Old Business

A Thursday Prompt story
© 2020 by Walter Reimer


Prompt: undoing


The leopardess’ paw picked up her spoon, dipped it into the bowl of sweetener, and placed the spoonful into her cup of tea. A pause, and she stirred it as she asked, “Why are you here, Feliksha? I’m sure you have quite a bit to do.”

Felix al-Sakai smiled as he raised his own cup to his lips. He took a sip and lowered the cup. “I just wanted to see you, Mother. As I’m sure you know, we’ve moved on the Colonies and the Kashlani.”

His mother cocked an eye at him. “Yes, I learned of your plans yesterday, and then my last contact within the Admiralty went dark.” Her gaze hardened for a second before she smiled and took a drink of her tea. “You, of course, have silenced her.”

“As you’ve said, I have to start doing things for myself,” Felix said. The leopard was dressed in a light blue shirt with the Maratha gold swallowtail pennant over the left breast, and his tan trousers were tucked into soft ankle-high boots. His mother had just awakened, and was dressed in a housecoat. “That means, of course, that no one should know what I might be planning. Not even you, Mother.”

Sarafina nodded, taking another sip of her tea. The table was set for two; steaks, eggs, toast, and fruit in addition to the beverage. “Exactly as I taught you, my dear. And you’re one step away from the goal.” She smiled. “Well done.”

“Thank you, Mother.” He cut into his steak. “How is your trial proceeding?” he asked before putting the morsel in his mouth and chewing.

“Tediously.” She jabbed a toast point into the yolks of her eggs as if stabbing a prosecutor in the heart. “The court is allowing a certain line of testimony that could prove . . . delicate.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. The State Prosecutor is considering a charge of genocide.” She paused to eat some of the breakfast on her plate, and took a drink of her tea. “That, I suppose, is why you’ve had me poisoned.”

Felix glanced up at her and Sarafina chuckled. “Did you think that I wouldn’t notice? You always have sweetener in your tea.”

“I had hoped I wouldn’t be that obvious.” Her son touched his lips with a napkin. “Please don’t hate me for it, Mother. Your trial – “

“Hate you for it? Feliksha, my only concern is that you may have waited too long.” She carefully maneuvered some of her egg onto a piece of toast and munched placidly, following it with another sip of tea. She then refilled the cup and pointedly added another spoonful of the sweetener. “The trial was becoming a bore, and a potential embarrassment to you. You’re this close,” and she held her thumb and forefinger almost touching, “to claiming the throne and being given it by acclamation. You don’t need me any longer.” She sipped at her tea and set the cup aside. “What type of poison did you use?”

His ears dipping, he told her, and she nodded. “Fairly swift, and painless.” She smiled. “Don’t look so glum, my son. You’re doing exactly what I would have done, and I am glad that you’re doing it.” She looked at her breakfast. “Do I have time to finish? The steak is superb.”

Despite himself, Felix smiled, “All the time in world, Mother.”

She chuckled. “Good. I should like to savor my final meal. Now, listen closely, my son, I have a few things still to tell you, and I hope you won’t mind if I talk with my mouth full.”


end