“Yes; I’m wearing it.”
Sharra grinned. “Then here is what we do . . .”
*
*
*
When Agnar opened the door to let Sharra out, Karina was pacing the room like a caged animal. She glared at him and said something under her breath, and continued pacing. Sharra slipped out past Agnar’s large frame. Agnar stood poised, ready to enter the room to see what was bothering Karina, when he felt a light touch on his arm.
“She is angry, Captain. You should leave her alone for awhile,” Sharra suggested.
Agnar looked into Sharra’s dark eyes and sighed. “I suppose you’re right,” he said, shutting the door.
Agnar and Sharra turned and went back to the bridge. They walked in silence until Sharra cleared her throat to get his attention.
“Yes, Sharra? What is it?”
Sharra acted as if she were hesitant to speak. “I have a request, sir.”
Agnar tried to set her at ease. “You can ask me anything, Sharra. You’re part of my crew now and have a right to speak your mind.”
“Well, that is just it, Captain. I do not feel like I am a part of the crew. And knowing I will live a very long time has made me rethink my decision. I do not think this is the life for me.” Sharra paused.
“And your request?” Agnar asked.
“I would like to be returned to Bitowa, sir.”
Agnar grinned. “Now that Haron’s dead?”
Sharra looked surprised. “He is dead?” She shook her head. “It has nothing to do with Haron. I would not have married him anyway. I am stronger now, and not so much under the thumb of my father.”
Agnar smiled, remembering the desperate princess and comparing her to the strong woman who walked with him now. “Your father won’t be pleased with you for releasing me or losing your ship. Are you sure you want to face him?”
Sharra stopped and drew herself up to her full height. She was as tall as Agnar and could look him straight in the eye. “I am a princess of Bitowa, eldest daughter of the emperor, and heir to the throne. He will listen to me whether he wants to or not.” She stared at Agnar, daring him to disagree.
Agnar laughed. “Very well. I’ll take you back.” He entered the bridge and addressed his crew. “Set course for Bitowa. Sharra wants to go home.” The crew looked nervous but followed his order immediately.
Agnar decided that he may as well feed Karina now, since he wouldn’t have the time once they reached Bitowan space. “I’m going to eat,” he informed Equaria. “Call me if there’s any problem.”
“Yes, Captain,” Equaria replied.
Agnar left the bridge and went to the refectory where he gathered a tray of food before heading to Karina’s room. When he opened the door she was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Agnar entered the room and set the food on the table.
“Are you hungry, Karina?” he asked, helping himself to a plateful. Karina ignored him and continued staring at the ceiling.
He shrugged, finished his meal, and left the remaining food on the table. She would get hungry eventually. He locked the door behind him and returned to the bridge.
Karina sat up the minute he left and went to the table. She finished the food, then returned to lying on the bed. She could feel the vibrations of the ship better that way, and she waited for them to increase to indicate that they were entering an atmosphere. She wanted to be ready to set Sharra’s plan in motion.
When they arrived at Bitowa seven hours later, Agnar was sitting in the captain’s chair on the bridge. He watched the forward viewscreen intently, nervous at his proximity to his enemy. Sharra had laid out a plan to get the ship in and out of Bitowan space unscathed. He hoped it would work, since he didn’t want to end up a prisoner again.
As they approached the planet, they were contacted by the Bitowan military, who recognized the ship as Bitowan. Sharra stood regally in front of the screen. She had changed out of her trousers and into one of the dresses stored in her quarters. She had to look her best if her plan was to work. As soon as the officer saw who he was addressing, he patched Sharra straight through to the palace. Emperor Varton appeared on the screen, reclined on his throne. There was a threatening undertone to his voice when he spoke.
“Sharra.” He frowned at his daughter in displeasure at her behavior.
Sharra’s tone was equally cold. “Father.”
Agnar’s crew held their breath, anxious to see how the situation would play out. Emperor Varton’s eyes took in everyone on the bridge. They stopped for a moment on Rathor, and narrowed. When they reached Agnar, who sat casually in the captain’s chair, they almost closed to slits. Rage was barely contained in those eyes, but his voice was calm when he spoke. “I see you have taken up with thieves, daughter.”
