Tasha nodded. “They kept the princess and me out of the Basma’s hands until we could send Noelle home. They are not traitors in any way to the Empire.”
“Your word is good enough for me, Tasha.” His scar deepened as he grimaced. “Even if we weren’t at the start of a civil war that’s going to take up all my time, I’d have to guess our midweek meetings are at an end.”
“If these three will have me.” She looked up at the three men.
Falinset’s hold on her tightened. “Forever.”
Nur beamed and Wekniz kissed her cheek. “Always.”
Bifen waved them towards the landing pad. “This is all heartwarming as hell, but there’s no time for the ceremony. Get your asses on a shuttle.”
“With pleasure,” Tasha told him. “Bifen? Take care of yourself.”
He snorted, a typical dismissive gesture of a Nobek looking forward to fighting and mayhem. “After I take care of the traitors. For honor and Empire. And for these women who have earned the Basma’s head.”
Tasha and Clan Falinset boarded the last shuttle, the final four to do so. Within seconds they were strapped in and taking off.
The slate gray seats were arranged in pairs, running in three rows in the shuttle’s cabin. Tasha sat next to Falinset with Nur and Wekniz facing them.
Once in the air, the medics continued to care for the women. Those not tending wounds and taking medical histories raced up and down the aisles fetching water and nutrient pouches. Though the emergency food pouches were not known for tastiness … indeed they were rumored to be as appetizing as sawdust … the starved women gulped their contents with pleasure.
Several still sobbed. One rocked back and forth in her seat, her thin arms wrapped around herself while she giggled for no apparent reason. Another held a medic’s hand, whispering, “Thank you, thank you,” over and over. Still another touched her seat, the floor, and her attending medic’s scanner continuously to reassure herself it was all real.
Though their initial horror had faded, the medical staff fought to retain professional demeanors. Eyes kept turning overly bright and tears were blinked back. There were emotional hitches to the men’s voices. Often they turned away for a moment or two to reclaim their composures.
Tasha felt the stirrings of conscience once more. If only she could have found a way to cut the women’s suffering short by those days she’d spent in relative comfort at Clan Falinset’s home.
She knew she was adding to her guilt, but she asked one woman, “Was anyone killed when Noelle and I escaped?”
She got a nod. “Patty jumped on Ket to slow him down when he started after you. He blew her head off.”
Tasha had to close her eyes as she slumped in her seat. Patty had been one of the women who’d shielded Noelle with her body when Maf paid his visit.
“Don’t hurt over it, sweetie,” the woman whispered. “She knew he’d kill her. All she wanted was for it to be quick, and it was.”
Tasha nodded, but she leaned into Falinset to cry silent tears. He held her tight, stroking her hair.
After a long time, her equilibrium returned. She made herself see the good Patty and so many others had done. She and the rest of the women were going home to Kalquor. Clan Falinset was alive. Noelle was safe. “It’s over,” she breathed.
Wekniz’s voice sounded on the other side of her closed lids. “No it’s not, but what’s yet to come won’t be as bad as what we just went through. It can’t be.”
Tasha opened her eyes to look at the Nobek. “The house was almost gone the last time I saw it. What happened after Ket took me away?”
“Is that what happened?” Falinset gasped. “He wasn’t in the common room when we hid in there to avoid being shot. I didn’t even realize it until just now.”
Nur shook his head. “We were so busy worrying about you, Tasha. Ket completely left my mind.”
“The son of a bitch escaped,” Wekniz growled. “He wasn’t at the compound.”
“What was left of him was there,” Tasha said. At his surprised look she said, “I’ll tell you what happened on my end and then you catch me up on everything else. Deal?”
The men agreed, and Tasha told them about going to the common room with the intention to drag Ket to the door. She quickly outlined the rest, whispering the part about how all the women had gone out of control in a murderous rage. She wasn’t sure the others wanted to be reminded they’d beaten a man to death, even if he had deserved worse.
