Page 89 of Star Prince

Eyes watering, Lara snatched the animal and hurried away. Gann gave Ian a two-fingered salute and went after her.

Klark glowered at the droplets glittering on his boots. “I rescind the challenge,” he managed past gritted teeth.

“I hope so.” Tee made her way to the sullen prince. Ian let her pass by. More than anyone, she deserved her piece of Klark. “And an apology is forthcoming too, I hope. Because of you, one of Ian Hamilton’s pilots drank himself to death, and you almost killed his entire crew by tampering with his ship. You humiliated me where no one could see, and you almost killed me that night in the woods. You never challenged us outright, always from the shadows, where you were certain you wouldn’t be caught. You’re a cowardly, meddling bastard, Klark. Men like you give usVasha bad name in the frontier. If you weren’t already crouched there bleeding, I’d kick the stuffing out of you. Now do what is right, and show your respect for your future king.”

Klark’s hunched shoulders and lowered eyes gave the impression of humble repentance. But as he crouched before them, his forearm balanced on one upright knee, Ian saw disdain flicker in his eyes, at odds with his outward compunction.

His hand curled into a fist. “This was not the outcome I’d conceived. But you were the clear victor, Ian.” His knuckles turned white. “Perhaps, today, I have learned something about Earth-dwellers.”

Ian replied, “And I’ve learned some things about theVash.Some traditions don’t translate well into our changing society—the old treatment of the frontier, the enforced isolation of royal women, this sort of bloodletting,” he added, tasting the salty tang in his mouth. “But I don’t want to alienate the supporters of the old ways. We can work together on the subject, Klark, you and me, when we feel more like speaking to rather than thrashing each other.”

Klark’s mouth almost curved. “When we’re ready.” He exhaled. “Now, I will await your judgment.”

Ian turned and said to the elder Vedla prince, “Your brother committed several very serious crimes. He needs to be punished.”

“Agreed,” said Ché.

“Determine what that punishment will entail. Then brief me on what you decide. We all need to work together in fairness and forgiveness for a better galaxy.”

Gratitude and respect flashed in Ché’s eyes. Ian’s spine tingled as he once more glimpsed the future. Not only had he made an ally today, he had formed a friendship—one he sensed would become indispensable in the years to come.

Tee’s hand came to rest on Ian’s arm. “You saywe’re a team. Why, then, have we not fought as hard for us as we have against Klark?”

He ran his hand over her hair. “I don’t know,” he said wearily. “But I say we start.”

Her gaze shifted to Ché, the man she was supposed to marry. Ian braced himself. In a quiet, respectful tone, Ché said, “Princess Tee’ah, even if we had been officially promised, I would release you.”

Ian knew Tee’ah struggled to tamp down on what would be a tactless show of joy and relief. “I thank you,” she said in a hushed voice.

Exultation surged through Ian. He grabbed her hands. “We’ll bring together the old and the new, the Federation and the frontier. Your blood and mine.” He listened to himself in amazement. He was sounding moreVashby the minute.

The crowd didn’t seem to mind. Again, they began to chant, “Say yes, say yes!”

In the dead of night,on a harsh desert world, a signal left an ancient palace and began a long, silent journey through the lonely reaches of space. Made possible by paradoxical technology, whose origins were lost in history, the stream of data made its way toward Earth, finding its final target with a little help from Ilana Hamilton and a TV news crew. When the slightly larger-than-life-sized, three-dimensional holographic image of the galaxy’s king appeared on the L.A. rooftop, awe silenced the crowd.

Luminous radiance flickered like St. Elmo’s fire over Romlijhian B’kah’s projected deep-blue, floor length cape. Stony faced, he stood before them, his arms folded over his chest. His features were rugged, resolute, and when he cast his unflinching gaze around the roof, as if searching for someone, most fought the urge to duck. But not Ian, Tee’ah thought, who clasped her hand in a warm, reassuring grip and led her across the windy helipad to meet the king.

The lights and cameras followed them. Her neck tingled. She knew the events transpiring today would echo through the years, and her children would want to hear of them again and again.

They stopped in front of the radiant image. Rom’s expression remained unchanged.

She had expected Ian to bring up Earth, or even Klark, but he began with a matter of the heart. If she had ever doubted she would come first with this man of honor, her reservations were erased in that glorious and frightening moment.

“You don’t approve of my relationship with Tee’ah. Nor does the Great Council,” Ian said.

Nor my father, she thought.

“But whether or not you give us your blessing, Your Majesty, I want to marry Tee’ah—if she’ll have me.”

She squeezed his hand. Why couldn’t two people who were in love defy the galaxy?

She forced her chin up a notch. She had hijacked a starspeeder, cruised through asteroid fields, shot at intruders,yet she was terrified of speaking to the king. “Your Majesty, I love Ian. I want to spend my life with him, whether or not my father approves—although I do dearly regret it if he does not. I love my family and miss them, but if tradition is more important to them than my happiness, I’m prepared to live with the consequences of my actions.”

“And you,” Ian told Rom, “are going to have to do something about the frontier. Have you read my report on the conditions on Barésh and the worlds like it? The situation is contemptible. How could theVashnot know? It’s inexcusable. We ought to be ashamed. The abuse of the frontier must stop.”

“You’re right,” Rom said.

Ian’s hand clamped over hers. “Sir?”

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