"What do you mean, something was kept from us? We are part of the elites of the Colony." Says Mikaela
"Well, even elites are ignorants about certain things!" Answers Hranadottir.
"So why weren't you?!" Asked Hedda
"In case you forgot, I'm the heir of the trone as Head Queen! Now if you please shut up and let me talk!" She says. Everyone calms down and waits for Hrafnadottir to continue. "Thank you. E8 Government knows about our existence..." She reveals.
Everyone gasps and starts chattering again.
"What?! They know?!" Asks Alexa outraged
"Yes, they know. In fact, the reason why the Colony expanded to other big cities is because they helpped us."
"You will have to explain this better, Hranadottir." Asks Kate.
"To summarize it, most of us, are descendents of the members of the first exploration crew that arrived on this planet. A crew mostly formed by Bionics. They had lost communication with Earth and with the Mother ship. After the rescue team only found an empty ship, and no signs of life, they were all thought to be dead. The truth is that they had found a huge cave deep underground with an living ecosystem. A Hollow World. Our reality. It made no sense in the biggining. All of the conspiracy theories on earth were reality here. We didn't have the science to explain this. So, one of the members of the crew, a Bionic scientist called Hrafna Vilgerson, presented an explanation based on his beleifs, that in norse mithology, such world like they were seeing existed, and was called Svartalfheim. Obviously, everyone thought him to be mad at first. But no one could find another explanation. Everything made more and more sense to him and with time, more and more people started following him. And so, they decided to stay here and build a modern community based on norse culture. This, was 150 years before the second exploration team arrived. When they did, after exploring part of the surface, they found the same cave. Seen as intruders, they were attacked by Queen Illa. After some altercations, on which Queen Illa was killed, an agreement was made, that if we satyed down here, they would provide us with everything we needed to make our life here better. And Queen Kristen accepted."
"Why was that agreement made? Why would Queen Kristen prevent us to go outside? What would the second exploration crew win with that anyways?" Asks Rakel.
"Imagine if the rest of the population in the Mother ship knew about it? That a crew thought to be dead, appeared all of a sudden. About the incompetence of the rescue team that didn't do enough to find us. The company would lost all its investors and fundings in a blink of an eye. It would be the worst start possible for "a new beginning". So they thought it would be better to consider us as heroes who lost their lives to help humanity find a new home" explains Hrafnadottir.
"Why would Queen Ktisten accept the agreement anyways!? We could easily take the surface for us and kick them out of our planet!" Says Alexa exalted
"No! It would start a war we could not win at the time. It would be us against the mother ship and whoever they had who could fight. They had the numbers. We didn't. The agreement was the best option. Queen Kristen was smart. She knew what could happen if she started a war. So she took accepted the agreement and made the Colony a better place." Says Kate.
"And of course, you'd defend her. You Ericson are so proud!" Says Alexa.
"We, Ericson, know what's better for the Colony! All you Olsen could do was keep a sub-colony that was given to you!" Answers Kate angrily.
"Well maybe you wanna settle that out in the Arena!" Says Alexa.
"Trust me, you wouldn't stand a second against me!" Says Kate.
"Girls!" Interrupts Hrafnadottir. "Stop it, please! This is not time to fight. Remember who the enemy is!"
Both Kate and Alexa calm down.
"But still, why was this kept a secret to us and the rest of the colony?" Asks Monika.
"It would cause panic if all knew about this. The threat of spies and traitors would be bigger. The best way to control a population is to keep things from them. All those who knew about this had to take an oath of silence and most died with the secret. I ask you too, on the Oath of loyalty you made to the Colony, to keep this a secret, at least until we join the war." She asks looking at all of us.
We all look around. The silence and doubt settles in the room. All eyes cross, and the tension rises, being more and more noticeable the distrust between all of us.
Kate stands up and puts her fist on het chest. "I swore an Oath to the Colony! I will do whatever it takes to protect it, even if it means keeping something as big as this as a secret from my people. Peverin stands with you, Hrafnadottir!"
"Belleret does too!" Says Torvis, doing the same.
"So does Tostad!" Says Martha
"I think that since I'm now a Princess I can talk for the Sub-colony I represent. Cantecca will follow you, Hrafnadotir!" I say.
Everyone stands up and swear silence and loyalty to Hrafnadottir.
"So what will we do concerning the approaching war after knowing this?" Asks Solveig.
