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  “And what becomes of the new council, this Triad I’ve been hearing so much about?” Mirella scooted to the edge of the sofa and adjusted the fall of her silver-blue skirt. Unlike her grandmother, Mirella favored simple, elegant gowns.

  “Members of the Triad will be arrested, or executed, depending on how hard they fight to retain their illegitimate power. You are the rightful ruler of Rodymia. Once the people rise up, they will have no choice but to accept it.”

  She stood, intrigued despite her grandmother’s obvious disapproval. She had two older half-brothers born before their mother was taken captive by Pern Keire. They were full-blooded Bilarrian and one would become King of the coastal region of Erotious once their grandmother died or finally agreed to step down. Mirella had always been somewhat an outsider, so her interest in the battle born rebellion would in no way compromise the stability of her Bilarrian family. Of course, her grandmother wouldn’t see it that way.

  “Uncle Quinton is still the rightful ruler of Rodymia,” Mirella stressed. “Shouldn’t our focus be securing his release?” She watched Paytor closely, lightly scanning for any hint of dishonesty. Menjani females were known for two things, the exceptional strength of their magic and their unique beauty. Mirella had always wondered which quality had drawn the attention of Pern Kiere to her mother all those years before.

  “As I mentioned, Quinton has not earned the respect of his people. I believe most would prefer to support you.”

  Queen Aurelia sneered. “Until the political tide shifted again and Mirella falls out of favor.” She too began addressing Mirella directly. “You can’t trust Rodytes. They are violent, inconstant creatures with no loyalty or honor.”

  “I’m half Rodyte, Grandmother. Am I also disloyal and lacking in honor?”

  “You were trained to think like a Bilarrian,” she countered with an upraised chin. “Your mother’s blood is much stronger than your father’s.”

  She moved toward the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the entire room, momentarily turning her back on the others. Her bodyguards followed in her wake, a constant shadow she’d grown accustomed to years ago. Her movement drew the attention of AG Paytor’s silent companion. She’d nearly forgotten he was there until his purple-ringed gaze locked with hers. Awareness arced between them, sending tingles down her spine. His expression was still blank, but myriad emotions swam within those intense dark eyes.

  Dragging her attention away from the mysterious Rodyte, she looked out across Lantifore Bay. Crystal-blue water spread out as far as the eye could see. Occupants of Erotious honored Water. It was the element that fueled their abilities. And those with royal blood felt Water’s call more strongly than any other. “I need to assess the situation for myself.”

  “Absolutely not,” Queen Aurelia insisted. “What’s to keep the rebels from throwing you in a prison cell right alongside your uncle? It’s simply out of the question.”

  For a long, silent moment she watched the waves pound against the steep cliffs in the distance, soothed by the rhythmic crashing. Sunlight bathed the scene in gold and there wasn’t a cloud in the vivid blue sky. Seaview Palace was small and secluded, which was why she and her grandmother spent so much time here. Mirella’s brothers loved court life. They thrived on the lavishness and intrigue. Not so with Mirella. She found life at court superficial and tiring.

  It was unlikely the Rodyte elite were any more grounded than Bilarrian aristocracy, but Mirella needed to make that determination for herself. And thanks to her mother’s protective instincts, there was another way. Pern had snatched her mother from a crowded party. He knew she was a member of the Bilarrian elite, but he never realized he’d kidnaped a princess. Mirella’s mother had contrived a false background to make sure he never knew.

  “I won’t go as Mirella Keire, battle born daughter of Pern. I’ll go as Mirella Menjani, ambassador for Queen Aurelia.”

  “No.”

  She ignored her grandmother’s objection and went on as if Queen Aurelia hadn’t spoken. “Once I’ve had a chance to analyze the situation, I’ll either return to Bilarri or reveal my identity to my father’s people.”

  “We are your people too, Princess.” As if to prove his point, AG Paytor swept into a courtly bow.

  “I forbid it!” Queen Aurelia grabbed Mirella’s arm and spun her around. “You’re not going and that’s final.”

