Chapter Four

H arwin was flushed , throbbing, and panting when he lifted his head. Ra had banked heat in his eyes. “So, you taste wonderful and bright.”

She licked her lips. “That is astronomically unlikely.”

Ra chuckled. “The professor did his research. You would have been an inexact match at the worst but still a match.”

“Oh. That is why he waited.”

“Correct. He was waiting for you. When you opened the doors, you proved his selection was accurate.”

“Why did you set up that door?”

“Because I hoped that your people would find me. I missed them.”

She stared into his face and blinked. “You actually do. How long were you there?”

“I saw many civilizations rise and fall and explored many of your settlements. I am guessing you are descended from a colder area.”

“Yes.”

“So, this manner of dress may be jarring for you.”

“It’s warm here, so aside from the irritation to my skin, it’s fine.”

He chuckled. “Fine. No more beads. Solid fabric or metal only.”

“Thank you.”

“So, are you willing to negotiate now?”

“What?”

“I will tell you what I want, and you tell me what you want and ask any questions that you have. The bot is listening, and we will dictate the contract.”

“Oh. Um. I want to be able to use my new skills. I want to explore the world I am on. Keeping contact with my friends is important. I also want my name recorded somewhere so that it will live after I am gone.”

He nodded. “I will also add food and clothing and transport to your side of the contract.”

“Oh, right. I forgot about that. I am a bit hungry. Oh, can I get knowledge of hieroglyphics and hieratic? I am pretty sure that we got some stuff wrong.”

“Of course. Anything else?”

“Can we circle back when I know what you want?”

He nodded. “We can. I want your body when I or you have a need. If you are going to feel pleasure, I want to be with you. I need to be with you.”

She blushed and nodded as he continued.

“I will choose your clothing for formal events and anything special I have in mind.”

“Acceptable.”

“You will travel with me as I am in contact with the other worlds in my system, and they are all eager to see me again.”

“Right.”

“When we have acclimated to each other, I would like three children during the course of our contract.”

“Oh. Well, that is probably doable if we are compatible.”

“I have always wished for a large family.” His voice was shy.

“Large? Oh, you are serious. Three? Over what period?”

“The next two centuries.”

“Oh. That is reasonable. I thought you meant in the next five years.”

He frowned. “For a Hmrain child, that is too soon. You will be depleted.”

“Ah. Okay. I come from what was a big family. We were scattered across the globe and all went out one by one.”

“How big?”

“I was one of eight.”

He blinked. “Oh.”

“Two sets of twins and four singles. All born in a decade. Mom was fine, but Dad did a lot of the childcare, and they were both happy.”

His face was shocked. “That is...”

“Mom and Dad both had large families and wanted to continue the trend. They had chosen careers that would help them support the children, and they planned for us. Celebrations were huge, and the affection was plentiful. Then my parents died, and we scattered around the world. And then the world ended.” She sighed. “So, I had always hoped I would have a big family and start new traditions of my own.”

“What was your family name? I will have the bots carve it into the walls.”

She smiled softly and met his gaze. “Harwin.”

Understanding flared. “Ah. What was your name before?”

“It doesn’t matter. I am Harwin now.”

He nodded. “We will record their names as well. All of them.”

She blinked as tears welled up. She breathed slowly and nodded. “Thank you.”

He continued on with her bond fund, as she would be re-entering the bond state to be legally his responsibility and under his protection.

Harwin nodded and considered the situations she had been in, and Ra and Aten were a safer bet for longevity. She suddenly understood the basic drive to reproduce. It was hope for the next generation. She had been living without hope. Her government was shit, her work situation was shit, and when she thought of her future, it hadn’t formed anything other than a grey wall. Her siblings had tried to start families, but she had no idea if her nieces and nephews had made it off-world with their parents.

She tried to focus on her name and pulled it around her. The possibility of a child had an appeal it never had before. She wanted to put some part of her out into the universe because there was no other person to do it. It was her. She had a chance to create another overlord who would take the memory of her into the future. She wanted to be remembered. She wanted Earth to be remembered. The Harwins needed to be remembered. Another generation might help.

She felt his thumb on her cheek, and he kissed her softly. “You have lost much and done what you could to keep it. I understand. But the future will come no matter what we do. That is why I rested. The future held nothing for me until you opened that door.”

“That puts a lot of pressure on me.”

He chuckled. “That will come in time. At first, things will be light.”

“Light?”

“Light contact as I learn what will give you pleasure.”

“Ah. Right. That.”

“It disturbs you? It is how we were designed. If it is truly upsetting, I can consume blood as well.”

“Right. Janessa mentioned that.”

“It seems you had a thorough discussion.”

“She was chatty.”

He chuckled. “Well, at least you know it isn’t fatal, though if it is my only sustenance, I will take from you more regularly.”

“I see. Is that going in the contract, too?”

“I did mention it.”

“I think I got sad and zoned out.”

He stroked her cheek and leaned in to inhale. “Yes, you are a little disoriented and are in no shape to be signing the contract.”

“Are my rations nearby? I am rather hungry.”

