Not waiting the answer Katiandra finished her tea in silence, Leigh supposed because after a moment her finger tapped on the mug, in a matter of seconds, she had the same bodyguard appeared holding a pot with the said flower she had chosen placing it infront of her.
It was in a pot big enough to let it grow before she had to take it home. On its side was glued the informations needed for them to have it enter the US customs checkpoint.
Before he retrieved he gave her bag with boxes inside, containing tea made from the flower. Overjoyed Leigh took it with a small "thanks you" to him, as her shining eyes soon found the Queen's still soft one as she was getting up smiling at her.
" It was a pleasure to be in your presence as always. Again forgive me for what happened last time we crossed way. You are an exceptional human being, a wonderful friend to have. I am honored of knowing you. I hope this will help you with your headaches. Ah, do not worry I am not a medium just a fellow workalcoholic. I know the symptoms. Just one tea bag eveyday, or only one leaf but know that when natural it is really strong. Patience okay?"
Nodding at her, Leigh just followed her with her eyes as she was now standings in her personal space, giving her her hand, she was helped up with the Queen strong hold.
"See, with all of that add a healthy amount of sports and no restrictions of time too, I drank them already for almost two decades and still do. I am safe of many harm."
Smiling warmly at her Katiandra pulled her body toward her in a good hug before letting go.
"Give your husband all my best regards Leigh. I believe we will see each other again - By God grace. Untill then I can only wish you the best."
"Thanks you my Qu-- Katiandra. It was the best day of my life." Seeing the side look her words just provoked from the enigmatic woman, Leigh laughed shaking her head at the woman silent humor.
"We will not let Rob hear about that. Thanks you."
"You are welcome." After placing two kisses on her cheeks effortlessly like she was some delicate flower, the Queen disappeared like she was never there. Her perfume being the only proof of the contrary or even better the royal mug she was holding in her hands.
Since she was gone with hers, Leigh understood she could keep hers too. Sitting back she kept sipping on hers slowly, amazed by how tasteful it was.
Taking the bag in her arm she pursed her lips fighting to not let tears rolled. She was really feeling high like she had drank something. She kept caressing the soft material that covered the mug until her finger came in contact with a weird irregularity on it.
On edge she gathered her stuffs as normally as she could, as she was doing it a man clothed with Asta shirt appeared like he was waiting for her to do so. All smile he bowed at her pointing the gift that was near where she was sitting never meeting her gaze.
"Excuse me Madam, my Queen said to help you to bring the plant in the car. Let me?"
"Oh, sure. Go ahead, my driver Should be there."
"Yes professor Robertson. We already told him to move infront of the entrance." Following him she had to say goodbye to the general manager who was waiting near her car before leaving.
In the car, Leigh impatiently removed her hand on the mug looking at the almost invisible protuberance, there was a switch that made it moved sideways rotating the base of the mug on the side. A line that was not visible before clearly showing the mug could be separated, Surprised she kept turning it until she heard a small click.
She had never seen something like it. In fact she could now unfold the outer part, like an illusion or a cover of the actual real thing. Inside something moved like it was hanging there, looking inside she froze her eyes moving upward only to be met by her driver inquisitive gaze.
Doing her best to not roll her eys, she cursed herself for not making sure to be alone before doing that. Now breathing slowly she automatically stared right in his eyes until he excused himself, staring straight in front of him.
"Those are only made for the Queen. No one else use them, not even the king. Look at the initials on it. Sorry again ma'am, I, really sorry."
Meeting the hard stare she was giving him through the rearview mirror for speaking while he was not asked to, he excited himself again. Shaking her head at how unprofessional he was, Leigh regretted not coming with her own driver. But this one was sent by the Queen services.
Nodding at him curtly, she looked at the small cursives letters where he indicated, written very artisticaly almost at the base of the mug was, "A&B" her brand, the only thing she knew was the meaning of the 'A' Alicia her last daughter, the 'B' was a mystery for many.
Knowing she gave her that made all she had declared to her previously very real.
