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

Chapter 2.1

A guard showed Sabrina to her apartment. Before, she had been part of Mara's suite and had stayed in her rooms, but now she had her own in an entirely separate building from the royal residence. The apartment seemed huge, with three bedrooms, a study, a formal dining room, a living room, a spacious bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, and an informal dining area. The main bedroom was dominated by a bed that Sabrina estimated would sleep eight on a bet. It was all faded and a little dusty, but with a little work it could be very nice, she thought.

As she explored the study, she noticed a small golden light winking on the desk. It was a comconsole, and after a few minutes' contemplation of the controls she decided it meant there was a message for her. Her heart leaped as she guessed it was Mara, wanting her back.

When Haaron's face came up on the screen, she was surprised, but not disappointed. He would be an ally, she was sure, and the thought of having some help was encouraging. During his time aboard Khediva as Mara's other bodyguard, he had grown to be her confidant, and she badly needed one now.

"Sabrina," the message said, "I've heard that you returned to Praxatillus with Her Majesty on this sad occasion. If you have time, I would like very much for us to renew our acquaintance. Please let me know if you wish to see me, and when. I would very much like to see you; there is so much I want to tell you." He smiled. "I will wait to hear from you."

He signed off, and Sabrina pounced on the console, then hesitated. Her room might or might not be monitored (she guessed it was), but her communications certainly were. So whatever she told Haaron had to be discreet enough not to further arouse suspicions against her. They couldn't talk freely over the comconsole, or even in her rooms, and she wasn't familiar enough with Dansestari to appoint a safe meeting place. They might even bug Haaron's home if they had warning she was going there.

"Khediva!" she said aloud as the answer to her dilemma occurred to her.

"Yes, Sabrina?" the Ship said, almost eagerly.

"I'd like to come up and get my things now. Is that all right?"

Khediva sounded puzzled. "Of course it is."

"And would you mind if I brought some help? I have an awful lot of stuff."

"Sabrina, do as you see fit," Khediva said, after a long pause. Sabrina wondered if she had consulted Tirqwin. "I would like to see Lieutenant Haaron again if that is the help in question."

Sabrina smiled. "Yes, it is. If I can just figure out this comconsole."

"His code will be in the short-term memory of the unit," Khediva said. "Simply choose the 'reply' option and it will access Haaron's unit."

"Automatic call-back. I like it," Sabrina said, pulling up the unit's menu and pressing the appropriate sensor pad.

After a moment, Haaron's face appeared on the screen, lit with surprise and pleasure. "Sabrina! I hadn't hoped for such a quick response. You look wonderful; you are well?"

"Yes, thanks. You look much better than the last time I saw you," Sabrina replied. "Praxatillus has done you good."

"Yes, in many ways," he said. "Do you have time to see me? I'd like to talk to you, if I may."

"Of course. In fact, if you don't mind being put to work, I've got a ton of stuff to bring down from Khediva for Mara and me. Um, the Queen, I mean," she corrected herself guiltily.

Haaron smiled somberly. "Finding the transition difficult, Sabrina? Well, I'm sure you of all people have earned the right to call our Queen by her familiar name. And I would not at all mind assisting you; I should like to see Khediva again."