"Wait and watch, would be the wise thing to do." Says Martha.
"All in favor, say "Aye"!" Asks Hrafnadottir.
"Aye!" We all say.
"Then it's settled, we wait." She says. "Now to other important matters. Kate, got any information from the prisoner who attacked the club?
"Yes. And it's in fact concerning. He knows way too much about us, which means that he had a close relation with the traitor. I believe the traitor might be the same who tried to blame one of my squads for the murder of Samantha Geon." Says Kate
"That was Olivia, and she's dead now!" I say.
"Even if Olivia killed your sister, she can't be the traitor." Says Kate.
"How are you so sure?" Asks Martha
"The club shooter was seen talking privately with who we assume to be the Faliaicci killer. It couldn't be Olivia since she was inside the club with Samantha. This means that the Faliaicci killer either has a spy inside the Colony, or he himself is one of us." Explains Kate
"Or maybe was one of us." Says Solveig.
"What do you mean?" Asks Hrafnadottir.
"There is someone who deserted the Colony because he wasn't good enough to take the Oaths." She says looking at Martha
"What are you implying?!" Asks Martha
"That your brother might be giving out information about the Colony." Answers Solveig.
"What?! Simon is a good kid, he just minds his business. What would he win with that anyways?!" I ask outraged.
"Some kind of revenge. He was the shame of his family after all." Says Alexa.
"Then he might very well be our man" Says Mikaela.
"It was a mistake not to kill him. He owed no allegiance to the Colony." Says Rakel.
"I dare any of you to lay a finger on him!" Threatens Martha.
"We should call the council and leave his fate on it's hand." Suggests Hannah
"We don't need to bother the council with this if we ourselves can deal with it. We should just kill him and get over with it!" Says Hedda
"Wait! We don't even know yet if he's the man we're looking for!" I intervene.
"Hedda's right! He shouldn't have left the Colony in the first place. Either way he should be dead." Says Solveig.
"Sounds to me like you want to start a Civil War." Says Martha standing.
"I'm not gonna jeopardize the Colony's safety because of your brother. So if you want to a war, be it! Says Solveig
"That's right! Who are you more loyal to after all?" Asks Alexa
"I'm loyal to the Colony, but I won't let you kill my brother if you don't have any proof of his treason! So again, I dare you to lay a finger on him." Repeats Martha.
"May I suggest we bring him in?" I ask. "Let us keep an eye on him. We have nothing to lose if we do that. I don't think that a civil war would solve much. We need to save energies for the war." I suggest.
"I think that's a good idea." Agrees Hannah.
"All those in favor say "Aye"!" Asks Hrafnadottir.
Only me, Martha, Hanna, Kate and Torvis say "Aye". All the others stay silent. Hrafnadottir leans her head and massages her temple with her fingers.
"It's not a secret that some of us don't like each other and don't agree with on many topics. But we need to be all in the same page here. I would love to avoid bothering the Queens with this." Says Hrafnadottir.
"It's easy maths! They are five, we are six. The decision is made. We kill him!" Says Alexa.
"You better shut your mouth before i cut your tongue off!" Threatens Martha again.
"Can we have a normal meeting with no treats!?" Screams Hrafnadottir. "I'm growing tired if this behavior. We are on the same side and if we can prevent skirmishes between our nations, we will do so! We will bring Simon back and keep an eye on him! Any threat on his life will be punished with blood!"
"Guess there is no point on voting the." Says Alexa with a sarcastic tone. "This meeting is over. Call me when the war starts!" She leaves.
One by one, everyone leaves, some, somewhat disappointed with the decisions made, and others, like me and Martha, relieved. Before leaving, Martha thanks Hrafnadottir for giving her brother a chance. I go and sit on the table next to her and thank her as well.
"Looks like you got a bit emotional there." I say.
"Can you keep something between us?" She asks.
"Sure!" I assure her.
"I had an aunt. Her name was Hrafna. She was supposed to be the Head Queen, but she was attracted to the life outside. She fell in love with a man, deserted the Colony to live with him. My grandmother didn't want to kill her own daughter for deserting, but it had to be done. So my Aunt Agnes followed her and executed her. With much pain, she came back and decided take her name when crowned Head Queen. She loved her and looked up to her as a role model. But she had a duty. Only I know how much they hurt for having to kill her. So I know how would Martha feel." She explains.
