by S. E. Weir
Geirik and Halvad had flown over the couch to meet Velof as he drew his hagrund. Since Geirik’s skalax wasn’t suited to this type of setting, doing better in an arena or a practice area, he had brought his secondary weapon. It was more easily sheathed—a sword similar to Fastel’s two wavy blades, though larger and better suited to his size and strength.
Halvad had pushed forward to meet Velof with a ferocity that surprised the Jeskir. Halvad had always been easygoing and less ready to jump into a fight. His friend had confided to Geirik on their way to the station that when the communication from the Imperial representatives arrived, it had stated that much of their evidence came from Terland—who had asked Halvad to be contacted since he knew the potential next Jeskir, a Baldere who had disappeared and was presumed to be dead. It was the last straw.
Terland had been Halvad’s childhood friend, and though they had lost touch over the years, especially while Terland had worked for Velof, he had still been important to Halvad. Since it appeared all but certain that Terland’s death had been caused by Velof, Halvad had finally decided that not only did Velof need to be deposed as the Jeskir, but he needed to die.
They had agreed Velof needed to be alive to legitimately compete in the Rikhar games since many of the people loved him and had no idea about his corruption, though Halvad had been reluctant. Now Geirik not only needed to defeat Velof without killing him so he could fight and kill him later, he needed to let Halvad fight Velof and keep his close friend from killing his former friend.
How had his life gotten so complicated?
Velof easily met Halvad strike for strike and blow for blow. Though his friend was eager and had skill, he didn’t have the natural killer instinct or desire that gave Velof his edge. Eventually, Halvad began to flag.
“Halvad.”
His friend blocked Velof’s strike, pushing it back harder than he might have otherwise, and sprang back. Geirik leaped forward to take his place, swinging to hit areas that would disable the Baldere for a moment but where the wounds would not be deep enough to kill him. Velof blocked and struck back, and Geirik sidestepped and dodged even as he blocked the blows.
After a time, Geirik realized he and Velof were too evenly matched since Geirik couldn’t use any killing blows. He also realized he would need help to overcome the Jeskir and keep him prisoner until the Rikhar games.
“Halvad!”
His friend cut in from the side, slicing into the outside of Velof’s weapon arm as Geirik ripped from the inside. It couldn’t have gone better if the two friends had planned it. Velof’s arm spasmed, his fingers opening reflexively. He was not able to grip his hagrund anymore, and it fell to the floor with a thud, barely missing Geirik’s foot.
Velof bellowed his outrage and dismay. “No! You can’t!”
He bent to reach for his hagrund with his other hand, only to have Halvad step on the weapon, his large foot keeping the device on the floor as he growled at the defeated male.
“No, you don’t, you bastard!”
Geirik sheathed his sword, then wrestled with the Jeskir to pull his arms behind his body, only to realize he had nothing to tie them with.
“Anyone have anything we can use to tie up this villain?”
He looked around to find all the guards knocked out or tied up or both. Two of the Gleeks were on opposite sides of the room, watching the guards to make sure they didn’t move. Two others were standing near the human female who had been injured. The other Imperial males had congregated there as well. The last Gleek stood off to the side, looking as uncertain as a Gleek could. Charles Edwards had been standing off to the side. He had now backed up to the doors and was about to push through.
“Someone grab him.” Geirik pointed at the fleeing human by the door.
The alien Yollin used his four legs to jump over the couch, almost tipping it over to the surprise of the human female sitting on it. She yelped as the Yollin leaped over the back toward the ambassador. Charles looked up in fear and dismay to see the ferocious Yollin bearing down on him, then ran out of the room.
The Yollin chased the human male down the hall and roared as he reared up and knocked his quarry over with his front feet.
“Got him!”
Charles Edwards couldn’t think about anything except the Yollin who had just jumped over the couch and now raced toward him. He forgot everything in his desperate hope to leave without being caught. He had been so close! After pushing through the doors, he ran out to try to get away. Perhaps it wasn’t too late.
