Page 93 of Lorran
“Well, let’s just say that was a hopeful wish and not a statement of fact.”
He nodded, as if satisfied with that response.
After a few hours, Wyn needed to stretch and grab another coffee. Mikah asked to try the brew. Wyn hesitated, because caffeine and children and a vague sense that mixing the two was frowned upon but agreed to let him try a sip.
Mikah pulled a face. “Ewww! It’s so sweet. Are your taste receptors impaired?”
Medics swarmed Saavi’s room when they returned. Wyn kept a hand on Mikah’s shoulder, holding him against her while they waited anxiously in the hall.
Lorran
His day went from one frustration to another. Caldar sat in his cell, smug and keeping silent. Saavi’s condition deteriorated. As for hard evidence of Ulrik and Saavi’s illicit research…
“Left behind?” Paax leaned forward to the camera. “You dishonor Ulrik’s name with these accusations and you have no proof?”
“Ulrik achieved dishonor by his own merits. My findings do not change that fact.” Lorran held his hands behind his back, hiding the nervous twitch to his fingers. Mylomon stood beside him. If the male was troubled at the warlord’s displeasure, his blank countenance gave nothing away. Lorran continued, “We have Saavi’s confession and Caldar’s admission that he delivered nonviable Suhlik eggs to their ship.”
“Caldar is a liar. I would not believe him if he told me water was wet,” Paax said. Mylomon snorted, as if amused. “I am inclined to believe Saavi.” The image of Paax paced, going in and out of focus on the screen. “And you have no communications with who funded their research?”
“Communications logs had been destroyed. Physically removed and smashed.”
“As was the lab and the eggs.”
“Yes. We had a sample, but—”
“But it was left behind in the raid.” Paax sighed. “The Council will demand proof before they take action. Hearsay will not satisfy them.”
Especially if one of their members secretly funded the research. All present understood that. Again, Lorran wondered if his father was the one. He wanted to defend Oran, that his father had dedicated his life to the protection of Sangrin and would never…but how far would a male go, convinced he was in the right? Oran had dedicated his life and lost many friends through the years. Could his father be swayed to finance an atrocity if he thought he’d protect the future of his sons and grandsons?
Lorran wished he knew his father well enough to say.
“Caldar will try to negotiate his life in exchange for the location of the hatchery,” Lorran eventually said.
“He has useful information.” Another move out of focus on the screen and back again. “TheJudgmentis a half-day’s journey from your location. When Saavi is stable enough for transport, return.”
“Sir,” Mylomon interjected. “If I may, the medics are not hopeful about her condition. She took a plasma bolt directly to the chest. That she has survived at all is remarkable.”
Paax stared off-screen, his expression blank. “That is unfortunate,” he said at length. “Did you rescue any being on this mission?”
The words hit Lorran as hard as a blow. “Caldar remains alive.” Unfortunately, but he kept that part to himself.
“There is the issue of Ulrik’s son, Mikah,” Mylomon added.
“Ulrik’s son, Mikah,” Paax repeated, as if this was the first he had heard of the child. Considering how badly the clan fell apart after Omas’s transformation, it very well might be. “How old is he?”
“Six.”
“His temperament?”
Mylomon took a moment to answer. “He is six. Saavi asked me to take guardianship of Mikah if something were to happen to her.”
“And how did you answer?”
“I said yes.”
The males stared at each other, each stoic and unreadable, and it annoyed Lorran. He needed to draft a memo about expression and body language and ways to convey what a person thought without verbal communication. All this stone-faced staring and never detecting what the other thought, always guessing, wasexhausting.
“Very well,” Paax said. “We welcome a young warrior, but you may wish to inform your mate of the new arrival.” Mylomon dipped his head. Paax turned his attention to Lorran and said, “Keep Caldar in a cell. In chains, if you must. He will escape if given the slightest opportunity.”
