The Felinites

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Dexter's POV

"Ah, so maybe those fools of guards of yours aren't as stupid as I accused them of being," King Sebastian says to King Iago as the five Edacion warriors drag me onto the ship. I'm still fighting with all the strength I have, trying my best to get free. My elbow manages to gouge one of the men in the gut and he grunts in pain.

"Well, they might not be the meddlesome busy-bodies that your soldiers are, but they are certainly efficient," the Edacion king sneers.

One of the guards pushes me to the ground and another presses his foot into my back to keep me there. I lift my head out of the dirt, spitting as much of it out of my mouth as I can. "What are you doing, King Sebastian?" I ask him. "Why are you attacking your own kingdom?"

"Well, you see, Chester, this kingdom has never truly been mine. This planet favors a female as their leader. They always have and they almost did not allow me to have any control when I married Queen Nala. I want more than just the little control I have. I want Filinus completely for myself," he replies.

"So what, are you trying to get rid of the female leadership or something?" I ask slightly confused.

"That is precisely what I am trying to do," King Sebastian answers as he shoves his black cape, which was fluttering around his feet, further behind him.

"What about Princess Cleo, your daughter? She was supposed get married today and unite our kingdom with Satera. What do you think this wonderful plan to get rid of the female leadership is going to do to her?" I ask.

"Well it has already succeeded in stopping her wedding. After King Iago finishes his business with you, I will demand that she surrender all her power to me," King Sebastian says. "She never would have been a good queen on Satera, anyway. I am only helping her."

"Haven't you ruined all our chances of an alliance with Satera now?" I ask the king.

A grim smile creeps over his face, "No, I have created a much stronger alliance with the Edacions. I have been working with King Iago for quite some time now. Today is when our kingdoms truly unite under strong rulers."

"A strong ruler?" I ask. Every word he says seems to only confuse me further. Everyone in the entire galaxy knows King Iago's health has been deteriorating for nearly a decade now. We all expect him to die at any moment. And then it dawns on me.

The Edacions are the exact opposite of the Felinites in so many ways. Instead of being kind and gentle, they are fierce killers. Felinites are organized while Edacions are chaotic. We have a female leader while the Edacions have only had male rulers. I have never even heard of an Edacion king marrying. They ensure that an heir is in place for when the time comes and leaves it at that.

King Iago and King Sebastian both did not want a female to rule their kingdoms so they chose to take their children's crowns and let King Sebastian rule on both planets. Questions continue to pop into my mind but I know they will only answer so many. The pilots are already preparing for takeoff now that I am on the ship. So there is no hope of stalling, answers may help me understand better though.

"If you never wanted Princess Cleo and Prince Cornelius to unite the two kingdoms then why did you both agree to arrange a marriage for them?"

King Iago speaks for the first time, his voice hoarse with age, "Queen Nala suggested the proposal to me and at first I denied her- many times. Then the transport potion was created and it was clear that it would be beneficial to my soldiers. I asked her if she would trade me fore the potions. We agreed her daughter and my son would share the throne on both Satera and Filinus and Felinites would supply is with the potion. I thought I would be ok with our agreement but eventually I tried to persuade Cornelius to back out on the negotiation. He refused so I was forced to take drastic measures. I could not have pulled it off without help though. King Sabastian was easy to pull onto my side and from there other Felinites joined us."