He was halfway down the hall when he heard Drk-vaen a step behind him. He turned around and gazed with horror at the large alien who had reared up on his back legs with a roar, his savage spiked face frightening, mandibles spread to their fullest extent. The front legs reached toward him, sharp claws extending from three long toes, causing Charles to shriek in alarm and push his hands out in a futile attempt to keep the Yollin back.
He was going to die!
Charles winced and closed his eyes as if blocking the sight would prevent the act. He felt a hard impact on his chest, then a harder impact when he hit the floor.
“Got him!” Drk-vaen bellowed to the occupants of the room they had just left.
Charles squinted up at the alien towering above him and whimpered.
“Please don’t hurt me!”
As he leaned over to look at him, the Yollin’s mandibles clicked, causing the man to flinch and put his arms over his face.
Drk-vaen shook his head and spoke, the words translated by Charles’ implant. “You are so disappointing. How did you get to be a diplomat? You see a Yollin and think I’m just a bloodthirsty beast, don’t you?”
The ambassador lowered his hands and peered up at the alien. “So you aren’t going to kill me?”
Chuckling, the Yollin bent down and grabbed Charles’ hands to draw him to his feet and yank him back toward the room.
“Oh, I didn’t say that. Just that I’m not going to kill you right now.”
While Geirik watched the Yollin, his hands didn’t maintain a tight grip on Velof, who caught sight of Torel lying on the floor. With a bellow, he yanked his arms out of Geirik’s grip and lunged over to the mortally wounded female.
He laid a hand on her neck and must have failed to find a pulse since he pulled it back quickly. Velof peered at Fastel, who was standing off to the side, looking beautiful even with spatters of violet blood dotting and streaking her body. She had a number of cuts that had bled, though they seemed to be healing.
She stared steadily at the man who would have had her years ago and had sworn off friendship with either of them when she had refused him for Geirik. For his part, Geirik had never been prouder of her. Velof seemed conflicted in his thoughts and barely acknowledged Geirik when he walked over and pulled the male’s arms behind him again.
A hand held out a few strips of fabric to him. Geirik reached for them and followed the arm to the face of the representative from the Empire, Greyson Wells, who gave him a nod.
“Thank you.”
Geirik began wrapping the strips around Velof’s wrists to hold them together just as the male seemed to wake up from the daze he had entered. After a few tugs and some angry muttering, Greyson stepped over and pinched Velof’s neck in a particular spot, causing the Baldere to freeze and twitch in place. Geirik nodded his thanks and finished binding the Jeskir with the strips.
As he straightened and stepped back, Greyson grinned. “The pinch hold. Works every time for any creature with a nervous system. You just have to find the right spot.”
Geirik smiled in amusement. “I’ll remember that.”
Velof could only throw himself around, and without his arms out for balance, he had difficulty staying upright. He glared at Charles Edwards and thrust his chin out at the man.
“This is all his fault!”
After Drk-vaen had almost toppled the couch—thanks for that, Drk—Phina had decided it would be better to stand. Surely the cuts had slowed down
their bleeding and it wouldn’t be that bad.
Her leg hurt when she stood and was difficult to walk on, shooting out twinges of fire since the makeshift dressing pressed into the wound with every step she took. Okay, maybe sitting had been better. She had just settled back down on the couch, turned at an angle so she could see what was going on better when Velof accused the ambassador.
Ah. Right on time.
Charles stood at an uncomfortable angle since Drk-vaen held the now-former ambassador’s arm higher than was comfortable for the shorter human. He appeared surprised by Velof’s accusation and lifted his free hand to cover his heart, giving off an air of being confused and affronted.
“I beg your pardon? I have no idea what you could be meaning.”
Link barked a laugh as he stood near Geirik, who still had hold of Velof. Maxim and Ryan had stayed with Phina, while the three Gleeks who weren’t watching the guards, Braeden, Kroegen, and Traekor, had spread out between her couch and Link, facing Drk-vaen and Charles Edwards.
“I sincerely doubt that, old man.”
