Hope rose for a moment withinKoriann, then vanished as her gaze returned to Erling. “He doesn’thave a few hours.”
Michio embraced her. “Don’tgive up. The Master is watching over Erling. I have to leave. SamratCondor’s space fleet will reach planet Borko soon. I’ll stay intouch from Jaipar’s military space station.”
Koriann watched Toemeka accompanyMichio to the door, envious they had each other when she might loseErling. “You have to be brave for Koriann,” Michio said.
“I know. Be careful, Michio,you’re my heart and Soul.”
“I will. I wish I could be withyou and Koriann. I know this is hard for both of you; the pendingattack just adds to it.” They kissed and clung to each other for amoment, before Michio left.
Toemeka walked over to the bedand hugged Koriann. Feeling Toemeka’s compassion, Koriann feltherself choking up with tears and she stepped away. She knew if shebroke down weeping, she wouldn’t be able to stop.
Koriann sat on chair near the bedand watched Erling in silence. His hold on life was weakening andKoriann knew the end was near. Every breath was labored. She watchedhelplessly, almost glad his suffering would soon be over. He was palewith an unnatural bluish cast to his skin, his eyes were vacant, andeven his hair seemed lifeless.
At last, she heard the finaldeath rattle and Erling lay still, no longer struggling for air orlife. Koriann kissed his still-warm lips, then buried her face in hischest and cried, heartbroken. Whyhadn’t Hendora made it back with the antidote in time?
Toemeka put a comforting hand onKoriann’s shoulder. Koriann went into her arms and this time gaveinto her tears and wept until she felt totally drained. “I miss himso much,” Koriann said with a heart-wrenching sob.
“I can’t believe he’sactually dead.” Tears streamed down Toemeka’s cheeks. “Ithappened so fast. I never got a chance to say good-bye.”
“Neither did I. Michio took meto see him in the Inner Worlds, but it’s not the same.” Koriannbegan to cry again. “How can I go on and serve my country?”
“You will because you have to.Remember the moments of love and happiness you had with Erling andknow they can never be taken away. You and Erling will never be trulyseparated.”
“But I want him here with menow!” Koriann cried, her face wet with tears. “I want to feel hislove, his strength, his arms holding me. I want to hear him laugh,see him smile again, and feel his warm, sweet lips on mine. He willnever be Erling again: that jaunty, loving, special person I plannedto spend my life with. He’ll never look at me again with hisvibrant blue eyes filled with light and love.”
Toemeka wiped her eyes on atissue and blew her nose. “I know. I know . . . he’s been my bestfriend for seven-and-a-half years. He’s like a brother to me. Herescued me from Samrat Condor and has been there for me ever since.”
“But you have Michio. I don’thave anyone.”
“I love Michio dearly, butMichio can’t replace Erling. I’ll always miss Erling and have aspecial place in my heart for him. All of Michio’s love cannot fillthe part of me that feels empty.”
“I feel empty, too—abandoned.”
“Erling didn’t abandon you.His body gave out.”
“I know, but I feel so alone.”
Toemeka put her hand on Koriann’sarm and looked her in the eye. “You’re not alone.”
Everything was a daze for Toemekaafter Erling death. Koriann’s stepparents, Embrosa and Dr. Leyran,came to the palace. Embrosa, the former Kameet resistance leader,took over the situation as easily as she’d organized the Kameets.She stayed with Koriann, who refused to leave Erling’s bedside orallow his body to be removed, and asked her husband to take care ofToemeka.
Dr. Leyran walked with a limp ashe accompanied Toemeka to her bedchamber. In shock, she curled up onthe bed, feeling small and broken, with no energy to fight herdespair.
“Where is Michio?” she asked,yearning for her husband’s loving presence.
“He’s leading the defense ofJaipar.”
“Does he know about Erling?”
“He’s been contacted.”
“He shouldn’t have been told.He’s got enough to worry about.” Her heart ached for her husband,wanting to share their mutual grief. She knew how hard it must be forhim to be responsible for Jaipar’s protection while Koriann was toodistraught to concern herself with the affairs of the country.
Dr. Leyran picked up a kaya off afood tray on the bedside table. “You should try to eat something,child.” He held out the orange-colored fruit to her. Toemeka shookher head, refusing to eat. “Think of the baby you’re carrying.You must be strong for it.”
“How can I bring a baby intosuch a cruel world? Everyone I love keeps getting taken from me. Lifeplays a hideous game. Everything seems so secure, so permanent. Thenjust when things seem to be going well, life laughs at you and takesit all away.”
“It’s just your griefspeaking. You know death is an illusion. You are an Initiate and cancross over into the Inner Worlds to see him.”
“He hadn’t finished hisdestiny for this lifetime. I want Michio. I don’t want to live ifhe’s taken from me as well.” Toemeka clutched the gold lockethe’d given her and began sobbing.
On Haklute, the aircar parkeditself by their spacecraft. They all got out and Onolyn huggedHendora. “I hope you’re in time to save Erling
Hendora stiffened in her embrace.“Ihopethe vial Seetva gave us actually contains the antidote. Find out whatyou can about King Zanton’s military activities without attractingattention to yourself. Report in daily.”
“We will,” Zac said. WhenJaipar was an occupied country, he’d been in the Kameet Resistanceand worked undercover at General Bhandar’s military base. He didn’tthink spying on King Zanton would be too hard compared to that.
Zac flew the aircar toward theGalaxy Hotel in the royal city where they had reservations. He likedflying and hadn’t programed the car to drive itself. Onolyn rode inthe front seat this time. Zac noticed she sat rigidly and wasunusually quiet as she looked out at the heavy traffic. “Youworried about Erling?”
“Yeah, Seetva can’t betrusted and yet we’re relying on the potion she gave us to savehim. And I’m uneasy about being in Haklute. Before losingconsciousness, Erling was trying to warn me about
