Star Rider and the Golden Threads

by Heidi Skarie

  Koriann stared at Erling’s bruised cheek and swollen eye, sickened that he’d been beaten so badly. “I’m glad you made it back.”

  “Thanks for your help.” He cleared his throat. “I’d better get going. I’ve been gone a few days and there’s a lot to check up on. And I want to help with the analysis of that crystal matrix.” He turned to go.

  Koriann clasped his arm, not ready for him to leave when she’d been so worried about him. “Erling, wait.”

  He looked back at her, his eyes guarded. “What is it?”

  “I was a knot of nerves worrying that something might happen to you. It made me realize how much I care about you.”

  “Kori, I. . .” he faltered, his face full of anguish.

  “You what?”

  “You must know how I feel about you, but if I were engaged I wouldn’t want another man telling my fiancée he loved her. I’m sure Zanton doesn’t either.”

  “You love me?”

  “I thought that was pretty obvious.”

  She tightened her hold on his arm as he started to pull away. “I love you, too.” His expression changed from questioning to understanding and they came together with a kiss that quickly built in intensity.

  Koriann heard the sound of footsteps and looked up to see Zanton approaching. Stars! What bad timing!

  “So you’re back and immediately lusting after my fiancée!” Zanton raged.

  Erling tightened his arms around Koriann’s waist. “Your engagement is a mistake. I’m going to marry Kori.”

  “You’re not stealing my woman. I challenge you to a duel.”

  “Can’t we settle this peacefully?”

  “Peacefully!” Zanton’s nostrils flared. “I catch you with my woman and you want to settle it peacefully. If you want her, you’ll have to fight for her. Haklute honor demands we fight a ritualistic duel with Borithon swords until first blood.”

  “Duels are rather barbaric.”

  “You’re a coward.”

  Erling bristled. “I’m not a coward. I accept your challenge.”

  “No!” Koriann gasped horrified.

  Zanton ignored her, his dark eyes riveted on Erling. “Meet me at the ocean just below the palace at dawn tomorrow. I’ll bring the weapons.”

  “Agreed.”

  “No, duels are illegal in Jaipar!” Koriann exclaimed.

  “Stay out of this!” Zanton snapped, glowering at her.

  She stepped toward him, wanting to calm him down. “We need to talk privately, Your Highness.”

  The king nodded curtly. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “Not a good idea, Kori,” Erling said, placing a protective hand on the small of her back.

  “Erling, I made a pledge to King Zanton. He deserves an explanation.”

  “Come see me afterward. I’ll be in the kitchen getting something to eat.”

  “It’s really late. We’ll talk in the morning.” Koriann looked at Zanton, her uneasiness increasing. She didn’t look forward to smoothing his wounded ego. “Let’s talk in the den.”

  “It’s as good a place as any.” King Zanton roughly grabbed her upper arm and started pulling her toward the palace.

  Koriann glanced back over her shoulder at Erling who looked about ready to pounce on the King. She shook her head letting him know she didn’t want him to interfere. She wanted to settle things without a fight.

  Her own irritation increased as Zanton continued to drag her toward the palace. She tried to twist her arm free.

  “Release me!” she hissed under her breath. “You’re hurting me.”

  “I’m so sorry.” He sounded anything but sorry though he loosened his grip. She looked around for her guards and saw they were conspicuously absent. Zanton’s guard stood at the palace entrance.

  They went into the private section of the palace where the den and bedrooms were located. At Zanton’s bedroom suite, he flung open the door and thrust her inside. “We’ll talk here. There are a few things we need to get straight.”

  “No, not here. In the den.” She tried to move past him to the door.

  He jerked her to him and kicked the door shut. “I won’t be made a fool of by any woman. You’ll keep your pledge and marry me.”

  “Never!” She pushed her hands against his chest trying to make space between them. “I’ll never marry a man who wants to dominate me and use me to control Jaipar.” She drew in a deep breath to calm herself, not wanting to further aggravate him. She still hoped to get him to leave Jaipar peacefully. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out between us.”

