“He had it coming,” Comron said.
“No argument there,” Vaush replied. “But we really need to work on your timing.”
“Please be seated,” Erlacher invited them as he took a seat at the head of the table. Comron pulled out a chair for Vaush and sat to her left. Crausin regained his composure and seated himself on the other side of Erlacher. Yaeger took the empty seat next to him. There would be no more brawling until Erlacher had his say.
“It has come to my attention that there is an imperial war party on its way to Nethic to teach House Van Laven a valuable lesson about learning its place in the empire.”
Comron’s eyes widened in astonishment. “When did you learn of this? Is the source reliable?”
“Just under an hour ago and, yes, the source is highly reliable. If you’d contact your own people they’ll confirm what I’ve told you.”
“But a third of our forces have joined the battle to fight on Thalonius’ side,” Crausin said, patting his burst lip with a kerchief. “So why attack Nethic now?”
“Because they got word that the two of you are aboard this ship.”
Comron turned a hard eye on Erlacher. “How could they possible know that unless someone aboard this ship leaked the information?”
Erlacher shrugged. “Irrelevant really. The point is Thalonius knows and, therefore, believes your little fleet is merely a ruse to cover your true motives.” He gestured at Comron. “Namely, to wed your son to the empress, forming a rather ambitious alliance between Houses Hrollaugr and Van Laven. Laughable as that is.”
“That most certainly is not our goal!” Crausin cast an accusatory look at Comron. “I warned you that Nethic would pay for your unmitigated hubris.”
“Yep, Ole Thalonius plans to blast Nethic back to the Stone Age … for the second time if the archives are to be believed,” Erlacher added cavalierly.
His attitude began to grate on Comron but, obviously, Erlacher had called them here to offer them something—no doubt that something would entail him walking away from Vaush. She must have sensed the same because she reached over and squeezed his hand.
“Enough with the games, Erlacher,” Comron said. “What do you want us to do?”
“Why, save your kingdom, of course,” he replied coolly. “To accomplish this, you must convince Thalonius that you have no designs on the imperial throne, and you must do it quickly. Your father and I have come up with a plan that should satisfy all parties.”
A sickly feeling swirled in Comron’s stomach. What had this vengeful man done to him now? He took a deep breath. “I’m listening.”
“Thalonius needn’t fear you forming a marriage alliance with Vaush if you’re already married to someone else.”
Comron glanced at Crausin whose expression clearly said, I’ve beaten you.
“As we all know, you were to be married last week but in all the turmoil with the Ti-Larosian attack, the wedding was understandably postponed,” Erlacher said in a matter-of-fact tone as if he couldn’t care less that Comron and Vaush were desperately in love. “But, being the two mad love birds that you and Spira are, you couldn’t delay your nuptials a second longer, so the two of you decided to hold a small, private ceremony to exchange vows. Naturally, a grand celebration will follow once things are settled on Nethic.”
Despite the war waging inside Comron, the answer was one word and he delivered it calmly. “No.”
“You owe this to Nethic. You are her sworn protector!” Crausin shouted, nearly coming over the table at him.
“Nethic is staring down the barrel of twenty planetary destroyers,” Erlacher reminded Comron. “It will be pulverized.”
“This is extortion,” Vaush said sharply. “Grandfather, how could you do this?”
“They’re not my ships, dear,” Erlacher said.
“No, but you made damn sure they’d be pointed at Nethic by leaking Comron’s whereabouts to Thalonius,” she argued.
“I wanted to improve our odds on the battlefield by removing the Nethicaen ships from it. If the information was released during that endeavor ….” He raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “My only concern is delivering you to Novoxos.”
Comron felt the walls of his gilded cage crushing in around him once again. They were going to force him to marry Spira at gunpoint. Damn it, he would tell them whatever they needed to hear to buy Nethic enough time for the fleet to return home to defend their world. Surely, Houses Overcrom and Duvemen could be counted on to lend their forces to defend against the unprovoked, illegal acts of war.
