The Legacy Chain Pt4

The ongoing struggles of a youngling soon to come of age, and the decisions that come with being an adult in the Legacy's society.

Zora awoke to the scent of herbal tea, and a slight pang in her stomach. "Oh, Im starving too." she muttered as she tried to rise from the bed only to stop and moan. "My head." she complained, rubbing her temples.

"Here my dear, drink this." Elder Toma tried to hide the worried look, but she knew Zora would read it in an instant.  "It has some medicine in it so it might taste a little bitter."

"Not going to make me sleep more is it?" Zora complained as she took the clay cup and sniffed at it. "Oh, herbal tea too! I really must be sick." her grey eyes sought out her mothers, sensing worry but nothing else Zora nodded once and took a sip.

"We have guests as well, members of the Council to see you."

"Why would they be here to see, me?"

"That my child you will have to discovery from them."

Elder Toma reached behind her to a battered dressor and retrieved a place of food cubes. Zora recognized them from the batch she had taken from the hover tank, her stomach growling in anticipation.

"Here, I saved you some dinner." her mother smiled as she handed over the shiny silver plate, another item Zora had retrieved. Thinking about it Zora realized that most of the things in their posession she had scavenged from the past 5-6 years. And now she was on the cusp of be becoming a woman and joining the workforce with the others. Assuming she past her test tomorrow, if not she would be exiled. If you cannot work then you were a liability and Sector 43 citizens could not afford liabilities.

Pushing the thoughts from her mind Zora finished off the food cubes and the tea before checking herself to make sure she was presentable. It must be official buisness if Councilmen were here, probably had to do with her choice of mate. Yes, she thought, that was probably their focus and deep down inside she hated them for it.

"Im ready, I think." she gave her mother a half smile, not really sure if she was ready or not.

"You will be fine my dear, just try not to anger them." her mother's tired smile was reassuring. It meant that she wasn't concerned with whatever it was they wanted or what her daughter might do or say. She nodded, her tight bun bobbing up and down wtih satisfaction.

 

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Upon entering the living area Zora felt the three men and their tension hanging in the air. They were determined to not back down, she thought as she moved closer to the couch facing the fireplace. The three of them rose, in respect for Elder Toma she thought, or the fact that she herself was in line to be the eventual leader. Hopefully not for many more years, she thought quietly and bowed her head in respect.

"Please Zora, have a seat." the eldest motioned to a nearby seat to their left. Elder Toma didn't wait for an invite, she sat down to their right and sighed heavily as he bones gave little popping sounds of protest.

"Whats this all about." Zora asked tentatively as she sat down. She realized she was still dressed in her camo gear, the jump suit changing colors to match the chair. Sitting perfectly still one wouldn't be able to tell she was there except for her head and hands.

"We are just going to get right to the point." Elder Van, the younger of the three, spoke first and sat on the edge of the couch. "We uh..., well, its like this. We would like for you to agree to the union of you and Gregor. He is the strongest and you are next in line of succession after your mother here. The Council believes it would be to the entire Sections advantage and would make us stronger."

Zora's eyes narrowed before glancing over to her mother, who seemed completely mezmerized by the warming fire. She was on her own, but thats something Zora was used to. They had trained her for recon at the age of 12, and had pretty much sent her out on her own to collect what the Sector civilians needed while the adults worked to expand downward and outward per tradition. At the same time Zora realized this was a test. She could feel it somehow, not only from them, but her mothers actions as well.

"I will..." she hesitated, surprised that she was even saying the words, "take it under advisement." Would they force her, she thought as she kept her face a blank mask. All three men seemed satisfied, nodding and beaming their approval... she hated them in that moment.

 

 

After she had shown then out, her mother apparently had fallen asleep in her chair, Zora sat back down in the chair to sulk and think. She just couldn't believe that this was happening to her, and it was her worst nightmare come true.

"Always remember my dear," Elder Toma said quietly, her sharp eyes on Zora held no hint at all of tiredness, "not everything works the way we want them to."

"But Gregor..." Zora whined, sounding very much like a child she realized to late.

"I know daughter, I know. But keep your wits about you and you will make your own destiny." Her mother said as she rose, her old bones once more giving protest. It would not be long before she passed on to the next plane, Zora thought sadly and she would be left in charge.  'Dad,' she thought sadly, remembering only tiny snatches of him, but she remember his feel in her mind, 'why did you have to leave? Why did you have to go exploring...'  She smiled as she realized the answer was inside her. It was the same desire she felt when she volunteered for scouting duty, the chance to see something new was to much to deny.

Maybe she could leave, follow in her Dads footsteps, but the idea died as fast as it grew. Her mother needed her to much and she remember the grief Mother Toma went through after the month of him being gone and his declaration of death. She had folded on the spot and was not seen by anyone but Zora for a month.  No, there was no putting her Mother through that.

"Do you WANT me to do it?" she asked before her mother had left the room. Her voice was small, her legs tucked up to her chest with the firelight flickering in her eyes. Elder Toma turned slowly, a strange half smile on her face as she regarded her only child.

"You, my love, can choose to do anything you like." she said, "It's more of a choice then anyone gave me or your father, but we turned out all right. Just follow your own heart, and you will find your way." and with that she left for her bedroom to get some real rest.

Zora sat for some time watching the fire burn...

 

Author's Note

Please send constructive criticism, Im always open to help with my story.