The Spider Queen (The Space Merchants Book 5)

by Wendie Nordgren

  I couldn’t feel my legs. Eli lowered down to the floor with me. “Let me see her again.”

  Eli froze the recording on her face. “Teagan, it could be a trick, a cruel one. I will determine the truth for you.”

  “We can’t let Papa know about this. Eli, who can we trust?” My eyes didn’t leave her face. “Momma,” I said with a broken ache. “Momma.” I took the vid-screen from him and held it.

  “We can trust each other and your Omnes Videntes to keep this secret.”

  “Uncle Kagan?”

  “Definitely not!” I looked from her face to his. “Neema Valen was his beloved sister. He would tell Tavere at once.”

  “Grandmother would pull this from him. It could kill her. Is there no one else?”

  “The loyalty to the Emperor is absolute. However, there is one other whose loyalty and devotion to you is stronger.”

  “Is he on Parvac?”

  “Yes.”

  “Bring him to me.”

  I remained on the black floor, staring at the face of Neema Valen. Eli kneeled back down and placed a silk square on my thigh before leaving. I stared at her face. Then, I wiped my eyes so I could see her better. I didn’t know how much time had passed before Eli returned with someone who tried to rush to me.

  “Stop! Follow protocol,” Eli ordered. A discordant buzzing reached my ears. Then, there was a rustling of fabric. The door opened and closed. “Clear,” Eli said.

  Then, he and another man kneeled to either side of me. I had hidden the vid-screen to my chest when they entered. Eli had brought Drex Licinius. He had tossed his uniform jacket out of the room. Briefly, I wondered who spied on Drex.

  “Can I trust you, Drex?”

  “Yes, Princess.”

  “No, Drex. Can I trust you to keep a secret from Papa, Uncle Kagan, and everyone, everyone?” I asked as my voice shook.

  “I am yours, even if it means my death.”

  “It might,” I said quietly. “Do you trust him with this, Eli?”

  “Yes, your majesty.”

  With a sob and hands that shook harder than my voice, I gave Eli his vid-screen. I tried to center myself, but the man’s voice in the recording made it too difficult. Zared and the others were giving me my privacy for which I was grateful. I needed to think on my own. Lifting my chin, I saw the horrified look that morphed into rage on Drex’s face.

  “They have kept her body all of this time?”

  Eli returned the image to that of my mother and put it in my hands. “Will you meet their demands?” Eli asked as he rubbed soothing circles on my back.

  “No, I want to hunt them down one by one. I want my mother’s body returned to us. Then, when Papa returns home, we will gift him with the men who kept her from us, and I will sit by his side and witness each execution. Do what you have to do to find a link from that man you have in custody to the others, but I want this one. I want the one who referred to her as an it.”

  Drex lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. “From this moment, my one and only mission is to return her to you.”

  “Drex, no one must learn of this. You understand why,” Eli said.

  “I do. Besides the two of us, how many men do we trust unequivocally?” Drex asked.

  “Let us escort the Princess to her wing.”

  I didn’t realize that I was back in my wing until Luca pulled me away from Eli. “Teagan, you look stressed. Luckily, I know how to make everything better. Let’s get that tension out of your shoulders,” Luca said.

  I nodded.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Late during the night while I slept fitfully between Zared and Luca, I woke in a fright as Luca surged from bed. Even with the thick carpeting, I heard a thud.

  “Luca, hold,” Zared whispered. Whatever had woken us hadn’t woken the babies. “No, leave the light off. Let him up,” Zared said.

  Faint light showed me Luca’s naked form.

  Standing slowly was Eli. “We have a lead.”

  “What’s this about?” Luca asked. I wasn’t sure that I could trust Luca not to report immediately to his father or mine. “Teagan, tell me.”

  “Eli, is it private here?” I asked.

  “No,” he answered.

  Zared got up and returned with a familiar device. Then, he activated it in a small circle around the bed. “Teagan, get back under the covers.” Eli sat at the foot of the bed and scanned for listening devices. “Will you keep Teagan’s council private?” Zared asked Luca.

  “Of course.”

  “What if it meant treason?” Zared asked.

  “I would never betray the Empire, and I will arrest any who think of it.”

