The Space Merchants of Arachne

by Wendie Nordgren

“No, I have a wedding ring.”

  “Only one is required?”

  “Yes, as far as I’m concerned.” Yukihyo puffed out his chest. As we prepared to leave, Abbie called and asked if I minded if she stayed on Coronis. I said no, and that she should treat my house as her own.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Our captains returned us to Parvac. Papa waited for us with Ambassador Stine and a Guard of Honor. “Papa, I’ve missed you!” I hugged him, and then placed my hands to the sides of his smooth warm face to smile up at him. He returned my affection, but his eyes were angry.

  “I have missed you, too. You look well.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We will talk at the Palace. Where is my granddaughter?” Neema was transferred from Yukihyo to Papa. Promptly, she whacked him with her rattle and laughed. Yukihyo, Eric, and Quaid each took on angry expressions.

  “You’re all frightening me. Tell me what’s wrong.” We entered a white Imperial transport. Yukihyo flooded me with calm to the point that my eyelids began to droop. Nico and Kane looked at me and at each other. Thunderdrop rested on my stomach.

  In my sitting room, Yukihyo stared out over the lake with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes full of lightening. I was on a couch with my feet up and a blanket over me. “Take Neema to her bed,” Nico instructed Pierce. Lorca followed after Thunderdrop who refused to allow Neema out of his sight under the tense circumstances. Nico pulled a chair over to sit next to me and held my hand. Dr. Fotri sat near the entrance to my wing.

  “What do you all know that you aren’t telling me?” I felt my pulse hammering in my throat. Papa sat across from Nico and me. His eyes were dark and dangerous.

  “Laconia is ruled by two consuls who share power. Consul Dano became violently angry with Consul Bosh in regard to the potential marriage contract and political union between our houses. Consul Dano retaliated when I did not accept his offer to you of his eldest son, Cleto Dano.”

  “How?”

  “Consul Dano prepares soldiers to oust Consul Bosh from power on charges of sedition. Teagan, before I tell you the remainder of what I have to say, understand that I have already made preparations, and I will make this right for you.”

  “Papa, what is it?”

  “Consul Dano has behaved despicably. The Galaxic Government concurs and has lent us their support and cooperation. Hiroshi and Simon took Tora to the Laconian Sector to sell silk. They have been detained and taken into custody on Consul Dano’s orders on charges of conspiracy.”

  “No!” My nose tingled and my eyes spilled over. “Simon and Hiroshi? No! Oh, no! What have they done with them?”

  “They have not been harmed. The Galaxic Militia demands their release as do the ruling families of Arachne.”

  “We have to go and get them. Now! Simon and Hiroshi?” I jumped up, and Nico caught me as the room spun.

  “You’re right. We are going to get them,” Eric said. He kissed me on the forehead. I sobbed. “I will get our cousin and your brother back.” Eric and Bosh left. Eric barked orders into his vid-screen as they walked. Nico sat me back down.

  “Simon’s my best friend in the universes. I can’t bear losing him. They have my big brother, too?” My throat closed with the ache that seized it. I covered my face and sobbed. My hands were removed from my face, and I looked into Yukihyo’s fierce gaze.

  “No one will take them from us. I will bring both of them back to you. I swear it.” Yukihyo kissed me passionately. “You will remain here. You will stay calm. You will take care of Neema, yourself, and our new baby. You will remain in the Palace with your Papa and under guard. Do you understand me?” I nodded. Yukihyo stared at Papa. Then, he kissed me again and looked at Kane. Nico kissed me and my stomach. Then, he stood and bowed to Papa. Phillip hugged me and kissed the top of my head. They filed out. I was too shocked and terrified to speak. Dr. Fotri stuck me with a sedative before I could think.

  I awoke to Neema’s hungry cries. I was in my large gold and white bed. Pierce brought her to me. “Wait outside,” Papa said. “Four of our warships travel with the Hadrian. Your Captain Espanoza already negotiates for Hiroshi and Simon’s release. I will not negotiate. Your loved ones will be returned unharmed, or Parvac will overthrow the Laconian Government and seize the system. Your uncle prepares our fleets. I have made my intentions clear. Consul Dano is responsible for war if it begins. Perhaps he will see reason. He has threatened the peace we have worked so hard to establish. Now, his people can either remove him from power or be destroyed for their hostilities.”

