The following weeks were ones of great upheaval for many of the residents of Villiar. Those of Masonville were most affected as they emerged from over a century of imperialist rule.

Food shipments from Granaria had recommenced at the earliest opportunity, and supplies were now in plentiful supply. In return, the lifting of such a secretive regime led to the free export of Masonville’s expertise and their machines and superior technology were being introduced across many of Villiar’s nations.

The palace burned for four days. Many bodies were completely consumed in the conflagration that destroyed much that had been held close to the heart of those who had run the country for so long. It was impossible to identify everyone who had been found.

Although, many of the personal artifacts belonging to Signi had been discovered, his insignia and clumps of his medals amongst others, his body was never identified. Eyewitness accounts stated he’d been one of the first to be struck down, losing his legs before the second salvo basically blew him apart. These reports gave people belief that he was indeed now firmly part of their history.

For people to know he was no longer a threat to their freedom, completely altered the populations mood.

The majority were now firmly looking forwards rather than constantly peering over their shoulders.

Many of the upper echelons who had so benefitted from the old hierarchy had either been killed or captured and were awaiting trial. Ryne Hygens continued to work with the civilian authorities to maintain law and order until a completely civilian method for governing Masonville could be established.

Even Magni Porarinn had returned to Masonville to help in the establishment of an interim government and help identify those who had been staunch supporters of the previous regime. It was true to say that Princess Aryn was sorry to see him return home, they had developed quite a rapport, but some things needed to be settled before personal feelings could be allowed the space and time needed to develop freely.

All in all, it was a relatively peaceful power transition. Small pockets of resistance held out for a while, but eventually, even these individuals realised that continued fighting was futile. Better they opt to live a new style of life than to die, forgotten and despised in some obscure part of the nation.

Many of the officers and N.C.O.’s that were especially cruel and hated had been removed one way or another even before Signi had met his end. The mainly conscript military and militia did just enough to ensure that the population could live in peace, even if most were eager to return to their families and get back to their jobs and lives.

All in all, the coup was relatively peaceful and a lot less blood was shed than had been feared at the outset.

Chapter Forty-one.

After a long hard winter, Spring was firmly in evidence later and a hive of activity was taking place in the rear gardens at the palace of Queen Adred. Early flowers were bursting forth, trees were full of blossom and the pollinating insects and smaller animals were working overtime to make the most of the glut of opportunities to amass nectar.

Although many shuttles had brought aid and assistance to many parts of Villiar, particularly humanitarian and medical supplies, today was going to witness a special group of visitors, long awaited by many of the residents within the palace.

Queen Adred and Prime Minister Pellinore stood at the head of the landscaped grounds at the rear of the palace. Their crowns and jewels gleamed in the sun and many rays of light were reflected around the gardens. Their three very important visitors had been long anticipated.

The shuttle hummed its way into view and in a graceful arc it swept into position on the main lawn and gently, with barely an audible hiss, came to rest at the head of a long purple carpet. A carpet reserved for the receipt of special and highly honoured individuals. Purple was a difficult colour to produce, and its use tended to be reserved for special occasions, such as today’s visit.

Behind the Queen and her sister stood the four Princesses. All in their finest uniforms or regal gowns as befitting their office and the desire to welcome their visitors with all proper respect and deference.
Inside the palace itself were another group of eight women, all eagerly awaiting the arrival of these visitors, but two of whom who were particularly on edge, and incredibly anxious about the upcoming meeting with the occupants of the shuttle. Although there had been several hologram meetings during the preceding months, this would be the first face to face meeting for the new family members.

The eight women awaiting the shuttles occupants were dressed in the height of Granarian elegance with their hair and make-up just so. One in particular had to be reminded not to fidget with her hair or outfit too much and to keep from accidentally smearing her make-up as nerves were starting to get to her. Although she was more than comfortable in her new persona, Raelynne was finding today’s wait especially trying, and Karin was anxious for Raelynne, not that she was worried about the reception, just that it is not every day a mother gets to meet her adult daughter for the first time.

