“You’re not in a position tothreaten me,” Toemeka replied. She shoved the muzzle of her laserinto his stomach. “Get going.”
In the detention center, Zantonwent to the front desk and said something in Haklute. The guardspulled out blasters, pointing them at Toemeka, Jake, Erling andOnolyn.
Erling held his laser to KingZanton’s head. “I should have known you couldn’t be trusted. Ishould kill you right now. You’re a man without honor.” He turnedto the soldiers and said in the universal language, “If there’sany shooting, Zanton will be the first to die. Lower your weapons.”
“I’m afraid you’vemiscalculated again,” Zanton sneered. “We’re at a stalemate.I’m willing to make a deal. You surrender peacefully and I’ll letyou and all your pilots go when we reach Haklute.”
“That wasn’t my plan. You’vealready proven your word is worthless.” Erling raised the sword andturned the blade so it caught the light. It gave off a reddish glow.“I see there’s poison on the blade. Dying slowly from poison is apainful way to go.”
Erling drew the blade acrossZanton’s arm, cutting through fabric and skin.
Zanton blanched and grabbed hisarm. His men leapt forward and Zanton yelled, “Stay back! Loweryour weapons.” Blood ran down the king’s sleeve. The Hakluteguards lowered their weapons.
“The poison is beginning toenter your bloodstream, as it did mine,” Erling said, keeping hisvoice hard. “You’re running out of time. You’ll die without theantidote, but before you do you’ll be in agony.”
“I’ll give you a ship,”Zanton said. Sweat shone on his brow. “You and your pilots canreturn to Borko now.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’tyou? As soon as we launch, you’ll blast us out of the sky. Tellyour men to drop their weapons before I take another slice.”
“You’re bluffing again. If mymen start firing, your friends will be killed and we both know youwon’t endanger their lives.”
“He doesn’t have a choice,”Toemeka said. “He knows if we fall into your hands our fates willbe worse than death.”
Erling realized she was right.There was no bluffing this time—only grim acceptance of facts. Hestared into Zanton’s eyes. “Either your men throw down theirweapons or you die.”
King Zanton was breathingshallowly; blood soaked his sleeve and dripped onto the floor.“You’ll allow me to continue to rule Haklute?”
“That was our agreement.”
King Zanton turned to his men andthis time spoke to them in the universal language. “Throw down yourweapons.”
The sound of blasters hitting theground echoed in the large room. “Collect the weapons,” Erlingsaid to his friends. When the weapons were all in a pile on thefloor, Erling said to Zanton. “Have your men bring my pilots here.”
Zanton gave the order and shortlyseveral dozen Jaiparian pilots entered the room. Zac staggered inlast, with a man supporting him on each side. His face was ashen andhis shirt was red with blood.
“Zac, you shouldn’t try towalk!” Onolyn exclaimed, running over to him.
“I had to find out whathappened to you.”
“Where are the rest of mypilots?” Erling exclaimed.
“Dead or too weak to walkhere,” King Zanton said coldly.
“You’re too foul to live.”Erling raised the sword, wanting to thrust it into him.
“Steady, Erling, he’s ourticket home,” Jake said, putting his hand on Erling’s arm. Erlinghanded Jake the sword and stepped back, not trusting himself nearZanton until he felt more in control.
He ordered his pilots to putZanton’s crew into the holding cells, then they proceeded to takeover the entire ship. When the ship was fully under Erling’scontrol, Toemeka and Onolyn took Zacchary to sickbay and Erling andJake went to the bridge.
Erling slid into the chief pilotseat and Jake took the copilot position. Once the ship was headedback to Jaipar, Erling said, “How did you and Toemeka happen toland on the ship with my pilots?”
“We heard you were personallylanding on Zanton’s ship over the intership radio,” Jake said.“Toemeka didn’t trust Zanton and thought we’d better bebackup.”
“I’m glad you did. It neveroccurred to me that my men would refuse to attack if I was aboard.”
“You led them to victory.You’re their hero.”
“I led them to victory but atthe cost of many lives.
“It could have been much worse.I hear you’re marrying Queen Koriann Marsindi.”
Erling smiled, thinking of Kori.“Yeah, I’ll be resigning from the Coalition and marrying aremarkable woman.”
“Congratulations. I envy yourhappiness.”
Erling knew Jake was thinking ofToemeka. “You’ll find love.”
“I’m content with my freedomfor now. What are you going to do about Zanton? He should be executedor thrown in prison.”
“I’ll keep my promise and lethim remain the ruler of Haklute with limited power, under militaryoccupation.”
“He’s too dangerous. He’llraise an army against you.”
“I can’t execute him. I’vegiven my word and a man’s reputation and character is built on hisword.”
Erling flipped on the radio. “Ineed to contact Michio. He and Koriann will be worried. NightWanderer, are you there? This is Cruiser. We’re coming home.”
Erling flew the Haklute commandship over the Tethanty Ocean. In the dark sky, he could see thelights of the City of Silver Light. The tall, luminous buildingslooked ethereal, like a fairyland.
He lowered the ship to cruisingelevation and soared toward the royal palace. This would be home forthe rest of his life. Joy filled him. He and Koriann would soon bemarried and rule Jaipar with a governing council to guide them. He’dmiss the Coalition and his home on Alandra, but his future life inJaipar felt right, as if everything he’d done up until now had ledto this moment.
Erling requested permission toland and ground control directed him to an open space on theairfield. The airfield was unusually crowded, filled with militaryships, thousands of soldiers standing in formation and a throng ofJaiparian citizens beyond them. A ground crew guided him in and hemade a precise landing. He and Jake unbuckled their seat belts andstood.
Toemeka and Onolyn waited forthem near the exit. Gratitude filled Erling that they were both allright; he ached for the pilots who’d been killed. Toemeka glowedwith excitement at their victory. Erling felt a slight twinge ofdiscomfort as he thought of the danger she’d been in. He didn’tthink he’d be able to face Michio if she’d died because of hismistake in landing on Zanton’s ship.
Erling walked toward the shipentrance with his friends close behind him. When he stepped onto
