The moons hung high in the opalescent sky; the glow emitting off the two shinning onto the iridescent castle chiseled into a large orange mountain. The land surrounding this large mountain was filled with huge orange canyons; the lack of vegetation creating a dusty and barren landscape. Most of the inhabitants of this planet would never realize that their homeland once a tropical paradise filled with waterfalls and plants. Therefore, most felt pleased with their view of the land as they strolled around the grounds.
At the highest section of the huge establishment were two figures; a large burly man and a small girl. They stood upon on a large balcony, looking up at the beautiful shining stars.
"The Vegan Star system," the large man boomed his voice spreading out like a tidal wave over to his awed student, his tone serious. "Twenty-two worlds lie in this galaxy. Can you tell me, young Koriand'r, just what are the names of those twenty-two planets?"
Bright emerald eyes shone up at the large man she knew to be Galfore, her face hesitant. She took a moment to go over the question in her head, and then young Koriand'r nodded fiercely with enthusiasm, straightening her spine as she began to recite the names.
"Okaara, Euphorix, Neuro-" Koriand'r started, absently fiddling with the hem of her deep purple knee-length dress as she talked.
"In order please, princess," the large man interrupted.
A frown formed on the young Tamaraneans' rosy lips, her eyes taking on a regretful glow as her body seemed to deflate.
"But I do not know the planets in order, K'norfka! It is just too hard-"
"Silence, Koriand'r," Galfore silenced her pleading with a wave of his large thick hand. "I do not wish to hear such incompetent words come out of your mouth. You are part of the And'r family, and an And'r does not know…?" the man urged Koriand'r on, his eyes imploring for her to finish his sentence.
"An And'r does not know failure, nor defeat," Koriand'r began with a sigh. "An And'r is resiliant and is always determined to win or die trying," she began to bundle her words close together, hoping to get past Galfore's determined gaze. "An And'r is knowledgeable and wise and-"
"What was that last part?" he asked, also determined not to let the young girl slip past his question.
"An And'r is knowledgeable and wise." Koriand'r repeated dully.
"Exactly, Koriand'r! This is exactly why you have to know the names of all the twenty-two planets of the Vegan Star System in order! Or else…," Galfore said the last two words darkly, playfulness shining through his wise green eyes. Koriand'r straightened up again, giggling at her K'norfka.
"Or else what!" she shot back sticking out her tongue at the hefty man.
Galfore eyes widened with faux outrage as he stood up to his intimidating full height, narrowing his eyes at the little girl.
"You dare challenge me!" He began in his unique booming voice. "I will have to show you then, just what your punishment shall be!" He cried before lunging at the giggling girl who screamed and scampered away, her petite laughing form taking off into the air, her short magenta-colored hair fanning out behind her.
"You cannot escape me! I am the almighty Galfore!" he declared brusquely, going after her. Koriand'r laughed, delighted that they were no longer serious about anything.
"You are not almighty! You're just a K'norfka!" she said tauntingly, trying to stifle her giggles while keeping a straight face. Galfore fought hard not to grin, also trying to keep serious.
"That would be the almighty K'norfka to you!" he cried before lunging forward, soon capturing the flying girl and tickling her till she was squealing.
His laughter mingled with her own until he noticed just how deeply red her face was getting from the lack of air. He stopped tickling, becoming the stern almighty Galfore once again.
"Do you yield?"
"N-never!" she screamed, her face red from laughing. "I am And'r!"
Galfore smiled at that. He had taught her well.
"Then what do you propose?" he asked as he began tickling her again. She managed to answer through her laughter breathlessly.
"I …propose…a deal!" she cried between her laughs.
"And what is this deal?" he enquired as he continued his attack.
"I propose…that in exchange of…of you yielding…I will…I will recite-the-planets-in-order-by-tomorrow!" she bargained as she struggled for breath. Galfore smiled.
"I accept!" he cried and stopped his tickling, placing a fist against his heart. Koriand'r continued to laugh until she caught her breath, then mimicked the act.
"Very well!" Galfore bellowed. "Now, I want you to learn the one hundred thirty-three races of the Vegan Star System by Tamaran's day of Infamy." Galfore instructed in a serious tone, getting straight back into the business of learning as they flouted back down to sit upon the balcony ledge.
"But that's only a week away!" the princess cried. "And its Komiand'r's day of gifts soon!"
"No buts, Koriand'r!" Galfore stopped her, putting a finger to her lips. "It is futile and a waste of time. Now let us begin. The first two races to evolve were, as you already know, called…?"
"The Okaarans and the Branx." Koriand'r recited dutifully, all traces of whininess gone as she paid strict attention to her K'norfka.
