CHAPTER 15 – Regency of the Federation

BOOK FOUR

The first week of Raphael’s new regency was nearly over.  He had just a few more meetings to hold with Lord Adamos, one with a staff member, Master Toyobemos, and then one with Chief Ramirez of Morova. 

Raphael was managing to adapt quickly to his new schedule. It was more difficult to manage people’s expectations. He had had to hold a few meetings with the planetary representatives who chosen not to vote for him when the vote was taken on the first day of High Council. Patiently, he heard out their complaints and then gave a brief synopsis of the plans he had for the Federation. Invariably, these representatives had strongly held beliefs that sudden change was ill-advised. Raphael had to agree with them, but also spoke of the need to work with all of the worlds to see that their people were adjusting to the post-war era.

One day, as he was speaking to one of these representatives, a tall blonde man from the Planet of Alfaedus, Raphael stated: “I understand your concerns, Master Tetemos; however, I fully intend to travel to your home world and speak firsthand with your leaders to hear their concerns and needs. Personally, it is the responsibility for any regent or Lord of the Pleiades to get to know the people, how they live, their beliefs and cultures, what they hold sacred, how they think, how their society is organized, and how the High Council and Regent can assist them in adjusting to life after these long wars. Both Master VaCoupe and I have pledged to visit as many planets as we can manage to during my term of office and when, Master Francis VaCoupe becomes your lord, I will encourage him to continue this custom!”

“Oh… my lord, Lord Demetrius used to do something like that before war broke out in the Pleiades… he was still a relatively young man having taken over the Lordship when his father unexpectedly passed,” replied Master Tetemos. “I happen to remember so you can, perhaps, guess how long I have been attending these sessions. Up until the regency of your adopted sister Claudine Vanairus, there had never been a regency. And now, just a few years after the death of your adopted father, we have just launched into the second regency. I fear my very conservative constituents will be concerned about the apparent mental instability being exhibited by members of the VaCoupe Family to maintain control over their progeny, namely those who are the heirs of the lordship. Perhaps is it time to transfer the office of Lord to another ancient family like that of the Dinos or the Kadish Families, my lord?”

Raphael frowned and replied, emphasizing his words carefully: “Master Tetemos – the Lordship has been the sole charge of the heirs of the VaCoupe Family for untold generations – that responsibility is not going to be shifted to another family just because an entire generation has failed to rise up to meet the challenge. My regency is designed to hold the lordship for the VaCoupe Family while its legal heir, Master Francis Dino VaCoupe, matures and is fully trained so he will be prepared to undertake his responsibilities in the future… which should be in just a few more years. I must emphasize that I have no wish to hold this office for a moment longer than necessary. I have undertaken this burden out of concern for the people and out of a desire to protect the future of my nephew’s inheritance. Both Francis and I will be visiting your world and others in an effort to allow your people to get to know us better, to develop confidence once again in the leadership of the VaCoupe heir, now and into the future.”

Master Tetemos looked very thoughtful before replying. Then, he said, “Well, my lord; I want to thank you for your willingness to both speak to me and to take on this burden for us, the people. I do sense that you came to this choice reluctantly and unlike your adopted sister, will endeavor to listen to the concerns of all of our people. When I return to my home world tomorrow, I will present my impressions of you and your nephew, Master Francis VaCoupe, to the High Council of our people. On the whole, I feel better for having had this opportunity to meet you in person. Thank you for being a gracious host this week, my lord… although I gather you have not been someone to eagerly seek the limelight in the past.”

“No, I can honestly say, Master Tetemos, that I have, in the past, usually attempted to remain in the background performing my assigned duties. I intend to perform my duties as Regent to the best of my ability, while at the same time recognizing that I will be required to present a more public face than I have in the past. I welcome the opportunity to become more acquainted with the various representatives from all of the Pleiadian worlds, but still, I am only one man. So, if any concerns are raised regarding the Regency or myself, by your people when you get home, please contact my assistant, Master Francis Polaño, so further appointments may be set up. Also, if arrangements can be made for a state visit from myself and Master Francis VaCoupe, please advise Master Polaño when would be a good time to visit your home world, Alfaedus,” replied Raphael. He paused and then smiled, “Incidentally, one of my long-time Eagle guards is a native son of Alfaedus, Paul Dominguez. A more loyal and dedicated individual would be hard to find. He is not currently on duty, or I would have introduced the two of you!”

“Well, thank you, my lord. I will see you at the last dinner tonight?” asked the Alfaedian representative.

“Yes, Master Tetemos, I will be in attendance, but this time, as a guest. Lord Adamos Dino of Maia will be playing host tonight!” replied Raphael. 

“Then, I will see you there, my lord,” said Master Tetemos, as he stood, gave a short bow, and left the room.

Soon after the Alfaedian representative had left, Lord Adamos himself knocked on the outer door and was shown in by Commander DeAires. “My lord, Lord Adamos is here to speak with you!”

Raphael gave a big sigh and replied, “Thank you, DeAires – could you see about some tea, please? I am getting thirsty doing all this talking!”

“Certainly, my lord – Lord Adamos, you can go right in,” announced DeAires.

Lord Adamos was in a cheerful mood. He had enjoyed the challenges presented by the sudden overthrow of Claudine’s regency and some of the controversies being presented by various representatives who were uncertain about the wisdom of such an abrupt move. Yet, as the first week of Raphael’s regency wore on, the misapprehensions of some representatives seemed to have dissipated as their new regent proved himself to be knowledgeable, affable, dedicated to service, and fairness, a man intent on responding to the true concerns of the Pleiadian people, to the best of his ability. 

During the course of the past week, concerns from both large and small worlds were considered and discussed during the various sessions. For the first time since the death of Lord Demetrius, some of the representatives really felt like their perspectives were being heard and considered. It was an epiphany for some that Raphael was willing to encourage larger worlds with more resources to aid those who had less, even to the point of rebuilding whole villages, farms, and even industries that had been destroyed during enemy attacks.

During one session, Lord Da’vid gave a detailed account of how Lord Raphael had arranged for teams from both Medina and Serana to aid villagers on an Airian continent, given the need of the hour. Some of the representatives were astonished to hear this, given that Airus was known to be a very wealthy planet. One man loudly asked, “Why didn’t the Airians come to help their own? Why did Lord Raphael, a stranger, have to offer assistance from men from off-world? Why didn’t the bureaucracy in Ostta respond to the needs of their own people?”

Fortunately, Lord Pietro Kadish was not present for this session or else he might have been compelled to answer these reasonable questions and to be embarrassed in the process. Lord Da’vid replied, explaining that at the time the planetary administration was in a state of confusion and disarray due to continued enemy incursions outside Ostta. Then, there was the trial and execution of Lord Michael Kadish due to his involvement with enemy forces in perpetrating human trafficking and attacks against settlements outside the city. Lord Adamos stated, “The governance of Airus was in a chaotic state at the time of these incidents occurred. The leadership of Lord Michael Kadish was recognized to have been behind some of this chaos. I had been contacted while off-world and drawn into the fray by being informed that I was now in line to become second lord of Airus… me, without any bureaucratic training what so ever. It took the clear thinking of Lord Raphael and his sensitivities to the dark energies to draw our attention to the plight of our people on the continent of Myenaar who were in the process of being attacked by hidden enemy forces. He made a special trip to Myenaar to see for himself the extent of damage done… and then was able to produce a quick remedy on the spot. Lord Raphael is a man who cares about the welfare of all of the people, not just the wealthy and privileged.”

