Rose shook her head, “You know the danger inherent in Cassandra’s lack of control of her power. The stresses of the crown would be too much for her. They have agreed to extend their lives if you will accept this responsibility. Cassandra wants to see the child in her vision and will wait until he arrives. However, the Realm has voted unanimously that they want the two of you to be the Royal Couple leading the Realm toward its coming confrontation with the Eight Legs. They call upon you to serve.”
Tag looked at Danielle and took a deep breath, “It will only be until Cassandra’s coming child reaches maturity; he can replace us at that time.”
Danielle looked at Rose and asked, “Are you going to extend your life?”
“No, I do not want to live longer than my children. I have no need to live that long and Michael agrees. You must accept; the Realm needs a warrior to lead it and I am not a warrior.”
Danielle move forward and embraced her daughter, “We will reluctantly accept, Darling. All I’ve ever wanted is your happiness.”
“Being with my children for the time that remains in a normal human life span is what I desire most.”
Danielle looked at Tag and shrugged. Tag looked at the First Family’s representatives and said, “We will accept your decision. We will do all we can to protect the Realm against the coming storm.”
The entire assembly rose and cheered. Danielle held Rose and thought to her, “You gave them the idea, didn’t you?”
“Yes, Mom, I lied about not having a vision.” Danielle stepped back from Rose and looked her in the eye. “I saw Dad and you leading the Stars Realm a thousand years from now. You have to do it or the Realm will die.”
Danielle pulled Rose close and nodded already missing her daughter knowing she would die long before the thousand years was over.
Tag stood and Danielle was brought back to the present. It was this kind of moment that showed her why she loved him so much. She was proud of him beyond measure and the Realm’s decision twelve hundred years earlier to select a warrior to lead them into the future was vindicated in this moment.
Tag saw her admiration and felt twenty five years old again, “We will fight this fight. I stand with you, Matthew Anglo Gardner and I welcome you into the Royal Family. You are hereby selected to succeed me as the Realm’s ruler at the conclusion of this nightmare and I charge you to protect it as we have. Please bow.”
Matt was stunned. He didn’t want this responsibility. The King and Queen stood and walked around the table to his chair followed by the representative of the Glod Union and Cainth Empire. Matt rose from his seat and bowed before them. Thomas Gardner drew a fencing sword from a scabbard at his waste followed by the Glod drawing a Glod long sword and the Cainth drawing a short sword. The huge Glod tapped him on both shoulders with the long sword followed by the Canith and then Tag tapped him on each shoulder, “I hereby name you Prince Matthew Anglo Gardner, defender of the Realm, and charge you with the safety and well being of all its subjects. Your decisions will be followed by all and we charge you to continue the Prime Directive of the Royal Family to protect the life of the Realm and all those that cannot protect them self.”
Matt was humbled by the words. This was too much for him to take on but then he thought about Angel and knew he could not decline the title; it would diminish her sacrifice. He said, “I swear to keep the faith of the Realm and do all within my power to protect her.”
“Please rise, Prince Gardner.”
The first to arrive to congratulate him was Anglo. “I have been waiting for you, cousin. Welcome to my family.” He stepped forward and embraced Matt. The rest of the room joined Anglo in greeting the Royal Family’s newest member.
Stem and Al watched the meeting from orbit and Stem said, “I hope we’re not demanding too much from him at this sad time.”
“I believe he needs this, Stem. It gives reason to Angel’s loss and he needs something to take his mind away from her death.”
“You’re probably right, Al. Take care of him; the life of our universe is depending on him.”
“I will. I also depend on him.”
“You need each other, Al.”
“More than you know, Stem.”
Chapter 12
Matt, Al, and Stem were watched the feed coming from the second planet the invaders attacked. Matt commed General Durk who had assumed command of all armed forces until a new commander could be selected to replace him. “Are the ships in place, General?”
“Yes Your Grace, we have five Searcher class ships waiting for them to depart this system. They will jump in and hit the mother ship when it clears the jump limit.”
“Make sure they jump away fast.”
“They have already programmed their jumps.”
“Thank you, General.”
Matt turned back to the feed and watched the large troop carriers descend toward the planet. As he watched, something troubled him and he couldn’t quite determine what it was. It was like a bug flying around your head; you’d swat at it and after a moment it would reappear.
“Want to talk about it?”
“Al, I don’t know what to talk about. Something about this attack is bothering me.”
“I can see that. Ever thought about asking for help?”
“Who?”
“Let me see if I can remember the exact words, “The Royal Family has the most powerful psychics in this universe.”“
Matt snickered and Stem said, “Boy, you are dramatic.”
“No he’s not Stem.”
“I’m not,” Al said.
“No, I think you have a good idea. Matt thought, “Pardon me Your Majesty but do you have a moment?”
“I do, Matt but from this moment on you will call me and my wife by our first names. Agreed?”
“Yes Your Majes…, I mean, yes Tag.”
“What do you need?”
“I’m having a nagging feeling about the attack we’ve planned on the Eight Legs when they leave the system they are currently attacking. Something just doesn’t feel right.”
Tag remained silent for a moment and then said, “You should call off the attack.”
“Why?”
“Let me help you learn how to use one of your talents.”
“By all means.”
“I want you to clear your mind and get a clear sense of how much immediate danger you sense to the Realm at this moment; got it?”
Matt closed his eyes and replied, “Yes I do.”
“Now I want you to think about making the planned attack and sense if that level of danger changes.”
Matt thought about it and said, “No, no change.”
“Now think about canceling the attack.”
“Holy Groad.”
“Ah, you can feel it can’t you?”
Stem thought, “What do you feel?”
“The danger level dropped appreciably.”
“What else did you sense?”
“If we don’t attack, the main invasion may be delayed.”
“Matt, that’s what I sense when I look at it both ways. I’m not sure why that is but it appears that it won’t happen as quickly as we thought.”
“Tag, I think we need to try and figure out why that is. Al, cancel the attack.”
“Fleet command has been notified, Magic.”
“Danielle, got a minute?”
“Always time for you, love; oh hi, Matt; what are you two up to?”
“We’re trying to find the truth in a situation and you are the best at that. Matt, tell Danielle what you’ve discovered?”
As Matt explained to Danielle, Al thought to Tag, “Your Majesty, may Stem and I participate in this discussion?”
“Of course you may provided you also abide by the rules of first names only in private conversations. I recognize that in public forums titles are necessary but not among friends.”
“Then Tag and Danielle it is.”
“I see my husband has taught you how to use one of your talents.”
“Yes he has and I’m very appreciative.”