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

Chapter 17: Love and War

Mara summoned them all to the huge, seldom-used Main Council Chamber half an hour later. She sat at the head of the long table, hardly recognizable as the dirty, disheveled figure with the grin of astonished triumph Scotty had encountered in the brain core; now she was splendid in rich blue-purple velvet, her black hair piled in glossy curls and bound with a golden circlet, and she smiled at them all with a rather smug expression.

The Council of Ministers, the Council of Trême, and various others who had been involved in the crisis—Haaron, Éllina, Therenden, Selémahs, Sabrina, and Scotty—were present, in addition to Lord Leran, who had just arrived on the Eye of Miah. Mara briefly recounted the events that began with Sabrina's kidnapping and ended with her wrenching Khediva and Shahina out of the Way.

"Homeworld will doubtless come to us now," she said. "We must be ready for their demands, and possibly for war. We must also address what we are to tell the people to explain this."

The silence was broken by a babble of agitated voices. Mara held up her hand and waited for it to subside. "We will, naturally, give back High Wayfarers Shahina and Asnefer. But Tirqwin and Khediva remain with us. I will admit no argument on this point; it has already been deemed necessary by the Council of Trême. I am willing to discuss some details of this with Homeworld; I do not intend to force Tirqwin or Khediva to become citizens of the Realm or to hold them subject to my orders. I have no need to. They have proven their loyalty to me—to us all—through their actions.

"The point we must discuss is what we will release for public consumption. It would be ill-advised, I think, to let the existence of the link be known generally. So we must come up with a reason that Tirqwin and Khediva choose to remain with us. Some of my advisers have suggested that we turn the tale into a romance."

There was a long silence. Finally Rassir said, "It does seem to be the best angle. The people will like it; it needs no further explaining; it sidesteps the question of trouble between our two planets and brings the matter down to a personal level. However, I must caution you that I doubt it will suffice as a reason to go to war, and that this story will demand some kind of happy ending. Such as a marriage. And you have not won permission for that."

Mara shrugged. "He is the only man I can marry, Prime Minister. I am trusting to the wisdom of the Ministers to see that. The Council of Trême has already indicated its interest in replenishing the Wayfarer genes in the Guardian's line. And a marriage would serve to cover the fact that we are basically keeping Tirqwin and Khediva here for our own reasons, and not because they want to stay—something our allies would take a dim view of."

Several around the table looked struck with that point of view. Mukryilla, sitting in Rayland's chair and wearing his saber uncomfortably at her hip, said, "We all know that we must avoid outright warfare with the Homeworld if we possibly can, but if we cannot, we certainly must have our allies firmly on our side, willing to give us substantial aid."

Imari said, "The Lthosyenne ambassador has already expressed to me her concern about what seems to be an attempt by Praxatillus to suborn a Wayfarer pairing. Lthos will not condone such an action, and they are our oldest, most powerful ally. We certainly cannot afford to alienate them. We must find a way to demonstrate that Tirqwin and Khediva remain here from their choice, preferably a nonpolitical choice."

Minister Ptelkar said, "But will the people of Praxatillus accept the idea of a Wayfarer Consort?"

"He is a hero, Minister, and we will emphasize his actions as such," Mara said. "He placed himself in front of an explosion to save me and Commander Rayland. And that was only the latest of many instances in which he has helped to save my life. Let us put it to the people of Praxatillus and see what the reaction is. If it is reasonably accepting, I will hope to have a positive answer from the Council of Ministers and the Council of Trême on my petition to marry Tirqwin."