There was some chatter and murmuring between representatives as they assimilated this information. Another representative stood up, waiting to be recognized by the Council secretary. When acknowledged, he asked a question that Raphael had been dreading to hear: “Why is Lord Raphael so sensitive to the dark energies?”

Lord Da’vid looked over at Raphael who shrugged and then stood up, replying, “It is because as a child I was held captive by the dark forces then heavily embedded upon Morova – forces that have now been removed by a combined effort of the Command and Morovian tribesmen in eradicating their presence there. After my rescue at age 14 and recently orphaned. I was sent here to Alyona to be interviewed by the Council as my parents were not native Morovians. It was during the process of interviewing me and discovering some of my back history, that Lord Demetrius decided to take me in as his foster son. Since my rescue from captivity, I have struggled with gifts that gave me precognitive dreams and visions, often related to upcoming attacks and battles. I have also learned to walk the Akash so I might observe the causes underlying certain events and decisions. I have actively utilized these gifts and many others during my years of service in the Command and under my adopted father, Lord Demetrius. Now, I am using some of those gifts to determine what is required to assist our people to heal from the effects of war.”

Commander Adrigus could not resist coming forward and speaking after Raphael sat down. Although not present as a representative of one of the planets, he was the present leader of the Command. Adrigus cleared his throat and began, “As a long-time top commander under Lord Demetrius, I had often heard about this young talented commander who had unusual gifts. As a child, he had survived a decade of abuse by enemy forces. Later on, the young man entered the command and then utilized his abilities to aid our commanders. He was only 26 years old when this young commander was inspired to begin a Line Communications Command Center here on Alyona. Along with his former senior commander, Charles Lo’Telle, Commander Kantor trained many talented men who have continued to monitor throughout the war the movements of the enemy forces throughout our Federation. Those of you who have traveled from our rim worlds know how large Pleiadian-held space is… huge, gigantic, encompassing star systems which contain numerous worlds, large and small. It was through the dedication and foresight of this one individual and those who aligned themselves with his dream that we ever made it through the war fairly unscathed… for we know of other star systems that were not so fortunate as we were to have the assistance of one such as Lord Raphael!”

Afterward, some of the representatives came up to Raphael to congratulate him on his new position and to offer him suggestions for future sessions. In the end, he thanked them for their ideas and asked them to present the ideas to either the Council’s secretary, the priest Master Toyobemos or his own assistant, Master Polaño, for inclusion in the next High Council session.

In overhearing Raphael speaking to some of these representatives, Lord Da’vid later commented, “Well, Cousin, it would appear you are swiftly learning to delegate tasks. When speaking to hundreds of people with a thousand items important to them, they think you’ll drop everything and take heed, addressing their concerns first. Someone who is in the position of a leader, does require to listen to the concerns, but not necessarily to address each one, as many will be similar in content and can be addressed overall… perhaps not to the satisfaction of all involved, but you are one man. These representatives must learn that their own people need to decide what is important, what needs to be dealt with first, and then triage the rest until it can be handled. I envision the time will come when people will recognize you are someone who will respond due to your compassion and abiding love for all the people… yet, you alone cannot be responsible for the outcome of all problems encountered. I know, that as I learn my own position and responsibilities, I have come to recognize that the work is more effective if done starting at a local level depending on the scope of the issue.”

“I fear I will be learning my position on the job, without the assistance of someone like Lord Pietro or Lord Efrem to point out my mistakes or if something is overlooked. Yes, I agree… I do need assistance, from Master Polaño, from Commander DeAires as my Aide, and now from Master Toyobemos in his capacity as Secretary for the High Council. I haven’t even officially met the individual yet!”

“Oh, that was probably an oversight, my lord,” remarked Commander DeAires, who had been listening to the conversation. “I’ll see that Master Toyobemos is given a slot to see you before the week is completed.”

“Oh, good, yet another meeting!” replied Raphael. “With that in mind, Adamos, I finally received a report on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of your younger brother, the former commander Toryn Dino. Are you willing to send him home with your party, Adamos? As I understand it from the Veyan masters, Master Toryn, has settled down and is now beginning to recognize his foolishness in being verbally abusive towards me while in the company of other senior officers. Considering that I am now in a position to sentence him to further incarceration here in Castle, apparently, he is re-thinking his position and is eager to return home to Maia. I would recommend that you keep him either under close custody house arrest if he remains in the palace or to do what we suggested earlier… to send him to one of the country estates and put him to hard labor for the time being. Later on, it can be determined whether or not Toryn is redeemable as a human being and can rejoin his family in Milan.”

“Well, since you put it that way, Raphael – I would prefer Toryn to be transported by a military vessel to Milan where we can decide on how to handle my younger brother. He has not yet been officially removed from the Family, so that is the first matter to which we must attend, so there is no possibility he will ever again be a personal threat to me or any other family members. The Dinos have had enough of intercine warfare among siblings!” replied Adamos… who wasn’t looking forward to encountering his stubborn younger brother. They had not gotten along even as children. Adamos was certain his brother’s attitude had not mellowed out much despite having been incarcerated within Alyona Castle for over six months now.

After the meeting with Lord Adamos, Master Polaño had gone ahead and arranged for Raphael to meet Master Toyobemos, the priest who acted as secretary to several of the High Council committees. Toyobemos was the one responsible for taking notes, guiding the general discussions, and setting up the agenda. Master Polaño and Toyobemos had worked together about twenty years, so prior to the sudden unexpected death of Lord Demetrius. While Raphael had noted the priest’s presence at the meetings he had attended in the past, since he was not focused on the agenda, he didn’t really pay much attention to him. Privately, Raphael wasn’t very fond of priests in general so had avoided any personal contact with the man. He felt priests generally were arrogant, narrow-minded, and prideful… with the rare exception of someone like his long-time mentor, Master Li Tzulo. Unlike female priestesses, male priests, in Raphael’s experience, seemed to be primarily left-brain dominant, which tended to make them more intolerant of those who did not hold the same beliefs. The few priests he had encountered had done nothing to dissuade Raphael of his admittedly prejudiced opinion, so he was prepared to dislike Toyobemos before ever he met him – something he did not often do with total strangers.

When it came time for Master Toyobemos’ appointment with Raphael, Master Polaño entered into the office and sat down before escorting in the guest, a move that was uninvited and out of character for Francis. Raphael looked at his dedicated assistant with some annoyance and asked him what is going on.

Surprisingly, Francis grinned and replied, “My lord, your Morovian cousin, Commander Monteras, warned me beforehand when he learned about this interview that you had a pre-existing prejudice against most priests. If you don’t mind, I would like to see that my friend (Francis emphasized this word!) is treated well. I have worked with Master Toyobemos for over two decades and have found him to hard-working, open-minded, tolerant, and actually quite brilliant. If you are able to suspend your prejudices for a few minutes, you might also get a different impression of him. If you wish to be successful in acting as Regent, you will have to have a good relationship with many people with whom you would not normally associate. You are well-acquainted with military types having served on the line, but you are not so well accustomed to highly spiritual men save those rare individuals like your long-time mentor, Master Li Tzulo, whom I know has been a priest of long duration. Now, I will invite Master Toyobemos to enter. Kindly open your heart and mind to him, my lord… or we will have to hire an entirely new secretary for the Council, something that would upset and offend long-time members who are used to his presence at the meetings.”

Raphael stared at Master Polaño, initially feeling slightly offended and realized he was being unreasonable. He sighed and confessed, “Monteras was correct in his analysis of my distaste for most priests – given the few encounters I have had in this life with the type in this life, such as Reynar, my adopted brother. I will endeavor to overcome my own intolerance of priests in general and see how I manage to get along with Master Toyobemos. I know you are a good judge of character, so I will give him the benefit of doubt – for now. Honestly, though, I cannot promise you I will get along with this secretary… so we will both have to see just how this interview proceeds.”