Insult crossed Charles’ face. “Who are you calling old? You’re older than I am!”
“Not by much.” Link waved a hand, “That’s not important. What is important is that you betrayed your Empress and the Empire. That…that’s very serious.”
“What proof do you have?”
“Proof!” Velof’s face twisted in anger and disgust. “You were there making decisions with me and for me every step of the way, you arrogant human!”
“It’s his word against mine.” Charles spoke calmly as if he were talking about nothing of consequence.
Phina sighed and readjusted her leg. He really was an arrogant fool.
Braeden.
The Gleek didn’t mistake what she was looking for since it had been the third thing she had asked his help with since last night.
“This male has been emitting deception ever since he opened his mouth. He enjoyed it when everyone fought, felt delight when we were pushing Velof, and when we tested the guards this morning, every time his name came up, they all had similar reactions—secrecy, distrust, and not a small amount of fear.”
Velof laughed low, but it turned manic as it went on. Everyone stared at him, then eyed each other uneasily.
Link cleared his throat. “Yes, Velof’s testimony, Braeden offering a telepathic empath’s testimony as to the state of your emotions and intentions, and this.”
Phina had pulled her tablet out again, anticipating his request, and brought up the last major video they had gleaned from Terland’s collection of files. She pushed the sound up so it could be heard very clearly.
The longer Charles watched the video, realizing he had implicated himself, the more he sweated and turned pale. When it finished, Link turned to Charles with raised eyebrows and a smirk on his face that said, “Gotcha.”
“Anything to add?”
“I…I tried to minimize Velof’s actions so they weren’t as bad as they could have been.”
Link scoffed. “What, you think this is some kind of trial where you can get off easier for good behavior? No!”
Charles took a deep breath and seemed relieved until Link leaned forward with a hard look on his face.
“No, Charles, this is the kind of trial where we already judged you guilty and sentenced you to death. The Empress is not happy. You’re lucky she’s not here as she takes treason and betrayal very seriously. You conspired to kill Etherian citizens. You conspired to kill others who were doing nothing wrong. You conspired to perpetuate brutality and the subjugation of the Balderian people. You contributed to defrauding both the Balderian people and the Etheric Empire. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found more money than Velof here believes you have from your operations.
“These are all betrayals, Charles. Betrayals that are treason because you are an Etherian diplomat acting against the Empire. And although you failed to take note of current events, you should have remembered what Bethany Anne does when one of her citizens is disrespected. For this betrayal? You are lucky that the General, Anna Elizabeth, and every single one of the Bitches convinced her to let us handle this. What were you thinking, man?”
Link sounded curious and a little bewildered. He really didn’t understand how Charles could turn against the Empire and the Empress. Phina was curious too, but she thought she understood a little more than Link did since she had been angry with the Empress herself at one point, even though the emotion had been misplaced. She had been eleven years old and grieving the death of her parents, after all.
“Do you know how long and hard I’ve worked to further the ends of the Empire? Years!” Charles sounded both pleading and aggravated, which gave his voice a curious tone. “I looked at my life and realized I had nothing! No spouse or kids, no one special or important in my life. My best years were given to the Empire, and I received very little in return! Certainly not access to the inner circle or being given the opportunity to advance in my career. I’ve been doing the same thing for the last two decades! Why wouldn’t I try to get more so I could live comfortably and be able to retire?”
Ok, she had been wrong. She didn’t understand.
Phina pushed her way to the side of the couch and stood up to hobble over and stand in front of the arrogant, ignorant man. Link had been about to speak until he saw her moving.
“Is this worth breaking open your wounds?”
Phina waved a dismissive hand toward him. She had to do this. She stared into the man’s blue eyes and saw arrogance and disdain. He looked at her and saw a young girl who didn’t know anything. What he didn’t know was that thanks to Anna Elizabeth, Jace, Link, Sis’tael, Maxim, Drk-vaen, the Gleeks, and even Velof and Charles himself, she finally understood exactly what being a diplomat for the Empire meant.
