Striker (32 page)

"Father." It was not too late for him to change. "The promises you and Meme extracted from me last night ... this one ... you cannot mean to go through with it. There is no way the people will accept me as Warlord to Azaes."

His father chuckled, and his heavy hand fell on Zeus’s shoulder. "And defy the wishes of my beloved and firstborn? I have done enough today to raise her ire. If I release you, Azaes will find another way to get what he wants while your meme strips the scales from my hyde."

"I did not pass the academy exams. All who are chosen as Warlords graduate from there. It is law."

He laid a staying hand on his father's arm and they halted. Zeus hated that they were having the conversation in the hallway. They stood in the middle of the corridor and even though few were about the Monticore drew a tight protective circle around his family. The discovery of the traitor on Valespia made only a few select rooms in the palace safe for open conversation until every space was inspected for listening apparatus. Already palace security had found an overwhelming number of planted devices.

Zeus lowered his voice. "Because of my presence, an unknown number of houses seek to unseat you from the throne. I cannot, in good conscious, accept a position if it will place you and Azaes in danger. Father, please, do not make this announcement."

His father huffed and grasped Zeus’s shoulders firmly. "You have given up much to keep from causing problems. You did not come to me when you knew you had passed the tests to enter the academy and yet were given failing grades. Others came to us with their suspicions of the corruption in the academy. You did not fight for your place, therefore I did not press. I thought you did not want to follow in your brother's footsteps. You went to university where you excelled and thrived. I believed that was what you wanted.

"After you left, the rumors regarding you and Rathmar began, and I did not want to believe ... Son, again, you did not come to me. You have attempted to keep peace, and I understand your motivation, but you have gone about it the wrong way, to not trust us, to not speak to us. Much has happened since you left."

Zeus cringed inwardly at the censure in his father's voice, knowing full well he was indeed correct, but he could not undo what had already been done. "You cannot exile every house for disliking me. Their perceptions are not going to change."

"They were exiled for breaking the law. Regardless of who the recipient of the beating was, the punishment is still the same. You slipped offworld without a word to us because Rathmar's father tortured you." Zeus sent an accusing glare to Azaes. "Do not blame your brother. I knew your secret before they left to retrieve you from the space station." His gaze snapped back to his father's angry glare. "Despite what you think, I am aware of what goes on in the court houses. Some things I found out too late to do anything about, others I have been able to head off."

Zeus drew in a ragged breath. "Are you angry I did not report House Cordyl to you?"

"I am disappointed you did not feel you could confide in me, angry you allowed him to get away with the abuse, but I understand you were protecting yourself as much as you were protecting me."

Time tempered the humiliation Zeus once felt, not at Rathmar's passiveness or from Rathmar's father's hateful words, but with himself. For lacking the confidence, he could find a partner who could see past his appearance and love him for who he was. He had once believed Rathmar's inconsistent love was all he could expect. His father's expression told him he already knew what Zeus had thought.

"Your silence made digging up Timsah's corruption harder, but not impossible. Lately, his overconfidence has caused him to become sloppy. His trespass has moved to treason in his bid to control the throne. Soon, your worries about becoming a warlord will become unfounded. When we return home, you will test out of the academy and receive their endorsement."

Zeus did not understand. "What do you mean? What else has Timsah done?"

His father ignored his question as they entered the meeting chamber, surrounded by wary Monticore. He had not meant to cause problems for his father or his family. Now it seemed that even though he had been gone for several years, those issues had not disappeared in his absence. Instead, they had multiplied. What he had thought to be the right course of action had created a monster.

He walked with his brothers to their seats, as the chamber steadily filled for Amlyn's tribunal. The room appeared much like an amphitheater. Tiered seats formed a half-circle around a raised dais that held a line of desks, where the Council of Neighn would sit. Behind them, on another raised platform, were six large, high-backed seats, three larger than the others.

Six people wearing military uniforms took up half the seats behind the desks. The Galactic Emperors sat at the three seats on the highest platform, followed by both crown princes claiming two of the three chairs immediately below the emperors. The small, vacant throne between the crown princes remained empty, a silent reminder of the lost Bespoken.

