Protector of the Realm (31 page)

“Your Honor, it isn’t easy to trust
anyone
when people are prepared to kill on my account.”

Rae closed her eyes at the pain in the Armeo’s voice. She had been so busy the last few days trying to sort out the mess after the battle while awaiting backup, she had forgotten how quickly the grapevine worked on the station. Of course, the children at school heard their parents talk and then repeated it among their friends. He knew all about the battle and the casualties.

“You’re right,” Judge Beqq said. “Go and sit with your guardian. You did very well on the stand.”

Armeo rose, crossed the floor, and sat down next to Rae. She put her arm around his shoulders, and he rubbed his cheek against her shoulder. He wasn’t prone to show such need for comfort in public, and the motion strengthened his hold on her heart.

“The court calls Kellen O’Dal to the stand!”

Kellen rose and, after being sworn in, she took the stand, seemingly collected. As she listened to Kellen give her testimony and then repeat everything she had revealed at the debriefing yesterday, Rae hoped her statement would have the same impact on Judge Beqq as it had on her senior staff. Gazing over her shoulder, she saw her father seated behind her. He acknowledged her with a brief nod.

“It
is obvious you care for the boy, having raised him since he was five years old,” Beqq stated.

“With all due respect, Your Honor, this is not correct.” Kellen sat ramrod straight in the witness booth, her hands folded on her lap. “I helped his mother rear him from birth, and have been his sole provider since he was five. He has seen me as a parental figure all his life.”

Beqq leaned back in the leather chair. “I see. Have you thought about how you will handle this child’s extraordinary legacy once he comes of age?”

Kellen sent a worried look toward Armeo. “I have told Armeo of his past and his heritage. He of course began to question me about his birth parents when he was old enough, and I have always been truthful. However, I do believe in a child’s right to have as normal a childhood as possible…” Kellen turned her luminescent blue eyes on the judge.

“Therefore, I turned his education into a game, something we did for fun, to make sure he learned the essential things for an O’Saral. I’ve been careful not to pressure him into making a commitment regarding his future too soon. Armeo’s heritage comes with many duties and obligations--and also grave danger. As far as we know, he may have to live in exile for his entire life, unless the situation on Gantharat changes dramatically.”

“A wise decision.” The judge nodded. “There’s no question Armeo loves you. How would you describe his relationship with your spouse and her family?”

“Armeo is very intuitive. My hostile approach when we ran into Commodore Jacelon’s SC vessel did not influence how she treated him. He was impressed by her kindness and consideration, even if she initially assumed I was a space pirate.”

“And now?”

Kellen’s eyes softened marginally. “I know Armeo’s heart so well. He is starting to bond with the commodore and her father. After the admiral suggested Armeo refer to him as ‘granddad,’ my child has found the one thing lacking from his life--a valuable male role model. Armeo might be the last of the O’Sarals and the last of the M’Aidos, but having Commodore and Admiral Jacelon take such an interest in him will benefit him if he should buckle under such a heritage, especially when he’s older.”

“Since you bring up continuity, what are your own feelings for Commodore Jacelon? You married very quickly, after knowing each other for only three days. How do you predict your future together?”

Rae went cold, and the court officials and people present seemed to hold their breath.

“Not being familiar with your laws, I had no idea marrying a SC citizen could provide sanctuary for Armeo and me. Rae…Commodore Jacelon explained to me that I probably wouldn’t be able to apply successfully for asylum and custody of Armeo, given the circumstances. When she offered me marriage, since I found her an attractive and remarkable person, I accepted.” Kellen looked straight at the judge.

“Your Honor, I won’t lie. It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was certainly respect, attraction, and mutual need. Commodore Jacelon has showed me the possibility of a long and stimulating relationship, and I’m determined to make it work, not only for Armeo’s sake, but also for myself. While back at Gantharat, I thought I was destined to live in solitude with Armeo on the estate, and I accepted it…but now that I’m married and experiencing the benefits of a loving relationship, I don’t think I could ever go back to such a lonely existence.”

