Chapter Twenty-Three

Rastrath found Athtar waiting in the smallest reception room, the one usually reserved for second level merchants. Although he knew Athtar wouldn’t care, it was borderline insulting that he had been shown there and he shook his head. The sooner they were away from this place the better.

Athtar was leaning against the wall, looking even bigger and more imposing than usual against the refined decor. Instead of his usual harness, he was wearing a ragged fur coat, and he scowled at Rast as he entered.

“Why don’t you get rid of that fucking sour faced old bastard?”

“What did he do now?” Rast sighed.

“He objected to Precious.”

“Precious?”

“Meet Precious.” Athtar opened his coat to reveal the most bedraggled, pathetic looking animal Rast had ever seen tucked into an inside pocket and cradled against his chest. Barely larger than Athtar’s hand, it had large, bulbous eyes in a broad homely face with only thin slits for its nose and ears. Its skin was a mottled brown, falling in big folds and appearing much too big for the small animal.

“What the hell is that?”

“Pardorian War Beast.”

“War Beast? That?” He’d never seen one, but he’d heard they were smart, vicious fighters. It was hard to believe that this tiny creature could be one. But then it yawned, the mouth opening to almost the size of its head and revealing multiple rows of sharp teeth. Rast took a step back.

“Why do you have it?”

“Because the fucking owner was abusing it. Look.”

Sure enough there was a band of inflamed skin around the thick neck and when he looked closer, he could see welts along its back.

Rast sighed. “Bring it with you. I was tempted to have us served in the state dining room, but I doubt that that thing is trained.”

“Is Utaski insulting me again?” Athtar grinned. “Why do you even care?”

“Because you’re my friend and he should treat you with respect for that reason alone. But I don’t suppose it matters any—” He paused in mid speech, remembering that between Imperial security and the typical House politics, they would most probably be under surveillance. He moved to the wall panel. “Utaski, bring refreshments to the Temple Room. Personally. Remember to accommodate Mistress Debra’s requirements.”

“Of cou—” Rastrath ended the call.

Athtar roared with laughter and he grinned back, his annoyance appeased by his own rudeness. “Come on. Let’s go see if my consort is ready.”

Deb had dressed in one of her Sherae outfits, flowing pale blue pants with a matching airy top, and she looked cool and delicious.

“Hi, Athtar. Aren’t you hot in that coat?”

“Yeah. I just like having all the pockets when strolling the markets.” He shrugged it off, revealing the War Beast.

“Oh my gosh, who’s that? He’s so cute!”

Rast shot her a bemused stare but she seemed quite sincere.

“He’s a she. Her name is Precious.” Athtar said with a proud grin.

“Can I hold her?”

“Sweetheart, I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”

The other two ignored him and before he could stop her, she had the creature snuggled against her breasts. The memory of its teeth so close to that delicate flesh made him blanch but she looked so thrilled, he didn’t have the heart to protest, especially when it just wiggled happily.

“Aren’t you just the cutest little thing? Yes, you are. Such a good girl.”

Both Rast and Athtar stared at her as she talked to the animal and she blushed when she looked up and saw them watching.

“My family had a dog, back on Earth. I miss him, too. I know this isn’t exactly the same thing, but I—” She broke off and frowned down at the creature before lifting it closer to her face. “She’s been hurt. What happened?”

“Fucking owner. He had her tied to his stall and he’d hit her with a stick every time someone came by. Trying to teach her to be a fucking guard dog.”

“But she’s just a baby.” Deb looked adorably fierce. “I hope you taught him a lesson, Athtar.”

“Fucking right I did.” He tugged on one of his braids. “But that’s one reason I’m here. Things got a little heated. Might be best for me to leave soon, so I wanted to find out what was happening.”

“Come up to the Temple Room and I’ll tell you while we eat.” Rast led all three of them up to the roof pavilion. It was designed to look like an early temple, with views out over the Imperial Palace but, more importantly, what looked like ancient stone was actually a very modern material designed to block audio communications. He had had it built once he started investigating his cousin and needed a place to meet with his spies. Filmy curtains hung gracefully between the columns, but they, too, served a purpose, preventing visual surveillance as well.

After Utaski—his every muscle taut with offended dignity—served a light meal, Rast dismissed him and proceeded to fill Athtar in on the events of the day.

“Well, I’ll be a son of a three-armed sea witch. Can’t say I blame you for giving it up. You were never happy here.”

“You could have suggested it years ago.”

“Would you have listened?”

Rast shrugged, conceding the point. “Probably not. But with the Emperor in charge of stopping the planet destroyer and my abdication, we have no reason to stay. Can we leave tomorrow?”

“Aye. Grabon is refilling our fuel and loading cargo now.”

“Good. You can all spend the night here and we can leave in the morning.”

“Nothing you want to pack?” Athtar raised an eyebrow. “Lots of nice stuff around.”