  “Where is Yukihyo?”

  Papa looked at me. “He is with Kane, Nico, and Phillip.”

  “Where are they?”

  “They are on their way to Aurilius, the seat of Consul Dano.”

  “All of them? They’re all gone? They left without me?”

  “Of course, they did. You and my grandchildren will not be placed in danger. You will do what Yukihyo told you to do. If you do not, I have promised to tell him of every one of your infractions.” Papa took a full Neema from me. “Now, come along. Dr. Fotri has scans he wants to take.” He waited for me to get up. Kaoti stood at attention at the end of my hall of empty bedrooms. I sobbed and ran to him. He patted me.

  “All is well, Princess. General Cassian has allowed me to return to duty. I have been requesting to serve you, but he insisted I continue to recuperate. May Violet stay here as well?”

  “Oh, yes. I would like for her to stay.”

  A week and a half of intense training and drills had gone into their preparation. A technical squad from Ephors had their locations shielded. Consul Dano had ground troops and sharpshooters swarming his compound on Aurilius. Yukihyo and Eric could feel Simon’s emotions from somewhere under the massive stone complex. Nico sent soldiers in to take out the Laconian soldiers who thought themselves to be well hidden. Their personal shielding devices didn’t hide their emotions from Yukihyo and Bosh. Their orders were to incapacitate and secure Consul Dano’s soldiers who were guilty only of following his orders. Any casualties would be investigated.

  The Laconians had attempted to remove Dano from power. However, Consul Dano had shut down Aurilius’ communications and placed the planet under martial law. Consul Bosh offered no resistance to the Militia and Parvac coalition that sought Dano’s removal and the retrieval of his hostages.

  Tora had been liberated, and Cass had been found hiding in the cargo hold. Phillip had begun feeding and caring for him. Currently, he was in Teagan’s quarters in Thunderdrop’s tree.

  Nico ordered the sharpshooters to be taken down with tranquilizer blasts. Bosh fed their locations to the Hadrian’s sharpshooters, who took them out in a series of succinct blasts. Soldiers from Ephors swarmed in and secured them. Yukihyo realized how he could have been so certain of his mother and sisters’ deaths. The Parvac tranc-blasts were fast and powerful, leaving no time for thoughts.

  Yukihyo and Bosh used visual displacement suits to render themselves invisible and maintained mental and emotional shielding over each other to hide themselves completely from the other Laconians. They infiltrated the gate and incapacitated the guards. Gary and his team followed them inside.

  Yukihyo felt four soldiers approaching. He aimed and took them all from consciousness in seconds. Eric and another team, along with Consul Bosh’s guards, hunted Dano. Dano was to be captured and charged with the intent of inciting war and brought before the Militia and Parvac Coalition.

  The technical squad from Ephors reestablished communication between Aurilius and the other planetary systems. Orders from the Galaxic Militia to stand down and surrender were repeated in the universal language as well as in Laconian dialects. The same orders were repeated by Consul Bosh. Kane’s fighter ships had begun to patrol.

  Yukihyo carefully continued through the cement tunnels toward where Simon and Hiroshi were being held. Hearing Yukihyo’s approach, a black-eyed soldier dropped down from the ceiling with a wicked blade. Yukihyo bloc
ked its edge with his pulse rifle. The blade screeched along the barrel. They fought in silence until the soldier dropped. A small dart stuck out from his neck. Bosh grinned.

  They proceeded with more caution. Gary and his men caught up with them and helped to secure their perimeter. They found the cells. Yukihyo opened a door and discovered a tired and furious Hiroshi. Yukihyo deactivated his visual displacement suit. Hiroshi grunted. “Took you long enough.”

  “I was enjoying a fishing trip. I let a large trout escape to come and rescue you.” Yukihyo opened a door across the hall. Simon let out an audible groan. “Lord Simon Montgomery, you have a distraught Arachnean Silk spider in need of comfort.”

  “Cass is alright?”

  “Phillip is with him on Tora. Other than being hungry and frightened, he was unharmed and hiding in the cargo bay.”

  Eric’s chief medical officer began scanning Hiroshi for injuries. “It is good that you are unharmed. Lady Ling Chan-Lee has a fierce temper when distraught,” the doctor said. Gary escorted Hiroshi to a fighter ship for transport to the Hadrian.

