Page 42 of Dark Space
I closed my eyes.
Callan’s fingers took my jaw; he lifted my chin. My eyes flickered open, taking in his thick black hair, his wide jaw, his unwavering gaze. ‘Alcide. What is your first royal order?’
I took a deep breath. ‘What we’ve always talked about. Dissolve the Royal Cabinet and hold debates to replace the ministers. Disband the Court and establish qualified advisors instead. Make overtures to the Intergalactic Council for help to clean the seas and the skies. Implement immediate plans for sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. Make plans to withdraw our forces and settlers from the occupied planets. Change the laws to allow females to work and hold office once more. Free the females in the Scytha City brothel. Take them back to their home planet and give them reparation.’ I swallowed. ‘A full overhaul.’
‘And you know what will happen.’
It wasn’t a question. ‘Civil war. Some may obey. Some will revolt.’
‘And what do we do?’
‘We keep to our principles.’
His eyes bored into mine. ‘Tell me.’
‘To leave Scytha a better place than we found it. ForallRoth.’
He released my chin. ‘There’s my King,’ he said softly. ‘Now, let’s go and watch our shields fail.’
I caught his hand. There was so much emotion churning in my chest and stomach that it was difficult to breathe, but I needed to tell him how important he was. That if this worked, it was down tohim, not me, to his unwavering belief, to his constant support. I needed to tell him how much he meant to me.
‘Cal –’
He squeezed my fingers. ‘Come, Prince. We don’t have a lot of time.’
When we went back to the bridge, Darius had joined Bryn at the control panel. ‘The primary shield is failing,’ Bryn said shortly.
‘What are our options?’ I said.
‘Stick it out and hope their shields fail first, or flee,’ Bryn said. ‘We’re evenly matched. Our ships aren’t made to fighteach other.’
‘Tell everyone remaining to go to the dock,’ I said. ‘They can leave now, take a scuttler. The range will be long enough to make it to a nearby system and seek refuge.’ I straightened my jacket. ‘And get me a channel to the Spire in Scytha City.’
Bryn nodded and made an announcement, his deep, level tones echoing through the ship. ‘Cal,’ I said quietly, while Bryn was still speaking, ‘once I’ve done this, get Anna and Vesper off the orb.’
He blinked. ‘Absolutely not. My place is with you.’
It was my turn to take his chin in hand. He looked back at me levelly, but I could see panic sparking in his eyes. ‘Cal. Get her out. Vesper and the doctor, too. Detach my quarters and go. That’s an order.’
‘No.’
‘Yes,’ I said calmly. ‘It’s not their fault this is happening; not even Vesper deserves this. Get them off this ship.’
‘Cide –’
I leaned forward and kissed him; I couldn’t help it. Bryn made a small, surprised sound but I ignored it, gently exploring Callan’s mouth, leaving him with a tiny, soft bite on his lovely bottom lip. ‘Get them to safety, pilot.’
‘Alcide,’ he said hoarsely.
‘The channel to the Spire is ready, Majesty,’ Bryn said.
I sat down next to him. Callan’s hand squeezed my shoulder and was gone.
I waited until I could see the King’s Room in the Spire. He was absent, obviously – currently occupied with trying to kill me – but many of his Cabinet were there. It wasn’t them so much that I wanted to see, but their juniors: the Roth working under them, the ones closer to my age, the ones whose minds hadn’t been beaten closed by a lifetime under my father’s reign and his heavy-handed insistence on traditions that suited his desires.
‘Honoured Roth,’ I began. ‘I come to you now from the bridge of my ship. Our shields are about to fail, and this may be the first and only time I address you.’
A murmur of consternation rippled through the room.
