Trevan looked after him. “He giving you any trouble? Carryn asked me to find out.”
“No. His sense of humor is only slightly warped. Not a lot of fun to deal with on most days, but we’re managing.”
Trevan looked inside the cavern. “What’s this?”
“Home away from home. You can tell Carryn she needs to find us another place to live, and soon.”
Trevan and Lycon stayed with them another month, departed, and their tenure on Orgrel continued unabated, and unrelieved. Finally, Carryn sent word to them three months later, and this time it was unexpected news. She wanted them to come back.
“To the Base?” Dain asked, looking over Dynan’s shoulder, reading the comboard with him.
“That’s what she says here.” Dynan looked up at Ralion and Sheed. “How fast do you think you can get packed?”
“Are you kidding?” Ralion said.
“So eager to leave me, Prince?”
“You and your cave, Bador.” Dynan smiled at him. “But I’ll go so far as to thank you for all you’ve done. I’ll go even further by saying this; if I ever make it back to Cobalt, I think I can see my way to asking a favor of Trayanna. One I think she’ll grant. If you like.”
For a moment Bador stood speechless, then he laughed. “You get me off Orgrel? The chances of you making it back to Cobalt are worse than my getting off this rock by my own means. But, in case it works out for you, I’ll accept the offer.”
Dynan nodded easily. “Let’s get moving.”
Never had the process of packing up their belongings taken so little time. By nightfall, they had everything stowed onboard the ship. “Should we stay the night?” Sheed asked, and laughed at the sudden stares he got from everyone. “Okay, I guess not. I’ll start warming her up then.”
Bador came to see them off, genuinely surprising Dynan with a parting gift. He looked at the white stone, perfectly smooth and flat, attached to an intricately woven copper chain. “Should you ever find yourself in the neighborhood, stop by, pay me a visit. This will get you clearance to see me any time, Prince. Good luck to you.”
Dynan thanked him, as did the others, and they boarded the XR-30, more than ready to depart the dying planet. The engines hummed, and with Ralion at the controls, they lifted off, leaving Orgrel behind. It took them a week and a half to reach Trean space. A fleet of ships waited at the boundary to greet them. The planet came into view, and they all stared at it for a long time.
“I never thought I’d be so happy to see this place again,” Dain said, watching as they drew near Trea, then moved quickly beyond it. After putting in the proper code, Trillian appeared in the distance. “Not so much that place.”
Dynan chuckled. “I think it’ll be great to be anywhere with wood for walls, and a warm bath at hand.”
Dain moaned. “Yes. Hurry up, Ralion.”
“I’m going as fast as our escorts are allowing. We’ll be there soon enough.”
“Geneal’s waiting, you know. We’d make it a lot faster if you just...” He leaned over Ralion’s shoulder, but was swatted away.
“I’m flying us in. Keep your hands off my controls.”
“Your controls? This is my ship.”
“All right, all right.” Dynan grabbed him, turning him toward the hold. “Let’s go. Come on, Dain. I know you can’t wait to see Geneal, but you’ll just have to cool that ardor for a while longer. Leave Ralion alone.” He pushed him back into the hold, guiding him to the curved wall couch, and made him sit there.
Dain frowned at him darkly for a moment, but Dynan ignored him, pouring them a drink. “For all his strange humor, Bador has a fine stock. This is Corrigan. I wonder how he gets it.”
“He bribed someone,” Dain retorted darkly, but accepted the sweet liquor. “That is good.”
“Are you in love with her?” Dynan asked, clearly surprising his brother.
“What?”
“With Geneal. You haven’t so much as looked at another woman, a fact I must admit has really surprised me.”
“Just when was I ever given the opportunity? Orgrel wasn’t exactly crawling with women. Or at least not ones who had all their teeth.”
“Come on, Dain. You spent more time with her than you’ve spent with any other woman in your life. She was with us a long time, and you were hardly ever apart.”
Dain shrugged. “Geneal requires a fair amount of attention to justify certain activities.”
“I’m not buying it, brother.”
Dain smiled then. “All right. Yes. I suppose I am. She understands me. She doesn’t make any demands. She doesn’t even expect me to be faithful.”
