by Lace, Lisa
Ahead were the first thickets of the woods area they’d passed through earlier. Briefly, she weighed the pros and cons of entering the thicket. She didn't know how thick the underbrush was or if there were plants that could hurt her. On the other hand, Tev was gaining quickly.
Before she made a decision, a dark shape covered the moons and descended towards her. Her brief hope that the lowering ship contained Rev was dashed as Tev reached her. Grabbing her, he hefted her over his shoulder.
"Your ride is here."
Chapter Forty-Four
Rev was bleeding.
He stood in the middle of the Kerdos throne room. Always magnificent, it had been transformed for the night to something spectacular in order to host the formal state dinner. Around him, on the floor, groaned various male members of Kerdos royalty.
He wiped the blood from his mouth and breathed heavily.
The dinner had devolved into angry arguments and then into what was euphemistically called a "conference." An outsider would describe a Kerdos conference as a melee of thrown fists and kicks until the last man stood. Those were his people.
He was still standing.
As it turned out, there was one other who wasn't laid out on the floor. Someone who hadn't participated in the fighting. Ja-Idin Du, a member of a race of pacifists, stood before him unharmed. Of course he wouldn't have a scratch on him, he wouldn't participate in the conference, even though he had instigated it with his accusations against Rev's mate, Tracy.
The counselor’s comments had been incendiary. He had been invited to the table as a courtesy, but he’d used his position to put forth a platform to deport Tracy back to Earth. He’d spoken calmly but threatened to remove Kerdos from membership in Aligned Worlds, essentially bringing to a halt all trade with the planet. This immediately revealed a schism in the royal court. Some of the lords wanted Rev to exile Tracy. Others thought Du's demand was excessive and amounted to a restriction of Kerdos rights to self-governance. Shouted insults became blows, and the conflict grew increasingly violent, prompting the women to leave, and the men took their disagreements out on each other.
Rev glanced around for his brother, but Tev was nowhere to be found. He hoped Tev hadn’t been badly injured and pulled from the floor for treatment. He'd go look for him soon, but first, he had to take care of Ja-Idin.
The Kerdos prince stared at Du. The man's true black skin shimmered in the candlelight, revealing tiny patterns in his scales. The patterns in Du skin were difficult to notice until you were right in front of them, finely etched into the skin as they were.
The Du were reptiles. Rev had never had any bad experiences with the reptilian races until now.
Ja-Idin's eyes glittered coldly.
"Arrest him," Rev ordered the guards standing at the door.
"You can't do that," said Du. "I'm the Aligned Worlds representative. I have diplomatic immunity."
"You are in my house." Rev turned and gave an unusual command to the guards. "Gag him. You don't want him spitting his venom on you."
"You can't!" Du protested.
One guard grabbed his arms, and another stuffed a napkin in his mouth.
"Secure him in his rooms," Rev instructed. "No one in or out without my permission, understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Word had spread that the conference was over. Women and attendants entered the hall again in a mob, seeking their wounded men. Strangely, Tracy wasn't among them. As-Sali should have brought her back just as she’d led her away. Now Rev had two people to worry about. He was still concerned about his brother, now convinced Tev had suffered a serious injury. He asked some of the dinner guests if they’d seen Tev, but no one had.
He located Te-Brag, his brother's attendant. The elderly gentleman hadn't seen Tev since before the banquet.
Rev went to his brother's apartments and found them empty. Was he at Tracy's apartments, protecting her? That seemed a reasonable conclusion. When he found Tracy's rooms empty, his heart ran cold with fear.
He ran through the palace back to the throne room and found the new captain of the guard, recently promoted in wake of the tragedies. He was helping sort through the injuries and grievances of the Kerdos lords.
"Captain," ordered Rev, "raise an alarm. Tev and Tracy are missing. Start a search immediately."
Rev would have been surprised to learn that instead of protecting Tracy, Tev was trying to get rid of her.