  “Not like that, Luca,” Eli said. “This is more to protect Tavere than anything else.”

  Luca said, “You have no other recourse than to tell me. Otherwise, I will be forced to report all of this.”

  I took Luca’s face in between my hands, looked into his eyes, and managed to choke the words out to him. Before I had finished, he engulfed me in his thick, strong arms, and held me to his warm hairy chest.

  “What is your lead?” Luca asked.

  Eli said, “A mercenary named Hiffa who was last seen on a mining colony not far from Malta. We request orders to pursue.”

  “You have them, but I’m going with you.”

  Zared grabbed my arm. “No, it will not be safe. You and the children will stay here. You serve as your father’s proxy and may not leave.”

  “What? You can’t keep us safe? Come up with a cover story. We can tell Uncle Kagan from the Empress.”

  “We can’t take the Empress. Your uncle would be alerted of your departure at once, and our mission would be jeopardized by the Parvac ships following after you. Hiffa would learn of us and run,” Eli said. “It may be best to take Drex’s ship. Expect me during your walk with the children.”

  Zared deactivated the shield, and Eli disappeared from my wing. Then, Zared took me into his arms and made me forget everything but him.

  During my walk with the children the next morning, Eli matched his step with mine. He wore black shorts, a black T-shirt, and exercise shoes, blending in seamlessly with all of the other officers exercising on the Palace grounds. I was glad for his distraction. It pulled my thoughts from where they dwelled.

  “We have a simple plan to get you off of Parvac.”

  “What is it?”

  “Marry Licinius,” Eli said.

  “What? How the fungus,” I said stopping myself in time, “is that a good idea? I don’t want to marry him.”

  “Yes, and Lord Yukihyo, General Cassian, Lord Jiri, and Phillip know that which could work to our benefit. You marry him once we are in orbit in his ship. Then, you tell Admiral Valen that you are bored and want to see the stars for a few days. Tell him you are tired from the strain. Make it believable. If he’s in the room with you, he will sense through your bond that you lie to him.”

  “Well, why can’t we take my ship?” I asked while pushing Neema and Niklos along. Peter looked up at my face as though I were a shiny toy.

  “Captain Ricimer and his crew are loyal to Tavere. They will not place you in danger. Also, your ship would be recognized immediately.”

  “And Drex’s won’t be?” I smiled as Niklos and Neema tried to catch a pink butterfly that flitted across the path.

  “Not the one we will be taking.”

  “How many does he have?”

  “Different occasions call for different ships.”

  “I suppose Drex is okay with this plan?”

  Eli nodded. “We are losing time. Are you in or out?”

  “I’m in.”

  “Be ready in an hour. Don’t pack. This needs to look impulsive.”

  “Eli, we need things like diapers.”

  “Leave it to us.” Eli jogged away.

  I returned with the children to my wing careful to mope, had breakfast, bathed, and dressed. Then, I went to Papa’s office and did some work with Larkin. Uncle Kagan cal
led that he was going to be late. His transport wasn’t functioning. Acting bored for Larkin was simple.

  When Inquisitor Drex Licinius entered the office to check on his funding, he asked, “Princess Probus, are you alright?”

  “I’m just bored, Drex. I’m sick of all of this work. I feel sorry for Papa.” I put my elbow on my table and rested my head on my hand. In the brief moment of a blink, I saw Momma’s hair floating about her face in the horrid green fluid.

  Drex said, “What you need is a short distraction.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Would a few hours in space cheer you up? I have a vessel. I could teach you to captain her.”

  “Seriously?” I asked Drex. Turning to Larkin, I asked, “Can I go?”

  “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. All of these administrative tasks can be wearing on one. Keep her safe,” he said to Drex.

  Drex saluted and gave me his arm. In my wing, we told everyone that we were going flying, got the babies, Thunderdrop, Pierce, Lorca, and Luca, and left in a Palace transport for the land port. We drove up the loading ramp of Drex’s warship.

  “Princess Teagan, would you like to make yourself and your party comfortable in the Imperial suites while I take us up? I’ll come for you once the view ports are open on the observation deck,” Drex said.

  I pouted. “I thought you were going to let me take her up.”

