challenge. “Pardon him.”
Jai knew nothing about Maccar or why ESComm had sent him to prison. Nor did he know if he wielded enough authority to make a pardon stick. It would certainly alienate ESComm. But he could admit none of that to Kelric, so he said only, “I will consider it.”
Kelric’s expression clearly said he expected Jai to do nothing. It bothered Jai that his uncle thought his offer was false. He motioned upward, a well-known gesture meant to include all Eube. “It’s like a great thundering machine I hold by the barest thread. If I am to find a road to peace, I need your help.”
Kelric stared at him for a long moment. Gradually his wariness changed, becoming a quiet incredulity. Then he spoke in a low voice. “You’re a telepath.”
Jai froze, horrified. “No. I am what you see. Qox.”
“At what price?” Kelric asked. “What must you suffer to hide the truth?”
Jai couldn’t answer. It hurt too much. Instead he said, “Was anyone here when I came into the Lock? I never saw him.”
His uncle answered with an unbearable compassion. “Gods help you, son.”
“Go.” Jai felt as if he were breaking inside. “Now. While you can.”
Kelric stepped into the darkened corridor. He started to walk, his back to Jai, his steps measured, as if he expected an attack.
“Lord Skolia,” Jai said.
Kelric turned back, poised and tense. “Yes?”
“If you make it to Earth—” Jai lifted his hand as if to reach out to Kelric. Then he caught himself and lowered his arm. “Go see Admiral Seth Rockworth.”
The older man paused. “I will go.”
Then the Imperator continued down the corridor. As he strode along that avenue of the ages, Jai thought:
Gods’ speed, my uncle.
On Jai’s second day at the Lock, Colonel Muze took him to visit its operational command center. Officers crewed the consoles and lights flickered everywhere. Jai stood flanked by Muze and Robert, his hands clasped behind his back, watching a holoscreen that curved around the forward bulkhead showing the panorama of space. Stars glittered in a multitude of colors, and spumes of interstellar dust glowed, moving out of view as the station rotated. In the distance, another space station came into view.
“Such beauty,” Jai murmured.
“Beauty worth securing.” Muze paused. “I hope you found the security in the Lock to your approval last night.”
Jai inwardly swore. So. They knew about his visit. “It appeared adequate.”
“Adequate offers the opportunity for improvement.”
Jai couldn’t tell whether the colonel suspected him of treason or feared Jai had found his command lacking. In Muze’s presence, he had to fortify his barriers so much, his thoughts felt muffled. Rather than risk implicating himself, he said nothing. Stars wheeled past on the holoscreens.
A young lieutenant approached them and went down on one knee to Jai.
Embarrassed, Jai said, “Please rise.”
The lieutenant stood, his gaze averted. “You give me great honor by your presence, Esteemed Highness.”
Jai reddened. He couldn’t believe it when they said such things. Fortunately Muze saved him from having to think of a response. “You have a report?” the colonel asked.
The lieutenant saluted. “Yes, sir. A frigate is approaching the Lock.”
Muze frowned. “Does it have clearance?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Who is it?” Jai asked.
The lieutenant averted his gaze again. Jai wished they wouldn’t do that. Taskmakers weren’t required to look down, but they often did anyway. Many believed the nonsense promulgated by Highton propaganda, that the emperor was, if not an actual deity, then close to one.
From his parents, Jai had learned about the pantheon of gods and saints worshipped by the ancient peoples of the Ruby Empire, and by some Skolians and Eubians even in this modern age. His mother had also told him about the mythology of her father’s people. On Earth, Seth had introduced him to Christianity. After all that, it
Jai knew nothing about Maccar or why ESComm had sent him to prison. Nor did he know if he wielded enough authority to make a pardon stick. It would certainly alienate ESComm. But he could admit none of that to Kelric, so he said only, “I will consider it.”
Kelric’s expression clearly said he expected Jai to do nothing. It bothered Jai that his uncle thought his offer was false. He motioned upward, a well-known gesture meant to include all Eube. “It’s like a great thundering machine I hold by the barest thread. If I am to find a road to peace, I need your help.”
Kelric stared at him for a long moment. Gradually his wariness changed, becoming a quiet incredulity. Then he spoke in a low voice. “You’re a telepath.”
Jai froze, horrified. “No. I am what you see. Qox.”
“At what price?” Kelric asked. “What must you suffer to hide the truth?”
Jai couldn’t answer. It hurt too much. Instead he said, “Was anyone here when I came into the Lock? I never saw him.”
His uncle answered with an unbearable compassion. “Gods help you, son.”
“Go.” Jai felt as if he were breaking inside. “Now. While you can.”
Kelric stepped into the darkened corridor. He started to walk, his back to Jai, his steps measured, as if he expected an attack.
“Lord Skolia,” Jai said.
Kelric turned back, poised and tense. “Yes?”
“If you make it to Earth—” Jai lifted his hand as if to reach out to Kelric. Then he caught himself and lowered his arm. “Go see Admiral Seth Rockworth.”
The older man paused. “I will go.”
Then the Imperator continued down the corridor. As he strode along that avenue of the ages, Jai thought:
Gods’ speed, my uncle.
On Jai’s second day at the Lock, Colonel Muze took him to visit its operational command center. Officers crewed the consoles and lights flickered everywhere. Jai stood flanked by Muze and Robert, his hands clasped behind his back, watching a holoscreen that curved around the forward bulkhead showing the panorama of space. Stars glittered in a multitude of colors, and spumes of interstellar dust glowed, moving out of view as the station rotated. In the distance, another space station came into view.
“Such beauty,” Jai murmured.
“Beauty worth securing.” Muze paused. “I hope you found the security in the Lock to your approval last night.”
Jai inwardly swore. So. They knew about his visit. “It appeared adequate.”
“Adequate offers the opportunity for improvement.”
Jai couldn’t tell whether the colonel suspected him of treason or feared Jai had found his command lacking. In Muze’s presence, he had to fortify his barriers so much, his thoughts felt muffled. Rather than risk implicating himself, he said nothing. Stars wheeled past on the holoscreens.
A young lieutenant approached them and went down on one knee to Jai.
Embarrassed, Jai said, “Please rise.”
The lieutenant stood, his gaze averted. “You give me great honor by your presence, Esteemed Highness.”
Jai reddened. He couldn’t believe it when they said such things. Fortunately Muze saved him from having to think of a response. “You have a report?” the colonel asked.
The lieutenant saluted. “Yes, sir. A frigate is approaching the Lock.”
Muze frowned. “Does it have clearance?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Who is it?” Jai asked.
The lieutenant averted his gaze again. Jai wished they wouldn’t do that. Taskmakers weren’t required to look down, but they often did anyway. Many believed the nonsense promulgated by Highton propaganda, that the emperor was, if not an actual deity, then close to one.
From his parents, Jai had learned about the pantheon of gods and saints worshipped by the ancient peoples of the Ruby Empire, and by some Skolians and Eubians even in this modern age. His mother had also told him about the mythology of her father’s people. On Earth, Seth had introduced him to Christianity. After all that, it
Similar Books