  “It didn’t work out because of Fenian.”

  “No, even if he wasn’t here, it wouldn’t have worked out. Jaiparian customs are just too different from yours. I’m ruler here and I’ll never give that power to a man—even if he is my husband. I’m willing to rule jointly but I’d never let my husband rule alone. It’s become clear that’s what you want and expect.”

  “You won’t cause me this embarrassment. Rulers from all over the planet have already been invited to our wedding.”

  “I apologize if this causes you embarrassment, but neither of us will be happy if we marry.”

  “You think this is about happiness? About love? You’re naïve.” He gave her a violent shake. “This is about power. I intend to rule Jaipar and you will be my queen. You can either submit to me as a proper wife or learn a wife’s place the hard way.”

  “I’m not your wife yet!” Koriann exploded, losing her temper. “Take your hands off me!”

  He tightened his grip. “You’re mine, Koriann. I warned you what I’d do if I caught you with Fenian. I’ll kill your lover tomorrow and tonight I’ll punish you for your indiscretion.”

  A chill shot up her spine “You said the duel was only until first blood and I didn’t betray you. Erling and I have never been intimate.”

  “You expect me to believe that! You’re nothing but a harlot! In my country you’d be put to death for your infidelity.”

  “Fortunately we’re not married and we’re not in Haklute!” She was frightened, but didn’t want him to know. “Release me this instant or I’ll call my guards.”

  “I dismissed your guards while you were gone. I’m in charge of the palace now.”

  Koriann glared at him. “I order you to leave Jaipar immediately with all your men and never return. If you don’t, I’ll bring formal charges against you before the International Peace Council.”

  “You don’t want a war between our countries. War will weaken Jaipar and make it vulnerable to attack from Samrat Condor. He’ll crush Jaipar. I remain your only hope for Jaipar’s safety.”

  “Jaipar is a strong country and the International Council supports us. If you attack Jaipar, you’ll have the Council to answer to.”

  He smiled ruthlessly. “I don’t care if you want me as a husband or not. We’ll be married as planned.”

  “You can’t force me to marry you!”

  “But, I can. I control Jaipar now! With the right combination of psychic powers and drugs, you’ll be an obedient wife. I plan to keep you locked in my palace on Haklute.” He zipped open the front of her flight suit. “I’m tired of this virgin front while you play the whore with your lover.”

  She slammed her fist into his gut and broke away. A sharp knock sounded at the door. “Who is it?” Zanton yelled, as Koriann zipped up her flight suit.

  “Tyrin. We have a problem.”

  “Come in.” The door opened and one of Zanton’s uniformed guards walked in.

  “There’s trouble with Captain Orneil, head of the palace guards. He says he only takes orders from the Queen and won’t be dismissed by you.”

  Thank Borko’s double moons that Orneil didn’t trust Zanton, Koriann thought as she started for the door.

  Zanton grabbed her wrist, restraining her before answering the guard. “I’ll speak to Captain Orneil and make him understand that I’m in charge now. Help me tie up the Queen.” He swung Koriann off her feet.


  She fought to break free as he carried her into the adjacent sleeping chamber. “Let me go! My guards will throw you out of Jaipar.”

  “I’m afraid your first lesson in obedience will have to wait until I get back.” Zanton dumped her onto the mattress and held down her arms while Tyrin stuffed a handkerchief in her mouth and tied it in place. Then Tyrin picked up a piece of rope off the bed and grabbed her leg. She tried to kick him with her other leg. He caught it and tied both her ankles together, while Zanton bound her wrists.

  “We’ll finish what we started when I return,” King Zanton said and the two men left the room.

  Koriann tugged frantically against her bindings, her stomach tightening with horror as the realization hit her—the rope was already on the bed when Zanton had carried her into the bedroom. His actions hadn’t been done in a fit of jealous temper. He’d planned to tie her up and would have done it even if he hadn’t caught her and Erling kissing. He must have proposed to her with the intent of ruling Jaipar and when he saw that she might break off their engagement, he’d taken advantage of her absence and taken control of the palace.

