Page 44 of Single Stroke

The captain swallowed what was in his mouth and replied, “It’s delicious. Thank you for the generous hospitality.”

“Ahn’hudin owes Kaan a debt of gratitude and honor. I hope you will see the truth of my people’s hospitality and honor and report as such to the rulers of Kaan.”

The captain nodded. “I will give them the truth of what I observe.”

Louella wondered if the people of Kaan had sophisticated technology beyond what Ahn’hudin possessed, which was certainly beyond what Earth possessed. Was Ashtul able to communicate with his government without going through the ship’s communication system? Did distance pose a barrier? She suspected any questions on the matter would not be answered. Kaan, she realized, owed her no explanation. Instead, she owed them.

Chapter16

As predicted, the spacecraft landed on Ahn’hudin as dusk blanketed the port city. Contrary to what Louella expected, she and Jax were not the first passengers to disembark. The two concubines and half the crew left first, the defeated vice general led away in heavy chains. Then Captain Ashtul and his mate disembarked, accompanied by the ship’s captain, pilot, and quartermaster, and the Solari priest.

Jax assured her that he’d arranged for the concubines to be met by a court official who would escort them to the quarters they shared with the other concubines and that all of them would be informed of the drastic change to their circumstances, effective immediately. Louella peered out a window to see that an enormous crowd had gathered, but she could not determine whether they were of a mind to welcome the new emperor or tear him to pieces.I haven’t quite got the hang of reading these people yet.

Waiting on the bridge with Jax, Admiral Sor’Ulen mek Yirog, the watch officer, and the communications officer did not calm her anxiety, despite her mate’s stillness. He exuded watchful patience, only the tip of his tail and his coiled muscles indicating his readiness to unleash lethal violence. The door to the bridge slid open. Two Ahn’hudi warriors, each nearly as large as Jax, and one Ahn’hudi-human hybrid female entered. The warriors bowed and the female curtsied. Louella squinted her eyes, thinking the female looked familiar and envying her the luxurious wealth of shining red curls cascading from her head.

“Louella?” the female asked, eyes widening.

Louella nodded and felt her jaw drop in astonishment. Collecting herself, she said, “Evangeline?”

“Yes! Oh, I’m so happy you’re alive!” Evangeline cried out and rushed toward Louella.

Inexplicably grateful to renew her acquaintance with a fellow Earthling whom she hadn’t seen or spoken with in over a year—and for a very short time at that—Louella met her halfway across the bridge. The two women embraced and wept over each other while the males looked on in wary bewilderment.

Moving his gaze to Yas’kihn, the shorter of the two warriors said, “Congratulations on your union, Your Majesty.”

Yas’kihn nodded and replied, “Colonel Horas, thank you for meeting us here rather than at the palace.”

The warrior blinked at the unwonted humility of the emperor’s tone and words and said, “You have our support, Your Majesty. You have always served Ahn’hudin’s best interests with honor, and we expect nothing less from you as our emperor.”

“Colonel Horas, I would hear your decision regarding my offer,” Yas’kihn said.

The bulky warrior bowed his head and replied, “I accept.”

“And you, Commander Sarus?”

The other bulky warrior bowed his head and replied, “I accept.”

“Admiral Sor’Ulen mek Yirog, so you accept my offer?” Yas’kihn asked.

The tall, fearsome looking male nodded and said, “I accept.”

At a gesture from Commander Sarus, Evangeline drew herself aside where she, Horas, and Sarus would be out of range of the view screen.

“Computer, record and broadcast,” the communications officer ordered.

“Acknowledged,” responded the ship’s artificial intelligence. “Recording activated.”

Former General Superior Yas’kihn mek Kuresh’Zha turned to face the view screen. Behind him stood the admiral and Evangeline’s mates. Garbed as a warrior in black leather battle kilt with wide, studded leather straps criss-crossing his chest and various bladed weapons attached, he looked the part of his former role. Louella peered at his garb and did not think she’d seen those particular items before.Did someone deliver his stuff while we’ve been in port? When had he gotten them?Spine straight and broad shoulders thrown back, Yas’kihn stood tall and proud. His erect crest added to his overall height and air of command and authority, every inch of him a dominant warrior king.

Louella found herself impressed.

Yas’kihn spoke, his voice pitched at a conversational tone, neither yelling nor lecturing, but calmly authoritative. “People of Ahn’hudin, you have known me for the past two hundred years as General Superior Yas’kihn mek Kuresh’Zha. Four days ago, the former emperor, Gudren, dishonorably challenged me for my mate.”

Louella wondered if it had really been four days ago, then recalled that days on Ahn’hudin were longer than days on Earth. From her vantage point, she looked at the view screen and thought the crowd appeared restless.

Yas’kihn resumed speaking after a brief pause. “He was accompanied by—”

Louella did not listen as he listed the names of the vice generals who had accompanied the former emperor to the Kaanian sanctuary, obeyed the emperor’s dishonorable command to kill him, and died for their misguided loyalty.

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