  “Perhaps I can help alleviate some of your misgivings.” AG Paytor motioned his companion forward. “This is Commander Xorran Blytor, my second-in-command. He has worked extensively in the field and has in-depth knowledge of court happenings. He can accompany Princess Mirella if you like. He would be an excellent source of information as well as another layer of protection. As I’m sure you’ve heard, battle born soldiers are trained from a very early age to be ruthless and effective.”

  “The rebels won’t question why your second-in-command is accompanying a Bilarrian princess?” Mirella looked at Xorran, pleased to finally know his name, then she turned back to the wily general. Paytor clearly had ulterior motives for wanting his man to join her entourage, but she was just curious enough to allow it.

  “Many know my name,” Xorran finally spoke, “but very few have ever seen my face. If there is even a chance that we will encounter the enemy, we are required to wear our helmets.”

  “That’s all well and good until he passes in front of an identity scanner,” Queen Aurelia pointed out.

  “I have agents inside palace security,” Paytor assured. “They’ll attach Xorran’s image to whatever identity he decides to use. I made this suggestion to ease your concerns, not add to them.”

  Crossing her arms with a sniff, Queen Aurelia shook her head. “I still don’t like it.”

  Mirella was hard to rile, but once provoked, her Menjani stubbornness engaged. “I’m not a child, Grandmother. And Mother taught me to love and respect both sides of my heritage. If Rodymia honestly needs me, I will go. And that’s final.”

  Queen Aurelia glowered at her for a long tense moment, then suddenly swept her into a tight hug. “You are more like your mother every day.”

  Warmth and sadness washed over Mirella as she enjoyed the rare show of affection. After a long pause, Mirella eased back and said, “I miss her too.”

  AG Paytor cleared his throat as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I’ll make all the arrangements and—”

  “You’ll do no such thing,” Queen Aurelia stressed. “If she’s going to represent House Menjani, she will arrive with enough pomp and pageantry to leave no doubt whatsoever that this upstart Triad has encountered Bilarrian royalty.”

  * * * * *

  Letos fidgeted on his tall-backed chair, stifling a yawn for the third time in twenty minutes.

  “Are we boring you?” Bandar asked with a rumbling laugh.

  “We can reconvene after you’ve had a nap,” Haven offered with a playful smile.

  After indulging in a frustrated sigh, Letos pushed back his chair and stood. “I ended up with three council meetings all in the same day.” He raised his hand to the back of his neck and rubbed, then rolled his shoulders. “It’s hard to believe that inactivity can be so brutal.” Integration Guild elders had met that morning. The steering committee, which consisted of all eight guild masters met after lunch. And now he was taking part in the Triad, most powerful of all Rodyte councils. Letos didn’t mind belonging to so many governing bodies, but having all three take place in one day was enough to make anyone stir-crazy.

  Integration Guild Headquarters had the best security on the planet so all council meetings were being held here until the situation became less volatile. Besides, all of Quinton’s spybots had yet to be located in the palace and other royal residences. Until Letos’s security teams deemed the buildings clear, nothing of importance could go on there.

  “Well, I can help make this meeting short and sweet.” Bandar Nox represented the battle born, lifelong soldiers who were looked down on by the elite and had never
had a voice in government until the Triad’s formation. “There’s only one item I need on the agenda. Nothing else matters until this is resolved.”

  “Paytor?” Haven guessed. She represented Tandori Tribe and all their followers. Tandori Tribe was the oldest and most beloved of all Rodyte great houses. They’d been driven into exile on Earth while the Keire family ruled Rodymia, but Quinton Keire’s removal from the throne had allowed them to return to the planet so many still considered home.

  And then there was him, Letos. He represented the eight guilds, as well as the other elite families across the face of Rodymia. Their numbers were small compared to the other socio-economic groups, but they were wealthy. And wealth equaled power. Always had and likely always would.

  Letos forced his rambling thoughts back to the present. The stately council chamber was large enough to accommodate a twenty-person council and a hundred observers. At the moment, however, the three Triad members were alone in the echoing room.