Rae’s eyes stung from unshed tears at her wife’s words. Constantly surprised by Kellen’s unexpected depths, she stored the words away in her memory, knowing she would bring them out later and reexamine them when she needed reassurance.

“Thank you, Ms. O’Dal. You’re excused.”

Kellen rose and moved gracefully across the floor toward Rae and Armeo. Sitting down next to Rae, she seemed tense but in full control of her emotions. “It was difficult.”

“I know. You did great.” Rae stealthily patted her wife’s knee. “Better than great.”

Kellen shook her head, looking doubtful. “Better?”

“You were honest and informative,” Rae murmured, glancing sideways with a half smile. “Very informative.”

Kellen redirected her attention toward the judge as the bailiff called out Rae’s name. It was time for the commodore to take the stand.

*

Listening to Commodore Jacelon, her wife of six Earth days, describe the events that had taken place since a small alien vessel attacked the
Ixis
nine days earlier was unnerving. Kellen pulled Armeo closer, ignoring his surprised glances. She wasn’t sure why her nerves played such tricks on her. She hadn’t expected Rae to say anything negative, and she tried to understand Rae’s motives for being so blunt about her initial resentment toward Kellen. Perhaps Rae’s honest statements would make her description of the reluctant attraction toward a perfect stranger more credible. The judge would know if her new wife exaggerated her feelings for Kellen to impress the court.

Having relayed the details of how Kellen had fired on Ambassador M’Ekar’s vessel, Rae now looked completely relaxed as she awaited the next question.

“How do you predict your future with Kellen O’Dal?”

“I see challenges down the road, both of a marital nature and because of Armeo’s heritage. However, I’m prepared to take on the responsibilities of bringing up a child and working on keeping my marriage healthy and long-lasting.”

“Do you love your spouse?”

Kellen noticed a tiny crease on her spouse’s brow. Realizing how Rae must detest having to account for her private matters to the court, she dreaded the answer.

“Ms. O’Dal intrigues and mesmerizes me. She’s a very beautiful woman who anybody would be proud to call their wife. Like you stated before, Your Honor, we’ve only been married for a very short time. The first time I profess my love should be in private, and my wife should be the only one present, don’t you agree?” Rae’s smile was obviously mean to disarm, but the expression in her slate gray eyes was uncompromising.

Judge Beqq did not comment on the challenge. “And the boy? How do you regard Armeo?”

“Armeo will steal anyone’s heart in an instant. He made friends right away when he started school on the station. Once Kellen and I were married, I knew I’d play a vital part in Armeo’s life. He seemed to look to me for support while he was worried about Ms. O’Dal’s injury and also when she was involved in the battle two days ago. I’m sure I have a lot to learn about children since I haven’t any personal experience, but I’m also certain Armeo and I will learn about each other--together. I will never let him down.”

“I see.” Judge Beqq punched in a few comments into her handheld computer. “I have here an affidavit from your father, Admiral Jacelon, stating he is prepared to become the boy’s overall guardian, to act as his protector in
this
realm.” The woman’s choice of words clearly hinted at Kellen’s ancient title. “Are you and your father in agreement on how this would work out?”

“Yes.” The single word was forceful. “My father has grown very fond of the boy and truly sees him as the grandchild I have never provided. I know my father will never abandon or fail Armeo in any way. Neither will my mother once she has the opportunity to meet him. My mother is Diplomat Dahlia Jacelon, operating in Sector1:3.”

Amereena Beqq smirked. “I’m well aware of who your mother is, Commodore. I’ve had the pleasure of running into her on several occasions.” Kellen thought she glimpsed a somewhat exasperated look on the judge’s face.

After a few more routine questions, Rae was excused. Judge Beqq sat quietly for a few moments, entering data into her personal computer. Kellen watched her nod toward the bailiff, then turn her attention to the only Onotharian present.

“The court calls upon Counselor M’Undee to deliver Ambassador M’Ekar’s statement and demands. Rise and remain by your desk.”

