Protector of the Realm (32 page)

Kellen held on to her seat with one hand and Rae’s hand with the other. On the other side of his new parent, Armeo sat motionless and stone-faced. Knowing she would have to wait to embrace him until the hearing was over, due to the strict rules of the conduct in the courtroom, she focused on breathing evenly, exercising her training to remain calm.

Judge Beqq waited until the bailiff removed the computer chip from the console before she spoke. “I will keep this statement in my possession until I’ve reached a decision. I must consider several things and will let you know my verdict tomorrow morning at 0900 hours. This court is adjourned.”

Everybody rose as the tall woman left the courtroom. Kellen turned to Armeo, wanting to wrap him in her arms and tell him everything would be all right. To her surprise, the boy looked behind them, extending his hand toward Admiral Jacelon.

“Granddad, can he do that? Can he demand I come and live with him since he was married to my father’s aunt?”

Taking the boy’s hand, Ewan shook his head. “The ambassador is in a bit of a bind, my boy. The Supreme Constellations is holding him prisoner after he’s committed an act of war against us, which doesn’t make the judge see him in a favorable light. Several people have testified, in writing and in person, to Kellen’s advantage. You have me and you have Rae. You’ll be fine.”

Kellen found herself absorbing the reassuring words, needing them as much as Armeo did. Yes, she was the boy’s Protector, and it was her sacred duty to keep him safe, but never before had she felt more like his mother, in the truest sense of the word. Knowing she would embarrass Armeo if she hugged him now, she steeled herself and forced back the treacherous tears burning behind her eyelids.

“I need to go back to work,” Rae said. “Why don’t we go somewhere for lunch first? You can rejoin your friends in school afterward, Armeo.”

The boy lit up. “I can? Can we eat at Hasta’s?”

“You liked her food, eh?” Rae ruffled Armeo’s unruly hair. “Of course we can.”

The admiral and the boy began to walk toward the exit, but Kellen found herself unable to move. Fury mixed with fear made her limbs freeze, and she watched everyone vacate the room, leaving her and Rae behind.

“You really look like you need something to eat and drink. You didn’t touch your breakfast.” Rae’s voice reached through her inner turmoil. She gently took her arm. “You did great on the stand, and so did Armeo.”

“It may not be enough.”

Rae squeezed her arm and moved closer. “You may not be informed about SC law, but I am. And what I don’t know, our legal representative does.” She lowered her voice. “You have to trust this will work. Judge Beqq will
not
send Armeo away with M’Ekar. The thought is ridiculous.”

Inhaling deeply, Kellen tried to force the panic away. It kept her from thinking straight, and she knew it was vital that she did. “All right,” she said huskily. “I’ll try to stay calm and wait for the verdict.” She could sense Rae was not quite pleased with her response, but it was all she had to offer. “And I
do
need to eat something.”

Her eyes softening, Rae nodded. “Then we better catch up with Armeo and my father.”

Walking out of the courtroom, Kellen wondered if Rae understood how unnerving it had been to look at the hateful man responsible for their situation. She didn’t dare ask herself what she would have done had he been present in person.

“Admiral Jacelon, Commodore Jacelon, we have received disturbing information.” Councilman Thorosac folded his hands in front of him. The view screen also showed four other Council members--two men and two women of different descent.

Rae felt a foreboding chill run down her spine, but merely acknowledged the man with a nod. “Go on, Councilman.” To her left, her father, the only other person present at the emergency meeting, lit a cigar. The ventilation system began to hum faintly.

“We understand from the four Council members who witnessed the hearings that the court ship
Dalathea
docked at
Gamma VI
this morning and the custody hearings regarding the child commenced immediately.”

“That’s correct. Judge Beqq will deliver her verdict tomorrow morning at 0900 hours.”

“I see.” Thorosac paused, glancing at the woman next to him. “SC intelligence has reported a new development taking place in the Gantharat system. We’re now facing a very dangerous situation.”

The admiral leaned forward. “Marco,” he said, “we go back a long way. Don’t beat around the bush. Tell us what’s going on.”

