“Why are you here, your highness?” Allik asked, affording her the courtesy due to a princess of the realm.
“Call me Caroline,” she instructed. “Your highness makes me sound so lofty but I’m still just plain old Caroline underneath it all.”
Allik nodded although there was nothing plain or old about her. “Why are you here, Caroline?” he repeated.
“To return a favor, I suppose.” She patted the bench next to her and, a little warily, Allik came to sit beside her. He was amazed that she was so trusting. When he looked into her eyes, there was no hint of fear there, only compassion. “As you know, I was put on trial recently. It seems so long ago now. So much has happened these past few months.”
Allik nodded. He knew all about her trial. The event was notorious here as an example of the High Council’s brutal methods. It had sparked off the mission to get her friends safely out of New Cambridge and settled with their allocated mates on Taar-Breck. It was Caroline Rossingham he had to thank for Victoria coming into his life.
“Anyway,” she continued, “it was the most terrifying ordeal of my life. My jailers wheeled me through the streets in a cage while an angry mob screamed insults at me. They said the most vile things.”
“That must have been terrible for your… for you, Caroline.”
“It was,” she agreed, “but a close friend gave me a moment of solace. I only caught a glimpse of her, but Victoria risked her reputation, her safety, by coming out amongst the crowds to show me that she cared. It probably sounds silly, but the kiss she blew me was one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received.”
It didn’t sound silly to Allik. In fact, it made him swell with pride to think how truly remarkable Victoria was.
“And, so I thought I would come here and see if I could give her husband a moment of comfort,” Caroline said. “Was that a stupid thing to do?”
“No, it was very kind.” Allik said, noting that she had used the human word for mate to describe his relationship to Victoria. “Not many ladies would enter the presence of a convicted criminal.”
Caroline let out an undignified snort that reminded him of Victoria when she disagreed with something he’d said.
“I don’t believe you’re guilty of anything other than an overabundance of chivalry,” she said. “And neither does my husband, for that matter. The robbery at Jonathan Walton’s office had Victoria written all over it and until they produce his body for examination, I will never believe that she hit the guard hard enough to kill him.”
“She didn’t hit him,” Allik said firmly. “I did. Victoria is the victim in all of this.”
“I doubt it.” Caroline wrinkled up her pretty nose. “And I know she wouldn’t thank you for painting her as such.”
There was a brief moment of silence between them, in which Allik was sure he had angered Caroline. Then, suddenly, she slapped her hands down on her knees. “But, anyway, we don’t have very much time. They’ll be here to take you in for sentencing in a moment so tell me, what message would you like me to give to Victoria?”
Allik tried to think of flowery words but nothing came to him.
“Tell her I love her,” he said. “Tell her to find happiness.”
Caroline smiled and got to her feet. “Short and sweet,” she said. “I can remember that.”
She reached out and touched his face, caressing him softly. It was a kind gesture, almost maternal, but Allik wished she hadn’t done it. He wanted the touch of Victoria’s hand to be the last good thing he felt. Seeming to realize she had done the wrong thing, Caroline lowered her eyes and sighed. Without another word, she turned and walked from the room. It was mere moments later that the door opened again and both of his guards came in.
“They’re ready for you now,” Dalen said. “Let’s go.”
* * *
Victoria was about ready to tear her hair out. It was just her luck to have encountered a man who was, to her recollection, the first Taar-Breckian she’d met who didn’t speak her language. A typically intimidating brute, the guard stood in front of her, blocking the route she needed to follow. He refused to budge and her manic series of hand gestures seemed only to antagonize him. For all she knew, they were considered rude in Taar-Breck. The guard looked as though he was ready to drag her off to a dungeon somewhere in the depths of this imposing fortress of white stone.
“Rossingham,” she said for the tenth time. “I need to see Commander Rossingham.”
All she got in return was a blank stare. Nothing seemed to be getting through this man’s thick skull. It was so frustrating, she could cry. She had driven over here at breakneck speed, talked her way past the guards at the gates and negotiated a labyrinth of corridors only to be prevented from going any farther by a man who couldn’t understand a word she was saying. It was her own fault, of course. She should have made some effort to learn a few basic phrases. Just as she was about to give up and try to find another way in, she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
“Vicky.”
She turned around to see Caroline Rossingham rushing toward her. It was all Victoria could do to stay on her feet as the other woman threw herself into her arms.
“It’s good to see you,” Caroline said.
“And you, Caro. Can you help me? I need to get to the courtroom.”
“You’re just in time,” Caroline told her. “They went back in a few moments ago.”
For Caroline, the guard stepped aside immediately. The two women hurried along several corridors. Victoria was grateful for Caroline’s guidance because she knew she would never have found her way through this maze alone. Soon they reached a set of massive doors, guarded by two warriors. Victoria stopped and bent over, putting her hands on her knees. Her heart was racing and she needed a moment to compose herself. She realized she had no idea what lay beyond those doors. Commander Rossingham would be there, of course, and perhaps some other Taar-Breckians. She supposed there would be members of the High Council as well. They were the ones who had laid the charges and so it was only right that they would be there to see justice done. She dreaded the thought of facing those odious old men, even if it was likely that they would only be there on a video link.