  Why didn’t I see he was a monster? Why did I ever agree to marry him? I was never comfortable around him and should have paid attention to my instincts.

  17

  Trouble at the Marsindi Palace

  Toemeka entered the palace kitchen. The enormous room was filled with the latest equipment and kitchen appliances. Erling already sat at a counter with a plateful of food. She got a bowl of vegetable soup from the food dispenser and sat on a bar stool beside him.

  She breathed in the wonderful aroma of the soup and swallowed her first spoonful. It tasted delicious. “You in trouble, too?” she asked, between spoonfuls.

  “That’s an understatement. Zanton challenged me to a duel with Borithon swords.”

  “What are Borithon swords?”

  “One of Zanton’s guards said they’re an occult sword used by the upper class in Haklute that vibrates with energy. There’s a lot of superstition surrounding them. The guard said no one ever lives who gets wounded by them—at least not as they were. They may come back as zombies or ghosts.”

  The soup in Toemeka’s stomach turned sour. “You can’t fight him! Remember the nightmare I had when I first got here.”

  “I’m not backing out of this.”

  “You have to. You’re in no condition to sword-fight after the beating you took on Flo Shah. You need to see a healer, not fight a duel.”

  “It’s only until first blood is drawn.”

  Michio entered the kitchen. He’d changed out of his flight suit and into a shirt and slacks. “You two should be careful what you eat after fasting for a few days.”

  Erling mischievously turned to Toemeka. “How angry is Mich with me for taking you on a mission? Am I going to have to fight two duels?”

  “I’m not planning on calling you out, but I will if it happens again,” Michio kidded back. Growing serious he asked, “What other duel are you referring to?”

  “Zanton challenged me to a duel.”

  Michio cocked an eyebrow. “A duel? That’s unusual these days.”

  “Apparently not in Haklute.”

  “They’re fighting with Borithon swords,” Toemeka inserted.

  Michio frowned thoughtfully. “I’ve heard of them. They’re dangerous weapons. A novice would have a difficult time using them to full advantage. I take it you agreed to fight him.”

  “I’d look like a coward if I refused.”

  “Better a coward than dead,” Michio said.

  “It’s only until first blood is drawn. Besides, I’m a skilled swordsman. Toe and I used to fence a lot. She’s skilled too.”

  Michio glanced at Toemeka. “I didn’t know you fenced.” His frown deepened with concern. “Is something wrong? You look pale.”

  “I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll lie down.” When she rose the room began to spin. She felt herself falling as darkness closed over her.

  Michio waited in the den with Erling while Dr. Tenzing examined Toemeka. He paced, worried about her fainting and hoping she and the baby were okay. He hadn’t realized how tired she was and felt awful that he hadn’t been more patient and understanding. It was difficult to be detached when she was so precious to him; he didn’t want anything to happen to her. Pregnant women shouldn’t have to fight wars. It was his place to protect her and their future child and he’d let her down by leaving for the monastery to get further training. He should have foreseen something might cause her to go back on active duty. He’d known when he’d married her that she was used to taking risks as a dedicated Coalition agent, but she was pregnant! Why would she take such a risk?

  “Mich, will you stop pacing and sit down?” Erling said. “I’m sure Toe’s fine.”

  “She said she’s hardly eaten or slept while on the mission. That can’t be good for a pregnant woman.”

  “She slept some in the jungle and on the ship flying here. And she ate some fruit we found in the jungle. She’ll be fine.”

  Michio sat down in an armchair across from Erling, but he jumped back up when Dr. Tenzing entered the room.

  Dr. Tenzing’s white hair and eyebrows had become usually bushy with age and Michio wondered if he was too old to give Toemeka the best care. He’d worked for the royal Marsindi family when Koriann was a child. Now that she was Queen, he served in that capacity again.

  “How’s Toemeka?” Michio asked. He’d been reluctant to leave her, even when Dr. Tenzing asked him to step out of the bedroom so he could examine her.

