When he began to speak, his voice filled the room with that same power. As he outlined his plans to involve more of the other races in the government, including opening the military to non Kaisarians, Ella studied the audience. Most of the princes from the Royal Houses were at least neutral, although several frowned and shook their heads. There were even a few who nodded enthusiastically—generally the younger and less powerful princes. The rest of the audience were more receptive, although she could see doubt and suspicion on many of the faces that were human enough for her to read.
“Finally,” Karthajin concluded, and she recognized her cue. “I am proud to announce that I have chosen a First Consort. Please welcome Lady Ella of the House of Perrault.”
Her palms were damp, but she lifted her head and walked out to meet him. Her gown was a deliberate reflection of his attire; a heavy fall of black silk, the neck and waist ringed with red silk appliques of the Kaisarian crest. She heard an outraged gasp from the High Priest, but she kept her eyes on Karthajin, taking a deep breath when she reached him, and he enclosed her trembling fingers in his big, warm grasp.
Turning to face the audience, she braced herself for the reactions. There was disapproval certainly, especially amongst the representatives from the Royal Houses, but no outright anger, while the senators ranged from shocked to admiring. A round of applause broke out from the upper corner where Rastrath’s box was located and gradually spread throughout the room. Even most of the princes gave at least a reluctant clap. Her cheeks were flaming, but she held tight to Karthajin’s hand and kept her chin high.
Once the noise died down, Karthajin escorted her back to the anteroom where Tanaca and Warnax were waiting. Behind him, the stage was being rearranged to accommodate the Imperial box and boxes for assorted committee members. He kissed her—not too quickly—his eyes shining with love and approval, before returning to preside over the remaining business.
“That went well,” Tanaca murmured. “Better than I expected.”
“I’m glad. I don’t want to be a problem for him.”
“No. I think…” He paused and surveyed her face, his softer than she’d ever seen it before. “I think you are very good for him.”
Before she could respond, he bowed and went to join Karthajin in the Imperial box, leaving her with Warnax and two of his men.
“There is a private room behind the stage where you could observe the proceedings. It would be more comfortable,” Warnax suggested.
“And easier to secure?” The anteroom was crowded with government officials and representatives from several other planets. Warnax kept a constant eye on their surroundings but he was obviously uncomfortable with the exposure.
“Yes, miss.”
“Very well, Warnax.” Since she couldn’t curl up here and watch, she might as well be comfortable. The shoes Kolga had designed—little clear sparkling heels—were very pretty but not particularly comfortable. “Let’s go watch history being made.”
Karthajin walked off the stage, the familiar weight of the ceremonial robes dragging at him. It had been a grueling four hours, questions and arguments breaking out over every detail of his plans. He rather suspected his grandfather would have lost patience hours ago and simply told them that it was done; however, while he was more than willing to exert his authority, he believed that cooperation would be more effective in the long run.
“Your Imperial Majesty.” His chief guard bowed.
“Warnax? Where is Ella?”
“She fell asleep in the observation room an hour ago. I have two guards on duty outside the room. Are you ready to return to the palace?”
“Yes, I—”
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
He sighed, recognizing Lekasar’s voice. The priest had tried to see him twice over the past week and he had refused. Although he knew the confrontation was inevitable, he wanted to make the official announcement first. Now that it was done, he at least owed it to the priest to hear him out. Gesturing for Lekasar to follow him, he led the way to a secluded alcove, out of the way of the throng of people in the antechamber. Once they were in relative privacy, he turned to the priest.
“Yes, Lekasar?”
“You can’t do this.” Lekasar’s normal tight control had failed; he was visibly angry, cheeks flushed dark, and red dominating his eyes.
“Can’t do what?” he asked coolly.
“Any of this. Allowing other races into the military, into the Church. I won’t allow it.”
“You have no choice.” Knowing that it was most probably hopeless, he remembered his musing on cooperation and tried for a positive note. “Can’t you see that that this could be good for the Church, expanding your reach to more people?”
“No. The Kaisarians are Napisten’s Chosen. There is no reason to spread his message any further.” The fanatical light was back, no hint of compromise in the priest’s features. “Which is why you cannot take a… a human as First Consort.”
His voice turned to ice. “I most certainly can.”
“To corrupt the Royal line with impure blood? It’s unthinkable! Why, you cannot even verify her purity.”
“As a matter of fact, I can.” The possessive instinct which had led him to keep the sheet had apparently not been misplaced. “I could even fly it from the palace walls as they used to do.”
Lekasar dismissed his words. “It doesn’t matter. I will not permit it.”
“You? Just how do you intend to stop it?”
Lekasar straightened, the rage disappearing behind his usual controlled facade, and gave him a chilling smile. “I think you’re forgetting the planetary weapon.” Karthajin tensed, even as the priest continued. “You found an empty lab, remember? Where do you think the weapon is? My people have it and I will deploy it unless you give up these ridiculous notions.”
Although Lekasar’s revelation stunned him, he concealed his shock, determined to get more information. “Deploy it where?”