“I will do my duty,” Comron said quietly.
“What … what are you saying?” Vaush said in shock.
He dared not look at her lest he give himself away. “Once this battle is over, I will go through with the wedding.”
Erlacher grinned broadly, perfect white teeth contrasted against rich brown skin. “I’m afraid that won’t do, my boy. The only thing that will prevent Thalonius from reducing Nethic to a smoking pile of rubble is marrying the girl now, as in within the hour.”
Comron’s disquiet grew stronger. What was really happening here? “Even if I agreed to this farce, Spira is nearly two days away even at quantum speeds.”
“Wrong, you self-serving prick,” Crausin said with perverse pleasure. “Spira’s been aboard the Valiant the whole time. That’s right. I knew it would come to this, and I prepared accordingly.”
This time, Comron started over the table. “You sick, twisted bastard. No wonder your mother killed herself to get away from you!”
“Gentlemen, leave your mothers out of this,” Erlacher quipped.
“You find this amusing?” Comron said in a threatening tone. “This is my life you’re fucking with!”
“You’ve done a phenomenal job of fucking up your own life, and now you’d like the chance to drag Vaush through your shite.”
“That’s what this is really about.” Vaush’s hazel eyes narrowed. “You don’t give a damn about removing their ships from the battlefield. You just want to remove Comron from my life. Well, that’s not going to happen, grandfather. And if you want to be a part of my life, which I pray you will, you need to accept Comron as an integral part of it.”
“Oh, I accept that he will be a part of your life. I only object to him as your husband-consort and that is a non-negotiable point.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “How dare you! I will choose my husband. No one else will make that decision for me.”
“Naturally, but you won’t be choosing Van Laven,” he said, jabbing a finger at Comron. “Because he’s going to do the noble thing and marry Spira to save his world.”
She turned to Comron. “Is this even a real threat? Contact your people and find out if—” she paused as the comp-pad came sliding across the table.
“You see, it’s been verified,” Crausin said as Comron read the communications.
“How do we know you didn’t fabricate those transmissions, you slithering snake,” Vaush said in a tone hard as nails. “You’d stop at nothing to take him from me.”
“You should be thanking me,” Crausin said with a wicked glint in his eyes. “Remember I was inside his head. He doesn’t give a shite about you; you’re just an expedient route to the imperial throne.”
“Enough!” Comron barked. “Another word out of you and I swear I’ll snap your crooked neck.”
Crausin glared at Vaush. “Then muzzle your bitch.”
In a flash, Erlacher and Yaeger had their blast guns aimed directly at Crausin’s head. “Insult Her Majesty again and we’ll be scraping your brains off that wall,” Erlacher said.
“Why wait?” Comron said, leveling a blistering look at Crausin. “Go ahead and put the demented devil out of his misery.”
“The upcoming skirmish would be the perfect cover, all sorts of shite could happen,” Erlacher said with a barrel grazing Crausin’s temple. “I could make his throne a wedding gift to you.”
“You’ve made your point, Gene
ral,” Crausin said through tight lips.
“As long as we understand one another,” Erlacher said, withdrawing his gun. Yaeger followed suit.
If Erlacher weren’t forcing him to do the unthinkable, Comron thought he could actually learn to like the man. But as it stood, he was clearly the enemy who held his world as ransom. Could Vaush ever understand? Would it be too much for her to bear? They were already married, he would argue, any marriage entered now would be rendered void once it became public knowledge. Nonetheless, to the world, Spira would be his wife and Vaush the maligned mistress. The very thing she swore she’d never be.
“Back to business then,” Erlacher said, “Captain Yaeger here can perform the ceremony and I’ve the authority to sign the marriage decree.”
Comron locked eyes with Yaeger.
“What?” Yaeger said innocently. “We’re still square. Aren’t we, Van Laven?”
“Have you all lost your bleeding minds?” Vaush exclaimed. “This wedding will take place over my dead body!”
Crausin started to speak but wisely held his tongue.
