5.5

It was not easy for her to avoid communicating with the officers; they often stalked Farenia one by one in different parts of the ship and imposed their playful conversations, casually touching her shoulders or waist. She dodged as best she could from the pestering ladies' men, realizing that one slightest concession could lead to a new pregnancy.

One day, Palien found a moment when Lantas was not with Farenia and walked in on her without warning. He looked busily at the baby and sat down next to him, staring at the princess.

"How are you, Farenia?"

It was obvious that he was going to lecture her.

"Fine!" She frowned, anticipating confrontation.

"What were you thinking about when you boarded the ship? You knew about the officers who longed to communicate with any princess. Don't flatter yourself with hopes that you can avoid contact with them under the protection of Lantas."

His eyes pierced right through her. 

"He's on duty and won't be able to save you all the time. Protective spells are easy to bypass for syrinxes like us. It must finally dawn on you that we never make any concessions when there is a code for unquestioning obedience. Your Queen doesn't think at all about the consequences of her decisions. She let you go and threatened Lantas with violence if anyone encroaches on you. What arrogance! You are no longer her subject, she allowed you to board our ship! What does it mean? You are now subject to our rules."

He looked at her intently, and the princess felt very unpleasant from the chilling gaze.

"Your defenses are now destroyed and you will have to make a choice."

"But I can have more children from Lantas. I choose him again," Farenia tried to defend her rights.

"You can't do it a second time! If you are not able to choose for yourself, it is my duty to bring to you someone I consider worthy. This is what happened with Selestra. She was slow to choose and I had to direct her to Ramies."

Palien sat and waited for her answer.

"Make a choice, Farenia, don't waste time!"

The princess curled up into a ball of despair and hopelessness.

"Did you strike a pose? Then I'll find you a guy myself."

Soon Tumariz entered the cabin and stared at her tensely. Palien gestured towards her, and the officer sat down next to her.

"Come with me, you'll like it," he looked into her eyes, extending his hand.

"But I don't want to go anywhere!" The princess shouted, throwing a furious look at Palien.

Green fire flashed in his eyes.

"Submit!" He ordered imperiously, casting a spell of obedience.

Farenia's gaze froze, and she docilely followed Tumariz.

Lantas rushed over when his beloved was no longer in his apartment. Palien sat next to the baby and looked at the officer detachedly. 

"Did you give her to them?" He shouted desperately, looking at his commander with horror.

Lantas suddenly began to breathe heavily and fell as if knocked down.

When he woke up, three persons were looking at him with concern: the Commander, the healer and the resurrector.

"Don't worry, Lantas, everything is fine," Palien said in a calm tone. "I couldn't imagine that you would die suddenly. Your heart was torn to pieces. It's all over now, but don't get up, you need to gain strength."

"Farenia..." Lantas whispered quietly, breathing heavily.

"Oh, all Saints!" Palien sighed and put the defenseless officer to sleep.

He had never seen such a reaction to being separated from a woman. Tears and lamentations were the maximum, but for it to be so fatal, it was too much.

The princess expected Lantas to come running to save her when she woke up sitting in a chair in the hall of someone else's penthouse. Opposite her, Tumariz sat calmly and watched her.

"He won't come for you!" The officer answered her. "He was put into a long sleep!"

"What happened to Lantas?" Farenia was excited.

"He is ill."

"Do syrinxes ever get sick?"

"Your Queen's curse is a very destructive magic. He died, but they were able to resurrect him, now he is sleeping in a coma, gaining strength."

"Curse for taking me from him?"

"Looks like that."

"Return me to him, and the curse will not work," offered Farenia.

"Palien is in thoughts about what to do. He didn't expect such a reaction. And you know how principled he is. But I didn't touch you, I don't want to die, it's very painful," Tumariz grinned.

"If I had agreed to go with you, he wouldn't have died?"

"I can't know for sure, this is the first time we've encountered something like this. Kamily is a special creature and is capable of unexpected things."

"Let me go," the princess asked.

Tumariz made puppy eyes.

"Let's just talk, I won't cast a spell. What are you supposed to do there alone? You're bored."

"I have a baby there!" The princess clarified.

"Nothing will happen to him! Look, I'll show you the planets I've been to."

Tumariz snapped his fingers, and she saw in front of her a colorful image of a huge city with tall towers hanging in the air.

"This is Illuria, the capital of Xantary! Top view, from a flight altitude."

The image moved as if floating above the built-up city. Farenia stared in fascination at all this splendor. Tumariz pointed to the towers where the Queen and princesses live.

"Will you stay there?" He asked.

"I don't know yet how Lantas will decide."

"It seems he wants to place you as a concubine in his tower, but he won't be able to hide the fact that you are a Zarian princess. The supreme power will still find out about you, even if Palien does not report. Clairvoyants are everywhere there. Someone will rat you out."

"And what will they do to me?"

"If they find out about your behavior on the ship, that you do not respect the Code, you will be punished and deprived of immortality."

"Why didn't Lantas tell me anything about this?" Farenia was indignant.

"You turned his head. We thought he would calm down over time, but no, he begged you from the Queen and dragged you to the fleet."

"And what should I do now?"

"I can help you if you want. I'll wish the wings for you, they will grow in seven years. Let us introduce you to the Rulers, express your submission and devotion to Xantari, and you may be pardoned. You are beautiful, and one of them can become your patron. And then they will give you a tower and Illurian princess status."