“That is all I can ask of you, my lord – to keep an open mind and heart when speaking to Master Toyobemos. You may ask him if he will allow you to scan him – I already cleared that with him. This priest is eager to meet with you and work with you into the future. So, my lord, shall I escort Master Toyobemos into the room?” inquired Master Polaño… who had an unexpected twinkle in his eyes.

Raphael looked at his assistant with a skeptical eye, then gave a big huff, waved his hand, and said, “Yes, bring him in, Francis!”

Master Toyobemos was nothing like what Raphael had expected. Typically, the man wore dark colored robes during Council meetings, but today he was dressed in a long Maian cream-colored tunic with matching sandals. The priest’s shoulder-length hair was a bright golden blonde and he had large pale blue eyes. Raphael studied the man’s appearance as the priest calmly bowed and then sat down, waiting politely for Raphael to address him.

After a long silence, Raphael looked at the priest closely and asked, “Are you from Maia, Master Toyobemos?”

“Yes, I am, my lord, but not from Milan. I grew up in the countryside outside the city. I think you might know a cousin of mine. Commander Charles Lo’Telle? His mother is my aunt.”

“Charles is your cousin?” Raphael was astonished. “How did you end up in the priesthood and Charles in the Command?”

The priest gave a very sweet smile and replied, “One does not question the inner Voice when you become aware that you have a vocation, my lord. I heard it as a very young boy. I received visions and strong dreams even as a very young lad. I felt the best way to deal with these gifts was to go into the priesthood, although, I gather I may have become a very good Line Communications officer… at least according to my cousin, Charles.”

“Ah, I see… forgive me, Master Toyobemos. You, of course, know who I am and realize that I have worked with your very humble and intelligent cousin for decades. He never mentions anything about his family other than he is from Maia, too. I only just met my own Maian cousins about a half year ago, cousins I did not know I had… the Dinos,” replied Raphael with a slight smile. Raphael’s smile grew as he saw the lines of tension ease in the priest’s shoulders. Yes, Francis had warned his friend that his reception might not be pleasant. “You might be pleased to know that Commander Lo’Telle now holds my former position as Head Commander of the Alyona Command Center… a center that both he and I started when I was but 26 years of age… decades ago.”

The priest nodded and replied, “Yes, my lord, I have observed you quietly for decades, your comings and goings, your struggles, and victories. I have the utmost respect for you, my lord, and hope that we can work together for the benefit our people.”

Raphael thought to test the man and commented, “Master Toyobemos, you realize that I generally hold a prejudice against priests?”

“Yes, my lord; Master Polaño warned me as much,” replied the humble priest.

“Why did you choose to work in Alyona, Master Toyobemos? How did you arrive here on Alyona?” asked Raphael who was growing more curious about this quiet, self-contained individual. “Well, my lord… it is a long story. Let it suffice to know that once I accompanied Lord Adamos’ grandfather to High Council as his personal assistant. Then, sometime during the week of Council I met Lord Demetrius for the first time and recognized him, and he recognized me. We didn’t know each other from this lifetime, my lord, yet we knew each other. If you excuse my presumption, but I am sure you have experienced such soul recognitions with people who have come into your life before, have you not?” explained Master Toyobemos.

Raphael nodded, “Yes, Master; I have experienced soul recognition with both my mates… the first, Lady Julia, is deceased. And several other individuals… yes, I understand what you are attempting to convey… at least in part.”

“Well, once we recognized each other, Lord Demetrius just spontaneously asked if I would like to work for the Council. There was another priest who was acting as the primary secretary when I joined staff, but that priest has since retired… Master Lin’taro?”

“Ah, yes, I met him only once when I was being initially interviewed by the Council soon after my rescue…” replied Raphael, remembering a tall slender priest who seemed rather unnerved being around the strange boy who had been hauled off a slaver soon after both parents were killed.

“And, I suppose, you were not very impressed by Master Lin’taro? Within a few years, Lord Demetrius had me replace him so I could take notes and compile the agendas for him and Master Polaño,” continued Master Toyobemos.

Raphael frowned slightly remembering that long ago day and replied quietly, “I hardly had an opportunity to become acquainted with anyone save Lord Demetrius the couple of days I was actually on Alyona. I spent a great deal of time either in my suite under close custody or deep in an interview with Lord Demetrius himself. I was not allowed to wander about the Castle without a guard escort.”

“Did they regard you as dangerous, a mere boy?” The priest was curious.

“Master Toyobemos, that information is private, and Lord Demetrius is no longer present to discuss such matters with you. I regard most of my past as a closed book,” replied Raphael firmly.

Raphael was establishing boundaries. Master Toyobemos was a member of staff, not a personal friend… and a priest. Raphael was reserving judgment for the time being. He did ask the priest a personal question, “What is your given name, Master?”

“Michael, my lord,” replied Master Toyobemos.

“Ah, I have known a few Michaels in my time and before…” mused Raphael.

“Before, my lord?” The priest was confused. While he had heard many rumors and stories about Raphael through the years, he did not know of the lord’s past lives.

“Never mind; it doesn’t concern us now,” replied Raphael. “Now, that I have met you, I find myself willing to work with you, although you usually work directly with Master Polaño, is that not so? My people remind me that I need to learn to delegate, so I’m doing my best. I will work with you for the sake of your cousin, my long-time friend, associate, and fellow officer, Commander Charles Lo’Telle.”

“I cannot ask for more, my lord, until I have proved my loyalty and dedication,” replied the priest with a nod of his head. He knew Raphael was still suspicious and wondered why the blonde lord had such an antipathy for priests… perhaps something from earlier in his life or a past life. He realized Raphael would refuse to disclose any further personal information about himself until the lord had taken his measure. A priest was very different than a warrior in Raphael’s experience – he instinctively trusted the latter as he had always been a warrior himself. He had had little experience in this life with… priests and didn’t trust them at all with the exception of Master Li Tzulo. So, it was a puzzle to Master Toyobemos and gave him a glimpse into the complex being who was Lord Raphael Kantor-VaCoupe. Toyobemos knew he would just have to do his best knowing that he would be observed and studied if from a careful and wary distance. So, he ventured a suggestion, “My lord, I have gathered all of the new topics for next session and will be forwarding them to Master Polaño, who I understand is accompanying you back to Medina for a couple of weeks?”

“Yes, we leave the day after next. There is an interactive comm in my office that Francis can use when he compiles the list of everyone who wants a personal appointment with me… quite a few people are curious about me. I may have to see people in groups to get through the lot,” growled Raphael. “Well, Master Toyobemos, now we have met and will meet, again. So, that is enough for now.”

Understanding that he was being dismissed, the priest stood and gave Raphael a bow. “Thank you, my lord, for seeing me today. It was interesting…”

Noticing that Raphael was now ignoring him, the priest gave another brief bow and left the room. As Toyobemos exited Raphael’s office, Francis looked up and studied the face of his friend, “Oh, he was a little hard on you?”

“I am not sure, Francis. Lord Raphael does seem to have a deep-seated prejudice against priests in general, not just me. Perhaps you can share this information with Master Mei Li. While this may sound impertinent, there is still some emotional healing in store for Lord Raphael that stems from some trauma buried deeply within,” replied Master Toyobemos.