"Very good young princess," Galfore appraised with a nod, making the young girl smile exuberantly.
"From there, one of the Branx races called the Psions experimented with, not only themselves, but with the youth of the Okaarans, and therefore formed many other groups of races such as-"
A loud bang interrupted Galfore's lecture as Koriand'rs study room door burst open, the sounds of heavy footsteps echoing through the room.
Both Koriand'r and Galfore turned their heads in the direction of the balcony entrance and watched as three Tamaranian guards stepped out of the room, their tall muscular builds towering in front of the door; all straight-faced, red-haired, and green-eyed equipped with intimidating weapons.
Galfore watched as the guard in the middle stepped aside and presented a much more smaller and lithe man behind him.
"I present to Galfore, the messenger, Azlarka."
He was a handsome, kind-looking man with bright joyful green eyes and shoulder-length curly deep red hair, and a body very fragile-looking as he stepped forward away from the guards.
He bowed first to the princess, beating his fist to his heart, before turning to Galfore and doing the same thing. It was the traditional way of approaching royalty and men in power.
Galfore glanced at the princess and noticed her awed eyes staring up at Azlarka wondrously, and could not help but smile at her obvious affection.
"What message do you present to me, Azlarka?" Galfore inquired, turning back to the man with amusement in his eyes, though his smile was gone.
"Only that the Empress Luand'r wishes for your presence in the throne room immediately," he replied. Galfore nodded and stood up, his form towering above all the others.
"You will take the princess back to her chambers. Make sure she is studying the twenty-two planets in order to recite to me tomorrow." Galfore said to one of the guards, who nodded their head quickly.
"Oh, and find her brother Ryand'r as well and have his little…pet fed and tell him to clean its cage," he demanded to the guards, who thumbed a fist to their hearts before the man in the middle outstretched his hand to the princess with a kind smile.
Koriand'r looked up at the guard in front of her for a moment before shooting a disappointed look at Galfore and grabbing the offered hand, letting herself be lead out the door with the guards; Galfore and Azlarka trailing behind them.
While the guards and Princess Koriand'r started into the corridor straight ahead, Galfore and Azlarka turned and went to the left down the many extravagant long corridors of the palace until reaching the grand purple entrance doors to the throne room.
Azlarka announced his and Galfore's appearance before opening the door and stepping through, holding the door open for Galfore as well.
Galfore stepped into the room, taking a moment to look over the And'r statues and the trinkets collect by the And'r family many eons ago. After looking over the familys' possessions, he looked towards the front of the room where he saw Luand'r lounging with her back towards him. He knew that beside him Azlarka was taking the time to study the Empress' more than appealing backside.
For how could you not stare when she had such long, strong, muscular, sun-kissed legs peeking out of her purple shiny boots, and her long, voluptuous curly red hair spanned out all around her.
Even with her back turned away from him, Galfore knew that she was not someone to take lightly. She seemed to just exude power off in waves. He could only hope that his little bungorf would come to grow as powerful as her mother.
Luand'r turned around and smiled warmly at Azlarka in greeting. Her bright green eyes, small nose, and blood-red lips were almost identical to her youngest daughter Koriand'r, however, her features were sterner, her face more mature with her high cheekbones and wise eyes. Unlike Koriand'r, Luand'r looked like she had lost her childhood innocence long ago, her eyes holding all of the true pain and pleasures of life.
"Thank you Azlarka. You may leave now." Luand'r demanded, her voice deep and sultry. Azlarka gave a curt nod and bowed deeply before fisting his heart and taking his leave.
Luand'r stayed watching him until the very last second, her eyes apprehensive and hawk-like. Finally, when the door was securely shut, the Empress looked towards the summoned man and beckoned him closer.
Galfore bowed deeply and fisted his heart before walking over to the Tamaranian woman. The closer he got, the more clearly Galfore could see just how weary the empress really was. Her posture lacked its normal supremacy, and her eyes held tiredness, a clear sign of weakness that Galfore almost felt embarrassed to see.
Luand'r frowned and turned away from her daughter's K'norfka. She walked around the wondrous white marble table in front of her and sat on the tall, decadent chair behind it.
"You must be wondering why I have summoned you here K'norfka Galfore, for I do not summon people often. It upsets me to say that the reason is not a joyous one." Luand'r spoke, her voice calm and confident.
"Your majesty?" Galfore inquired when she did not continue right away.
Luand'r fixed her eyes on the burly man with a penetrating gaze, one that left even Galfore feeling innerved.
