Page 48 of Lhora
The big man nodded. “No reason to apologize, Esstiss. It’s…understandable.”
She managed to find a smile. “Please don’t call me Esstiss. Call me Lhora.” She surveyed the others on the bridge. “For the time being, it’s still imperative my real status remains cloaked. Do I have your word?”
Lon stepped forward to offer his hand. “I will personally vouch for myself and my crew.” Leaning forward, in a softer voice, he added, “It’s time that trust runs both ways, don’t you think?”
Lhora squeezed his hand in reply. “Yes. Way past time.”
23
Homecoming
It didn’t take long.
“Ess…uhh, Lhora?” Deppil glanced up from his board. “It’s theGildun.”
“Open frequency,” Lhora ordered.
After a burst of static, the voice they’d heard previously came through. “Esstiss, the Esstika requests you contact her via her private frequency.”
“Will do, Gur Ontis. Thank you.” She waved for Deppil to cut the conversation. “Open a frequency to the manse in Montismet.”
“I don’t know that log-in.”
“That’s all right. Make it wideband, but label it for the Esstika’s ears only.”
She caught Lon’s frown of confusion. “If it’s wideband, anyone can listen in,” he stated the obvious.
“That’s true. I’ve argued with my parents for years to let me have the code for a single safe and private frequency in case I had to contact them directly. They always refused for reasons I never understood.” She grinned. “Maybe now they’ll let me have it.”
“But with others overhearing…”
“I won’t say anything that could be used against us,” she promised.
The communications officer waved for her attention and signaled he was ready.
“Open frequency,” she requested, and paused long enough for two-way communication to established before speaking. “To the Esstika Kai. We are in need of three immediate actions. First, that you have your Beinight battleships currently surrounding the Coltrosstian frigateBeccanredirected to the two other Coltrosstian warships and have them escorted back into Coltrosstian airspace. Second, be aware there may be incoming Tra’Mell from the north. I repeat, enemy ships have already approached us from the north. Thirdly, that we be allowed to land in the harbor. I promised these men my protection, and I request that you honor my pledge.”
They all waited for a response. Time dragged, ramping up their already heightened nervousness. A small bell finally dinged, letting them know there was a reply.
“Coltrosstian frigateBeccan,your three requests are granted. Proceed to our harbor for docking.” The voice was female, and Lhora snorted softly.
“The frequency’s been closed on their end,” Deppil announced, and everyone in the room let out the breath they’d been holding.
Seeing the Vadris about to comment, she raised a hand for silence. He pressed on anyway. “Was that…the Esstika?”
“Yes. That was my mother giving us her blessing.”
“But how? You didn’t identify yourself,” Fobi inquired.
Lhora snickered. “She recognized my voice. I would bet my father was also present to verify. Plus I said a few words to prove it was me.”
“What words?” Lon asked.
She cast him a playful look but didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to know.
“Vadris, four of the Beinight ships have left us and are currently circling the two Coltrosstian vessels.” Yanka looked up from the radar and grinned. “They’re being redirected.”
“What about the fifth ship?”