“There is fresh food for you. The bots will prepare it until staff are acquired from the other worlds in this system.”

“Staff? For one building?”

“Oh, no, Harwin. I am waking this world for you. You will be able to populate it with whatever you like. You really were not listening?”

She looked at him and shook her head. “No. Wait. Do you mean humans?”

“If you like.”

“How many can I bring?”

“Fifty thousand if you can find them.”

She stared. “When?”

“As soon as we have completed ratifying our contract through body or blood.”

She fought the urge to jump him and give herself an internal injury.

“But for now, a meal is being prepared. It is nutritious but more of what I remember from your world.” Ra smiled. “So, if you do not care for it, they will provide something else.”

“Why am I sitting in this position?”

“Because I am monitoring your vital signs.”

“How?”

He turned his wrist and flexed his forearm, and a display in ancient Hmrain glowed. “Here.”

“Did you ever meet your designers?”

He smiled. “I did. I was the first, so they made me invulnerable and beautiful, but they needed to learn how species would react to me, so I travelled. Hundreds of worlds, thousands. I visited them all, and my body recorded their reactions to me. There was anger, disgust, worship, lust. They recorded it all and used it for the next Hmrain and all those who followed. I hear they have increased production on my kind.”

She blinked. “Oh. You were a prototype. So, they crafted you guys to eat everything?”

“Yes. Food will sustain us, but blood and emotion power us.”

“Oh, and you were worshipped as a god for thousands of years.”

He smiled. “It had an effect, but this system was my final home. My resting mind has guided my worlds, and now, they are sending staff to take care of my household.”

“Oh. That’s... you weren’t asleep?”

“Sleep wasn’t programmed into us. Hmrain will rest to let our body recover from injury, but sleep is difficult to achieve.”

“Got it.”

He nodded. “Now, we need to get you food. You cannot absorb my mood as I can yours.”

She agreed. “Right. So, where do we need to go?”

He rotated his fingers, and a door popped up nearby with bots pouring out. The bots carried plates and bowls of food that looked foreign and familiar at the same time. The scent of honey was heavy in the air.

A bowl was brought to her, and she washed her hands. She looked at Ra. He nodded calmly. “You will feed me as a handmaid should.”

“Interesting. I think I might trash my outfit.”

“Try not to.”

The bots gathered around, and she asked, “Do I have to go in any particular order?”

“No. Take what appeals.”

She smiled and reached for the roasted vegetables. She held something that looked like a sweet tuber in her fingers. “How does a handmaid feed an overlord?”

“With your mouth.”

“Of course.”

She took the piece of what tasted like sweet potato and held it in her teeth as she raised her head to his, and he took the food with his teeth. He chewed slowly. “Your duty is done; eat anything that appeals without sharing.”

“Um. Okay.”

“I do not require food. I am just instilling the behaviours I wish you to demonstrate in front of others.”

“Great.” She ate some more of the sweet potato and then moved to the grilled sweet green onions. “How will that work with soup?”

He chuckled. “I am sure you will figure it out.”

She shrugged and mumbled, “I will ponder it.”

The food was good. There was very little meat, but the flavours were all familiar. She felt tears run down her cheeks again but kept eating. The honey-covered locusts took some getting used to, but the honey was delightful and gave her memories of thousands of flowers. It tasted like home.

When her belly was full and she had cleaned her hands again, she slumped, and Ra was slowly rubbing her back. “Had enough?”

She nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

“Would you like a tour of my private study?”

“This? This is your study?” The garden, river, and private sun made her think of a beautifully lazy day at home. It even smelled like Earth.

“It is. I found your people soothing and knew I would miss the surroundings when I left, so I brought samples home and recreated it. It reminds me of those I left behind.”

“Why were you so attached to them?” She had to know.

“They made me feel. They were bright and happy and planning for futures that they couldn’t imagine yet.” He smiled. “I made this place to remind me of them, and it seems to settle you as well.”

“I went to Egypt once. I saw the pyramids, the Nile, the endless sand.” She smiled and looked around. “No hippos or crocodiles, though.”

“No. I did not consider it wise to bring them here.” He stroked her back. “Did you like the pyramids?”

“Yes. I am several generations removed, but there was a grandmother on my mother’s side who was swept into the arms of a traveller and ended up in Europe.”

“You will show me where these places used to be?”

“Of course. So, are we going for that walk?”

He nodded and stood. She slid to her feet as he surged upright and waited. She couldn’t see a particular path through the grass, so she waited for him to make a move.

Ra ruffled his wings slightly and walked toward the water, gesturing for her to follow him.

She moved in behind him, but his wing scooped out and around her, pushing her up against him. “Remain with me, Harwin.”

She kept step with him as best she could while she processed what she had just agreed to and what she would get in return.

She had a budget to offer a home to humans, and she knew just who she wanted to offer a place on Aten to. More women than men had survived, and some needed more education and training than the station had been willing to offer.

Harwin looked around and felt a curl of hope in her chest. The echoes of home were everywhere. The food was familiar, and he had given her permission to bring in as many humans as her bond price would allow. That was a lot of humans. She sat at her tablet and scrolled through the list of people she was choosing to offer a position to.

