by Heidi Skarie
Toemeka glanced at Zac, a resigned look coming over her face. “Go ahead and tell him, Zac.”
“Koriann is sending Onolyn and me to Haklute to spy on King Zanton. Hendora can’t go because she’s delivering the information you and Toemeka stole to the nearest Coalition space station.”
“I’m in charge of the team. You and Onolyn can’t go anywhere unless I authorize it and I don’t. You two don’t have the experience to go undercover.”
Zac coughed uncomfortably. “Actually, Hendora is in charge until you recover and she agrees with the Queen’s decision.”
Erling suppressed his annoyance. Zac respected him and Erling knew he had nothing to do with the decision. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll talk to Kori.”
“Good idea. See you two later.” Zac hurried from the infirmary.
Erling steeled himself against the pain as he got out of bed. “Would you get my clothes, Toemeka? They’re in the closet.”
“What are you doing? You shouldn’t be out of bed!”
“I’m capable of deciding what I can and can’t do,” he snapped.
Toemeka’s face fell and he immediately regretted being so cranky, but it was hard to be pleasant when he felt like hell. She brought his clothes and left the room.
Erling removed his hospital gown and glanced at the bandage stretched across his left side. It probably was too soon to be up, but Jaipar was on the brink of war. Every moment was precious. He dressed gingerly, then stuffed the bottle of pain pills in his pants pocket and left the room.
As he passed the nursing station, Nurse Jetty said, “What are you doing out of bed?”
“I’m leaving.”
“You can’t leave! You just had surgery.”
“I don’t have time to lie around the infirmary.”
“Dr. Tenzing’s orders are for you to stay in bed and be monitored.”
“I’ll be back.”
He left her there, still protesting and walked to the council room. Inside he found Koriann and Michio with several military personnel, studying galactic maps.
“Kori, may I speak to you a minute?” Erling asked. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.
“Of course.” She turned back to Michio and her men. “Excuse me for a moment. Michio, take over.”
She followed Erling to the side of the room for some privacy. “What are you doing out of the infirmary?” she scolded softly. “You look terrible.”
Erling ignored her remark. “I hear you’re sending Zac and Onolyn to Haklute to spy on Zanton. Why wasn’t I in on the decision?”
“You were in surgery.”
“You should have consulted me after I got out of surgery.” He realized he’d raised his voice when General Dursky turned and looked at them.
“Keep your voice down,” Koriann said.
In a more controlled tone of voice, he continued, “You can’t send them there. They’re too inexperienced.”
“Aren’t they trained as field agents?”
“They’re rookies. Zac only joined the Coalition a couple of months ago and the only mission Onolyn’s been on is when we came here to overthrow General Bhandar. On that mission, you might recall, she panicked and blew her cover. Look, you can run your country any way you like, but Zac and Onolyn are under my command. I’m responsible for them.”
She clasped his hand. “Calm down, Erling, you’re overreacting. I’m not trying to take over. Toemeka didn’t think we should tell you because she was afraid you might want to go.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “You’d be recognized.”
“I’ll wear a disguise.”
“Erling, you just had surgery. You’re not going anywhere. Besides, you’re needed here.” She tightened her hold on his hand. “A ruler doesn’t go on reconnaissance missions or take unnecessary risks. He’s too valuable.”
He knew she was right. He was in no shape to go on missions and had important duties in Jaipar; yet he was still annoyed. “I’m not a ruler yet and I don’t like being manipulated or having decisions made for me.”
“You’ll soon be a ruler.”
A heavy weight settled over Erling. He wasn’t sure he was ready to be a ruler.
“I’m glad you’re here because there are more important concerns than spying on King Zanton. Come, we’re going over the results from the analysis done on the strategic plans you and Toemeka stole.” She led him over to the table.
Michio looked up. “Glad you could join us, Erling.”
Erling slid weakly into a chair, torn between going back to the infirmary or participating in the discussion. The discussion won out.
19
Poisoned
After the emergency meeting, Michio returned to his bedroom and found Toemeka on the balcony, drawing in her sketchbook. He was suspicious of her willingness to be uninvolved in Jaipar’s defense plans. He sat across from her and looked at the waves crashing into the rocky shoreline. “Are you drawing the ocean?” he asked.
“No, I’m drawing a portrait of my brother, Baymond. I’m afraid I’ll forget what he looked like since I don’t have any photos of him or my parents. Everything was destroyed when Samrat Condor’s soldiers burned down our home.”
Toemeka looked so sad that Michio felt his heart grow heavy. “Have you ever gone back to your village?”
She shook her head. “It would be too hard to see the village completely destroyed. I’d rather keep happy memories of it. I knew everyone; we were all followers of the Secret Teachings. All the children were taught to develop their intuitive abilities. I often think about Baymond and my parents now that you and I are having a baby. It means so much to me to have a family again.”
“Having a child will bring a lot of changes. Can I see your drawing?”
She turned the sketchbook so it faced him and pushed it across the table. Michio was surprised by the fine quality of her work. The face seemed alive and Baymond’s alert eyes appeared to look right at him. Yet what struck him most about the drawing was how young Baymond was and the love that shone from his eyes.