Only about half of the amphitheater seats were filled. Within minutes, the doors would close and the hearing commenced. Rhee, along with his pod of Orions, took a group of seats, while three of them joined Dargon and the crew of the Oethra 7, where they waited, grouped together. Through their connection, Zeus reassured Dargon and Alpha, promising he would explain the upset later. Before the door closed, two dozen Fal'Amorics filed into the room. Athena waved a greeting to him and Dargon before claiming a seat among her people.

Amlyn followed a guard to stand upon the square block in the center of the floor. As always, her Catalani bearing gave off a defiant and arrogant air. Zeus wished she would appear more contrite and not make his job harder than it would be already.

The trial moved quickly, because Amlyn did not deny her attempt on Zeus’s life. Testimony was taken from all of the witnesses and then Zeus answered the call to the stand.

The commander sat back in his chair. "Prince Zeus, I am not sure I understand what you are asking. Officer Amlyn Seneca attempted to kill you after being given a direct order to stand down. You are asking for leniency for her? Explain to me why we should even consider your request."

"Commander Lask, I do not deny her actions. She did defy the order of her captain in the defense of the Fal'Amoric. Captain Kal-Turak acted out of character and she thought me to be a human spy. She chose to take steps to do her duty to those she protected. To her credit, she freely assisted me in liberating The Gorgon from an attempted takeover. Since then, she has protected my family on several occasions, at her own initiative. Officer Seneca broke regulations, and I understand there will be a penalty for that action. For the other, House Vondorian of Atlainticia is withdrawing the charge of attempted assassination."

The commander glanced down at the thick parchment Zeus had handed over to the board member before the tribunal began. "I see Emperor Valdor has given his signature of approval to your request. Are you positive this is what you want?"

"Yes, sir." Zeus watched as Commander Lask handed the letter to the Galactic Emperors.

He had never met them in person, and Zeus’s gaze kept returning to the emperors. They observed quietly, but not once did they interrupt the proceedings. The three were dressed in black and gold.

The line of the Vorns, with their dark skin and white hair, represented the moons, and his crown depicted the many stages of the moon's cycle.

The family of the Luuks, with dark hair and ruddy-colored skin, represented the sun. His crown spoke of the cycle of a star from birth to death. But the royal who drew Zeus’s gaze the most was the Fal'Amoric Emperor Cyprian. He embodied all of the space in between, the one who bound the galaxies together in the pact, the blender of the species, representative of them all.

Emperor Cyprian easily stood a head taller than Zeus. A red band of paint covered his temple from right to left, wide enough to cross over his eyes, causing the silver orbs to stand out. His crown was of gold and red, finely shaped to resemble either waves or flames. Zeus could not decide which. Black-and-white spotted feathers appeared between the tall spikes of the crown.

Zeus did not realize he had been caught staring until it was too late. Cyprian caught his eye. For some reason, he felt suddenly exposed and he did not like the sensation, but he did not break the stare. Cyprian directed his gaze to the side and Zeus followed to where the crown princes sat. They too stared at him, and a bite of fear snaked through his gut.

"Prince Zeus, it has been decided your request is fair and just." Commander Lask turned to Amlyn. "For disobeying a direct order from your superior officer, you are hereby released from duty, never to hold a position with the Galactic Patrol again." Amlyn's shoulders slumped, but her gaze held steady. "Instead of incarceration, we agree with House Vondorian, your skills are better suited elsewhere. You will serve out your term of five standard years in the service of Prince Zeus Vondorian. If you fail in your duty to him, the incarceration term will be reinstated for the remaining length of time. Do you accept this alternative sentence, Officer Seneca?"

Amlyn gave a stunned nod before standing straighter. When she met Zeus’s gaze, her voice was firm. "I accept."

The proceedings concluded soon after. Amlyn's monitoring bracelet was removed, and she was directed to a table holding several documents she needed to review before signing.