"Galfore, you have been a grand help to both Myand'r and myself for years now, even before we appointed you K'norfka of our kin. You faced more than enough battles by our side and were a great right-hand commander. You did not quit and go into retirement like you could have with a more than comfortable fund for your services, but instead you decide to become a K'norfka, still helping us even when you don't have to. It is more than commendable Galfore. You are a better brother than anyone could ever ask for." Luand'r said appraisingly. Galfore couldn't help but smile.
"What is family for?" he asked rhetorically. Immediately Luand'rs face lost any trace of appraisal.
"I did not want to ask this of you by myself Galfore. I had wanted Myand'r to be here with us, but unfortunately, he could not attend. Not with this whole mess with the counsel. But nonetheless, it must be done." Luand'r finished with a sigh, standing once again, her small form looking deceitfully breakable next to his.
"You know, Komand'rs day of birth is coming soon, yes?" she asked, gazing at Galfore.
She continued without waiting for an answer.
"You also know that this is the year that she will be required to go the planet Okaara and be taught by the great warlords that reside there?" she asked, the knowing look on her face remaining in place; it was a rhetorical question. "You also know about Komand'rs…disabilities. And you know that the Tamaranian day of Infamy was done in Komand'rs name. You know all of this, I know all of this, the council knows all of this… And, well, I find that Komand'r is a very misfortunate child, just born into bad luck." The confident look on her face fell, a frown playing at her lips. "The council finds that Komand'r is an abomination…. A freak. They refuse to accept her as a true And'r. They are demanding that I…we…can only give Komand'r the Okaara teachings if her sister, who they see as more fitted to become ruler than the true first in line, goes with her." Luand'r broke eye contact as the frown turned into mourning sorrow.
"They do not care when. They do not care if we decide to send Koriand'r now, or when it is her rightful time in two years," her voice became soft, and her cold eyes met Galfore's once again. "We have decided that it would be best to send her now. For Komand'rs sake."
"I do not understand, empress, what it is you wish of me to do?" Galfore replied. Luand'r smiled at him with no humor.
"A seemingly simple task that I know will displease you Galfore, for you care for the And'r children as if they were your own. But you will need to relay this news back to Komand'r and Koriand'r as gently as you can." Luand'r requested, sounding sorry.
Galfore felt a certain dread fill inside of him. He knew that the girls, especially Komand'r, will not take the news lightly. There was already enough pressure between the sisters, but to add this into the mix will probably destroy whatever relationship they were able to build through Komand'rs jealousy… to an end.
For he knew all about Komand'rs dislike for her younger sister. She had no qualms about showing it, for people who had no qualms about showing how much they disliked her. Although Koriand'r had nothing to do with the people's hatred for the oldest kin, Komand'r still blamed her for reasons unknown to Galfore.
It was not Koriand'rs fault that her sister was born without the traditional Tamaranian red hair and green eyes, or that she was born without the ability of flight. It was not Koriand'rs fault that her sister was born at the time of the worst attack on Tamaran since the great battle of supremacy that occurred centuries before; that hundreds of tamaranian soldiers died in vain for her name.
But then again, it wasn't Komand'rs fault either.
She did not deserve the hate, the judgment put so cruelly onto her, yet she seemed to grow with the hatred and let it make her stronger. She was the strongest Tamaranian of her age; knowledgeable far more than others her age and older. Komand'r radiated the sort of fighting strength her mother had, a sort of dangerousness bubbling just below the surface.
Galfore suppressed a sigh and realized that the Empress was staring at him as he contemplated.
"My apologies your majesty. I will tell the girls. When would you like me to do it?" Galfore questioned. Luand'r looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.
"Any time between now and the day of her birth will do. But it must be done before the Day of Infamy." Luand'r said. Galfore nodded.
"And it will be," he replied. Luand'r gave a curt nod before fisting her heart in thanks.
"That is all, K'norfka Galfore. I give to you much appreciation for taking this request so easily." Galfore bowed and fisted his heart as well.
"Anything for And'r and Tamaran," he vowed. Luand'r smiled.
"Yes, anything for And'r and Tamaran," she said almost sadly, before dismissing him away.
Galfore left feeling very disgruntled about his task. He would not tell the princesses right away, but would wait until it was necessary.
He knew that Komand'r will be furious when he inevitably told her about the council's decision against her education. Not only was it just downright degrading, but it was also embarrassing; an And'r has never been subjected to this ever before. One simply does not take a royals right to education.
Her hate will grow even more for this place that should have treasured her. Her jealousy for her sister would rise to extraordinary heights, for despite the fact that Komand'r was a very proud and conceited child, she was extremely jealous of her sister who has everything she lacks. Now, because of this, it probably would grow.
And X'hal help them when her hate becomes too much.