What really made the priest feel nauseous right now was the situation with the Griswelds. Under patriarch Ted’s direction, their homestead had flourished until they were among the most affluent of the colonists. It was the elder Grisweld’s occasional remarks labeling the E.I.K.’s cause as ‘extremist stupidity’ that had led to several of the group’s members to declare him a traitor. His name had been at the top of the list when it came to who would take the fall in order to rally more people to the Earther rebellion.
It wasn’t right to target the Griswelds simply because they appreciated the new start Kalquor had given them. Stephen knew he was being a party to evil, but he didn’t know how he could stop any of this from happening.
His gray hair still showing comb-trails from this morning’s grooming, Ted stood with his arms folded over his chest. The man was in his sixties, and even through his long, thick coat, one got the sense of rawhide toughness. His bare neck was sinewy with the muscle of hard work. Right now, Ted was saying the very things that had put him in the rough spot he was headed for in a hurry.
“I don’t hold with any actions that put innocents in danger, especially kids. No matter what sins the mother is guilty of, her children don’t deserve to pay the price.”
Hoover smiled tightly. “Thank goodness it was only a Kalquorian who died.”
Ted grunted. “That bunch is fine with me, as long as they keep to themselves. But the mixing of the two species is wrong. God struck down the Tower of Babel for a reason: to keep certain kinds apart. We are meant to be separate.”
Ted’s son Anders stayed silent, standing behind his father, his dark head bowed as he stared at the ground. Once in awhile, he’d look up and exchange looks with his wife. It was well known that he had made friends with the Kalquorians before his father arrived and shut that nonsense down. Anders was a broad-shouldered man and strong as an ox, but he never defied his father.
Every head came up as a Kalquorian security shuttle pulled up to the house and landed on the snow-covered front lawn. The Griswelds looked utterly confused as Head of Security Nobek Jol and three other officers stepped out of the vehicle. Miriam, her eyes wide, shooed the boys into the house.
“What’s going on, Mom? Why can’t we see the Kalqs?” the youngest boy piped before the closing door cut him off.
Ted and Anders looked at each other, their brows creased. The elder Grisweld said, “What is this?”
Hoover scowled deeply. His voice carrying so that the approaching Kalquorians couldn’t help but hear, he said, “It’s Ospar’s army. Maybe you should let me speak to them.”
Ted waved him off. “This is our homestead. We’ll deal with them.”
Hoover looked pleased as Ted and Anders moved forward to meet with Jol. Stephen swallowed against a throat full of bile as Nobek Jol spoke.
“Ted and Anders Grisweld?”
Ted looked up at the head of security without a trace of fear. “That’s us. What’s this about?”
Jol offered the elder man a slight bow. “I am head of Haven security, Nobek Jol. Sir, we received an anonymous message that there might be E.I.K. activity on this premises. Specifically, that a cache of arms was being stockpiled here.”
Anders finally spoke, his voice firm but not confrontational. “Absolutely not, Nobek Jol. We don’t subscribe to the E.I.K.’s methods.”
“Will you agree to a search of the property? I was given a specific location to look into. If we find nothing suspicious, we will not look anywhere else.” The Kalquorian kept his tone businesslike while still being respectful.
Ted snorted. “Look anywhere you want, Kalquorian. We’ve got nothing to hide.”
Jol motioned to the large garage where the family’s snow crawler and shuttle were housed. “The message said the arms were secreted in your transportation garage. You are welcome to accompany us while we look.”
“Then let’s go,” Ted said. He and Anders led the way, with the four security officers right behind them.
“Follow them,” Hoover whispered to the rest of the gathered.
Shrinking in his thick winter coat, Father Stephen trudged along with the rest. Ted and Anders were innocent men. They shouldn’t have any reason to feel afraid, but they would be fearful in a few minutes. He glanced at the house as they walked by, praying Miriam and the children weren’t watching the goings on.
Anders opened the large bay door to the garage. He and his father went inside with the Kalquorians, disappearing into the dark environs of the building. The E.I.K. members stopped a few feet from the opening and waited silently.
