The Lost Queen Book 2 - Kehlani

55. Vows

An hour later, we're all around the command room table watching the planet get smaller.

Alden stands up with a paper. "The vows are not done. But I'm still working on them." He sits back down.

Alkawn nods. "He's got a while until he's as good at giving speeches as you are, Ken."

"He just doesn't know how to add in the nothing talk yet. Allow me to assist." Daddy stands up. "Thank you all for joining us on this ship my daughter hasn't named yet. I shall call it ship for future reference. But today is a joyous occasion. We are traveling across the universe together. At this point, I would like to point out how important it is that we remain together. Family and friends are all we really have. But I digress. Thank you all for joining us on Ship. We are traveling today to another planet. We will visit friends and other family there. Family and friends that we have not seen in a very long time. We bring gifts for gracious hosts while we are there."

"Ok, wrap it up, old man. We're not going to live forever." Tim rubs his eyes.

"Of course." Everyone laughs. "While we are on this joyous journey to visit friends and family in a far away world that we have not seen in a very long time. King Alden will be working on our newest vows for our queen. Vows that take time and concentration to write. We must allow quiet time to focus on this journey."

"He just told us all to shut up and leave Alden alone, so he can write the vows." Alkawn rubs his eyes.

Tim cracks up laughing. "At least he did it nicely this time."

Alkawn stands up. "Thank you sir for that wonderful speech. I'm sure it could have gone on for another 3 hours, but Alden needs quiet time to focus now."

Momma laughs and her head falls back. "Remember when he talked for 2 hours about the importance of birthdays at that poor child's birthday party?"

Tim rubs his eyes. "I'll never forget it. He bored the kids to sleep."

Daddy shakes his head. "They needed a nap anyway."

Alkawn nods. "It was after that we learned to tell him to finish talking."

Elroy busts out laughing. "Wrap it up old man, we're not going to live forever. There are a few people I'd like to say that to sometimes."

Alkawn nods. "Just say it. You'll be surprised how effective it is."

"Yea, they'll stare at you in shock the first few times you say it. It confuses the hell out of them. After that, they realize they are taking too long to say whatever it is they're trying to say."

"What in the world? Vows aren't supposed to be that long, boy."

"There are multiple levels, daddy. Leave him to his quiet focus time."

"Why are there different levels?"

"I am a high queen or a queen of queens. I can rule different planets. The people who vow their lives to me will be right under me in the chain of command. They will be kings and queens. They will rule planets. They will abide by my laws. They will rule planets in my name. They will be given top level clearance and they will have my attention. I will always help them. They would vow to never hurt me intentionally. They will vow to help their planets. If they are confused about something, they will bring it to my table or the table of kings. The vow will be broken only upon death. Next level vow would essentially be table members or close people but not willing to vow until death. They would not rule planets for me. But they would still have a lot of clearance. They would work as my assistant or on my table, something like that. 3rd level vow could work in my buildings or ship. They would have clearance in only the area they work in. Think cafeteria supervisor or building supervisor. I still want them to vow not to hurt me or steal from me. But if they find a better job, I don't expect them to give up their lives for me. 4th level would be 1 step above submission. They could work in common jobs. Or help with transporting our trade, things like that. Think the castle builders and servants. Submission is simply acknowledging me and Alden's rule and trying not to piss us off."

Alden rubs his eyes. "I only have 3 levels."

I take his papers. "I'll look at these. You go work on designing the trade ships. Or transportation stuff."

He nods and walks out. I know this is making his head hurt. Trade ships will be good for him.

I sit down. "Ok help. He's about to start slamming stuff around."

"Well, you threw in a whole other level woman."

"I didn't know that, Victor. So, what do all vows have? What needs to be on each level?"

Momma smiles at me, "I will not steal high-value items or money from Kehlani or Alden. This includes all of their accounts."

"High value?"

"You don't want people dropping dead because they walked off with your pen baby."

"I will not intentionally mentally or emotionally harm Kehlani or Alden."

"Not physically?"

"No. It's all fun until Tera kicks your leg to get your attention, and she kicks a little too hard. She had intention to kick. The vow would break. However, if she walks up to you and kicks you as hard as she can on purpose, that's emotional harm. That is hurting you."

Daddy smiles. "It's like sword fights, if you want to duel with someone, and they slice you open, that's intentional physical harm. They drew the sword against you intentionally. You were injured. Now if Elek drew a sword right now and stabbed you, that's emotional harm. You trust him, and he will break that."

"I will not conspire to kill or injure Kehlani or Alden."

"I will not conspire to overthrow Kehlani or Alden."

"I will not attempt to seduce Kehlani or Alden. That would be more of a higher level though. Don't put that on 3 or 4."

"Why?"

"They're always going to be flirting with you."

"I don't think I need that."

"My baby, you are young and have a lot to learn. Relationships aren't always perfect. The vows will safeguard your most trusted people from ever touching you or your mate. It is 1 thing you will never have to worry about."

I shake my head fast.

Daddy rolls his eyes this time. "Say you and Tim... No we're not using Tim." Tim cracks up laughing. "We'll use Victor. Say you and Victor get stuck on a planet alone for 2 years. Can you really guarantee nothing will happen? No phone, no words from Alden at all."

"EWWW DADDY."

Victor stands up. "SHE'S MY SISTER IN LAW."

