Page 27

Ela grimaced as she finished stitching the deep cut on Vahn’s shoulder.

“You should have let a mechbot do this,”

she said. “My battlefield skills are a little rusty.”

“We don’t know which ones to trust,”

Vahn growled. “I prefer your needlework, however shaky.”

He looked up as Kara came into the room. She deliberately avoided his gaze and spoke directly to Ela.

“My mother is fine, though a little shaken. The other two delegates were completely untouched. The chandelier missed them both.”

Ela dabbed antimicrobial ointment on Vahn’s cut.

“There. Done.”

She cocked her head at Kara. “And are they buying the accident explanation?”

“Well, you know mother. A million questions about everything. But no-one else saw the bot except me and Rhyn so I think we’re okay.”

“Good. To come this far and have the peace accords jeopardized so close to the finish line…”

“I know. But they don’t suspect terrorism, only incompetence.”

Kara sighed. “Poor Governor Salavar. He thinks his arty light fitting nearly killed everyone.”

“It nearly did,”

Ela pointed out. “How the pair of you weren’t crushed is a mystery.”

Neither Vahn nor Kara replied and Ela glanced at them curiously. She was sensing an atmosphere but didn’t like to pry.

“How is Governor Salavar’s arm?”

she asked instead.

“Broken in two places. He’s receiving medical attention but he got off lightly compared to the other dude.”

“Lord Paalin. Yes, we were lucky to have just one fatality.”

“Not sure he’d consider it lucky.”

Vahn pulled his shirt back on.

“Lord Paalin was a competent official, he did not deserve a senseless death. We will compensate his family generously.”

He stood as Rhyn entered. “Any more news?”

“The bot’s data circuits have been wiped. It can’t tell us who programed it to carry out an attempted murder.”

“It’s obviously Baelon’s doing,”

said Ela. “He made sure he and his niece were conveniently out of the way when it happened.”

“It looks suspicious, certainly,”

Rhyn agreed. “But unless he’s done some kind of crash course in engineering, altering mechbot functions is beyond him. If it was Baelon, he must have had help.”

“Where is Baelon now?”

asked Vahn.

“He left,”

replied Ela. “He said he wanted to escort Layahn back to Taa’riz to make sure she was safe. Which means he can avoid any awkward questions, of course.”

“He can’t have been the one to hack the bot,”

said Rhyn stubbornly. “I know Baelon. He’s many things but he doesn’t have the first clue about programming.”

“The former Governor,”

Kara said suddenly. “Salavar mentioned he was a tech expert. And wasn’t he also opposed to the peace accords?”

“You think Baelon and Yighaz worked together?”

Rhyn rubbed his chin. “It’s possible. But once again, we have to tread carefully. We can’t go accusing Baelon without proof.”

“It seems we can’t do anything,”

said Ela irritably. “And all the while attempts are being made on our Zhaal’s life. Are we to stand around doing nothing?”

“Easy, general,”

said Rhyn mildly. “We’ve thwarted two attempts now and the attackers are running out of time. We’re still ahead in the game.”

“It’s not a game though, is it?”

she demanded fiercely. “It was only by sheer luck that we avoided catastrophe this time. Thank Ayanlesh the President is due to return to Earth tomorrow. At least there’ll be one less target to worry about.”

“There are only a few days to go before the accords are signed,”

said Vahn. “Kara and I have full confidence in you, general.”

“Thank you, your Majesty. I’ll put out a detention order for Yighaz and double the number of bodyguards for you both.”

Kara’s heart sank.

“More bodyguards? Really? It’s hard enough to get any privacy with those behemoths following us around.”

“I cannot leave you unprotected, Zhaalini.”

“They didn’t do much to protect us today, did they? If it wasn’t for Rhyn we’d be toast.”

“I am aware of that,”

said Ela stiffly. “Lord Davorrian’s actions were exemplary.”

“Heroic, I’d say.”

Kara was watching Ela’s expression with interest. “He saved my mother. Thank you, Rhyn, by the way. You were amazing.”

She smiled at the Vraxian and he waved it off.

“It was nothing.”

“Oh, come on. You saved her life. And ours. If you hadn’t yelled out to Vahn when you did…”

“Can we please focus on what we do next instead of handing out accolades?”

snapped Ela. “Kara, you and Vahn are still in danger. I suggest we return to the Imperial Palace and confine you to your rooms until the accords are signed.”

An awkward silence followed. Vahn imagined being locked in close quarters with Kara for the next few days – and nights – and knew denerra would never happen. He shook his head.

“We do not give in to terrorists. Find another way.”

“But…”

“That’s an order, General Solarun.”

He strode to the door. “Come, Rhyn. We will speak with Lord Paalin’s family. Ela, escort Kara back to our room.”

He left without a backward glance and Rhyn followed.

Ela threw her hands up.

“Are you two still butting horns? You’re like a pair of qinna beasts.”

“I could say the same about you. Why are you giving Rhyn a hard time?”

“I am treating him no differently to normal.”

“He was a hero, Ela. You know he was. But you’re not giving him any credit.”

“Am I supposed to worship the ground he walks on because he did his duty?”

“No, but aren’t you impressed? Even a tiny bit?”

Ela scowled.

“My feelings are not your concern. But my Zhaal’s wellbeing is. I thought at dinner you were starting to get along. What happened?”

Kara sighed.

“I told him I knew about his ridiculous plan to annul our marriage.”

“Oh.”

Ela bit her lip. “I should not have told you about that. It was none of my business.”

“I’m glad you did. I was going to talk to him about it tonight, try to get him to change his mind. But with all this going on, it’s just impossible.”

Kara dragged a hand through her hair. “I can’t fight to save our marriage while some maniac’s trying to kill us.”

“I’m sorry, Zhaalini. I wish there was some place safe you could go that no-one else knows about. Somewhere secret where you could just talk and...”

She saw Kara’s expression. “What? What is it? Is something wrong?”

Kara was staring at her with a rapt expression.

“You’ve just given me a brilliant idea.”

“I have?”

“Yeah. But you’re not going to like it.”