~~~~
Five day later at the national agency in USA
"Those informations are -- insane-- WHAT does she wants in return?" Shaking his head the general appointed to take this case to the end asked his gaze roaming the entire room, from Malone, the head of the national agency sitting at the right side of the huge conference room to Leigh Robertson at the left of it.
"Clearly she wants out. Without it affecting her children."
"And how will you know that ? -- Madam?"
The condescending tone of the army colonel sitting near the general tightened at the end remembering she was not only and ambassador wife but a well-known researcher and the one here with more informations than they could have.
" The evidences are clear here colonel Tedhan, she has more about your people than you do. She could make it splash like a terrific hurricane on your government. This could bring more skeletons out of buried closets than none of you had ever seen in your work. Give her what she wants." Answering with confidence Leigh response made the man shake his head in wonder.
Laughing, General Rax clapped his hand twice to mock what she said then opened them wide afterwards. Clearly overwhelmed by the proportions everything was taking. It was not supposed to go like this he thought before meeting her gaze.
"So what? We do not cooperate with that kind of people. It is ..." His arrogance was quickly stopped by Leigh whose eyes turned cold in a matter of seconds.
"What? Against the law? That kind of people? Good Lord, not only are you talking about Katiandra Fendrik, a woman who is acclaimed around the world for doing more than most humans ever did or will ever, as 'that kind of person'? But we all know that what is as stake is covering people that are disgusting and should be placed under your -that - group. It is them you should not try to cover."
Looking at him like he was not getting it, she shook her head wondering how he had even made it to the position he was in. His attitude was like not doing your homework in highschool.
"I do not care who she thinks she is. You can not tell a well established agency what should be taken in consideration or not. There are no exchange."
"You are completely biased. Right?"Chuckling at him, she shook her head amused to see the shade that passed in his eyes, he was afraid of her. "This, clearly, was supposed to be a formality. I see."
"Mad- Professor Robertson, this is a State matter. As General Rax said no exchange can be done. We are not afraid of her, she kept those informations for many years already she will do nothing with them."
" You should Colonel Tedhan. You should. She is a citizen of this country, you know that at least? Ok. One who never failed to contribute to it. Most things that are here, the international community call universal property, is her doing. What she is trying to remind you is that, if you do not help her, she will force you to do it!"
Clenching his jaws the man eye never left hers, well aware she was right.
"Even you know who she is and what she can do. To be force is not something that work well with her. They trapped her in that marriage, but she clearly prepared THIS. We all witnessed how she put all her girls out, now she wants to be free too. The only way is to get rid of the only obstacle on her way. Arthur Alistair Zurrow. For God sake, I was there with her, I know what she told me!"
The room was completely silent by the moment her cold but clear voice was heard more imposing calling for respect. The men that was playing important before now looked at her waiting for what she had to say.
"She is actually rendering a service to the world by offering you the man on a tray. Take it if you do not want her to turn on the opposite of us. Be sure of that."
The silent that surrounding them in the room full of officers who was all thinking at the possible consequences if Queen Katiandra was to do what Leigh Robertson was saying.
"Okay. We heard you, but you forgot one important thing. She will never do anything rash. Her family is here."
Moving her face to her left where General Rax was sitting Leigh Robertson shook her head like she was facing a stubborn five years old. Which the man seemed to be.
"Do not go there general. Even you can understand that, for a woman as Queen Zurrow, her family is the only thing that maintain in her a human heart. I have lived there, I have heard and witnessed things, consider what professor Roberson is telling you seriously. Queen Katiandra is filthy rich, most of it you can not control, no one can because of the new change. Bitcoins represent most of what she and her family owns and it is legal as it is. Even if it is remove you cannot know the amount of what she owes in building and investment around the world all because she was clever enough to use really people as her screen."
Intervening, ambassador Robertson said calmly knowing it would be a foolish move to take this lightly. For him, the danger was never Arthur Zurrow but his wife.
