Honor ch4

Chapter four
Star glanced up as Steel entered, the last of The Twelve to arrive. He glanced at her and she caught laughter in his eyes. She scowled and sank lower into her chair, glaring at him and hoping the too-tight corset dress she wore against her will didn’t rip from her slouching. Star’s hair had been elaborately curled around braids so tight they hurt. Breathing deep was out of the question, especially while slouching.
The Miztic “King” cleared his throat. “My good Princes of the Hiato Realm, we have met here today to discuss one of the gifts of our treaty.” He paused glancing at Star. “I introduce you to my lady cousin, Lowaness Sapire Natuina fo ti Miztic.”
“Translated?” Prince Liten inquired. He had coal black hair that contrasted sharply with his white skin and white silver eyes.
“Princess Starfire Silver of the Miztic,” Flame and Steel replied together. They grinned at one another. Being the oldest, and twins, they were far closer than any of the other brothers were.
“Yes”, the Miztic “King” regained attention. “We have come to discuss the Lady Star’s marriage to one of you.”
“I suppose I should be happy they even bothered to invite me.” Star muttered under her breath.
“Now as you can see”, the Miztic king continued, oblivious to Star’s irritation as he stood, forcing her to stand with him. “She will bear many sons for you, her hips are wide enough.” He motioned pointedly while Star turned an interesting shade of red. “She is a virgin, not yet bedded, and can cook and sew quite well.” Sparks crackled off Star’s fingers in mini lightings as her eyes turned the glow blue that said in more than words could express that she was less than enthusiastic about this version of marriage negotiations.1

~~~2

Steel could feel her control slipping away as the “King” blathered on insulting and unnoticing. She was going to lose control and fry the lot of them if things went on the way they were going.
Knowing he had to do something and feeling like an idiot Steel said,”We get it; she’d be a great wife, no need for anything else to be said.” His intentions to smooth things over failed miserably.
“Am I a frigging piece of meat?” Star inquired in the quiet too calm voice that dripped with rage. Steel got the feeling that if she wasn’t in the presence of all these people, she’d be cursing her head off.
The “King” (clearly not possessing survival instinct) said, “You are not meat, but female… you simply cannot match a male.”
“Sir, I need to be excused”, Star growled, looking as though she was planning to kill the next male she found outside of the ‘King’s” presence. “I’m obviously not smart enough to plan my future anyway.” She snarled in barely controlled rage.
“You are excused, my lady”, the “King” said sweetly. Steel had a pretty good idea that Star was excusing herself back to Unicorn Pass.
“I will escort her ladyship to her rooms.” Steel spoke, walking to stand by Star. If looks could kill he would have been on the next funeral pyre.
“Wait”, Prince Paine spoke. “I believe the lady will be well matched with me.” No one said a word and the “King” smiled. Paine was infamous for his cruelty to women. If Star lasted two weeks of marriage with the man they all would be surprised. It would have been to weeks of legal rape, torture, and finally death according to Hiato law and tradition, women had next to no rights beside their husbands. Miztica was heading for the same sort of law system with the “King” they had.
“Unless anyone else wants her?” Paine grinned cruelly.
Steel wasn’t much for caring about any one but his twin and those honor dictated he protect, but something in that moment called to him, that he would later berate himself for doing as it asked. “I’ll marry the lady. She’ll live longer with me.” He bit his lip wondering what had possessed him to insult someone with more power than himself. Apparently he needed a vacation or at least a trip to the loony bin for a week or more.
The whole room stared. Then Paine nodded, “You may marry her if I get her for the first week.”
“O.K. you all finish your discussion and goodbye.” Star strode out of the room.
“She’s yours forget I asked”, Steel said shortly, striding out after her.
“Then it’s settled, I’ll marry the lady in one week.” Paine said cheerily and then he smiled.3

~~~4

Star stomped into her room and over to her dresser. She pointedly ripped out a black set of clothing: relaxed black pants, black tank top, black over-shirt, and black underclothes. She glared at the billions of ties and buttons on her dress and decided that undoing them was a waste of time, so, electrocuting them was far more logical. The dress fell off with a puff of smoke and she yanked on the other out fit. She grabbed her black cloak, and exploded into a side room; scaring some servants and making them leave at a run. There was a secret door in this room, she went through it. In this room were weapons. They were all battle-ready and in top condition. Star picked two wrist knives, and a boot knife, her sword was still in Unicorn Pass, but the knives would work for close up fighting until she retrieved the sword. She grabbed her favorite bow, and a quiver full of arrows, and stalked out of the secret room.
She made it to the door of her personal rooms without running into anyone, but opened it to see Steel. He raised his eyebrows in a sarcastic manner as if he was surprised to see her decked out in fighting and traveling gear. “I was… wondering if you would like to have lunch with me.”
“I’m going for a ride”, she said staring at her suddenly interesting shoes.
“Maybe some other time”, he said softly, shyly. This time she knew he meant it.
“If I live long enough you have my word on lunch with you.” She replied blushing.
He stepped back and bowed respectfully, then watched her walk speedily away down the hall. Before she left the hall she turned and spoke, “If the so-called-“King” asks, I go to see ti Oaka.”
Steel went to see his twin after she’d gone, “What does ti Oaka mean, brother?”
Flame turned to look at him confused,”It means “the true King”, why?” 5