“I will give your observations careful consideration and see if I can speak privately to Master Mei Li. It is true – Raphael has had a difficult life on and off and was a very damaged young person when I first met him. Yet, he has made major strides in his personal healing and as you can see now, has taken on a great burden of responsibility, if somewhat reluctantly, for the sake of his nephew’s future and ours,” replied the wise assistant who knew something of the VaCoupe temperament from long association… even though Raphael was not a VaCoupe by blood. “Meanwhile… my lord has yet another appointment with the Morovian representative, so you best be going. I will see you at next month’s session and will be in touch with you as we develop the Council agenda and the Regent’s personal appointment calendar.”

“Very well, old friend. It should be interesting working around our complicated lord,” commented the priest.

“Indeed…” murmured Francis to himself. He got up and went to the outer door. The Morovian representative was not present yet. He spoke briefly to the huge BerWarian twins, Eduardo, and Giorgio, letting them know to expect Chief Ramirez. “Please let him into my office when he arrives.”

Later in the day, Raphael finally met with Chief Ramirez of Morova. The slender Morovian chieftain was greeted by two of his fellow Morovians upon entering the outer office, as Commanders DeAires and Monteras were seated there in anticipation of this meeting. DeAires guided Chief Ramirez into Raphael’s office and also brought in a tray with fresh tea and refreshments for the guest.

Raphael got up to greet the Morovian chieftain who paused and gave him a nod of acknowledgment, “My lord… we meet, again, under different circumstances.”

“Indeed, Ramirez… how are you addressed?”

“Chief Ramirez will do, my lord,” replied the Morovian with an ironic smile, “You should ask for instruction from Master Polaño on how to address various ranks of personages you will be encountering in your new position. As regent, you will be sure to come in contact with a wide variety of such persons.”

“Indeed, Chief Ramirez,” said Raphael, “I will endeavor to get some instruction similar to what my young nephew and his first cousin, Master Gareth Dino, are now receiving. I am afraid I wasn’t trained on how to address all the various stations that exist within our diverse cultures. Now, I have requested your presence to inform you that I would like to tour Morova along with the heir Master Francis Dino in a week or so. We could arrange the tour to take place next month after High Council, but since I am now Regent and required to be present, any travel plans have to be arranged around that core schedule.”

Chief Ramirez considered Raphael’s proposal for a few minutes as Raphael poured some tea out. Raphael asked, “Would you care for some tea, Chief Ramirez?”

“No, thank you, my lord – and please call me Juan. That is the name my friends call me.” The normally stern chieftain’s face broke into an unexpected smile, displaying very white teeth in vivid contrast to his dark reddish-brown complexion. He continued by commenting, “I have observed your attention to details this past week, despite being dropped into yet another new situation in your short life, my lord. I can see that you are attempting to grasp what really concerns the people and are not interested in pumping up your own ego. I can appreciate that learning a new position is challenging, yet you seem to have a tremendous capacity to adapt; something we need in this time of rapid change for our peoples.”

“Well, if you don’t mind… Juan, I will have some tea. I don’t think I have ever had to talk so much to a variety of persons than I have in just the last couple of days!” Raphael gave a smile as he poured out his tea.

“Now, as to when would be best for you and your nephew to visit, I would prefer next month so I can give warning to the Morovian Council of your upcoming visit, my lord,” replied Juan Ramirez. “You have not been on Morova yourself for many years, my lord?”

“No… until the war was over, it was far too dangerous for me to go there… certainly while enemy agents were still present as they had a tendency to view me as an escaped slave! I understand from our last chat on BerWare, that the tribes have been actively cleaning up the planet of all enemy influences since the end of the war. I would still have to travel with a contingent of personal guards, the Eagles who have long been my companions as well as my two Morovian military Aides, DeAires and Monteras,” replied Raphael.

“I understand your concern, my lord,” replied Juan Ramirez. “We can provide you with some escorts from our own people, as well. Your two Aides might be interested to meet some of their still-living relatives, from both the DeAires clan and that of the Monteras clan. You were a member of the DeAires family, were you not, my lord?”

“Yes… although most of my family was murdered in one night or kidnapped. I only know of four other children who survived from my family, at least initially, my sister, and three boy cousins. I was never able to meet them, again, while I was incarnated as Raphael DeAires,” replied Raphael.

“You will be happy to know, then, my lord, that I have located all four of your former relatives… who would still be relatives with Salaniel DeAires and Tomás Monteras,” replied Ramirez, with another bright smile. “Your young sister survived and was mated, managing to have her own children and now grandchildren despite the war. You may want to meet her…”

“Oh, I would love to meet my former family members, which brings to mind another issue… young Salaniel… at least he is younger than I am, is in need of a mate himself,” commented Raphael. “Could you possibly find someone who is willing to act as a matchmaker for him? He is an intelligent man, sensitive, a highly trained Line Communications commander, and has been my military Aide now for over a decade, ever since I was transferred to Alyona. Still, as a Morovian, he needs his own family… you certainly understand how your people value family connections?”

“Indeed, I do… as do you… when you immediately comprehended the connections between the men who were first captured as being enemy agents and then those who were later involved in the coup attempt to take down the Starship Project,” replied the canny Morovian. “I have heard stories how you walked into the room, saw some Morovians, felt the energies, and instantly knew these men meant great harm to you and your team!”

“Yes… I knew my brother was going to be trouble, but when I recognized there were implanted men there, too, it changed everything… for me and my brother!” replied Raphael. 

“Is your brother still going to be exiled to Morova? I don’t know where I heard that rumor from…my lord,” inquired Juan Ramirez.

“Well, I am unsure what is going to happen to him in the future. Right now, Esturias is actually home in Medina acting as an under gardener and kitchen help. He was physically pining away in prison, and I had no desire to see that happen to one I love, despite all of our disagreements,” replied Raphael.

“So, my lord, you are a compassionate man! In my estimation, our Federation is in good hands, at least until you can get Master Francis fully prepared to take on a lifetime commitment as Lord of the Pleiades…” commented Juan.

“Indeed… a lifetime commitment and not one I would want to carry that long, but I am not the heir nor am I a VaCoupe son by birth. Instead, I probably could inherit a lordship on Airus since my only known relatives are two elderly aunts without issue,” replied Raphael, “Yet I have little desire to move to Airus in the future… at least that’s my considered opinion right now. I have undergone so many changes in my life and have made so many adjustments, that I can hardly tell what might happen in the future or what direction I will be pulled towards due to circumstances.”

“Very true, my lord. However, you do seem to have the ability to adapt to a change in circumstances at a much faster rate than most people, a good attribute for a military or temporal leader, I might add,” said Juan Ramirez. “Well, when you do come to Morova, you can stay at my house in PoLiafee. You might actually recognize it, as it was originally your parent’s house. I was able to purchase the dwelling after the war for a reasonable price as it had been closed down for years. Some Morovians are very superstitious and when they found out about the death of your parents, they did not want to dwell in what they called a cursed building. However, I hired priestesses to do a thorough cleansing of the place and it has proven to be a comfortable place for my family. Our clan has ceased to wander over the desert, and we work primarily out of small freight ships, landing at market towns on Morova and on other worlds. I shall introduce you to my children when you travel there… I do have some daughters who might be interested in making alliances with someone of their own race… even if they need to live off-world. Morovians, as you know, are a naturally adventuresome people.”

“Ah… I will keep that in mind, my friend. So, in a month will be a good time for you? Then, I will have Master Polaño mark my calendar,” replied Raphael. “I may or may not bring my mate on the trip – it depends on her health.”

“Hmmm, I can discern when a female is carrying, my lord – congratulations!” said Juan Ramirez with a grin. “You made fast work of it, too. I hear you have several children already, my lord.”