" Now given you do what you are thinking about. And it makes her really lost it. That be sure, it is want will happen. Let me tell you that, you were not there when she stopped our plane to have her daughter in to certainly save her life from the hell that was her house. No mother send their children away without any valid reason. I saw that woman cry that day. General. Do not consider turning on them, if you do, you will be arming a bomb you know nothing about. But I can guarantee you it would be - more destructive than a nuclear weapons. Think about the many groups that only need funding to come against this country, you could not even know it is her doing. Think about That before picking the single decision that will inevitably work against you."
Doctor Killian, who was invited to participate to give her input in the matter, interjected after Robertson, with so much conviction it paused the general in what he wanted to say.
"She could no--"
"Do it general. As I see it Katiandra Fendrik as she is called here, for a clear purpose, only goal in life is to leave a legacy in This world that will hardly be concurrence by anyone. The same she applies with all her children. The places they have in the social ladder proved it. It all scream legacies, the same goes for the boys as with the girls. Lincoln is the future king, she wants him adored by his people, a legend humanly and legally. Alfred, she placed after her in most of her work, after making sure he earned it with his own work. Alicia, is her own clown the child live to do greater than all her mother ever did. Kayley, the surprise of them all, as a profiler and psychologist is the best. No one can discuss that here even if many tried but her work ethic spoke for her. The last but not the least, Professor Kamali, her protégé, is the top of it all. They all have bright futures that, my dear you do not want to interfere with."
Speaking her guts out as the mentor she had became for Queen Katiandra family, doctor Killian added fervently all of them knowing all of it was only the naked true.
"Trust me general, she could have left but she only want to be sure her sons will not be deprived of what its theirs. We all want Arthur Zurrow out of the equation. Because, that man out -- Porys has more chance to be a free place to live in. One thing his vanity has made right in all his life, is to model his sons to be perfect gentlemen who see the world with human eyes. Like his soul could not bear to have them looking at him less hero like"
Her hands up Doctor Killian finished leaving it in their hands to decide. She has been given the privilege to see what the Queen family was like in a day to day life, what was sure was they were more human that those around her. That woman, she knew above all surely loved her own like a mama bear. With the only difference her claws could reach far above human limitations of space.
Defeated by what he knew was reasonable in this case the general sighed giving up the non actions plan. Looking at his officers he stood walked to the top of the conference where the screen with Alistair face was on, looked at it a moment before turning towards them his hands in his pockets.
"We could use it to our advantage though. Who is always up for it !?"
"I suggest a rapid cleaning then an extraction."
"How?" The general asked to the head manager of military extraction.
"In the SD card are places and dates she and her sons will be. Far away from the palace. You enter the palace, find the bastard, off and gone. In the morning people find him death and the boy take his place. Clean. Our units already performed that kind of high risk mission. Only here we will have eyes and a ready map inside."
"I do not want it to be less serious. We should send the best. No one want this to fail."
"I have the best" Dave Bunch said arching his eyebrows already working on all possibilities and parameters.
"When are the dates?" Turning to Bunch, colonel Tedhan asked making Leigh Robertson amazed at how clueless he was. The man was given files he clearly did not read.
"The first July. Her son will attempt and all women activities she will organize at the museum. Before that are public meeting with activities in the same time but not longer. Apparently, she thinks the future king shall be interested in women concern. That is not usual but we all know where she is coming from. She clearly want to show them how women are victimized for just being that. Women."
Leigh responded making them all nod in Accord. The case seemed to be settled because he lifted his arms clapping them then returned to his place collecting his things as he did, still stuck to be force on this he mumbled
"She may be a citizen of this country but she is married to that man. Pfff. Non sense"
Not letting go the man said not aware Killian who sat at the opposite did heard what he said.
"Excuse me, but how does it change anything?" Not letting it be she asked making all the gazes looked her way wondering what was going on.
Looking straight at him she arched her brow with a straight face having him cursed himself for speaking his mind out.
