“Happy birthday, Verena.” Mislav handed her several small boxes at the breakfast table.
“Thank you, Father.” Verena looked curiously at the small boxes. It was her sixteenth birthday, and this was the first time she’d ever received a birthday present in her life. She opened the boxes and found two full sets of jewelry, one made of a pale orange stone she immediately recognized as lab grown flamicite and the other a pale green stone it took her a moment to identify. She realized it must be lab grown citrusite. “Oh, these are lovely, Father. Thank you.”
“I have one other gift for you. The servants should be almost done moving your things into your new room.” Mislav smiled.
“What new room?” Avalyn asked crossly.
“Niklas does not need his old room. You have held onto it for years saying he needs it for his children when he has several rooms for his family. There is no need for Verena to be locked in that closet any longer.” Mislav favored his wife with a disdainful look. “I have had the furnishings updated and I have moved her into that room. It is far past the time she had a proper room of her own.”
“That room was for Niklas’ child,” Avalyn shrieked.
“Mother, I have two children, and they have their own rooms in our suite.” Niklas sighed. “I do not need that room. Astera and I have told you repeatedly we do not need it. It is criminal the way you have deprived Verena of a proper bedroom for so many years.”
Avalyn subsided, glaring at her husband and son. “You had better have jewelry for our other daughters as well.”
“Why? It is not their birthday. It is Verena’s. Besides, they have more jewelry than they need. Verena has never had a piece of jewelry in her life. She always wears orange and that peculiar shade of green, so I thought the flamicite and citrusite would match them perfectly.” Mislav smiled again at Verena.
“That is not fair. We deserve new jewelry. Mother, make him give us new jewelry too,” Milisen whined.
“Milisen, you are thirty-two years old.” Mislav turned a cold glare on his oldest daughter. “If I hear you whine like a child one more time, I will send you back to Henebore and be rid of you completely.”
“Mother will not let you send me back to Henebore.” Milisen gave her father a smug look.
“I do not care what your mother wants. You are well past the age where I should be supporting you. Why are you not married and raising a family of your own, Mili? Can you answer me that?” Mislav gave his oldest daughter a dark look.
“The men of the court are too picky,” Milisen grumbled.
“You have been too promiscuous, and no man wants a woman who will cheat on him at the first chance she gets.” Niklas looked at his sisters. “You, Fari, Issy, and Dee all have that reputation in court now. I hear all the time how awful you four are.”
“It is Verena’s fault,” Milisen began.
“It is not your youngest sister’s fault, and I will not hear you speak ill of her,” Mislav snapped. “You have destroyed your chance at getting married. I might be able to salvage it, but only if you stop sleeping around and let me do my job.”
“It is Verena’s fault, not ours,” Nefari protested.
“Verena is quiet, obedient, and no one ever sees her leave our side at court events. I hear repeatedly about your sexual exploits.” Mislav’s voice was low and dangerous. “This is squarely on the four of you.”
“You have always favored Verena,” Zdena whined.
“I favor no one.” Mislav fixed the fourth of his older daughters with the same cold stare he’d given his eldest daughter. “Zdena, I will say the same thing to you that I said to Milisen. Stop whining like a child. You are twenty-seven years old. I cannot believe how appallingly childish you two are behaving right now.”
“Perhaps if you treated all your daughters equally you would not have this problem.” Avalyn looked pointedly at Verena’s new jewelry.
“They will get new jewelry on their birthdays, as Verena has. That is treating them equally, Avalyn.” Mislav glared at his wife. “I notice you have never asked me to treat them equally when you have spoiled the older four and left Verena out every single time.”
“Verena is a child,” Avalyn began.
“She is sixteen, old enough for me to start looking for a husband for her, so no she is not a child any longer.” Mislav was getting angry. “I will not tolerate you treating her like one either. I have made my stance very clear on this. Milisen, Nefari, Ismat, and Zdena will get jewelry on their birthdays as Verena has and if you want them to find husbands, I suggest you do more to curtail their nocturnal activities. The next time I find an abortion on the bills from the doctors, I will start locking them in their rooms at night.”
“You would not dare. We are not errant children,” Nefari protested.
“You live under my roof. You leech off me because I cannot find you husbands. By all the stars, you will abide by my rules if I have to force the issue or you will go back to Henebore to be married to whoever Egil and Julian find for you,” Mislav roared. He stormed away from the table, leaving his breakfast uneaten.
Verena escaped the table before her mother and sisters could say anything to her, taking her jewelry with her. She went to her new room and put her presents in her jewelry box, which had been empty for years. She decided to go out into the gardens and get some fresh air.
