Page 54 of Lhora
“And? What else did they say?” Fallmin demanded softly.
Lhora shook her head. “They didn’t. That’s when Duren showed up, and right afterwards our warships.” She stared at her mother. “I’d overheard one of the crewmen on the Sarpi’s ship mention this arrangement when I was incarcerated. Having the Tra’Mell tell us the same thing on our way here confirmed my suspicions. The Sarpi is in league with the Tra’Mell to exterminate us. He’s joined forces with the enemy. But I also believe that the Sarpi is being set up, and he’s too plugging stupid to realize it. I believe that if the Tra’Mell and the Coltrosstians somehow manage to overthrow us, the Tra’Mell will turn on them, and destroy them next.”She eyed her father. “I think the Tra’Mell may have the firepower or a strength we’ve yet to encounter, and they’re keeping it under wraps until the right moment.”
“That’s a worthy thought, but why would they approach the Coltrosstians and not us?” Kai wondered aloud.
Fallmin snorted. “It’s obvious to me and your daughter. You don’t have that kind of evilness in you. You want peace more than you want war. I think the Tra’Mell know they can’t persuade, or threaten, or bribe you to the point of joining forces with them. We two countries have been continuing a delicate balance for eons. The Tra’Mell want that balance tipped.”
“I think that’s why the Sarpi threw us in his dungeon. Because we found out about this so-called arrangement. He didn’t want us to reveal his little plot. He doesn’t want anyone else to know.” She bit her lower lip. “I wonder what the Tra’Mell promised the Sarpi in exchange for his obeisance.”
“I wonder what the Tra’Mell want from our world?” Kai softly questioned. Lhora watched as her mother drained her glass. Fallmin held his out to her, but she lifted a hand to decline. “I was stunned when I heard you during your communiqué say that the Tra’Mell approached you from the north. So what do we do next? What should be our next plan of action?”
“Let’s sleep on it,” Fallmin murmured. “You always think clearer after you’ve slept.” He slid his gaze to Lhora. “What are your plans for the Sarpen?”
She paused, the rim of her glass resting on her lips. After a while, she took a sip. “I don’t know.”
“Can he be trusted?” Kai asked.
“I…don’t know. Trusted as in how?”
“Does he know about his father’s treachery?”
“He must.”
“Must isn’t good enough. You need to find out,” her father instructed.
“I will.” She emptied her glass and set it on the floor. “I’m going to call it a night. I’ll see you in the morning.” Getting to her feet, she pressed a kiss to her father’s forehead, and one to her mother’s cheek. Kai returned the kiss with one of her own.
“I’m placing two guards at your door,” the Esstika informed her with a smile. “I never want to go through that again.”
“Neither do I,” Lhora admitted. “I love you.”
“No more than we love you,” Fallmin assured her.
Feeling better than she had in a long time, Lhora left their chambers. She wasn’t surprised when a guard began following her the instant she entered the corridor. For once, being tailed didn’t bother her. In fact, it felt oddly reassuring.
* * *
“So the Tra’Mellare now on our northern shores.” Kai tapped her glass with a fingernail as she contemplated.
Fallmin got up to refresh the fire. Squatting on the hearth, he stared into the flames. “She’s going to see the boy tonight.”
He sensed his wife wasn’t surprised. “You’re certain?”
“She hungers for him. He’s created a yearning in her she doesn’t know how to answer.”
“This could pose a major problem for us.”
“I agree. But for the moment let them have their time together.” He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Who knows? They may be able to come to terms on the impossibility of a relationship on their own, and find their own solution.”
Kai studied her husband. Even though she wasn’t a torgart, there were times she could read him just the same. “You don’t really believe they’ll find a solution.”
Fallmin shook his head. “No.”
“So what are we going to do? At any moment the Sarpi is going to demand the return of his son. It’s likely he may bring in the Tra’Mell to help get him back.”
“If he does, we’ll be ready for them,” Fallmin assured her. “In the meantime, rejoice in the fact that we’ve learned the Sarpi’s little secret.” He grinned. “That puts us at a definite advantage.”
“I hope you’re right.” She sighed.