“If I have to, if you won’t give up these insane ideas, then I will deploy it here on Kaisar.” The fanatical light had returned to his face. “Napisten will provide for his people, his true people, just as he always has in the past.”
“Was that your plan all along? To destroy Kaisar?”
“Of course not. I am the steward of Napisten’s will. It is my job to remove any threats to the Kaisarian Empire. The Sardorans were the first—they were becoming too strong, too respected, even while they were praying to some heathen Goddess. It was easy enough to convince that fool Ustrod that they were a threat to his petty little plans. Why, he even financed much of the operation.” Lekasar laughed, the sound sending a chill up Karthajin’s spine. “And it was a success. The Sardorans have been too busy saving their own necks to worry about anyone else’s problems. When Ustrod wanted to try again, I encouraged it, even though I hadn’t quite decided on the next target. But, by Napisten’s Crown, it will be Kaisar unless you abandon this foolishness.”
Warnax was standing outside the alcove. From the tension in his back, Karthajin suspected that he had heard the priest’s confession, but he used his communicator to put the guard on alert.
“No, Lekasar, Kaisar won’t be destroyed.” The shock on the man’s face would have made him smile if he hadn’t been so angry. “I’m afraid you have been misinformed.”
“What do you mean?”
“The lab wasn’t abandoned; it was destroyed. The weapon, the data, even the scientists—all of them are gone.”
“That’s not possible,” Lekasar whispered.
“I have the evidence, but let me put it in a way you will understand. I swear on Napisten’s Crown that it is true.”
“No.”
“Yes.” He raised his voice enough for the guard to hear. “Warnax, put Lekasar under arrest.” The big guard nodded and stepped forward. Lekasar backed away.
“You can’t arrest me. I’m the head of the Church.” His voice rose. “Brothers, to me.”
There were a number
“They seek to overthrow the Church,” Lekasar yelled. “You must defend it with your lives.”
The room erupted into confusion. Not only the guards and the priests, but many of the other people in the room, tired and frustrated over the long session, joined the fray. Karthajin watched from the alcove, Warnax and a small squad forming a protective circle. He was annoyed but not particularly dismayed by the battle. He had no doubt that the guards would prevail. Until he took a second look and realized that Lekasar had disappeared. The high priest’s distinctive gold robes were no longer in sight.
“Where’s Lekasar?”
“There, Sire. He discarded his robes.” Warnax pointed at a figure dressed in black on the opposite side of the room, just as he disappeared behind a curtain. “But there’s nothing back there but some offices and—”
“And the observation room,” Karthajin finished grimly. With an enraged roar, he prepared to fight his way to Ella’s side.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Stop fighting and come with me.” As the priest dragged Ella along, his fingers dug painfully into her arm and bruised the tender flesh. Her uneven gait made her stumble as he turned a corner and she kicked off her other shoe. She had lost the first one when he had burst into the observation room. She’d had a brief, horrified glimpse of a guard lying in a pool of blood before he’d closed and locked the door. His knife was still in his hand, dripping blood, and she’d been convinced that he was going to kill her.
Instead, he sneered. “Unworthy slut.”
Then he’d snatched her up and dragged her through a concealed panel into a narrow tunnel. Without her shoes, the ground has hard and rough on her bare feet, but it was better than falling. She suspected he would simply drag her along.
“Why are you taking me?”
“Because that imbecile is foolish enough to think he cares for you.” He gave her a cold smile. “He won’t take any chances with your life.”
“He’s not an imbecile.”
“Of course he is. I never thought I’d see the day when Napisten’s Chosen One would betray him so badly. Taking a mongrel from a primitive planet as First Consort. Your planet doesn’t even have spaceflight. His grandfather would have disowned him on the spot.”
“What do you know about Earth?” she panted, trying to keep up.
“You foolish girl, how do you think you ended up here? Those Elginar imbeciles brought you along with our real target.” The shock brought her to a halt, and he yanked her arm impatiently.
“You weren’t the one on the ship.”
“No. That man had an unfortunate accident not long ago.” His smile sent ice down her spine. “You know, you should really be grateful to me.”
“G-grateful?”
“I could have had you sold on the open market. It would undoubtedly have been much more profitable.”
Her head was whirling with the revelation, but she forced herself to think. “You c-couldn’t have done that because you didn’t want anyone to know what you’d done. That you’d t-taken us from a forbidden planet.”
He shot her an irritated glance, but shrugged. “Your owners wanted you enough to assure me that you would never cause any problems. They said you were just a child.”
The words struck a familiar chord. Had that been why they were always so dismayed when she showed any signs of growing up? Of knowledge about the world? Not because they wanted to keep her as a child but because they wanted to protect her? The knowledge settled over her with a calm certainty.
“They really did love me.”
“Fools. I thought they were too devoted to Napisten to waste that kind of emotion on a mongrel.”
He came to an abrupt halt as the corridor branched, checking both directions before taking the right fork. Knowing with every fiber of her being that Karthajin would be coming for her, she deliberately tripped, dragging her foot across the rough flooring. The resulting sting left her sure that she had scraped her foot enough to leave a trace of blood.
