Free Ristèard Unwilling Empress by S.E. Smith

the survival of our planet. Once the reason for the increase in radiation was understood, my grandfather put a ban on exporting it off the planet. Unfortunately, there were others who gained great wealth from selling it,” Ristéard explained.
    Ricki nodded in understanding. “We have the same issues back on Earth,” she quietly replied. “Extensive development of certain lands and the stripping of natural resources has caused problems. Fortunately, there are people who are working to reverse some of the damage done.”
    “Yes, but your planet is now…,” Manderlin started to say, pausing when Ristéard shook his head. “Yes, well, I’m afraid if something isn’t done soon, millions will perish.” He turned and looked at Ricki with an assessing gaze before returning his attention to Ristéard. “I know there are those on the council that oppose you and wish to overthrow you, Grand Ruler, but I have no such desire. I fought beside your grandfather when we were boys. He was a proud man and I respected him. The only reason I was voted onto the council was because the others thought I was too old to be a threat. I may be old,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes, “but, I am far from being dead.”
    Ricki’s light, amused laughter filled the air, pulling an immediate response from him. She grinned at the elderly councilman, looking at him with a warmth that made Ristéard wish she were gazing at him instead.
    “The reason I suggested that Councilman Manderlin remain is because I think there might be more hidden in the ancient city,” Ricki admitted in a soft voice, turning to stare at Ristéard. “I was reading over the report you had from the scientists studying the ancient city where the tablet was found. There was a set of symbols on the side of the tablet.”
    Ristéard waved his hand in dismissal. “I know. Rue and his mate stated it was too damaged to interpret,” he interrupted.
    “It is true that most of the symbol was eroded, but not all of it,” Ricki stated. “There was enough of it to recognize the symbols. I was able to match them to the tablet found by the Kassisan scientists.”
    Ristéard frowned, studying Ricki’s determined face. “What do you mean ‘enough to recognize’?” He asked, staring at her intently.
    Ricki’s eyes locked with his for what seemed like minutes, when in fact it was mere seconds. He saw the intelligence, the determination, and the trace of stubbornness that re-enforced his belief that he had made the right decision to kidnap her. The strange feelings that had plagued him ever since he saw her standing in the large tent back on Kassis swept through him. What was it about her that kept him off-balance?
    He watched as she forced her eyes to break contact. She slid the tablet in front of her across the table. He glanced down at it. His gaze locked on the side-by-side images. One was a more intact tablet. He couldn’t read the ancient writing, but the writing was very similar. Running vertically along the side was another set of symbols. He glanced at the ones on the intact tablet before glancing at the tablet found in the Eastern desert. The first ten symbols were identical.
    “What do they mean?” He murmured in fascination.
    “I think they are coordinates,” Ricki replied. “I’ve used the key the scientist used to decipher the tablet. If you touch the bottom, it will show you what I believe the damaged message says. It is a series of numbers. I took the liberty of plugging the numbers into the map you have on your tablet and it pinpointed a location not far from the underground city that was marked on the map.”
    Ristéard scowled at Ricki. “You know that was secured information you were reading, don’t you? I am the only one who had access to it,” he stated, sitting back and folding his arms. “Remind me to ask you when we are alone how you were able to not only log in to my tablet, but how you were able to access classified data as well.”
    His