The Days of the Golden Moons (The Two Moons of Rehnor, Book 5) by J. Naomi Ay Page B

“Rozari is the Mother Planet.  Rozari should be in the Empire.  We are
all brothers.”
    “Indeed. 
Rozari has become green and healthy again.  The air, water and soil are clean. 
The ecosystem has been restored.  I have atoned for the destruction wrought by
my ancestors.  Perhaps now…”  He limped back toward his desk.
    “Stop
it,” I cried with dismay.  “I will hear nothing more of this.  Go to the Temple
and make your amends to the Holy One and when you are finished, come back and
make your amends to your family and friends who despite your cruel treatment of
them, still love you.”
    “Who
loves me?” he muttered scornfully, falling into his chair and burying his head
in his arms upon his desk.  “No one.  Everyone hates me.”
    “Everyone
loves you, you bloody fool.  Your lovely wife, your son, your cousins, Rekah
and Berkan, your uncles, Tuman and Loman, Taner, your whatever he is, and your
father, me.”
    “Ay
yah.  I hear how they love me in their thoughts.  My wife runs rampant around a
forest, dirties her hands and feet like a slave or hides half way across the
galaxy in her mother’s house because she loves me so.  Everyone else stands
before me in fear and trepidation, trembling uncontrollably should I summon
them to my presence.  They walk out of here hoping I will successfully kill
myself before their next audience.  Only you are fool enough to come before me
unguarded, expect to leave entirely whole, and plan to visit me again on
another night.”
    “I
am the bigger fool,” I agreed.  “And I will take my chances in your presence. 
I will bid you goodnight my son and hope you will find that which you seek in
the Ancient Temple and may return to us ready and able to love us again as
well.”
    “Goodnight,
my father,” he replied, his voice muffled by his desk.  As I departed his
presence, it occurred to me that he had never before called me by other than my
name.  For the first time, on this night, he had called me father .

 
     
     
    Chapter 19
    Katie
     
    “What
the hell are you doing?” I demanded.
    “Sorry
Madame, you need to get in the car.”  Telix pulled my arm.  Luci had already
climbed in and was waving anxiously for me to follow.
    “What
about my mother and Allen and his family?”
    “My
orders are only to see you safely aboard the spaceplane.”  Telix slammed the door
firmly in my face.
    “I
want my mother to come,” I told Lanaka who was driving.  “We can't leave
without her!”
    “We'll
send another team for her right away,” Reggie said.  He was sitting shotgun
while Telix had climbed in opposite Luci.  The mobile command center had
already taken off.
    “Get
her in the second limo,” I practically screamed.  Lanaka had already lifted
off.  In two more minutes, we would be in orbit.  I bolted forward and wrapped
my arm around Lanaka’s neck, pulling back as tight as I could.
    “Listen
to me, Telix.  Order whoever in the hell is still down there to get my mother
in the second limo or poor Lanaka is going to crash this one.”
    “Madame!”
Luci cried.
    Lanaka
was struggling, but I had him in a chokehold.  He'd have to break my arm at the
elbow to escape.
    “Madame!”
Telix pleaded.
    “Do
it!” I screamed.  The car lost altitude as Lanaka's hands fell off the
controls.  Telix ordered the second limo to turn around and get my mother.  I released
Lanaka. 
    “I’m
sorry, Lanaka,” I apologized and sat back, out of breath, my heart racing. 
“Hover here until I can see her in the car.  Then send another car to pick up
my brother and his family.”
    “Yes
Madame.”  Telix glared at me.
    Lanaka
coughed and rubbed his neck.
    “Ye
got the controls alright, Lan?” Reggie asked softly.
    Lanaka
nodded and coughed a few more times.
    “She's
as bad as Senya,” he mumbled under his breath.
    The
second limo came alongside of us, and my mother waved, clearly excited to be
traveling in-style again.
    “May
we go now before