"Having to kill a sibling must be one of the hardest things to do. And for a mother to order her own daughter's death...huh" I sigh. "I guess I'll never be able to understand your ways." I say.
"To this day, my grandmother dreams on how it would be to have all of her daughters in the Colony, ruling together." She says with a sad tone.
"Well then, we'll make sure to take good care of Simon!" I say joyfully.
"Sometimes I wish i could've lived on the surface like you. Your minds are shaped so differently." She says.
"Well, outside, we don't have to worry about someone challenging us for a "knife fight" every now and then. I say
She grins.
"By the way, when you talked about the origins of the Colony, I recalled the brief talk we had with the Wise One. He said that he knew the first Geon that had set feet on this planet. That means that one of my ancestors was a member of the Colony. I know that after the colonisation of the planet my family came, along with the rest of the population. But if what the Wise One said is true, then there might be a hidden branch of my family inside the Colony right now."
"If there is, their name was changed. As far as I know your the only Geon in the Colony." She says.
"Do you think your grandmother would know something about it?" I ask.
"I doubt it. But it wouldn't hurt to ask" .
We get up and go straight to the 1st floor dismissing all of our servants and bodyguards. Inside the Head Queens Great Hall, we go the highest floor, to a room guarded by four shield maidens who kneel at the sight of Hrafnadottir. Getting in, we see an old woman, standing by the window. A weird feeling hits me. A feeling that I had seen this scene before. Some kind of deja vú. A familiar feeling.
""Asgard" is still as beautiful as I remember it." Says the old woman.
"What are you saying møke(grandmother), your sight is terrible." She chuckles. " What are you doing out of bed anyways, you should be resting".
"Though having a terrible sight, I can see things perfectly honey." She says turning around. "I'm so glad you came to visit me." She says now approaching me and gently caressing my check. "You have Hrafna's eyes."
"Møke," Hrafnadottir giggles. "I'm here."
"I know Sigrún." She says looking at her. After a weird moment of silence she turns her attention back to me. "You've grown so much!"
I stare silently at her, unable to say a word, as, for some reason, my eyes begin to water and i feel an inexplicable urge to hug her.
"Møke, you must be mistaken. This is..."
"One of Hrafna's daughters." She interrupts. "My granddaughter Rebecca" She says hugging me, holding me strong against her chest.
I start to cry as I notice how much she reassemble my mother.
"I can't explain it, but I felt something weird when I saw you." I say
"So, this means...aunt Hrafna is still alive..? Aunt Agnes didn't kill her...so you're my..." Hrafnadottir stutters, looking at us perplexed.
"Yes, Sigrún. You are cousins." She says smiling. "I waited so long for this day. I thought I would die without seeing Hrafna's daughters again." She says.
"Then thats my mother's real name? Hrafna?" I ask.
"Yes! She decided to change her name to Crystal when she went outside. But sit please! I remember that you were twins, where is Samantha, why is she not here with you?" She asks.
"Sam...Sam was murdered about a month and a half ago." I answer still crying.
"Oh honey...i can only imagine how broken you are." She comforts me.
"I have so many questions..."
"I know my dear, and in time, you'll have all the answers." She kindly says, looking at me with the sweetest look.
"Møke...please, tell us how it all happen." Asks Hrafnadottir.
"It was about 20 years ago. Right after I allowed the coloners to frequent the undergrounds of Nessia. Though being the oldest, Hrafna was the most excited of the three sisters. She was amazed at the world outside. Not long after, she met a boy. His name was Ethan Geon. They fell in love so blindly, Hrafna forgot who she was and her duties as Head Princess. She tried to keep their relationship a secret, but in the end we all knew about it. When she decided to leave the Colony and live with Ethan, our hearts were broken. I was torn, I was afraid and didn't know what to do. So your aunt Agnes decided to take it on her hands to do what we all wanted to avoid. She told everyone that she had killed your mother. But in secret, she revealed me that when she saw her, she couldn't do it, for one specific reason. Hrafna was pregnant."
"Aunt Agnes knew it all along then" Says Hrafnadottir.
"She did. And we visited Hrafna during the pregnancy, until Samantha and you were born. It brought me great joy to see and hold my first granddaughters on my arms. But we couldn't leave the Colony often to see you. No one could suspect that this had happened. That's where we first parted ways." She explains.
"So you stopped visiting us..." I conclude.