“Yes, I have six living children, the youngest being under two years, the eldest in his late 40’s, so quite a stretch. My first mate and I also raised three foster children, including Patrick and Robbina Vanairus and Commander Lyonell…” replied Raphael.

“So, you are a family man, my lord; in that way, you carry on the traditions of your original people,” said Juan Ramirez, with some admiration in his voice. As he spoke to Raphael, the chieftain’s attitude began to soften. “I want to apologize, my lord, for my attitude during our last meeting on BerWare. I was feeling rather defensive about having been involved in the cleansing of Morova, something I did not want to get around. It is still classified knowledge between certain Morovians and the Command. Yet, in my new position as Head Chieftain, I can speak openly to you as another leader. And now as Regent and mentor of our upcoming heir, you will be openly welcomed to Morova.”

“Ah, my old family home…,” murmured Raphael. “I confess I have some ghosts of my own to allay once I get to Morova. My last visit there wasn’t a pleasant one… I was kidnapped by slavers once more as an adult and nearly sent to Asba’a.”

“Oh… I had not known of that incident, my lord,” replied Chief Ramirez. “No wonder you have been resisting visiting your former home world.”

“Chief Ramirez – Morova may be my future home world. I have already seen myself being born, again, into a Morovian family and working as a Shaman alongside your Lady Chokama,” said Raphael.

“Ah, the Lady has mentioned to several of us that She has kept an eye on you all this life. Your statement just now explains why… your soul essence possesses talents and gifts that the Lady can utilize in order to bring our worlds back into health. Then, my lord, I will convey to my fellow chieftains that you are a favorite of Lady Chokama. They would not dare to touch a hair on your head or that of your faithful followers,” swore Juan Ramirez with great authority.

“So be it,” replied Raphael. “I will look forward to our visit, then. Meanwhile, I have enjoyed our chat together, getting to know you better. Have a safe journey home.”

“I can have a safe journey, thanks in large part to your own efforts, my lord!” The chieftain stood up, gave a dignified bow, and left the room.

Master Polaño gently knocked and entered Raphael’s office, “My lord, Chief Ramirez was your last scheduled appointment for this session! Congratulations! You have just survived your first week of High Council… excepting for tonight’s dinner which Lord Adamos will be hosting instead of you. While you are still required to attend, some attention will be off you tonight. How is Lady Lorenna adjusting to all the new changes, my lord?”

“Very well, Francis. Soon after our mating, she reminded me that she had been trained from childhood to expect to mate a lord. She mated a commander… and now me! I am a lord and will be temporary regent. She is taking it all in stride. Having been brought up in a ruling House, she is quite used to being around lords and ladies,” replied Raphael. He finished his latest cup of tea and stretched. “Now, I get to head back to our suite and prepare for tonight’s gathering. I am getting used to this socializing, too! A bit… at any rate!”

“When do you intend to travel back to Medina, my lord? You are not expected to remain here anymore beyond High Council weeks since you no longer have a specific military assignment… at least not as yet. Has Commander Adrigus updated you on your new position, if any?” inquired Master Polaño. 

“Not as yet, Francis,” replied Raphael. “Would you like to come to Medina, Francis? You are certainly welcome. I could use some instruction on how to greet various dignitaries and the different ranks within our various cultures. Although I have been a lord for decades now, I never underwent any of the type of instruction Master VaCoupe and Gareth Dino are currently receiving in comportment.”

“My lord – thank you for the invitation. I would be honored to attend you and review the various expectations. We can also look over some of the future agenda items presented to me this past week. It will take several days to weed through all of the requests, so we have presentable agenda. It would appear several… many of the representatives are interested in meeting with you, my lord – I would suggest making appointments for a selection of these persons during each High Council. This will give both you and the various representatives an opportunity to get to know each other and develop mutual trust,” said Francis Polaño. He did not want Raphael to feel overwhelmed by his new schedule.

“Your suggestion sounds very reasonable, Francis,” replied Raphael. “I want to thank you for the care and thought you put into your work and in preparation for these events. I wouldn’t have the first idea just how to pull them off with such finesse.”

Francis gave Raphael a great smile, and said, “My lord – I remember meeting you for the first time as a boy and was impressed with you then. My opinion has not altered through the years.”

“Well, I certainly remember the fruit pudding you gave me!” chuckled Raphael.

Francis joined Raphael in laughing and commented, “We have known each other quite a long time, my lord. I am honored to be working with you in this capacity. And I will gladly visit Medina to give you some more instruction on your various duties, expectations, and upcoming events to be held during future High Council meetings.”

“Excellent – we’ll leave the day after tomorrow, then, to give everyone time to rest and pack, me included!” replied Raphael with another chuckle. “Well, it’s time for me to go rest a bit and then dress for the last dinner… Thank you, Francis, for all your help this week!”

When Raphael left his office, the Morovian commanders were waiting for him. Monteras spoke first, “Time to head back to our suites, my lord!”

Raphael nodded, “Well, gentlemen, I managed to survive my first High Council week as Regent! Barely! I am glad I had a long vacation before all of this happened!”

Commander Monteras laughed in response. He was pleased to see his cousin was in a good mood. It had been a strenuous week for everyone, simply keeping an eye out for any possible unrest or commotions, but nothing untoward had happened. Still, he wasn’t about to let down his guard nor were the Eagles. As the trio left the offices, Monteras signed the Eagles to follow close behind. The Eagles on this day were Eduardo and Giorgio Montoya, who earlier in the week, pledged their loyalty to Raphael as their uncles had done to his adopted father. Raphael had accepted their vows graciously saying, “I have every confidence, Eduardo and Giorgio, that you will stand by your pledge, by me, and by my nephew, Francis Dino VaCoupe!”

At their suite, Lady Lorenna was awaiting Raphael’s arrival. She had already selected some clothes for Raphael to wear. She had quietly attended one or two main sessions of High Council so she could observe how Raphael was holding up under the pressure of the position. She realized he had never received formal training for this kind of work, so it was interesting for her to observe. She wanted to give him some instruction on his presentation but wasn’t sure how to frame her request without insulting his pride. She was relieved when Raphael finally appeared and announced that Francis Polaño would be accompanying their party back to Medina. She smiled and decided on letting Master Polaño be the one to give Raphael tips on etiquette and delivery rather than herself. She dearly wanted to be avoid appearing to be an overly controlling partner… Raphael was naturally very polite and, in her opinion, just needed some gentle guidance. The experienced man of diplomacy and tact, Master Polaño, would be the best instructor for her as yet unpolished gem of a mate.

Lorenna gave Raphael a gentle smile in return and asked, “How are you holding up, my dear? I know this has been an unusually busy week for you with an entirely new focus – not the work you were accustomed to doing through the Command Center! And you were plunged into it immediately on the first day of High Council without respite!”

“Everyone seems concerned about my health today,” Raphael replied with a laugh. “Actually, I am doing rather well. It has been hard work, but also interesting as I have had an opportunity to meet all kinds of new people and learn about worlds I did not even know existed. I’ll have to see if the Castle has a place where I can access the records for the Federation. Just to know the general size and population of each planet would be a start since I will be interacting with representatives from worlds large and small. I would like to at least let people know that I am endeavoring to learn more of the Federation that I now rule… after a fashion!”

“You do know that each planet has its own form of government, my dear. The Lord or, in your case, Regent, merely guides the worlds, he does not rule them. The items presented at High Council largely originate from the people of the worlds themselves… through their own individual local councils, depending on their culture and population. You mentioned having attended the BerWarian High Council at times?” replied Lorenna. 

