Nanny For The Alien General by Athena Storm
Keilon
It seems, amazingly, that I’ve managed to lose track of time. Which is nothing short of a miracle. Back in Cytheira, my days are heavily regimented, scheduled down to the very minute. As a king and general, time is the greatest commodity. There is scarcely a break from kingly duties, responsibilities of a general, functions, dinners, meeting with dignitaries, etc.
Here, time has a new measure and cadence. Days fall into night, the wind and the stars check off the hours in lazy increments. None of it really matters as long as you stay fed, warm and, shockingly, happy.
Which, I’m also discovering, is easy to do.
Now that my strength is returning, I find that I’m actually of use around here. Loudly proclaiming as such, I announced to Serafina that I wanted to help out. Earn my keep a bit. I am not used to being idle.
After a brief hesitation, she haltingly gave me a list of items she had long intended to attend to but had never found the time to complete. I was only too happy to oblige.
Fixing a patch of broken and leaky roof tiles, hunting game, reinforcing the garden walls. Each task occupied my time and energy and when I had completed them, I was amazed at how the day had flown by.
And how much I enjoyed every second.
Being out in nature as much as I have been these past few days (albeit a very small and regimented patch so as not to be discovered) and using my hands has been, quite simply, a joy. Being a King has its advantages and a part of my mind prickles at my long absence, there are aspects to this life that are almost…better.
Enough daydreaming. Get back and show off what you’ve caught.
Shaking my head, I head back to the cabin. Slung over my shoulder is a yurzon. A small, fast creature, they have fine pelts and even better meat. We shall eat well tonight.
And perhaps, if the fur is used sparingly, we can make a small pair of mittens for Serafina to last her the winter. Which is undoubtedly in the air.
Approaching the cabin, I see Serafina outside with Emex and Belanna. They seem to be deeply invested in a game of some kind. Given how much they practically worship Sera, it doesn’t surprise me.
“Now, you! What are you?” Sera asks each child. Their little bodies are contorted into all manner of silly shapes. Belanna clutches a raft of sticks in her hand, but for what purpose I can’t begin to tell.
“I’m a tree!” Emex squeaks.
“I’m a boat!” Belanna chimes in, making herself as large and tall as possible.
“Wonderful! Now, run!”
They do so, giggling the whole time.
“What’s this we’re playing now?” I ask, holding my catch over my head. Sera nods appreciatively and then says, “Shapeshifter. They have to run until I say stop and take the shape of whatever their body is doing in that moment. Then, they have to tell me what they are.”
Smiling, I ask, “But what if the shape doesn’t make sense?”
She bats at the air near me. “Doesn’t matter. The more creative the better.”
“I see,” I say, adopting a dubious face.
“Daddy, you play! You play!” Belanna coaxes, rushing past me.
“Yeah!” Emex seconds this idea.
Sera turns to me, a semi-stern expression on her face.
“Well, Daddy, are you going to join in or not?”
“Don’t have much of a choice now, do I?”
She takes my catch from me and I begin, gingerly, to run. I’m still not at full recovery but it feels good to feel my blood pumping faster as I run haphazardly around the small patch of earth around Sera’s cabin.
“Annnnnnd, stop!” Sera calls.
We all obey, our bodies in a riot of silly poses.
“What are you?” Sera asks, pointing a finger at Emex.
“A rock.”
“A cloud!” Belanna proudly proclaims this, her body wide.
“What are you?”
“I’m a lake, of course! Can’t you tell?” My body is spread wide, my arms outstretched. I even look skyward trying to make my face placid like the lake’s surface.
Belanna makes a raspberry sound. She seems to disagree.
“No, Daddy. You aren’t a lake. That’s silly.”
Emex nods in agreement.
“I’m not? Then what am I?”
“The one on top of the lake! Like you are at home!”
With that, Belanna bends her clutch of twigs into a circular shape and, to my amazement, secures it into a crude sort of crown.
“Wear this, Daddy. Like home.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I bend down to receive her gift. Once it’s on my head, the children parade around me, their grand gestures suggesting that they are wearing the heavy official robes of state.
For several moments, we all parade around in this way. To my utter joy, I realize that we are soon all laughing. Laughter that is so organic and real, I had hardly believed that I was capable of creating it in my children.
It’s only when I notice that Sera is not joining our laughter that a small stone of worry lands with a dull thud in my belly.
Looking at her, I see she has a look of concern on her face.
“Is something wrong? Am I not playing the game correctly?”
“What are they talking about? What does being ‘at home’ mean? Who are you, exactly?”
The stone grows larger. In my enjoyment with my kids I had forgotten that Sera is not privy to my actual identity yet. I had hoped to keep that secret a little longer.
Truth is, however, she deserves to know and has deserved to know for sometime now. She has proven over and over that she is worthy of it.
There’s no going back after you tell her. But, she has earned your trust.
“Well, I guess the time has come then…”
“Time for what?”
“To tell you who I really am.”
Crossing her arms, she gives me a hard look.
“Umm, yes please. If you don’t mind.
Suddenly, I find it difficult to return her gaze. I, of royal blood, find it hard to look into this human female’s eyes.
She has no power over you. Does she?
“Well, you see…I am a King. King of the Lakes, actually.”
Her face freezes. I have no idea what is going on in her head.
Emex breaks the silence.
“Are we still playing, Daddy? You make an awfully good King. Just like at home.”
