Euthara by Michael McClain Page B

wasn’t on the up and up. Jon needed to be told as soon as possible. “What of the crew?”
    “Most of them took the offer to stay behind until a trip was made to Euthara,” Gilas said. “Now most of them have decided to stay at the station. I brought those who wanted to return with me.”
    “One more question,” the King said as he returned to his seat. “Who is the woman on your ship?”
    “Tatiana is the ship’s AI,” Gilas said.
    “They’re forbidden, you know that,” the King said. “You also know why they’re forbidden.”
    “I do,” Gilas said. “However, I have seen them in action and they benefit the ship in more ways than one. I think the laws were an overreaction ages ago. There are safety protocols in place to make sure that never happens again. Tatiana couldn’t hurt anyone unless given a direct order by a high ranking officer.”
    “That doesn’t matter; you broke our laws by allowing the AI to be activated,” the King said. “You’ve also committed what is close to if not treason against the Eutharan Empire.”
    “My Lord,” Gilas said.
    The King held up a hand for silence as he continued, “I’m stripping you of all rank until the Council decides what to do with you. Your ship has already been handed off to a new Captain and the AI disabled. Your crew will be off loaded until we can discover the extent of the damage caused by this Jonathan Hunter. You are free to go, but stay close as I might summon you at any time.”
    Gilas pulled the rank insignia from his uniform and laid them on the dais as he bowed and said, “As you wish.”

    “That’s when I turned and walked out and came here,” Gilas said. “I didn’t know what to do. The King picked apart everything you have done twisting it to make it look bad. He used it to remove me from command as he knew I would follow you and take the Titan with me. I don’t know what game he’s playing, but I know Duke Andara is behind some of it.”
    “This Duke is Commander of the Ground Forces here in Euthara?” Jon asked?
    “In a way he’s Commander of all Military Forces,” Gilas said. “He just doesn’t care much about the space forces and shoves those duties off on his second in command.”
    “I think he was trying to kill me,” Jon said.
    “What?” Deatra said.
    “That little incident over the city was a set up. I’m sure of it after hearing what Gilas just said,” Jon said. “That’s why he left during the session. The King knew about it and approved it. I think they were going to force the shuttle down and kill everyone but Deatra.”
    “Why would he do that?” Deatra said.
    “He’s in love with you,” Jon said. “The King and everyone else knows the bond we share is legit. The King is scrambling to find a way to denounce it and have it removed.”
    “I would never let that happen,” Deatra said.
    Jon smiled as he brushed some hair out of her eyes. “I know, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try.”
    “You know there was something else strange at the session,” Gilas said.
    “What was that?” Jon said.
    “One strange thing is he knew everything that had happened,” Gilas said.
    “They have an informant. I was expecting that, so it’s not really a surprise to me,” Jon said.
    “The priests of Talftur were also in attendance with the warrior maidens,” Gilas said. “They were dressed in red and armed while in court.”
    “That’s never happened before,” Deatra said. “Weapons at court are strictly forbidden. The King would have had to allow them to enter armed. They haven’t sat in at court for over a hundred years. They usually don’t care about mortal affairs and only worry about the spiritual side of the realm.”
    “Who are they?” Jon asked.
    “The women are trained warriors and also trained in other things, or so it is said,” Deatra said. “They used to be used for assassinations by the old Kings. Their order was tied tightly to the Throne and helped guide the Empire.