Imabelai looked at me with wide eyes. I nodded, as I had heard his words as well. My sister gaped, unable to speak. I had to smile; I felt that same amazement. It was a moment of shouted silence where the only communication was the beating of the heart. No one spoke from the dead but my father; his words were gifts from beyond our understanding. 

I turned to the GUF and said, “Father, I have missed you. Have you returned well from your journey?” 

The voice I loved most to hear answered. “We are enlarged.” 

Imabelai, still gaping, turned between my face and the GUF in amazement. I, too, was enlarged; father was back. He must have known, but I said it anyway. “We lost many good souls,” I said. 

“LUC has turned dark,” said father. My daughter is bright.” Then he commanded, “My son, take your sister’s hand.”

 I took my sister’s hand. Her wide eyes met mine. I had wanted to do just that. Holding her hand was happiness. I squeezed it gently and turned back to the GUF. Imabelai turned to the GUF, and the two of us sat in silent expectation. What would father say? Would he guide us through the Esthos? Would he tell us that LUC followed? I think I expected almost anything other than what I heard. I know my sister and I gasped as one. 

“King and Queen,” said my father. 

He said no more; he left us sitting there staring expectantly into the GUF. After some time, the two of us noticed that we still held hands. We looked long into one another’s eyes. I laughed. 

I said softly, “That was unexpected.” 

Imabelai made a small nervous noise like embarrassed laughter and took her hand from mine. She turned away then, she turned back. 

“Is he in the GUF?” she asked. 

“He inhabits space and time,” I answered. 

Father’s voice returned. “Son, harvest the green globes in your path.” 

Imabelai asked suddenly, “Why did you say King and Queen?” 

Father answered, almost amused, “You love my son. My son loves you. Oh, and, son.” 

I turned from Imabelai to look at the GUF. “Yes, father.”  

“Two things,” said father. “Find me in the GM, and take your Queen. I hold a dim view of hesitancy.” 

I stood and helped Imabelai to her feet. Before she could speak, I embraced her. I hugged her tightly to me. My father’s words had eased my wounded heart. He spoke the truth; I did love Imabelai. Although I had loved others, Imabelai was still the first. She held a special place in my heart no other love could obscure. I kissed her and she kissed back, both of us drinking deeply from the well of our bond. 

We embraced, and I whispered into Imabelai’s ear. “My Queen.” 

I would have loved to simply stand there, looking into the eyes of my first and present love. It was a moment that needed no words. And, it was not meant to last; Barachiel stepped from the lift and caught us holding hands.

“This is sweet,” said Barachiel, grinning. “I hate to intrude, Your Majesty, but the Generals seek your presence on the Tristow.” 

I sighed. A King’s work is never done. I kissed Imabelai and placed her hand on the hand of Barachiel. I said to him, “Please escort the Queen to Hope.” 

His reaction was only the widening of his eyes. He dropped the juvenile grin and bowed to Imabelai. “Your Majesty,” said he to the Queen.  

I watched them leave and returned to my apartment. Suddenly, I sought the robe and belt of the King. I would address the Generals officially, and hopefully, find a good place to drop the news. Before I left, I sat at my node and hailed the Great Mind. 

“GM,” I called. 

The Great Mind answered, “Your Majesty.” 

“Show me Imabelai and myself before the GUF,” I said. 

I met the Generals in Upper Command. Karnac occupied the chair, and a new subordinate manned the console. He rose, and along with Eesho, Cedetra, and Chisisi, saluted and chorused a barrage of your majesties. 

“Generals,” I responded, nodding my head in respect. “What do you have for me?” 

Karnac raised a hand to indicate the large screen. I saw, with no surprise, an undetermined number of green globes in the red space before us. Some were large, some were small; all of them seemed bright against the red backdrop of the Esthos. 

Karnac said, “This is maximum resolution; we should arrive within a turn. Our instruments indicated internal heat, water, atmosphere, and plant life.” 

