Prologue
Lasara
Taelon strode toward the king’s receiving chamber. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as loudly as his footsteps echoed off the palace walls. Fury filled him, curling his hands into fists. Two attendants, both male, rounded the corner at the end of the hall. Both began to bow but halted halfway through their genuflection. Eyes widening, they leapt out of his path.
Normally, Taelon would have greeted them with a smile and asked after their families, always appreciative of the aid they provided and their contributions to palace daily life.
Today, however, he ground his teeth and clamped his lips shut, his rage too close to the surface.
Four guards manned the doors to the receiving chamber and offered bows when he reached it.
Taelon delivered a curt nod—the best he could manage at the moment—and threw open the doors. The tall slabs of wood slammed against the walls, then bounced back toward him, the breeze they created ruffling his hair as he continued forward.
The men and women inside started and spun toward him.
Seated behind his large desk, the king took one look at Taelon’s face and turned to his guests. “Give us the room.”
Half of those present immediately rose and took their leave, giving Taelon a wide berth. Two of the guards in the hallway leaned in and closed the doors, ensconcing them in quiet.
Taelon studied the men left behind. His father, the king, regarded him with a grave expression. His brothers—Duras, Gefen, and Levik—frowned at him.
“What is it?” Levik asked. Closer to Taelon in age, he knew Taelon better than the other two, who were significantly older.
“I know where she is,” he announced grimly. Taelon didn’t have to say whom. His baby sister had been at the forefront of their thoughts every day since they had abruptly lost contact with her four months ago.
Every man stood.
“Where?” his father demanded.
“Earth.”
Faces paled. Curses erupted.
“You’re certain?” Levik asked.
“Yes. When our allies could find no trace of her, I contacted the Akseli.”
His father’s face darkened. “I didn’t authorize that.”
“I didn’t ask because I knew you wouldn’t,” Taelon replied. His sister’s life meant more to him than evading his father’s wrath.
“Because they’re soldiers of fortune!” his father thundered, rounding his desk. Though he was four centuries old, he still bore the muscular build of a warrior and had only a hint of gray at his temples. “They are more likely to ransom Amiriska than rescue her! They have no honor!”
“That’s true of many of them,” Taelon conceded. “But I have encountered some who are honorable. And those are the ones I contacted through back channels.”
Duras took a step closer. “You’re speaking of Janwar?”
“Yes.”
His father scowled. “Who the srul is Janwar?”
“Janwar and his brother are Akseli who have gone rogue. They were part of the rebellion that took place when his government swung hard toward tyranny. He and his brother broke ties with his people when the rebels lost. They don’t follow his monarch’s penchant for hiring out his soldiers to the highest bidder, regardless of the atrocities they are paid to commit. Janwar picks and chooses those he fights for.”
Gefen arched a brow. “And those he steals from?”
“Yes.” Taelon had no problem with that, nor should they. “He mostly steals from enemies of the Aldebarian Alliance. And when he does, he sometimes steals information. Which is why I contacted him about Amiriska. I was hoping he could find some clue to her whereabouts we could follow.”
“Did he?” Duras asked.
“Yes. His investigation kept pointing toward the Gathendiens. So he and his crew tracked down a Gathendien scout ship that all reports indicated was returning from near-Earth space. Janwar and a couple of his men snuck on board—”
“How the drek did they manage that?” Gefen blurted.
Taelon shook his head. “He’s very good at what he does.”
Levik frowned. “And wanted whatever reward you offered him? It must have been enormous for him to risk so much.”
Their father cut a hand through the air. “Whatever reward he wishes I’ll grant if he’s found Amiriska for us.”
“He has,” Taelon confirmed. “He imprisoned the Gathendiens who survived his attack and tortured them for information. Then his crew searched the ship’s data chips to confirm its accuracy.” Fury rose. “If the Gathendiens are correct, members of Earth’s military forces destroyed Amiriska’s ship and took her captive shortly after her arrival.”
Heavy silence fell.
Duras swallowed hard. “Does she still live?”
Taelon couldn’t speak for a long moment, too overcome by fear for her. “I don’t know. The Gathendiens didn’t either but assumed the Earthlings had killed her.”
A muscle in Gefen’s jaw leapt. “If they didn’t kill her…”
Levik looked sick when he spoke, his voice hoarse. “They’ve had her for months.”
There was no telling what atrocities they had committed in that time. Taelon wanted to weep at the notion of his sweet, delicate, sheltered little sister being at the Earthlings’ mercy.
His father roared in fury and swept everything off his desk. He paced away, his back to them. “I told her they were drekking barbarians! I told her they were a primitive species unworthy of our sympathy or concern! She knows they are a greedy, grasping, warring people! Everything the Sectas have learned in their study of Earth confirms it!”
Gefen shook his head. “She has always had a soft heart, Father. Once she realized an alliance with Earth could save both our species and theirs…”
The doors flew open, again slamming against the wall.
Taelon turned as his mother raced inside.
Her face pale, she swept them all with a distressed gaze, then focused on her husband. “What is it? What’s happened?” The two were linked so closely she must have felt his turmoil.
Once more, the guards outside leaned in and gently pulled the doors closed, secluding them inside.
Taelon caught her eye. “I believe I’ve found Amiriska.”
She glanced at her husband, whose rage was unmistakable when he turned and met her gaze. Her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. “No.” She took a step back, her pretty face contorting with grief. “No-no-no-no-no. Please don’t say it.”
Taelon held up a hand. “My source said she traveled to Earth where she was captured and her ship destroyed.”
“She went to Earth?” She stiffened as though bracing her knees to keep them from buckling. “Did they kill her?”
“We don’t know,” he admitted. “It happened months ago, after we lost contact with her.” They had thought she was traveling to Aurelia on a diplomatic mission. “My source has no knowledge of what has happened since then, so I’m going to go find her. I’ve already ordered my ship to be readied. I’ll leave tonight.”
“You’ll leave in two days,” his father growled. “And you’ll take an armada with you. If they’ve harmed her in any way, you will slay every barbarian on that planet.”