'You tricked me,' he coughed out.
'My dear young king, only for your own good and ours.'
Wynn offered him a hand, helping him to stand again. The pride and anger were gone, replace with the knowledge that Wynn would never let the issue die.
'The Council meets tonight at dusk. Don't be late.'
Wynn smiled and turned away to leave the courtyard and its stunned audience who began to whisper about the outcome. Tiet looked after the elder man, thinking himself foolish to have been baited so easily. It was so important to Wynn, this matter of the throne. He did not understand why, but a promise was still a promise.
He heard a slow clapping coming from behind him and looked to see its source. Ranul was sitting under the shade of the balcony overhead clapping sarcastically with a sly grin on his face.
'Yes, yes-very funny,' said Tiet as he turned to gather up his sparring weapons from the ground.
Ranul got up and walked over to him. The soldiers were renewing their training on the grounds; pairing up as they prepared for the days to come should the Baruk actually attack.
'Now don't be mad young master; after all, Wynn means well. The people do need a leader and you are the natural choice. I'm sure Orin would have agreed.'
Tiet turned to look at him. 'Well, I don't know about that. Orin tended to be very protective of me.'
'Maybe, he cared a great deal for you. And whether you realize it or not, he was quite proud of you.'
'How do you know that?'
'I knew Orin very well back before the Vorn came. It was written all over him. He treated you like the son he never had. He would have wanted you to take your rightful place as King.'
Tiet looked at him, not sure how to answer it. He was rubbing his stomach; Wynn had really laid into him.
'You should get over to the medical complex and have my daughter take a look.'
Tiet smiled. 'I'm not really hurt Ranul; he just knocked the wind out of me.'
'It's still worth a visit, just to see Mirah. Haven't you two been talking recently?'
'A little, but…'
'But what? She's a nice girl Tiet…'
'I know.'
'And she's moving up now that she's completed her residency. You're going to have to think about taking a wife someday.'
Tiet looked at the donjarr on his wrist. He had still not removed it after losing Dorian. 'You're a bit direct aren't you Ranul?'
'I don't mean to push Tiet, but you have to go on with your life. Dorian is gone and Orin is gone-you have to assume your responsibilities for your own good and the good of those around you.'
'I just don't want to fail everyone, like I failed them.'
'You didn't fail them. You fought back against those who had enslaved our people and you won. I owe a debt to you I can't repay, in receiving back my daughter. If you hadn't been set on freeing us from the Vorn she would have died in that prison cell along with the children they had captive with her. She was able to go on with her residency work and now she's turning into a fine physician; you haven't failed.'
Tiet thought about it for a moment. His words were kind, but they cut him to the heart. He felt unsure of himself yet convicted of the need to serve the people.
'I had better get going Ranul. I've got to get ready for this meeting if I'm going to keep my promise.'
He shook Ranul's hand and started to walk away from the courtyard.
'Tiet, don't forget. If you get a chance, go by and see Mirah. She really would like to see you. You know, she was very complimentary of the man that freed her from prison.'
Tiet laughed under his breath as he continued to walk away. 'Subtle, Ranul, very subtle.'
GOVERNOR Tal tapped the communication panel to end the transmission to his ship. He was on board the flagship of the Baruk space fleet. He had assured his wife of his safe arrival and the time for his meeting with the Council of Three. He was quite anxious about the meeting. Since their rendezvous with the Baruk battle convoy months ago, he had not been given much information at all.
The Baruk were far too secretive for his own tastes. After all, the Vorn military and the Baruk were supposed to be allies. This meeting should have taken place just after their arrival, he thought. But he wasn't about to push the issue with the Council.
The Baruk were the most blood-thirsty clan Tal had ever known. It was dangerous enough to be their ally and the Baruk's supposed deal with the fallen angel Lucin was the stuff of legend. He was terrified of this mysterious clan.
One of the Baruk warriors came into the chamber. He was fierce looking to say the least. His black body armor was a part of him; a symbiotic coexistence. Whatever the living armor was, all of the warriors of the Baruk were joined to them. Somehow they covered and intertwined internally and externally with the Baruk, forming a living exoskeleton that protected them. Tal had seen the warriors in action before. Their exoskeletons were capable of repelling light pulse weapons fire, and the various weapons they utilized were part technology and part bio-weaponry.
The warrior motioned for Tal to follow him. They both entered the chamber of the Council of Three. Tal had only seen them once before. They were of a different caste than the warriors and they ruled the Baruk as one.
Tal came before them where they were seated upon a raised platform. They were sitting on a wide throne that seemed more organic than craft. Tal waited for them to speak, not daring to show any disrespect to them.
'You have desired an audience with us, Governor Tal?' asked one of the Three.
'Indeed, my lords. I would inquire as to your plans for retaking the planet of Castai on our behalf. We looked to you for assistance in quelling the rebellion of the Horva under General Grod, but we were overrun at Baeth Periege before you could arrive.'
'Should we retake the planet it would be unwise to reinstate control to your regime Tal. You lost the planet and most of your people were killed. You lack the capacity to reign over the inhabitants.'
'But we are allies. Surely you will want to help us to regain control. It is for your benefit as well-'
'Our benefit does not concern you Tal,' interrupted another of the Three. 'You are weak. It is time we assumed possession of Castai ourselves.'
'But you can't-' he almost bit his own tongue trying to stop the words.
'Can't?' they all questioned simultaneously.
'What I mean to say, my lords, is that we have always tried to govern the territory in accord with your interests as well as our own. It would be unfortunate to dissolve that relationship now. I still have a thousand people aboard my ship who can lead the way in retaking the planet from these rebels. At your command, of course.'
'Our command has already been issued concerning your people,' said one of the Three.
A holographic image of Tal's vessel gliding along with the Baruk convoy appeared in the room above him. One of the Baruk ships heaved a large projectile out of one of its cannons. Tal's heart sank as the object impacted with his ship, smashing it like a glass upon the floor. A thousand-plus people, including his own wife and children were dashed to pieces in a moment. He gasped and could not breathe. He almost didn't notice the white hot needle-stick of the neurotoxin injection. He lost sensation almost instantly as he numbly fell to the ground at the feet of the soldier who had administered the poisoned weapon. His breathing slowed, and then stopped as his muscles ceased to function. He was suffocating but couldn't move to help himself, though his mind was still clear.
'We have no further need of treaty with you or your people Tal,' said one of the Three. 'Now that your strength has been diminished, we see Castai as ripe for the taking.'
Tal could not respond. His body began to spasm from lack of oxygen. The Three hissed with delight as the Vorn Governor entered the throes of death before them.
'Housra, see to the traitor,' the Three said to the soldier.
'I obey.'
