V
o0o
"Very well then," Tatanga said as he rose from his seat, walking across the room to stare out the window. Daisy wondered if she should get up and go to his side. She heard a slow sigh before he turned back to her.
"It's not easy for me to think of my past, where I come from and why I came here."
"I asked you to give me a chance to trust you. However, trust works both ways, so let me assure you that whatever you tell me will be in the strictest confidence. You can trust me on that."
He walked back to her, and stood at her side, offering her his hand. She stared at it for a moment before she took it, and he wrapped his fingers around her slender hand.
"I come from a dying world. At least, there were still signs of life within the planet when I left, but not much. It may now be dead, for all I know. I don't know how many of my race is left."
Daisy was about t ask why his homeworld should have been so poorly-off but suspected he would reveal that, and he did not disappoint. She listened as he continued.
"Decisions were made long before my time, by our ancestors. They were power-hungry and devised a way to gain power, but it came at the price of the planet's life. The more they used the device, the more energy it sucked from the planet. By the time they realized the consequences, it was too late. The device has not been used for a very long time, but the planet continued its downward spiral. Multiple generations have tried to rectify the mistake, but how do you fix a broken planet?"
Daisy tried to imagine what that might be like. Growing up, knowing your planet was doomed, because of the actions of people long-dead. Her childhood had been simple and happy, in a land where the climate was usually mild, starvation not something her people ever needed to worry about. Sarasaland might lack war in the majority of its history, and the same was true about famine. Even the poorest peasants of Sarasaland could fill their bellies easily even if they didn't have much else.
"It can not have been easy being born into that," she sympathized.
"No. It certainly wasn't." His voice became deep and distant as he reminisced, squeezing her hand as if for reassurance. She squeezed back.
"To keep the planet alive as long as we could, we took to the stars, looting and raiding much like what you would call pirates. That was the last fix we had for the dying planet after our scientists and engineers failed to find a solution. But then others learned to avoid our space, or fought us."
"And things became more desperate," Daisy deduced.
"A scientist had figured out how to open portals. It was an inexact science, not fully researched. Accidents did and could happen. According to the scientists, the planet only had a few years, perhaps months, before it would become unfit for living. It'd already become impossible to live in many areas. Some of the richer among us took ships and fled the planet, leaving many stranded. I was one of them." He let out a slow sigh. "I got my friends together and we stole a ship, and forced the scientists to open a portal. We could have been killed, but it was better than staying on a planet that was pretty much dead already."
"I can see why Sarasaland was so appealing to you," she said dryly.
"Sarasaland was the closest thing I'd ever seen to Heaven. At least, how my people viewed it, a land with plenty, where one did not have to worry about where their next meal came from, or if the environment would harm them. I'd been traveling for a long time, and I was so tired." His hand slid away from hers, and he returned to his seat, staring at her. She folded her hands in her lap, processing his words.
She pondered his treatment of his workers. He was not afraid to deal with a firm hand but had a more even temper than other overlords and tyrants. As long as Sarasaland's citizens went on with life as before – for the most part – Tatanga generally left them alone. He did ask for a tribute to be paid with part of Sarasaland's crops, but considering the army he had, Sarasaland's plentiful farms did a fine job of keeping them fed – and sated – and no citizen had to go hungry, either.
Tatanga wanted to continue being able to take advantage of what was almost a horn of plenty. And that meant he had to protect it, and treat its citizens with a basic level of respect. Any would-be hero who would swoop in for rescue wouldn't find widespread misery amidst a hellish landscape.
"Thank you for sharing your story with me. It has given me..." Daisy paused as she fished around for the right word, "if not appreciation, a better understanding of the choices you have made."
"I suppose that's all I should expect."
She smiled wryly at that. "I get that you've had to make some difficult decisions, but so have I."
He stroked his chin. "Indeed. It can not have been easy informing me of Calico."
"It certainly wasn't. But it was not a decision I made lightly. Even if I look like the bad guy to some, even though I pleaded for Calico."