Seconds ticked by. Stephen was beginning to hope they wouldn’t find the cache that had been placed in a small storage cubby at the back of the structure. His heart seemed to drop to his shoes when shouts erupted from within the building. Looks of muted pleasure passed between several of the waiting Earthers. Conrad Slade looked bored.
Moments later, two of the officers came out with their blasters unholstered. The barrels pointed towards the sky, but the expressions on their faces were deadly. Then came Jol and another officer, shepherding the cuffed Ted and Anders out.
Ted looked mad enough to bite someone’s head off with his teeth. Anders loudly protested, “Those aren’t ours! Damn it, I volunteered to open that bin! Would I have done that if I had something to hide?”
Nobek Jol said nothing. He and the other man continued to shove the Griswelds towards the Kalquorian shuttle. They had their blasters out like the other two Nobeks, also pointed at the sky.
Hoover darted in front of them. “What is the meaning of this? What are you doing to these men?”
“Stand aside,” Jol ordered. “They are in custody, Governor.”
Anders yelled, “Those aren’t our weapons! We don’t know where they came from!”
Miriam suddenly came running out of the house, screaming and crying. The two boys piled out right behind her, bawling, “Dad! Dad!” at the top of their lungs.
Another security shuttle flew in at high speed, landing and expelling more Kalquorians with blasters. They still pointed the weapons at no one, but they quickly surrounded the prisoners, getting between them and the other yelling Earthers. When Hoover wouldn’t give up ground, Jol and his second walked around him, pushing Ted and Anders before them. Other security officers kept between them and Hoover, not allowing the seemingly irate governor to interfere.
Meanwhile, Miriam had fallen to her knees in the snow, begging the officers to not take her husband and father-in-law away. A couple members of security were forced to holster their weapons and gently restrain the children from running to Ted and Anders. The Kalquorians’ faces were grim in the face of the angry shouts and crying.
It was sheer bedlam, exactly as planned. Blaine Middleton stood a little apart from it all, recording the entire affair on his handheld so it could be shared with other colonists. His face was wreathed in a nasty grin. Stephen turned his back on the terrible scene and quietly vomited into the snow.
It was as awful as he’d feared. His only consolation was that no one would die. This time.
Chapter 13
The moment Ospar arrived at the Grisweld homestead with Borl at his side, he searched out Jol. His Nobek was overseeing the transfer of the firearms cache from the garage to one of the security shuttles. Everything was handled carefully, so as to not mar any evidence.
Ospar didn’t have a chance to exchange greetings with his Nobek before Governor Hoover rushed up to confront him. The man’s face apoplectic with rage.
“Dramok Ospar, this is ridiculous! How dare your men come armed and arrest innocent Earthers! Miriam Grisweld is hysterical with fear. Her children are crying.”
Jol’s cool gaze went to the Earther leader, moving close enough that if Hoover made a lunge at Ospar, the Nobek could easily stop him. “Innocent Earthers do not keep an arsenal of dangerous weapons like percussion blasters, grenade guns, and explosive launchers on hand. Nor should they have the same fire accelerant used at the Clan
Amgar home. Even you cannot dispute that, Hoover.”
Hoover made a disgusted sound and stormed away again to talk to the half dozen Earthers standing in an angry group on the property.
“By the ancestors,” Ospar said with feeling. He was chilled to hear what Jol had found. “Tell me all that is going on, my Nobek.”
Jol quickly explained the anonymous tip that had led him to finding the cache. “The moment I saw there were so many people gathered here, I called for backup,” he said. “I hated to use such a show of force, especially when I had nothing but a rumor to go on. However, these people were quite angry when we had the Grisweld men taken away. Who knows how it would have turned out if I’d only had the small team I’d brought? Especially if some of these are also connected to the E.I.K.”
“I’d say you responded appropriately,” Ospar agreed.
Jol moved close to him to whisper in the Dramok’s ear. “I am quite sure we are looking at members of the E.I.K. right now, though I have no way of knowing which ones they might be.”
