Cormac backed up as Merick placed himself between us. I frowned in dismay that Cormac was out of poking distance. Then, Merick sent Cormac flying. My mouth dropped open. Merick went after him. Cormac caught himself on his hands and somersaulted to his feet, lowering himself into a crouch and readying himself to attack.
“How dare you upset her?” Merick asked quietly.
“I was attempting to apologize when you interfered. It is none of your concern.”
“Oh, but it is. I am on her advisory committee, the same as you.”
“This is Inquisitor business,” Cormac coldly replied.
“Any lady in need of assistance is the business of any gentleman. Princess Teagan, what has Gordian done to trouble you?”
“He and Rovek forced my guard to make them look like Quaid and Eric to test my loyalty.”
Without turning from Cormac, he stated, “It offended you, a member of the Imperial family, to be questioned.”
“No, I understand the importance of knowing who can be trusted. What I don’t understand is why they continue using my Laconian husbands to trick and deceive me! Is there something more nefarious here at work? Is this some form of psychological conditioning by which to plant seeds of doubt within my mind against Yukihyo and Quaid? If that is their intent and to continue to use my own Imperial Guards against me, I can make my home somewhere else, somewhere far from the influence of Inquisitors!”
We had gathered an audience. Papa came forward. “Darling, what’s wrong? You shouldn’t be upset.” He reached for me.
I slapped his hand away. “I’m angry with you, too!”
“Me? What have I done?”
“My Omnes Videntes have sworn allegiance to you and our family. I don’t want them ordered around by anyone else! My own guards shouldn’t be ordered to play games with my mind!”
Papa held his hands behind his back. “I understand you are upset. However, the order was necessary. I must protect my family and this Empire which I have spent my entire life building. It is an Empire which my grandchildren will one day inherit. However, my retirement is a long way off.”
“You are the one who asked me to accept Quaid! You and his father arranged the marriage for the good of the Empire. I have always done all you have asked of me, and for the most part, I have been obedient. However, I will not tolerate another individual who impersonates one of my husbands! Let it be known that if anyone ever again dares to do so, I will take a blaster and blow his fucking dick off!”
Papa was chuckling softly to himself. Wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes from his humorous reaction to my tirade. “I’ll send out a memo to that effect, my darling.” Stepping closer and with the softest touch of his hands to my arms, he kissed my forehead. “I know what will cheer your spirits. Captain Carus, take my darling up to your ship and let her watch the stars until she calms. You’d like that. Wouldn’t you, my darling?”
“Well, yes, Papa.” His sweet behavior and calm acceptance of my anger started to make me feel a little guilty for my outburst.
He glanced around at the horizon and said, “It grows cooler. You will find a gift from me in your sitting room. It will keep you warm. There is a matching one for my granddaughter. I will see you in the morning. There is a meeting I wish for you to attend.”
“Yes, Papa.”
He winked at me and returned to the Palace.
Taking note of my surroundings, I noticed that every officer present had gone down to one knee. I said to Merick, “If you were to look up, we’d be at eyelevel.” He met my eyes. “What is this?” I asked as I gestured around us.
“You are upset and with child.” He said it like it should make sense to me.
Into my thoughts, Zared asked, “What does seeing them thus do to your anger?”
Silently, I said, “Your question must be rhetorical since you feel my emotions.” The anger had left me, and there was no fight in the men around me. I could hit and even shoot them all I wanted, and they wouldn’t budge. I could yell at them, and they would apologize. To Cormac, I asked, “Aren’t you fearful for your manly bits?”
He said, “I’d be grateful for any attention you would care to give them.”
“Cormac!”
Manly laughter filled the garden.
Cormac asked, “Is it your wish for me to remain on bended knee so that you might more easily do harm to me, Princess?”
I scowled at him. “So, you think I have a violent temperament and would enjoy tormenting you?”
“The kiss you bestowed upon me when you believed me to be Commander Bosh has tormented my every thought.”
