The Shattered Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 7)

Chapter 16.2

After half an hour, Sabrina, Mira, Marie, and Tristan returned to Sabrina's apartment. It had become obvious that Tirqwin and Khediva would not have a quick answer.

Tristan raced to his food bowl, ate as though he were starving, then curled up on Sabrina's bed for a well-deserved nap. Marie and Mira went to tell their Aunt Imari of the latest development, and Sabrina hurriedly changed clothes for a meeting for which she was already late. At least, she reflected, this job kept her too busy to dwell on things she couldn't solve.

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"So where is everybody?" Scotty asked, looking around the embassy's foyer.

Andar Sastarn replied, "Danask and Wilmik are with the Guardian over at Lthos Control; Ricar and Amoret went with Stecklan to talk to the High Lord. Bendei is asleep. The ambassador and most of his staff are out at some social function. We didn't expect you back so soon, Scotty. And welcome, Lady Aurora."

"Thank you, Pilot Sastarn," Aurora replied. "I will go to Lthos Control immediately, then. Unless there is something I can accomplish here?"

She looked at Scotty, who considered suggesting she rest and then discarded the idea as a waste of breath. "Go ahead. I think I'll go talk to the High Lord, since Sabrina particularly mentioned it. Do you want an escort?"

"No, I am familiar with Lthos' capital city," Aurora replied. "Do be circumspect, Scotty. Remember that we are all subject to Lthosyenne laws while we are here."

"Hey, it's me, Mr. Circumspect," Scotty grinned, giving her a kiss. "Don't wear yourself out."

Aurora smiled at him. "I will rest as soon as I am assured Her Majesty is not in need of my services."

"Uh huh," Scotty said skeptically. "Sastarn, I'm not as familiar with Lthos as my wife. Can you show me the way?"

"It would be my pleasure," Sastarn said.

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When Scotty and Sastarn arrived at Lthos' main detention center, they were shown to an observation room where Ricar and Amoret were watching Stecklan question the High Lord.

"Hey, guys. Anything yet?" Scotty asked, while Sastarn took a seat in the back of the room.

"Nothing," Ricar replied. "That's one smug bastard, though. They won't let me talk to him anymore after I tried to wipe the smile off his face."

"You're lucky you didn't get deported," Scotty said.

"Nah, the Guardian's so pissed off, they don't want to do anything to draw her attention right now."

"I bet," Scotty said. "Think I'll go on in. Anything I should know?"

Amoret said, "He knows they have to let him go. He foolishly thinks that means he'll be safe from us. But you might be more convincing."

Scotty's grin turned dangerous. "I'll do my best."

He sauntered into the interrogation room and greeted Stecklan with a casual salute. "Major," he said. "Mind if I join this conversation?"

"You are welcome, Captain Devon," Stecklan said. "Nice to see you again, if unexpected."

"My sister sent me," he replied, taking a seat and leaning back to examine the High Lord. "So. You're the guy who ordered my sister's murder so you could blame the people you were committing genocide against. Hunh."

"I never raised a hand against your sister," Unar said. "My chancellor has been punished for his crimes."

"Yeah. Just so you know, nobody believes that story," Scotty said. "Has anybody told you Sabrina's regent of Praxatillus right now? Just married the Queen's son? She's not just some random Realm observer anymore."

"I wish her well," Unar said with a sneer.

"It's not mutual. She has withdrawn Praxatillus' request for your asylum here. Any idea where you plan to go after this?"

"I will find a new home where I am more welcome."

"I doubt it." Scotty folded his arms and cocked his head. "I admit, I'm prejudiced. You tried to have my sister killed for politics, so I think you're pretty much a waste of air. But hey, not everybody cares about that. I think they do care, though, that the Guardian will be coming after you for what you did to Marie."

"I have had no contact with Princess Marie."

"But your people have. It's quite a pattern you've got going there—lots of minions. I imagine they'll be pretty talkative when your money runs out, though. Then your plausible deniability will evaporate, and Mara will stick you so far down a hole you'll forget what sunlight ever looked like. I just hope I'm there to see it."

"You can't frighten me," Unar said. "I have friends."

"Do you? I doubt any of your friends are going to want to take on the Guardian, though." Scotty paused. "Or maybe that's been the plan all along? If so, you haven't been very smart."

Unar was silent.

"You know, I love my sister. I was pissed off when I heard what you did to her. But in the end she was okay, and she was doing her job. But Marie is just a kid. She wasn't doing a job. She wasn't any threat to you. And she turns up in a hospital all dirty and scared, with no memory. I gotta tell you, that really pisses me off." Scotty leaned forward. "They're going to cut you loose in a few minutes. You go do what you gotta do, man, because you haven't got much longer. We're gunning for you. We know what you did, even if we can't prove it, and you're going to pay for it."

"This is Lthos, not some backwards frontier planet," Unar scoffed.

"Yep. But you know what? I don't care. Besides, Lthos is going to deport you in pretty short order. I'll have plenty of chances then. You better run to your friends pretty quick and hope to hell they are smarter and faster than I am." Scotty got to his feet. "C'mon, Major. Let's go get some dinner. Gonna be a long night, I think. Good thing we've got that sharpshooter along—I haven't had to take out a long-distance target in a long time."

Stecklan followed him out of the room. When the door was safely closed, he said, "The Lthosyenne authorities are going to take a dim view of that conversation. If anything does happen to him—"

"Don't worry. I'm more interested in his friends than in him. Though if it turns out he had something to do with what happened to Ford, I may change my mind."

"What did happen?" Stecklan asked. "The Guardian hasn't said much."

"I don't think anybody knows," Scotty said. "We know what happened to his ship, but that isn't the same thing."

"How is the princess holding up?"

"Well, not so good at first. She'll keep doing her job no matter what, though. And Tirqwin and Khediva will take care of her." Scotty sighed. "Have you talked to her?"

"Yes, briefly. She cut me off when I tried to express my sympathy, though. I hope she didn't think I was being presumptuous."

"I think she just didn't want to start crying on vid," Scotty grimaced. He opened the door to the observation room. "Hey guys, where can I get a late night snack around here?"

"The embassy," Ricar said. "Sastarn, you make sure he gets there. We don't want any more missing royals."

"I'm not a royal."

"Next best thing," Ricar retorted. "Amoret and I will tail the little sneak. We'll be in touch."

"Great."

Stecklan sighed. "I don't suppose it matters to any of you that I'm supposed to be in command of this mission?"

Ricar, Amoret, Sastarn, and Scotty grinned at him and saluted.