Six Months
Chapter One
She was a thief. She was an exile. She was the former grand ruler of Tamaran.
She had six months left to live. She walked among the graves of her ancestors before coming to the grave of her mother. She knelt.
"I'm sorry, Mama." She mumbled. "I'm sorry I was such a screw up. I'm sorry that I was a criminal. I'm sorry I treated my sister the way I did. I'm sorry...I'm just sorry." Tears brimmed at her eyes. "X'hal is punishing me isn't she? I don't deserve this. I've done horrible things, but I don't deserve this. Please tell her that."
"Kommand'r what are you doing here?"
She stood up at the sound of Galfour's voice. "Is Koriand'r around here?"
Galfour shook his head. "No. She's on Earth. I'm ruling in her place."
"A better ruler that I ever was."
"Princess?"
"Let me be buried here. Next to my mother."
"You have a long life ahead of you, girl. Don't dwell on such things."
She paused, deep in thought. "I really should be punished...isn't the penalty for returning after banishment death?"
"That was overturned five-hundred years ago. Are you asking to be executed? Are you alright?"
"I'm dying, G'norfka." She looked down at her feet. "The vara-tol." It was a disease that destroyed the body's cells. Their was no known cure.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The next thing he knew she had collapsed on his chest weeping. He held her frail body against his.
"I...I don't know what to say." He stroked her hair. "I really don't..."
"I'm sorry, G'norfka."
"For what?"
"So much."
She wept in his arms for about half an hour before pulling away. "I need to go to my sister."
He nodded. "Please, visit me again. You are welcome on Tamaran again. On my honor as grand ruler."
She nodded. "For all the good it does, thank you. I will visit again."
She flew into the air and was soon off towards earth. He watched her, unshed tears brimming at his eyes.