“I didn’t think any of the women you consorted with expected that. Until now you haven’t been.”
“It’s not what she wants from me.” Dain shrugged again. “Personally, I can’t see how you stand it, this one woman thing. Look what it got you.”
Dynan glanced at him, eyes darkening. “What it got me was something you have yet to experience.”
“A broken heart, you mean? Thanks, I’ll pass.” Dynan’s shoulder’s sagged, and he shook his head. Trust Dain to put it all in perspective. “I know you just want to hear me say it, so fine. You’re right. But it’s not like our lives are in a state conducive to much more than we have.”
“You mean...marry her?” Dynan said, and couldn’t help smiling over the idea of Dain, settled down. When Dain glared at him, Dynan sobered...or tried to. “You could, you know. There’s a Temple right there on Base. Why not?”
Dain didn’t know what to say, except to shrug. “I don’t know why not.”
“Used to be it would all be properly arranged.”
Dain snorted at that. “Pity the poor Lady who gets stuck with me.”
“Why should those rules apply to you now? They don’t. You know they don’t, so what’s stopping you?”
“She has to say yes.”
“You have to ask her,” Dynan said, smiling at the discomfort he saw, and an uncharacteristic lack of confidence. “She’ll say yes.”
At that, Dain shrugged again. “Maybe. Why would she, with the way things are? Even if we were home, I’m not so sure she’d like the life.”
“You can’t be serious. She’ll say yes.” Dynan clapped him on the back. “Come on. We have just enough time to get cleaned up.”
Dain groaned, but followed him. “I suppose that means a uniform.”
“Afraid so.”
The XR-30 touched down on a newly installed pad not far from the house they’d occupied so briefly. It almost felt like coming home, Dynan thought while he waited for the ramp to open, and he realized everyone else crowded impatiently behind him. The weather hadn’t changed one bit since his last visit to the Moon Base. Fog billowed up the ramp in swirling clouds, and a welcome chill came with it. After the heat of Orgrel, the bite of cold in his lungs felt exceptionally good.
Carryn, Xavier, and Geneal waited to greet them. Xavier had aged dramatically since Dynan last saw him. He reminded him sharply of the High Bishop, Gradyn Vall, with the way he moved, and the slight stoop of his shoulders that hadn’t been present before. He greeted them both warmly the way he usually did, but Dynan felt something was wrong. Carryn’s smile was strained, immediately quenching his own. She seemed more worn and weary.
“What’s wrong?” he asked while Dain greeted Geneal.
“I’ll explain in a moment. Ralion, Sheed, I need to speak to you.” Carryn walked a pace or so away, and the two guards followed her, expressions quizzical.
“What’s going on?” Dain asked, joining him with Geneal at his side.
Ralion’s face changed, his smile vanishing, replaced by shock, and then grief. Sheed stared up at the sky for a moment. “Geneal?”
While she hesitated with an answer, Ralion turned away, and walked off, occasionally shaking his head. Sheed stood where he was, head bowed, and Carryn left him a moment later, returning to them.
“Kamien murdered their parents,” Carryn s
aid after a moment and a deep breath. “Trevan and Lycon’s families were out of the System. They’re here on Trea now, at the Galar Mansion. Governor Taldic managed to get the Allie and Gaden’s parents to safety. We need to send a team to get them off Arel. Ralion and Sheed will want to be the ones to go. I’m going to let them.”
“Their parents didn’t have anything to do with us,” Dain said.
“No, they didn’t, except their sons are here with you. Crime enough in Kamien’s eyes. Of course, no one in the System is saying that he had anything to do with it, but aside from Taldic saying otherwise, it’s too coincidental.”
Dynan turned away for a moment, thinking about the terrible loss his guards faced and he felt responsible for it.
“There are a few other things I need to discuss with you,” Carryn said after a lengthy silence.
Xavier drew his cloak closer against the chill wind. “We’ll be more comfortable inside.”
While they walked, Carryn went over her plan to send Ralion and Sheed to Arel, explaining why she thought they’d be more suited for the job than Allie, or anyone else, and what she intended to do to keep everyone safe while the two guards were away.
