EIDER: Chapter 2
228 Words
EIDER: Chapter 2
by Jaina Jacen (September)
“My Sovereign, are you ill?” Taisa’s face has paled. If anything happens to me, she will pay the price.
“No. No, I’m fine. Thank you.” This is a lie.
Young suitors have courted and carried on, seeking my father’s favor above mine. But for my stubbornness, I am yet without betrothal. I will not be able to hold off my father’s demands for marriage and grandchildren much longer. Like the old stories from the Dead Planet, I find myself seeking love beyond duty.
Foolish girl, my father chides. He married a woman he did not love—out of duty. For all our futurism, this life is archaic.
“Miss Illyria.” The collector begins a sentence my handmaiden won’t let him finish.
“Do not address her directly.”
His head lowers and then upright, it shines again. “Her sleeve. Please lift her sleeve.”
“Taisa, leave us. I don’t need your nervous fretting to make me more skittish than I already am.”
The handmaiden pauses but then exits.
We, the collector and I, are alone.
“I know you,” I say.
“My Sovereign.”
“You don’t know me?”
“Only by way of allegiance.”
“You said my name.” It sounded like a waltz dancing from his lips.
“Everyone knows your name.” He readies his supplies. “Your blood. May I take your sample?”
That familiar lonely twinge in my chest—it again makes itself known.
You do not know me, but I indeed know you.
And you are mine.
- Writer
