Page 30 of Jewel of the Alien Bandit
“What is the meaning of this, operative?” He was speaking to Vareo now, but that wasn’t the point of contacting him.
“She’s being transferred to the new med pod per your–”
I interrupted Vareo from taking over. “You’ll be addressing me,” I croaked. My voice raspy from screaming, and my teeth still gritted from the pain coursing through me as Vareo jostled me through the corridors.
The king’s hand swiped through the air dismissively, before his features became stone. “What is she doing awake, and obviously still injured? Are you both incompetent? Did you not think to sedate her so she would be transferred without pain?” Though his tone was still even, the underlying threat was clear, if not more frightening to witness.
“King Sylve,” I strained to speak, gripping Vareo’s neck and huddling into him for support. “I may not have much time. My condition changes our negotiations for both of our planets. If you do not wish to go to war, we must discuss a solution before I’m dead.”
Vareo growled at my admission of what state I believed myself in. If I were home, I’d probably heal from this in a matter of days with my mom’s help. But I knew well enough that outlaws weren’t going to be willing to give up their collateral.
“We can discuss this when you arrive.” The king didn’t seem convinced that I was dying despite my haggard appearance.
“If you are not taking me back to Estreldez, then there is no guarantee that I will make it. And I will not die without offering you and my clan a better solution to war. I’m willing to linkcom with Almder with a treaty that includes forgiving my death if you provide Estreldez with the technology and means to implement research that will allow my clan to make headway in solving our mating decline.”
“Are you in such a position that you believe Estreldez can win a war against Necias?"
“Do you wish to see a decline in business, and a loss of your trade, and assets by going to war with Estreldez?”
We may not be in a position to win, but they would incur devastating casualties if Krelis was involved, making them susceptible to being taken over by the hive.
I knew enough to bet that as soon as Estreldez fell, Krelis would swoop in to take the victory themselves, and push back- if not destroy- Necias in the process.
Neither of us wanted that outcome.
“I will consider it. But should you live, the terms change. I did not take you from your home, you willingly came to me begging for my assistance. I magnanimously agreed to help you, but you were attacked in transit. As you recovered, you found you no longer wished to return, seeking to become my adviser and diplomatic advocate staying on Necias. Should you die, I will still uphold our bargain to assist your planet under this story. Should you live, you become a permanent resident here, where you can continue to sway my good graces towards your clan.”
“And you will give Estreldez the technology and research they need?”
“Yes.”
“What assurances do I have?”
“The same assurances that I have in your word that you will not attempt to flee Necias should you live.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“There are other ways to solidify cooperation,” he offered with amusement.
“There are,” I agreed, trying to think of a way to let my mother know there was another path besides war or submission.
I was done with this conversation.
The king noticed my change in demeanor even being carried by Vareo and barely hanging on to consciousness.
“Connect the Jewel with the Almder before the sedatives of the med pod take effect.” He spoke to Vareo this time. “If she doesn’t uphold our agreement on what to say then remind her that I already have every station within warp of Estreldez equipped to handle even a Krelis warship should war be the option she chooses.”
How was that possible?
There would be no way he had the time to coordinate such a feat in the time it took to warp here. That could only mean he’d been planning to attack Estreldez regardless of my recent absence. Did he really want a war?
Would anything I said to my mother make a difference?
The transmission ended with the king, and Vareo placed me in a standing chamber, much more advanced than the med pod I had been in before. He held me to him before the gravity field within the chamber activated and he reluctantly released me to float there.
With nothing touching my back anymore the pain was more manageable, but there was a coldness to my skin where Vareo’s touch used to be.
Then, instead of a gel, the chamber filled up with an invisible gas that smelled of fruit and flowers, numbing my nerves. It felt heavenly. My muscles relaxed before my mother’s face appeared, giving the illusion of comfort.