Verena made her way out of the suite and into the public gardens. It was summer and the gardens were full of people. Verena wandered around, smelling flowers and chatting amiably with people when they stopped to talk to her. She didn’t notice anyone was behind her until the blow sent her to her knees.
No words were exchanged. Her sisters beat her mercilessly until she was barely conscious. “We will be sure to tell father thank you for the new jewelry. I am certain he will be happy to hear you gave us your birthday presents,” Milisen said by way of parting.
A woman came over and called someone to get a doctor. “Who were those terrible women?” she asked.
“My sisters.” Verena’s heart sank. They were going to steal her presents and there was nothing she could do about it. She would lose her new jewelry, and she’d never get it back.
“Ver?” It was Niklas. “By the stars, did Mili and the others do this to you?”
“If Mili is the name of one of her older sisters, then yes,” said the woman with her. “I have called for a doctor.”
“What did they say, Ver?” Niklas knelt beside her.
“They said something about taking her jewelry,” the woman told him.
“I heard the same thing,” another woman confirmed, coming forward. “Something about her giving up her birthday presents.”
“Those rotten, miserable thieves,” Niklas growled. “Do not worry, Ver. We will get you fixed up and I will see those four pay for stealing your presents.”
“What presents were they talking about?” the first woman asked.
“Verena’s first ever sets of jewelry.” Niklas sounded angry. “Our sisters have a great deal of their own, but because father refused to give them new jewelry as well, they decided they were going to steal hers.”
“Horrible,” the first woman gasped. “Do they do this often?”
“They have beaten on her frequently for the past six years.” Niklas’ voice was grim. “But this is the first time they have stolen from her.”
A doctor arrived and took one look at Verena. “Again? Lord Niklas, your sisters are menaces who should be locked up,” he said, recognizing Verena and Niklas.
“You and I are in agreement on that one, Rolando.” Niklas sighed. “Did you bring enough regenerators?”
“I did, because I listened when the young man who came to get me told me there was a girl beaten near to death by four older women. I had my suspicions it was Lady Verena.” Rolando slapped regenerators all over Verena after running a scan on her. “Don’t move, Lady Verena. Let the regenerators do their work.”
The witnesses stayed nearby until Verena was able to stand. “Do you need us to speak to someone on your behalf?” the first lady asked.
“Yes, she does.” Niklas was firm when Verena would have said no. “Would you mind telling our father what you witnessed? He is going to need an explanation for the excessive doctor bill and Verena will not tell him anything.”
“Why in all the stars not?” the second woman asked.
“She does not believe in drawing attention to the situation.” Niklas fixed his youngest sister with a hard stare. “I cannot see why. They are going to kill her one of these days with these beatings.”
“We will be happy to tell your father what happened,” the first woman assured him.
“I will send the bill to your father momentarily. Be prepared for him to be angry.” Rolando looked at Niklas with a serious expression on his face. Niklas nodded and the whole group headed back to the Kelcrag family suite.
“What in the name of all the stars is this bill?” Mislav bellowed as Niklas and Verena entered the room.
“It is the result of Milisen and the others stealing Verena’s jewelry, Father.” Niklas was calm in the face of their father’s rage. “I have witnesses who can attest to that fact.”
“Please explain.” Mislav turned to the witnesses. The women and the young man who’d fetched the doctor told Mislav what they’d seen and heard. “Verena? Is this true?” Verena nodded, unable to get out of answering her father in the face of all the witnesses. Mislav bellowed for his four older daughters. They came out of Milisen’s room. “Show me your hands.”
“What?” Milisen asked, startled.
“I said, show me your hands.” Mislav glared at the older women.
The four women showed him their hands. Their nails were broken and there were some bruises forming on their pallid flesh. “We fell in the garden.” Nefari spoke quickly, seeing what her father was looking at.
“Not according to these witnesses.” Mislav glared at them. “Where is Verena’s jewelry?”
“Her jewelry, Father? It is our jewelry. She gave it to us.” Milisen gave Verena a hard look. “Is that not right, Verena?”
Verena stayed silent. Mislav went into Milisen’s room. He emerged with Verena’s jewelry box after a few minutes. He returned it to her room. He then walked into Milisen’s room and emerged with her jewelry box. He took it into his office. He did the same with the other three women’s jewelry boxes. “You four are now banned from all court events until winter festival. If I decide to give you back your jewelry at that point, you will be very lucky. Furthermore, you will be locked in your rooms for the duration.”
“That is not fair,” Milisen protested.
“Verena is up and walking.” Zdena gestured. “We did not do anything wrong.”
“I beg to differ.” Mislav showed them his pad. “I have a four thousand credit bill from the doctors detailing exactly what was wrong with her before they were finished with her. You could have killed her over jewelry. You are never entitled to anything in this world unless I decide you are allowed to have it. And your freedom is forfeit for your attack on your younger sister. Now, return to your rooms immediately.”
