Li'ren went to a door at one end of the room, which presumably would lead to the kitchen, and poked her head inside. Then she came back to the table. Pausing next to the Empress's chair, she bent down to whisper something in her ear. The Empress smiled, nodding her head and whispering back to Li'ren. The noblewoman gave her a brief kiss on the cheek, then went around the table and took her own seat.
“Well, Jack,” Kri'a said, looking across the table at him. “Did you enjoy your tour of the palace? Li'ren is a good tour guide, is she not?”
“It was enjoyable, Empress,” Jack said, truthfully. “And yes, she is. Though I'm surprised anyone is able to find their way around this place. It's big enough to pilot a cargo ship through without bumping the walls.”
The Empress and Li'ren both laughed. “It is very large, indeed,” Kri'a agreed. “Though not quite that large. But I see your point. You know, I have lived here my entire life, but I believe Li'ren knows it far better than I already.” She looked across the table fondly at the younger female. “She has always been a remarkable young woman.”
“Thank you, mistress,” Li'ren said, smiling at the Empress. Jack thought that he could see her tail wagging behind her, underneath table level.
“Now, I imagine you're all very hungry,” the Empress said. “So we'll have lunch, and then there are a few matters that I wish to speak with all of you about.” Jack got the impression that she was including Li'ren in that 'all of you'. Kri'a picked up a small silver bell that was sitting on the table next to her and rang it. The door to the kitchen opened and a line of servants came out, carrying platters and dishes which they placed on the table. The food was served and the meal began.
Jack found that the food was excellent, as might have been expected at the Royal Palace of the Ailian Ascendancy, though he thought that he still preferred Sami's cooking. For some reason, the food at Aria's home had more...feeling in it. Maybe that came from the personal touch that Sami gave to the food she cooked for her own family, as opposed to the servants who cooked food for people that they probably only saw for a few minutes a day.
The Empress and Li'ren paid little mind to Jack and Aria during the meal. While they ate, they conversed with each other in the Ailian language. From the Ailian that he had picked up from Sami and Aria, Jack could understand a few words and short sentences here and there, but not enough to comprehend what they were talking about. But they were smiling at each other, and the conversation seemed to be unrelated to anything that was going on as far as the reason they were here. The love between the two of them was very obvious now that they were in this unguarded, casual setting. Jack thought it was remarkable considering the age difference between them; fifteen years, according to what Li'ren had told him about their past.
“Are you okay?” Jack asked Aria quietly at one point. She had been completely silent throughout the meal, paying attention to her plate more than anything else.
She looked up at him. “Fine,” she replied, though she was clearly anything but. Her yellow-gold eyes were filled with worry. “I fine.”
“You sure you're fine? You seem really tense, even for you.” Aria didn't respond, and they were both quiet for a few minutes. “What did you talk about with the Empress?”
“Not want talk about it now,” Aria hissed back at him.
“Aria...”
“Not talk right now,” Aria insisted. She gazed at him with a pained look on her face, a combination of extreme anxiety and something else that he couldn't quite place. “Not now, Jack. Please.”
He stared at her for a few moments, very hurt by her apparent dismissiveness of him, but he just nodded and returned his attention to the meal.
******
When lunch was concluded, servants cleared up the table and then brought out drinks for everyone. Li'ren got up when they had finished and locked all of the doors to the dining room from the inside, so that they would not be disturbed. Jack felt the mood in the room instantly take a turn from the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that had been present before. Just from the doors being locked, everything seemed much more serious.
“Now, then,” the Empress said. “I trust the meal was to your liking, Aria?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Aria managed to say. “Very good.”
“Wonderful.” The Empress folded her hands in her lap. “I wish we could exchange pleasantries all day, but I would like to discuss your upcoming trial, Lieutenant. Tell me, how are your preparations coming along?”
Aria took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Not good. Major Tal'in...She very good officer, not so good lawyer. Not know military law well beyond basics.”
“You have been looking for your own council, have you not?”
“Yes,” Aria said, nodding emphatically. “But not find one. Some willing to take case, but only for reputation. Say no hope for it. Others not want to come anywhere near me.” She looked down at her lap. “Is not good. Trial in three weeks.”
“I thought that might be the case,” Kri'a said, somewhat sympathetically.
“Ah, sorry for interrupting,” Jack said. He had been thinking about what he was about to say for a while now, and he couldn't hold it back any longer. The Empress, Li'ren, and Aria all looked at him, and he felt his face redden, but he pressed on. “Your majesty, it seems to me like you're kinda on Aria's side in all this. I mean, that's just the impression I'm getting. Am I right?”
The Empress did not acknowledge what he was saying, but she gestured with one hand for him to continue. Her tail twitched once behind her, and the tips of her ears were turned forward, her feline lips drawn back slightly in a faint smile. She seemed rather amused at the forwardness of this human wearing a slave collar. Aria just gave him an embarrassed look, as though she wished for him to be quiet.
“Well, if that's the case, why can't you just order the charges against Aria dismissed?” Jack asked. He looked among all of the Ailians. “I mean, you're the Empress. It doesn't seem like it should be this hard.”