" I am married to someone of this country that make me be a citizen too as it does my kids. Did I planned it? Does it erased the fact that I am of porys ? No. I grew up there. The people I could called family are there. The key word here is - could -Â because of how they were raised they are and will never be good for me . I accepted that and left that part of my life without a glance back. My life is here now, this place is were I became the best version of myself, that means that I know where my loyalty goes. The same I am sure goes to Queen Alister."
"You know, I never saw weakness in that woman. But the day we left with her daughter, I did. What it took was - One single tear and a plead - take care of my daughter as yours please - she said when she could have force me to do it but she could not do it because she is a human being with a heart and fears. On this ground she send her best possessions. Her girls and the number one of her security details. That said it all."
Seeing he wanted to say something she held her index finger up preventing it to continue what was still in her mind.
" You don't know everything just by wearing that uniform you have on. Seriously whit all due respect General. Sometime in life you can get stuck to assume a position you want nothing to do with.Yes. Here in your land, you can say no to an arranged marriage. But were I come from that choice is non-existent. She was lured in it as soon as she had her diploma. They took her back home, informed her she was to married that man et voilà . What was she abled to do with no way out? Not even suicide? That option my dear is for her to perpetrate a family curse and certainly the death of her parents to wash the dishonour that was brought on them."
Looking at her as she was saying all that she had to say, the man stood there feeling more out of footing than ever, so he sat near Robertson whose hole body felt constricted by the power behind the reality that was said.
Him, Malone and anyone who already lived in Porys for at least two years could confirm. He had a colleague who had said no to that way of picking suitor for her, whose mother committed suicide, to this day she only lived with regrets going from a psychologist to another in a never ending circle. It really hurt when that person is an actual friend, he thought clenching his jaws.
"You clearly are stuck in your mind thinking everyone gets to have the freedom that is yours here. No! All that I just said, I know, because I lived it the same. Women have no choice in Porys. I was too -informed- that I would be getting married with someone I knew nothing about, they said it was the only way to honor them. I was just out of my meds school. The best surgeon of all my homelands and the ones around. I could see in mother eyes desperation. She knew I did not wanted it but saying no would have cost her her life, I knew that too. I had no choice. There is what is called the law of honor. You do, you are loved, you do not follow the rules, they reject you and your family."
Taking her glass of water, Malone took a huge gulp to push away the tears that was pricking to come out. She had never heard her wife speaking so seriously of her experience as a woman in Porys. To hear her say all of that created a powerless feeling inside of her.
She could now understand why whenever her daughter was out longer than expected she would tell Malone. "Let her be. She knows the importance of freedom." One day she told her in response to her asking to know what it mean,
"Freedom, my love...when you know what it costs to be in your possession, is the tool you use to leave in this Earth as much impact as you can for others to use and free themselves too."
Looking at her wife she understood, to be exact her daughter-in-law really was a serious person. Straight A's and the best behavior a parent could ask for. Oblivious of what others could think, doctor Killian eyes not once left general Rax face.
"WHen it involve powerful families like in her case. Blue blood and money do not play soft. Families have been erased on the past because the young women dared to say no. Many examples could be taken here, Mr and Mrs Robertson can tell you something about it, I am sure. Those are Porys daily choices of life. Today, I, have a free life, I am married by my own choice. She gave me that way out knowing what one does not know cannot hurt them, a permanent position out of the homeland. Out of their reach, my ex-husband could not leave his position there, so he just signed the divorce papers when I send them to him. My family are safe, I am happy. Everyone is okay."
Breathing out slowly, Killian stopped feeling a pinch in ber heart almost like a cramp. Closing her eyes for a moment she breathed in and out counting to ten then reopened them as she breathed out with peace. Being a brain surgeon one should learn to master theirs emotions, she was not the best for nothing. All amazed by the way she was abled to conciliate her emotions they just looked at her.
" I-there is one last choice I made that is important again. I am aware being here, I could never go back there. Never. But be it. Though I am still serving for them by doing my work, it is a great honor for my family who can close their eyes on who I am now married to. Yes, they know now. They also know that Queen Alister and her husband, certainly her doing, assigned me to stay permanently with advantages for my parents there. No one can change that decision they said. All of this is THAT woman gift."
