The Mutant World (38 page)

“I
am
a bastard and my mother was a slave from an alien tribe,” growled the black youth. “I can’t kill you for the truth. But you name her whore? For that lie I will tear you to pieces!”

“No!” ordered Prince Tidor. “I forbid it, Brother! Leave now!” Yet the giant black cat seemed not to hear. “Brother stand down
now
and return to your own chambers. “Prince Tidor was standing and shifted into his own half-beast form. No one breathed.

Stragg, who was temporarily minus the use of one hand, was now pleading for his life. His reek was stinking up the hall. The assembled Barratians and Illyrians were disgusted. Angrily the panther man turned away and returned to human form. Prince Tidor also returned to his normal state and there were audible sighs of relief in the great hall. He sat back down and said, “Take that stinking filth away.”

Stragg was dragged away by his disgraced retainers. The black youth walked over to the Illyrians. He looked at the frightened princess and apologized on behalf of his people. Then he looked at the big girl named Gorgo for a long moment. She had the same feline green eyes as him and his half-siblings and, try as she might, she did not carry herself like a vassal. She had ignored her princess’s direct command earlier. This did not go unnoticed by the boy. She also had
his
family’s bad temper. He smiled, grunted and stalked away.

“Princess Miko,” said Prince Tidor, “I must apologize again for what has happened here. Chief Stragg has disgraced himself irredeemably. I will do all in my power to make up for his behavior. I compliment your warrior. Please rest now, we will speak more tomorrow. The feast is ended.”

Princess Miko and the Illyrians nodded and left the great hall. Several of the Barratians were looking at the big girl with approval.

“Who was that prince,” said Gorgo to the slave girl Sasha, “the very black one?”

“He is the eldest son of King Roc, Lord Jawara,” said the slave, “the one known as ‘The Dark Prince’. But he is not really a prince…not by official title at least.”

“I can see how he got his name,” said Gorgo. “He has the same complexion of the empress’s consort, the High Lord of Illyria. I noticed many of the other lords and chiefs seem to dislike him. Why?”

“His mother was a captive taken in battle by King Roc who later gave birth to him,” said the slave. “She was a mutant, but a slave, so the other lords look down on Jawara and the council refused to allow the king to legitimize him and name him as his heir. Also, when he was ordered to put a stop to the barbarian raids on the western towns he did so. But he did not destroy the enemy tribe and bring their queen back in chains. Instead he made peace with them. Many were disgusted, but the prince argued that his father had told him to put a stop to the raiders, which he did. If he had expressly told him to destroy them, he would have.” The Illyrians nodded in approval. “In response to the anger of his chiefs though, the king ordered Prince Jawara to the western borders of the realm to deal with the barbarians who live there. Prince Jawara is basically lord of the region. He was called here when news of your princess’s visit was heard.”

“What happened to his mother?’” said Gorgo.

“She is now free and an honored lady in his estate,” said the slave.

“Prince Tidor does not seem to share the disapproval of his chiefs for Lord Jawara,” said Gorgo.

The slave smiled. “Mistress, Prince Tidor may have his faults and is forced to tolerate certain practices of this land, but Tidor
loves
his brother. Indeed, the ‘Dark Prince’ is
very
well-loved by his family.”

******

Once the Illyrians had reached the compartments reserved for them, Princess Miko ordered the Lady Gorgo into her private chambers so that they might speak alone. The slave Sasha was certain it was to be reprimanded for her disobedience earlier and the fight with the Barratian. And she was right.

As soon as they were behind closed doors the princess whirled around and dropped to her knees before the larger girl head to the floor, and angrily sent forth her thoughts.

“Princess, HOW can I protect you if you insist on behaving recklessly?! If you had been defeated by that animal he would have owned, collard and raped you! Do you know what the empress would have done to me?!?”

“Relax, Lana,”
said the real Princess Miko,
“I was never in any danger of losing to that sad excuse for a man. He did prove stronger than I anticipated, but if I had transformed I would have torn him limb from limb. I had it well in hand. And I learned a great deal about the Barratian mentality and its leadership.”

“What do you mean?”
said Lana.

“These men are a chauvinistic lot,”
said Miko,
“but they have honor and they respect strength. I also believe I may have misjudged Prince Tidor. Although he definitely has less than the highest esteem for women and the same deep distrust of them as every Barratian male we’ve encountered, he also seems the type who would make great change in this land if he could. But I think he feels bound to uphold stupid old traditions. The slave girl Sasha has confirmed this. His mind was well-protected, but his emotions were easy to read. He also tried to dispense righteous justice on the animal I fought, and was only stopped by that old fart. What was he anyway, a human? He sure reeked of one. It seems in this land even a human is superior to a mutant if he is male and she is female.”

Lana nodded and said,
“I hear that was the way it was in Mavieland, Your Highness. Sadly, it still is. Female humans are above mutant men.”

“So this is something else they’ve learned from those, damned ‘Girl-Lickers’!”
growled Miko.

“Princess Miko,”
begged Lady Lana,
“please be more prudent. You were the one who wanted to pose as a common warrior in this land. I cannot pretend to be you if you’re going to keep acting like…like…”

“I fear I will cause you even more distress, Lana,”
said the princess.
“I intend to go forth and see more of this palace and its inhabitants.”

“Princess Miko, please don’t be so impetuous!”
cried Lana.

“There will be no more discussion on this,”
said Princess Miko.
“Prince Tidor gave us full leave to wander the palace and I shall take him up on that offer. I’m going out.”

Lady Lana was distressed.
“Highness, at least take a bodyguard!”

“I will take the girl Sasha and that is all,”
said Miko.

When the lady Gorgo emerged looking suitably chastised, Sasha knew she had been reprimanded. Gorgo looked around dourly.