Sharra didn’t even flinch. “Circumstances have changed my view on some things, father. I would speak to you in private on such matters. You may hold these people and this ship as a token of my filial devotion.” Sharra waited patiently while her father pondered.
“Very well. You know where to dock.” The emperor gestured to someone off-screen and his face was replaced by the view of the planet below. There was a collective sigh as everyone on the bridge released their breath at the same time. Then they laughed as the tension broke.
Agnar smiled. “Well done, Sharra. We’ll wait for word from you.”
Sharra wasn’t smiling. “It is not something I wish to do, but it has to be done. Our people have been living in isolation too long.” She turned to Rathor. “Are you ready?” Rathor nodded and followed her off the bridge.
Agnar gave instructions to his pilot on where to land, and then also followed Sharra. He caught up with her just as a slight bump signaled their landing. “Are you sure about this, Sharra?” Agnar was concerned with the danger they would all be in if this didn’t work, but excited about the possibilities if it did.
Sharra was quite composed despite the fact that she was about to face down her father. She looked levelly at Agnar. “I am sure.”
“Good luck to you, then.” Agnar palmed open the door, allowing them to disembark. A large group of Bitowan soldiers surrounded the ship and an armed escort waited to take the princess to her father. Agnar mock saluted them before closing the door, leaving Sharra and a very nervous Rathor in the hands of their people.
They were taken to the throne room and left alone with the emperor, who was lounging on his throne. When he saw Rathor, he sat up. “You said in private, daughter,” he spat.
Sharra bowed. “Rathor is kin, father.”
“He is no kin of mine. The fact that he and I share the same mother is irrelevant considering that his father is a Yalsan cur.” Emperor Varton glared at the man whose appearance was a younger version of himself.
Rathor smiled evilly. “Come now, brother, I am sure we can be friends.” His tone was facetious but his manner threatening as he moved toward the emperor. The emperor tried to stand, but Rathor held him down on the throne.
Emperor Varton turned to his daughter. “Sharra, what is this? Have you turned traitor?”
Sharra pulled a halaband out of her sleeve. “I am sorry, father. There is no other way.”
The emperor eyed the halaband. “Fool girl! Do you really think our people are so obtuse as to take orders from someone wearing that?”
Sharra nodded to Rathor, who pulled up the emperor’s long sleeve to expose his upper arm. Sharra wrapped the halaband twice around his biceps. The emperor froze as the tendrils sunk in and traveled up his arm to his spine. He went limp and Rathor let him go. His sleeve fell, hiding the tattoo completely.
“No, father, I do not. That is why Rathor was kind enough to let me test it on his arm. Apparently it can be up to a forearm length away and still be effective.” Sharra looked pityingly at her father. “I had this very halaband on me, father. I know what it is like to be a prisoner. I am sorry to do this to you, but I do not want to kill you and I think the time has come for me to rule. You will step down and announce me as empress.”
There was defeat in the emperor’s voice. “Yes, daughter.”
“Call assembly now,” Sharra ordered.
Once the emperor’s advisors arrived, he stood and announced his intention of giving Sharra the throne. Sharra would henceforth be the Empress of Bitowa and he would be the Father Emperor.
Sharra sat regally on her father’s throne and gave her first orders as empress. She gestured to Rathor. “This is Rathor, half brother to the Father Emperor. He has been outcast because he is the son of a Yalsan.” She paused for effect and looked around. “I decree that no child shall be punished for the crimes of his parents. Therefore Rathor is reinstated to the royal family, and along with the Father Emperor, will be my most trusted advisor.”
The advisors murmured, “Yes, Empress.”
“I have given my ship as a peace gift to the Yalsan Agnar, who is now under my employ. See that he is given the respect due to a general.”
The advisors paled, but once again replied with an affirmative. Sharra called Agnar and informed him of Bitowa’s change in power, wishing him luck on his journey. He bowed and wished her long life. Sharra smiled and sat back on her throne with a glint in her eye.
*
*
*
Agnar relaxed as they left the Bitowan System behind. He stood up and stretched, yawning. His stomach growled loudly, eliciting snickers from the crew. Equaria laughed. “Get some food and rest, Captain. I’ll see to the bridge.”