“Are you alright?” Caroline asked.
“Yes, I’m just a bit…”
“Scared?” Caroline supplied for her. “There’s no need to be. Andrew already knows it was you who hit the guard and stole the money. He’ll give you a fair hearing if you explain what happened.”
“He knows it was me?”
“Yes, he could tell that Allik was lying and there’s only one reason he would do that. He wanted to protect you,” Caroline replied. “He’s a good man. I chose well for you.”
Yes, Victoria had to admit, Caroline had found her a good match. She might have wanted to throttle her friend at first but now she could see why she’d chosen Allik for her. He might be a bit overbearing at times, but he was trying to treat her as a person with a mind of her own. She knew he was constantly working against his own dominant nature to let her do things other men would not allow.
“Have you seen Allik?” Victoria needed to know.
“I spoke to him,” Caroline replied. “He told me to tell you that he loves you, to be happy. You know, Vicky, if you don’t want to go in there, I won’t judge you for it. Allik’s made his choice and from what I could see, he’s at peace with it.”
Of course he was. Allik was honorable to the core and would happily take the blame to protect someone he believed to be weaker. The thing was, she was stronger than even she had realized. She couldn’t allow him to take on the burden for her. She stepped forward and Caroline put a hand on her arm to stay her for a moment.
“Before you go in there, you need to know that they’ve put chains and a collar on Allik.” Caroline flinched as outrage flashed across Victoria’s face. “It wasn’t my husband’s doing. He would have let Allik stand on his honor.”
Victoria nodded. She couldn’t bear the tho
ught of her proud warrior shacked like a common criminal, but she knew how the High Council operated. They enjoyed belittling people. She stepped forward and the other woman stopped her once more.
“The Preservation of Civil Society Act of 2317, Article 6, Subsection 181,” Caroline said. “Remember that. It may be useful.”
Victoria repeated the information back to Caroline. She wasn’t sure what part of the act that governed every aspect of their lives on Earth it pertained to, but trusted it was relevant. Caroline gestured to one of the Taar-Breckian guards and he immediately opened the door for her. She took a deep breath. This was it. The defining moment of her life. She was about to show everyone the type of woman she was. Could she really go through with it?
Chapter Twenty-One
Allik rose to his feet and looked straight ahead, meeting the eye of his commanding officer. He could see the regret on Andrew Rossingham’s face and knew, even before the other man spoke, that he was not happy about the sentence he was going to pass. Beside Rossingham, William Barron, Earth’s ambassador to Taar-Breck, shuffled papers, clearly no happier about how things had turned out. The only men who appeared satisfied with how the proceedings were going were the members of the High Council who’d joined them via video link. There were two of them, President Hall, the leader of the High Council and his deputy, Sebastian Waring. Allik liked neither of them and trusted them even less.
Andrew Rossingham cleared his throat and began to speak. “The prisoner, having been charged with the heinous crimes of murder and kidnap, as well as theft and the lesser offence of trespass, has pleaded guilty on all counts. Having deliberated long and hard, it is my painful duty to decree that he be sent to the city of New Cambridge where these crimes were committed to face a punishment of the High Council’s choosing. Expulsion from Taar-Breck will be immediate. Do you have anything to say?” Rossingham looked at him and his tone softened. “Allik, do you have anything to say?”
“No, sir,” Allik replied. There seemed little point in making some grand speech now.
He was aware of the sound of the door opening behind him but, assuming it was the guards coming to remove him for transportation to Earth, he didn’t turn around. He noticed the hint of a smile forming on Rossingham’s lips.
“Well, if you have nothing to say, perhaps the young lady does,” Rossingham said and Allik’s heart dropped. “Miss Walton?”
Allik closed his eyes. He hadn’t wanted her here to see him like this.
“Yes, Commander, I do.” Her voice was clear and direct.
Allik knew that tone. He turned and watched as Victoria strode up the aisle toward the front of the room. She looked magnificent, like an angel in her flowing white dress. The first impression she gave off was youth and innocence, but what he saw in her eyes was pure determination. He watched as Caroline Rossingham followed Victoria toward him. While Caroline slipped into a seat, a few rows back, Victoria came and stood right next to him. She placed a hand on his arm and looked up at him. In that moment, he knew what she was going to do. She was not here to plead for leniency for him. She had come to take the blame.
“Sir, she does not speak for me,” Allik said, determined not to let her do this.
“That’s right, Commander, I don’t speak for him. I speak for myself.”
“She has no standing here,” Sebastian Waring protested on the video link. “A woman has no voice.”
“She does in my court,” Andrew set him straight. “What is it you wish to say, Miss Walton?”
Allik shook his head at her but the little minx just winked at him. It was as though she didn’t realize the danger she was in. Either that or she didn’t care. If, by some miracle, they both got out of this situation, he would spank her bottom raw.