Moving toward him, I stared into his eyes and whispered, “That’s nothing. Imagine what my mouth could do to your manly bits.” Heat rose up Cormac’s neck as he did just that. “Merick,” I said.
He came to my side, gave me his arm, and walked me back to my wing. Once there, he bowed to everyone.
“Mommy, who that?” Neema asked.
“This is Captain Carus. Don’t you remember him? He’s Mara and Mava’s brother.”
Merick kneeled so she could see him.
“Oh! Big horsey!” Now, she remembered playing with him.
Merick whinnied at her and went down on all fours. Niklos laughed and joined her in riding the big horse.
“Lorca, will you please get the stroller and diaper bag ready? We are going on a short field trip up in Merick’s ship.” I untied a white ribbon from a box and found matching, white, floor-length sweaters for Neema and me, Papa’s gift.
Terre said, “Take us with you. I need to get away from Mother for a short time. If I hear one more lecture, I’ll scream.”
Violet said, “I could use a break, Kaoti.” She nodded her head toward their daughter.
He kissed her cheek. “I’ll take her to Mother. I’ll meet you onboard.” He took Poppy and vanished.
“Violet, what’s that on your mouth?” I asked.
She dabbed at her lips with a napkin. “Oh, Teagan, he brought fudge. Here try this.” She selected a chocolate confection from the basket and fed it to me.
I closed my eyes and savored the creamy, rich, sweet chocolate. “Oh, stars.” She gave me another piece. Our eyes locked. “Let’s take the basket with us.”
Fitz chuckled and picked it up.
Lorca said, “Here you are, Teagan.” He had the diaper bag and stroller ready to go.
“Thank you. I’ve got the kids. Why don’t you take the night off and relax?”
“Thank you. Children, I will see you in the morning when you wake.”
“Bye, Lorca!” Neema said.
“Bye, I see you tomorrow,” Niklos said as he slid from Merick’s back and ran to hug Lorca.
“Come to me, Neema. Merick wants to show us the stars,” Yukihyo said.
She dismounted her horse and ran to him.
After Merick had taken us up, he had his first officer take us on a slow tour of Parvac’s orbit. From the observation deck of his warship, it was then that I realized why Papa had suggested the diversion. I quickly spotted Kane and Uncle Kagan’s ships. Warships had formed an impenetrable defense around Parvac. It made the entire idea of Quaid and Eric making it down to the surface laughable. Not even my Omnes Videntes would have been able to accomplish such a feat.
My children were playing with their toys on the floor in front of one of the viewports. Yukihyo sat on a chair beside them and conversed with one of Merick’s engineers about propulsion systems. Zared and Fitz stood to either side of me.
“I can barely see the stars for all of the ships.”
This wasn’t some minor disagreement. The threat of war was ominous, and the Empire was more than ready for it. Thoughts of missiles and chemical warfare that could render sentient life into puddles of blood made me shiver. My family…my forest of spiders…. Papa wanted me to understand why it had been important for there to be no doubts as to my loyalty. Lives depended on it, billions of lives.
“Where is Dario?” I
asked as I scanned the warships littering the stars.
“I do not know. I can only assume he commands his fleet in orbit of Daphoene, his home world, as your uncle commands his fleet in orbit of his own,” Fitz said.
I covered my belly with my hands and feared losing another husband. If the Galaxic Militia attacked, where would they strike?
Zared said, “You and the children are safe on Parvac.”
“What about Izaac, Eli, and Drex?” My voice shook with fear. It was pointless to try and hide it.
Zared said, “I can tell you that they are well but can say no more. Secrecy is sometimes the key to success.”
Merick approached, and having heard the tremble in my voice, he refrained from what I believed he had planned to do, offer himself to me again.
That evening, once we were all safely tucked in, Yukihyo and Zared refused to allow me to indulge in tears. Instead, they sent me into a deep, dreamless sleep curled up safely between them.
Chapter Eight
I awoke very early the next morning to the incessant pinging of my vid-screen. It was still dark outside. Fitz pulled a pillow over his head, and I wondered when he had gotten in bed and replaced Zared. Yukihyo handed the offending device to me. With bleary eyes, I answered it.