"You, a bad guy?" Tatanga asked with a chuckle. She laughed softly. But it wasn't so preposterous as it seemed. As she'd just seen, she'd made a decision she knew was good but would be seen as bad by others. And some people did bad things that others saw as good. Her breath hitched in her throat as the different threads in her mind came together, weaving a conclusion that had been a while in coming, but ultimately inevitable.
Her hands shook. "I am tired. I would like to retire for the night."
He blinked in surprise. "Have what I said made me repugnant?" he inquired. She quickly shook her head.
"Not at all. As I said already, I have a better understanding. What we talked about has given me much to think about." She rose from her seat. "Please believe me when I say that I'm not asking you to leave because I'm upset with you. I just need time alone."
He opened his mouth, seeming to offer a fresh argument. They stared at one another for several moments before he rose from his seat.
"I trust that you will not object to a visit tomorrow."
"Not at all. I'll be looking forward to it."
She could almost swear a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Looking forward to it?"
"Have I not been honest with you?"
He gave her a quick bow. "Good night, my love."
o0o
When he visited her again, she asked her usual questions about the goings-on in the kingdom, and he answered them. There was a queer sort of domesticity in these visits, like a husband telling a wife about his day at work as he reclined in a chair, happy to be at ease.
For all anyone else knew, he was interrogating or torturing her. Or whatever other lurid things people might imagine. The servants who were loyal to her would notice her meager rations being passed along and turn around and tell their friends that she was being fed nothing but dry crusts and stagnant water. She could not let this go on too long if the plan she was formulating was to come to fruition. So she listened as Tatanga spoke, and conversed with him in a friendly manner.
A few more days passed like this as she kept Tatanga and her people at bay. Her days were spent in contemplation and quiet recreation. She had books, papers, art and sewing supplies, but it was to the pen that she went to the most when she wanted to do something. Most of the papers she wrote on was burned in the fireplace at the end of the day, but Daisy found writing helpful in organizing her thoughts and ideas.
So she waited and planned.
And now here she was, on one of Tatanga's flying ships. Her protestations at being removed from her apartments were mild and mainly for show. Seated primly on the deck, she tilted her face, seeing the warm glow of sunset through the closed lids of her eyes.
The vessel sailed through the sky, rolling fields and forests and towns below them, although here and there were construction projects started by Tatanga. His soldiers certainly would be well-fed by her farmers. His soldiers. Her farmers. His soldiers needed food. Her farmers needed protection.
The people of Sarasaland hadn't needed protection before, but they did now. Tatanga could and would protect them. If they could be made to understand this, then there should be less of Calico's ilk, and Sarasaland could be stronger and more prosperous.
"Are you enjoying your meal?" she heard him ask. She opened her eyes and looked back at him, nodding. The first course had been a light but savory soup, and now they were on the main course. The grilled meat was served with potatoes that had been cooked alongside it, flavored with a zestful assortment of spices. Wine accompanied the meal, and Daisy could not deny her enjoyment of this outing.
"Good. I have missed your company," Tatanga said.
"Haven't you had plenty of that visiting me?" she asked lightly.
"I'll never have enough," came the smooth retort. She smirked, and he smiled back flirtatiously. In a display of shyness, her gaze dropped to the tablecloth as she took a sip of wine. She carefully considered the words she would use. She would be walking a delicate balance, and her actions would be considered questionable by many. Did they expect her to keep calling for heroes to come and rescue her?
She rose from her seat when she finished her dinner, lightly resting her hands on the railing as she gazed downward at the lengthening shadows along the valleys and trees. As she expected, Tatanga came to her side.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"No. At least, not the way you think."
"Oh?" His thick eyebrows were raised in curiosity as he stared at her.
"What happened with Calico, and other events, have given me much to think about." She took a deep breath as she looked at him. Twilight shadow put his purple skin and dark clothing in dramatic contrast. She hated to admit it, but he looked regal, even almost handsome at this angle and lighting. "Including your proposal."
