A Way of Honor (Champions of the Crystal Book 2)

Chapter 1.2

It was a beautiful spring day on the island of Dansestari, with the freshness of the cool air evident even beneath the force dome over Palace Royal. They found themselves in the central courtyard of the vast, labyrinthine structure, where a reception committee awaited them. Sabrina recognized Rassir, the Prime Minister; Rayland, the Commander of the Planetary Defense Forces and the late King's brother; and Imari, First Chair of the Miahn Council of Trême and Mara's great-aunt. There were two other military officers present she didn't recognize, standing behind the others. She and Scotty and Tirqwin stood motionless, waiting as protocol required for Mara to make the first move.

The Queen stepped forward and formally greeted Rassir, Imari, and Rayland while Sabrina watched the Praxatillians, puzzled. There was an awkward, slightly hostile air here that seemed mostly directed at Tirqwin, and to a lesser degree at her and Scotty, and she wondered in sudden panic if, their purpose served, they were about to be brushed off. Thanks for all your help, but she's ours now. Have a nice trip home. No, she reminded herself, Mara was in charge here, and she would never part with them so lightly.

She tuned back in to the proceedings to see Mara walking off with Imari and Rassir. Rayland acknowledged Scotty's salute and said, "Allow me to escort you to a comfortable waiting place while Her Majesty pays her respects to her father."

"Certainly," Tirqwin said.

Rayland's two officers fell into step behind the travelers as they followed the commander into the nearest section of the palace. Sabrina felt a little slighted; she would have liked to have paid her respects to the dead King as well. But maybe it's better this way. Maybe I should want to remember him like the last time I saw him. Looking at a corpse wouldn't show me that kind old man again.

They reached a spacious formal room, and Rayland gestured for the Devons to enter. "Tirqwin," he said, "if you would accompany me, there are things we must discuss."

"Of course," Tirqwin said.

The door closed, leaving Sabrina and Scotty alone in the room—or so they thought. The siblings jumped a little as a youngish man emerged from the shadows at the other end of the room and said, "Welcome back, Miss Devon."

"Therenden, it's good to see you," she replied hesitantly. "I wish it were at a happier time."

Therenden nodded, walking over to them and looking at Scotty. Sabrina hastily added, "This is my brother, Scott Devon. Scotty, this is Therenden, er—" his last name escaped her, and she substituted, "deputy to the Minister of Justice."

"Welcome, Lieutenant Devon," Therenden said. "I am Therenden nar Jhovhar."

Scotty stuck out his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Therenden hesitated, then shook his hand. "Will you both be seated? It must have been a wearing journey home."

Sabrina looked away, as if seeing something long vanished. "Funeral journeys always are." She paused, then ventured a question that had troubled her even on Allyria. "Did he...suffer much? At the end?"

Therenden gave her a strange look. "It was very quick."

"That's how I want to go," Scotty remarked, to fill the awkward silence. "Quick. Preferably in my sleep."

"I would have thought you aspired to a death in battle."

"Nah. I intend to be good enough to live to retire," Scotty replied. "Die of old age, like the King."

Again that look from Therenden, as if he suspected them of joking but didn't dare let on.

The door opened suddenly, and Therenden looked relieved as he said, "My lord, Commander, may I present Sabrina Devon and Lieutenant Scott Devon. Miss Devon, Lieutenant, I present Androvar nar Ptelkar, Minister of Justice, and Subcommander Treva nar Mukryilla of the Planetary Defense Forces."