“Explain.” Ospar glanced at the knot of seven men who watched the proceedings with eager fascination. One seemed to be recording a vid of the whole thing. The Dramok had an urge to take the handheld from the Earther and smash it. That would certainly go over well with the colonists.
Jol stood so close that their shoulders touched. His breath warmed Ospar’s ear. “Between you and me, this looks like a setup. The owners of this homestead seemed completely shocked when we found cache, and there was this crowd of witnesses on hand.”
“To what purpose, in your opinion?”
“To create more dissension between us and them. One wrong move, and this could build the E.I.K.’s base and earn their cause sympathy. My advice is to handle this with as much calm as you can muster. You see that fool Middleton is vid recording everything. They will jump on any sign of aggression and use it to their advantage.”
“Understood.” Ospar had learned to appreciate his Nobek’s warnings to keep a handle on his natural instinct to be uncompromising. He took no offense at his clanmate’s reminder to deal delicately with the situation.
Leaving Jol to his work, Ospar walked halfway to the knot of Earther men and stopped. “Governor Hoover, if I may have a moment of your time?”
Hoover smirked at his companions before stomping over to join Ospar. “Detestable actions by your security, Ospar. Coming to a man’s private home and taking the place apart. Planting false evidence. We will call for an investigation.”
Ospar ignored the ridiculous accusations. Instead, he told his Earther counterpart, “Governor, I need you to ask everyone to calmly disperse. We are trying to get to the bottom of this worrisome situation.”
Hoover’s voice rose so that the other Earthers could hear. “Calmly disperse? When your men have planted false evidence in hopes of rounding up innocent colonists? You need to leave and let Earthers handle Earther business!”
Mutters of agreement came from his fellows. Ospar was acutely aware of the handheld pointed in his direction, recording his responses.
Speaking clearly, Ospar answered, “Unfortunately, unlawful weapons that put many at risk have entered the equation. This situation means we have no choice but to step in. We have not charged the Griswelds with anything other than possession of illegal weapons at this time. We want to make sure this was indeed their collection and that no one like the E.I.K. is responsible.”
He kept his expression motionless at the gasps that came from the Earthers. Their reaction told him he’d struck a nerve.
Hoover shook a finger in Ospar’s face, something the man never would have dared if that jackass with the handheld wasn’t standing there. “I’ll tell you who’s responsible. Kalquorians in their mindless drive to secure Earther women. How long before you snatch Miriam Grisweld and her children to mate with her and indoctrinate them in your foul way of life? Getting the men of the house out of your way certainly provides all the opportunity you need, doesn’t it?”
Ospar’s temper ignited at the accusation. It took all his will to remain in control. His voice tight, he said, “We do not coerce unwilling females. It is against our law.”
“Then why have you imprisoned Iris Jenson and her child in your home?”
By the ancestors, they thought he’d kidnapped Iris and Thomas? Ospar swallowed. No, it was simply a ploy by Hoover to make Ospar look bad in front of the colonists. He had to maintain his temper.
Willing his voice to be steady, Ospar said, “Iris Jenson is not our prisoner. She willingly joined my clan last night. Her child is now my recognized son through adoption.”
“Yet you still claim you do not steal women from their husbands? When Iris Jenson – no, make that Mira Slade – is a married woman?”
That brought Jol over in a hurry. If looks could kill, Hoover would never bother Ospar again. The Nobek’s expression said he would not bear insult to his Matara.
He said in a tight voice, “No one in my clan has done anything unseemly. Iris’ husband died in Armageddon.”
A man Ospar had never seen before stepped forward. He was an Earther, but he possessed the unmistakable carriage of a Dramok, a natural-born leader. The stranger’s dark eyes swept over the two Kalquorians with loathing so obvious it made Jol stiffen and edge a little in front of Ospar.
The Earther said with cold determination, “I assure you I most definitely did not perish. You will return my wife and child to whom they belong, Kalquorians. They are mine.”
