she opened with her white-gloved hand to produce a white blaster, stunner, knife, utility knife, and lastly a sword. That was the official Northern war uniform for Ruokians, and Karen was ready for war.
"O my God," was all Patti could say, but she rose and went to her chambers to put on her identical suit, as did Shamal. Karen didn't have time to cry, she has an empire to run. She called her officers to the council room, and waited patiently as they came in after a rather gay party most had been attending. Silently, she remembered that the Senate meeting was tomorrow at seven o'clock a.m. She rose, and they seated, as was the custom. Then she spoke.
