Page 19

“What in the pit of Xesh is wrong with you?”

Ela asked. “You’re as irritable as a slothar with a broken tail.”

“Stop comparing me to alien creatures I’ve never heard of,”

Kara snapped. “Is my mother on board the transport?”

They were standing on the launch pad next to the high-speed space shuttle which was to take them to the Summer Palace in the south.

“All the human delegates are seated. Baelon has already gone on ahead using his own private transport.”

“Yeah, heaven forbid he share a spacecraft with humans,”

Kara muttered.

“We’re just waiting on Vahn and Rhyn.”

Ela eyed her curiously. “I’m surprised the Zhaal isn’t here with you.”

“Really? I’m not.”

Before Ela could question her further, Rhyn strolled up to them.

“Greetings, fragrant flowers of the Vraxian Empire.”

“What’s wrong?”

Ela asked immediately. Rhyn tutted.

“Can one not give compliments without arousing suspicion?”

“Not in that tone of voice, no. Where’s the Zhaal?”

She saw Rhyn glance quickly at Kara.

“He wants to try out the new planet-hopper I acquired last month. It’s a beauty; fifteen mega-turbo engines and a ride so smooth you’d think it was crafted by the gods themselves. Capable of interstellar speeds of up to…”

“You’re saying he wants to travel to the Summer Palace with you instead of us?”

Ela cut him off. “I’ll need to inspect your transport. I haven’t given it security clearance.”

“I assure you it’s perfectly safe, general. It’s only ever been used for personal trips.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,”

Ela said tartly. “Who knows what kind of loose hussies have been on board? Apart from anything else I’d be concerned about hygiene.”

A smile played about Rhyn’s mouth.

“General Solarun, are you jealous?”

“Don’t be absurd. My priority is the safety of the Zhaal. I don’t think he should be traveling on your pleasure ride.”

“It’s fine.”

Kara was tired of their banter. “If he wants to go with Rhyn, let him.”

“Your Majesty?”

Ela was surprised. “Don’t you want him to travel with you?”

“What I want is apparently not his concern.”

Kara looked away. “Let’s not keep everyone waiting. We can rendezvous with Vahn at the other end.”

Ela and Rhyn exchanged looks.

“That’s great, we’ll see you there,”

said Rhyn, a little too heartily. He returned the way he’d come, back to his private launching pad. Vahn was waiting for him on board the sleek planet-hopper.

“Did you tell them I would be traveling with you?” he asked.

“Yes, though Kara seemed a little out of sorts. I thought you were going to speak to her?”

“I did. Sort of.”

“Are you sure you want to do this? Protocol dictates you travel with your new Zhaalini.”

“I thought you wanted to show me how fast this thing goes?”

Vahn arched a brow. “Or was that an idle boast?”

Rhyn took the pilot’s seat and revved the throttle.

“Fasten your seat-belt, your Majesty. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Back at the main launch pad, Ela glanced up as Rhyn’s ship sped away with thrusters howling.

“Vannla’s Sword, why do males think everything is about speed? Let’s get you on board, your Majesty.”

Ela followed Kara and her bodyguards up the ramp. “Do you wish to join your mother on the main flight deck?”

“No. I want to be alone.”

“Then let’s go to the royal suite. No-one will disturb you there.”

Kara let herself be led to the front of the ship.

The first time she’d seen the royal cabins on a Vraxian space vessel, she’d been awestruck by the sheer opulence. Now she barely gave it a second glance as she threw herself into one of the large armchairs. It instantly remolded itself to provide maximum comfort and support. Kara nestled in and closed her eyes.

Ela nodded at the bodyguards.

“Valeyan, inform the pilot that everyone’s aboard. You and Gru can wait outside the cabin until we arrive.”

The bodyguards left and a few moments later Kara heard the sound of the engines starting. She cracked an eyelid.

“I said I want to be alone,”

she told Ela.

“Tough. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s Vahn, that’s what’s wrong.”

“What’s he done?”

“More like what hasn’t he done. He refuses to spend any waking moment with me. He barely looks at me. The other day he was forced to touch me because of teshekalehsh and since then he hasn’t come near me.”

Ela frowned.

“Kara, are you saying you and Vahn haven’t lain together recently?”

“He’s made it pretty damn obvious he’d rather gnaw his own hand off.”

The general sat down on the edge of the vast bed.

“When was the last time you and Vahn had marital relations?”

“That’s a bit of a personal question. What does it matter?”

“Well for one thing it would explain why you’re so tetchy.”

“What, you think I’m bad-tempered because I’m frustrated?”

Kara thought about it. “Okay, fine. I’m frustrated as hell. Vahn hasn’t wanted to… you know. Sweet Jesus, even when I offered it to him on a plate he wasn’t interested.”

“You invited him to make vastra and he rejected you?”

Kara looked at her quizzically.

“I never pegged you for the girl-talk type. What’s with the third degree?”

“Kara, this is important. When was the last time you slept with Vahn?”

“Before the wedding.”

Kara shrugged. “The night before, if that matters.”

“Drek.”

Ela got up and paced about the room. “You’re absolutely sure? You haven’t lain with him since your marriage?”

“I think I’d remember.”

Kara eyed her curiously. “I know it’s a big deal for me, but why are you bothered?”

“It’s been, what, seven days since the wedding?”

“A week ago today. Seriously, what’s up? You’re starting to freak me out.”

“You should be freaked out, as you put it.”

Ela swung round to face her. “If you don’t lie with Vahn soon, he could declare your union denerra.”

Kara waited for her translation microbes to decipher the Vraxian word.

“Invalid?”

“Null and void. If the marriage isn’t consummated within twenty-one sunrises, it can be dissolved.”

Kara shot out of her chair like a popped cork.

“What the fuck?”

“It’s Vraxian law. Either partner can invoke it.”

“So you mean if we don’t screw in the next two weeks, he can get a divorce?”

“Screw?”

“Fornicate. Copulate. Get it on.”

“I see. Yes.”

“That underhanded bastard.”

Kara didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “He said he needed time to get over his memory loss. He asked me to wait till he was ready. And all the while he was counting down the clock. I’m going to kill him.”

“I might be wrong,”

said Ela. “Confronting him is a bad idea. Perhaps a softly-softly approach is more advisable.”

“And what would you know?”

Anger made Kara mean. “You might be an expert on war strategy, general, but you know jack shit about love. Even when it’s staring you in the face.”

“What in the name of Ayanlesh are you talking about?”

Kara gritted her teeth. She badly wanted to point out the obvious – that Rhyn was crazy about her and Ela was blind not to see it. But it wasn’t her place to tell.

“Forget it. Just give me some space, okay? Go keep my mother company.”

“And what will you be doing for the rest of the journey?”

Kara gave a tight smile.

“I’ll be figuring out what to do about my idiot husband.”