Chapter 16: Chapter 6 ( Planet: Earth, Country: Yanar, Region: Glacee, City: Paywol)

As soon as Izzy stepped foot into her room she sighs; a message from her aunt was waiting for her. She was to join her at the next war council meeting.

"For the love of the gods, what now?" She threw her arms in the air and fell on her bed

A few days later, dressed in a long, straight black dress with sheer lace overlay, golden embroidered draped neckline and waist with traditional black legging and combat boots, she was facing the council.

She was dressed not only to impress but also, she hoped to look older and capable to rule. 

When they see me arrive, looking like a powerful shieldmaiden, they will know that I was chosen by the gods themselves to rule. 

But when she walked into the meeting a surprise was waiting for her, bloody Hel, they clearly had the same idea as me. Look at them looking pristine in their best uniforms topped with their family insignia. OHHHH, Why do bad things always happen to me?

She pouted then finally dropped her shoulders and joined the others. The war room was a bare dark room containing retractable tables and chairs. There was not a splash of colour anywhere, or plants or even frames, to decorate the dark walls. The wall and the ceiling were in fact giant computer screens.

They scanned all participants, and their holograms were released.

"My Lords, My Ladies, I am pleased to inform you that the Yerima has secured a Petra new class glider for us," said one of the instructors.

" Zainab, my dear, congratulations, I am very proud of you, " said her aunt, the chief marshal. Izzy made a face; she hated that name; she was not too fond of Astrid either.

" Yuka Jakobsen brought it home aunty, not me. The credit belongs to her and her family. She also saved my life."

Her aunt smiled, "We took care of it dear; we will decorate her for rescuing my favourite niece and providing the empire with the latest Glider model. I was talking about putting yourself in danger to save your classmates; that is a sign of a true leader"

Izzy gave her a weak smile.

The alliance craft records every move made by each craft and its surroundings. The records showed that the cadets' positions were random and some of the flying methods were hesitant but that was not all. It was clear from the holo-footage that the Petronians had carefully planned the ambush.

The chief marshal sighed "As difficult as it is for me to say it, I am afraid the clash was not accidental. We have placed our daughters in grave danger; training in Messa was a mistake. All air force cadets are to be taking lessons from home and flight lessons in their hometown. We have also cancelled field training until further notice. I will not risk losing a single girl again."

"Air Marshal, the Petronians have violated article two of the Gulf convention. Our tactics on the battlefield will have to change," said a member of the council

"I second that" added another

They all directed their stare at Izzy. As the Yerima, she had the last word.

Since the move from Earth to Geallta, the new planet found by the Yans, it had been decided that the Yerima would be the supreme leader of Yanar while the Queen would rule over Geallta and lead their troops during intergalactic wars.

Izzy exhaled then nodded "It's decided then"

The chief marshal declared that the meeting had concluded, dismissing all except for Izzy. The participants gave the Yerima and the chief marshal a small bow and then left.

Izzy's aunt watched their exit, "Did you see what they just did?"

Izzy shrugged and twisted her palm. "They no longer have to bow properly in our presence; I blame you for that. Loose etiquette? Do you know that there was no one until your great great great grandmother added it? she had no respect for tradition"

Izzy had an exacerbated sigh, "I know! I also know the whole family is disappointed by my choices, and I am sorry about that. But aunty, I don't like the protocol and the court etiquette, I don't want fancy complicated greetings, and I definitely do not want my friends to treat me differently."

Her aunt said, "I need you to reinstate the introductory ball and I want you to join the Silk veil."

Izzy raised a brow oh Hel no, I am not being pulled into any family intrigue.

"Auntie no, not in a middle of a war," said Izzy

"He stole the throne, and I am not going to let him get away with it. My daughter deserves to be the next Lamido, not his", said her aunt.

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Izzy's father and his sister were disputing the legitimacy of their brother's title.

"Aunty, the ball and the Silk Veil can be used to embarrass uncle and Ameena, but I can promise you one thing, you will come to regret it," said Izzy

"I beg to differ, reinstate the ball and the Silk Veil,"

Izzy crossed her arms "no, uncle and Ameena barely tolerate me, I will just be inflaming the situation by taking side. I have decided that the ball was unnecessary. It was a waste of time during my mother's regency, and it is a waste of time now; the next Yerima can bring it back if she wants."

"What about the Silk Veil?" asked her aunt

Izzy shrugged "you are free to keep it open"

"You know with certitude that if you do not join the club, it will no longer have any value."

Izzy laughed, "yes, I do, but this is my reign; the next Yerima is free to bring back the ball after I become queen. That goes for the Veil too."

Her aunt frowned and pursed her lips "I wish you were more like Thor."

"Snobbish, elitist, and xenophobic? No, thank you. My choice stands aunty, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I will never change my mind."

Please forgive me, aunty, I have to protect you from yourself.

The chief marshal shook her head and said, "Very well. The next subject, the Masani territories"

Izzy pulled her head back and raised a brow "Something wrong? They haven't discovered our surveillance system, have they?"

"We have received reports about a Masani group using technology that is not available in their territory. I have sent six agents and so far, five of them have already had their path to Valhalla cleared. Only one remains, I am unsure of the next step to take."

Masanies is the name given to non-Yans, it also means ordinary humans.

"a group? what do we know about them?" asked Izzy

" OH, they call themselves God's chosen and live following an ancient Nazaretheen text. They are not much of a threat to us. There have been a series of accusations of abuse and sexism but nothing that could threaten the empire...., until now."

"Until now?" asked Izzy

Her aunt nodded, "We have reasons to suspect that they have allied themselves with Petra."

Izzy started pacing around, her hands on her hips, then she stopped and faced her aunt's hologram "I'll go, if the empire is threatened then it's my responsibility, no one else."

"That can be extremely dangerous; the Masani territories differ quite a bit from ours. Their culture can feel quite alien compared to ours"

Izzy nodded "I know but I think I'll be fine. I want to do this; if someone is taking our people out, I want to be the one to put a stop to it"

Her aunt sighed "As you wish; I will have a file with all that we have gathered so far sent to you."

Izzy smiled, gave her a short bow and started to turn around when she heard "And for pity's sake, go and visit the family before you leave; they miss you."

She looked over her shoulder and winked "I promise"

Izzy walked into her quarters and smiled; the file was there as promised. She threw her bag on the floor and started studying it in detail; I guess it is off to London for me

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