“It is possible,” Tarkanius said. “His education and opportunities all came as a gift of the Alliance. I’m sure he has not forgotten. Davi is known as a man of good character, honesty, and integrity. But he’s also been questioning the actions of the Alliance toward workers, which, combined with his newly discovered heritage, makes him far more sympathetic to them than he might have been in the past.” Tarkanius wished the circumstances were different. He’d always liked the Prince, but he had to protect the Alliance.
“Maybe he’s right to question the Alliance’s actions?” Kray said. “Given the news reports of late, there’s much even the Council did not know and cannot approve of.”
“The recent revelations are disturbing. Even the public is beginning to voice their objections,” Hachim said. They all stiffened as they considered it. “But we, the Council, approved some of those actions; therefore, we will be held accountable for them as much as Xalivar and his troops.”
“We must protect the Council from further negative associations and minimize the impact,” Tarkanius said, agreeing with Hachim’s assessment.
“At the cost of betraying a loyal friend?” Kray said, clearly angered by the thought.
“At the cost of putting aside our personal loyalties and emotions and acting with the objectivity and integrity demanded of us when we took our oaths of service,” Tarkanius said, forcing a calm tone despite his reservations. He had no intention of ignoring what he knew about Xalivar, but Miri’s role could not be downplayed either. Perhaps the Royals were turning against each other. He didn’t want the Council to be destroyed in the process, so he would do his best to keep them all on his side.
“Indeed. If we maintain our integrity above all, the Council can survive the scandal and remain free to serve the best interests of the Alliance,” Hachim said.
“Go to Miri and let her know that, for now, her request cannot be honored,” Tarkanius said to Kray.
Kray scowled, starting to object but he cut her off.
“We will make a full review and investigation of these matters and make our decision at a later time. If she needs anything of us, she is free to ask, and we will do what we can within the limits of our authority and the law,” Tarkanius said.
Hachim nodded in agreement.
“I’d trust Miri any day over Xalivar,” Kray said.
“Trust is not enough this time,” Hachim said.
Kray sighed, then stood and disappeared through the door.
“Do you think Lord Kray’ll be okay?” Hachim asked.
“She is as torn as we are,” Tarkanius said. “She’s known Miri all her life. But Kray will do the right thing.”
Hachim nodded, accepting Tarkanius’ reassurance. Tarkanius hoped he was right.
O O O
Davi stepped out of the classroom to find Joram and Uzah waiting for him with two armed security men.
“We need you to come with us,” Uzah said. It was not a request.
“What’s going on?” Davi asked, truly at a loss, as the security men grabbed his arms and dragged him down the corridor behind the two leaders. Neither said another word until they’d reached the command center conference room and the door had been sealed behind them.
“What’s this about?” Davi demanded as Aron and Matheu joined the others in looking at him with somber stares.
“You sent an encoded transmission through Borali government channels,” Matheu said, his glare ominous.
“I sent a request to my mother Miri and a friend for help locating a secret prison on Legallis,” Davi replied. “I think my father might be held there.” He scanned their faces, seeing no change there. “I can’t very well have the High Lord Councilor intercepting that.”
Aron’s eyes showed palpable relief as his shoulders relaxed and he leaned back in his chair. “I knew there’d be a logical explanation.” He smiled reassuringly at Davi.
“If he’s telling the truth,” Matheu growled, stiff and unconvinced.
Davi moved toward a nearby terminal. “I can show you the message.”
Uzah blocked his path. “My men are decoding it now.”
Davi frowned. He’d grown tired of being treated like a criminal. “If my word’s not good enough, I’ll gladly resign.”
“If your word’s not good, you won’t have to,” Matheu threatened.
Aron stepped forward, glaring at the others. “Enough! You have no proof to justify these accusations!”
“I warned you he couldn’t be trusted,” Matheu said, unfazed.
“And I assured you, he can,” Aron replied, not backing down. “Until you have proof, he is one of our officers and deserves to be treated with respect and given due process.”