  “I would like for you to get a feel for her first in open space.”

  “Fine, but don’t take too long.”

  Drex escorted us to the Imperial quarters which were identical to the rooms set aside for our use on every Parvac warship. I sat on a couch with Neema and Peter. Niklos wanted to bite his new teething toy and roll around on the carpet. Eli, Jazon, and Zared began scanning for listening devices. They found one in Lorca’s vid-screen, which made him red in the face with anger. I had never seen him mad.

  “It even happened to Drex,” I told him. “If it can happen to an inquisitor, it can happen to anyone.”

  Drex entered the sitting area. “Princess, would you care to join me on the bridge?”

  I went with him. Luca, Zared, and Eli came along as well.

  “He’s calling,” Eli warned.

  I was sitting in the Captain’s chair and pushed the command to accept the call. “Uncle Kagan! Look at me! Drex is teaching me to fly a warship!” My gleeful excitement was an act.

  My uncle’s anxiety seemed to go down a notch. “I was concerned to learn you had left the surface with the children.”

  “Didn’t Larkin tell you? I asked if it was okay. Do I have to go back already? I just got to sit here a few seconds ago.” I frowned.

  “Teagan,” Drex said.

  “Yes?”

  “We can do this anytime you like if Admiral Valen needs you.” Drex pointed at a stabilizer for me to adjust, and I noticed his right hand.

  “Poor, Drex,” I said as I held my palm open for him to place his hand in it. “Does it still hurt?”

  “It will never be cause of pain for me again, not when I have the memory of your sweet hands touching mine.” Drex kept his eyes on mine as he kneeled beside me. “I offer myself to you again and fear I have no choice but to do so again and again for all of my days. Never before have I put happiness in your eyes before this moment. It required no planning, no effort, just listening to a few of your words. I will take all of my future pleasure vicariously through yours.”

  Uncle Kagan couldn’t see the pain in my eyes. He didn’t know what we had seen, but Drex knew. He knew my happiness and excitement for the pretended portrayal that they were. He knew he wasn’t responsible for happiness that didn’t exist. Drex was instead vowing to find no peace until mine was restored. When my eyes told him that I understood, he bowed his head over our hands. With my left hand, I stroked his hair and tried to muffle the sound of anguish that threatened to reveal our charade to Uncle Kagan. Each time my eyelids slid closed, I saw Momma in her fluid-filled coffin.

  “I will accept you, but I’m not ready for anything intimate between us.” I blushed, but Drex was un-phased by my conditional acceptance of his proposal.

  He took my right hand in his and kissed it tenderly. I felt a drop of moisture on my hand and feared it was saliva, but a tear had fallen from Drex’s eye, which he quickly hid.

  “Teagan, I’ll give you some privacy,” Uncle Kagan said as he ended our call.

  “Give her the contract,” Eli said.

  Drex pulled it up on his main command console and pressed his palm to the document. With knots in my stomach, I did the same.

  Drex said, “Set course for Naxa.” His first officer obeyed.

  “Why Naxa?” I asked.

  “My mother resides there,” Drex said apologetically. Concern that she must be difficult crossed my mind before I realized that Drex felt sorry for me that I lacked what he had.

  Eli and Zared took me back to the Imperial quarters. A few hours into our journey, Uncle Kagan contacted Eli. He explained that I had agreed to a visit with Drex’s mother. Uncle Kagan seemed mollified by his explanation.

  “That should buy us three days. Let’s go,” Eli said.

  “Where?” I asked.

  “You’ll see.”

  Eli took us down to the flight deck. It had been cleared out of fighters. Instead, a merchant vessel and two small stealth ships had been prepared. Each of the ships looked well-used. A few of Drex and Eli’s soldiers made final preparations. The children, Thunderdrop, and I were ushered into the merchant ship. It was smaller than Tora, had more weapons, and had a coating of our photonic film. I was given a small set of adjoining rooms, one with a bed and bathroom and the other set up as a nursery.

  Jazon led us to the living quarters. “Settle in,” he said before leaving.

  “Princess, I do not wish to sound insubordinate, but would you please explain the meaning of this?” Pierce asked. Lorca looked just as concerned.