Desperate to distract his attention, she kept talking. “They were devoted. You took advantage of them.”
“Not at all. They were happy enough to allow their house to be used for my initial meetings with the Elginar scholars. And happy enough to take you as a payment. If only they hadn’t decided to betray me.”
Her teeth started to chatter, as a memory suddenly surfaced.
“Y-you were there that night. The night they d-died.” Her throat was locking up, but she forced the words out.
“So you do remember. I wondered.”
“I didn’t until j-just now. You s-said the same thing. That… that they’d b-betrayed you.”
“It was rather foolish of Tudos to think that he could manage an audience with the emperor without my finding out about it.”
“W-what?” Popi had tried to go to the emperor?
“I suppose he heard the rumors about the planet destroyer and made the connection. Tudos was always a little too intelligent to be a truly worthy son of the church.”
“But M-momi, she n-never did anything to you.” The image flashed in her mind. The two bodies sprawled on the floor. The blood…
“She knew too much. You would have been next if the neighbors hadn’t called for the city guards.”
The memories were surfacing faster now. She remembered the terror of being crouched in the tiny space under the stairs. Popi had tied a scarf across her mouth before he thrust her inside, warning her sternly not to make a sound, and then locked the door. She’d been so scared, sure that she had done something terribly wrong. And then she heard the cries. She’d started wrestling with the scarf, but she couldn’t free it, couldn’t call for help. When the city guard searched the house and let her out, she’d seen their bodies and fallen to the floor next to them, their blood flowering all over her yellow dress.
The guards had removed the gag but how could she speak then? When it was too late to help the two people she’d loved. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and Lekasar gave her a disgusted look.
“Weak little human.”
“Napisten cried,” she said defiantly, and he slapped her. Her cheek exploded with pain and she stumbled again, unintentionally this time.
“You are unworthy to even speak his name.” Lekasar said furiously.
She opened her mouth but before she could speak, he tilted his head, obviously hearing something she could not. He whirled and began running, half carrying, half dragging her. The ground bit into her feet and she saw streaks of red appearing behind her.
A sudden clatter of hooves announced the arrival of the guards. Sendat and four of his men blocked the corridor in front of Lekasar. The priest stopped abruptly and hauled her in front of him, one arm around her waist and a knife at her throat.
“Let me go, or I will slit her throat.”
Sendat shrugged, the fur rippling across one massive shoulder. “Go ahead. Why should I care about a human?”
She stared at him in appalled horror, then saw him give a very slight flick of his fingers. Relief washed over her as she recognized the signal from their training sessions. She adjusted her feet slightly.
“Although, my men do deserve something for their efforts. Toss her to me and I’ll give them a chance to enjoy themselves before they eliminate her.”
Lekasar hesitated and she held her breath, hoping that he would take the offer. One of the guards shifted, casually rubbing his groin, and she prayed that she wasn't wrong about Sendat’s plan.
“I don’t believe you,” Lekasar snarled, and his arm tightened. She grabbed his wrist, then twisted and dropped. The tip of his knife scraped across her throat, but then she was free, falling to the ground as an explosion reverberated in the confined space. Lekasar’s body fell next to her, his head replaced by a featureless red blob, and she could see his blood spreading around her. There was a cry in the distance, and she recognized Karthajin’s voice. She tried to smile but everything was turning black and floating away. The last thing she saw before her eyes closed was his panic-stricken face.
Karthajin fell to his knees beside Ella just as her eyes closed. Her lips curled up in a faint smile but there was blood dripping from her neck. He snatched her up in his arms, cradling her against him.
“No! Ella, Ella, wake up. You can’t leave me. Get a doctor!”
Warnax dropped down next to him. “It’s just a flesh wound, Sire. Let me apply a bandage.”
Karthajin stared at him, the words not penetrating. The guard repeated softly, “Sire, I need to apply a bandage to stop the bleeding.”
He couldn’t let her go, but he relaxed his grip enough to let Warnax wipe the blood away from her neck. The wound was shockingly bright against her pale skin and he flinched at the sight. The guard quickly applied a coat of healing gel, then covered the wound. Karthajin finally calmed down enough to notice that her breathing was steady and even. He cradled her closer and surveyed the rest of the damage, his vision going red with anger. Dark bruises covered her arm, her cheek was red and swollen, her feet scraped raw and bleeding. His poor kitten. If Lekasar wasn’t already dead, he would have derived a great deal of pleasure from performing the task himself. Slowly.
“Warnax, I want every priest in the capital brought in for questioning. I need to know how far this corruption has spread.”
“Yes, Sire,” Warnax said grimly. Sendat was at his shoulder, equally forbidding.
“And thank you both. Thank you for finding her.” When they had broken through the door into the observation room, he had panicked at the sight of the empty room. The shoe by the wall had led them to the concealed entrance to the utility tunnel. Warnax had immediately ordered Sendat to circle around with his men to cut off the exits while they had followed the trail from the observation room, finding the second shoe at the first junction, and then, heart-stoppingly, the traces of blood at the second. But his clever little kitten had paid the price, he thought, his worried gaze on her bleeding feet.
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