“Yes, I did, a couple of times… once as a Line Commander and the other as a Head Commander… with quite a space between the two and a very different reception each time from Stephanus!” replied Raphael. “I would not want to be him now, having to deal with his mate.”

“What happened to your sister?” Raphael had not said anything about his adopted sister this past week.

“Well, due to her recent behavior and neglect of her own position on BerWare, her title and duties are about to be stripped entirely from her,” replied Raphael, in a sober tone. “She will now be only the consort or mate of King Stephanus, who, by ancient BerWarian law, can now decide whether or not to put her aside… in other words, to divorce her. She will not be allowed to leave BerWare ever again in this life but will live as a permanent exile there in amongst those tribal people. I doubt she will enjoy life much anymore. Again, I am thankful Father is not here to see this… although if he were still alive, none of this would have occurred in the first place! I would probably still be his military aide until my hair turned grey!”

“How can your hair turn grey? It is already nearly white, my love!” replied Lorenna. “I am sorry to hear about the missteps taken by Claudine. Her punishment seems rather excessive to my Maian sensibilities, but I understand the tribal customs of BerWare can be harsh, indeed.”

“Yes… which suits their equally harsh environment, my dear – in other words, we cannot judge the BerWarians based on our own codes of ethics and behavior,” noted Raphael. “They are a powerful, hardy, and creative people, who thrive on the meager resources of their desert world. I highly respect all the BerWarians I have ever met… with the exception of Stephanus’ cousin who had the misfortune of being implanted by enemy forces while out on the desert days before I met him. Like my blood father, he was quite overcome by the alien hardware and was executed as a result. In those days, we did not know how to remove the implants… which reminds me, I need to see if Master Mei Li can share some of the more recent research by the Veyans into handling such things. Since that time, I have seen several implants removed by Master Leu… provided they were not too advanced in penetrating the victim’s nervous system and heart. I hope there will be methods developed that can remove the implants even if they are fully activated and have penetrated deep into a person’s organs. Still, a period of deprogramming and mental healing would be required since the devices affect the mind and emotions of the victim. Oh… this is really not a topic for discussion now, dear Lorenna. Sorry… I got off on a bit of a tangent.”

“Oh, that was actually interesting, Raphael. I didn’t know you visited BerWare as a young man. How old were you?” asked a curious Lorenna.

“Barely 25 or 26, just mated and granted my first commission as a Line Commander by Lord Lyonell, whom I never saw again living in that life for him,” replied Raphael, as he reminisced. “I was assigned to the Golden Bee, a battleship under the command of Esturias, my elder brother… the first time I had met the fellow. It was a challenging position for me as I was still dealing with learning how to control my gifts… the visions, precognitive knowings, violent dreams, and the like. I could be walking down a corridor and get struck with a powerful vision and end up on the deck raving about something or another. It isn’t any wonder that some people thought I was crazy in those days. It was highly stressful and didn’t improve until I got to Alyona… or until my commission was reinstated, which is yet another story. Now, it’s time to get dressed. We’ve dallied a bit. Do you have anything picked out for me tonight? I trust your taste… being much more refined than my own right now…”

“You’ve had such an interesting life, Raphael, and you are not yet 100 years of age!” said Lorenna.

Raphael nodded and replied, “Yes, sometimes too interesting… but fortunately, this time I survived the war.”

“Delos?”

“Yes – now where are those items you want me to wear tonight?”

Two days later, Raphael’s party piled into The Golden Cat. Passengers included: Lorenna, Remilla, Ella, Francis Polaño and Francis VaCoupe, Gareth and his mother Lady Arla, Commanders Monteras and DeAires, Masters Mei Li and Leu Tzulo, and six Eagles (Paul, Vayin, Eduardo, Giorgio, Milo, and Loki). The small ship was at about half capacity, but made light of its burden, as she lifted up from the tarmac to the admiring glances of some onlookers. When the Cat lifted out of the planet’s atmosphere, she created her own portal and jumped into hyperspace. Within minutes… yes, minutes, the Cat exited the portal and entered the atmosphere of Medina. As she descended gradually it could be seen that the Cat was passing over Arconia on the continent of Rickland, where many generations of VaCoupes had attended their schooling. Then, Elexa passed beneath so the passengers were able to gaze a moment or two at the amazing sight of the gigantic mothership being constructed below. Then, the silver seas flashed below, the gentle hills outside Jolf, the vast cactus-studded plains until the dark barren northern mountains of Maubene were sighted. Raphael guided the ship down over the village of Medina, past the huge pile of the Shemont until she settled gently down upon the tarmac at the small spaceport. 

Raphael looked back at his dazed passengers with a grin and confessed, “I thought I would see if she could jump! And did she ever!”

“We’re in Medina already? We just left…. Alyona! Raphael, this is an amazing little ship!” It was Master Polaño’s first time flying in The Golden Cat although in the past, he had flown in Lord Demetrius’ ship, The Golden Sparrow. 

“Father wasn’t aware of the advanced capabilities of his ship. Too bad – perhaps he would not have been caught out in mid-space had he known the Sparrow could hyper jump! I wasn’t sure this ship could, either, but now I know for sure. I wonder if somehow our engineers can back engineer that into our own ships? Still, I am not going to allow anyone to take the Cat apart. Our people will probably reach that sort of engineering expertise on their own in the future,” replied Raphael. “I wonder if I should share this latest feat of the Cat with Jychondria and Adario. It would drive their engineering minds nuts to discover the remedy! Lorenna – perhaps we should visit Jolf for a few days while here on Medina? We have at least three weeks here as it is… to rest, play, or work!”

“Ah, that dry… er, hot desert air,” replied Master Polaño gasping a little as the scorching air hit his tender lungs.  “I’ve lived on Alyona for far too long! And I can see why most of the men have worn their uniforms today! I need a robe to protect my head! Shall we go… quickly, my lord?” For those who may have forgotten, the summer temperatures on Medina can reach above 150 degrees F. Yes, it was dry, hot… but the Medinian natives thrived in their arid climate being of hardy former nomadic stock much like their distant cousins living on Morova and BerWare, now all very distinct cultures. Besides that, most people spent the hottest hours inside and down several floors below the surface of the planet. The earth was a natural insulator and kept the lower floors at a cool, even temperature year-round without requiring heating or cooling.

The men helped the ladies into the viscars and whisked the party through the village proper to land at the golden gate marking the entrance to the VaCoupe compound and home. Raphael instructed everyone to go inside as it was about mid-day, the hottest period of the summer day with the sun at its zenith. Once entering the thick walls of the adobe and stone house, the temperature dropped considerably, lowering even more as the party made their way through the solarium, through the audience room and into the family rooms. There, they were met by Lord Raimundo and Andros VaCoupe, the former warrior commander who was now assisting Raimundo in overseeing various projects, especially the upkeep of the extensive gardens.

Raimundo jumped up to greet everyone, especially Master Polaño, whom he had not seen for a few months (since the first set of matings). He said, “Oh, welcome home, everyone! It is good to see you are safe. And are we honored to have the current Regent of the Pleiades living among us now? Congratulations, my lord… my dear Nephew!”

Raphael laughed in reply, “Uncle! To you… I am Raphael, simply Raphael. I’ve been receiving your lectures and wise advice since I was fourteen. I haven’t changed overnight!”

“And who was to know that a scrap of an orphaned boy would one day become our leader? I certainly did not, nor do my brother Demetrius had any conception of such a future for you. Of course, he was planning to be here longer than he managed…” commented Raimundo as he gave a hug to Raphael and then continued to greet all of the newcomers, “Welcome home, everyone!”

