Protector of the Realm (15 page)

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“What M’Ekar wants, and I have, is Armeo, twelve years old and sole heir to the M’Aido estate. At your level, you should have heard of this dynasty.”

Not many things fazed her father, but the name made him lower his lighter before he lit his cigar. “A M’Aido is still alive?” He sounded incredulous. “The Council believes this particular Onotharian dynasty is extinct.”

“Well, it’s not, and Armeo is very much alive. Kellen has been his sole guardian since he was five. The Onotharian authorities attacked them back on Gantharat and forced them to escape. Kellen is a trained fighter pilot and managed to get within range of
Gamma VI
.”

“Does she know who he is? Does she claim anything of his?”

Though Rae realized these were valid questions, she still became angry. Kellen could be infuriating in her tenacious stance, but nothing she’d said or done hinted of greed. Rae knew in her heart she was concerned only about Armeo. “No. His biological mother died seven years ago. If Kellen wanted anything to do with his inheritance, she’d have filed a claim long ago. She’s utterly devoted to him and was seriously wounded when they escaped.”

“That’s something M’Ekar made sure the Council never heard,” the admiral huffed. “Damn. This complicates things.” He shot her a sharp glance. “Why did you marry her?”

“To legally keep her in SC space. If they’d extradited her, the Onotharians would have found her guilty of kidnapping--and the penalty is death…by starvation.” The words hurt her throat, and sudden images of a broken, emaciated Kellen flickered through her mind, making her briefly clamp her eyelids shut, to try to erase them.

“Barbaric.” The solitary word displayed his contempt. “The SC Council has worked with the Onotharians since they applied for full membership, but their laws conflict with ours and their occupation of Gantharat is also controversial. Some members are more indulgent in their attitude toward Onotharat, but most are against membership unless they change their laws.”

“If M’Ekar is an average representative of his country, I don’t see that happening any time soon.”

Ewan Jacelon lit his cigar. Rae wrinkled her nose and pressed a button on her console to boost the ventilation.

“I haven’t told Kellen about the latest development yet,” she said. “Before you arrived, the
Dalathea
responded to my request. They’ll be here within five days.”

The
Dalathea
was a court ship, one of several traveling through the SC sectors. The judges aboard these ships handled interplanetary law and legal disputes between SC citizens and non-SC aliens. Inside SC borders the court ships’ rulings were beyond appeal.

“Have you discussed this situation with a lawyer, Rae? You need legal counsel.”

“I know. Jeremiah’s friend in our civilian legal department on the station says our chances are good, but…” Rae paused and pressed her fingertips against her temple in an attempt to align her erratic thoughts. “I want them to be more than good. I want to go into that courtroom knowing Armeo and Kellen will be safe when we leave. Right now, I’m not so sure.”

The admiral bit into his cigar and leaned back into the chair. “What did the lawyer suggest?”

“He says we need someone beyond reproach, someone who can convince the court we’re doing what’s in Armeo’s best interests. If the court thinks for one minute I’m after his inheritance or, like M’Ekar, using him as a political pawn…they might take him away from us. They might not give him to M’Ekar. Probably wouldn’t. But they may give him to someone who can’t protect him. Besides that…Kellen has taken care of him all his life. They’d be devastated without each other.”

“I see.” Ewan Jacelon rose from the chair and removed the cigar from his lips. “All right, let’s go to dinner, then. I’m curious about this Kellen. You care about them, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do, Father. Kellen loves that boy. She was willing to sacrifice her own life to save his. And Armeo, he’s great. He’s smart and has grit, but no child should have to deal with the things he’s had to face.”

“I see.”

Rae tried to interpret the look in his eyes but failed, as usual, since her father had the best poker face in SC space.

He rose from the chair still gripping his cigar between his teeth. “All right, let’s go to dinner so I can meet your new family.”