I replied, “We will harvest the plant life.”  

“As you command,” Karnac replied. Before anyone could speak of other business, I hurried into my news.

“Generals,” I said. “I have news.” 

General Cedetra stood closest to me, and it was he who responded, “Yes, Your Majesty.” 

It was to him that I turned with a smile. “I will take a Queen,” I said. 

The Generals looked between themselves, unsure how to answer. Karnac cleared his throat but did not speak. Eesho nodded uncertainly. 

Chisisi said, “That is good news, Your Majesty.” 

Cedetra turned back to me and asked, “May we ask who the King has chosen?” 

I answered, “Smile, Generals. I am sharing good news.” 

You would have thought I asked them to pull their own teeth. Their smiles were like cracks in polished armor. Clearly, they were uncomfortable. For some reason, it amused me to see their rigid facades evade them. 

I said to them, “I have chosen Imabelai as my Queen.” 

Eesho coughed and stepped past Cedetra. He asked in a subdued voice, “Your Majesty, are sure that is wise?” 

I placed my hands on the General’s shoulders and looked into his eyes. “You are thinking,” said I, “that Imabelai betrayed the armada. You are thinking,” I turned to Cedetra, “that she is unproven. I have it on the authority of my heart, and on the command of my father that Imabelai is my Queen.” 

Chisisi spoke. “Taush suffers your tale of the late King speaking. Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I am not convinced.” 

I called to the GM, “GM, bring up the King’s archive.” 

I stretched my hand toward the screen as images displayed Imabelai and myself before the GUF. The voice of my father came through clearly. 

“Ah, daughter.” Imabelai looked at me with wide eyes. I nodded. 

I turned to the GUF and said, “Father, I have missed you. Have you returned well from your journey?” 

The voice answered. “We are enlarged.” 

Imabelai turned between my face and the GUF. “We lost many good souls,” I said. 

“LUC has turned dark,” said father. “My daughter is bright. My son, take your sister’s hand.” 

I took my sister’s hand. Her wide eyes met mine. I turned back to the GUF. Imabelai turned to the GUF. “King and Queen,” said my father. 

The two of us noticed that we still held hands. We looked long into one another’s eyes. I laughed. I said softly, “That was unexpected.” 

Imabelai turned away then, she turned back. “Is he in the GUF?” she asked. 

“He inhabits space and time,” I answered. 

Father’s voice returned. “Son, harvest the green globes in your path.” 

Imabelai asked suddenly, “Why did you say King and Queen?” 

Father answered, almost amused, “You love my son. My son loves you. Oh, and, son.” 

I turned from Imabelai to look at the GUF. “Yes, father.”

“Two things,” said father. “Find me in the GM, and take your Queen. I hold a dim view of hesitancy.” 

Images of the Esthos and the orbs returned. I watched the Generals try, with great difficulty, to digest the voice and command of their late King. General Chisisi turned to me and stood stiffly at attention. 

He bowed his head and said to me, “I am so sorry. Please forgive me.” 

The faces of my Generals were blank. They were evidently stunned. My smile remained. I turned to shift away, but I turned back. 

I said, “Find me a clothier. Someone of extreme talent. My Queen is worthy of the best.” 

Joy was mine. I was free to tell Imabelai that I loved her; to tell her that I loved her deeply and completely. Freedom was new to me. My shackles had fallen away. The leash was gone. I could stand in my own strength, and not simply my father’s shadow. I wanted to hold Imabelai in my arms, to ask her forgiveness, to vow undying devotion. I had loved her from the beginning. I wanted to wrap myself in her attention until our sweat made us slide apart. I shifted to Imabelai’s cabin. I looked around the front room with satisfaction. The cabin was large enough for two; I wondered if I had made it so subconsciously. I pulled the drapes closed and stepped into the bedroom. I could hear water running in the water closet. I pulled the bedroom drapes. Then, I dropped my robe and belt by the bed and stepped into the water closet.