“I didn’t know you’re such a good artist. Are there drawings of your parents as well?”
She took back the sketchbook and flipped to a different page. “Here’s one.”
He studied the portrait of a middle-aged couple. “Your mother’s beautiful. You look a lot like her.”
“The drawing doesn’t do her justice. It doesn’t convey her loving heart. Michio, I’m sorry I put the baby’s life at risk by going on the mission. I was afraid Erling would die if he went to Flo Shah alone. He’s been like family to me since mine was killed.”
She put her hand on her belly. “Dr. Tenzing says it will probably be another month or two before I feel the baby move, yet I already feel his energy.”
Michio’s eyes lit with pleasure. “His energy? Do you think it’s going to be a boy?”
“Yes, I think it’s a boy. And I’m sure he’ll be as handsome as his father.”
“A son would be nice, but I’d be happy with a girl, too.”
She flipped the sketch book page back to the portrait of Baymond. “I worry that he’ll be born in a world where people have lost their freedom. What was on the matrix crystal Erling and I brought back from Flo Shah? Anything that will save Jaipar?”
Michio leaned back in his chair, unsure of what to say. “You’re still recovering from the mission. Dr. Tenzing said to avoid discussing anything that might upset you. Can we not talk about the war for a few days?”
She stared off at the ocean for a moment before turning back to face him. “I risked my life to steal that information. I’ve got a right to know if it will help us in some way. I might be less worried if I knew Erling and I helped the war effort in some way.”
He nodded, realizing how she might feel more hopeful if he told her. “Erling succeeded in downloading the Raptor’s military codes.”
“I knew he was going after them.
Anything about Alandra?”
“He found strategic plans for the complete takeover of Planet Alandra.”
She clenched her fists. “So we’re going to lose Alandra. What about Jaipar?”
“There’s information about a planned invasion, but not a date as to when and where it will take place.”
“So Condor’s attack on Jaipar is definite.”
“Afraid so.” He wished he could shelter her from the dangers facing Jaipar and its people, but he’d come to accept that he couldn’t.
“What’s the next step?”
“Hendora will deliver the matrix crystal to the nearest Coalition base. We can’t risk transmitting information electronically because it could be intercepted. We don’t want Samrat Condor to know we can break his code.”
“Hendora better leave as soon as possible.”
“Arrangements are made. She’ll have a full military escort.”
That evening Erling awoke in a sweat, his side throbbing. He took a couple pain pills, then tried to get back to sleep, but his thoughts kept returning to Zac and Onolyn leaving the next day for Haklute. Shouldn’t he have been consulted about decisions regarding Coalition agents?
Was this how Koriann planned to rule Jaipar? She would make decisions and he would just be a figurehead? He and Kori hadn’t discussed expectations for their marriage. He needed to talk to her before things went further. He winced in pain as he sat up, then slid on his slacks and a shirt, not bothering with shoes. Kori’s bedroom was just down the hall. He knocked on her door, wishing he didn’t feel so thickheaded from all the medication he’d been taking.
Chandra opened the door. She held an intricately designed hairbrush in one hand. “It’s Major Fenian, Your Highness,” she called to Koriann.
“Let him in,” Koriann said.
Erling followed Chandra through the expensively furnished sitting room. The carpet was thick beneath his bare feet and each piece of furniture appeared to be handcrafted by an artisan, a luxury in these times when almost everything was robot-built in a factory. It accentuated the class difference between him and Koriann. She was Queen and he wasn’t much more than a common soldier.
He stopped at the doorway leading to Koriann’s adjoining bedchamber. She sat at her dressing table, wearing a soft, flowing negligee with embroidered flowers and birds. Chandra crossed over to Koriann and began brushing her long, light-brown hair.
“I’m surprised to see you up,” Koriann said, turning to face him. Her eyes swept carefully over him, registering concern. “You don’t look well. I checked on you a short time ago and thought you’d sleep through the night. You should have sent for me rather than coming here.”
“Can we talk privately?”
“Of course.” Koriann dismissed Chandra and invited Erling to sit down.
“I’d rather stand. I’m sorry to intrude on you in your bedroom. I won’t stay long.”
“Erling!” Koriann got up and crossed over to him. “Why are you acting like this?”
The dressing gown clung alluringly to her body and Erling knew he’d better get to the point or he’d lose his resolve to share his concerns. “I think our relationship’s a mistake.” He grimaced. That came out wrong. Not what he meant to say.
“What!” Koriann gasped.
“It won’t work with you being Queen and making all the decisions.”
“We’ll make decisions together.”
“You didn’t include me in your decision to send Onolyn and Zac to spy on King Zanton.”
“We already discussed that. You were in surgery.”
He leaned against the wall, feeling unsteady on his feet. “You could have waited until I was out of surgery.”
“There was no need to. With you injured, Hendora was in charge of the Coalition team and she was in on the plan.”
“It was disrespectful to bypass me. You just didn’t want me to be the one to spy on King Zanton.”
“No, I didn’t. You’re needed here as head of Jaipar’s military.”
“I’m not the head of the military. I’m just working with your generals to build up Jaipar’s defenses.”
