Page 20 of Lhora
“Yes. It’s true. If the Beinight hadn’t passed along that information…” The man paused, and Lhora could almost hear him thinking. She wished she had the ability to read his thoughts and not just his emotions.
Another voice noted, “So, because you took the Beinight’s word, the Sarpi believes you collaborated with her? Is that what he’s accused you of? Is that what he’s calling treason?”
“That’s cark crob!” Pullid swore. “In no way can you collaborating with the Beinight be considered treason! You didn’t try to overthrow or attempt to kill him! You were trying to save his undeserving ass!”
“This whole thing is absurd!” someone yelled.
“Absurd or not, it’s our present circumstance,” Lon emphasized. “When we get to Avergild, we’ll have the chance to plead our case to the High Council. Until then, keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouths closed. Don’t say anything they might try to twist in their favor.”
“But why would the Sarpi accuse you of such a thing?” another man demanded. “It makes no sense! We rescued him, and here he is accusing you of some heinous crime you haven’t committed!”
“Hopefully we’ll find out in due time,” the Vadris commiserated with them. “Until then, stay brave.”
* * *
“Why, Father,why?”Duren demanded.
Sarpi Sov kept his head down and pretended to ignore his son as he made entries into his log book.
Realizing the man wasn’t going to answer him, he leaned over, slammed his hands on top of the desk, and went almost nose-to-nose with his parent. “You plugging know good and well we may not have survived the Tra’Mell’s attack without their intervention. We could be in the aliens’ brig this very minute. Or more likely, we could be lying dead on the poop deck if Vadris Lon hadn’t come and blasted two of those ships into oblivion.”
“He collaborated with the enemy,” Sov muttered between his teeth.
“He collaborated with someone who sees the Tra’Mell as a mutual enemy!”
Sov finally raised his face. His eyes almost glittered with fury. In a dark, threatening voice, he demanded, “Are you taking up for that Beinight?”
It was then Duren realized his father might seriously consider accusing him of treason, as well. “I’m saying the Vadris shouldn’t be charged! The man should be rewarded for coming to our rescue!”
Sov sat up straighter. “Are you saying we should reward the Vadris for committing treason?”
Uttering a growl of frustration, Duren shoved himself away from the desk and began pacing within the small cabin. He threaded the fingers of one hand through his hair and tried to control his own rising anger. “This is wrong, Father. And you know it!”
“At this time, you will address me as Sarpi! Are we clear? The charges were made to protect our lands. I did as any Sarpi would do in my circumstance. My decision was not made as your father.”
“What has Vadris Lon done to you that’s turned you against him?”
“He’s collaborated with the enemy.”
“To save our lives!”
Sov slammed a fist on the desk and jumped to his feet. “I will hear no more about this! My orders are clear! As soon as we arrive back at Avergild, I will have the High Council assembled to listen to the charges and assess punishment. In the meantime, we can announce to our people how we’ve defeated three Tra’Mellian warships, and also captured a rogue Beinight spy.”
Just as suddenly as his anger appeared, it vanished. A calmness softened his face, and the tenseness dropped from his voice. “Duren, one day you will see and understand my judgments. You still have much to learn. Trust me when I tell you, this is all for the good of our people and for all of Coltross. Now, is there anything else you wished to discuss with me? I have much to do before we land.”
Duren clenched his teeth but managed to keep any further outrage in check. “No, Sarpi. I am done here.”
“Very well. You’re dismissed. Resume your post.”
“Yes, Sarpi.” Giving his father a salute, he left the cabin and went directly to the bridge where he climbed up on the forecastle to avoid having to look at anyone. Or, more precisely, to avoid having any of the crew looking at him. They probably could already tell he was upset. They may even have had ears listening in from the other side of the walls.
I am done here.He’d given the man his word, but not all of it. By saying those words, he’d given his word he would no longer challenge or berate the Sarpi for the decisions made that day. But it didn’t mean he was done with the ordeal as a whole.
Sov couldn’t be allowed to destroy those men’s lives simply because of his hatred for the Beinight.
The Beinight.Lhora.
He believed Vadris Lon when the man said it was her informing him of the cannons being at-ready that he made the decision to go after the two smaller Tra’Mellian crafts. He knew it to be true that, without Lhora’s help, he, his father, and the crew of theCreedacould be dead or prisoners of the Tra’Mell at this very moment.