Zeus joined Dargon, Alpha, and the twins. A quick glance told him that the crown princes continued to watch him. Dargon and Azaes spoke quietly together, but Zeus did not pay attention to their conversation.

The amphitheater emptied, with the exception of the Fal'Amoric who kept their seats. Why did they remain? The next order of business had to do with Atlainticia. Sun Eater entered the room, followed by Madux, which reminded Zeus that he needed to speak to Madux before they left on their errand for the Galactic Emperors. The room began to fill quickly. Most of the attendees were off-duty Monticore and Basilisc, as well as a few of the Atlaintician civilians who attended his father or came aboard the Medusa with his meme. People continued to file in until no seats were available, and then they stood along the back wall and aisles.

The council members entered the chamber. His parents stayed on the opposite side of the room near the councilman for Atlainticia. The members of House Cordyl entered last. Zeus did not see Rathmar, but his father, Timsah, was plainly visible as he towered over the other house members. He had a flat, U-shaped snout, the teeth on his lower jaw falling along the outer edge of the upper jaw when his mouth closed. The bulbous, amber eyes sat on top of his head amidst green-brown scales. From his chin to his upper chest and along the underside of his arms to his clawed fingers, the scales were a dingy white. Was it age or ill-health?

"Zeus, tell me what is wrong."

The sound of Alpha's voice made him realize that he trembled. A cold chill gripped his spine. He had known he would have to face Timsah someday, and he had thought he was ready for any type of confrontation. He watched the male move among his house members and the easy way he laughed with others, patting shoulders and backs in friendly camaraderie. Zeus floated on a host of mixed emotions, from fear to blinding rage, too stunned to grab a hold of one to focus on.

His breathing surprisingly fast, he turned his back to the scene. Were the fates testing his sanity today? First the Chtichlian's and now Timsah.

"Zeus, talk to us."

He did not know what prompted his personal guard to close ranks around him. Whatever the reason, he was profoundly grateful for the physical barrier.

"Rathmar's father, Timsah, is here."
Still pictures of the night he was held against his will by Timsah flashed through his mind, like photographs in one of the ancient books housed in his father's library. The sneers. The deadly eyes assessing him. The unspoken promise of death. The scent of seared flesh. The sound of rancorous laughter. The shame he felt for sharing features with the humans. The colors were bright and vivid. The sounds, the words clear.

He concentrated on breathing in through his nose and out of his mouth. Dargon's arms slid around him. Zeus buried his nose into the offered neck, his scent chasing away the horrible ones his memory had dredged up. Alpha slid over to Zeus, encircling his neck, the movement much like a caress as Alpha comforted him.

Slowly, with the help of his mates, Zeus pushed back the memories, locking them away for now. When he withdrew from Dargon's arms to stand on his own, he met Dargon's green gaze, then that of Azaes and Mestor who had been stroking his back.

"You are not alone." Azaes whispered.

Alpha hugged his neck, reminding Zeus he was still there. Armored with the support of those he loved, he turned toward the dais where the Council of Neighn sat. The galactic emperors and the crown princes were still on their thrones.

The Dar Massaga prime chancellor, Bram Kal-Atu, raised his hand. "Peace to these proceedings."

The prime chancellor dressed as Dargon usually did, with a heavy hyde skirt and a tunic displaying his Alpha. Instead of a line of copper hair, Bram's was brilliant orange and divided into a half-dozen small braids. The teardrop-shaped ears were lined with colorful hoops adorned with small stones, his skin darker in coloring than Dargon's gold.

Zeus touched Alpha where he sat on his neck, above the open collar of his shirt. It was uncanny how both Alphas looked exactly the same.

"We come from the same source, alike or not."

The room quieted, allowing the prime chancellor to proceed. "Today's primary business is the consideration of the request by House Cordyl, House Tutatara, and House Tigiere to the remove House Vondorian from the Atlaintician throne. Normally, the Council of Neighn would not hear such cases until it has been proven that a resolution had been attempted on the homeworld of the parties involved. But with the recent events and the allegations brought before us, we thought it best to hear testimony at this time."