Agnar smiled and left the ship in her capable hands. As he headed toward the living quarters, he wondered what to do about Karina. When he arrived there and opened the door, she was pacing again. She glared at him and said something under her breath, and continued pacing. He sighed and closed the door to give himself a moment to think. He rubbed his temples with the thumb and middle finger of one hand, and leaned against the wall with the other. Then he shrugged and palmed open the door again. Karina glared at him and said something under her breath, then went back to pacing. Agnar’s eyes narrowed. He closed the door, then opened it again. Karina repeated the performance exactly, muttering and pacing.
“Daughter of a horned zenothar!” Agnar cursed and ran though the hologram, dispersing it. He glared around the room for several moments before noticing a small crack in the wall. He managed to get a finger in it and force it open. A thin passageway wound between the walls to a ladder leading down. He followed it, barely fitting through the small opening. It led to a tiny room with a hatch door in the floor. There was a thick window in it, showing a small air lock. Agnar snorted, thinking how easily he had been fooled. “Sharra,” he growled, and headed back to the bridge. With all the trouble women had caused him recently, he needed a vacation.
Agnar strode onto the bridge and ordered, “Set course for Bellos. We have a shipment to pick up there and deliver to the Kytor System. Since it’s illegal to transport goods to them, the pay will be excellent.” The crew obeyed without question, and Agnar left the bridge and headed to the refectory for a meal. He knew where Karina was, and how to avoid detection on Bitowa when he went to retrieve her. He would have to wait until their guard was down, though. He figured he may as well take care of other business in the meantime.
CHAPTER 16
Karina made her way through a narrow passageway and down a ladder to a small room with a hatch door in the floor. Through a window in the door she could see the personal air lock Sharra had described. She opened the hatch and lowered herself into it, closing the door behind her. Then she waited for the engines to fall silent to let her know they were on the ground.
The ship settled with only a small shake to indicate the landing, and the engines wound down. Karina twisted the wheel to open the outer hatch. There wasn’t even a squeak as she pulled the door up and slid it open. Obviously this exit was well-maintained to ensure a silent retreat. Karina lay on her belly and poked her head upside down through the opening. She was next to the right rear landing post. She saw Sharra and Rathor walking away and the boarding plank retracting back into the ship. Bitowan soldiers surrounded the ship, standing at ease but keeping a watchful eye on their unwanted guests. Karina quietly lowered herself to the ground, closing the hatch tightly behind her. She sat next to the landing post and waited. Since she was wearing the necklace that hid her from sensors, there was no alarm from the Bitowan defenses.
After about half an hour, one of the guards yelled something to the other guards. They formed up and marched out of the docking bay. As soon as they were gone Karina went to the enclosed guard station at the end of the bay. She tapped on the window. The guard, who was watching as the ship prepared to leave, jumped. He opened the door and pointed a weapon at Karina, gesturing for her to enter. He spoke harshly to her in Bitowan. Karina shook her head mutely and gave him the note Sharra had written for her. He quickly scanned the page, then smiled, speaking in thickly accented Yalsan.
“Karina?” Karina nodded. “As friend to our empress, be welcome.” He lowered the weapon. “Wait while I call someone to come and escort you to her.”
She waited, watching as the ship carrying Agnar and his crew left Bitowa. Within a few minutes a tall, willowy woman arrived to escort Karina to the empress. After navigating numerous hallways and open areas, they arrived at the throne room.
Sharra greeted Karina with a smile. “I hope you intend to stay on Bitowa for awhile. There are many delightful places I would like to show you.”
Karina smiled apologetically. “I would like that, but I don’t feel right enjoying myself while Tresar and Flavoi are in trouble. They did rescue me from a frozen grave, and I feel responsible for their current situation.”
“I think I am somewhat responsible for their predicament as well,” Sharra said. Rathor cleared his throat and came forward. Sharra turned to him. “Yes, uncle?”
“While I appreciate the restoration of family and culture you have given me, I do not think I can endure life on Bitowa. And I am not one for the military, as I prefer not to kill unless absolutely necessary.” Rathor smirked. “It must be my Yalsan blood.”
Sharra laughed, startling some of the guards, who were unused to hearing such a sound in the throne room. “Are you volunteering a rescue mission?”
Rathor grinned, flashing his teeth. “Absolutely.”
“Very well. Take whatever and whoever you need. And good luck.” She turned to Karina and clasped her hand. “Good luck to you as well, my friend.”