“You’ve done more than that. You’ve taken charge of the military and organized the whole planet’s defense. And I backed you even when I was engaged to King Zanton.”
“Speaking of Zanton, you were sure quick to get engaged to him. I’d barely left Jaipar when you accepted his offer of marriage. Are you sure you don’t really want to marry royalty instead of a commoner?”
She flinched. “Are you sure you want to marry at all? It seems like you’ve changed your mind and are backing out.”
“I’m not backing out. I just thought we should discuss our expectations before we leap into marriage. “
Bright red spots appeared on her cheeks and fire glowed in her eyes. “Leap into marriage? You proposed to me. I thought you wanted to get married.”
“I did. I do.”
“Get out! I don’t need a man who isn’t ready to settle down. I knew you were a lady’s man and not to be trusted.”
“Kori, be reasonable.” His head pounded and he wished he hadn’t started this. He wasn’t up for an argument. “Can we discuss this without making accusations?”
She shook with anger. “What’s to discuss? You decided you didn’t want any commitments or responsibilities.” She strode to the door and yanked it open. “Get out!”
He closed it. “We’re not done talking.”
“Yes we are. I want you to leave!” When Koriann turned the doorknob, he leaned against the door so it wouldn’t open.
“This is the whole problem. You’re used to being Queen and ordering people around.”
“That’s right. I’m Queen and I’m ordering you to leave.” She abruptly walked away and sat back down at her dressing table. She picked up her brush and began brushing her hair with hard, aggressive strokes. “Get out or I’ll call my guards and have your head cut off!”
Erling smiled at the absurdity of her remark. He walked over to her and stood behind her chair. Their eyes met in the mirror. “You’re going to cut off my head, huh?”
“Seems like a good idea.”
“I do want to marry you. It’s been torture watching you with Zanton. I couldn’t stand knowing you were going to marry another man. I’m crazy in love with you.”
“So crazy in love with me you want to break off our engagement?”
“I don’t want to break off the engagement. I just want to clarify some things. We never discussed what my role would be once we married or how the kingdom would be run. I don’t want to be one of your servants or have my head cut off if I don’t please you.”
Koriann stood up and faced him. “I already told you we would rule together. I’m sorry you felt disrespected by not being included during the consultation about Zac and Onolyn’s mission. But try to see it from my viewpoint. I’ve been Queen for two months and I’m already faced with the threat of Samrat Condor’s air fleet attacking. Now King Zanton could turn against Jaipar as well. I’m doing the best I can to save my country.”
“By manipulating me? Not giving me a choice of whether to stay or go spy on Zanton’s military activities? Making decisions about the Coalition team while I’m conveniently in surgery?”
“Conveniently in surgery? You were stabbed for God’s sake! I don’t consider that convenient. It’s upsetting. Maybe I’m selfish. Maybe I don’t want you to spy on Zanton because I don’t want you killed. I just spent the last few days terrified that you’d be killed on your mission—and rightfully so. You were just about beaten to death and almost executed.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.” He sat down on the bed. “I suppose you were worried when I left.”
She squatted in front of him and took his hands in hers. “I was terrified. You have to understand you’re too important to go on missions now that you’re my intended and the head of the military.”
“I’m not used to being the guy in charge.” He pulled h
er up and she sat on the bed beside him.
“I’m not accustomed in being in charge either. I’m used to being part of the Resistance under Embrosa’s command and now I’m suddenly Queen. I want your help ruling Jaipar. Ruling’s hard and I’m young and inexperienced. The generals don’t think I’m capable of being head of the military, but they respect you and will follow your command.”
“You think we can make this work, despite our class differences, our different backgrounds, and my lack of training to be a ruler?”
“You’re a natural leader.” She held his eyes with hers. “We love each other. We can work out the rest.”
He hoped she was right. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to ever regret your decision.”
“I’m sure.” She moved into his arms and he drew her close. Their mouths met in a deep kiss.
“I’m glad we straightened things out,” he said when they moved apart. He realized how close he’d come to ruining his chance at happiness with her.
“So am I. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I was serious when I said I need your help ruling the country. I want to reestablish the government as my father did, by setting up a governing council.”
“You want to discuss that tonight?” Erling groaned. “Can it wait until morning?”
“Samrat Condor could attack at any time!”
“Kori, you can’t keep going constantly. You’ll wear yourself out.”
“I guess you’re right. You need rest as well.”
“I promise we’ll discuss whatever you want tomorrow.”
“Erling, you really upset me when you said our relationship is a mistake.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you’d decided you didn’t want to marry me. I love you so much.” He moved up further on the bed and stretched out, feeling his energy draining away. He should have stayed in bed.
“You okay?”
“I’m kinda out of it. I took a couple pain pills before coming here. They make me groggy and crabby. I’ve been short-tempered and irritable all day.”
“Uncharacteristically crabby. You’re usually pretty easygoing.” She cuddled up and put her arm around him. “You really should give your body a chance to heal.” She touched his check. “Your face is still badly bruised. Those guards on Flo Shah must have really laid into you.” She kissed each bruise on his face.
