Page 2 of Alien Mercenary's Wife
"No, my emperor. I believed that Daar A'Taav was my father. As I believe he did."
The words hit him like individual hammer blows. Here was a warrior who'd lived his entire life believing in one truth, only to discover it was a lie.
"And if you had known? What would you have done with that knowledge?"
Maax didn't hesitate. "I would have turned myself in immediately. No warrior can serve two masters. My loyalty has always been to the empire."
T’Raal’s jaw clenched. Loyalty to the empire. The same loyalty his mother had tried to instill in him, even as she'd walked away from it all to protect him. Her teachings, the morals she’d taught him, had driven him to come here with intelligence about the Tanel, despite his complicated… feelings about the imperial court.
"The A'Taav clan has officially expelled you from their bloodline. You understand what this means?"
"Yes, my emperor. I accept their judgment."
The gallery erupted as warriors surged to their feet, offering clan names to the condemned warrior. He watched as loyalty overcame bloodline concerns, as brothers-in-arms stood together.
Daaynal raised one hand, and silence fell like a blade.
"Your loyalty to your brother warrior does you credit. However, Maax, formerly of the A'Taav clan, has already been offered a new name."
Confusion rippled through the chamber. T’Raal’s chest tightened as Daaynal rose, the massive combat robots behind him shifting position.
"The empire recognizes that the sins of the father cannot be visited upon the son. From this moment forward, you will be known as Maax K'Saan, warrior of the imperial house."
K'Saan. The emperor's own name. He shook his head slightly, watching as the Emperor elevated a warrior with "tainted" bloodline to the highest clan in the empire.
"The charges are dismissed. Remove his restraints."
The courtroom erupted. Warriors cheered, court officials scrambled, and through it all, he sat frozen as the full implications crashed over him.
The Emperor had just proven the principles he believed in. Loyalty over bloodline, honor over heritage, and the content of a warrior's character over the circumstances of his birth.
Everything his mother had taught him. Everything he'd tried to live by… everything he’d assumed Daaynal K’Saan wasnot.
"We need to leave. We can’t do this here,” he said roughly, surging to his feet. The walls of the courtroom pressed in on him, the celebrating crowd too loud, too close. He couldn't process this here. Couldn't think.
Red shot him a sharp look but didn't argue. They moved toward the exit, T’Raal keeping his head down while his mindreeled. He'd come here to deliver intelligence and disappear. Instead, he'd witnessed something that challenged every assumption he'd made about the Emperor, about the empire, about his own choices.
At the exit, something made him pause. Turn back.
Daaynal stood at the front of the courtroom, accepting congratulations from court officials, but his gaze swept the gallery. Like he was searching for something.
Their eyes met across the chaos.
His training kicked in—his mother's lessons, ingrained so deep they were instinct. His right hand moved to his left shoulder, fingers tracing a specific pattern against the fabric of his jacket. An old hand signal she'd taught him when he was barely old enough to understand what it meant.
If you ever need to prove who you are, this will do it.
Daaynal went perfectly still as he focused on T'Raal with laser-like intensity. They locked gazes for a moment that seemed to stretch forever.
He turned and walked away, Red falling into step beside him. His heart hammered against his ribs as they made their way out of the courtroom and into the corridors beyond.
"Dad," Red said quietly, concern written across her face. "What just happened back there?"
"Nothing," he said roughly. "Just?—"
"Excuse me."
The voice froze them both in their tracks. Deep, controlled, and unmistakable. He turned slowly to find Emperor Daaynal standing ten meters away, flanked by two drakeen who looked like they could tear through a shuttle's hull with their bare claws.