“The princess has instructed me to leave her presence for a time,” she said, “so I shall explore the palace.” Then she motioned the slave to accompany her as her guide and the two left their reserved accommodations and began to explore the palace.

The small woman emerged looking miserable. She looked at the male Illyrians and said. “No one moves until they return.”

******

Despite her obstinacy, Miko did periodically check in mentally with her people to assure them that she was alright. Much to her surprise, she learned that the fight in the great hall had earned her many admirers among the Barratians…and of
both
sexes.

“Well done, Illyrian,” had said a Barratian warrior as she and the slave passed him. Sasha always kept her head and eyes lowered in the presence of a male Barratian as did all the slave girls, but Miko could tell that she and the others were pleased with the respect the she was receiving. She met several free ladies within the palace as well.
These too congratulated her on her clear victory over the brutish Stragg. Princess Miko noticed that some slaves were treated better than others. Even the women treated the female slaves as inferiors, but some were forced to bow lower than others. She would learn that the worst treated slaves were people taken in war from the Mavie. Indeed, the only male slaves in Barrat were men from Mavieland it seemed. In any case, all females showed great difference to the men, free or slave. The Illyrian woman directed Sasha to lead her to where the slaves were quartered. Naturally, this was in the lower level of the palace, and aside from a random guard or two, few nobles or free people could be found here. When they had reached a suitable place, Miko slipped out of her clothes and handed them to the slave. Sasha looked at the giant Illyrian girl with apprehension who then chuckled.

“Don’t worry little slave, I like men.” Then the slave’s eyes widened in amazement as Miko’s flesh took on the consistency and look of stone. She glanced around quickly to see if anyone else was around and had seen this, but when she looked back the stone giant had disappeared.

“M…Mistress?” said Sasha nervously.

Mentally Miko replied,
“I am here, Sasha.”
Sasha jumped. The Illyrian’s voice was in her head.
“Place those clothes in that corner and move ahead a bit and stop when I tell you.”
Miko knew it was bad manners to snoop on her hosts, but she was now motivated. Often the best way to learn about people is by listening to the words or their servants or slaves, and there was one person she definitely wanted to know much more about.

The poor slave did as she was told and walked along to her and the other slaves’ quarters. She didn’t see the big girl anywhere. How could a near seven foot tall walking stone statue just disappear and move about unseen? Was she even still there? She would get her answer.

“Stop,”
said Miko’s voice in her head.

Sasha froze. Ahead a few slaves were sitting and talking casually among themselves. There were no guards because none were needed. Even if the girls were mutants, the control collars would leave them as helpless and open as humans. And any act of disobedience could be dealt with in a moment. Ironically, this allowed the slaves a little freedom among themselves, but the Illyrian girl soon saw that even here they were not safe.

A Barratian man appeared and the women froze for a moment and then dropped to their knees. He looked them over and then pointed at one and walked away. The woman miserably rose and followed. The Illyrian woman was disgusted. The slaves stood up and one of them said, “I hope king Roc is successful in his mission to the empire. I pray for it. Maybe things will finally change for us in this place!”

“I think change is coming already,” said another. “Lord Jawara is here.”

“He is?” said the first slave.

“Didn’t you hear about the feast tonight?” said one of the other slaves. “Lord Jawara arrived just as Lord Stragg was up to his usual habits. He stopped him from raping that human girl, Jenna. She was lucky. I don’t think she would have survived the abuse. The pig has killed more than one girl you know.”

“Yes, but it was the big Illyrian woman who took down that animal,” laughed another slave. “He fought hard, but was easily beaten. Then he even tried to knife the girl, the coward! I think every man in the room wanted to beat him to death for that. Well, to make a long story short, Lord Jawara broke his arm. He shit himself and was dragged from the great hall in disgrace! I don’t think we need to be afraid of him anymore, HAHAHAH!!”

“What happened to Jenna?” said one of the girls.

The first girl made a face that bespoke envy and said, “I hear Prince Tidor gave her to Lord Jawara as a gift.”

“That’s too kind for a human!” snapped one woman. “Lucky little bitch!”

“Stop it, Sparta!” said the first slave. “The prince has a kind heart. You know that little girl couldn’t survive with these animals for long. I envy her. I hear a slave girl in lord Jawara’s lands is more free than a free woman here.”

“Well, so long as the dark prince is here we may have an easier time for a while,” said someone. “I only wish that old human wasn’t around advising and undermining Prince Tidor.” There was angry assent among the women at this. Then one of the slaves noticed Sasha.

“Sasha, is that you? I thought you were assigned to look after the Illyrians?”

“Yes,” said Sasha walking over, “but one of them wanted to look around. I fear I may have lost track of her.”

“You’d better hurry and find her, because we haven’t seen her come this way.”

“Yes, Sasha, come back,”
said Miko.
“I have heard enough.”

The slave hurried back to where she had last seen the Illyrian woman and stopped on her command. In shock she saw part of the nearby wall literally come alive and a figure immerge.

“L…Lady Gorgo?” said the stunned Sasha.

The giant chuckled. “I saw and heard everything through you. My body was here camouflaged the whole time.” The Illyrian girl found her clothes and put them on. “The original Lady Gorgo had this ability too, but she had limited telepathic ability. She couldn’t spy as I just did.”

“You…You’re no common warrior,” gasped the slave, realization setting in. “By the Goddess! You’re a…”

“Where does the dark prince stay in this place,” asked Miko absently.

The slave was speechless for a moment, but then smiled.

“His quarters in the palace are actually quite near here, mistress. They placed him near the lower areas to remind him of his standing in the family. I don’t think Prince Tidor knows yet. When he does…”