Outside on the lawn, the side doors of the shuttle slid apart, and a small ramp was lowered into position.

Two ceremonial sentries stood either side of the doorway as the three main visitors exited the craft and approached the Queen and her sister. The man, who was tall and distinguished bowed to the Queen, the woman at his side gave a small curtsy while the older woman at their rear inclined her head in greeting.

Apart from Garia, all individuals wore miniature earpieces that enabled instantaneous translation from Nirvanian speech into the Villiar language and vice versa. These devices had been some of the later items of technology brought down by the shuttles employed in transporting goods and services between Villiar and The Vasco da Gama.

“Welcome Admiral, it is an honour to finally meet you in the flesh, may I introduce my sister and Prime Minister, Pellinore!”

“Greetings on behalf the Nirvanan Survey Service, your Majesty, I am, as you rightly surmised Admiral Maurice Suarez, may I introduce my wife Ava, and also here with us is Special Envoy, Ambassador Garia!”

The Queen and Pellinore both raised an eyebrow.

“Greetings Mrs Suarez it is a pleasure to meet you at last, we have heard a great deal about you and your husband, and may I assume that Ambassador Garia is the special individual we have heard a little about?”

“Indeed your Majesty, I am Garia, special envoy of my colleagues, perhaps we can talk more about my mission a little later. I know the Admiral and his wife are particularly eager to meet up with a certain two individuals, who they have longed to meet face to face for many months now!”

“Certainly Ambassador, although given the little I know about you and your history, I am unclear on how I should address such an eminent person as yourself?”

“Well, I have had many titles over my long life, from Baroness, to Princess, to Mom, to Queen to Granny and many others over the years, but for us, I think just my name will suffice, so please, just call me Garia!”

“Thank you for this honour Garia, so please, just call me Adred, and this is Pellinore my sister and right-hand person and someone without whom I could not hope to function. These four young ladies are our daughters, of which I am sure you know, may I present the Princesses Aryn, Caryn, Ayne and Urna!” All bowed, nodded or curtsied as appropriate.

“Now the two individuals who you are longing to meet, especially you Mrs Suarez, are awaiting your presence within the palace itself with their special friends. They have been invaluable to us since their unscheduled arrival amongst us. But I have to say they have been more like scared schoolgirls, the closer your visit became, so, we decided that for everyone’s sake, a more discrete first meeting would probably be for the best! If you would please allow us to escort you through to the throne room, you will finally be able to meet up with a greater degree of privacy!”

“Oh please your Majesty, I have waited for this moment ever since I first learned of their safety amongst your kind peoples, we owe you an incredible debt of gratitude for their safe deliverance back into the folds of our family!”

“I assure you Mrs Suarez, the gift we owe your daughters is more than Villiar can ever repay. Their assistance, gentle persuasion and guidance has been of benefit to us all, especially here in Granaria, but probably even more so in Masonville. But enough of my prattling on, please follow me and we shall have you reunited in but a few munts!”

The group of dignitaries passed from the gardens with their heady scents and constant drone of the many pollinators hard at work, through into the cooler and darker interior of the palace.

Chamberlain Dalno Glessa greeted the entire entourage with a huge smile.

“Greetings one and all, welcome to the throne room and inner sanctum of the court of Queen Adred the Fourth, enter friends, a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to you all from every free individual of Villiar.”

With that he banged his mace three times on the floor and two wide full height doors swung open.

The brightness of the sunlight flooding the room illuminated the corridor. The reception party entered the throne room as a pair of opposing doors swung open to reveal a group of eight women, all dressed in the latest fashions of formal gowns suitable to be presented as members of the Queens court.