“Hello?” Blinking, I saw blonde hair and solid black eyes. “Quaid?” My surprise and joy at seeing his face were replaced by a sick dread. Had his superiors forced him to call? Why was he calling now? Was the Militia about to strike? What was this about? “Commander Bosh, to what do I owe the honor?” Sitting up against my pillows, I scowled at him, shoved my hair out of my face, and wiped my mouth on my sheets.
He grinned at me. “I love you. You’re adorable right after waking up.”
“Don’t you dare try to flatter me or disarm me into an emotional response. Answer the question.”
“Communications restrictions have been lifted. I called you immediately to put your mind at ease.”
I gaped at him. “Put my mind at ease?” My thoughts rushed to the warships in orbit. “How is my family?”
Quaid said, “They are well and concerned for you. The Lady Alaric will be calling you soon. Of that, I am certain.”
Suddenly, the screen went blank, and then the Imperial Seal filled the center of it. I attempted to call Quaid back, but it didn’t go through. Rushing into my bathroom, I cleaned up, dressed, and then hurried to find Papa. He was awake and in his office. The door was closed and guarded.
Feeling eyes on me, I turned. “Eli!” Running to him, I threw myself into his arms. I couldn’t speak. All I could do was hold him. He held me tightly to his chest with his strong arms. Better under control, I asked, “Where have you been? I was so worried about you. Are Drex and Izaac okay?”
“Our mission was a success, and we have only just returned. They are fine but are still completing their reports. The Emperor wanted to debrief me in person.”
“How bad is it?”
“For the Galaxic Government, it doesn’t look good.”
“Quaid just called me, but we were cut off.”
Papa’s door opened. Eli and I were called inside. Director Larkin Sapor, my first cousin once removed, held out a chair for me. My cheeks burned when on the wall-mounted vid-screen, my conversation with Quaid was replayed for everyone in the room.
“Daughter, you handled the situation admirably. The Galaxic Government has absolved Parvac of any involvement with the probe they discovered and wish to repair our relations. I, however, am deeply offended with the manner in which this crisis was handled. Preparations for war are quite expensive, and I am disinclined to overlook so quickly this matter. Do you understand?”
I nodded. “Papa, to whom does the probe belong? Do we fear an attack from some alien race?”
He clicked a button. On the vid-screen, the grainy image of a comet appeared. “Our Inquisitors managed to procure for us some information.” Slowly, a probe became visible. It was state-of-the-art. The technology obviously wasn’t ours. It wasn’t like anything I had ever seen. “The Militia studies the data that they continue to gather about this device, its construction, and the comet’s trajectory for leads as to whom it might belong. They have shared some of their findings as a means of apology, not realizing we had already acquired much more than what they shared. We will learn who is responsible for it in time. However, the question at hand involves our diplomatic relations. Our so-called allies were ready to go to war with us.”
My stomach growled, making me cringe in embarrassment. I glanced at the trays at the conference table’s center. Eli handed me a cup of coffee and a pastry. After I made short work of it, he handed me another. I whispered, “Is there any bacon?”
Turning his attention from all of the officers in the room, Papa chuckled and lifted a hand. A guard started to leave for the kitchens.
I said, “Please, be sure it’s crunchy and bring back a lot.”
After he had gone, Papa asked, “Daughter, how would you proceed in this matter?” Papa observed me.
I knew he was only humoring me or asking as a means of getting to know me better. I licked icing off my fingers which stole Eli’s attention and then Cormac’s. Eli knew what I could do with my mouth. “Oh, I’d make them grovel. During the negotiations on Amphictyon, you were dissatisfied with a trade agreement. I don’t remember which one, but I’d insist that in the spirit of continued relations that they give you what you wanted. They were total dicks to us.”
Papa chuckled as he looked at the table. “I like your idea. So, you don’t think we should attack, take Amphictyon from them, and spread our borders to better protect our interests?”