Francis Polaño looked around at the tidy room and commented, “Well, no matings to plan, but I do have my work cut out for me! Raphael caused a sensation with his promotion – I’m not sure what you would call it – to Regent. Hundreds, and I do mean hundreds of the planetary representatives suddenly want to meet this strange blonde commander who has been lurking in the background for over a decade in Alyona, but generally keeping a low profile. So, I get to select and prioritize appointments for the next… well, probably at least a year’s worth of appointments so the representatives can meet Raphael in person. This kind of thing never happened while Claudine was regent!”

“You can use my office during the day to compile your lists, Francis, although we may have to set up an office here for you with another interactive comm so you can communicate freely depending on the planet you are contacting. Sometimes we forget here that other worlds have different time cycles!” said Raphael. “Do you think we can arrange for a separate office for Master Polaño and my Aides? I would like to keep my rooms separate for Lorenna and me, if possible.”

“Certainly, my lord,” replied Andros. “I’ll arrange it with Master Jeremiah… the father of little Martea. He is a brilliant carpenter and could set up an office quickly. Then, we just have to set up the appropriate electronic devices and furniture. The project should take about a week, my lord?”

“Excellent! Get right on it – after all, I will be Regent for a few years or so and then Francis is coming in right after I hand over the reins. Francis… my nephew, will also need a good secretary and some Aides to get all his work accomplished,” replied Raphael. He was very pleased to be home among those people who already knew him and accepted him as he was… a place where he could relax for a change. “Father would be pleased that I’ve learned to love this old house and all the people who live and work inside it.”

Raimundo smiled, understanding, and remembering the old arguments that Demetrius and Raphael had when the Starship Project was underway. Demetrius had wanted Raphael and his family to live in Medina, while Raphael preferred Jolf. Until the end of the project, they continued to spar over this one topic. Raimundo knew Raphael held some guilt about all the arguing and missed Lord Demetrius terribly, but he had moved on and was now facing the tremendous burden of being the temporary lord of the Pleiades, something that Demetrius had never conceived of ever happening to the young boy he chose to foster so long ago. Who would have ever believed such a thing, anyway? It was enough to live in the moment and rejoice that Raphael was able to handle the office of Regent for the sake of his nephew, Master Francis VaCoupe.

Raphael spoke up, “Andros, have you ever officially met Master Polaño? If not, may I introduce you to the one man who dedicated his existence to assisting Lord Demetrius… for how long, Francis? Decades? Andros, show him the space you are considering for his office and let me know how things proceed. Master Francis, we have all sorts of specialists and generalists here living and working in the VaCoupe compound. Things get done!”

Lady Lorenna and Lady Ella were both keenly observing the activity and interactions between Raphael and his adopted kin with great interest. Ella, especially, sensed the deep affection and respect that existed between Raimundo and his adopted nephew, much like what existed between her mate, Francis VaCoupe, and Raphael. It was apparent that Raimundo had served as an important person in the upbringing of young Raphael. And now, Raphael would relate in a similar manner towards his adopted nephew.

“One good thing about being a Regent, is I will be able to relate my direct experience to Francis as he continues to train for the position of Lord. Plus, we are going to continue going on tours, short tours. I have already spoken to Chief Ramirez about traveling to Morova for a tour in about a month. Ramirez is now the Head chieftain of Morova. I will be taking Commander Monteras and DeAires on my expedition, as well as Francis VaCoupe, Gareth Dino, Master Mei Li Zang, and Master Leu Tzulo, as well as at least six of my Eagle escorts,” announced Raphael. “It should be interesting for me to come face to face with some of the places… well, what I was forced to endure during my childhood. Which is a good reason for me to have my physicians along in case I require some assistance in clearing old trauma from body and mind. I really don’t know what will happen, whether I will see visions, recall incidents… even meet some of the people I knew long ago. So, I will take some of this time home to meditate and prepare myself for what could be somewhat of an ordeal.”

“Do you have plans to visit any other worlds at this time, Father Raphael,” asked Lady Ella.

Raphael shook his head, “Not as yet, but I am sure opportunities will arise as I become more acquainted with planetary representatives and they with me. Now, I think I would like to go to my rooms for a short rest. It has been a busy week! Lorenna, would you like to come, too?”

Lorenna loved the way Raphael carefully gave her a choice in all things. She nodded, “Yes, my dear… we have things to discuss…”

“Ah, private time! I had very little of that this past week, what with all day at meetings and appointments and then nightly dinner events – non-stop. To spend some precious alone moments with my mate is priceless!” commented Raphael after giving Lorenna a kiss on her forehead. He led her from the room, leaving the rest of the party sitting or standing there.

Raimundo commented, “Well, it seems Raphael is holding up well. Tomás and Salaniel, were you present when the turn-over happened?”

“No, my lord, we were not allowed into the Council Chambers, even though we are Lord Raphael’s Aides!” replied Monteras. “We had to wait outside until the first session finished and the guards reopened the doors. Commander Adrigus had the place locked down securely with a whole squad of Feline Warriors inside. I will say that Raphael was slightly in shock after the coup… and, yes, it was a coup, was completed. His adopted sister, Claudine Vanairus, had to be escorted from the room and put under close custody due to some outbursts she made. I was also told later that she actually attempted to attack Raphael and had to be physically restrained! I must say Lady Vanairus’ behaviors were quite out of character – at least from what I’ve noted in the past.”

“It sounds like she was both distraught and extremely upset at being taken unawares,” commented Raimundo thoughtfully. He hoped to speak to Raphael about this matter later, but not while in full company. He did realize that Raphael and his co-conspirators took a great risk to remove his niece Claudine from the regency. Raimundo was only happy that no one got hurt or killed. “Commander Monteras, did Adrigus and any of the Castle staff have to say anything about the changes they had observed in the behavior of Claudine?”

Monteras gave a harsh laugh and replied, “Plenty! Adrigus was determined to be rid of her. He had done a fleet-wide survey requesting input from fleet personnel. Since the story that Claudine Vanairus was bragging about being the sole Savioress of the Pleiades had gotten around, the fleet wanted her gone, too. They were strongly in favor of Lord Raphael taking temporary command of the Regency since being an officer of some standing and experience… as well as the master tactician behind the plans for the Final Battle, he was well-respected… and knows how to work with any future military considerations that might crop up. As it was, Lord Adamos told us that over 90% of the Planetary representatives also initially supported Raphael taking over. Apparently, while we were gone on our long tour and then home here in Medina, Mistress Vanairus had antagonized quite a few people, including command staff, Castle staff, and even some of the planetary representatives. Any doubts or objections came from people who were concerned about the apparent instability of the progeny of Lord Demetrius, with one son imprisoned for treason, another executed for being implanted, and the third, his daughter, proving to be quite overcome by being in power, if temporarily. If Lord Demetrius had survived the war, we would not now be faced with making such harsh choices, but Raphael will do his best although he is not trained for the position he just took over.”

Master Mei Li Zang spoke up. Speaking in reassuring tones, he said, “I know you are concerned about the stresses now being placed upon Raphael’s shoulders, but I can assure you that he has been preparing for this office all his life. Seldom have I seen a person who is more dedicated to seeing that the people are heard. He encourages them to take responsibility for their own communities and arranging for assistance if the locals have more than they can handle. Raphael has developed connections on all the primary worlds and will continue to grow those connections for himself and ultimately, for his nephew Francis – Master Francis, please excuse me for speaking about you while you are here in person. Raphael is also very intuitive about people. I will say he is not perfect – he does admit to some prejudices, yet, he endeavors to clear his own emotional and mental bodies of such impediments. He listens well and acts if needed. He did not hesitate to sacrifice some peace in his own life to protect the interests of his nephew, the heir, and the interests of the people… who were not, apparently, being well-served by Claudine Vanairus.”