Rubbing her sweaty palms furtively on her trousers, Rae sighed in relief. Talking with her father had been easier than she expected. He drove her crazy because he always assumed the worst when she was involved, but he was fair when it came to others. She needed his help desperately, even if she cringed at having to ask for it.

The admiral towered over her and tapped her shoulder. “What are we waiting for? I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

*

Kellen came out of the kitchenette carrying two pots and placed them on the dining room table. The thermo technology would keep the food hot until they sat down to eat. Preparing food had calmed her temporarily; the mundane chore made her feel grounded. Unfortunately she had pictured the kitchen in her now-destroyed home, where she and Armeo had shared most of their meals. The thought of how the Onotharians had burned her estate and killed farmhands and her
maeshas
…Kellen tried to force the harsh memories to the back of her head.
I have to focus. One of the highest-ranking officers of the SC will dine at this table. Armeo’s future depends on his benevolence.

She lifted the lid of the pot closest to her. She had made a version of her favorite vegetarian casserole, finding similar ingredients in the grocery stores aboard the station. Having tasted “new potatoes” for the first time two nights ago at the restaurant, Kellen had opted to serve them on the side.
Surely this scene, domestic and harmless, could fool him?
I just have to bide my time and see where all this leads.
She had little knowledge of what a traditional marriage within the SC entailed, but she suspected nobody expected her to.

Jacelon and her father were due any minute, and Kellen hurried into the bathroom to check her appearance and make sure she looked the part. She made sure her blond hair was flawless, then glanced at an unused makeup kit, but this was too alien to even attempt. Hoping she would pass scrutiny, she examined herself in the full-length mirror attached to the door. She wore the same white suit as the other evening, since her wardrobe was limited.

Hearing the door hiss open in the living area, she held her breath for a few moments, pressed her palms hard against her thighs, and left the bathroom.

A tall, graying man boasting a neatly trimmed beard stood next to Rae, looking at her with familiar gray eyes. Rae’s voice was polite and emotionless as she made the introductions.

“Admiral.” Kellen nodded, extending her hand, which he accepted, taking it in his. “I’m honored you could join us for dinner.” Reluctantly she admitted he seemed an impressive individual, with an unfaltering gaze and as much charisma as his daughter. Admiral Jacelon wore an SC uniform with elaborate rank insignias adorning the black jacket and had a distance in his eyes when he looked at his daughter.

His expression struck Kellen as odd. She could not fault him for looking at her with suspicion, but why would he regard his daughter with such obvious trepidation? Her own father had showed his pride in her freely and without hesitation. When he took Tereya under his wing as well, he’d extended his affection to include the orphaned girl.

The admiral let go of her hand. “It's good to meet you. And call me Ewan.”

Kellen tried to guess the appropriate answer and decided to merely nod and reciprocate the unexpected familiarity. “Then call me by my first name too.” Rae looked startled at her father’s words, making Kellen wonder if she had done anything wrong. “Would you like something to drink, Ewan?”

“A beer, if you have one.”

“Of course. Rae, do you want anything?” Kellen scrutinized her new spouse, sensing an unfamiliar tension.

“No, thanks. I’m fine.”

“Kellen, have you seen my…Oh. Hello.” Armeo rushed into the living room, stopping so fast he almost toppled over when he saw Rae and the visitor. He quickly regained his equilibrium after a glance in Kellen's direction and approached their guest. “I’m Armeo M’Aido, sir. You must be Rae’s father.”

“I am. Nice to meet you, Armeo. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You have?” He glanced at the commodore. “From Rae?”

“Yes, we talked about you and your mother on the way here. I hear you’re settling in well at school. Made any friends yet?”

“Yes, sir. Dorinda de Vies and David Grotny are my best friends here.”

“Good. So, glad to be on
Gamma VI
?”

Kellen held her breath, not sure where the admiral was going with his questions. She was certain her own father would not have interrogated Armeo in this manner, no matter how subtle. Kellen was glad Armeo was straightforward and not easily intimidated.