  “I agree that AG Paytor is a problem.” Letos returned to his place at the head of the table, but rather than sit he stood behind his chair and rested his forearms on the chair’s high back. “Especially as long as he commands the Triumphant. We have to regain control of that ship.” The Triumphant was a massive, mobile base housing hundreds of smaller ships and over six thousand soldiers. The new power structure on Rodymia would never be secure as long as Paytor was on the loose with that much firepower. “You’re the resident military expert, Bandar. How do you suggest we resolve the problem?”

  “All of the elite officers, many with ships of their own, flocked to Paytor after we deposed Quinton,” Bandar began.

  “How many officers are elite?” Haven wanted to know.

  “About thirteen percent,” Bandar told her, “but they all have battle born crews. That’s a significant weakness we should be able to exploit.”

  Letos shook his head. “Encouraging the crews to mutiny sets a dangerous president. As you’re well aware, the military can’t operate without discipline. We need to—”

  One of the large double doors on the far side of the council chamber burst open and a uniformed guard rushed in. “There’s a group of Bilarrians here,” he announced without the usual formality, clearly flustered by the visitors. “The female insists she’s an ambassador for one of Bilarri’s rulers.”

  “Who let a group of Bilarrians inside the building?” Bandar looked at Letos and glared. “I thought IG security was the best money could buy.”

  Rather than responding to the provocation, he asked the guard, “How did they arrive?”

  “They walked in the front door and asked for an audience.” He glanced at Bandar as he added, “She has an introduction from queen something-or-other. I figured I better ask what you want to do before I tossed them out.”

  “Did she say what she wants?” Bandar asked, eyes narrowed. The battle born were actively involved in the war, so they tended to resent all things Bilarrian.

  “Bring her in,” Haven countered. “I’d rather hear it from her.”

  “There are protocols for establishing an ambassador,” Letos told them as the guard left the room. “None of Bilarri’s regional rulers have submitted an application since the war began.”

  “Perhaps it’s time that changed.”

  Though they hadn’t worked together long, Haven’s perpetual optimism amused Letos. It didn’t seem to matter what they discussed, Haven found the sunny side of any subject.

  The guard returned a few minutes later followed by a parade of Bilarrians. Four burly guards, decked out in red-and-gold uniforms, surrounded a female so tiny she was eclipsed by their tall bodies. Beside her strode a tall, dark-haired man. He was dressed in a business suit, but every move he made screamed military. Letos shifted his weight, trying to get a better look at their visitor. All he could see was the top of the female’s head and the occasional swish of her pale blue skirt. Her hair was a unique combination of metallic hues, silver, gold and bronze.

  The conference table could comfortably seat twenty, so the Triad congregated at one end. As if mesmerized by the spectacle, Bandar and Haven stood and watched the self-proclaimed ambassador cross the room. When the small procession reached their end of the table, the front two guards moved to the side. The other two remained behind her, and the man in the business suit stayed at her side.

  “Good evening.” She spoke Rodyte with the barest hint of an accent, her voice light and musical. “I’m Mirella Menjani, ambassador for Queen Aurelia of Erotious.” She proffered her hand, a translucent com-crystal resting in the middle of her palm.

  Haven took the light green crystal from Mirella and placed it on the table. After activating the small device, she stepped back so everyone could see the holo-message. Yellow light inside the crystal gradually brightened until an image arose from its faceted surface. The likeness of Queen Aurelia, resplendent in red and gold, smiled at them. “I regret not being able to address you in person, but Mirella speaks for me and has the authority to negotiate on my behalf. Please extend her all the courtesy and consideration you would offer me.” She nodded once, and then the crystal blinked off.

  When no one spoke, Mirella continued the introductions. “This is my personal assistant, Entor.”

  Personal assistant? Letos gave the man another quick onceover, then dismissed the claim as impossible. But rather than waste energy trying to unravel her motivation for lying about his role, Letos focused on the female before him.

