by K. B. Wagers
“He is loyal, Your Majesty,” Jia murmured from my side. “Possibly more loyal than I am. He didn’t even mention that he knew you.” She moved over to sit next to Vasha, resting a hand on his knee.
Without opening his eyes, Vasha moved his own hand over to cover hers and I turned away with a smile. Whatever was going on there, it looked like my old gunrunning friend had finally found some happiness.
I just hoped it lasted.
“Majesty.”
I raised an eyebrow at Emmory. “Clear?”
“As we can be,” he replied with a shrug. “There are no obvious bugs, either audio or video, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot. We’re working with limited resources.”
“And these two?” I wiggled my fingers in the direction of the couch.
“She is Governor Ashwari.” Emmory gave a little nod. “That much I can verify. And the gunrunner is who he says he is—Vasha Ystrel, former imperial citizen, wanted for seven major offenses and a list of minor ones that would take me all day to recite.”
“Bear in mind I was involved in some of those offenses, Emmy.” I grinned at him. “Given what he’s done for the governor I think we can make allowances.”
“I try not to think about your past, Majesty. All my scans can do is confirm their identities, not their loyalties.”
“Well, let’s hear what he has to say then.” As I moved around Emmory to take a seat on the couch opposite Vasha, it occurred to me that my BodyGuard was suffering. His faith in his judgment had been shaken just like mine had. We’d both tagged Phanin as nothing more than an unimportant politician, and now we were paying for it.
I filed that revelation away to deal with later. It wasn’t something I could bring up in front of everyone anyway. I settled down onto the dusky gray couch opposite Vasha and Jia and rested my forearms on my knees as I studied both of them.
Jia met my eyes only briefly, looking down and away in a show of deference that I found slightly annoying. Vasha cracked one eye open and gave me a crooked grin.
“I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head, Cres—Your Majesty. That’s going to be bloody hard to remember.” He muttered the last bit to himself and flicked a glance at Emmory. “Forgive me, Ekam, I’m not deliberately being rude. The empress and I were friends long before I realized who she was.”
“Sorry about lying to you,” I said.
“I’m afraid I wasn’t entirely honest with you either, Majesty,” Vasha continued. “My real name is Nakula Orleon. I’m with Galactic Imperial Security.”
My smati confirmed his words as fast as Nakula spoke them. He dropped whatever screen had been in place, giving both me and my Guards a clear reading that verified his identity.
Rather than relax him, the revelation made Emmory tense. Jia froze when he jerked his weapon free, centering it on Vasha’s chest. Cas followed his lead, stepping closer to my side.
“Easy,” I murmured, putting a hand up.
“I’m the operative Director Ganej told you about. I was on Canafey for a job. He ordered me to rescue Jia from the Saxons. Which, as you can see, I did. I was trying to get her off the planet and head for Pashati, but the Saxons had a Shock team on our tail and nearly took her back.”
“He came to rescue me a second time,” Jia said.
I could have sworn Nakula’s high cheekbones were stained with red. He slid forward on the edge of the couch. “I attempted to. Jia didn’t really need saving. We escaped and I received word from the director to make for Red Cliff. When everything exploded there she pointed a gun at me and asked me who I was loyal to. I’ll tell you the same thing I told her, Cres—”
He fumbled, clearing his throat of my old name as he awkwardly went to a knee in front of me. “Your Majesty. I am, as I always have been, a loyal servant of the throne of Indrana.
“Even more than that, I know you, Majesty. I know what you’re capable of, and there is no one else in this galaxy I would so willingly follow into battle. If you will allow it, I’d like the chance to help you retake your throne.”
I was a bit shocked by the tears that sprang up in response to his declaration, and reached a hand out, sinking my fingers into his thick hair. “Your help is more than welcome,” I whispered. “And your faith in me—I hope I can live up to it.”
Nakula lifted his head when I removed my hand and smiled at me. “I am certain you will,” he said.