Falinset regarded her carefully when she finished. “How are you? You struggled with what you’d done to the man who abused you as a child. Are you suffering over Ket’s death too?”
She thought about it. At length she shook her head. “Not so much. Maybe it’s shock. Maybe it’s because I’ve felt ready to kill him since it all started. Maybe it’s because it was more of an act of self-defense this time. He was determined to kill us all.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if it will bother me later, but for now I just feel relieved he’s gone … and that he got a small portion of what was due to him.”
The men nodded, but they still watched her closely. Their concern warmed her.
“Your turn,” she encouraged.
Wekniz started the story. “The fire was out of control. We had to evacuate, but our blasters were empty by then. You were gone, and we thought the worst.”
Falinset took her hand and held it tightly. “We got outside and found ourselves surrounded by a rescue party, headed by your friend Bifen.”
“Narpok alerted him?”
Nur smiled. “That message she sent when she got away from Sitrel back on Kalquor made it to the ones who needed to see it. She named our clan, so they knew to look for her with us.”
Falinset added, “She also raised suspicions we might have some connection to the revolt. So though she told the rescuers we’d proved to be on the Empire’s side, they weren’t clear on whether we were friend or foe. We had to explain ourselves pretty fast, especially since we wanted to find you.”
Wekniz added, “We thought maybe you’d been taken to the camp when the rescue party told us they hadn’t seen you among the traitors attacking us.”
“You said Narpok got through. Noelle is safe, right?” Tasha asked, cursing herself for not confirming that with Bifen.
Wekniz’s nod eased her worries. “When Maf’s gathering fleet sent fighters after the shuttle, Narpok sent out a com, telling them she had the princess. She knew it was her only hope of keeping Noelle alive.”
Falinset smiled. “The moment that com went out, Kalquor’s fleet de-cloaked and attacked Maf’s ships.”
“The fleet? The whole fleet?” Tasha gasped.
“The ones in range that could get here in time. A spyship followed Narpok from Kalquor to Lobam after her message was received by the Imperial Clan. It discovered the gathering rebel fleet and the enemy military presence. The Empire scrambled a response, sending in destroyers and transports with ground troops, along with that rescue party to find Noelle and you.”
Wekniz said, “They were on the brink of surprising the Basma’s forces when Narpok’s com came through. The second they knew the princess was on board the mini-shuttle, they began the operation – but first, they sent in several fighter squads to surround and escort Narpok and Noelle to safety.”
Tasha tried to absorb the tale. “Holy cats. And now the fight is on for Lobam?”
Nur corrected her gently. “For the Empire, from what Commander Bifen said. Maf has a huge force. Your Nobek friend mentioned that a large number of the ground troops stationed on Kalquor itself have risen up and started fighting against those loyal to Kalquor’s Imperial Clan.”
When she looked at them in horror, Wekniz assured her, “With the Empire warned in advance as to Maf’s plans, it put his forces on the defense. His side shows signs of disorganization since they weren’t to attack for a few more days. Imperial forces are holding onto key positions and winning out.”
“Did they catch Maf?”
> Falinset said, “We haven’t heard that part of the story yet.” He leaned across the aisle to speak to an Imdiko medic who knelt next to one of the women. “Do you know if Dramok Maf ... the Basma ... was apprehended?”
The young man gave him a cautious look. “I can only tell you what gossip has been going around. The word is, he disappeared a few days ago. He slipped right through Global Security’s fingers even though they had him under surveillance. No one knows where he went.”
Falinset thanked him and sat up, his brows lowered. Wekniz scowled. “If I was a betting man, I’d wager they’re investigating Global Security for spies now.”
“I won’t take that bet,” Nur muttered darkly. “Is there anywhere Maf doesn’t reach? Damn it, if they could have caught him, that may have ended the revolt right there.”
Wekniz wasted no time on what might have been. He asked Tasha, “Did you see Sitrel at any point after Ket brought you to the camp?”