Milisen and the others glared at Verena and refused to move. It took Mislav and Niklas physically dragging and shoving all four women into their rooms before they’d go. Mislav locked the door and put in a code so Avalyn couldn’t let them out. He thanked the witnesses and sent them on their way.
“Ver, are you okay?” Niklas asked.
“No, because I know it is not going to last.” Verena stared at the floor. “Mother will convince father to let them out and they will come after me again. That is how it always happens.”
“I will not be swayed by her this time. I cannot afford four thousand credits for a medical bill.” Mislav hugged her. “Go lay down, Ver. You look awful.”
“I think I will.” Verena went into her room, changed out of her tattered dress into one in good repair, and closed her eyes. She started crying. Niklas was right. This had been going on for six years and her father had done nothing to stop it no matter how many times she’d come in injured or how many witnesses protested the treatment of his youngest daughter at the hands of his older daughters. It was never going to end until her sisters killed her, or they were married and removed from the family. Verena cried herself to sleep.
“What do you mean you are not letting them out for dinner?” Avalyn’s shriek woke Verena.
“I showed you the bill. I told you what the witnesses said. They are dangerous madwomen, and I will not have them running wild at court, Avalyn,” Mislav bellowed. “They can stay locked up until the sun dies for all I care.”
“You do favor Verena,” Avalyn shrieked again.
Verena heard the sound of flesh being struck. She heard Avalyn gasp. She stepped out of her room to see Avalyn with her hand pressed to her cheek. Niklas and Astera were watching, but their two children were nowhere in sight. “I favor no one, Avalyn.” Mislav’s voice was low and dangerous. “It is obvious you favor Milisen and the others over the life of our youngest daughter. I will be consulting with a divorce clerk and seeing what I can do to be rid of you once and for all.”
Avalyn burst into tears and fled from the room. “You should have been rid of mother years ago, Father.” Niklas spoke dispassionately. “Then maybe you would not be having as much trouble with Mili and the others.”
“I see that now, Niklas. I should have been rid of her after Verena was born, but I thought it would make things too difficult for me.” Mislav saw Verena. “Do not think this is your fault, Ver. Your mother has been problematic for years, especially where your older sisters are concerned, long before you ever came along. Please recall how much older than you they are. I have been fighting with her on how they should be raised since Mili was a toddler.”
“Yes Father.” Verena still felt in her heart that she was still the catalyst for all the problems in the family.
“Not your fault, Ver.” It was as if Niklas were reading her mind. “Mili and the others have been rotten since they were children. I was raised with them. I saw how badly mother spoiled them. You are the only decent one out of the lot. You somehow managed to extrapolate father’s ethics and moral code out of everything we have tried to teach you like I did. They did not.”
“I have known them for years as well, Ver.” Astera spoke to her reassuringly. “I have known them since the family came to court. Your sisters have always been abysmal human beings.”
“Father has not always been at court?” Verena quickly changed the subject.
“No, I came to court when Niklas was ten.” Mislav looked thoughtful. “We had Milisen, Nefari, and Ismat at the time. You and Zdena were both born at court.”
“I thought you had been here forever.” Verena looked at her father.
Mislav chuckled and some of the mood lightened. “No, though the way your uncles talk I have.” He gestured to the table. “It is dinner time. Sit and I will tell you the story of how I ended up as Lord Kelcrag instead of just another tradesman like most of the rest of the family.”
“All right.” Verena was genuinely curious. She didn’t know anything about the past of her family, and she wanted to know more.
Mislav filled her in as they ate on how he’d made some trade deals that had skyrocketed the family wealth and reputation, bringing fortune hunters to Henebore which boosted the planet’s reputation and GPP as more entrepreneurs set up shops there and provided new services. New services meant more tax money for Egil and Julian to collect, which meant more infrastructure investment, which meant better roads, schools, and business opportunities.
This meant more commerce happened, which meant more deals for Mislav. The cycle continued for five years before they decided he’d done so much for the planet that he deserved a chance to do more. They ennobled him – Egil being Lord Governor could do that – and sent him to the lower court to petition the emperor on something. It had worked and Mislav had been Henebore’s representative ever since.
“How did you meet mother?” Verena asked.
Mislav shared a look with Niklas. “She was a tradesman’s daughter that I had known for several years. I offered for her hand and was refused because I was not wealthy enough. I made my first deal, doubled my wealth, and offered again. Her father was so impressed by my passion that he agreed to letting me marry Avalyn.” He sighed. “I probably should have chosen differently but I was young and thought I was in love. I do not know why I was so attracted to her. You know she is not that pretty. She was a wicked conversationalist though, and she flattered me outrageously, something most women did not do.” He grimaced. “You have to admit, I am not that good looking.”