"You blackhearted sonofabitch! Take me to Rev, right now!" Tracy shouted uselessly, seeing as how she was Tev's prisoner on a transport, piloted by Commander Te-Crevon, the fighter wing leader from Ombrit Air Station.
"Where's Du?" demanded Tev.
"The counselor was detained at the palace. We are going with the backup plan."
Tev nodded grimly and tossed Tracy into a seat. They glared at each other as the small ship rose through the air and moved forward. The transport sped through the blue skies of Kerdos, away from Rev and towards an uncertain future with a man who hated her.
Although, perhaps “hate” wasn't exactly the right word to describe his feelings. Tev had admitted he had an attraction to her. After all, he couldn't deny his physical reactions, including the erection he sported after he’d collected her from As-Sali.
Tracy burned with rage. She was angry at two people who should be loyal to Rev, but who had proven to be loyal only to themselves. Tev called her dangerous, as if she were responsible for his sexual feelings. That was typical of people who didn't own their actions. They always blamed someone else. These aliens were just like Earthers.
Rev was different. When he’d met Tracy, even as he was swept away by the biological urges of his mating drive, he took responsibility. He may have denied his feelings at first. He may have conveniently kept a few things from her, like the fact that his mating bite bound him to her permanently. In the end, after they’d talked everything out, he didn't shy from the implications or consequences of his actions.
He could have accepted his court-martial and undergone treatment to break the hold of his mating drive. He could have forsaken Tracy and had her sent back to Earth, but he’d refused to do that. He wasn't human and claimed not to be able to love her, but in all the ways that counted he was an honorable man. Unlike the sullen piece of shit who sat before her with his arms crossed.
"I don't understand you, Tev," said Tracy. "Your brother put his career on the line to look for you, and this is how you repay his loyalty?"
"This goes beyond my loyalty to my brother. I have a duty to my people. That includes taking care of a threat to the whole of Kerdos."
"Me?" she snorted.
"Yes."
"Because you believe Ja-Idin Du."
"I have no reason to disbelieve him. He is a member of the Council of Nine."
"The what?"
"The ruling council of the Aligned Worlds government. The congress proposes the laws. The council approves or rejects them."
"You believe a powerful man regardless of whether he tells you the truth."
Tev's eye's flashed. "I see the truth of it with my eyes. You awaken the old drives in males. Your species is dangerous."
"Really?" Tracy sat back in her seat, crossed her arms, and stared back at Tev. "Maybe the real danger is in denying drives that are part of who you are. By denying yourself, when you are forced to face it, you don't know how to react."
"It was the only way to be admitted to the Aligned Worlds."
"So what? Your empire spans one hundred ten worlds. Anything your people need, you can make yourself."
"We benefit from the protections of the Enforcement Wing. Should another race become aggressive, we have their protection."
"Really, Tev? How many of these lies are you going to believe? Rev told me himself that the Enforcement Wing is stretched thin. Your story doesn't make sense. Those in power usually look after themselves first, and the people they are supposed to serve come later."
"It would be a mistake to project human b
ehavior onto activities of the Council of Nine."
"Yeah," replied Tracy sarcastically. "Because Ja-Idin Du is such a shining example of the high regard the Council of Nine has for the people."
"Enough," snapped Tev. "This is pointless. If you don't want to find yourself locked in the basement when we arrive, you'll keep your mouth shut. At least I won't have to suffer you much longer one way or the other."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Remain silent. This will be your last warning."
Rev sat in the council meeting, fidgeting. He didn't want to be there. Why are there so many meetings? The Kerdos prince instead wanted to search for Tracy and his brother.
Pa-Kregan, the chief advisor, sat on his right. Se-Margen, the governor of the Northern Reaches, was on his left. Other governors from all over Kerdos sat around the table. After last night's conference, the lords gave him lip service, but none seemed particularly moved to do anything Rev wanted.
"Your Highness," said Pa-Kregan, "we must consider the consequences of withholding Tracy Walsh from the Aligned Worlds."
