Hope at Last
Posted on Tue Jul 19th, 2016 @ 2:11pm by Kalikana (Kali)
590 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Shadow Dance
Location: Royal Palace of Jenefra
Mrowen
Keelan
ON
Kali walked into her room, the invitation clutched tightly in her hand. They were coming. Starfleet was coming. Had they received her message? They must have. Why would they come back so soon after their first visit if they had not?
She spun in a circle, unable to contain her happiness.
"Princess?" Phtarro asked, coming through the servant's entrance.
Kali danced over to her trusted servant and gave him a hug. "A ship from the Federation's Star Fleet is coming in answer to my call. There's to be a formal dinner tomorrow." She showed him the invitation. "My father has asked me to attend."
"Excellent news, Princess," he said, hugging her back. "My wife will be joyful at the news. Do you require a new gown?"
Kali hadn't thought of that. "Oh, dear. I imagine I shall. Or an altered one. I don't care, but my father will be angry if I do not."
Phtarro clapped his hands and two girls came running into the room. "The Princess requires a new gown for tomorrow." He eyed her critically. "Black as night, with gems to represent the stars, I think. Yes. That will do nicely."
The two girls nodded and hurried out of the room to do his bidding.
"You know I trust your judgment, but are you sure it wouldn't be better to simply alter an old one?" Kali asked. She much preferred simple dresses to the formal gowns the court demanded.
"I am sure. You want your father to be pleased with you, yes? A new gown, the royal jewels, and a meek and quiet Princess will keep the peace."
He knew her father too well. "Yes. Now is the time to act compliant. I must have a word with them in private. That will only happen if I play the dutiful daughter."
Phtarro nodded. "Is there anything else you require?"
"Not right now, thank you. I will write a letter to this Star Fleet, just in case I cannot talk to them, and leave it with you before nightfall. Tomorrow I will need to attend to official duties."
Phtarro nodded. "Very good, Princess. My youngest daughter can be intrusted with your message. She is a clever child and can deliver the message if you cannot."
Kali smiled her gratitude. "I owe you and your family so much."
"On the contrary, it is we who owe you. You and your mother have been most kind to my family. We are ever in your debt."
Kali hugged him again. "As I am in yours. Now, go take care of your family."
Phtarro bowed and exited the room.
When he was gone, Kali went into her wardrobe, to the hidden panel behind her rack of shoes and pulled out her box of mementos. Gifts from her mother, trinkets from people she'd met, the communication device from the Federation. She pulled out her diary and carefully wrote down her hopes for the morrow. Then she put everything away and went back to her desk to write a letter to Star Fleet. She has no facts to go on, but there were too many coincidences, too many unanswered questions. She prayed the information would be enough for them to launch an investigation.
When she was finished, she folded up the letter and sealed it with wax and her royal seal. Then she went in search of Mitta, Phtarro's youngest child, to give her the message.
Tomorrow could not come soon enough.
____
OFF
Kalikana
Princess of Jenefra
Phtarro
Kali's Chief Servant
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