  “She’s fine.” His voice was calm and reassuring. “It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to faint. She’s physically and emotionally exhausted from her mission and just needs to rest for a few days. Avoid discussing anything distressing; her nerves are frayed.”

  “It won’t be easy to keep her in bed.”

  “She could lose the child if she doesn’t allow herself time to recover, but don’t tell her that. It will just upset her and that’s what I want to avoid. I’ll check on her in the morning. You can go see Toemeka now; she’s waiting for you. Good night.”

  “Thank you,” Michio said as Dr. Tenzing left the den.

  “I wouldn’t have let her come on the mission if I’d known she was pregnant,” Erling said.

  “Even if you didn’t know she was pregnant, you should have ordered her to stay. She’d just been shot by a sniper!”

  “It wasn’t a serious wound and she was the only agent available. We’ve been partners for years and we’re a good team. If I’d gone alone, I would have been killed. She broke me out of my prison cell, dragging me out of there when I’d been beaten up so badly I could barely stand.”

  “You put the mission above Toemeka’s life,” Michio said, still upset with Erling. “But that doesn’t explain why she put the mission above her baby.”

  “She didn’t put the mission above the baby. She’s a dedicated agent and knew the mission was too dangerous for one person alone. Toe and I watch out for each other.”

  Michio deliberately stepped into Erling’s space. “She’s not your partner anymore, so don’t drag her into anything else.”

  Erling raised his hands in mock surrender. “I won’t. Ah Mich, I know you’re angry with me, but I was wondering if you’d be willing to serve as my second tomorrow?”

  “You can’t be serious about dueling.”

  “It’s just some sort of ritualistic thing so Zanton can restore his honor.”

  “You can’t be sure he isn’t planning to kill you.” Michio thought of refusing, but then realized he might be able to stop the duel if he was there. “If you insist on going through with this, I’ll do it. When is the fight?”

  “At dawn tomorrow by the ocean.”

  “I’ll come to your room just before dawn.”

  Michio headed down the hallway and entered Toemeka’s bedroom. She sat in bed with a tray on her lap, eating a bowl of soup. She wore a low-cut nightgown and he no
ticed her breasts were fuller, probably because she was pregnant.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked. He kissed her pale cheek and sat on a chair by the bed.

  “Much better. I’ve never fainted before. It was weird, one moment I was standing and the next I blacked out.”

  “It’s fortunate that I caught you or you might have hit your head.” He noticed the bandage on her shoulder where she was shot by the sniper. “How’s your shoulder wound?”

  “Sore.”

  He closed the window against the wind, dulling the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline.

  “What did the doctor say?” she asked. “Is the baby all right?” Her dark eyes were wide with worry.

  “You’re both fine, but you have to take care of yourself. Dr. Tenzing said you need to rest for few days. I want you to promise to stay away from any more missions while you’re pregnant.”

  A pretty frown wrinkled her brow. “It’s hard to promise when I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next six-and-a-half months.”

  “Toemeka! You shouldn’t have gone on that mission! The Coalition doesn’t allow pregnant women on active duty. Promise me you won’t go on another mission.”

  “Okay, I promise. What about Erling? Is he still fighting King Zanton tomorrow?”

  “I’m afraid so. I couldn’t talk him out of it.”

  “Koriann should throw King Zanton out of Jaipar instead of allowing a duel.”

  “I’ll suggest that to her in the morning. I imagine she’s trying not to antagonize Zanton any more than he already is for political reasons.”

  “True, but she must know he can’t be trusted.”

  Once Toemeka finished her soup, Michio set the tray on the nightstand. He took the pillows from behind her, helped her lie down, then turned off the light.

  “Don’t go!” Toemeka said.

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “I was scared I’d lose the baby. I’d never forgive myself if I had a miscarriage because of that mission.”

  He heard trepidation in her voice. It was rare for her to admit vulnerability. “The baby’s all right,” he said, hoping to reassure her, “but you need to take it easy.”