* * *
Victoria could feel Allik’s eyes boring into her but she paid no attention to him. It was obvious that he didn’t approve of her being there, but that was tough. She was going nowhere until she had set the record straight. Focusing her attention on the men in front of her, she tried to gauge their mood. William Barron was looking at her with intense interest and Andrew Rossingham wore an expression that seemed designed to put her at ease. With the screen for the video link off to one side, it was easy to ignore President Hall and the odious Sebastian Waring, a man who had always made her skin crawl.
“Go ahead, Miss Walton,” Rossingham said encouragingly.
“I wish to make a confession.”
“No!” Allik cut her off with a shout.
Victoria heard a zapping sound and Allik grimaced. She realized the collar must have hurt him somehow.
“Not another word,” Rossingham warned him. “Or I’ll have you incapacitated. The lady wishes to address us and she will have her say.”
Victoria could practically feel the tension pulsing in Allik’s veins, but he bowed his head to signal his acceptance of the command.
“Carry on, my dear,” Rossingham told Victoria.
“I wish to confess to the crimes with which this man has been charged,” she said. “At least, I wish to confess to some aspects of them.”
She looked over at the video screen with contempt as protests came from President Hall and Sebastian Waring.
“This is ridiculous,” Waring snarled. “The brute confessed and we will have our justice.”
Victoria wondered why they would object so vehemently to her trying to prove Allik’s innocence. For some reason, they must want to get their hands on him. No, she realized, not Allik specifically. They wanted a Taar-Breckian warrior in their custody and their reasons for that could not be good.
Rossingham held a hand up to silence them and, to her surprise, they both quietened.
“You admit to killing the security guard?” Rossingham asked.
“No, sir, only to striking him,” she replied. “He was alive when I left him. Unconscious, certainly, but breathing well enough.”
“How could she know that?” President Hall demanded.
Victoria’s jaw tightened. It irritated her that these men would not address her directly.
“I know,” Victoria said firmly. “He was wounded, but not dead. If he died later, I believe it must have been at somebody else’s hand.”
“She means to suggest that two people attacked the man in the same day?” Waring mocked. “That is ridiculous.”
“Perhaps,” Rossingham responded. “If you would like to produce the body so we might examine it, we may determine the truth. As you know, we have more advanced techniques than are available on Earth. I am sure we will discover exactly how the man died.”
“That will not be possible,” President Hall said.
Victoria could smell a rat and she wondered if the security guard was really dead. After all, they had only the High Council’s word for it that he was and she didn’t trust them.
“Very well, Allik, can you confirm Miss Walton’s statement?”
“Yes, sir. The man was alive when we left him.”
Rossingham conferred with William Barron, the two men speaking so low their voices could not be heard.
“In that case,” Rossingham said, “I have no choice but to accept Miss Walton’s version of events until someone proves otherwise. The crime is therefore assault, and not murder.”
Victoria blew out a breath although she knew the hearing was far from over.
“Now, young lady,” the commander continued, “we need to consider the theft. A sum of one million credits was taken along with an emerald brooch.”
It was impossible for Victoria to stifle a snort of disbelief.
“There was a quarter of that, at most,” she said. “I still have the money and will gladly return it. As for the brooch, it belonged to my mother, not Jonathan, and I am keeping it.”
Beside her, Allik cleared his throat and she understood the warning to moderate her tone.
“With your permission, of course,” Victoria added, doing her best to sound humble.
“Good girl,” Allik mutter
ed under his breath.
Victoria watched as William scribbled something on a piece of paper and passed it to Rossingham. The commander read the note and looked to the other man for confirmation before turning back to Victoria.
“The ambassador informs me that as Miss Walton has a blood tie to the owner of the brooch, it properly belongs to her and not to her stepbrother. Assuming, that is, that it was gifted to your mother?”
“It was,” Victoria confirmed. “It was an anniversary present from my father.”
“Very well.” It was President Hall who spoke. “But there is still the matter of kidnap. One of our finest females was taken and ruined by this man. He is surely guilty of that.”
Victoria looked up at Allik. This was a tricky one and she hadn’t rehearsed an answer before she came in here.
“There was no kidnap,” she said.
“Don’t be ridiculous, woman.” Waring spat. “We have surveillance images. You are clearly bound and gagged. That brute is carrying you over his shoulder.”
“There was no kidnap,” Victoria repeated, her voice loud and clear. “I wished to leave New Cambridge and Allik facilitated that for me. He knew that if we were apprehended before we escaped, I would get into trouble, so he made it look like I was being taken against my will.”
“That is preposterous,” Waring blustered. “How could you have arranged such a thing under your guardian’s watchful eye?”
If she listed all the things she’d got up to while Jonathan was meant to be keeping a check on her behavior they would be there all day. It had not been easy to slip away from him but she had done it over and over again without being caught.
“Under my guardian’s watchful eye, I was a member of the Hyde Ladies’ Circle. I read forbidden texts and educated myself, in defiance of the law,” Victoria said. “Forging a relationship with Allik was no challenge to me.”
She was tempted to reveal that she had lost her virginity long before she met Allik. However, there was still the matter of her punishment to be decided. If she was sent back to face the High Council, she didn’t want to give them anything else to hold against her.
Chosen for the Warrior Page 21