  The doctor scanned Simon, whom he cleared as well. “I want to see Cass,” he said. Yukihyo and Bosh joined the guards to walk with Simon to another fighter ship. Hiroshi could be heard arguing with the pilot to drop him off at Tora. Ling’s voice could be heard through a vid-screen. Her frantic words turned to weeping when she saw Hiroshi’s face.

  “Wife, I believe you have missed me,” he said as he climbed into the back of the fighter ship. Simon could be heard soothing Gina and Gram. Yukihyo joined Nico in a transport and left the political clean up to the Laconian and Galaxic authorities.

  The scans Dr. Fotri performed told him the baby was healthy. He expressed concern over my stress levels. I kept expecting Yukihyo to return and tell me he was taking us with him to rescue Hiroshi and Simon from Consul Dano. As the sky darkened from orange to black, I realized that wasn’t going to happen. I tried calling Kane’s ship and the Hadrian repeatedly to no avail.

  “Teagan, our ships must remain silent. Communication could jeopardize the mission. Be patient,” Papa said.

  Thunderdrop, Neema, and I had dinner with Papa in his wing. He had a playpen with a new rattle set up for her. A new toy transport awaited Thunderdrop. Simon had been taken, my Simon with his big strong shoulders, bright red hair, and light blue eyes. Gone too was Hiroshi, who was so calm and patient, looked at me with warm brown eyes, and loved me like a sister. Someone had them, and there was nothing I could do about it. I stared at the food on my plate.

  “You have to eat, so Neema can eat,” Papa said. I picked up my fork and chewed, but tasted nothing.

  Papa tucked us in. Once his footsteps vanished down the hall, I cried myself to sleep.

  When I woke up, it was still dark. I could no longer feel Yukihyo, Eric, or even Quaid. I could feel Neema, who slept, and Thunderdrop. He crawled from the pillow next to me to my lap. I petted his back. I took a shower and dressed. I read ancient history and passed a test while I waited for my baby to wake up. Otto crept in with a cup of tea. I stared at the vid-screen, but no one called. Neema woke, and I cared for her. I concentrated on the white of her eyes, soft hair, and sweet smell. Papa came and gave Neema to Pierce. He placed my hand on his arm and walked with me to the patio where Rolf had set the table. Papa insisted that I eat breakfast.

  “I will speak with Consul Bosh and tell you anything I learn.” I nodded. I saw Kaoti.

  “Why didn’t you and Violet join us for breakfast?”

  “We had already eaten, Princess.”

  “Oh.”

  I went to my bed and watched as Thunderdrop tore down an old web. I read while Neema napped. I completed the class and paid for the class covering feudal warlords. When Neema woke, she had all of my attention. We sat on Nico’s hide rug that I had had Otto bring into my room. Neema laid on her stomach, lifted her head, and rested on her elbows. “You are such a good girl. Look what you can do. Daddy will be so proud.” Aunt Seyla sat down with us and wiped at my cheeks. “Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “That’s okay.” I gave Neema her rattle.

  Papa joined us for lunch. Grandmother had come with Aunt Seyla. She had made us a cake for dessert. I convinced Violet to join us. Kaoti said he was on duty, but Papa told him it was okay. Day turned to night. When sleep failed me, I read and imagined myself as the warlord. I napped on and off. When the sunrise finally came, I deemed it an acceptable hour to shower and dress. Thunderdrop blinked at me. I rolled his ball down the hall for him. Ambassador Stine joined us for breakfast.

  “Princess, everything is under control. The grave injustices to Captain Lee and Lord Montgomery will not be tolerated.”

  “I only hope for their safe return.”

  “Yes, Princess, of course.”

  Yukihyo’s mother stopped by and played with Neema. Then, she brushed and braided my hair. That night Dr. Fotri forced me to sleep with a sedative. I realized the next day that I couldn’t deal with the panic and fear that kept threatening to bubble up at every moment. I couldn’t keep thinking of never seeing Yukihyo again. They were all going into a dangerous situation, and I could lose anyone or everyone. I pushed it all away. I emptied my mind of thoughts. I pushed my feelings away. I showered and read. I took care of Neema and Thunderdrop. I watched as he created a new web.

  After breakfast and lunch each day, Violet and I pushed Neema in her perambulator along the garden paths. The only nights I slept were those when Dr. Fotri forced me. Grandmother, Aunt Seyla, and Mrs. Tereas visited each day. Papa and Stine shared meaningless platitudes and no new information.