The first two had their long dark hair piled elegantly upon their head, pinned to which were dazzling tiaras. They wore identical dark maroon gowns, full make-up with long dangling earrings comprised of deep red stones which matched the necklace and bracelets which further adorned their bodies. Their hands were tightly locked together, the one on the left of the pair looking extremely apprehensive as she chewed her lower lip and kept casting glances from Ava Suarez to Karin, standing by her side, and back to her mother for some indication to how her Mum would react to seeing her in the flesh!

“Oh Raelynne darling, and Karin, sweetheart, you are both so beautiful!” uttered Ava, tears streaming down her face, as she stepped forward both arms held wide “Come, give me a hug, a cuddle I have waited so long to receive. For the longest time I thought I had lost the pair of you, now here you are, back where you belong, in my arms!” Both Raelynne and Karin had lifted their skirts with one hand and teetered forward as fast as their heels would allow into the embrace of first Ava, but just as quickly joined by Maurice Suarez too. It’s safe to say that there wasn’t a dry eye in the immediate vicinity.

Once Garia had received a welcoming embrace too, Karin introduced Rusan, Jena, along with Sleal, Jinz, Lrna and Ayleah to the otherworld visitors. After a welcome drink of a fruit cordial, it became evident that others wished to express their welcome to the visitors. Dalno Glessa in his role of Chamberlain led the entire group out onto the palace balcony and approaching the microphone asked for the gathered masses to quieten down, which they slowly did. The square was packed from the palace gates and fences as far back as the eye could see. It seemed the whole population of Granaria had travelled to the capital just to witness events.

“My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, pray silence for your head of state, Queen Adred the fourth!” Wild cheers broke out from all over the square.

The queen stood there with a radiant smile and waved to the gathered populace and appealed for quiet which she slowly achieved.

“My people, my friends, thank you for this warm welcome.” widespread cheering broke out again!

“I know many of you have wondered at recent events and the lifting of the threat of further bloodshed with our neighbours, I am here to tell you that we have the chance, an unprecedented opportunity within our grasp, within our lives, to ensure long-lasting peace and prosperity to all the inhabitants of Villiar, no matter to which nation they belong, peace for us, peace for our children and peace for our children’s children.” more cheers broke out!

“Neighbour has to be able to co-exist with neighbour, for all to thrive and live long and happy lives!

“Although events were already beginning to produce the long hoped-for conclusion, it is fair to say that the arrival of two unanticipated visitors to our nation resulted in unprecedented and unexpected results. These two modest individuals are here on the balcony with me today and I would like to introduce you to them both, please give a Granarian welcome to Karin and Raelynne Suarez!” turning to them, both found themselves pushed forward to be standing alongside the Queen as the crowds went wild with their enthusiastic greeting.

Both nervously and demurely waved to the masses who quickly started repeatedly chanting their names.

The Queen raised her arms for quiet and slowly the crowds ceased their chanting and silence prevailed once again.

“Thank you, my people, as more details are released you will all learn the debt of gratitude, we all owe these two specifically but also the peoples they represent. We have with us Admiral Suarez and his wife Ava, proud parents to Karin and Raelynne!” cheers broke out once more.

“We also have a Special Envoy, Her Eminence Ambassador Garia, who has come with offers of further assistance to all of us here on Villiar!” more cheering.

“More details will be made public once we know what is on offer to us all and whether or not the advances are to our benefit, but I promise that the future of medicine, technology and agriculture all stand on the brink in huge advancements over the coming annuals!” more cheers.

“But first, I wish to formally place on record the grateful thanks of all of us here in Granaria, so, I call upon Karin and Raelynne to stand before me, Queen of a grateful nation.

A page stepped onto the balcony and stood beside the queen, in their hands was a purple cushion with gold tassels at each corner.

“Karin, please accept this honour in the manner it is intended, on behalf of the people and rulers of Granaria I hereby raise you to the rank of Duchess, you will hereafter be known to us all as Karin, Duchess of Riventon!” As cheers rang out around the square the Queen pinned a huge brooch of office to the left breast of Karin’s dress, after signalling for quiet again the Queen continued.

