“I want to spare you that. Ican’t imagine how I’d feel searching for Koriann among a bunch ofbloody corpses.”
“Michio’s not dead!” shesnapped. “Neither is Jake.” She was afraid she’d shatteremotionally if Michio was found among the dead. It was too terribleto think about.
“We’d better get some sleep,”Erling said. “I’ll take first watch.”
“We could both sleep.”
“Too risky. We don’t haveanything to tie us to the tree. Besides, the giant night buzzardsmight decide we’re still in their territory.”
“I suppose you’re right.”She lay on the rough bark with her head on Erling’s thigh and hefirmly clasped her upper arm. Inwardly she focused on Master Bakkaand asked him to protect Michio and Jake.
27
Waiting
Koriann sat in a council meetingwith the twelve-member Jaiparian governing board. Erling’s seat wasconspicuously empty. The discussion turned to the importance ofkeeping the planet united in the event of another attack by SamratCondor.
“King Zanton is stirring up hisallies against us,” Hideo said. He was the oldest man on thecouncil and had also served on her father’s council. “He’ssupposed to be guarded, but he always finds a way to get messagesout.”
“Prince Erling is the only onewith enough influence to imprison King Zanton and still keep theplanet united.” Captain Orneil said
Hideo looked uncomfortably atKoriann for a second, then cleared his voice and said, “We need toconsider who will fill the head of the military position on a morepermanent basis, in case Prince Erling doesn’t return.”
Koriann went rigid. “It’sunnecessary; he’ll make it back.”
“Two operatives sent to Alandrafound no leads. It’s as if he just disappeared.”
She glared at him. “This typeof mission often takes time.” She stood abruptly and walked out,upset that the matter was brought up. Erling,where are you?Her chest tightened and tears gathered. Pleasedon’t ever do this to me again. Your place is here. Not off on amission, even if it’s to rescue your family.
She entered her father’s formeroffice, not wanting anyone to see her break into tears. Nothing hadbeen changed since he’d died fifteen years ago. Through a blur oftears, she looked around the room. It reminded her so much of him.His massive desk, portraits of past rulers, and a large wall map ofAlandra. He’d been a great leader and she could never fill hisrole. She walked to the bookshelf and studied it a moment beforefinding the right book and pulling it forward. A section of bookshelfslid open to reveal the secret tunnel. The smell of stale air hit hernostrils. She peered inside, remembering the day her father showed itto her. The tunnel was built as a way to escape the palace in case ofan attack..
She’d never forget the nightshe was awakened by her nursemaid and led to the tunnel through ahidden exit in her room. A frightened child of ten, she’d beenexhausted by the time they’d traversed the tunnel and hiked toEmbrosa and Dr. Leyran’s home. It was then that she’d found outshe was the only member of her family to survive. Her parents andbrothers had been murdered in their beds.
It was hard being reared byEmbrosa, the strict and demanding Resistance leader. She’d raisedKoriann to be strong and never let her forget her responsibility toher people. Fortunately, her husband, Leyran, was a heart person; hewas the one who nurtured her through the pain of losing her family.
The coup of the palace had beenfollowed by a rapid takeover of the country and executions of all thenobility. Her childhood friend, Zachary, was from a noble family. Heand his family escaped from Jaipar and hid in the spiritual mountainvillage of Kumba.
She’d known Michio fromchildhood as well. He wasn’t from Jaipar, but he’d visited onseveral occasions with his father. He was five years older thanKoriann, and she’d always sensed something special about him andenjoyed his visits. She’d come to know Toemeka and Onolyn when theyarrived in the City of Silver Light with their Coalition team tofight alongside the Kameets Resistance, for Jaipar’s freedom.
It was unbearable to think thather husband and dear friends might all dead. Was the child shecarried all she’d ever have of Erling? And sweet Baymond all shehad left of her friends?
As she slid the book back intoplace, the displaced section of bookshelf moved into its formerposition. She’d never been in the tunnel since the day of herescape, but had maintained it in case she ever needed it.
Did Erling, her handsome,courageous, loving best friend and husband, know or suspect what hewas putting her through? Pleasereturn to me!she begged inwardly. She sank into her father’s leather chair andwept, giving in to the grief she’d held back for so long. Painspilled out of her as she sobbed. To have loved so much and now feelso alone. Sobs wracked her body until her chest ached and her throatfelt raw. Still she continued to cry, despairing that she’d ever behappy again.
Finally her tears subsided andshe felt a little better. Her head was stuffy and forehead ached, butit was a relief to let go and not always be so brave. So much restedon her shoulders — not just the welfare of Jaipar, but the wholePlanet Borko, which needed to stay united. Hideo was right; at somepoint they’d have to find someone to take Erling’s place as headof the military, if he didn’t return. But who? He’d united awhole planet and brought them to victory over Samrat Condor. He wasrespected and he’d proven himself in battle and in leadership. Hewas a hero and heroes weren’t easily replaced.
Queen Koriann looked through thestack of papers on her desk. She always had so much work to do, somany decisions to make. She longed for Erling’s wise council andcompanionship.
She was engrossed in one paperwhen a knock on the office door startled her. She didn’t know howlong she’d been working. “Who is it?” she asked, not wantinganyone to see that she’d been weeping.
“Leyran.”
“Just a minute.” Koriann roseand looked in the wall mirror. There was no hiding her red swolleneyes and puffy face, but she couldn’t turn him away.
She opened the door and Dr.Leyran limped in followed by Embrosa. After taking one look at her,he took her in his