Inside the house, the others waited. Allie and Gaden looked tense and restless. Gaden was no longer the young, frightened boy they’d escaped with four years ago. He stood as tall as his brother, on the verge of turning eighteen. Allie stood with him by the fire. Dynan wondered if they knew Carryn didn’t intend to send them on the mission. Frazier tended the small fire with Lycon’s help, while Trevan stood with Boral. The atmosphere was somber, an underlying dread permeating the room.
“Welcome back,” Boral said, smiling briefly.
“Thanks, Boral. I wish it could have been under different circumstances.” He paused at that, realizing how inane that sounded. What circumstance could make it any better, even if Ralion and Sheed’s parents were alive? He wasn’t home. He was on a damp, dreary moon in exile.
Boral smiled, and patted his arm. “Ready for a drink?”
“I think we could all use one.”
“Dain, I see you managed to stay out of trouble. Tomorrow I’m putting you through the most difficult fitness course I can dream up.”
“And I’ll beat you at it, Boral,” Dain said.
“He will,” Dynan said, nodding.
“Good. I still want him to prove it to me.”
“What about Dynan? Why do I get all the fun?”
“Oh, he’ll be joining you. I just expect more of you.”
Dynan smiled, but then a slow frown replaced that, and he looked at Boral darkly. His Master at Arms only chuckled, and left them.
Ralion returned, followed a moment later by Sheed. Both men still wore the bewildered expressions of the newly grieved. Boral had drinks ready for them, and a soft word.
Carryn waited while everyone settled before moving to the mantle, and all eyes turned to her. She told them again what she knew of the Blaise and Lasser murders, citing Gemern Taldic as her source. Officially, their deaths were the unfortunate result of two supposedly unrelated accidents; the Lasser’s a house fire, and the Blaise’s a transport crash. In both instances, the bodies were unrecoverable. Taldic had moved the Ahrelds to his manor on Arel, averting another accident. A transport they were scheduled to take to the memorial services blew up in the landing port, killing four other bystanders.
The Ahreld’s location, and the fact of their survival was kept from the authorities so far, but Gemern didn’t know how long they would remain safe, and nearly three weeks had already elapsed.
“We have to—” Gaden started, but Carryn held up her hand.
“Taldic has issued entrance passes for two, origin from Yomir, as business associates. I’m sending Ralion and Sheed.” She stopped Allie this time with the same hand. “Not only are they immensely qualified for this sort of operation, they have personal business they need to tend to.”
“If Kamien had their parents killed,” Dain said, “doesn’t it stand to reason he’ll try to kill Ralion and Sheed? Won’t he be waiting for this sort of move?”
“Kamien won’t know they’re in the System. It’s common knowledge that you and Dynan don’t go anywhere without them. Kamien knows by now that you’re in the Trea System. I made certain of it. I’m also going to make certain he’ll know when you leave again tomorrow, with two men who’ll do a fair job of passing for Ralion and Sheed. They even look sort of like them, and of course, Boral has seen to their qualifications.” She paused a moment. “Any questions?”
Everyone glanced around, but no one spoke, but Dynan noticed Allie had put a firm hand on Gaden’s shoulder to keep him quiet. “Boral will be holding the mission briefing,” Carryn went on. “Ralion, Sheed if you need some time—”
“No, we’re ready.” Ralion stood, turning to Allie and Gaden. “We’ll get your parents out safely. I promise you that.”
“Thank you, Ralion, and I’m sorry.” Allie smiled tightly. “We’re both sorry.”
“Dynan, you and Dain will need to get to know your new escorts,” Carryn said. “They’re waiting in the other room. I’ll be in to go over where you’ll be heading next, and then you’ll be touring the Base.”
“Now wait just a damn—” Dain said. Beside him, Geneal bit back a smile.
“I’ll do the tour, Carryn,” Dynan interrupted. “All right?”