“Vaush,” Comron said, reaching for her hand but she snatched it away. “The reports have been confirmed. They’ll burn Nethic to the ground. Can you live with that?”
“Better than I can live with you being married to Spira!” The moment she spoke the words, he could tell she deeply regretted it. She closed her eyes in quiet frustration. “No, I can’t live with it.”
“Vaush, honey,” Erlacher said, “Thalonius believes Nethic is behind this whole campaign to deliver you to Novoxos. He’s already sharpened his claws on the Ti-Larosian fleet and now he means to go in for the kill with Nethic.”
She gave Comron an exasperated look as if to say, why aren’t you fighting this?
He met her gaze with a stern one. Our secret marriage is the master weapon that will nullify this nonsense. Let’s beat them at their own game.
He saw her eyes narrow at the odd sound of his voice in her head. He’d been equally shocked the first time he’d heard hers during Crausin’s attack. Another gift of the essence.
You expect me to share you with her? The very thought of it sickens me!
“What would you have me do, Vaush?” he shouted in his anguish. “Tell me and I’ll do it.” You are no mistress whore; you are my wife! And I’m begging you to set aside your pride until the time is right to reveal our marriage to the world.
“This isn’t about my pride!” she lashed out.
“You know that Spira will never share my bed nor will she ever know a moment’s kindness from me.” So what else could it be other than your stubborn pride?
“But they’ll all think—”
“They’ll all know that it is you that I love, and that I’ve been forced into this wretched marriage.” Please, Vaush. When your rule has been established and you’ve grown powerful enough to where it won’t matter, we will tell the empire the truth!
He watched her wrestle with her convictions, trying to come to terms with the very thing she swore she’d never be. Alas, Comron would know which Vaush treasured most—their relationship or her lofty principles.
She finally lifted her eyes to him. What choice do I have? I am yours.
Though his heart delighted at her words of surrender, he chose to bear her pain alongside her. “Vaush.” He gathered her into his arms as tears welled in her eyes. “I hate this even more than you do, but we will have our day.”
He glanced at Crausin who sat there looking smug and self-content as if he’d bested them. Comron could endure that, but when Crausin’s eyes fell upon Vaush, gloating over her defeat, his rage boiled to the surface.
I could have forgiven all the wrong you’ve done to me, Crausin. But I’ll never forgive you for the wrong you’ve done to Vaush. And someday when you think all is forgotten … I’m going to destroy you and take your throne.
He felt a small degree of satisfaction as Crausin’s smugness fell away.
Even Erlacher seemed moved by Vaush’s grief. “I’m sorry, my dear, but we must proceed without further delay. Please, let Comron take you back to your quarters before the ceremony starts.”
She gripped Comron’s arm, but made no further objection. He stroked her hair and softly kissed her brow. “Come on, love.” He rose from the chair and took her by the hand.
“You’ll come to me when it’s over?” she asked timidly.
It pained him seeing her so vulnerable and unsure of herself, but he loved her all the more tenderly for it. “The very second it’s over.”
They walked out onto the bridge like a couple condemned. He wished he could say something to lessen her pain, or reassure her. But the argument had been made and won, and now there was nothing to do but live with it.
As they approached the exit, the doors parted before them and there stood Lady Spira Eskridge and her mother, the Duchess of Garonne.
“Comron?” Spira said, her sky-blue eyes were wide with newfound appreciation for him. Mortified that Vaush should have to confront her, he was a moment gathering his wits. Spira approached as if irresistibly drawn to him. Her tone grew sultry, “Comron ….”
He pushed past her without a word, urging Vaush along with him. As the doors slid shut behind them, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Vaush. “I am so incredibly sorry that—”
“She’s even more beautiful in person than she is in her holograms,” Vaush said with eyes downcast as they walked down the corridor. “I must be insane to let you do this.”
“Beautiful?” Comron scoffed. “Compared to you, she’s a hideous troll.”
She cut her eyes at him. “A troll most men would kill to marry.”