Malone just squeezed her wife left thigh knowing the pain hidden behind those last words. Everyone present could feel the weight Killian carried on her shoulders even if she appeared completely above them all. There was something about her that was just aristocratic, imposing respect, her cold beauty topping it all. As her voice came out of her mouth it was difficult to see her lips move.
"You live in a free land, so do not judge if you could NEVER be in one of our shoes. What matter here is that she, more than all of us here has already give this country and the world think that count as legacies. Against that even God cannot stand because he would be going against his doing. So does none of you."
Her words echoed in the room for a solide minutes with no one feeling the need to speak. They just could not. It was not every day a world renown brain surgeon would tell a General to keep his mouth shut without taking others way than said it straight to his face.
Rolling his tongue in his mouth, General Rax nodded humbly aware he was really blessed by life. All his childhood and adulthood he could not remember as many around him a day he had worry about anything. Being a father he could not wish his daughters to ever feel the way described by doctor Killian. The women in the room felt coldness spreading in all their bodies at how cruel life could be sometimes.
All of them were invited to Malone, now chief of the national agency, marriage. Already Three years in it, they did it only six months after leaving Porys. While his gaze never left his opponent one, the general just wondered why Queen Zurrow Alistair would have done all of that when the regime in place, whatever they were saying now after professor Kamali coming out book, was firmly against what Killian marriage represented.
Suddenly his head jerked to look at both women everything going in order in his head at once.
"She knew!" Referring to their dalliance in Porys he affirmed.
"Yes general, she did. In fact she found us--- euh, Kissing One day and just admonished us to be careful. She asked Killian if it was a death sentence we were seeking by being so reckless. Before any of you judge, it was the best thing that ever happened to our relationship. It free us from Porys."
Remembering that day, Malone responded to the man pensively still thankful it was that side of the Queen they had been grace to see that day. In fact she was thankful every morning just to be able to wake up near her wife.
"I see, she certainly saw an opportunity to have her daughter secure with people that own her their lives. Dear there is nothing great there but opportunism." Shaking her head the commander of the private section, declared leaning back on her seat.
Arching his right brow, the general nodded to what the commander said. At that moment he wondered how gullible two women so intelligent were reduced to be someone puppets like he was seeing at the moment. Whatever had happened he could not understand how theirs lives could have been endangered.
Reading his thoughts like he just voiced them Killian hands crossed on the conference table as her mind went back to that day.
"Minutes after she had entered my office with urgent knocking, I have to add. The king did too. In fact we - first kissed infront of my office - she certainly saw us, that is why she rushed to us before him, to stop us. Everyone know that the man, NEVER knock. If he had heard us, or entered the first, I would not be here. I was a second away to be lapidate. Trust me. Everyone knew my ex-husband in that hospital, everyone also know he already did that in the past to his cousin. Even if he does the same as I did for once with more women than I could ever imagine, it would have been considered terrible. Just because it was with a woman."
Moving her lips in a way that made it look like smile, Malone nodded at her wife words. Leigh crossed her arms on her chest dumbstruck by Queen Alister great heart.
Though she could not tell them she also saved hers, with that tea she had gave her. She could feel a huge sense of thanks toward the woman. Her husband too, they had discovered Leigh carried a gene that was slowly erased by the tea she was drinking, her headaches was non existent anymore.
After consulting a good doctor, that send them back to Killian she was instructed the amount to take, the same as she was told by the Queen, since she already had the plant and enough to be free of any harm.
Wiping his face with a not so firm hand, General Rax stare wavered as he looked everywhere but at Killian, finally to the files infront of him wondering on the enigma Queen Katiandra Alistair Zurrow or as all named her here Katiandra Fendrik was. Breathing out he finally looked back at Killian then set in Malone cleared orbs.
"You get it now? She save our lives. You have the power to save hers too. That is what we will do. Also to avoid a crisis the president would not want at this moment of his mandate." Getting out of her daydream Leigh eyes settled on Malone nodding at her words.