Carryn relented easily enough, and the meeting ended. Slowly everyone filed out, each quietly offering their condolences to Ralion and Sheed. Dynan closed his eyes, remembering too well when he had to listen to the same words, and how nothing anyone said made him feel any better. Dain put an arm around him, smiling sadly. “Let’s leave them alone.”
Dynan nodded, and moved to follow. Though he knew nothing he said would help either of them, he stopped beside them, wishing he could change the course of history, and make none of this real. Looking at them, he saw the same wish mirrored in their eyes.
***
“Your Highness, it’s an honor to serve you,” one of the guards said, while the other nodded. Dynan glanced at Dain, but then smiled at the guards, who looked back and forth between them, one to the other, trying to figure out who was who. Dynan glanced down at the sapphire ring on his finger, thinking of the emerald one Dain wore that Xavier had given them so he could tell them apart.
The guards were, as Carryn said, a reasonable match to Ralion and Sheed. Neither had Ralion’s bulk or Sheed’s height. They were younger by a few years, both looking slightly awestruck.
“I’m Dynan. He’s Dain,” he said, and showed them his ring. “His is emerald.”
“My name is Trent Harum, and he’s Jode Rolden. We’ve been briefed on what we’ll be doing. I just want to say I’m sorry about what happened with your other guards. It’s a real shame, but you’ll be safe with us, Your Highnesses.”
“Thanks,” Dynan said, glancing again at Dain.
His brother turned, rolling his eyes slightly. “I’m going to go spend some time with Geneal.”
“Commander Adaeryn said we’re to wait here, Your Highness, so that wouldn’t be a good idea right now. I’m sure it won’t take long to fill you in on the details.”
Dain stopped by the door, eyeing Trent once before he left.
“Uh, Your Highness, you need to stay—”
Dynan stopped the guard from following, shaking his head. “Talk to Ralion and Sheed before they leave. They’ll be able to give you a few pointers on how to manage with Dain.”
“But he’s supposed to be here, and—”
“Talk to them, and until then, don’t tell Dain what to do. He doesn’t react well to orders.” Dynan raised an eyebrow, then smiled. “So you said you’ve been briefed. Where are we going?”
Trent hesitated, then handed Dynan a comboard. “Everywhere it would seem, and for no more than a few days at a time, sometimes not even that.”
Dynan looked at the list, closing his eyes against a pervading weariness. “Great.”
> “I don’t anticipate a problem with this.”
“If you’d been on the move as much as we have, you’d see it a little differently.”
Carryn came in then, informing them that Ralion and Sheed were all set for their mission. She turned to Trent. “I see you’ve gone over the list of locations with Dynan.”
“Yes, Commander. Prince Dain refused to stay for the briefing. He’s—”
“I know where he is. You may take your positions at the door, please.”
“Yes, Commander,” Trent said, disheartened. Followed by Jode, they left them. Carryn closed the door.
“They the best you can get?” Dynan asked, pouring himself another drink, finally beginning to feel the effects of alcohol, dulling his senses.
“They are the best - in their field - which is special operations. They aren’t the nursemaids you’ve come to expect in Ralion and Sheed. They’ll learn easily enough.”
Dynan frowned at her, but refrained from voicing the doubts he had. Carryn had enough on her mind. “I’ve got the list here. Doesn’t seem like much to go over, but I’d like to know why we’ll be moving so much.”
“Because you’ll likely be watched, and then followed from the System. I thought long and hard about taking this chance, not just the risk of sending Ralion and Sheed after the Ahrelds, but using you as our decoys yet again.”
“We can’t leave them there.”
“No, we can’t, but it seems only slightly insane to put you at risk like this. We don’t have much choice, except to leave the Ahrelds on Arel.”
“Not the greatest alternative,” Dynan said. “All right. We’ll follow your instructions to the letter.”
“There’s something else,” Carryn said, and Dynan saw her hesitation. “At the rate we’re progressing here at the Base, it won’t be five years when we go back to Cobalt, it’ll be ten. Drake has all but bankrupted himself to help us. His wealth isn’t limitless. He’s almost reached that point where he can’t afford to do more. Now, if you talked to him, he’d tell you that everything is fine, and not to worry. I know differently.”
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