Thorosac’s face was solemn, his gaze firm. “The Onotharians have vast resources and use them relentlessly, if required. Our agents have evidence that they’ve fired up their propaganda system with a media campaign. They’re claiming Ambassador M’Ekar was only responding to the Supreme Constellations act of war against the Onotharian Empire, including the Gantharat System.”

“What?” Rae’s head snapped up.

“Yes, Commodore. The Onotharian government claims the SC is holding Armeo M’Aido, the unknown last member of the Gantharian royal family, hostage.”

Rae stood in her quarters by her father’s side and watched Kellen and Armeo as they sat together at his new computer. The blond head leaned against the dark one as Kellen pointed at something on the screen. “He has homework.” Rae spoke quietly as she witnessed the unexpectedly endearing scene. “He has a very analytical mind, but Gantharian grammar drives him crazy. However, his intergalactic language is better than mine when it comes to pronunciation.”

“The O’Sarals are known for having several geniuses in their dynasty. The M’Aidos as well.” Her father felt around in his breast pocket and looked relieved when he found his cigars.

“Not in my quarters, Father.”

“Sorry, I forgot.”

Rae turned her attention back toward the open door to Armeo’s room. Apparently the boy had said something to amuse Kellen, who tossed her head back and laughed out loud. The sound ran through Rae’s veins, enticing her. Her nipples hardened and the muscles in her thighs tensed. Dressed in a loose, light blue dress, her wife looked more casual and at home than ever before. Rae yearned to wrap her arms around both of them from behind, simply to claim them as hers all over again.

Taken aback by her possessive thoughts and the protectiveness surging through her, she turned abruptly to her father. “Are you sure I can’t persuade you to stay for dinner?”

Raising his hand, Ewan waved the unlit cigar in front of him. “Not tonight, Rae. I have documents to go over and also two subspace meetings. Why not save it until tomorrow? I’m certain we’ll have things to celebrate.”

Rae wanted to believe him. “I hope so.”

“Tell Kellen and Armeo good night for me, will you? I don’t want to interrupt them.” Ewan stunned his daughter by kissing her cheek before he left. “Have faith.”

The door to her quarters hissed closed as her father left, and Rae walked over to Armeo’s doorway and leaned against the frame, listening to them talk. Not really paying attention to the words, she let Kellen’s sultry voice and the boy’s brighter way of speaking wash over her. Sometimes the two would resort to sentences in their Gantharian native tongue, filling in where intergalactic language didn’t suffice.

Kellen’s hair glistened, the long waves reflecting the light from the computer screen. Falling well below her shoulder blades, it made Rae’s fingers itch to comb through it.

Armeo suddenly slammed both palms hard onto the desk before twirling full circle on his chair. “Yes, that’s it! I got it!” His eyes sparkled. “Rae, I didn’t hear you come in.” Rising, he threw himself into her arms. “I finally managed to break down the longest sentence ever written. Mr. Terence will be so relieved. He spent forever trying to explain this to me.”

Rae hugged the boy and ruffled his hair. “Good job.” Clearing her throat she looked at Kellen. “I didn’t want to disturb you when you were concentrating.” She let go of Armeo, who sat back down.

“Okay if I play a game until dinner?” he asked, sounding hopeful.

“Of course. Half an hour.” Kellen rose in one fluid movement and took Rae by the hand. She led her into the living room, where she nudged her against the wall next to Armeo’s door. “So you were watching us?” She leaned in for a kiss.

“Yes,” Rae breathed in a whisper. “I stood listening…wondering…”

Kellen framed Rae’s cheeks with both hands. “Wondering?”

“Wondering what I possibly could have done to deserve this…you…” Rae murmured against Kellen’s lips. “Looking at the two of you, I thought…never…”

“What do you mean?”

Tears rose in Rae’s eyes despite every effort to not let her emotions take over. “I can never let anything, or anyone, take you away from me.” Swallowing her tears, she allowed Kellen to hug her. “I won’t.”

