“Among Chandrajuski’s followers, we’re not focused on rank, only results.”
Buskin nodded his head. “You’re the best tactician in the fleet. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather see training these men from Earth.”
M’Coda stopped his preening. “I’m not sure who’s training whom,” he said, clicking his mandibles. “These warriors from Earth might be new to space, but they’re creative.”
Buskin shrugged. “We’ve never dealt with tactics on this scale. We’re writing a whole new book, and I’ll take any input I can get. I’ve been working with another of your people, a Lieutenant Commander M’Sada. He’s been quite helpful.”
M’Coda’s upper hands moved to his antennae for a refreshing preening. “Commanders advising senior Admirals. What’s it come to?”
Trexler stood. “To the Queen?” he asked.
Buskin motioned him back to his seat. “She just received word that her First Knight is back. She’s clearing her schedule.”
Trexler smiled. “That’s good news. Have you heard his story?”
“Not first hand. Sir Otis gave Lady Krys some of the details. Quite remarkable.”
“To say the least. So you’ve been to see Otis?”
“He sent us here. Lady Krys has been searching for the Queen for two years. Parsons’ World is a well kept secret. Until the Queen is available, I’d like to discuss tactics with you if you have the time. The tactics we’ve been developing for the Great Cats are quite different than what you were using just now, and I’d appreciate any suggestions you might have to improving them.”
He stared hard at Trexler. “Who knows, you might be commanding my men before too long, and it will be against ten times the number of ships you were just facing.”
Mike and Otis went all the way to Shipyard only to discover that Ellie had left. When they arrived on Parsons’ World and exited the freighter, she was about to throw her arms around him when she suddenly stopped and peered hard at him.
“You’ve changed,” she said, taking a step back.
“What did you expect?” he asked with a grin from ear to ear. “Between Josh’s physical training and Otis’ ideas on outdoor living, I’m tanned and in the best shape I’ve ever been in.”
“Who’s Josh?” she asked.
“You’ll meet him later. Come here,” he said, holding out his arms.
She smothered him in kisses before taking his arm in her own and leading them to her apartment, classes, admirals, and wars forgotten for one day.
There was considerable confusion as her Protectors and their Terran counterparts settled into their new quarters, and she found herself practically stumbling over bodies of one sort or another. She called Otis, Mike, and Josh into a meeting. Ralph, never far from her side, was there, as well.
“This isn’t working,” she stated, brooking no argument. “I have three cats with me at all times plus, now, three of Josh’s men. We’re falling all over ourselves. Otis, something needs to give.”
Otis sat with his tail about his feet, a position Mike had learned was his ‘listening to Ellie’ pose, sort of at attention but sort of insolent as well, something every cat he had ever known excelled at. Otis had never brooked argument from Ellie when it came to her safety, nor would he now even if he wasn’t her personal Protector.
“What do you suggest, Your Majesty?”
“One Terran only,” she demanded. “Everyone else can follow or precede at a distance.”
Otis was stunned, maybe the most surprised Mike had ever seen him. “You would be without a Protector, Your Majesty? The Chosen have had Protectors at their sides for two thousand years. I must insist on at least one of my men.”
Ellie let a glint slip into her eyes, then a triumphant smile lit her face. “Thank you, Otis. I accept. I knew you’d double whatever I demanded, so one of each it is. It’s what I had in mind all along.”
Otis let his steady gaze rest on her for a time. Nothing was said, but waves of meaning passed between the two of them. Cats do that so well, Mike thought, chuckling to himself.
Otis eventually nodded his head. “It shall be so unless we suspect trouble, then Ralph has free reign. He will not be overruled in this,” he added with narrowed eyes.
Though technically not part of her assigned protection team, Josh, Mike, Jessie, and Otis were often in Ellie’s presence, adding to her protection. Nor did she resist. She had always needed people around her and welcomed their presence.
Chapter Sixteen
Ellie’s forces were growing, and as they did the number of key leaders was increasing. She wanted all of them to meet together, but she decided that Mike needed to meet Krys first. The whole idea of visions bothered him, and she suspected that, deep inside, he feared her Seer.
She called Krys to her quarters. She arrived wearing her standard ship attire, nothing fancy for what to her was a visit to the one she called mother. Ellie met her at the door and invited her in.
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet, dear.”
She swept her arm toward Mike, and Krys let out a gasp. Her hand went to her mouth, so in shock that she couldn’t speak.
He held his place, afraid to approach this dark haired, fragile-looking young woman. Her very existence spoke of the ancient shamans of his ancestors. Ellie had warned him, but in his mind he had still expected an old crone wearing a cape and a witch’s hat, bent over from age and arthritis. Instead, before him stood a young woman whose strong resemblance to Val, her twin brother, was undeniable.
Ellie stood back herself, uncertain of the outcome of this meeting and sensing waves of emotion within the room.
Mike was first to speak. “Lady Krys.”
“The man of dirt,” she breathed. “At last.” She stared into his eyes. She had waited long to meet this man, and suddenly, here he was.
“You know me?” he asked.
“I know of you, Sire. You’ve been a thread linking many of my visions, and I saw you clearly in one. You are truly a Great One.”
Mike felt a chill run through his body, and he shuddered. “The very idea of your visions frightens me,” he offered softly.
“They frighten me, too. It is not an ability I want. It just is.”
“You speak the words of your mother.”
“But I am not a Chosen. I’m just Krys, frightened out of my wits most of the time.”
He smiled. “So am I. In that, at least, we are similar.”
“You’re afraid? Impossible. You’re the man of dirt.”
“I’m just a man, Krys, a man from an emerging world who finds himself in over his head most of the time.”
Her lower lip trembled. “But we serve, Sire. We have answered the call.”
He smiled kindly. “We do. I was unwilling at first, but I’ve come around.”
Her eyes widened. “I, too, was unwilling.” She risked a glance at Ellie. “Very unwilling at first. Not anymore.”
Mike felt himself warming to this young woman who had battled her own deficiencies, just as he had, and won. He felt rooted in place and had to force a foot to move in her direction, then another. He stuck his hand out. “Welcome to our small family, Krys.”
She stepped back, her hand held out before her to warn him. He stopped in surprise and stared at her. She