Karina squeezed Sharra’s hand gently. “Thank you. I’ll return as soon as I can, so you can show me your beautiful world.
*
*
*
Preparations to leave took time, and it wasn’t until several hours later that Karina found herself aboard a Bitowan cruiser with Rathor and a small crew.
Before they departed, Sharra took Rathor aside. “You may need something to bargain with, uncle. I have stowed a guest in your brig.”
He grinned at her. “Who?”
She smiled back and handed him a small data disc. “His history. Enjoy.”
Rathor took the disc, embraced his newfound niece, and escorted her off the ship. They left the planet and headed toward Bellos, where they hoped to find information on Tresar’s and Flavoi’s fate. A pleasure planet for all, Bellos had so many different species of humanoids on it that information flowed freely.
After an uneventful trip they arrived and set down at the central spaceport. They disembarked, and Rathor took charge of the mission. “Karina, you will stay here where you will be safe. My men and I will return when we have heard something.”
Karina opened her mouth to say something scathing about male chauvinists, but they left before she could utter a word, melting into the diverse crowd. Karina folded her arms across her chest and grumped. How dare they leave her out of the mission! She sat on a bench and sulked for awhile, but not one to remain angry for long, Karina soon stood up and looked around the spaceport.
Out of the large windows she could see ships coming and going. There was more traffic here than at the spaceport on the other continent where she, Tresar, and Flavoi had stayed before this mess with Agnar and the Yalsan government. It wasn’t that long ago, but with all that had happened, it seemed like ages. Karina wandered along the outer edges of the spaceport, near the windows. It was a roughly circular building, and it seemed as if a new and more beautiful sight would appear at each turn. Every window held a different scene, captivating Karina. She paused for awhile at a cascading waterfall. Children of different species played together in the pond below it, laughing and romping. Bellos truly was a paradise.
The scene around the next bend took Karina’s breath away. This window was longer than the rest, and had a revolving door in the middle of it. Through this people were coming and going in a steady stream. It showed the most appealing white sand beach and sparkling green sea Karina had ever seen. She couldn’t resist going through the revolving door and down to the water’s edge. She took off her shoes and strolled along, enjoying the sand between her toes and cool water around her feet. She watched strange birds and stranger people play in the waves. Following the shore, she lost track of time. After awhile she noticed that she couldn’t hear the sounds of people anymore, and the sound of birds was considerably louder against the cliffs. She had come to the end of the beach. She turned and shaded her eyes from the light of the two suns and looked back the way she had come. The spaceport was a speck at the edge of the ocean. It looked as if she had walked several miles. She sighed and turned back. There were hardly any people here, and since she had been gazing out to sea on the way down the beach, she hadn’t noticed. Walking back, she saw only one man sunning himself on this length of beach. As she approached him, he stared at her intently. Karina’s skin began to crawl. He was between her and the spaceport, and it was still more than a mile away. The nearest other person was a speck in the distance. They were effectively alone.
He grinned, showing white teeth against tan skin. “Well. This is the last place I expected to see you, Karina.”
Karina stopped and adopted a defensive pose. Her voice was flat and expressionless. “Son of a bitch.”
“I’m glad to see you, too. I was somewhat disturbed by your abrupt departure.” Agnar rose and stood between her and the spaceport. “I was pleasantly surprised to see you roaming down the beach. I didn’t bother you earlier because I was down that way and found only impassable cliffs, so I knew you would have to come back this way.” He paused and grinned wickedly. “I’m extremely happy to run into you again, Karina.”
The way he said her name made the hair rise on the back of her neck. “What do you want, Agnar?” she hissed.
He smiled impishly and took a step toward her. “I want you, Karina.”
Karina backed up, dropping her shoes. With the cliffs behind her and along the beach, the only way out was past Agnar. Agnar lunged toward her. She dodged his grasp and ran around him. Because she was already tired from her long walk and found it difficult to run in the soft sand, Agnar caught up to her easily, tackling her from behind. They fell to the ground, Agnar’s arms around her waist. She grabbed a handful of sand and threw it into his face, momentarily blinding him. He cursed and blinked his eyes, but didn’t let go. She scrabbled to free herself, but he used his greater weight to pin her down. She struggled ineffectually, only succeeding in turning herself to face him.