Kellen nuzzled Rae’s hair and stroked her back gently. “I don’t want to leave you either. Armeo and I…we want to stay.” Catching her lover’s eyes, Kellen blushed faintly. “For the first time since Tereya died…I feel I belong somewhere. Not just for what’s best for Armeo. For me.”

Afraid she would begin to cry, or whimper out loud, Rae pressed Kellen toward her, claiming her delicious mouth, deepening the kiss to muffle herself and to convey every single emotion surging through her. Kellen returned the kiss, opening her mouth to Rae’s eager tongue, mimicking its caress.

A distinct ping from the kitchen sounded a few times before Rae’s brain registered it. “Is that dinner?” she murmured.

“Yes. Well, almost. We need to add the last of the vegetables, and then it will be ready in twenty minutes.”

“Home cooked. Mmm…” Rae purred.

“Want to help?” Kellen dragged her toward the annoying timer.

“Not particularly,” Rae confessed. “But I want to watch.”

As she followed Kellen’s every movement while she prepared the last of their meal, Rae couldn’t keep her thoughts from straying to the court hearing. Would this be the last time they sat down to eat as a family?

*

Judge Amereena Beqq punched a few commands into the computer console before her. “I have now thought long and hard about what is best for the young man, Armeo M’Aido of the Gantharat System.”

Rae felt a small, cold hand take hold of hers. Squeezing it gently, she tried to convey confidence to Armeo. The boy leaned into her, holding on to Kellen with his other hand.

“From a legal point of view, this case sets a precedent. SC law is clear. While dealing with a foreign nation in matters like these, the homeworld law applies. As we all know, Onotharat is the occupying force in the Gantharat system. However, the Supreme Constellations have never acknowledged the occupation and regard it as unlawful. This suggests that Gantharian laws apply. Granted, Armeo is half Onotharian, but he has resided on Gantharat his entire life, as a Gantharian citizen. His mother was a member of the Gantharian Royal family, Crown Princess Tereya.”

Glancing at Kellen, Rae saw her hold her breath and begin to tremble.

“Gantharian law presents its own set of problems,” said the judge. “New, modern laws are mixed with ancient dictates, some very sketchy and open to a wide interpretation.” Her terse tone of voice made it clear what Amereena Beqq thought of such an arbitrary legal system. “Kellen O’Dal has inherited an ancient title from her father--Protector of the Realm--which is mentioned in Gantharian law, but only in a historical sense. For the last century, the bearers of this title have not had to execute their obligation, until the occupation. Now it is time to decide if this title is official or a mythical thing of the past.” She rose from the tall chair.

“All rise!” The bailiff’s voice carried through the courtroom, sending them all to their feet.

“Armeo M’Aido, approach the bench.” The judge’s voice was kind.

Armeo let go of Rae’s hand and walked beside her. The bailiff placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder, guiding him to the center of the floor, where he faced the bench.

“I will now pass my ruling.” Judge Beqq glanced at the small crowd. “In this custody hearing, between the parties present, I have ruled in favor of Kellen O’Dal and Commodore Jacelon. Armeo M’Aido will remain in your care, and any claims by Ambassador M’Ekar are denied.” She gave a warm smile. “Armeo, do you understand this? You are to stay with your guardian and the commodore.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Armeo said huskily, blue tears forming in his eyes. “Thank you.”

“I have stipulated a few conditions in this document.” Judge Beqq raised a handheld computer. “One, Admiral Jacelon will act as overall guardian, to protect Armeo until he is legally of age. This is also a safeguard, should anything happen to Ms. O’Dal or Commodore Jacelon.”

Rae felt tears begin to run down her own cheeks, and she fought to remain in control. She failed completely when Armeo turned around and ran back to them, throwing himself into Kellen’s arms and reaching for Rae a moment later.

Allowing both her wife and her son to enfold her, Rae realized how tense she had been. She relaxed into their arms and was vaguely aware of her father’s congratulations and the Onotharian counselor’s objections.

“I intend to appeal this outrageous ruling, Your Honor!”

“It will serve no purpose.” The judge dismissed the protesting man. “SC court ship rulings are final. Such are our laws.”