Hoover’s smile was ugly. “Allow me to introduce your Matara’s husband, Dramok Ospar. This is Conrad Slade, here to reclaim his family, known to you as Iris and Thomas Jenson.”
The angry muttering that came from the Earthers washed over Ospar. He stared in shock at the man Iris had claimed was dead.
A growl trickled from Jol. “If this is a trick, Hoover—”
“It is not.” Hoover grinned at Ospar with loathsome satisfaction. “You have preyed on a woman desperate for help and led her into mortal sin, but your nasty game has backfired, Ospar. This is Iris Jenson’s husband.”
Conrad Slade stepped close to Ospar and folded his arms over his chest. “My prints and retina scans are on file from recovered Earth records. You will have no trouble verifying my identity. Better still, take me to my wife. She will tell you exactly who I am.”
Horror engulfed Ospar. He wanted to believe this was some hoax, but there was no subterfuge in Slade’s face. Seeing and hearing the confidence that Slade wore like an aura, there was no doubt in Ospar’s mind that his Matara and son belonged to another. To this man, who Iris claimed had hurt her.
Any number of reactions begged to be made. To beat Slade to a pulp for all he’d done to Iris. To run home and hide Iris and Thomas. To turn his back and refuse to hear his family wasn’t his after all.
But the truth could not be tuned out. It could not be ignored or fixed by attacking the man in front of him. Ospar had no choice but to face the fact Iris was not his Matara after all. Abused by Slade or not, she was still married to him and therefore, not clannable.
How was he to fix this nightmare?
Ospar’s voice fell from numbed lips. “We had better go back to my office to discuss this.”
Jol sounded winded, as if someone had just punched him in the stomach. “I will join you as soon as I give my men their orders.”
Hoover put his arm around Slade’s shoulders. “Father Stephen and I will accompany you, Mr. Slade, just to make sure nothing unfortunate happens to you as it has with the Grisweld men.”
Slade’s gaze never wavered from Ospar’s face. He was issuing a challenge, one Ospar could not answer, at least not until Iris confirmed this was indeed her legal mate.
It was Ospar who was forced to look away. He turned to find Borl was at his side. “Keep an eye on things here. Work with Jol’s men to get the rest of these people to leave.”
“Of course, Governor.”
Borl never intruded on his supervisor’s space,
but Ospar felt the other Dramok’s consoling grip on his arm for a brief moment. His mind still reeling from the shock of Iris’ husband’s sudden appearance, Ospar headed for his shuttle.
* * * *
Ospar commed Rivek on his way back to the office. He told his Imdiko to bring Iris and Thomas right away, but refused to explain why. He wanted to see Iris’ expression when she first caught sight of Conrad. He was sure she hadn’t lied to him. Still, there was the outside chance she’d done so in her desperation to escape an abusive situation. Ospar needed to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Iris was unaware her husband still lived.
He and Jol went straight to his office upon arriving at the administration building. The glance he shared with his Nobek told Ospar that Jol was every bit as angry and concerned as he was.
The Dramok took off his snowsuit, trading it for official robes over his armored formsuit. He said, “If she does not want to be with him, she will not.”
The Nobek shrugged off his own winter outerwear and hung it in Ospar’s closet. “That goes without saying. However, their union is intact, if that man is indeed her husband. That voids our clanship with her. And we cannot claim Thomas as our son.”
Ospar slammed a fist on his desktop. “Damn it! You can’t tell me Hoover didn’t set us up for this. We must find a way for Slade to relinquish his claim on Iris and Thomas.”
Jol grabbed him, forced him to look him in the face. “If we seem for an instant to intimidate him, it will not go well for us, Ospar. I will do what I must for our family’s sake, but it must be handled carefully. And legally.”
Ospar tried to calm his shattered nerves. Jol was right, of course. He’d have to be diplomatic and above reproach in his dealings with the matter. It would not be easy.
“Keep me honest, my Nobek,” he whispered, letting his forehead sink against Jol’s shoulder for a moment. “I feel capable of doing wrong just to keep my Matara and son.”
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