“‘The diplomat’s primary allegiance is to the Empress and the Empire, and they will do all in their power to uphold honor and Justice throughout their service.’” She spoke softly as she eyed him. “‘The Diplomatic Corps was established to facilitate the introduction of alien species into the Etheric Empire and protect Etherian citizens.’ That is written in the manual given to every diplomat trainee.”
“How dare you stand there and lecture me, child! I...” His voice cut off from the combination of her next words and Drk-vaen’s pressure on his arm. He subsided and listened to her with a sheen of perspiration on his face.
“Honor. Justice. Protection.” She dropped the words like hard pearls that had been growing for weeks inside her, as indeed they had been. “That is what it means to be a diplomat for the Etheric Empire. Did you forget your purpose, sir, in your desire for vengeance for your perceived slights?
“When you went along with and even encouraged Velof to kill Gleeks, Baldere, and others we have yet to learn of, did you ever stop to think that those Baldere were the very people you swore to protect? That the Gleeks and any others you were involved in killing could be future Etherian citizens?
“Did you even once think our Empress isn’t one to force those to serve who don’t believe in the mission and purpose anymore? Had you gone to Anna Elizabeth at any time and said you wanted out, you could have retired and moved on to something else that didn’t require so much of you. She would have understood your choice—and make no mistake, this was all your choice.
“You chose to betray your Empress.” Her clipped words landed like blows as he jerked against the grip Drk still had on his arm, his eyes growing more desperate with each sentence she spoke. “You chose to betray your Empire. You chose to become the very thing you were supposed to protect the people against. You, and only you, are to blame for this.
“‘A diplomat’s primary allegiance is to the Empress and the Empire, and they will do all in their power to uphold honor and Justice throughout their service.’ Your actions, sir, were neither honorable nor just. You threw everything away for money. You changed your allegiance. You’ve shown where your allegiance lies—it is not to the Empire, and
it is certainly not to the Empress!”
Phina finished speaking and felt satisfied but drained. She went to move back to the couch but was stopped by Link’s hand grasping her shoulder.
“Well said, my dear. Well said.”
He stepped closer and leaned over her as she flushed with elation from his words. Though she also felt a little lightheaded. Perhaps it was a good thing Link had a hand on her shoulder to help keep her upright.
“Charles, you have already been sentenced to death in the Empire. However, the Gleeks have requested that we turn you over to them, and we have granted that request. They will do as they like with you as they choose, whether it be death or slaving for them for the rest of your life. The only two caveats we agreed on with them were not to use torture, and if they let you live, that they not mistreat you, though believe me that those conditions are very narrow.”
“What?” Charles struggled against the hand holding him, with his eyes bugging out. “You can’t do this!”
“It’s done.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Etheric Empire, Vermott, Planet of the Baldere, Rikhar Arena
Skalax struck hagrund before Geirik swung up his shield to break the other male’s wrist, but Velof pulled his arm back quickly enough for it to miss. Phina found herself tensing every time Velof’s strikes came close to hitting Geirik. A hand on her shoulder startled her into turning to meet Link’s calm face.
“Relax. Geirik is the better fighter. The outcome is all but certain.”
Phina shook her head even as she tried to take his advice to relax. Geirik might be the better fighter, but Velof was sneaky. Didn’t Phina have plenty of examples where sneakiness won over skill? Geirik and Fastel had told them Velof had cheated to win ten years ago and that he’d tried to escape twice in the two days since the fight in the consulate. The outcome wouldn’t be certain until the match was over.
Link stayed beside her, leaning against the barrier between them and the arena as her eyes were drawn back to the fighting. Geirik swung with his shield, catching the hagrund in Velof’s hand and pushing it to the side before swiping at Velof’s chest with his skalax. Metal, cloth, and flesh were sliced open, droplets of violet blood spraying the two fighters. The now-familiar spicy scent of the blood had begun to permeate the air. Unfortunately, Velof had taken a step back at the crucial moment, so rather than the match being almost over, the cut only caused pain instead of serious injury.