The colonists were free for her, but she wanted them educated and trained in whatever ways they wanted. She had an idea that she had to run past Ra, but she wasn’t sure how he would appreciate a women’s shelter on his world. She had a plan for the ladies and children but hadn’t signed the contract yet.

She put in her search criteria and watched the names of available humans scroll up. They couldn’t be mated to a human, couldn’t be mated to a Hmrain, and they had to be willing to leave their post. The bond auction would contact the people she had on the list, and if they wanted to relocate, they could. Next, she had to get places to put them, but Ra had said something about waking Aten. She didn’t know what that would entail.

“Harwin?”

“Yes, Overlord?”

“Come with me. There is a change of clothing waiting for you, and our contract is ready.”

She nodded and got up, carrying her tablet. “I have located about twenty thousand humans who are likely candidates.”

“Good. The Grand Vizier has been appointed and will be here in a few days.”

“Oh. Is that good?”

“Yes, it means I can assist you in settling your people.”

“Oh. Right.”

“First, we will get you more comfortable then sign the contracts, and after that, I am going to show you part of the world as it wakes.”

“Wow. So soon.”

He smiled. “I have waited long enough.”

She blinked. “Right. So, clothing?”

He chuckled. “This way.”

They walked through the pyramid and up to his private quarters. There were some attendant bots and a dress with a headdress and jewellery.

“Wow. That’s a lot.”

He chuckled and turned her to him for a hug. “I want to weigh you down, so you won’t fly away.”

“Big talk from a man with wings.”

He chuckled, kissed the top of her head, and eased her toward the dressing bots. “As soon as you are ready, we will go to the formal chamber for the signing.”

“Where will you be?”

He sat on a backless stool. “Right here. There is no way I will miss a moment of you.”

She sighed and walked to the bots. They fixed her hair and removed the wide collar and then the belt and wrapped skirt. Even the sandals were untied, and her balance was assisted as they were removed.

Harwin was ushered into a cleaning unit, and she spread her feet and gripped the handholds she could reach. She closed her eyes and lifted her chin, and the flash that happened made her skin tingle.

She exited, and one of the bots rubbed oils into her hair and attached new gold strands. Avoiding Ra’s gaze, she stretched out her arms as a finely woven linen wrap went around her with heavy jewelled pins holding it up and giving it shape. A narrow, jewelled belt cinched in her waist.

Harwin smiled at being covered finally. Her breasts really didn’t like those beads. The next collar was heavy. The cuffs were solid, and the anklets were a series of links that made a slight tinkling sound as she moved. A sort of strapped-on flip-flop was on her feet, and the hair bot finally finished fussing.

“You were not kidding about the weight, Overlord.”

He smiled. “It is only fifteen pounds. You will get used to it.”

She nodded.

He beckoned to her. “Come here.”

She walked carefully in the flats and stood in front of him. She blinked when he pressed a palm to her breasts. “Your body seems more relaxed like this.”

“It is.”

He grinned and ran his hand over her body, over the clothing. “You do look stunning. Are you averse to makeup for formal occasions?”

“No, that would be fine.”

“Good. Now, we will attend to the contract details.”

He rose to his feet and took her hand, walking with her down to the throne room where the team was still working with tables of artifacts.

He walked with her to the throne and settled, pulling her onto his lap. A tablet rose from the arm of the throne, and Ra handed it to her.

The team stopped working and stared.

She looked at the contract and went over all the points, including a bonus for every pregnancy and another for each child. She was being rewarded for what her body either would do or wouldn’t do on its own. Huh.

Harwin looked over everything, including her duty to attend to him with no notice. He arranged her hair absently while she read, and she finally reached the bottom of the document and glanced at him before she signed, sealed, and ocular printed for proof.

She huffed. “There you go, Overlord Ra.”

He chuckled. “Excellent. Slide it back into the arm of the throne.”

She put it there, and it slowly descended. She looked to Ra. “What now?”

A bot flew toward them with a headpiece that made her blink. “Oh.”

Ra took the headpiece and set it on her head. The glittering gold chains covered her to her neck, the blazing sun was the centrepiece, and the band of the crown was comfortable.

“Welcome, Harwin, Queen of Aten. Now, let’s wake the world.” Ra smiled as a metal plate rose out of the same arm as the tablet had. He put his hand out and nodded to her. She held out her hand, and he put his on top and pressed it into the plate.

She waited, and then, under her hand, there was a pulse and heat, and then, he pulled their hands away.

He kissed her fingertips. “And now the mechanisms have begun to move, bringing cities back to life.”

“There was no mention of this in the contract.” She pointed at her crown.

“It is covered under clothing and accessories. We need to remind your people who you are.”

She blinked. “What?”

“Other Hmrain have consorts, but you are my queen. There is only one queen in the Hmrain, and she is mine.” He chuckled.

She swallowed. “How does that work?”

“I will explain while I show you your world. It has been a while since I stretched my wings.”

With that, he carried her out the door and into the endless light.