Chapter Seven – Lily

Space travel wasn't as constrictive as sitting in an airplane or car for hours to get to where you were going, but after the long trip from Earth to Bronæl, even what luxuries the ship offered wore thin quickly. Lily figured it was similar to what it would be like to live on a cruise ship. Fun to begin with, but as time went on, a change of pace was needed.

Still, there were some benefits to being back in space as opposed staying on the planet. For one thing, Efira wasn't around to torment her anymore. There were no stupid lessons where she was berated constantly. Zaner had taken over her tutoring, and she focused more on court etiquette than on any sort of scientific knowledge.

When they arrived at the planet, Lily was ready to run free and have space to just forget about politics and learning for a couple days. Until Eyrl told her what the planet was used for.

"A prison?" She gaped at him. "We're visiting a prison?"

"Yes. It's a low-level prison. These people were thieves or got into too many public brawls. Nothing serious." Eyrl shrugged as he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow.

They had already landed on the planet, and the hiss of the gangplank lessened as they walked down the sturdy metal panel. Lily peered out anxiously to see who was waiting for them. Several dragons and dragonesses – though there were certainly more males than females – stood behind a line of flashing amber lights. They didn't look like the prisoners she expected. Their clothing wasn't uniform, and they all looked neat and well-groomed.

"Bring down the supplies," Eyrl called behind him, then squeezed Lily's hand. "I've been coming to visit them for years now to let them know the crown hasn't forgotten them."

"But if they're criminals . . . " Lily trailed off as she frowned. "You said that they didn't do anything serious. Why are they hidden away on another planet?"

"Our justice system is different from Earth. You have your courts and your judges and lawyers. Trials can go on for years, correct? And then the individual can still be found innocent through appeals. We don't have that sort of thing here."

"You don't have trials?"

Eyrl pulled her to one side while Quom directed the supplies to be brought out and stacked on the opposite side of the gangplank. The prisoners muttered to each other and a few jostled to get closer, but they didn't cross the lights.

"We have trials." He released her hand. "But once there is evidence to prove that an individual committed a crime, they are given the chance to justify their actions. If they have enough justification, they are punished but allowed to pursue their lives. If not, they are removed from society. There are no rehabilitation programs like what you have on Earth."

Lily's jaw dropped. "And these people – they were sentenced here for what? What sort of stealing?"

"Small things. Food, clothing, other things that are handed out to the population for free." Eyrl caught the look in her eye and shook his head. "I don't like it, either. After having studied Earth's programs, I've decided that they are deeply flawed and not much actual good for the majority of those who are incarcerated, but the idea is a good one. I want to implement such a program here with our people."

"And all criminals, no matter how small the crime, are put on different planets?"

"Yes."

She shook her head, unable to process what she was being told. How could people as scientifically advanced as the Stlozyn decide that it was a good idea to isolate literally every petty crime and give it the same punishment as murder? "Do killers get put with the thieves, too?"

"No. Each planet has its designated severity. The worst offenders are not brought supplies and are left to fend for themselves since they turned their back on civilized behavior." Eyrl's eyes flashed for a moment and he shook his head. "It is open to a lot of corruption, though, as we discovered recently. It's one of the things I want to change."

Lily nodded as she folded her arms. The robes she had chosen to wear – blue, with flowing sleeves that reminded her of something out of Lord of the Rings – billowed around her as a wind picked up. It was a good thing that someone else recognized how awful it was. Her scowl deepened.

"This is pretty barbaric for a supposedly superior species, you know."

Eyrl laughed and turned to her. He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and her stomach quivered. Where his fingers brushed her skin, everything tingled pleasantly and she chewed on her lip. She was almost disappointed with how slowly things were moving between them. Logically, she knew that her emotions couldn't handle going any faster right now. As she got to know him better, she became more relaxed around him, but if they had had sex already, she’d have been a mess, wondering if her deepening feelings were just hormones.

She did like him, though. And hearing about his plans to help these people made her like him even more. The smile remained on his face – the most relaxed expression she'd ever seen on him.

"No species is superior to another. Yes, we might be more technologically advanced, but you are more socially advanced. Other species have more advanced senses. Now come, I want to introduce you."

The prisoners all watched them as Eyrl led her to the front of the platform but inside the amber lights. Curiously, she waved her hand over it, seeing if it created some sort of barrier. There was nothing there, and yet the prisoners all stayed back.

"Greetings," he called. "I would like to introduce to you my mate and future queen consort, Lily Hunter. She is a human from Earth, come to learn more about our society with me on this visit. Please welcome her and treat her with the dignity she deserves as your queen."

There was no response from them at all. Lily wasn't sure what she was meant to say or do, so she just waved at them with a nervous smile. A few of them continued to stare at her, but their attention shifted to the supplies being unloaded and they began to talk amongst themselves. Eyrl brought her back to the ship, to where Zaner waited.

The prince kissed her cheek and squeezed her hand. "I have a few things to look over and I must get the proper agreements for the prisoners to consent to my program before I submit a request to the Justice, Social and Science boards for permission to proceed. In the meantime, you can stay on the ship, or if you want to explore, take a couple of the Justice Keepers and Zaner with you."

"Thank you." She kissed him again before he walked away. Lily watched him for a moment before turning to Zaner. "Well? What do you want to do?"

"I will do as you command, my lady."

Lily sighed. "I command you to tell me what you want to do. And be honest."

The old dragoness glanced at the faces around the ship and shook her head. "I want to stretch these old legs of mine and breathe some natural air. But to go wandering around a prison—"

"We'll have an escort." Lily glanced around, but all of the Justice Keepers were busy so she shrugged. "We'll just have to wait for them to be ready to escort us. So, what do you think of this place?"

Zaner glanced at her briefly before looking out at the sea of faces. She folded her arms. "I believe that a punishment should be delivered for a crime and that the crime should determine the punishment."

"So you think that someone who steals a loaf of bread should be kicked out of society?"

"Stealing food is not necessary. It is provided for. No one goes hungry."

Lily shook her head. "There is a difference between not going hungry and having food that you enjoy and feel satisfied with."

"This is the way it's been done for years."

"And a culture that doesn't change will inevitably collapse." Lily turned to her, standing straighter so that her small stature looked a little larger. "If they can't adapt to a changing society and attitudes, then they will fall. Nothing can stand stagnant forever and remain strong. It's very similar to evolution in that way. Species adapting to different niches and flourish while the ones that don't adapt die off. Even creatures like crocodiles that have been virtually unchanged since the dinosaurs roamed the planet are in danger of being wiped out because they can't adapt to the changes that humans have caused on the planet."

A brief smile crossed Zaner's face and she brushed her fingers on Lily's cheek. The affectionate gesture surprised her. The dragoness quickly dropped her hand and stepped back. "Don't get too smart, Lily. The boards don't want a queen consort who can outthink them."

"Is that a compliment or a warning?"

Zaner didn't reply.