  I looked between the two of them. “You have to swear to me that what I have to tell the two of you will remain secret. No one must know, especially not my sweet Papa or Uncle Kagan. It would kill them.”

  Lorca and Pierce were alarmed. I waited.

  “I am honor bound to keep your life private,” Pierce said.

  “I will repeat nothing,” Lorca said.

  “Once we know the truth, we will tell Papa and Uncle Kagan everything, but for now secrecy is crucial. Let’s sit.” I lowered myself to the floor with the children and began passing out toys to them. Peter was sleeping. “This is too hard to say. Is it okay if I show you?”

  “Mommy, don’t cry. Neema make it better.” Her little arms came around my neck as she stood on my thighs and kissed me.

  “Yes, baby. You’re right. Neema is the only one who can make this better.” I scooped her up into my arms like a baby and kissed her.

  “Okay. That’s enough,” she said.

  I put her down. I took my vid-screen from the diaper bag and pulled up the copy of the video that required a retinal scan to open. I passed it to the nurses. Then, I concentrated on the transport that Niklos and I were pushing back and forth to each other.

  “They should never have shown you this. It should have been proved or disproved. Then, your father or uncle should have decided if it were wise to share it with you,” Lorca said angrily.

  “A vid-chip was passed to me on the Princess by a human male posing as a waiter.”

  Niklos crawled onto my lap. Then, he grabbed handfuls of my hair and pulled himself up so that he could kiss me, too. “Ma,” he said and gave me a sloppy kiss.

  “Ma? Did you say Ma? Oh, my baby!” Niklos liked all of the kisses that he got from me and stayed on my lap.

  “Teagan, what is going to be done about this?” Pierce asked.

  “I have ordered my Inquisitors, along with the men under their commands, who they trust, and my Omnes Videntes to hunt the men responsible down.” I helped Niklos with the animal cutouts he was trying to fit into the correct spaces on their board. “Papa is th
e one who needs protecting. Uncle Kagan would tell him and then Grandmother. You know how this would hurt her.”

  Pierce and Lorca exchanged looks. “Teagan, I think you and the children should return to the Palace.”

  I shook my head. “My uncle would read my heart and know. I can’t sit and wait this out. She’s out there alone with men who despise her. They could hide her so that we never find her. I can’t sit and wait at the Palace. Are you going to help me?”

  “Yes,” Pierce said.

  “I will,” Lorca said with a worried look at Niklos. “If anything were to happen to you or the children….”

  “Nothing will happen to us.”

  “No, nothing will happen to you. These rooms also function as an escape capsule. You and the children will sleep here, and if ordered to do so will remain inside of them,” Drex said from the doorway. I raised an eyebrow at him. He continued. “Emergency rations, medical supplies, and communications are located under these floor panels.” Drex showed us how to pull up a portion of the flooring. “The two of you will remain onboard at all times with Prince Niklos, Princess Neema, Peter, and Thunderdrop until we return to the Empire. Any orders telling you otherwise are bogus. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” they answered.

  Drex said, “You are not to communicate with anyone for the duration of this mission. To do so could jeopardize us all. Teagan, you will be in disguise and with Jazon anytime you disembark. You are Sara Eos. Jazon Eos is your husband, an aspiring merchant looking to begin trade in small tech. Lorca, I assume you can dye her hair and help her with these?” He handed Lorca a set of solid black eye films. “This will prevent you from being identified by any facial recognition drones,” he said as he handed me a small box.

  Inside was a small gold ball with a magnetic back. I handed it to Lorca and stood up, walking into the small living quarters. I felt it when we flew from Drex’s warship.

  Drex said, “Our course is set for Luna Eight mining colony.”

  I turned from the small kitchen and dining area to face Drex. There were a couple of couches and a vid-screen on the wall in the living area. “Do you have to be so… bossy?”

  Drex moved like water spilling from a cup, took me into his arms, and then simply held me. I could hear his heart pounding beneath my ear. He cupped the side of my face and moved his thumb back and forth over my cheek. “Yes, I do. I intend to keep you safe without keeping you a prisoner. All of our efforts must coordinate. Eli and I have work to do. Teagan, all will be well.” Drex slowly released me. “What are you thinking?”