"I had to. But a few years after, we heard from Hrafna." She continues. "Sam had a brain disease. It was a disease common in children born in the Colony. It starts with headaches and changes in vision and hearing. After, seizures, changes in personality, stronger headaches, bleeding from the ears and eyes and high blood pressure. All of the kids that had it ended up dying in a matter of a few months."
"So how did Sam survive that?" I ask
"After the agreement that Queen Kristen made, we got access to better technology and medicine to fight that disease. After many years of research, many failed attempts during the years, someone, Dr. Leif, found a solution. The only way was to replace the imperfect part of the brain with a device that would increase and stabilize it's performance."
"So he performed that on Sam to save her life?" I ask.
"Yes. In all secrecy, we brought Sam in and took care of her. Of course only a few people knew about it and they all had to take an Oath of silence."
"Olivia had the same disease. But her surgery wasn't as successful as others" Says Hrafnadottir.
"Wait...that explains a lot." I say, remembering how Olivia used to act in different occasions, specially during our fight. I knew that there was something wrong with her. This confirms it all.
"So you noticed it too." Says Hrafnadottir.
"Yes, I did! I'm figuring, then, that she knew about Sam." I say
"Why's that?" Hrafnadottir asks.
"She introduced The Colony to Sam. I'm now sure that she knew that Sam was a Bionic like most of you. I wonder how much more Olivia knew.
"Olivia was a hard person to keep up with. She was always trying to learn and discover things about everything around her. Ever since i knew her she was always in search of knowledge. Most of the other princesses saw her as someone dangerous because of how smart and unpredictable she could be. Even I feared she'd, one day, crave the title of Head Princess." Says Hrafnadottir.
"I didn't think she was that powerful." I say.
"More than you can imagine. I know that you are aware that she forfeited her life." Says Queen Rosalia. "She loved you. But more than you, she loved Samantha. They had a bond."
"So I was right, she knew!" I say
"She was such a curious child. She saw Samantha's surgery and from that day forward, followed her from afar." Explains Queen Rosalia.
"This is so much to digest in such a short period of time." I say as I try to assimilate all this information. "Olivia was innocent..."
"What?" Asks Hrafnadottir, confused.
"Olivia was innocent." I start crying again. "She knew that Sam was a Bionic like her. She knew that we are the daughters of the real Head Queen. She loved Sam! She wouldn't kill her no matter what! It wasn't her. I... I forced her to kill herself" i say looking at Queen Rosalia. "I killed her grandma...I killed her!"
"Come here my little girl." She says taking me in her arms, caressing my hair." You acted moved by your feelings. You didn't know better."
"I'm a monster!" I cry
"No you're not!" She shakes me. "You're Rebecca Geon "The Ravens Daughter". My Granddaughter." She takes me back again in her arms and comforts me.
"Møke, should the others know about this? She's the rightful Head Princess after all." Hrafnadottir asks.
"I think you know the answer to that question darling."
She nods. "I will have to leave you for now then. Rebecca, feel free to come see me whenever you need. We will work together as family. And for all matters and purposes, you're my Head Princess and I will respect you as such." She says kneeling and leaning her head. "Mite".
"Go Sigrún, and take care. You too Rebecca. Be strong! In time everything will come together and settled up."
"I don't know if I can..." I say
"Of course you can! You're so strong! You just don't know it yet. You have to find the strength to keep going."
"You're right." I get up and wipe the tears. "It'll take time, but I'll come around."
"You sure will, my child. Come visit me whenever you want." She says kissing me on the forehead.
I leave to the Princesses Hall where Gyda, Cecilia and other servants wait for me to go to Canteca. At the entrance some of the other Princesses are getting ready as well to go back to their Sub-colonies. They all get on their horses and go. Martha, comes to see me before going away, thanking for standing up for her brother during the meeting, telling me that it's something she won't forget. As she leaves, she gives me a look, that if I didn't know better, I'd ignore.
We get on ours horses and go away. Me, Cecilia, Gyda, my other servants as well as Olivia's mother who still mourns, in silence, her daughter's death. Everytime I look at her body in the wagon, I feel a deep pain in my heart. After realizing the mistake I made I can't stop thinking about how vicious I was towards her. The insults, the threats, everytime I ignored her when she tried to reason with me. As late as it might be for that now, I regret so much not taking time to think this through.
"Don't think about it! It was a challenge. She lost. As much as it hurts, this is our way! Embrace it." Says Olivia's mom. "
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be! And raise your head. You're a Princess now. Don't ever forget that." She interrupts.