  Sculpted with inherent elegance, her features were symmetrical and appealing. She wasn’t the most beautiful female Letos had ever seen, yet something about her made it hard to look away. Her gown was rather simple for a royal ambassador. Still anything more elaborate would have detracted from her delicate beauty. A headband constructed of braided silver and shimmering pale blue stones spanned her forehead, then disappeared beneath her multitoned hair. Large, dark eyes dominated her other features. The endless depths were so captivating it took him a moment to realize she had no phitons, at least none were visible at the moment. How strange. He’d never met a Bilarrian, or a Rodyte, without incandescent rings in their eyes. Was she able to alter her appearance, or was she not full-blooded Bilarrian?

  Never before had he been so captivated by the appearance of a female.

  Haven stepped forward and dipped her head toward Mirella. “I’m Haven, representing Tandori Tribe. It’s nice to meet you.” She motioned across the table. “This is Bandar Nox, our battle born representative.” She swept her hand toward the head of the table. “And this is Letos. He represents the elite, including all eight guilds.”

  Mirella nodded toward each of the men in turn. Her dark gaze met Letos’s for only a moment, but the strange awareness lingered long after she looked away.

  Letos shook away the distraction long enough to remember his manners. “Would you like to sit?”

  “Thank you.” Her personal assistant pulled out the chair beside Haven’s before Letos could do so himself. Then the man took up a protective position directly behind his mistress. The burly male might keep track of her appointments and escort her from place to place, but he was no mere assistant. Of that Letos had no doubt.

  “What brings you to Rodymia?” Bandar asked as he returned to his seat. “It’s been many years since any Bilarrian visited in an official capacity.”

  Haven and Letos sat down as well.

  A serene smile parted Mirella’s lips, revealing a hint of even white teeth. “Our planets are at war, Mr. Nox. That can’t be surprising.”

  “It’s Commander Nox, and the absence of other ambassadors is less surprising than your appearance here today. Why are you here?”

  “If you’d like me to leave, you have only to ask.” Annoyance crept into her tone, yet her expression remained calm, unaffected.

  “I’m new to politics,” Haven admitted, an obvious attempt to deescalate the rapidly building tension. “Which area of Bilarri does your family control?” The fact that she’d r
ecognized Mirella’s last name as belonging to one of the royal houses revealed that she wasn’t quiet as ignorant as she was pretending, but Mirella didn’t seem to take offense.

  “The primary landmass on Bilarri is a massive island,” Mirella told her. “We control Erotious, which encompasses the entire coastline.”

  “Seventy-five percent of Bilarrians live in or around the coastal cities,” Letos told the others. It was against the law to do business with Bilarri directly, but the IG had many customers who traded with Bilarrians. Because of the indirect connection, Letos found it necessary to keep himself current on Bilarrian happenings. “Queen Aurelia controls the ports, which means she controls trade. Most would agree that she’s the most powerful of the four reginal monarchs.”

  “That’s a fair assessment.” Mirella looked at him and smiled. “My grandmother would approve.”

  Letos felt the strangest yearning take root inside him. She was a direct descendant of the queen not some distant cousin. This grew more interesting by the moment. He took a deep breath, forcing his emotions to stabilize so he could think logically. “Though his tone was rather brisk, Bandar’s question was fair. What brings you to Rodymia?”

  “Did you honestly believe your actions would go unnoticed? You usurped a rightful king. That sort of temerity makes other rightful monarchs uncomfortable. However.” She raised her hand, halting their objections before anyone spoke. “Few rightful kings deserved it as much as Quinton Keire. I’m not here to argue for his reinstatement. I simply want to understand the new direction your world intends to take and determine if these developments will affect Bilarri.”

  Even Bandar seemed to relax. If her appearance was truly as innocuous as she claimed, they had nothing to worry about. Bilarri was their closest neighbor. Despite the ongoing hostilities, the two planets were connected whether they wanted to admit the fact or not. Rodymia had been settled by Bilarrian refuges after all. “Our intentions are self-evident,” Letos told her. “We’re attempting to create a government more accessible to all Rodytes.”