Master Leu added, “Probably the most important virtue held by Raphael is his profound humility and desire to be in alignment with Source. He intuitively understands that he is an instrument for Divine energy… not out of a need to expand his ego, but to truly serve to the best of his ability despite the odds and any criticisms he might encounter along the way. My father, Master Li, encountered Raphael first as a teenager, then again as a young adult, and has maintained that Raphael continues to mature and grow. I know I am determined to match Raphael’s dedication to service for the good of all.”

Raimundo glanced over at Francis and asked, “How are you managing through all of this, young man? After all, Raphael now being regent ensures that you will eventually become Lord of the Pleiades!”

“Well, I was stunned and amazed that the transition went so quickly and relatively peacefully. Except for my aunt’s outbursts, not one person in the gathering uttered anything outrageous. Some of the representatives were concerned because they didn’t know about the agenda change! They felt they needed to report to their own people and get their input, too, before committing their support behind Raphael. It is really a moot point, as he has already taken power, with the backing of the entire Fleet and the primary worlds behind him,” replied Francis. “Father Raphael encouraged both me and Gareth to sit in the audience as observers throughout the week. It was really quite interesting listening to Father fielding questions like he had been doing such things for decades. It comes from being around officers and working with intelligent people… as well as all of the hypersensitive gifts that he possesses. Despite whatever rumors have gone around in the past regarding his character, much of that has dissipated due to Uncle’s heavy involvement during the last decade of the wars, working out of Alyona as his father’s military Aide.”

Master Polaño was also eager to share and piped up, “As a member of the Castle staff, I can tell you without hesitation that the staff are thrilled to have a real gentleman back as the Regent or Lord. Lord Raphael has always treated staff fairly and politely, even as a young boy when I first met him. Although recently orphaned and subjected to abuse for a decade, he was polite, quiet, and reserved. While he has grown as a man and leader, I still see that same sincere regard for humanity present in his daily actions. We are fortunate, indeed, that Lord Demetrius was wise enough to adopt the young stranger that day long ago.”

“I think we can all agree on that, Master Polaño!” exclaimed Commander Monteras. “Now, must I go to the kitchen to get some tea and refreshments? It was a long trip home!”

Lady Ella laughed, “Long trip, Commander? Lord Raimundo, Great Uncle… your nephew Raphael used the hyperspace portal of the ship this time. The entire trip may have taken… perhaps five minutes? We were all stunned to see ourselves cruising quietly over the sands of Medina! And Lord Raphael was acting like an excited boy!”

Raimundo looked stunned, too. When he finally was able to speak, he asked, “Did Raphael know The Cat was capable of using hyperspace?”

Francis VaCoupe replied, “He said he wasn’t sure, but he wanted to see if she was capable of portal travel and… she was! Spectacular speed! It is really too bad Lord Demetrius didn’t know that the Golden Sparrow probably had the same capabilities, Great Uncle.”

“Well, it may not have been safe to use during the war, for one thing. If our ships could portal travel, the enemy ships could, too. A battle in hyperspace with a battalion of enemy ships against one lone ship would hardly be equal – as it was, well, my brother’s fate took him from us. Thank the Mother, we have Raphael to carry the regency until you are ready, Francis. Now, study hard young man!” said Raimundo.

“I will, Great Uncle,” said Francis VaCoupe with a grin. He was certainly happy to be home for a couple of weeks. “Uncle Raphael said something about visiting Jolf for a couple of days. He probably wants to see how Jychondria, and Uncle Adario have settled in to their work in Elexa… and to check up to see how fast little Charles is growing. Speaking of babies and toddlers, where is little Daniel? Is he down for his afternoon nap?”

“No, he’s here in my arms!” Raphael re-entered the room with young Daniel secured in his arms. “I had to see my little boy and see how fast he was growing!”

Lorenna was trailing behind Raphael, clearly happy to see Raphael in a good mood. Raphael halted in the middle of the room and looked at the small crowd gathered at the table. He commented, “You’ve been talking about me, haven’t you? Or about the Cat? Hyperspace, Uncle!”

“We’ve been talking about all sorts of things, Raphael,” replied Raimundo. “You, the regency, Claudine, the Golden Cat… are you going to visit Jolf during this visit?”

“Yes, Uncle – I want to see Jychondria and of course the Mathdis clan while they are so close by. Don’t worry, I won’t use hyperspace to get to Jolf. I don’t think it works inside the atmosphere,” replied Raphael with a grin. “I wonder if the air has cooled a bit so we can go outside into the garden.”

“Give it another hour, Raphael, and it should begin to be quite pleasant… only 120 degrees instead of 160! In about three hours, the temperatures will come down to 90 degrees or so and the whole town will be outside, Raphael. They will be happy to see you, my lord… and you can tell them you are the Regent now, although they may badger you with questions that you’re not prepared to answer quite yet. The news will be on the vids soon enough. They always wait until High Council is over to inform the people what was decided…” said Raimundo.

“Well, I’ll have to see if I am on video or not. I don’t remember seeing any cameras at the Castle. Francis are there any such things there?” inquired Raphael.  Francis Polaño nodded and replied, “Everything is recorded, my lord, for security and prosperity. The great crystal in the Castle tower records everything that happens within her sphere of influence, which includes the Council Chambers. If you connect with her, you can download the videos onto your interactive comm here and feed it into our screens in the study rooms.”

“Oh, I wasn’t aware of that, Francis – another secret of the Castle revealed! There is so much for me to learn about my new position! I will have to join young Francis and Gareth in their classes and take deportment from Master Polaño!” exclaimed Raphael. Then, a thought occurred to Raphael, and he turned back to Francis Polaño and asked, “You didn’t reveal that little secret about the Castle’s mother crystal to Claudine, did you, Francis?”

“No, my lord – she never asked…”

Raphael replied, “In case you don’t understand what we are discussing. When I was sent to Alyona under close custody, I was kept in the very old tower in the midst of the Castle. In the lower story of the Tower is a huge Mother Crystal… as large as the one located under the Shemont. It is actually a large rose crystal of tremendous age and power. During my incarceration, I encountered the Crystal a couple of times, both downloading and uploading information. She will remember my energetic frequency with ease… It is curious that Claudine didn’t sense her presence as my sister used to be as sensitive or even more so to crystals than myself. Well, I just might take the time to review what the crystal can share about Claudine’s actions when I was away from the Castle in case any further questions arise regarding why people wanted her removed from power.”

“That is yet another thing that the representatives at Council may not know – your skill in using crystals. The sheer fact that you acted as a crystal master with your golden ships, you spoke to crystals as a young child… yes, that is a powerful skill in your portfolio, Raphael, that few could match. You were the right choice for Regent, Raphael, and we are glad to be your most ardent supporters here in the VaCoupe household. Now…who would like some tea?” said Raimundo with a grin.

Several voices cried out, “Oh, me… yes, tea time!” Everyone started laughing…

Raphael thought: Yes, it is good to be Home. Thank you, Father, for taking me in so long ago. I am grateful to be here now assisting family, friends, and my people!

❤ ❤ ❤

© All Rights Reserved, Eliza Ayres, videos and recordings of this material is not permitted, www.bluedragonjournal.com and https://sunnysjournal.com

BOOK FOUR: Table of Contents

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