So I'm prepping to go to GRL next week and got overwhelmed with the number of things I needed to accomplish before I left. As such, the post I had planned about the insight to the Terrans will have to wait a couple of weeks. Instead, I have an excerpt from Bespoken. Beware, it is the rough draft and not edited. Otherwise, enjoy!!
Copyright Lexi Ander
"Nanny Peri, I do not understand what this is saying
about the Galactic Emperors. How can they rule but not rule?" Prometheus
looked up at Peri with his silver, sightless eyes.
She had noticed that he had been responding to movement and
expected he would soon begin to gain his sight. The Bespoken followed a
different developmental path than most other Fal'Amoric's his age. He might be
only five years old, but like the L'Eema, he mentally matured at the age of
one. He thought, understood, and held the knowledge of someone older than his
physical age. On average the Bespoken's eyesight developed between the age of
five and thirteen. Soon afterwards, his sex would begin the maturing cycles
that would last until he was twenty-five. Empress Asia pushed the development
of the mental component, which was the only part the empress had any control
over. Peri disagreed with Empress Asia, but that argument always went in
circles. Peri wanted Prometheus to play more, allowed to be the child he was
physically, but Empress Asia ignored Peri's pleas and insisted on the grueling
lessons and constant testing.
Peri tucked Prometheus's dark blue hair behind his ear,
revealing his sweet cherub face. "Their responsibility is primarily the
maintenance of the grid. That duty takes up much of their time and energy. But
they are members of the Cypress Council of Neighn, therefore they sit on the
board and are the deciding factor when the council is unevenly split on a decision.
Or they can overrule the council entirely, especially if the situation has to
do with anything pertaining to the safety of the galaxy."
"So that is the reason I have to memorize all these
trade regulations and their history?" Prometheus let out a bored sigh.
The empress had left the house an hour ago to attend
meetings at the State House, and Peri was about to suggest a recess but her
bracelet vibrated. She glanced down, narrowing her single eye at the display
that announced an unauthorized entry. Suddenly the warning was replaced with an
error message, then another announcing all was well.
Prometheus cocked his head, listening keenly. "There
are eight people downstairs, trying to be quiet. I do not recognize the tread."
Peri rose from her chair and crossed to the beautifully
carved toy chest with the glass front. Quickly and quietly she emptied the
contents. When she turned back to Prometheus he stared in her direction.
"They are intruders. Do you remember our drill?"
Prometheus's open trusting expression squeezed her heart. How many times had
she almost taken him on a walk in the park in order to secret him away from
this dry, loveless household? Empress Asia had approached the Giante king,
Eurymedon, for help protecting the Bespoken. When given this assignment, Peri had
not expected to fall in love with the child. Dutifully she had represented her
father and people with honor, but here lately, she entertained dishonorable
thoughts. Prometheus was in constant danger, and yes, he was well-kept and within
the security of the empress's home. But he was also starving for love and
affection, even though the empress pressed upon him to eschew all emotions. If Peri
took him away, could she protect him on her own until he was needed at Knossos?
Taking him would brand Peri as an abductor, a thief, a breaker of bonds and
vows. Her father would have no recourse but disown her, strip her of title and
lands, and her people would abuse her if they crossed her path outside her
homeworld of Anatolia. Giantes did not tolerate those who brought shame upon
their family and people. Their word was their bond, stronger than any metal
forged.
Prometheus approached, bringing her out of her thoughts. She
lifted the lid to the false bottom of the toy box. When she turned to pick him
up, her hands engulphed his chest as if he was a newborn and not a child of
five summers. The Fal'Amoric were a tall people, the average height around
three meters for full grown adults, but Giantes were taller still at four
meters. Peri was short for one of her people, but still towered over a mature
Fal'Amoric and children Prometheus's size were like delicate dolls in her hands.
She gently laid him in the box. They had worked diligently to teach him how to
keep from panicking in tight spaces and she hoped those lessons served him
well.
"Prometheus, you need to stay here and be as quiet as
you can, just as we practiced. No matter what you may hear, do not come out or
reveal your position," Peri whispered, keeping her voice calm. His
sensitive hearing would enable him to discern what happened beyond the
protective walls of his hideaway. She did not know if that knowledge would be a
blessing or a curse.
He took the plush Valuzial Guardian toy she handed him and
squished the doll to his chest. Taking one last look at him, Peri refrained
from tucking his hair behind his ear, instead she closed the lid of the false
bottom and piled toys he never used on top. The glass front revealed what the
box held minus the boy.
From the armoire in the corner she withdrew everything she
needed. With quick sure movements, Peri slipped her breastplate emblazoned with
the Mukene lion over her head and pressed a sequence of buttons that caused it
to reshape to fit snugly to her torso and hips. There was no time to don the
rest of the ensemble. The creek of the second step on the first floor stairs
gave away the intruder's location. She wished she had Prometheus's sharp
hearing to know where the rest of the eight intruders were in the house. Taking up her staff, she twisted the
combination and sharp gleaming blades burst from the ends.
Crossing to the doorway, she halted and glanced over her
shoulder at the seemingly empty nursery. "Stay here, my little one. I will
return shortly," she whispered knowing only Prometheus could hear her.
Thank you for stopping by and reading!!
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