Rev closed his eyes. He’d heard this several times already. He was annoyed, and he knew wherever Tracy was, she felt that same bitter emotion. "What exactly are we withholding, Kregan?" snapped Rev. "Or should I take it from your incessant whining that you are involved in the disappearances in my house?"
"No, my lord!" said Kregan, shrinking back. "We are at a perilous crossroads. Think of your people!"
"I am thinking of my people. The Aligned Worlds are very good at taking tithes and laying out a code of conduct that goes against our nature, but I see no support for the people of Kerdos right now. There was none when pirates attacked our palace and killed our emperor. My uncle. My aunt. My cousins. My father. We've heard nothing from them but demands. All take, no give."
"My lord!" pleaded Pa-Kregan. "How could they possibly know that pirates would attack us?"
"Du knew. He was right there. The government did nothing. There wasn't even a message sent to the Enforcement Wing."
"They are hardly likely to help us," said Margen in a low voice, "when we jail their representative."
"Enough!" said Rev. "Consider us removed from the Aligned Worlds. We are our own empire from this moment on. Now the threat of interdiction is toothless."
"My lord," squawked Kregan, "you can't. We have trade deals. What about our citizens on other worlds?"
"I am aware of what we have, Kregan. Call back our citizens and let them know we cannot extend protection if they decide to remain where they are. Honor whichever deals we have with entities that recognize our sovereignty. I'm sure the prospect of dropping the Aligned Worlds trade tax will sweeten the pot."
"My lord," said Margen, "this is an act of rebellion. The Aligned Worlds response will be swift."
"It is what it is. We're Kerdim. We made our own path before we joined with the Aligned Worlds, and we'll do it again." Rev looked over to his administrative attendant, Wa-Senten. "Senten, call a meeting of the generals and admirals. I want this meeting today."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"As for the rest of you?" He let his gaze pass over the table, meeting each man's eye. "Tev is not here. He has been kidnapped. He may even be in the hands of criminals. In his absence, I am the sole leader of Kerdos."
"Yes, my lord," they answered.
Rev stood then, and everyone else did too. "Good day, my lords. We'll meet—"
The doors to the meeting room burst open and all heads turned. "Forgive me," said a young guard, throwing himself prostate on the floor. "Ships have landed at Ombrit Air Station."
"Ships?" said Rev. "What ships? Enforcement Wing?"
"No, Your Highness." He took a deep breath. "They say they are seeking asylum from the Aligned Worlds Enforcement Wing, and that they have a friend of Lady Tracy's with them."
"Carol?" asked Rev in surprise.
"Yes, that was the name."
"Senten, get me a transport to Ombrit immediately. My lords, I must depart."
Rev swept out of the conference room amidst the objections of the lords of Kerdos.
Chapter Forty-Five
Rows of Kerdos military—small transports fitted with large guns and single troops outfitted with the latest weapons—surrounded the ten ships landing at Ombrit. Rev got out of his transport accompanied by his attendant, Wa-Senten, and the high advisor, Pa-Kregan. Kregan had insisted on going with him and Rev was too impatient to argue with him.
The commander of Ombrit, Colonel Ge-Ekben, approached Rev and bowed.
"Colonel, draw back your troops."
"My lord?"
"These are our friends."
The colonel's eyes flashed, and Rev got the impression the man was quite unhappy with his instructions. He made a hand signal, and the vehicles moved back.
Rev went and stood before the largest ship. A familiar face, nurse S'den, appeared in the opening of the craft as a ramp came down. The nurse had been instrumental in helping Rev and Tracy escape the Enforcement Wing. She looked at him anxiously.
"Come here, S'den!" He smiled broadly to show her she was welcome.
S'den walked down the ramp cautiously, and a group of her own security walked behind her holding rifles. The Kerdim soldiers trained their weapons on the newcomers, but Rev ordered them to stand down.
Reluctantly, his men lowered their weapons, and the other security forces followed suit.
S'den walked towards Rev and stopped a few feet from him. "Thank you for receiving us, Lord of Kerdos. It seems we share a mutual adversary."
