Centaurus Nimbus Eight

  The Palace

  Three years prior

  "I don't see why I have to marry Vivilda," Prince Gilden grumbles under his breath. "There are plenty of other princesses amongst King Hoten's children. Prettier ones...In fact. Vivilda is so stuffy and angry all of the time. I can't stand her. She will make a terrible wife for me. She has no sense of humor at all."

  Nyraxi stifles a laugh as Queen Chocho slaps the back of Prince Gilden's head with her extremely large paper fan. The centaur queen scowls at her youngest son, shaking her mane of shimmering white hair. She hisses at the belligerent prince out of one side of her mouth.

  "That's enough, Gilden. Vivilda is a nice girl. Sure, she's a little rough around the edges. But she is very pleasant to look upon. Her mane and coat are shiny and healthy. And she is of good stock. Her children can be expected to be the same. You should be grateful that King Hoten has offered you the chance to be a part of his splendid kingdom. His kingdom being much larger than ours. We can all benefit greatly from this union. Our clans have been at peace for over four generations. It is time we make known the strength of our alliances."

  King Fifi, the king of Coshire Province, simply stares across the throne room at his son. No words are necessary. He lets his furious wife do all of the talking for him. Prince Gilden should know by now that he has truly messed up. Insulting the daughter of King Hoten, at least openly, is a great offense. Queen Chocho has been doting on the much younger female centaur for almost two years--making hints about matrimony and children without shame.

  Prince Gilden lowers his head, sliding his eyes over to his father. The prince speaks in a voice laced with faux embarrassment and tinged with a bit of laughter.

  "I am sorry, Mother. I should indeed be grateful for the honor to marry one of King Hoten's daughters," Gilden admits. "No matter how stuffy they are."

  King Fifi lets out a raucous laugh. Nyraxi nearly drops the platter of discarded dinner scraps held tightly in her hands. Biting her bottom lip, Nyraxi contains the laughter building in her chest. Queen Chocho hits Prince Gilden with her paper fan a second time.

  -

  -

  Later

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  In the Garden

  Nyraxi finishes her chores and ambles slowly through the hallway. She passes by at least two other servants. Unlike Nyraxi, the other servants are not of centaurian blood. Jojo, the male Earth horse King Fifi saved from a Terran poacher, mutters softly. The language of his new Centaurian masters is still foreign to his tongue. But Jojo tries to communicate the best he can.

  "G-oo-d Nei-ght, Ny-rack-zy!" Jojo says with a smile.

  Beside Jojo, the female zebra shakes her mane and stares at her horse companion. Debe's mental implant is still rather new, and her neural pathways have not quite adjusted to the linguistic overload. The zebra only speaks when absolutely necessary. Uttering good night, to a fellow servant, does not fulfill that requirement. Debe blinks but doesn't say a word.

  "Good night, Jojo. Good night, Debe," Nyraxi says, nodding her head politely. "Sleep well. Both of you."

  Without another word, Nyraxi continues down the corridor. She is on a mission. The garden awaits her. The garden with its secret pathway and beautiful fireflies. The place of her soul's respite.

  Once inside the garden, Nyraxi does a happy sideways skip. She proceeds down the narrow pebble-covered path, headed for the hidden fork--which leads to her favorite spot. Moments later, she is surprised to find Prince Gilden sitting at the end of the path. The prince stares expectantly in her direction, a wide grin on his horselike face.

  "I knew you'd come," Prince Gilden says, rising to his feet. "You always come here when you are feeling sad. I've watched you from my window. I have a perfect view. Although, this is the first time I have chosen to join you."

  "Join me?" Nyraxi says with alarm. "Join me, Prince? But, why?"

  "Because...," Prince Gilden begins.

  Suddenly, unsure of himself, the prince glances furtively around. He takes several steps in Nyraxi's direction, his mouth twisting into an uncertain grimace.

  "Because--," Prince Gilden whispers, reaching for Nyraxi's hand. "You heard what my mother and father said today. I am expected to marry. To marry...That stuffy old Vivilda."

  Taking yet another step closer, Prince Gilden stares into Nyraxi's large beautiful eyes. Nyraxi freezes like an Earth deer in headlights, her heart pounding in her chest. What is going on here? And how does she factor into all of this?

  "I don't want to marry Vivilda!" Prince Gilden complains, his brow dropping sharply. "I don't even like her. Not one bit. She's mean, she's rude, and I don't want children with that brute at all. I don't care how pretty her mane and her pelt are. Vivilda is rotten to the core. She's nothing like you, Nyraxi. How I wish...You were more than a servant. That you were royalty. Then...I could. I could..."

  Nyraxi's eyes cross as Prince Gilden leans forward and kisses her right cheek. He offers Nyraxi a kind smile as he withdraws, showing all of his splendid white teeth.

  "Well? Say something, Nyraxi. Tell me. What are you thinking?"

  Nyraxi promptly falls to the ground in an unconscious faint.