Momma cracks up laughing. "Kids are fun to explain this too."

Alkawn nods. "Yea, neither of you are getting anywhere. Maybe you should go back to Tim."

Tim loses it and daddy stands up. "I AM WARNING YOU BOY."

"What does seduce mean?"

"I'm done with this conversation with my daughter." Daddy walks out and momma loses it.

"Baby, I'll write that vow. I'm putting it on 1 and 2. They'll be around you 2 all the time. And seduce means to try and get you to like them. Or to go to bed with them. You're going to like them on occasion, and they're going to like you more than they should on occasion. But as long as everyone respects the vows, then nothing devastating happens. If you want to have a crush on someone, pick anyone other than the top tiers of your people."

"Ok."

"Finally." Momma writes as everyone laughs. "Next would be confidential items. In your position you may be told confidential information. You will not expose or talk about confidential information with anyone. Confidential will be marked by rank or position. Let's work on 1 for a bit. That is your kings and queens. What do you want out of them?"

"Take care of their planets. Join the king's table. Join my table. Implement any upgrades to their planets in a specified time."

"Take care of their planets how?"

"Take care of the people. Give them knowledge and tools as needed. Make sure they're not starving, or the planet isn't dying. Come up with a plan if it is. Keep peace on it. Defend it. Defend my people. All my people."

"Good. What's the king's table?"

"Table of kings."

"Not helpful baby."

"A table with kings around it."

"We'll come back to it. What's your table?"

"My table. Like with Alden at the castle. My rank 1 and 2. Maybe some others. Assistants. Bryan is there. He's the money person. It's my people."

"That is easy. Who's at the king's table?"

"The kings."

"How often does the kings table meet? And who is at that?"

"All the rank 1 people. We could summon it for new technology. But the rank 1 people can summon it too. So, if someone finds out a meteor is about to hit 1 of their planets, he can summon the king's table. We can sit down together and figure out a plan."

"Rank 1 can summon it for emergency use."

"Or they can plan it. If they need trades for a material or something. Say Tobias needs ore of some kind. He can summon the meeting and ask if anyone has it on their planets."

"Now, back to your table. Rank 1 would not be required there?"

"Not unless I summoned a full table. I have my planet. You have your planet. You don't have to come and discuss the problems on my planet with me. You're welcome to. But I would not require you to sit on my planet. I would rather you take care of your planets. Tell me if you need help. Show up when summoned. You would be a full king. Make your own table. Show up when summoned to mine. But right now, you at my table, it's too new to have you roaming around. We need to stick together, and you don't have your own tables yet anyway."

Alkawn nods. "What would you do with someone who vowed at rank 1 but refused planets?"

"Whatever the hell I want and a lot of confidential shit."

"Examples?"

"You could be my assistant 1 day. Escorting a cargo run the next. Security for a ball the next. Next month they could be sitting at Tobias's table because I sensed tension coming from there, and I want to make sure he's ok. Then undercover on Victor's planet because I want to make sure he's growing his tree's back. Then checking on my mining planet because a random alarm went off. And then you'll have 3 months of nothing to do because nobody needs anything. Followed by another month of pure hell where you're running your ass off trying to keep up with me."

Victor smiles. "That sounds about right. So I'll get my own table?"

"Eventually."

Tim smiles, "Everyone here is young. You all have lots to learn about being kings and queens. She's right when she says 'stay here.' You all need to learn from each other during this phase. And now I understand the king's table. When the king's table is summoned or meets, it is only rank 1 that join. Your table members will not be there, Victor. You will go alone. It is a literal table of kings."

I smile and nod. "Kings table."

Momma rubs her eyes. "You have your father's wording abilities baby. It took us an hour to figure that out. And now we have... implementing your laws. I will follow and all of my planets will implement laws set by Alden and Kehlani. I will follow all orders given by Alden or Kehlani."

"You all done yet?" Alden smirks and looks at the brain. "Print out 4 levels of vows, and we'll check it."

"Yes, sir."

"You asshole, you could have said that 2 hours ago."

"I just thought of it."

I smile. "Did you get some cargo ships?"

"Yes. Everything is perfect. Where did your dad go?"

"He ran away when we were talking about seducing people."

"He's probably looking around. I wouldn't worry about him. He might get lost. This ship is huge."

The lights turn red. "Warning: Torpedo's armed. Proceed to battle stations."

Elek jumps up and runs out. "DISARM THEM."

Alden follows him.

Victor looks around. "Are we supposed to get in the warships now?"

"I don't think so." Alkawn shakes his head. "Ship where are the battle stations?" 4 chairs and some things on the walls light up green.

Then the red lights shut off.

Tera jumps into a seat and I sit right beside her. We push the red buttons and lasers shoot out the front of the ship.

The red lights come back on. "Warning: Lasers fired. Proceed to battle stations."

We crack up laughing and shoot them some more.

Then Alden runs behind us and pulls us out of the seats. "No more shooting from the ship. Those lasers are very strong." He hands Tera to Elroy and sits me on his lap at the head of the table.

Daddy comes in with Elek and sits down. "Nobody push the flashing red buttons in the weapons room."

Alden stands up with me. "That's enough for today. We'll be at their planet when we wake up. If you go down, make sure you notify Dipak you're there before you roam around."