“Now Raelynne, please accept this honour in the manner it is intended, on behalf of the people and rulers of Granaria I also hereby raise you to the rank of Duchess, you too will also hereafter be known to us all as Raelynne, Duchess of Riventon!” again, she pinned a huge brooch of office to Raelynne’s dress, cheers and applause rang out once more.

The Queen asked for quiet once again.

“I would ask them to speak to you shortly, it will give them chance to gather their thoughts if nothing else!” laughter rang out.

“But I have one other honour to bestow today. A woman from among our own citizenry. A woman who has lived long amongst us, quietly raising her family, daughters who have both become valuable members of our militia, a woman who, in spite of intense provocation, demonstrated the utmost compassion and understanding to another’s suffering, someone who has shown us all the meaning of love and forgiveness, traits we should show to one and all, a woman who played a significant role in forestalling the attacks on freedom and democracy certain factions of the previously discredited regime of Masonville tried to inflict on our court some time ago. I present to you Rusan, please, Rusan, step forward!” Incredible cheering and applause broke out across the square as a reluctant and highly embarrassed Rusan was pushed and pulled into position before the Queen.

“Rusan, please accept this honour in the manner it is intended, on behalf of the people and rulers of Granaria I hereby raise you to the rank of Baroness, you will hereafter be known to us all as Rusan, Baroness of Riventon!” The Queen once again pinned an equally ornate brooch to the left breast of Rusan’s dress. From all those on the balcony, to all around the square, cheers and applause for Rusan caused her to become redder and redder in the face, as tears were streaming down her cheeks.

After short speeches by those honoured that day, the Royal party quietly left the balcony. During the afternoon, relationships were made or re-established. Ava and Raelynne were often to be found, sat hand in hand, with Karin sat either next to Ava or next to Raelynne as the horas passed. She couldn’t help but quietly sit smiling on as her wife and Ava who was now also her Mum too given the genetic changes made to them both chatted almost non-stop. Rusan with Sleal at her side and their collective and joint daughters surrounding them were equally amazed to be part of such celebrations, and so pleased to observe their friend’s reunion.

It was an amazing day no-one would ever forget.

Chapter Forty-two.

That evening, Karin and Raelynne lay in bed, gently cuddled together and thinking over the day’s events.

“Well, Duchess, I didn’t see that coming!”

“Nor I your Grace, I didn’t expect it either!”

“The way your mother calmly accepted that we have decided to stay here on Villiar and make new lives for ourselves! It made me feel as if she’d been eavesdropping on our conversations!” smiled Karin.

“What was even more amazing was the fact she accepted our joint desires to bear children utilising Raul’s sperm, which would give her and my father the grandchildren they had always hoped for!” smiled Raelynne remembering the rapturous expression on Ava’s face at their declaration of intent.

“I think the admiral was disappointed you had decided to resign from the Survey Service though!”

“He’ll get over it, not only have my, or rather, our, life aims changed somewhat, but I didn’t think that everyone would be quite so accepting of my change. I already had a certain amount of animosity for being my father’s son, being his daughter may have made life even more difficult outside of our immediate friends and crewmates.

“I don’t really want to get into those sorts of battles. I want to settle down with my beautiful wife, with hopefully, our beautiful children and help guide our good friends on Villiar, into a prosperous and a very peaceful future.”

“Well Rae, I have already followed you for a long way across space, but as I have already said, I will follow you into the future, a future that will be full of surprises I am sure, but, as long as I am with you, it will be a future full of love and togetherness, anything else is a bonus.

“Well Karin, I have loved you from the moment I met you in Denver! I have loved you ever since, and I will love you into the future whatever that may bring, but, as we have already shown, we can survive whatever is thrown our way. Come on, give me a kiss and let’s let the future take care of itself!”

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