Page 63 of Champion
“Humans have no protection as yet under Alliance law.” The Prime answered her question. “Which means there is no law against enslaving or harming your species.” She turned her bright golden eyes to Nansar. “Ambassador Yaard would have killed you as well, but the penalty for killing a royal is death.”
Ambassador Yaard would face death for his role in killing the Kerzak king and queen—when we found him.
Ako’s hand settled on Nansar’s shoulder, giving a squeeze. “Your mother did not run from you. I sent her away to keep her safe… to keep you both safe.” Tears hovered in hispale blue eyes. “The only thing she took with her from our time together was a drawing of you as a baby that she had inked into her skin.”
“I don’t believe you,” Nansar mumbled, his voice small.
“It is true.” The Alliance Prime moved to stand near the Duke, her hand on his shoulder, offering comfort. “Helene had been through the Garoot Healer. Returning her to Earth was forbidden. But I helped your father circumvent the law in order to keep her out of Yaard’s reach.”
Duke Ako’s hand mussed his son’s pale hair before touching his comm bracelet, his thick fingertips manipulating the controls. A shimmer of light lifted from his wrist, showing the visage of a beautiful woman with deep green eyes—eyes her son shared—and wavy brown hair. A single tear ran down her cheek. She lifted a hand to wipe it away, the tattoo of baby Nansar clearly visible on her forearm.
Nansar sucked in a breath, his eyes watering as he looked at the hologram. “She—she was beautiful.”
“Yes.” The despondency in Duke Ako’s voice was palpable. “And she loved you more than her own life, my son.”
“Yaard is the criminal we seek.” Khaion stood and approached the cell, Emmy at his side. “He is behind everything we’ve uncovered.”
“Not to mention he massacred the Kerzak king and queen,” Emmy added with a frown.
“Yaard swore to me that my mother had corrupted your ideals, father. He said she bewitched you into seeing humans as sentient, worthy beings,” Nansar said, as though he suddenly found the words unbelievable. “He promised to help me take your throne in order to punish the humans.”
“You are not the first being enticed by Yaard’s rhetoric, and I fear you will not be the last.” The female Vaktaire sighed heavily. “Ambassador Yaard set you up to take the fall for hiscrimes. If things worked out as planned, the Zarpazian would have killed your father, and no doubt there would be evidence to implicate only you in the crime, leaving Ajaxiun unruled and vulnerable to annexation by the Kerzak.”
“Yaard was the one that sent the Zarpazian to me,” Nansar blurted, his pale eyes growing wide. “He was the one that set up the mumje mining and came up with the plan to test it on the humans on Tau Ceti.”
“We also know he was behind the assassination attempt on your father, facilitated by Baron Oappo,” Khaion added.
“Where is Ambassador Yaard?” Willa wriggled from my lap, slowly approaching the cell.
“We do not know.” For the first time, the Lady Prime seemed unsure of herself. “We’ve been searching for Ambassador Yaard ever since they found Princess Vienda, her mate, and child on planet Arstan. The last sighting anyone had of him was on the ship your Weapons Master Tarook disabled. However, there was no sign of Yaard or anyone else when our troops arrived to seize the vessel.”
“So, the Ambassador is just in the wind? Out there doing no telling what kind of mayhem?” Willa wrapped her hands around the cell bars, her gaze centered on Nansar.
The golden gaze of the Alliance Prime found my mate assessing and, dared I hoped, approving. “Rest assured, the Alliance will use all resources in our arsenal to find him and bring him to justice.”
“What about me?”
There was no hatefulness on the young Aljani’s face, not any longer. His green eyes darted first to his father, then to the Alliance Prime, his gaze awash with contrition.
“You will tell us all you know of Ambassador Yaard’s treachery.” It wasn’t a question, but Nansar nodded in agreement with the Lady Prime.
“Your crimes are substantial.” The Prime blew out a deep breath that ended with a faint growl. “You will, of course, be sent to the prison moon Paladyum, but the length of your time there will depend on how helpful you are in helping us find Yaard.”
“I understand,” Nansar said, penitence laying on his shoulders like a heavy cloak.
With that, the Lady Prime turned on her heel, departing the cell and motioning for us to follow. Willa paused once, looking back at Duke Ako and his son with a sad sigh as the two men conversed in low voices, trying to find a way forward.
Chapter 21 – Willa
My heart felt funny as we walked away from father and son, their low voices echoing through the hallways. I couldn’t find it in me to hate Nansar—well, not hate him as much. I was still pretty pissed that he’d almost gotten Charick killed… and Adtovar. Adtovar might die because of him but knowing that he was a victim too… knowing Yaard manipulated Nansar through his conflicted feelings about his mother… pity now held a larger space I my heart than I wanted to admit.
We emerged from the musty, dank dungeon and began the ascent following the long, winding stone stairway that led to the upper floors of the citadel. The walls were slick and damp, with patches of pale silver moss growing in the cracks and crevices. The only light came from small yellow bulbs lined along the staircase, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance around us. I clung tightly to Charick’s arm, my heart racing with every step as I feared a misstep would send me tumbling back into the abyss.
When we finally exited the dimly lit stairwell, it was as if we had stepped through a portal from hell into a luxurious version of heaven. The space featured sumptuous furnishings and colorful tapestries that seemed to transport us to another time and place—the opulence of Paris or Rome, perhaps. Smiling servants dressed in crisp gray uniforms greeted us and led the way to our assigned rooms. After one last embrace withEmmy, I followed Charick and a tiny turquoise blue female down a long hallway, my breath catching in my throat as she opened the door that lead to our room.
Have mercy!
The suite featured lavish velvet drapes and intricate tapestries and artwork that adorned every wall. A cozy sitting area surrounded a grand fireplace crackling with a roaring fire that cast warm, flickering light across the room. Dominating the space was a massive, curtained bed fit for a king or queen... or both.