“Father, Niklas and I take after you and we are both considered fairly attractive,” Verena pointed out. “I think you can safely say you are an attractive man.”
“I was when I was in my twenties and thirties, Ver.” Mislav smiled at his daughter. “I am nearing sixty now and my looks are definitely not what they used to be.”
“I think you are more distinguished looking now than handsome.” Astera eyed him contemplatively. “You are not hard on the eyes though, Mislav. Not like Avalyn and your older daughters.”
“Thank you, Astera.” Mislav smiled appreciatively at his daughter-in-law.
“Are you feeding the madwomen?” Niklas asked.
“I had servants take their dinner into them an hour ago.” Mislav’s smile faded. “I have not let Avalyn near them and that is one of the reasons she was protesting so vociferously.”
“Are you really going to divorce mother?” Verena asked.
“I am.” Mislav was determined. Verena could see that. “It is probably too late to undo the damage done to Milisen and the others, but I can at least try to save you from even more problems.”
“Until those four are married or are back on Henebore, I will not be safe.” Verena voiced her greatest fear.
“I know, Ver.” Mislav sighed. “I am working on that right now. Egil and Julian are in the middle of a natural disaster. We had three hurricanes and a tidal wave hit the coastlines of two of our major continents. The damage is catastrophic, as is the death toll. I cannot send them back to Henebore right now because that is too much of a burden on those two. Avalyn’s family moved to Sinzurn two years ago so I can safely send her packing back to them.”
“What caused the tidal wave?” Niklas asked. “I thought Henebore was seismically stable.”
“So did everyone else.” Mislav grimaced. “It looks like we have a new island chain doing its best to emerge in the Nokomack Depths. The worst of the upheavals are yet to come. Egil says he is evacuating the entire coastline of Ayura to prevent further loss of life. It is turning into a logistical nightmare. I have sent a request for help to Lord Geraint and Lady Metis on their behalf. I have had some positive feedback on my request, though they have to present it to Their Imperial Majesties, so I have high hopes we will have some aid for Henebore very soon.”
“I hope so. That is a lot of people to move.” Niklas was obviously concerned.
“How many people is it?” Verena asked, having never seen her homeworld.
“One hundred twenty million people, Ver,” Mislav told her. “Give or take. The last census was three years ago. Some people have died, some have moved, and some have been born so we do not have an exact count. And we are still tallying the death toll from the tidal wave. We have a large coastal community on Ayura.”
“I hope we can get aid for Ayura.” Verena was just as concerned for her people as her father and brother were.
“So do I.” Mislav looked at his son and daughter. “What are everyone’s plans for this evening?”
“We were hoping we could convince Ver to come play games with her nephews for a couple of hours this evening before they go to bed.” Niklas grinned at his sister.
“I have not been over for a while.” Verena smiled. “I think it is about time Auntie Verena came over and played Tickle Creature and Hide the Stuffie with them.”
“Good. That leaves me free to talk to the divorce clerk. Enjoy yourself and stay as late as you want, Ver. Nik, just send her home at a reasonable time so she gets enough sleep.” Mislav didn’t add what he was thinking, but he didn’t have to.
Both Niklas and Verena caught the hidden meaning in their father’s words. “Of course, Father.” Niklas stood up. “Come on, Ver.”
“Did your father mean more than he said?” Astera asked as the three of them left the room.
“He wants us to keep Ver even after the kids go to bed so he can fight with mother in peace.” Niklas shook his head. “It is going to get messy, and he does not want Verena getting caught in the crossfire.”
“We have that chocolate cake one of your upper court contacts gave us a few days ago. And I think we still have some of that delectable dessert wine we had on our anniversary.” Astera smiled at Verena. “We will have a treat when the children go to bed.”
“That sounds lovely, Astera.” Verena was grateful for any excuse not to come back to the main Kelcrag suite while her parents were fighting.
Verena played with her nephews until Astera came in and told them it was time for bed. Verena helped her get them changed and stayed with them, telling them stories, until they fell asleep. She joined her brother and his wife for dessert and wine, and they talked until nearly midnight when Niklas reluctantly walked his sister back over to the main Kelcrag suite.
Verena slipped inside and made her way to her room. She dressed for bed and curled up under the blankets. She closed her eyes and willed herself to go to sleep. She began to cry quietly as she thought of losing her mother, but the truth of the matter was Verena knew her mother had never loved her. Losing her was not going to be as hard on her as it was going to be on her sisters. Trouble was going to come from this, and it was likely to be Verena who paid for it, not Mislav.
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