Pa-Kregan glared at her. The station's colonel shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
"What has happened, S'den?"
"Moving the other Terran was harder than I thought. Enforcement Wing ships are following us right now."
"I'm having my own troubles with the Aligned Worlds. I'm not sure how much help I can be."
S'den nodded. "I'm sure, Your Highness. I've come with news you need to hear. May I speak with you in private?"
"My lord," protested Kregan.
"My position has changed of late. I'm afraid that no matter where we go, there will be an audience. Speak, S'den."
She lifted her head. "My original suspicion was confirmed by DNA tests. Tracy Walsh has the DNA markers of the Moc-Noton line. She is a descendant of the Aligned Worlds royal line, and as such she has the right to put in a claim to the Vacant Throne. As her mate, my lord, this will make you a prince of the Aligned Worlds government."
She bowed, and the rest of the people with her bowed too.
Tracy could be the Empress of the Aligned Worlds?
No wonder Du was obsessed with getting rid of her or making sure their mating was denied. Rev rapidly thought through the implications. As his mate, Tracy gained the status of an Aligned Worlds citizen. She could press legal claims through the courts. These claims would be things Du wanted to keep buried.
Clearly nurse S'den had already thought through the implications. "Hail to Prince Ar-Reven of the Aligned Worlds!" she cried. "The Vacant Throne is vacant no more!"
A roar broke out as the ramps to the other ships lowered, and the people in them, representing dozens of worlds, spilled out. They were all crying "Hail Prince Ar-Reven!" and prostrating themselves before him.
Rev stood there in shock, and the troops behind him began to murmur.
"My lord," said Pa-Kregan, "you can't believe this nonsense. This is ridiculous rebel propaganda."
Rev turned to face Kregan and the station’s colonel. "It makes sense. It all makes sense now. Du wanted Tracy away from the Aligned Worlds. He wanted to send her back to her planet so she couldn't make a claim to the Vacant Throne."
"She can't be a descendant. They all died," Kregan said dismissively.
"You know yourself the last three queens produced only a child each, that we know of. Perhaps one or more did not. What if they sent a child or two to a planet far outside the influence of the Aligned Worlds? It would not have been t
he first time."
"Speculation," sputtered Kregan.
"The prince speaks the truth," said S’den. "My family served as healers and nurses to the queens of the Aligned Worlds. They were sworn to secrecy, but yes, several births were not singletons as claimed. The children were taken away, but we did not know where. We've searched unsuccessfully for centuries. If Prince Ar-Reven had not brought Tracy to us, we would not know about Earth."
"What about Carol?" said Rev. "Does she bear the marker as well?"
S'den shook her head. "No, but she is a friend of our queen, so she is an honored guest. Prince Ar-Reven, where is our queen?"
"She disappeared from the palace. The Aligned Worlds may have her now."
"When did she disappear?"
"Last night."
"Prince, our armada sits behinds your moons. We've monitored all the departures. No one has left your planet."
"Your Highness," said the colonel, "I must protest. An armada above our capital planet? These are dangerous people."
"Colonel, they are allies now, and welcome ones. They have named Tracy their queen, and by Endra, everyone on Kerdos better start thinking of her as theirs!"
"My prince," said S'den with an approving smile, "we await your command."
At they flew, the night sky glittered with thousands of stars giving way to dawn. Below them was a snowcapped mountain range lit by the harsh rays of a rising sun.
For the moment, Tracy was alone. Tev was in the cockpit speaking with Te-Crevon. She shivered in the cold passenger cabin. Her dress was thin, and there was nothing covering her shoulders. Tracy glanced around. Any jumpsuits around here? She'd jumped from a spaceship higher than this aircraft. Maybe she could escape, and Rev would find her.
Tracy unstrapped and tottered almost drunkenly, as the aircraft was buffeted by strong winds. A jolt threw her against the side of the craft, where she found some panels that might be concealed closets. She felt around the edges looking for a way to open them. Just when she found a latch, Tev returned to the passenger cabin.