She shook her head. “His shuttle was nowhere to be seen. He must have escaped before everything went down. Maybe Maf warned him.”
Falinset banged his head back on the seat’s headrest. “Civil war. I never thought I’d see the day this would happen to the Empire.” He looked at his clanmates with a pained expression. “Even with Narpok and Tasha on our side, we will have a lot of questions to answer.”
Tasha sucked in a frightened breath. “Your parents, Nur. Yours too, Wekniz. What they’ve done will be exposed.”
Wekniz snarled, “Fuck my parent clan. They asked for the trouble they’ve found.” He looked to Nur and sighed with regret. “I am truly sorry about your fathers though, my Imdiko.”
“They will have to answer for their crimes now. There is no way around that.” He put on a brave face, but the tremor in his voice was obvious. The other three reached for him, touching him in an effort to comfort. He managed a troubled smile.
Wekniz gripped his shoulder. “As I said, the bad times are not quite over. But my clan lives and this beautiful woman wishes to be ours.” He looked at Tasha, anxious hope filling his eyes. “That is what I heard, right? If the coming humiliation of our families hasn’t scared you off.”
Tasha grinned. “This good girl always wanted the freedom of being the black sheep of my family. Cissy has had entirely too much fun for too long in that role.”
Nur and Wekniz looked to Falinset. Tasha did too, her gaze expectant.
He regarded her with his heart in his eyes. Yet there was reluctance too.
A pang of dread sliced through her chest. He didn’t want her after all? Had she been wrong to trust him?
His gaze met hers and he swallowed. “I want nothing more than to ask you right now. But with our connection to Maf, the legal issues of Nur and Wekniz’ parent clans—”
She made an impatient sound and covered his mouth with her hand. “Why yes, Dramok Falinset. I’d be delighted to be your clan’s Matara.”
He stared at her, his face pleading. He pulled her hand from his mouth. “Even if we clan, your family may force a de-clanning. The emperors will not be happy to be connected to the Basma’s son.”
Tasha thought of Jessica, of their last conversation. Anything to do with the Imperial Clan is under such close scrutiny these days. It’s not fair that you’re lumped in with us, but you are. Everything you do reflects on the throne.
“The throne be damned. I love you Jess, but this is my life. My one chance,” she whispered.
“Tasha?”
She looked at Falinset. “I am my own person. I am not my family, though until now they were everything to me.”
“You can’t give them up. Not for us,” he insisted.
“For you, I’d walk away from everything. It was this clan that showed me I didn’t have to keep the universe at an arm’s length; that I could trust again. Let me do that for you now. Let me show you that you are not your parents.”
The gratitude in his eyes made up for the terror of the past weeks. It made up for years of angry suspicion that had denied Tasha first the hope of being a wife, then later the Matara of a clan. With Clan Falinset, Tasha could finally heal from the breach of trust she’d endured years ago. With her, Clan Falinset might recover as well.
Falinset kissed her gently before saying, “If you will have us, I ask you to be my clan’s Matara for as long as we’re allowed to be.”
She kissed him back. “Thanks for not making me bully you into it. Your offer of clanship is happily accepted, my Dramok.”
Chapter 28
Tasha walked into her private dressing room, her slippered feet padding lightly over thick furred rugs. Her temporary private dressing room, she reminded herself, though her cousin would have loved for her to continue to live in the Royal House for good. She inhaled, enjoying the mingled scents of her favorite perfume and the nearby sea. It was a nice enough place if one didn’t mind living within grand echoing chambers and enough rooms to house an entire apartment complex. Huge didn’t begin to describe the place. Even the last few Imperial Clans had eschewed living in what was easily the palace of the Royal House, opting for cozier spaces within the cliff complex.
Tasha set the lights to a warm glow as she tossed a box on the table before the red-and-black striped lounger. Hearing the door close behind her, she flung off the fancy gown she wore, letting the rustling fabric drift to the polished rock floor. She’d made the room serve double duty as meditation space and dressing room despite having plenty of other chambers to spread out in. Nur had only been half-joking when he said they all need tracking devices implanted in case any of them got lost in the quarters. Who in the world needed so much space?