Using the distraction, Davi slipped past Uzah and sat at the terminal, quickly pulling up his e-account and locating the message. “Here!”
He stood and backed away from the terminal as the others hurried over to read the message on the screen. Matheu sat at the terminal and began examining the meta data. Then he closed the email and examined Davi’s outbox further.
“It’s just as he said,” Matheu said.
“So it would seem,” Uzah agreed.
“Messages can be altered,” Matheu insisted. “We’ll wait for your men.”
Aron whirled around and walked to the door, punching in a code on the lock panel. “You’re free to go.” He motioned to Davi.
Davi examined the others’ faces again. Joram and Uzah had softened but Matheu’s expression remained as somber as before. Davi nodded to Aron and hurried out the door, relieved but frustrated that it was so hard to earn their trust. Yet could he blame them after years of mistreatment? Still, he thought he’d done a lot to prove himself. Would they ever soften toward him? He headed for his quarters wondering what they’d do next.
O O O
Miri left the Library walking on air. While doing some historical research to back up her case against Xalivar, she’d stopped to check her e-posts and found a message from Davi.
At last! She couldn’t believe it! She’d been so worried about him. He was okay and it took him this long to let her know? Her excitement turned to anger. He would hear about this!
She read the e-post again—something about his birth father and a prison. She knew nothing about prisons. She didn’t know how to find out either. With Xalivar keeping a close watch on her, she’d started spending more and more time away from the Palace. He’d copied Yao on the message. She thought Yao might have better connections than she did at the moment.
She arrived at the café in the starport five minutes late, making her way to the back room where Kray sat waiting for her.
“Sorry I’m late. Where are the others?” She slid onto the chair opposite Kray. Kray’s face and stiff posture gave the answer. “They’re not coming?”
Kray hesitated a moment, searching for words. “There’s been a complication.”
“A complication?” Had they changed their minds?
“Xalivar told the Council today about Davi’s heritage,” Kray explained as the breath froze in Miri’s throat. “An illegal adoption from workers, without his knowledge …”
“My gods! He didn’t!”
Kray nodded. “He did.”
Xalivar had betrayed her and Davi! “You’re looking at me as if I betrayed the Alliance, Kray.”
“The Council was quite shocked by his allegations,” Kray said.
Did her oldest friend really believe Xalivar’s lies? “You know he’d sell out our mother to get ahead,” Miri said. Why would Xalivar turn on her? She’d been so careful.
Kray’s face looked sad. “I know, but the Council took his remarks to heart. I’m afraid there won’t be much support for you at this time.”
“None of them? What about the evidence I provided of wrongdoing? The public sentiment?”
“There has been public outcry, but not enough to force the Council’s hand. The Council ordered some of the actions which resulted in the tragedies you’ve leaked to
the press. We are all at risk too,” Kray said.
Miri couldn’t believe it. She’d been sure they would help her. Xalivar must have discovered her plot. Why else would he betray her?
She stared out the window. “I was barren, with no husband. I wanted a son to call my own. He’s a good boy; honorable, strong character—just the way I raised him.”
“You don’t have to explain to me, Miri, but you know how some feel about the workers …” Kray said, her voice trailing off even as her eyes filled with sympathy and concern.
“He’s a worker by blood. He’s Royal by upbringing. He doesn’t know their life, their ways. He’s more one of us than one of them,” Miri said, turning back to face Kray.
“That’s not how the public will see it,” Kray said, her brows furrowing as her fingers absentmindedly twisted and pulled at her hair.
“The public is ignorant. We are the Lords, the leaders. We have to tell them what’s right to think and do,” Miri said, her legs moving restlessly as her stomach churned.
“We cannot support you at this time. I’m sorry,” Kray said. Miri read in her eyes that it pained her to say it.
