The Star Kings

Gordon pressed his attack, his voice ringing now. 'Them Eldred, you can't bluff it out! You know one of them will talk! And when he does, it's execution for you.

'There's only one way you can save yourself. That's to turn evidence against the other officials and officers in this plot with you, the others who have been working for Shorr Kan. Give us their names, and you'll be allowed to go scot-free out of the Empire!'

Jhal Arn sternly interrupted. 'I'll sanction no such terms! If this man is a traitor, he'll suffer the penalty.'

Gordon turned passionately to him. 'Jhal, listen! He deserves death for his treachery. But which is most important-that he be punished, or that the Empire be saved from disaster?'

The argument swayed Jhal Arn. He frowned silently for a moment, and then spoke slowly.

'Very well, I'll agree to let him go free if he does make any such confession and names his confederates.'

Gordon swung back to the Sirian. 'Your last chance, Them Eldred! You can save yourself now, or never!'

He saw the indecision in Them Eldred's eyes. He was staking everything on the fact that this Sirian was a ruthless realist, ambitious, selfish, with no real loyalty to anyone but himself.

And Gordon's gamble won. Confronted by the imminence of discovery, presented with a loophole by which he might save his own skin, Them Eldred's defiant denials broke down.

He spoke huskily. 'I have the Emperor's word that I am to go scot-free, remember?'

'Then you were in a plot?' raged Jhal Arn. 'But I'll keep my word. You'll go free if you name your confederates, as soon as we have seized them and verified what you tell.'

Them Eldred was ghastly pale but tried to smile. 'I know when I'm in a trap, and I'm cursed if I'll get myself killed just for loyalty to Shorr Kan. He wouldn't do it for me!'

He went on, to Jhal Arn. 'Prince Zarth has told the truth. Chan Corbulo was leader of the little clique of officials who planned to betray the Empire to the Cloud. Corbulo killed Arn Abbas, and had me carry off Zarth and Lianna so they'd be blamed. Everything the prince has said is true.'

Gordon felt his eyes blur, his shoulders sag, as those words brought shaky relief from his intolerable strain of many days.

He felt Lianna's warm arms around him, heard her eager voice as big Hall Barrel and Val Mariana excitedly slapped his back.

'Zarth, I knew you'd clear yourself!'

Jhal Arn, face pale as death, came toward Gordon. His voice was hoarse when he spoke, 'Zarth, can you ever pardon me? My God, how was I to know? I'll never forgive myself!'

'Jhal, it's all right,' Gordon stumbled. 'What else were you to think when it was so cunningly planned?'

'The whole Empire shall soon know the truth,' Jhal Arn exclaimed. He swung to Them Eldred. 'First, the names of the other traitors.'

Them Eldred went to the desk and wrote for minutes. He silently handed the sheet to Jhal Arn, who then summoned guards forward.

'You'll be confined until this information is verified,' he told the Sirian sternly. 'Then I'll keep my promise. You shall go free-but the tale of your treachery will follow you to the remotest stars!'

Jhal Arn turned his eyes to the list of names, when the guards had taken the Sirian out. He cried out, stunned, 'Good God, look!'

Gordon saw. The first name on the list was 'Orth Bodmer, Chief Councilor of the Empire.'

'Bodmer a traitor? It's impossible!' Jhal Arn cried. 'Them Eldred has merely accused him because of some grudge.'

Gordon frowned. 'Perhaps. But Corbulo was as trusted as Orth Bodmer, remember!'

Jhal Arn's lips tightened. He spoke sharply into a panel on the desk. 'Tell Councilor Bodmer to come in at once.'

The answer was quick. 'Councilor Bodmer left the anteroom some time ago. We do not know where he went.'

'Find him and bring him here at once!' ordered Jhal Arn.

'He fled when he saw Them Eldred brought in here to be questioned!' cried Gordon. 'Jhal, he knew the Sirian would expose him!'

Jhal Arn sank into a chair. 'Bodmer a traitor! Yet it must be so. And look at these other names. Byrn Ridim, Korrel Kane, Jon Rollory-all trusted officials.'

The guard-captain reported. 'Highness, we can't find Orth Bodmer anywhere in the palace! He wasn't seen to leave, but isn't to be found!'

'Send out a general order for his arrest,' snapped Jhal Arn. He handed the list of names to the guard-captain. 'And arrest all these men instantly. But do so without arousing attention.'

He looked haggardly at Gordon and Lianna. 'All this treachery has already shaken the Empire! And the southern star-kingdoms are wavering! Their envoys have requested urgent audience with me tonight, and I fear they mean to throw off their alliance with the Empire!'

23: The Secret of the Empire

Gordon suddenly noticed that Lianna's slim figure was sagging with weariness. He uttered an exclamation of self-reproach.

'Lianna, you must be half-dead after all you've been through!'

Lianna tried to smile. 'I'll admit that I won't be sorry to rest.'

'Captain Burrel will see you to your apartments, Lianna,' said Jhal Arn. 'I want Zarth to be here with me when the star-kingdom envoys come, to impress on them that our royal house is again united.'

He added to Hull Burrel and Val Marlann, 'You two and all your men are completely cleared of the mutiny charge, of course. I'm your debtor for life for helping to expose Corbulo and save my brother.'

When they had escorted Lianna out, Gordon sank tiredly into a chair. He was still feeling reaction after the long strain.

'Zarth, I'd rather let you rest too but you know how vital it is to hold the star-kingdoms when this crisis is deepening,' Jhal said. 'Curse that black devil, Shorr Kan!'

A servant brought saqua and the fiery liquor cleared Gordon's numbed mind and brought strength back into his weary body.

Presently a chamberlain opened the door of the room, bowing low.

'The ambassadors of the Kingdoms of Polaris, of Cygnus, of Perseus and of Cassiopeia, and of the Baronies of Hercules Cluster!'

The envoys, in full dress uniforms, stopped in amazement when they saw Gordon standing beside Jhal Arn.

'Prince Zarth!' exclaimed the chubby Hercules envoy. 'But we thought-'

'My brother has been completely cleared and the real traitors have been apprehended,' Jhal informed them. 'It will be publicly announced within the hour.'

His eyes ran over their faces. 'Gentlemen, for what purpose have you requested this audience?'

The chubby Hercules ambassador looked at the grave, aged envoy from Polaris Kingdom. 'Tu Shal, you are our spokesman.'

Tu Shal's lined old face was deeply troubled as he stepped forward and spoke.

'Highness, Shorr Kan has secretly just offered all our kingdoms treaty of friendship with the League of Dark Worlds! He declares that if we cling to our alliance with the Empire, we are doomed.'

The Hercules ambassador added, 'He has made the same offer to us Barons, warning us not to join the Empire.'

Jhal Arn looked swiftly at Gordon. 'So Shorr Kan is now sending ultimatums? That means he is almost ready to strike.'

'We none of us have any love for Shorr Kan's tyranny,' Tu Shal was saying. 'We prefer to hold to the Empire that stands for peace and union. But it is said that the Cloud has prepared such tremendous armaments and has