Heads turned toward the undersized, thin Onotharian civilian, now browsing through his computer while rising to his feet.

“Your Honor, Council members, Admiral Jacelon.” The man bowed, and still Kellen knew the gesture was merely for appearance. The Onotharians only respected their own kind. “I am Ambassador M’Ekar’s representative since he is currently under…house arrest aboard his vessel, the
Kester
. If it pleases the court, the ambassador has recorded his statement to be played on a view screen.”

Kellen turned quickly to meet Rae’s eyes. Her wife looked calm but dug her teeth into her lower lip before she muttered, “What the hell is he up to now?”

Judge Beqq drummed her fingertips on the desk before she nodded her consent. “Very well.” Wooden panels slid open at the far wall, revealing a large view screen. “You may proceed. Give the recording to the bailiff.”

Looking slightly intimidated by the Savorian man towering over him, M’Undee handed over the computer chip. “Thank you.”

The bailiff pushed the chip into a console next to the bench. On the screen, an image of an Onotharian man in his late sixties appeared. He wore a deep blue robe with a silver pattern in the sleeves and the lapels. His long, dark gray hair, intricately braided, was tied with silver threads. The man oozed wealth and authority.

Her immediate feeling of rage shot bile to burn Kellen’s throat. She wanted to throttle the man on the screen, the criminal responsible for so much death, in the past as well as in the last few days.

“Your Honor, I, Ambassador Hox M’Ekar of the Gantharat-Onotharat System, am using this media to testify as to why Armeo M’Aido should be returned to his family on Gantharat.”

Kellen’s nails dug into her sweaty palms. The ambassador looked unaffected by the last day’s events, and Kellen knew he was still hoping he would gain custody of Armeo.

“My late wife was one of the last M’Aidos, and sadly our only son died at the tender age of three. She was never able to overcome his death completely, but took great solace in following her nephew Zax’s accomplishments and adventures. When he decided to marry a woman we thought was a mere Gantharian commoner, his father made the unfortunate mistake of disowning him. Later, when Zax was killed, his death destroyed his father and, ultimately, my wife.” M’Ekar displayed a sorrowful expression.

“After a long period of mourning, I came across information that led me to my only remaining blood relative--Zax’s young son, Armeo. To my horror, the woman keeping him away from his next of kin was leading an unlawful existence, participating in hostile activities directed toward the Onotharian Empire.” The ambassador paused, pinching the bridge of his nose as if in pain. “We decided to rescue the boy, take him from her by any means necessary. Kellen O’Dal did indeed live up to her reputation of being dangerous, to Armeo and anyone who approached her. She set fire to her home, grabbed the poor boy, and ran, killing two of my agents in the process, along with her employees--three innocent farmhands.”

Kellen gave an almost inaudible whimper, covering her mouth with a trembling hand.

“He’s lying!” Armeo hissed next to Rae, his eyes dark blue pools of anger. “That’s not how it happened! The men burned down our house…
they
killed our workers!”

“We tracked O’Dal through intergalactic space and came close to apprehending her several times. She acted with a recklessness and hostility that defies description. Taking out pirates and vessels approaching her with peaceful intent in the same bloodthirsty manner, she stayed one step ahead of us. We did not dare corner her, for the sake of the boy.”

“I never…” Kellen heard her voice break and suddenly felt Rae’s hands on her shoulders, pressing her down into the seat.

“Calm down, Kellen. You knew he’d play it like this. Think of Armeo. Calm down.”

M’Ekar’s voice kept going. “When we learned of her latest deception, marrying a prominent SC woman, someone you’d think not easily fooled, we became desperate. Armeo is important for Onotharat, that’s true, but most of all, he deserves to be with his own kind. Kellen O’Dal is dangerous. She’s a Ruby Red Suit fighter. She can kill a man with her bare hands and never think twice about it. Your Honor, I implore you. Do not leave an innocent child in the hands of this cold-blooded warrior. He deserves better than that. He deserves to come home to his own. Thank you.” With a low, static-filled sound, the recording went black.