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

Chapter 11: The Hostage

Image: Tirqwin by D. Denise Dianaty

It was hard for Sabrina to get to sleep that night, alone in the huge bed that still didn't seem like hers. Her mind kept replaying the scene with Malvarak, Tirqwin's good-bye, and her fears about the court-martial in the morning. But at last she dropped into a fitful doze, only to be shaken awake in the darkest part of the night.

"What? What?" she gasped, sitting up in alarm.

"Sabrina, wake up," Tirqwin said. "I need you."

"What's the matter?" she demanded, reaching for her robe and calling for the lights. "Is Mara all right? What's going on?"

"Mara is fine. I have to talk to you," Tirqwin said. He was haggard, his eyes bleak with desperation.

"What time is it?" Sabrina complained, yawning.

"I am not sure. Sabrina, please!"

"All right, all right. Have a seat. What's on your mind?" She sat back down on the bed and motioned for Tirqwin to do likewise. He sat, but almost immediately sprang up again to pace.

"I cannot—I do not know—oh, it is impossible!" he exclaimed, rubbing at his face. "I cannot go back to Homeworld, not after today. You were right—you were right all along. Mara could not bear it. But how can I stay, and risk war, and give up everything to which I have dedicated my life? And Khediva! I cannot keep her here, and I cannot let her go. If we are separated but not severed, she will become useless as a Wayship. They require active links constantly to remain anchored. If they become unanchored, they cannot navigate. Sabrina, what shall I do? What can I do? I cannot both go and stay, and yet I must! How can I choose?"

Sabrina's heart went out to him. She had never seen anyone so torn. "First," she said, "let's take this one problem at a time. Khediva has to make her own choice."

"But can you not understand that she has none?" Tirqwin burst out in despair. "She must stay with me, or be severed. If I do not agree to severance, then she must stay. Either way I must betray her—my Wayship, my partner! How can I do that? How can I even be thinking of it? To defy Homeworld is unthinkable enough, but to force Khediva to do it as well—oh, Sabrina, I should be executed for contemplating it!"

"What does Khediva say?"

"She says she will abide by my decision," Tirqwin groaned.

"Tirqwin," Sabrina said, getting up and going to him. She took his arms and pushed him down into a chair. "Listen to me. Tirqwin, look at me. Now listen. When we thought Praxatillus might execute you, Khediva told me that if they tried to, she would try to save you, even knowing they would destroy her. She is loyal to you. She wants to save you. If she says she is willing to abide by your decision, then she means it. You will not betray her. Whatever you do, you will both do together."

"If I cease to be a Tirqwin, I betray her."

Sabrina thought hard. "Tirqwin, try not to look at this as two opposing choices. It's not like having to turn left or right. It's more like...like going a step beyond. You won't stop being a Tirqwin. You'll just be more than a Tirqwin. That's all. You'll still be a Tirqwin. Nobody wants to stop you being that. Mara and the others understand. They don't expect you to give up your whole life. They will let you still be a Tirqwin, still travel with Khediva. All they insist on is that you live, for Mara's sake."

"Sabrina, that is a lie, and we both know it." He looked at her, betrayed. "How can you feed me comforting lies when you know I need sound advice?"

"I'm not feeding you lies, comfortable or otherwise! Mara's ready to make a deal with Homeworld that will let you keep on being what you are!"

He rubbed at his face again. "Perhaps. I doubt Homeworld will agree, however. And you know that to live is not all Mara expects of me, or the Miahns either. She must marry and have children. She cannot do that with anyone else while I live; therefore they will expect her to do it with me. Sabrina, I cannot!"