“Damn it, woman, you are more trouble than a herd of zenothars.” He pinned her wrists over her head with one hand. He reached into his pocket with the other, pulling out his remaining halaband. When she saw what he intended to do, Karina began to thrash violently. She managed to knee him in the groin. Agnar groaned and doubled over, freeing Karina. She rose and ran as if the devil were after her. A very blue-faced Agnar jumped up and gave chase, slower but still able to close the distance between them. He dove and grabbed her ankle, bringing her down again. He crawled on top of her, holding her face down. He put the halaband around her neck and fastened it. Karina convulsed as it took hold, then went limp. Breathing heavily, Agnar sat back and brushed off the sand.
Karina rolled over and sat up. There was sand on her cheek, and Agnar reached over and gently brushed it away, letting his fingers linger on her skin. She glared at him venomously. Agnar ignored her look. He leaned over until their noses were almost touching and stared into her eyes. Then he kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss lasted only a moment before Agnar sat back again.
Karina was shocked by the tenderness of that kiss. She looked at Agnar with new eyes. Could he be in love with her? Impossible! He had captured her again, and was only interested in her for her monetary value. There was no way his interest went beyond that. He was toying with her.
“I want you to come back to my ship with me, Karina.” He stood up and went to retrieve her shoes, then returned and held out his hand. “Let me help you up.” Unable to resist the compunction to obey, she took his hand. He lifted her easily, keeping hold of her hand. As she moved to take it away, Agnar gripped it tighter. “No, Karina. Hold my hand and walk with me.” Fuming inside, Karina did as she was told. They strolled back to the spaceport and Agnar’s ship, where Karina would become a prisoner yet again. The walk back seemed endless.
As they neared the spaceport, Agnar paused. “Who came with you, Karina?”
Karina was unable to lie. “Rathor, and a Bitowan crew.”
Agnar laughed. “Well, they should be easy to avoid. It’s not every day you see a Bitowan on Bellos.” His brow furrowed. “Although it does seem to be more common of late.”
Agnar led Karina through the revolving door and turned toward the private docks. This was where people with money and agendas parked their spacecraft so their ships would be hidden from public view. He led her to a locked door where he palmed an identification plate, opening it. In the dock was the ship Karina had escaped from the day before. Equaria lounged in a chair at the end of the cargo ramp, watching as her crew loaded cartons onto the ship. Her eyes widened in surprise at seeing Karina with Agnar, but then she noticed the halaband and knew Karina was a prisoner yet again.
“Well, well. Look what the captain has brought back.” She grinned evilly at Karina. Karina glared and stuck her tongue out at Equaria.
Agnar chuckled. “Now, now, ladies. Since we’ll be living together, we must at least be civil.” He escorted Karina into the ship, leading her down the corridor past Sharra’s quarters and its secret exit to a room beyond. He palmed open the door and bowed to Karina. “After you, my dear.” There was a definite teasing tone to his words, but since Karina was unable to do anything about it, she ignored him and entered the room.
It wasn’t as luxurious as Sharra’s room, but still well-appointed and quite comfortable. She heard the door close behind her and turned to see Agnar leaning against the wall, contemplating her. She disregarded him completely and explored the room, opening closets and fingering the clothes within, poking her head in the shower room, and generally acting as if his eyes weren’t following her every move.
“Karina.” Agnar’s voice was quiet and commanding. The halaband compelled her to turn toward him. He had moved away from the wall and was standing in the middle of the room. “Come here.” Unable to resist a direct order, she moved to him. He lifted the necklace Tresar had given her to hide her life readings and examined it. “This must be what allowed you to escape me on Bitowa. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Karina sullenly confirmed.
Agnar let go of the necklace and it fell against Karina’s chest. “Hmmm. Well, I see no reason why you can’t keep it. It might be useful in the future.” Agnar lifted his hands to Karina’s throat, gently tracing the intertwined lines of the halaband with his fingers. Then he took his hands away, and with them the halaband. He put it in his pocket as Karina put her hand to her neck in surprise. Agnar chuckled and smacked her on the rump. She jumped in shock and anger and lifted her fist to punch him. He caught it easily and wrestled her hands behind her back, holding her in an unwelcome embrace. He kissed her on the mouth as she struggled, kicking him in the shin. He released her and stepped back, laughing.