The door chime announced Zin’s return and saved me the embarrassment of scrambling for an answer. “Any luck?” I asked, meeting him at the door.
Zin shook his head. “Vanished like a ghost. Dailun wanted to look around more, so he took off on his own. If Bial’s not off Santa Pirata already, we could ask Rai to—” He broke off when Emmory and I both shook our heads.
“I don’t want to owe Rai any more favors than necessary. What do you think he was doing here?”
“I can’t believe it was a coincidence,” Emmory said. “As soon as I have access to a secure line I’m going to try to get in touch with Winston and see where she and Peche are.”
The Trackers who’d been set on Bial’s trail had lost it shortly before we left for Red Cliff. If they’d found it again, it was possible they were nearby.
“Let them know we’re about to head out to meet with Admiral Hassan if you get in touch,” I said with a nod. “I’m going to speak with Hao about using his contacts to keep an eye out for Bial also. They’re a lot less noticeable than a pair of Trackers.”
The door chimed again and Zin went to answer it, ushering the doctor inside and over to Nakula.
Hao returned at the same time with the others and greeted the news about Nakula with a snort of disgust. “Is no one just a damn criminal anymore? If I end up paranoid from this whole thing it’s your fault, sha zhu.”
I stuck my tongue out at him and walked to the bank of viewscreens on the far side of the room. The turquoise-blue waters and palm trees were stunningly realistic. So much so, I almost smelled the salty air on my inhale.
“Majesty.” Alba smiled, and I leaned in to hug her. “I am relieved you are all right.”
“How’s your arm?”
“Almost healed.” She wiggled her fingers. “I am cleared to move around though, if you need me.”
“I’m sure we can think of something for you to do.”
“Your Majesty.” Jia’s lilting voice floated on the sounds of the surf. “I can confirm that the ships at the Canafey Major shipyards were still intact as of a week ago.”
“I can’t believe the Saxons haven’t destroyed them.” I spun around and stared at her. She was standing next to Cas but was far enough away from me not to be a threat, her hands folded placidly in front of her.
The Vajrayana ships had better weapons systems, better Alcubierre/White Drives, and better technology. But locked down they were nothing but dead weight. The Saxons should have just blown them up and been done with it.
Jia smiled. “They are still hoping to get the lock codes from me. I would very much prefer to give the codes to you.”
I held my hands out, the tiniest glimmer of a plan springing to life as Jia pressed her palms to mine and passed the coded information along our smati link. A look of relief flashed over Jia’s pretty face.
“What else can you tell me?” I asked.
“Because the Saxons can’t unlock the ships, they’re attempting to reverse engineer some of the tech instead,” Jia said. “I suspect the idea is that if they can get it to work they’ll be able to use it for their own navy.” She rubbed her hands together and looked over her shoulder at where Nakula sat with the doctor. “There is a Saxon Shock team after us, Majesty, lead by Captain Hume. He caught up to us at Midway. The only reason we escaped was that I surrendered us to the police there.”
A delighted laugh escaped me, startling Jia. “And they took you to Rai once they figured out who you were. Good thinking.”
“Hume is dangerous.”
“We’ve got a Shock team of our own on our trai
l.” I waved a hand in the air. “We’ll deal with them. Cas, go tell Emmory I need to speak to him.”
“Ma’am—”
“Cas, please. I could break her in half, and given everything they’ve been through to bring these codes to us I think it’s safe to say they’re on our side.” I waved a hand at Jia, who bit her lip in a poor attempt to hide her smile. “Besides, Zin and Iza are two meters away. They’ll come to my rescue if something happens in the ten seconds between here and there.” I gave him a little shove. “Go.”
“Majesty, what are we going to do now?” Jia asked.
I waved Kisah over. “You’re going to go with Kisah and Alba here and get cleaned up. If I know Rai, and I do, there are clothes for you in the bathroom. Then we’re going to have dinner and get a good night’s sleep and worry about things in the morning.”
“Thank you, Majesty. May I go see to Nakula first?”