She spoke to the people who had followed her into the room. “Excuse me, ladies. If I have to wear this heavy-ass gown one more second—”
“Language, please,” Jessica warned.
Noelle giggled. “Tasha said a bad word.”
Tasha whirled around, gasping an apology to mother and daughter. “Oh no. I’m acting not mom-approved again.”
Jessica grinned as Noelle sat on the thick rug that softened the polished rock floor. “Ah, don’t worry about it. I can’t count how many times I’ve slipped up in front of the children. And none of us is as bad as Cissy.”
She sank into a pile of seating cushions, perfectly at ease in her own fancy gown. She was used to it after years of being on display as empress.
Noelle seemed equally at home in her ruffled dress, though she lolled on the floor in a pose that showed off matching ruffled pink panties. No one chided her for being unladylike in the privacy of family, especially in the aftermath of her abduction. At least the frequent nightmares were finally abating. The therapist in charge of her case was impressed with the swiftness of her recovery.
During waking hours, she was the same adored and adoring child she’d ever been. Surrounded once more by loved ones, Noelle showed the same strength of the other women in her family.
No one was surprised when the little girl powered up her new handheld. The program that had given her the few happy moments she’d enjoyed on Lobam continued to be her favorite recreation. With a cry of welcome, she greeted the baby vid animals that appeared all around her. They gamboled enthusiastically until Noelle called them to order.
Narpok was as decorous as Jessica. After checking her appearance in the mirror over Tasha’s vanity, she settled on the lounger, her white gown a beautiful contrast to the dark piece of furniture. She put the purple velvet box she carried – a match for the one Tasha had tossed on the table – in her lap. She snickered as Tasha snagged a skirt and loose tunic from her closet. It was nice clothing, but casual.
The Kalquorian woman shook her head even when Tasha added a gold metal link belt to draw the tunic around her waist. “Earthers and their lack of fashion sense. Your twin is something else, Tasha.”
Cissy had shown up at the event in a dress that had been nice enough, but a bit short and low cut enough to challenge decorum. Her Nobek had glared at anyone who looked at her
too long. Still, Tasha counted it as a boon her sister had shown up at all.
Cissy had not taken the news well that she’d suffered years of guilt for a murder she hadn’t committed. When Tasha told her the truth of their neighbor’s death, Cissy had stormed away from her sister. She refused to speak to Tasha for two weeks, something that had never happened before. Even during their worst disputes, they’d never not spoken for more than a few hours.
The separation had hurt like hell and Tasha had feared she’d lose her sister over the matter. Not that she blamed Cissy. She’d had every right to be deeply hurt. Tasha admitted she had no good excuse for never coming clean about what had happened. Fear of what Cissy would think of her coldly killing another human being was not a valid explanation, not even to Tasha. Her shame over the matter had been second only the the heartbreak of separation from her twin.
It had only been last week that Cissy had begun the process of reconciliation. Tasha knew they had a long way to go before she’d be able to make things up to her twin, but at least they were speaking again. It was a start.
Cissy should be here now with the rest of them, Tasha thought. The sisters had always been close, and she felt Cissy’s absence every moment of the day. Yet she was able to smile as she recalled the hug her twin had given her today and Cissy’s loud declaration of “Way to whoop that ass,” much to her royal councilman Dramok’s embarrassment – especially since she’d practically yelled it in front of about a hundred dignitaries.
Feeling better about life in general, Tasha turned her grin to Narpok, a welcome addition to the family’s inner circle. “You Kalquorian women have it all over us, but you’ve been dressed to the teeth from birth.”
Narpok did look stunning. She was still too thin, but her dark skin had a healthy glow. Nur had taken it upon himself to give her a new hairstyle that accentuated her well-proportioned features and softened the haughty cast of her facial structure. Men stopped to look when Matara Narpok glided by.
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