"Yes ma'am."
"You can address me by Queen Sigrid." She says.
I nod and try not to think more about this during the rest of the way to Cantecca.
As we get close to the sub-colony, we see the big golden gates appear on the horizon, guarded by many guards who greet us by kneeling. The city looks as modern as any city on the surface, only having a mediaval norse touch that makes it rather unique. As we ride through a path that leads to the Queens Hall, everyone we cross kneel before us. A view utterly amazing.
The Hall, a thundering building, constructed in the heart of the city, surrounded by high walls, defenetly well protected. I wonder from who, or what.
With not much ceremonies we get inside and without time to pay much atention to details I'm scorted directly to my room. Obviously, all my servants follow me just like Cecilia does. The only difference is that I got used to have her around. At least to a certain point.
After dismissing everyone, Cecilia locks the door and looks at me. "I hope you understand that now you need more protection than ever." She says with a very serious tone.
"What do you mean?" I ask
"As soon as we got into the city I felt dangerous intentions coming form every direction. We are in a pitt of wolves here." She explains.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Most certain. You killed their Princess. Besides, you were introduced to the Colony as an outsider." She continues
"Ok, but I'm the Princess now. All those things shouldn't matter to them. Should it?" I ask
"I shouldn't according to their laws and tradittions. But it doesnt mean that one of them wouldn't try to kill you and be executed as the hero that killed the unwanted Princess." She explains.
"Cecilia, you should chill a bit. It has as been a rough month. Maybe you still have some pending updates or whatever." I say.
"I can assure you that all my systems are up to date. Even if you don't believe me, allow me at least to accompany you wherever you go." She requests.
"It will be like nothing as changed." I say. "Now if you excuse me, I have something important to do." I say, on my way, to unlock the door.
"Especially Gyda!" She says, stopping me.
"What are you talking about? You're the one who introduced me to her!"
"I know. And it was a mistake." She says.
"Looks like you're not perfect then. Now if you excuse me." I try to reach the door.
"That's not the point!" She stops me again.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I ask stresses.
"That song..." she says.
"What song?" I ask
"The one she sang to you yesterday before the meeting. I was passing by and heard her. I learned their language and recognized the lyrics." She says.
"Where do you want to go with this?" I ask.
"It's not a just a song. It's and ancient norse battle cry."
"A battle cry? What the fuc..."
"Yes!" She interrupts looking seriously at me. "It used to be sang to people as a message to accept their death. She's planning to kill you."
I look at her perplexed for a second. No way in hell I'd believe that someone as fragile and innocent as Gyda would plan to kill me. Like I haven't more things to worry about. Cecilia composes herself and looks at me completely inexpensive, like she's turned off or stand by.
Someone knocks the door.
"Princess." Says a soft voice with an broken English accent.
I unlock the door and open it to find Gyda on the other side standing in front of me with the most innocent and lovable look on her face smiling at me.
"Dinner. Must eat with Queen." She tells me before making way and looking down as a sign of submission.
I nod and let her guide me to the dinning room where I sit on the table, an unnecessarily large table for only two persons.
"I'm glad you accepted to join me for dinner, Rebecca." Says Queen Sigrif from the other side of the table, as she starts eating in a quite civilized manner.
"As you said, I'm a Princess now. It only makes sense that I eat with the Queen." I say, also starting to eat.
She grins and nods, not saying anything else. During most part of the dinner, the only thing heard is the sound of the forks and knifes hitting the plate, and the discreet chewing. Only the two of us in the room, each minding our own business, not even crossing eyes.
"I know who you are." She breaks the silence.
I look at her surprised, as a shiver runs down my spine. I take a sip of my ale whilst looking attentively at her. She swallows the rest of her dinner and takes a last gulp of what was left in her cup before looking at me with a slight smile in the corner of her lips.
"Your mother was my best friend. And it was my husband who saved your sister's life." She says.
"So I was told." I say avoiding eye contact.
"Look at me!" She demands. "Didn't I tell you to never lean your head!?"
"Yes, Queen Sigrid." I say as I raise my head in a slow movement and look at her.
"You're the Princess now. Besides me, there's no one above you in Cantecca." She says.
"I know that, Queen Sigrid." I answer.
"Good." She says standing up and going away. "Oh," she turn around. "I should warn you. They will try to kill you".