Miri slid down in the chair, dismayed. Kray seemed to be searching for something to say, but remained quiet. After a couple of minutes, she slipped away, leaving Miri alone with her thoughts.
He’s my son! Everything I did was for him! How could they not understand? They all had children, too. Xalivar had conned the Council yet again, and this time his con had painted her as the enemy. Her mind raced for what to do as time slowed to a stop around her. Even her dearest friend couldn’t offer more than sympathetic looks. She cursed herself. She had only herself to blame, but still … why did it seem Xalivar always came out ahead? She pounded her fist on the table, stood, and marched out the door.
Slipping out into the main mall, she wove her way through the chattering crowds. Someone was following her. She stopped and turned around. Two LSP Soldiers walked toward her.
She turned and hurried away from them as three more LSP Soldiers appeared ahead, looking straight at her. My gods! I can’t believe he’s gone this far!
She dodged down a corridor, but they moved fast to intercept her.
“I am a member of the Royal Family,” she shouted, drawing the attention of witnesses on purpose.
“I’m afraid we’ve been ordered to place you under arrest,” the LSP Sergeant said, as he and his men surrounded her.
“This is ridiculous. My brother is the High Lord Councilor! I am Princess Miri Rhii.”
“The order came from the High Lord Councilor,” the Sergeant said as his men grabbed her arms. They all paid no attention to the gathering crowds.
The Sergeant turned and led the way as they hurried her across the mall toward a nearby exit. Miri tried to steel her face against the stares, even as she shook with fear, wanting to cry. Could Xalivar have uncovered everything or did he simply suspect? What would he do with her?
The soldiers led her to a transport outside and locked her in the prisoner cell at the rear. Whatever her brother knew, she’d soon find out.
Chapter Ten
Miri paced back and forth in the cell energized solely by adrenaline and fear, until the door slid open and Xalivar appeared. She shot him dead with a furious look as he stepped inside and the door closed behind him.
“You have no right to lock me up in a cell like this!” she screamed.
“I have no right? You have been conspiring behind my back for weeks, and you want to talk about rights?” Xalivar smiled, amused.
He knows. Her heart sank. But she tightened her jaw and stared him down anyway. “I am a member of the Royal Family, Xalivar. Not some mere peasant!” Miri almost spat the words out.
“I am the High Lord Councilor,” Xalivar scolded. “My authority extends over you as much as the rest. Leaking top-secret information to the media, conspiring behind my back to turn the Council against me, and receiving communication from a fugitive this afternoon!” his voice rose in intensity with each word until he almost spat the last two words.
Miri’s tried to hide her surprise. He always seemed to know everything. She softened her face and voice, hoping to appeal to whatever caring for her he still had in him. “He’s my son, Xalivar.”
“He’s wanted by the Alliance for murder, among other charges,” Xalivar said. “You told me he had not communicated with you.”
“This was the first time,” Miri said.
“Which I had to learn about through other channels,” Xalivar chided. His hands hung relaxed at his sides. Why was he so calm? What did he know that she didn’t?
“I had not seen you yet,” she replied.
“As if you couldn’t have reached me if you wanted to.” Xalivar’s brown eyes met hers.
Miri looked away. “You’re crazy. What would father think if he was here to see me locked up like this?”
“Father is dead, and he left me in charge,” Xalivar said. “Your actions are a betrayal, not just of me, but of the Alliance itself. Whatever imbalance is occurring in that head of yours, I cannot allow it to continue. Do you wish to make a confession?”
“You are a power-hungry, deceitful, evil—” she spat the words, tensing with anger again.
“Save your whining for your women’s brunch, Miri!” Xalivar shook his head. “I have protected this Alliance for almost thirty years; done whatever it takes.”
Just once she wished she could see him perspire. “I question you as a citizen of the Borali Alliance. It’s all the authority I need,” Miri said. Xalivar’s calmness had her worried. He never handled betrayal this well. What was going on in his demented mind?