“Then I must not be most men.” He inclined his head at her. “For starters, I’ve been Murkudahl-bound to one woman for the rest of my life. No one can even begin to compare to you, Vaush.” His words seemed to soften the rigid set of her shoulders. For good measure, he whispered, “Besides, Spira smells like a dead codfish.”
A sharp laugh escaped Vaush before she clamped a hand over her mouth. “That’s a lie,” she said, trying to hide her smile. He knew then that they would successfully weather this storm just as they had the others.
“A lie?” He shrugged. “Maybe, but that didn’t stop her from throwing a vase at my head when I told her that.”
“You didn’t.” Vaush laughed again. “You have no idea how much I hate this arrangement, but I’m beginning to suspect that Spira will hate it even more.”
Comron smiled. “You know, I intend to spend every waking moment with you. So, I really won’t have a clue as to how miserable she is. Nor will I care.” He laced his fingers through hers as they walked along. “I am yours alone, love.”
CHAPTER 73
Vaush sat in the living room chair once again, feeling utterly blindsided by recent events. How much more could she endure before she finally snapped under the strain of it all? The one constant that she could cling to was Comron’s abiding love for her. Even after his marriage to Spira, she would trust in it and depend on it to carry them through the difficult times ahead.
Still the thought of him exchanging vows with Spira felt like burning acid in her veins.
Seeking distraction, she rose from the chair and began pacing as she focused on the battle ahead and what might be if she reached Novoxos. In less than a decade, the Kurukaii would descend upon their empire to wreak fiery retribution on it. All those who were not slaughtered would be subjugated into slavery.
Chaiyse, can we really avoid this fate? Filled with the sudden need for reassurance from the Murkudahl, she started for the door. Comron was on the other side of it.
“Comron!” she said and checked the time. “That was fast.”
“The battle is about to be underway, so Erlacher rushed things along,” he explained.
“And your blushing b—” It was still too painful to say it. “Where’s Spira?”
“I put her on a shuttle back to the Valiant. Crausin’s gone as well.
”
“Ah, I sensed that evil had departed the ship,” she quipped. “And what of Nethic? Did we save the village?”
Comron nodded somberly. “Thalonius called off his dogs. Nethic will live to see another day.”
“Then it was worth the sacrifice,” she said with genuine feeling. “But there’s something else we need to discuss, and I can’t put it off any longer.” When she saw the concerned look on his face, she quickly added. “No, we’re fine. It’s the rest of the empire that I’m concerned about. Come, you might want to be seated for this.”
She led him to the couch and proceeded to regale him with all that Bhedrus and Chaiyse had shown her. He listened intently, completely riveted by the vivid imagery she painted of epic battle scenes, advanced alien weaponry, and warrior cunning. But when she arrived at the end and related the horrible fate that awaited her and the empire, he became quite riled.
“If it’s war the Kurukaii want, it’s war they’ll have. We’ll make damn good use of the next ten years to prepare. Vaush, imagine what we’ll be once we’ve learned to harness and master these new powers and abilities. If we have to build an army of those like us to combat them, we will. As for their penchant for starting at the head, they’ll have to cut through me first. And heaven help them if they try,” he said as if thirsting for their blood. “So, yes, let them come.”
Never before had she dared to hope that they could combat the Kurukaii if Chaiyse and Bhedrus failed in their peace mission. But the fervor with which Comron spoke awakened something in Vaush that made her feel invincible and eager to fight alongside him. After all, would the Kurukaii prove to be so different from any of the other deadly obstacles they’d faced?
A knock at the door stirred her from her reverie. Comron answered it.
“Erlacher has requested that both of you come to the bridge,” DeOrchis said to Comron, “It will be the safest place during the fighting.”
“Agreed, let’s go,” Comron said.
The battle had been engaged by the time they reached the bridge and joined the skeleton crew of Erlacher, Yaeger, DeOrchis and—much to his surprise—the Murkudahl, Chaiyse and Bhedrus.