“Very glad, sir. Rae and Kellen were married only a few days ago. They fell in love at first sight. That makes me happy, because the Onotharians can’t make me go back…and nobody can hurt Kellen.” Armeo’s eyes were shadowed as he momentarily faltered.

Kellen didn’t have to look at Rae to know she would have liked to put a hand over Armeo’s mouth. Still, this was their official story.

“Why don’t we sit down to dinner?” Jacelon said, to Kellen’s relief. “Armeo, go wash your hands.”

They sat down and sampled the casserole. After a first, tentative bite, Ewan gave Kellen a genuine smile. “This is great. How can I go back to mess-hall food after this?”

“I don’t intend to cook every day,” Kellen warned, knowing that she sounded haughty. “Perhaps a few times a week. I don’t mind preparing food, but I don’t want it to become a chore.”

“Smart girl,” the admiral remarked before sipping his dark red De-Te-Valhian beer. “Rae doesn’t seem able to boss you around like she tries to do with everyone else. Mind you, that could easily become a problem unless you put your foot down right from the start.”

Kellen snapped her head up at the implied criticism in Ewan Jacelon’s words. She saw Rae clutch her fork. “I’d think for someone responsible for thousands of lives on this station, and ultimately millions on the closest planets, being bossy would be a desirable trait,” she said, carefully enunciating every word without raising her voice.

“True, but she’s been like that since she was born.”

Kellen smiled faintly, making sure the admiral met her eyes before she continued. “Ah, I see. It must be genetic, then. She clearly resembles you.”

Rae quickly hid behind a napkin, wiping her mouth.

The admiral looked taken aback. “Me? Really.” He shot his daughter a look. “I suppose that could be true.”

Rae met Kellen’s glance with something resembling gratitude.

After refilling his plate twice, Armeo declared he was full. “Kellen, may I go to Dorinda’s quarters? David’s coming too.”

“For an hour or two, but I have to call security. In the meantime you can help me take the dishes into the kitchen.”

Armeo grimaced, but stacked their empty plates and carried them out of the dining area. Kellen contacted the security detail, then returned to the table. “Anything more to drink, Ewan?”

“No, thanks, I’m fine. I take it Armeo doesn’t go anywhere without security?”

“Rae arranged for it our first day here. Now, with several recuperating Onotharians on the station, I fear for his safety.”

The admiral leaned back and produced a cigar. “On my way here I reviewed the initial mission report. You did everything by the book, Rae, as usual.”

“Meaning what? Every captain’s log on every SC ship at the battle will validate that report.” Rae’s voice was short. She tossed her napkin on the table and rose from the chair. “Unless you’re going to let anyone accuse me of coercing my crew into lying…” Putting her hands on her hips, she looked daggers at her father.

“Wait a minute,” Ewan Jacelon barked, “I never said--”

“You didn’t have to,” Rae interrupted, setting her jaw and folding her arms. “You insinuated--”

“What’s wrong?” a small voice asked from the kitchen.

Looking over her shoulder, Kellen saw Armeo, his face white. She was about to answer when Rae walked over to him. To her surprise, her wife drew him close and draped her arm around his shoulders.

“Nothing’s wrong, Armeo. This is how my father and I exchange information.” Her tone was vaguely sarcastic. “We sometimes don’t see eye to eye on things, but you know what? We usually end up agreeing one way or another.” The door chime beeped twice. “Here’s your escort now. You can visit with your friends for two hours, all right?”

Armeo looked up at Rae, his face serious. “You weren’t arguing because of me, were you?”

“No. In fact, my father thinks you’re a splendid young man. Isn’t that so?” Rae stared at the admiral, her eyes uncompromising.

“Absolutely.” The admiral produced a new cigar. “Armeo, before you go, may I ask you a question?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you worried that Rae won’t be able to protect you and Kellen?”

Armeo began to shake, and Rae tightened her grip on him. “I…I…”