“Jack...,” Aria began to say, a tone of angry warning in her voice. She cut herself off at a raised hand from the Empress.
“It's quite alright, Aria,” Kri'a said. “The human makes a valid point.” She looked at Jack. “Jack, believe me when I say that I would like nothing more than to just have the charges against Aria dismissed. I know all too well the hardship that both she and you are going through.” Li'ren reached across the table then, laying a hand on hers. “As I told Aria earlier today, I faced scandal and the threat of having my title stripped from me when I became mated to Li'ren. We still experience mutters and insults to this day, although of course now that I am Empress the insults are behind our backs instead of to our faces.
“The fact of the matter is that, ridiculous as you and I may see it, what you and Aria did was against our laws. I offer that not as an excuse but as a simple truth.” Kri'a's eyes flicked down and then back up again. “Perhaps five centuries ago, I could have done this thing that you ask. But the power of the Empress is much harder to exercise than it was even in the time of my grandmother. The consequences of 'progress'. Civilians gain in power while the throne loses it. I still retain authority over the military, yes, but in matters of internal law I have limited latitude.” She shook her head. “I am sorry.”
Jack felt his heart sink. “I didn't realize. I guess I thought that...well, I thought that you had absolute power.”
“In many respects, she does,” Li'ren piped up. She squeezed her mate's hand. “But not in all aspects of our society. There are certain limits on the power of the Empress, and in any case it would not be prudent for her to exercise absolute power in every situation. It keeps the peace to show restraint at times.”
“Li'ren says it better than I could have,” Kri'a said with a smile. “But that doesn't mean I am completely powerless to help you, Aria. I have an idea that I think will be beneficial to you.” She looked at Li'ren, then at Aria. “Since you have been unable to find a councilor to represent you,
I believe I have just the person to suggest to you.”
“You do?” Aria and Li'ren said, both nearly at the same time.
The Empress suppressed a noise of amusement. “Yes, I do. Li'ren, I think you would be perfectly suited to this task. If the lieutenant will agree to it, I would like for you to be her council for this trial.”
There was silence in the room for a good long minute. Nobody was really sure that they had correctly heard what the Empress had said, least of all Li'ren.
“Kri'a,” Li'ren finally said. “Are you...certain that's the best course of action? Imagine the stir it will cause when the Empress's Consort is representing the lieutenant charged with treason.”
“I have thought about this, Li'ren,” the Empress insisted, “and I believe it is the right thing to do.” She leaned forward in her chair. “You and Aria both know what we think is at stake here, yes? I can think of no one I would trust this task to more than you. You have represented my interests with uncommon skill in many matters before, my dear. I know that this task is not beyond you.”
Li'ren bit her lip, the tip of her tail twitching anxiously. She looked into the Empress's eyes for a long moment, then she took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “Very well. If Aria is in agreement, that is.”
Aria seemed more taken aback than anyone, but she nodded as well. “I...not know what to say. Thank you, m'lady.”
“Then it's settled.” Li'ren leaned back in her chair, thoughtful. “I am not going to mince words, Lieutenant. This is not going to be an easy trial to win. It is already common knowledge that you are quite responsible for the actions outlined in the charges, so arguing otherwise in court would be foolish.”
“Yes...,” Aria conceded. Jack could see that the fear and anxiety was back, stronger than ever. This trial really was wearing her down, even more so now that the day was drawing near.
“Therefore,” Li'ren continued, “your defense will need to convince the court martial that your actions were excusable, and not treasonous.” She looked at Jack. “The fact that you, Jack, were once a member of the human military, and that you were transporting military supplies at the time you and Aria met, will complicate matters. But not so much as if you had been an active soldier.” She traced a finger along one side of her muzzle, considering. “I will need to give this some thought.”
“In the meantime, try not to worry too much,” the Empress said. She immediately shook her head disapprovingly at what she had just said. “You have probably heard that too many times. But I mean it all the same, Aria.”
Aria nodded, though she looked as though her heart wasn't really in it. “Yes, Your Highness. Thank you.” She stared blankly at a spot on the table for a second, then looked back up at the Empress. Fire was back in her eyes. “Empress Solan...The man from my home. Learn anything from him? How he get there, why?”
Li'ren and the Empress looked at each other. Li'ren was the one to answer. “Regretfully, Lieutenant, the man is now dead. He killed himself in his cell two days after he was taken into custody. He refused to talk at all before then. I know you wanted answers in the death of your sister. I am sorry.”
“I see...” Aria clenched her fists underneath the table, the muscles in her jaw trembling as she grit her teeth.
“We will still try to find out how they managed to get here, of course,” Kri'a promised. “But I do not think much will come of the investigation. There's not much evidence to go on.” She reached over, taking Aria's hand. “But we will try all the same.”
“Thank you...”
******
Soon after, Li'ren escorted Aria and Jack from the dining room and took them back to the front entrance of the palace, where a vehicle was waiting to take the pair back to Aria's family estate. When they were on their way, Li'ren went back into her home and walked up the stairs to the second floor. After checking on a few things, she went to the back of the palace, to a secluded sitting room near the Empress' bedchambers. Kri'a was waiting there for her, lounging on a small couch. Li'ren walked past her to stand at a window, looking out on the rear garden.