  I sat and looked through a window at the lake. “Teagan, Teagan,” Papa said as he gently shook my arm. “Look, darling.” He put a vid-screen if front of me. I saw almond shaped white eyes and grey lashes.

  “Lady wife, Hiroshi and Simon are rescued. They are unharmed, but receiving medical attention.”

  “Yukihyo, I’m glad you’re all okay.”

  “You don’t seem to be. Have you been ill?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “We will call you again once we are underway.” Papa took the vid-screen away.

  “Teagan, do you see? Everyone is safe. Dano has been apprehended. They will be home to you soon.” I nodded and smiled at him.

  He was angry. He shook with it. I could see the hatred in his eyes and knew what was coming. I ran. I ran as hard and as fast as I could run. I ran for the cleaning supply closet around the corner past the stairs in our building. No matter how hard I ran, I didn’t seem to be moving. His hand reached out to grab my arm. From a forced sleep, I awoke screaming when my father found me in my nightmare. I didn’t hide fast enough. Neema began screaming, too. “No, leave her alone,” I sobbed. The light came on, and Kaoti searched my room. I stumbled over to Neema and held her. I smelled her hair and cradled her solid warmth. “I’m sorry. It was just a bad dream.”

  Kaoti checked the inside and outside of my wing. Pierce helped me get Neema back to sleep. I pretended to go back to sleep but stayed awake for the remainder of the night.

  I had spoken to Hiroshi and Simon earlier that day. They had been on Tora on their way home to Arachne. The Hadrian followed them. They seemed angry still. They had every right to be angry with me. It was my fault Consul Dano had taken them.

  I walked out and sat in a chair on the patio. A slight breeze stirred the lake’s surface and lifted the tree branches. “Princess, please come back inside. It is too cold out here for just a gown,” Otto said. “Let me help you back to bed.” I shook my head, no. Kaoti had gone and returned with Dr. Fotri.

  “I’m told you had a bad dream.”

  “Yes, stop trapping me in sleep, so I can escape him. Leave me. Go.” Dr. Fotri left. “Go to bed, Kaoti. I’m fine.” Otto draped a blanket over my shoulders. Dr. Fotri returned with Papa.

  “Leave us,” he said. Papa sat beside me and pulled my feet into his lap. “Your feet are cold.”

  “I’m fine
.”

  “You aren’t fine.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You aren’t sleeping, you barely eat, you never smile, and you stare out the window for hours.”

  “I don’t have a job to do. That makes it easier. I liked my job on Tora best.”

  “Makes what easier?”

  “Staying busy makes it better.”

  “Yukihyo and Nico are on their way home, darling. You can be happy again for Papa.”

  “They left. They might not come back.”

  “Darling, they are with Kane on their way here.”

  “Right.” I smiled at him. “I’ll go to sleep now. Goodnight.” He followed me and tucked me in.

  “Chitter chitter.”

  I closed my eyes and waited for sunrise. When it came, I didn’t bother getting up. I stared at the empty pillow next to me and listened for Neema. I cried for a while and wiped my tears on my sheet. I flipped my pillow over to the dry side. “Teagan, time to get up and into the shower,” Grandmother said. I minded. Neema awoke after my hair had dried. After I fed her, Pierce gave her a bath. Rolf had set a table in my sitting room with breakfast. Mrs. Tereas handed me a cup of coffee.

  Eventually, I had thought they would leave, but they stayed. When it was time to pretend to go to sleep, I discovered they had no intentions of leaving until Yukihyo returned. “Scoot to the middle,” Grandmother ordered. I was trapped in bed between the two of them. They knew when I cried and held me. When nightmares of Nathan Green woke me, Yukihyo’s mother calmed me.

  Abbie joined us for breakfast. “I thought you were on Coronis with Viceroy Marcos.”

  “I didn’t want to be away from you any longer. You are good luck. I spent a few weeks with you and now have a wealthy husband.”

  “I wish to thank the Princess for her choice of travel companion. Now that I am your father-in-law, I hope you will call me Orson.” He handed me a large bouquet of purple and light blue flowers.

  “These are pretty. Thank you.” Otto took them and put them in a vase.

  “I have brought along my associate, Eli Beck.”