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

Chapter 3.2

Sabrina followed the lieutenant through the bland corridors of the underground complex, frowning as she tried to figure out what was in store for her. "Did the Commander say why he wanted to see me?"

"No, ma'am."

She almost asked if she were being arrested, but she thought better of it. Even if they were planning to do something to her, Mara would come to her rescue fairly soon. And Scotty wouldn't let her stay missing for long, either.

Her misgivings grew as she realized they were heading into another detention area, and when her escort stood aside for her to enter an opening door, she almost refused. But she realized the futility of making a scene and, with a deep breath, stepped over the threshold.

"Miss Devon," Rayland greeted her soberly. "Thank you for coming so quickly."

He makes it sound like I had a choice. Did I, or is he just being polite? "Can I help you somehow, Commander?" she asked.

"There is a person here who says you will vouch for him." Rayland's expression of distaste would have been comical, Sabrina thought, if his generally tragic air allowed comedy.

Sabrina looked around the room, empty except for the two of them. Rayland answered her unspoken question. "He is on his way."

Sabrina wondered who the person in question could be. She didn't know anyone on Praxatillus well enough to vouch for them, except Haaron, and he was safely with Tirqwin. And it couldn't be Scotty; he was Rayland's aide and surely needed no one to vouch for him.

The door behind her slid open, and her jaw dropped in shock as she recognized the man who stepped through it. "Malvarak!"

He had cut his hair short, and his face bore lines that had not been there before, but it was definitely him. His grey eyes lightened as he looked at her. "Well met, Sabrina," he said, with the hint of his old smile. "Tell these fellows, would you, that if I had any nefarious purposes in mind I would hardly walk straight into their arms."

"He's a friend," Sabrina told Rayland. "He's Tirqwin's kinsman. We met him several times, and he helped us."

"You may wait outside," Rayland said to Malvarak.

Malvarak grinned at Sabrina and left. Rayland said, "So he is who he claims to be, then. Miss Devon, I know that you do not agree with our decision to take Tirqwin into custody, so you will probably not like what I am about to ask you. But rest assured it is in the Queen's best interest."

"Let me guess," Sabrina said, folding her arms. "You don't want Malvarak to know about Tirqwin's arrest either."

"Precisely." Rayland looked relieved. "If he were to report it to the Wayfarer Homeworld, it could lead to an interstellar incident. Perhaps even war. We will notify Homeworld ourselves when we are ready to press the case against Tirqwin, but in the meantime it is important that this investigation be kept secret."

"Commander," Sabrina said, with a straight look, "you have the wrong man. However, I know that Tirqwin wouldn't want to become the cause of friction between Homeworld and Praxatillus, especially right now when Mara's reign has barely begun. So I'll keep your little secret as long as I can. But what in the world can I tell Malvarak when he asks me where Tirqwin is? I'm having a hard enough time keeping Mara in the dark!"

"In the dark?" Rayland echoed blankly.

"Out of the secret," Sabrina clarified testily. 

"Ah." Rayland frowned. "Miss Devon, I hardly need to remind you that the Queen's position right now is a delicate one. It will become even more so when the news of Tirqwin's arrest is made public. Associating with another Wayfarer will not help matters. I think we should encourage this Malvarak to be on his way as soon as possible."