Page 7 of Lhora
“Why did you not ask for an audience before you left Avergild?” the Esstika continued. “You could have been shot out of the skies by my fleet.”
“I tried to, but the Tra’Mell were blocking our transmissions,” Sov informed her. “It wasn’t until after we entered Beinight airspace that we were able to get a call out to you.”
Kai pressed her palms together and laid the fingertips against her mouth. Her mother was thinking, evaluating the truthfulness in the statement. The Esstika glanced around the room, the last person being the commander before returning her gaze to those gathered at the table. It was another trick the woman used. Lhora checked her father. His head was slightly bowed, as if he was staring at the floor. In truth, he was signaling that the comment had some truth to it, but not all of the statement was fact. Had it been completely true, he would have met her eyes with his. A total fabrication, and he would have been scowling, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The Sarpi was hiding something, and that something could become a problem.
Kai cleared her throat. “What do you propose?” she finally inquired. “What are your plans? And what are you asking of us?”
Sov leaned over his plate. “Have you been keeping tabs on how far north the Tra’Mell have advanced from our southern borders?”
“Of course.”
“They’ve reached our eighteenth parallel. Another two degrees, and they’ll invade our southernmost cities. I cannot allow that to happen.” The man stopped and waited for the Esstika to give him a similar accounting, but Lhora knew her mother was smarter than that. Kai would never divulge how deep the enemy had invaded. It would give the Coltrosstians too much information. And at this point, they still couldn’t be considered allies. Not until they’d proven themselves beyond any doubt.
“Your eighteenth parallel? That puts you in a highly dangerous situation, Sarpi.” The Esstika took a sip from her mug. “We’ve had our share of encounters with those carg suckers. And we’ve suffered our share of losses. Again, what do you propose?”
Lhora knew that was as much as her mother would admit to them. The Coltrosstians already knew the Beinight forces were diminished, although she was pretty sure they didn’t know how much, or how badly. The Sarpi and his men would continue to probe, question, and use every verbal weapon they had to learn the Beinights’ strengths and weaknesses. Especially their weaknesses.
“I propose we align ourselves at the twenty-first parallel and await them there. Hold our own, and prevent them from advancing any farther.”
“Collectively?” Kai queried.
Sov blinked and sat up. “What do you mean?”
“Do you intend to have your ships along the twenty-first parallel on Coltross’ side, and ours on the Beinight side? Or should they be interspersed? Us in conjunction with you, and vice versa?”
“I’m open to either.”
“And what about our northern borders? What if the Tra’Mell decide to send their ships to the north and start inching their way southward?”
“What of it?” Sov asked. “That possibility is moot at this point. I won’t consider it until our outposts notify us that they’ve seen signs of the enemy.”
Kai narrowed her eyes. Lhora recognized the look, and waited to hear her mother hit them with a truth they may not be able to explain.
“But if the Tra’Mell are able to shut down your communications grid, wouldn’t they be able to prevent your outposts from sending a signal?”
Lhora bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.
The Sarpi turned to look at his men. It was one of them who replied.
“We are open to suggestions.” The man was pissed, but clearly in awe of the Esstika’s response, if Lhora was reading him correctly.
Kai leaned forward. “I agree with your idea that we hold our ground at the twenty-first parallel, but we need to keep our scout ships circling our northern hemisphere. We don’t know if there are more Tra’Mell due to arrive, or if what we have here is their entire fleet. Either way, we can’t allow ourselves to focus solely on the southern section of the planet.”
“Do we have any idea why the Tra’Mell are here in the first place?” the young man spoke for the first time. He had a well-modulated voice. A mature voice that was pleasant to her ears. It made her want to hear him speak again. Plus he asked a sensible question.
“We are in the dark as to their intentions,” Kai admitted. “Other than the fact that we believe they plan on taking over the planet.”
“You’ve had no communication with them?” the other officer spoke.
“No, and it’s not for lack of trying. Have you?”
“No,” Sov answered, a little too quickly. Lhora frowned. She glanced at the Gur who pursed his lips. He’d caught it, too.
“What would be their reason for being here? For what purpose?” the young man pressed. “They’ve always kept to their side of the galaxy. Why come here? And why now?”
“Do we have any knowledge of the Tra’Mell taking over any other planets between us and their world?” Lhora’s father brought up.