-Are you alright, love?- the Empress asked, looking over her shoulder at the noblewoman.
-I don't know,- Li'ren said. She was wringing her hands in front of her, staring through the glass of the window without really seeing what was beyond. -I don't have a good feeling, Kri'a. I just don't feel good about all this.-
-Come here,- Kri'a said, extending a hand over the back of the couch.
Li'ren turned, coming to her. She took the Empress's hand in hers as she came around, settling down on her mate's lap. Kri'a put an arm about her back, drawing her close. She allowed herself to be pulled into a deep kiss. As always, being together with her mate calmed her, and made her feel better. When the kiss ended, Li'ren exhaled slowly, leaning against Kri'a and resting her head on her shoulder. She nuzzled the Empress' neck.
-I'm sorry,- Li'ren whispered. -I don't mean to worry.-
Kri'a rubbed her younger lover's back, twisting her own tail affectionately around hers. -It's quite alright.- She kissed the top of Li'ren's head, stroking her fingers lightly between her ears. -But remember how important this is, all the same. We will be much better off with Lieutenant Me'lia than without her.-
Li'ren closed her eyes. -I know. I will do my very best.-
The Empress smiled, hugging her tightly. -You always do, my dear. You always do.-
******
Aria could feel Jack looking at her the entire way back home, but she avoided his eyes, saying nothing to him. Her head was spinning as though she was drunk, but she was as sober as she had ever been in her entire life. Too much was going on right now, and Aria was beyond the end of her rope. She was so far beyond it that she was falling into the valley below. So the Empress believed that the Ascendancy was heading for another civil war? The words sounded insane even as Aria said them to herself, but she knew that it could be true. If everything that the Empress had told her was true, then it was almost a certainty.
And she thinks I can help her stop it? Pur'e a te me tuk...
Aria did not need that kind of responsibility right now. She was under enough stress already. Her trial was dangerously close, and the case was not looking good. When even the legal representative of the Empress herself said that the case looked nearly hopeless, well...that was not very encouraging at all. Aria ground her teeth together as their vehicle stopped in front of her home. She opened the door and stepped out, not even waiting for Jack before she began walking up the path to the front entrance.
“Aria?”
What if Li'ren couldn't formulate a good defense in time? The trial would be a complete formality, and then Aria would face certain execution. Then Jack would be sold, unless her family could pull some real crazy maneuvers to keep that from happening.
“Aria?”
Beyond that, if the Empress was correct and Aria was crucial to helping prevent a civil war, then her absence might throw her people into chaos once more. Aria had seen pictures in the history books of Lirna burning during the last war. She did not want the planet she loved to go through that again, but right now she saw no reason that she would be able to do anything to prevent it.
“Aria, stop!”
Aria spun around as Jack's hand grabbed her arm. They were just a few feet away from the front door now, and she had no memory of the walk up from where the vehicle had dropped them off.
“What?” she hissed harshly at Jack.
“Aria, can we talk, please?” he said, his eyes wide with fright at the expression on her face. She looked every bit as fearsome right now as she had the first time he'd ever seen her. Her predator's fangs were bared, and the fur on the back of her neck and the top of her head was raised.
Aria stared at Jack, seeing him shrink back from her as she growled. She saw that he was terrified of her now, and something broke inside of her. Immediately her expression softened. She turned away from Jack slightly, and covered her eyes with one hand.
“I sorry,” she said, taking a slow, shuddering breath after she said it. “Jack, I...need be alone.” Aria looked back at him. “Please, just...go to you room. I come later. We talk later, yes?”
Jack opened his mouth, meaning to protest, but then he closed it. He nodded. “Alright, Aria. But don't be too long.”
“Will not. I just go make some tea. Will be there soon.”
Nodding again, Jack turned away from her and continued up the walkway, heading away from the main building of the estate towards the guest quarters. Aria watched him go, and then she walked inside. The home was quiet. None of her siblings were in the halls, and her father was either in his study or still at work. In the middle of the day, most of her family would be away from home. She made her way to the kitchen.
Aria busied herself with preparing tea, her mind still buzzing with questions, worries, fears, and anxieties. There was just too much for her to think about, so much that could go wrong. She felt, irrationally, like the whole world was depending on her. She didn't want that at all. She had never wanted anything more than to serve her people faithfully, to follow the example that her mother had set for her. All of this was way more than she could handle.
As she reached for the tea kettle, Aria looked to her right. Pans, dishes, pots, and kitchen knives hung from pegs on the wall, all in neat little rows. Orderly. Perfect.
It would be so easy.
******
Jack frowned, staring at the door as he sat on his bed in his room. Aria should have been here by now. He didn't have a watch or a clock with him, but he was certain that it had been at least fifteen or twenty minutes since he'd left Aria at the front door to her family's estate. Did it really take that long to make tea?
After about five more minutes, Jack decided that he'd had enough waiting. He got up and left his room, walking down from the guest quarters back to the main building. Maybe there was something in the kitchen that he could help Aria with. Perhaps she had decided to make some food, or something.
Transmission Lost Page 32