She heard a sharp intake of breath, and it took her a moment to register that it was not her own.
"For me to say yes, I have to know I will truly be a partner. You have your people, and I have mine. Both of them have something that the other needs, but they have prejudices against one another. Respect has to be accorded from both sides – starting at the top, and our subjects need to see that."
He did not speak, and for a moment, she thought he might faint. Was he really so overwhelmed? He placed his hand on the railing, seeming to confirm her suspicions, and she could not help but feel flattered. he'd been very patient and kind to her. She didn't doubt his kindness to her was genuine, but she knew that it had not been easy for him to be patient.
"Are you all right?" she asked, placing her hand on his shoulder. His eyes moved to the white-gloved hand that was touching him so reassuringly. He closed his eyes for a moment and looked into her eyes.
"More than all right." An unguarded smile spread across his face, radiating to his eyes. "And you shall have what you asked for. You have my word." He took her hand and rained kisses on it. "My princess. My queen," he quickly corrected, and she smiled at him.
His hands reached to cup her face, his thumbs gently rubbing her cheeks as he stared at her for several moments. Her hands came to rest on his wrists, squeezing them. She knew what to expect once she agreed to his suit, but it was still a heady sensation when actually experienced. She had to remind herself to keep a clear head in this situation, to maintain control as her would-be conqueror attained his long-sought-after prize.
Keeping a firm grip on his left wrist, she guided it down her neck and shoulder to rest lightly over her breast. She felt him shudder, his palm trembling as he collected himself. Carefully, he pressed his hand against her before squeezing, curling his fingers with obvious care. She was surprised at how good it felt.
If nothing else, she could turn what many women saw as a chore into something she could enjoy. His hand moved to her side, caressing her hip. She nodded encouragingly.
o0o
The ship was not ostentatious, but it had been built with its overlord's comfort in mind, and Daisy sighed quietly as she shifted around, feeling the weight of a comforter as she curled up loosely, As she did so, her knees bumped against something, and her eyelids fluttered open a bit, seeing purple skin.
What was done was done. She'd made a deal with the devil, and she could only hope that it would prove to be the better decision in the long run. So far, it'd already proven to be quite enjoyable. True, there had been some shyness and fumbling at first, but Tatanga's determination served them both very well, and by the time he'd fallen asleep, she found herself nicely satisfied.
She pulled the blankets up to her chin, spooning lightly against the quietly snoring alien as he lay on his back, one arm draped across his stomach.
Daisy dozed quietly until she felt him stir awake, a large hand reaching out to pat her head as if to be sure she was there. The hand moved along her face and shoulder, his palm warm against her naked flesh.
"Tatanga," she whispered. A low rumble met her ears as he shifted, and one of his arms hooked around her middle as he growled softly in pleasure. She lifted her head, looking down at him across the expanse of his chest.
"Is that how you intend to greet me in the morning, with a growl? Not very gentlemanly of you," she playfully chided. He smirked at that, baring his fangs.
"Gentlemen? My good madam, I am not one of these fops in your court," he replied, mirroring her light tone.
"And I am grateful for that." She slid onto top of him, their chests pressing together as she rested her chin on her hands. His hands caressed her arms and back as he looked at her, looking relaxed and unguarded. Which was an excellent time to strike. She wiggled against him, and he responded as she expected. When he started to roll her over onto her back, she refused to give up her dominant position and even went so far as to growl at him.
After a moment of surprise, he surrendered to her.
o0o
Crazy times we're living in now with the beer virus pandemic and all that. I'm an essential worker, and it is surreal to see what COVID19 has done, is doing, and will do to various aspects of our society, and dealing with the stress and exposure risk at my job, but c'est la vie. Dealing with it one day at a time, and when I'm not working, I'm distracting myself with writing, knitting, and beading. Got some pretty cool projects done, including this chapter of the Conqueror!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and had a nice little break from what's going on out there. Stay safe and healthy!