Meeting his eyes, I said, “No, it’s a terrible planet. It’s dirty, corrupt, and where I lost my Luca.” My voice broke as my eyes filled. I wiped them on the neckline of my top. “I don’t ever want to return to it. I doubt Momma does either. It’s not worthy of the Empire. If you want to expand, search for a new planet in a different direction, but wouldn’t that just drain the treasury? Why not focus on improvements to our warships and planetary defenses?”
Lucius Braga gave me an informal salute from across the table.
“Out of the mouths of the innocent come profound truths,” Papa said. “Call Quaid,” he ordered his communications officer.
Quaid answered immediately. He saw me and then everyone else in the room.
“I will allow you to resume communications with my daughter. She is fond of you. However, you will not upset her with anything of a political nature. The stress your government has caused the Princess Teagan over the last few weeks isn’t good for her or her unborn children.”
“Teagan’s safety and well-being are of my utmost concern,” he said coldly. Then, Quaid’s eyes darted to me. “Children?”
I nodded. “I’m having twins.”
A huge smile dominated his handsome face. “Lady Bosh, that is brilliant news!”
“Thank you. You know how desperately I wanted a child. I’m trying to remain calm and still. You understand?”
Gently, he said, “Yes, of course.”
“Will Sparrow be able to speak to her father, now? Will we be punished any longer over a probe of which we had no knowledge?”
“I am unable to speak for my superiors. However, as far as I know, your Empire has been absolved.”
Papa said, “Teagan will speak to you at her leisure. We have matters which require our attention. Please, give my regards to Consul Bosh of the Laconian Sector.”
His communications officer ended the call.
Papa turned his attention to Eli. “Report.”
Eli stood. “Mercenaries were offered a million credits to apprehend Inquisitors Flavian and Maxim, alive. Flavian and Maxim did not have a chance of infiltrating either sector. Their covers have been blown, and their genetic materials have been shared to the extent that we cannot wipe the information. The data has been uploaded into every bot across Galaxic and Laconian space. Mercenaries initially captured them and
handed them over. They were taken to a location on Epopeus. Izaac learned their location from the mercenary captain’s mind. Afterwards, it was a simple matter for us to infiltrate the compound and liberate our men.”
Papa tapped his fingertips on the table while listening. “Who wanted Flavian and Maxim badly enough to go to such trouble?”
I waited for the same answer.
“Emperor Probus, I cannot say.”
Papa stared at him. “Cannot or will not?”
“Those two options are not exclusive to one another.”
“What if I were to give you a direct order to answer the question?” Steel had entered Papa’s voice.
Eli was risking insubordination and possible execution for refusing to answer the Emperor.
“That would pose an impossible conundrum. Would you have me obey your order while breaking a vow I made at your feet?”
Papa leaned back in his chair, considering Eli. Then, he said to Director Sapor, “Send for Inquisitor Flavian.”
Larkin pressed a button.
Eli asked, “Might I beg your permission to escort the Princess to her sitting room? This has been enough excitement for her. Has it not?”
Papa stared at him. “Sit down, Inquisitor.”
Eli sat.
The door opened, and a guard brought in a tray of bacon and more pastries which he placed on the table. Ravenous, I ate while we waited. When the door opened again, it was Flavian.
Horrified at the sight of him, I brought my hands up to my mouth, and tears spilled from my eyes. “Oh, stars,” I gasped out.
Flavian’s right arm was gone at the elbow. What was left was wrapped in pressure bandages. Even though he had been receiving medical treatment for days, the nanites hadn’t done more than relieve the swelling in his face enough for him to see.
Getting up from my chair, I said, “Sit down, please. You shouldn’t be here. You should be in the infirmary.” Eli caught my wrist in a gentle hold.
Flavian remained at attention.
Papa said, “Teagan, return to your seat.” He stared at me until I had done so.
I brought shaking hands up to my mouth. Had there been an explosion? Telepathically, I cried out to Izaac. “Are you hurt? Where are you?”
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