She didn’t hesitate or trip over his real name, and I held in the smile that desperately wanted to break free. “After, Jia. And thank you, for everything.”
She dropped a curtsy, still a consummate politician even with the strange circumstances, and allowed Kisah to lead her away.
Jia and Caterina accompanied me to dinner along with Hao, Emmory, and all but two BodyGuards. I’d been right about the clothing for my governor, and Rai had also made sure the rest of us were dressed properly.
Johar babbled something unintelligible and launched herself into my arms before Emmory could stop her. I hugged her back, waving my Ekam off before he could do anything offensive—like touch her without her permission.
“You lied,” she said, releasing me and shaking her head. “I am so very disappointed in you.”
“It was a necessary evil. Forgive me?”
Johar smiled, her tattoos fading from red to a more soothing blue and then back to black. “Forgiven. I tease anyway. Lying is good for the soul. Bakara made dinner himself. He’s very anxious about it.”
“Johar, hush.” Rai smiled when he said it and pulled a chair out at the head of the long table. “Your Majesty.”
“He’ll just stand behind me if you don’t seat him next to me,” I murmured as I took the chair.
Rai glowered at me, but gestured to the next one. “Ekam?” He seated the others, glowering again when Johar stole the seat on my other side with a beaming smile, and took the remaining seat.
He clapped, and servers paraded out with trays full of food. They were all well trained and stopped at Emmory’s spot first, offering the food to him so he could serve it to me after checking it.
“To the Empress of Indrana.” Rai raised his glass and the others echoed him.
We settled into the meal.
“Caterina, tell me about Indrana.” Johar smiled across the table at the matriarch, who smiled back.
“What would you like to know?”
“Everything.”
A steady stream of curious questions and observations issued around the table as we ate; after dessert was cleared away, I leaned back in my chair and toyed with the delicate teacup in front of me. “Rai, what’s it going to cost me to get your help?”
He raised an eyebrow as the room fell silent. “That would depend on the kind of help you require, Your Majesty.”
“I’m not entirely sure yet. What would the promise of help cost me?”
Rai mulled it over, lifting a shoulder, and then he named a figure that had everyone but me wincing. Even Johar rolled her eyes at the ceiling and smacked him in the back of the head.
“Rude.”
“It’s business, my darling,” Rai replied.
“She’s a friend.”
“Cressen Stone was a friend, Jo. This is the Empress of Indrana.”
“I am so tired of hearing that.” I stared at him. “I’m the same damn person, Rai, and we both know it. So can we lay off the shitty excuses? If you don’t want to help me, just say so.”
He blinked at me and for a second I thought I’d gone too far and really offended him. But he folded his hands together and shook them in my direction. “You are right, Your Majesty. My apologies for my rudeness. I am, of course, willing to entertain requests from you. Obviously I have my business to consider, but I can make you a priority. Is that acceptable?”
“Quite.” I sipped my chai. “I can tell you what I need right now. Information on a man named Wilson.”
Rai wordlessly held his hand out and I took it, passing along what little information we had on the man to him.
“I’ll see what I can do, Majesty.”
“Thank you.” I pushed my chair out and stood. “The meal was lovely. I hope you don’t think it rude of me if we all retire?”
“Of course not, you must all be exhausted.” Rai smiled. “Good night, Your Majesty. We will speak in the morning.”
“Cressen, your empire is most fascinating. I may have to come visit.” Johar looked across the table at Caterina with a smile. “I think it would be fun.”
“You are welcome anytime,” I replied, unable to stop the wide grin that spread across my face. My empire really was in for an awakening when I got home.
“Majesty, Fasé is awake,” Emmory said over the com.
“Iza, will you see Caterina back to our rooms? Hao, go with them.”
“Where are you going?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
I didn’t answer and followed Emmory down the hallway with my other BodyGuards trailing behind.
“Majesty.”
“Fasé.” I sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for the Farian’s hand. Her skin was so pale I could see the blue of her veins running through her fingers. “We’re so glad you’re awake.”