“I have an ancient timepiece my grandfather always wore. The rest can stay. Of course, you see anything you want, feel free.” His attention was distracted by Precious. The animal had spent the meal on either Deb or Athtar’s lap, being fed tidbits which it took with great delicacy, and had only just been allowed down to wander around. Now, it apparently decided the ancient, and priceless, carpet draped artistically over the steps was the appropriate place to take a long, loud, and very smelly shit.

“I hope you’re going to clean that up,” he said through gritted teeth.

Athtar grinned. “Nope. I’ll let fucking Utaski take care of it.”

Even as he spoke, the other man appeared. “Your Highness. There is a message for you from the Palace on Sherae. They are under attack.”

Deb gasped and Athtar swore, but Rast was focused on Utaski.

“Under attack? What happened?”

“Here.” Utaski handed him the coded message. Anger roared through him so quickly and violently, the world turned red. Through the roaring in his ears, he heard Deb speaking and she sounded scared, so he forced the rage back.

“What’s happened?” she repeated, her eyes wide and frightened. He pulled her close but didn’t respond immediately.

“Athtar, we need to leave. Now. Is the refueling done?”

“Already checking,” he muttered as he worked his communicator, then looked up and nodded. “Yep. Done.”

“Let’s go.” He scooped Deb up in his arms and set off at a run, Athtar pausing only to pick up Precious before falling in behind.

“But, Your Highness, what do you want me to do?” Utaski called after them.

“I’d start looking for another job. My brother’s in charge now and I know for a fact that he’s flat broke.”

Despite the urgency of the situation, he took a second to appreciate the man’s shocked gasp before he concentrated on getting to the ship as quickly as possible.

“Rast?” Deb whispered urgently.

“I’ll tell you everything as soon as we are on board. I promise.”

To his relief, she sighed and nestled closer as he increased his speed.

The ship was a hive of activity, all hands stowing cargo while Grabon and Birgraz kept watch with highly illegal blasters at their hips.

“You really did stir up some trouble, didn’t you?” he said to Athtar as they headed up the landing ramp. “The armament isn’t about me.”

Athtar shrugged and grinned. “Kanithe came along just as I was getting started. Seems like she has a soft spot for animals as well and the situation…escalated.” He turned to the crew and yelled. “Leaving in five. If it ain’t on board, it gets fucking left. Including any fucking crew members who can’t be bothered to obey me.”

Rast took a quick look and realized that Studoc was missing. No matter how angry he was over the threat to his planet and his consort, he didn’t want to leave anyone behind. “Where is he?”

“Found some woman, of course. I warned him.”

“You can’t leave him,” Deb protested.

“Don’t worry, little mama,” Athtar said. “If he has to stay here until we come back for him, he can take care of himself. But he knows when I mean business, so I doubt he’ll push it that far.” A green figure appeared at the edge of the landing field, moving fast. “There he is.”

Studoc raced up the cargo ramp just as it began to rise. He was shirtless, shoeless, and his pants were unfastened but he was grinning. “Fuck, Athtar. I was balls deep inside the hottest little…” He spotted Deb, still curled in Rast’s arms. “Oops, sorry, Deb.” He grinned again. “Don’t mind me.”

“I don’t,” she said easily, returning his smile.

“Get to your post,” Athtar growled. “We’re leaving.”

“Yes, captain.” Completely unabashed, Studoc headed for the engine room. Athtar and Rast headed for the bridge at a run. Kanithe and Ultana were already in place as he strapped Deb into a chair.

“Go,” Athtar ordered.

“We’re still waiting for clearance.” Ultana replied calmly.

“Will they shoot us down as we leave?” Athtar asked with a glance in his direction.

“I’ve never heard of them doing that to a departing ship but—”

“Punch it, Ultana.”

The Dancing Lady took off with a roar of engines and he fell back into his chair, with a quick look over at Deb. He didn’t like how pale she was, but she smiled at him.

Once they were beyond the outer planetary defense, with no damage other than a litany of complaints and threats over the com board, Athtar turned to Rast. “Now, tell us what the fuck is going on.”

Knowing what this was going to do to her, he freed Deb from her straps, then sat back down with her on his lap.

“There’s a Derian ship in orbit around Sherae.”

“What?” she whispered. Her face turned so pale he could see the veins beneath the delicate skin.

“According to Marious, they just showed up, but they are threatening to bomb my palace if we don’t give you up.”

“The Palace? But all those innocent people—Marious, T’lik, everyone.”

“I ordered them to go into hiding immediately,” he assured her quickly.

“You know Marious won’t leave.”

He suspected she was right. “I trust him to know what he’s doing,” he said firmly, and was rather surprised to find that he believed the words. “I told him we were coming back as quickly as possible.”

“But if I’m not even there? What are they going to do?”

He exchanged a glance with Athtar and saw that he was looking as grim as Rast felt. “I don’t know,” he told Deb. “But whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”