“Your loyalty to your son has clouded your judgment. Your actions have disparaged our entire family line. I cannot allow it to continue,” Xalivar turned back toward the door. It slid open and he stepped through.
Miri could see Manaen’s red eyes outside. “What are you going to do with me, Xalivar?”
“Send you somewhere safe,” Xalivar said as the door slid shut.
Miri rushed over and pounded her fists against the door as tears flowed down her face. What could she do now? She had to find a way to get a message to Davi. He would help her. He had to help her. And she had to warn him.
O O O
Davi and Tela moved the training course to the west side of the base, hoping to avoid further encounters with the LSP. They also installed an electronic sensor system around it to notify them of any unknown vehicles entering the area.
The trainees had made great progress on the course in the past week. Each had now completed several runs with the targeting system on. Most had landed at least one successful hit on one of the pylons. A few could hit the majority of the targets every time. Davi was impressed with both their determination and their dedication to their training. He’d heard no complaints about pushing them too hard or demanding extra hours.
Even Nila, Dru, and Brie were getting the hang of things at last. Of course, he still had doubts they would be able to maneuver a fighter, but they’d at least know enough to take off and follow someone else home. He assigned them to the team against the base on Vertullis and let the stronger trainees take on the Legallis base and fly the longer distances.
The trainees had all run the course three times with increasing success, when Virun and Jorek’s group pulled up beside Davi and Tela.
“We’re going to try the skitters on the trails now,” Jorek said. His friends mumbled their agreement.
Davi and Tela exchanged a look. The group remained defiant of Davi’s leadership, despite his repeated efforts. Tela had approached them as well to no avail. The only reason Davi hadn’t kicked them from the program was their skills were sorely needed—they were amongst the best in the class. And a part of him still hoped to win them over somehow.
He exchanged a look with Tela. Neither knew how to stop them, yet Davi still wanted to project a sense of command. “As long as you stick to the square mile around the course,” Da
vi insisted. The trainees nodded and headed off.
Some of the less skilled trainees watched them go. “We want to go, too,” Dru said.
“You guys need more work on the course,” Davi said.
“Can’t you show us stuff on the regular trails which would help us with the course?” Dru asked.
“Yeah, doing the same thing over and over is boring,” Brie said.
Nila and Dru groaned in agreement.
Davi looked at Tela, who shrugged. “Okay, look, we can try it for a half an hour or so, but you guys need to master the targeting on the course.”
Brie, Dru, and Nila exchanged high fives.
“We’re going as fast as we can,” Nila said.
Dru sped off toward the trails with Nila and Brie close behind. Davi and Tela raced to catch up with them.
O O O
Although he would have preferred to keep the search to his own men, for fear word of his failure on the mission might spread, Bordox had called in more troops after realizing that, the sooner he succeeded the better. In the long run, success always outweighed failure and the forest was just too big an area for them to cover effectively alone.
As soon as the alert code came over the comm-channel, Corsi called for a rendezvous of their forces at the scout’s location, and then notified Bordox, and they headed for the coordinates together.
Bordox’s heart pounded faster and faster as they sped past row after row of cedars drawing closer to the rendezvous. The sweet smell of the pollen and trees matched the sweet taste of impending victory on his tongue. Chattering birds and insects seemed to cheer him on as he tensed and released his muscles, preparing himself and mentally reviewing what he might say when he finally stood face to face again with his longtime nemesis. After this, there would be no doubt who was superior. Rhii’s career would be over! He’d be in prison. Bordox would have the favor of the High Lord Councilor and be awarded medals, perhaps even a promotion. Thinking about it excited him. He accelerated his skitter, ignoring the wind beating against his face, as Corsi struggled to remain alongside.
O O O
Davi and Tela followed Dru, Brie, and Nila, as they weaved along a trail through the trees. The wind whistled past Davi, rustling his hair. The air was fresh and clean. He enjoyed the sensation, the blur of the trees as they passed, and their spicy smell.
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