A sad smile flickered over her face. “I wish I could say the same, ma’am.”
“I know, Fasé. I’m sorry. I can’t even begin to understand how you—”
“Please don’t.” She flinched. “Don’t thank me, ma’am.”
I shared a worried look with Emmory over her head, patted her hand awkwardly, and stood. “Get some rest, Sergeant.”
Emmory took my place, Zin at his side. Stasia, Gita, and Henna followed me from the room. I waited for the door to close before I said, “Talk to me.”
Henna shrugged. “Physically healthy, Cressen. I am not an expert on Farians.”
“Something troubles her, ma’am,” Stasia said with a glance back over her shoulder at the frail Farian on the bed. “I think she fears she’s done something terrible by saving Emmory.”
“There aren’t any laws against it?” I wasn’t overly familiar with the extensive religious dogma the Farians followed. Killing with their power was a death sentence, but I couldn’t believe they would view giving life the same way.
“I don’t know, ma’am.” My maid shook her head. “All I know is she is not herself. I’d recommend we keep an eye on her.”
“Done. You and Kisah stay here with her. Call us if you have concerns—no matter how small. Gita, I’d like you to come back with me.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
I mustered up a smile and touched Stasia’s cheek. “Chin up, all will be well.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
In the other room, Emmory rose and pressed a kiss to Fasé’s forehead. Zin followed suit and they met us out in the hallway. We were all silent as we left the bay and wound back through the corridors of Santa Pirata.
Dailun was waiting at the door of our quarters, leaning against the wall and flipping a credit chip over his knuckles. He pushed his hood back and bowed low, his eyes on mine. “He is good jiejie, like a gui. I gave his photo to several members of the thieves’ co-op with instructions to notify me immediately if he is seen. I am assuming you want him alive?”
“Yes,” I said. “Don’t kill him, and tell them not to engage him either. He’s dangerous and I don’t want those kids getting hurt.”
Dailun flashed a grin that lit up his whole face. “You are softer than your reputation, Sister.”
“Don’t c
ount on it. I want him alive so I can question him.” I patted him on the shoulder. “Get some rest, Dai. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He nodded, flipped his hood back up, and headed down the hallway.
Emmory and the others had cleared the quarters and Hao stood as I came in the room.
“What did I miss?” he asked.
“I need a drink first,” I said. “Then I’ll catch you up and probably ask you for a favor.”
Hao rolled his eyes at me. “You’re lucky I like you, little sister.”
“You’re lucky Emmory likes you,” I countered, and headed for the liquor cabinet.
“Everyone likes me.” Hao stole the glass from my hand with a grin and drank from it before I could steal it back.
“Kalah didn’t.”
“She hated everyone, that doesn’t count. Pour a drink and stop avoiding the topic. What’s this favor you need?” He dropped into a chair and put his feet up on the table bolted to the middle of the floor. “I’m assuming it has something to do with your mother’s Ekam?”
If Hao was trying to surprise me with how much he knew, he failed. Taking a drink from my glass, I let the whiskey burn on my tongue for a moment before I swallowed. “It might. I want to know where he’s gone, Hao. I’m willing to pay—”
Hao cut me off with a wave of his hand. “I will put the word out. I’m assuming Dailun contacted the thieves planetside already?”
“He did. If I know Bial, he’ll stay one step ahead of them. That is, if he’s not already out of the system.”
“He is if he doesn’t want Rai cutting him up into pieces.” Hao tipped his head sideways and studied me. “You didn’t tell him?”
“He doesn’t need to know.” I shook my head. “This is my business. Besides, I didn’t feel like owing him a favor.”
“But I’m fine to owe favors to?” Hao’s grin was just this side of wicked.
“I owe you a lot as it is.” I didn’t try to stop my answering smile. “One more isn’t going to make much of a difference.”
30
In the stronghold of a smuggler I slept through the night. No dreams. No waking up with my heart stuck in my throat. Just uninterrupted, blissful sleep.