CHAPTER 41
A lora leaned against the visus bacin, her legs shaking. The war was over, yet she wasn’t sure she’d won. The council members reseated themselves around the council chamber’s elaborately carved table. Radnor stood at the end, his palms planted on the polished surface. She twirled Veromé’s bracelet around her wrist, wishing he were here.
“Alora, where did you get that disk?” Radnor arched his brow.
Alora’s adrenaline spiked. “I found this in the box in your closet, the one you said I could look through.”
A few titters from the council members erupted in the room.
Radnor’s eyes sparked with mirth. “I guess I should’ve had Veromé do that long ago.” He waved a hand in the air. “No matter. It’s clear from the recording Mitan discovered Earth. Is there more on that device?”
She bit the inside of her cheek and glanced at the small orb lying at the bottom of the visus bacin. Even under the water, the smooth surface glinted in the light. “I suspect there is, but it wouldn’t play anything else for me. It’s locked and requires a password.”
Radnor toyed with the ends of his mustache, twirling them between his fingers. His gaze drew to his peers seated around the table. “Council members, I’d like an immediate vote.”
Alora’s pulse picked up speed.
“Since Zedron committed the ultimate crime, his claim to Earth is void. The question remains on whether Mitan had first rights or Alora. Since the war is over, I put forth for a vote that the sanctions against Alora and her mate, Veromé, my son, should be lifted. All in favor?”
“Aye!”
“Aye!”
“Aye!”
Radnor cleared his throat. “Any opposed?”
Silence filled the chamber except for the shuffle of a few shoes against the stone floor. Tomra glanced at Alora, a smile tugging at her lips.
Radnor placed his hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed. “As council leader, I lift the sanctions against you and Veromé.”
An image shimmered in the middle of the room.
Alora inhaled, a nervous, excited energy pulsing through her.
As Veromé’s molecules reformed, Alora couldn’t wait any longer. She rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck. His fresh scent of salt and ocean burrowed into her senses. He wrapped her in his tender embrace, holding her close.
“Alora, my love.” His rich baritone rumbled in the space between them. The muscles in his arms and back stiffened. “What am I doing here?”
She pulled away enough to look at him. “The war is over. Zedron killed Mitan and—”
He furrowed his brow. “What?”
Radnor clamped his hand on Veromé’s shoulder. “It’s true. We saw it all happen on Mitan’s recording device. Welcome back, son. The sanction over you and Alora has been removed.”
A smile bloomed across Veromé’s face. He picked her up and spun her around.
Alora squealed, the sudden movement catching her off guard. Her lungs expanded, love for him filling her chest. She couldn’t believe he was home.
Veromé set her back down and gave her a quick, sensual kiss then focused on the council. “I don’t understand. How did Mitan have a recording device? Those are used by colonizers, which are only allowed for either slave or free faction groups. Mitan and his family were from the neutral faction.”
“That’s what we want to know and hope you can help us. We cannot rule on the fate of Earth until we resolve this issue.” Radnor pointed to the visus bacin. “Mitan’s recording device is there, but it’s locked on one scene, the one of his death. Since he left you his belongings, maybe you can unlock its secrets.”
Alora squeezed his hand. “We both knew him well. I’m not surprised he would do something like this. Are you?”
Veromé shook his head. “He loved his family and would never outwardly dishonor them, but he always had a penchant for discovery.”
Alora exhaled, a wave of sadness for her friend washing over her. “If we find the proof he did discover Earth, perhaps its best that his parents aren’t here to witness it.”
Veromé kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you try again. I think he’d want you to find out.”
Alora’s throat tightened. “I don’t know the password. It will only authorize one more attempt before shutting down.”
“I think I know what it is.” He tugged her close and whispered, “Alora.”
With a quick inhale, she pulled away. “Really? My name? No, it couldn’t be that simple.”
“Mitan always thought of you as his little sister. He confided in me once that he used your name as his gaming password. I’d bet he did the same for his recording device.” Veromé shrugged. “It’s worth a try.”
A tingle of hope travelled over her shoulders. “All right, I’ll do it.”
Veromé turned to his father. “Do you mind if Alora gives it another try?”
Radnor inclined his head. “Not at all.”
With firm determination, Alora concentrated on the visus bacin once again. As she swirled her hands over the still water, she thought of her childhood friend. His gentle nature, easy going attitude, and zest for adventure had drawn them together from the first moment they’d met. In many ways, he was the brother she’d never had.
The eerie light blinked over the visus bacin… password…
“Password, Alora.” Her stomach knotted.
A ripple skipped across the water, then another. Her chest lightened, the water’s tempered gurgling urging her on. She increased her pace, her fingers flying over the water. Bubbles formed along the surface, frothing into a frantic pace then stilled.
An image of Mitan, sitting at a desk in a small cave came into focus. He pushed away from the table, the chair crashing against the stone floor. His eyes widened, and he ran his hand through his hair. “This will work, I know it will!”
The image wavered. Alora’s heart skipped a beat, and she doubled down on her effort, concentrating on the picture. A bead of sweat formed on her brow.
Mitan paced between the desk and a small bed. “Once the four elements—water, air, fire, and earth combine with my creation, my stone, it will ignite a chain reaction, sending hydrogen to Lemuria, where we can combine it with two oxygen molecules to create water.”
He stopped, his brow furrowed. “The problem is the byproduct. Carbon is pulled from the air and turned into a solid. What to do, what to do… The last thing I want is to alert the humans and drag them into intergalactic politics.” With a brisk step, he resumed his pacing.
Converting hydrogen to water through the portal would be so much easier than transporting the water via ship. Alora furrowed her brow. Perhaps there was a way to still come out of this a winner.
Radnor held up his hand. “Halt the recording.”
Alora steadied her palm over the visus bacin. Mitan’s image froze, his mouth curled into a smile.
“This is conclusive proof Mitan discovered Earth, yet he was from the neutral faction, so that was against the law. Even though Alora defeated Zedron in the game, she can’t claim the planet because she wasn’t the first to discover it. The circumstances are unprecedented.” Radnor directed his attention to the council. “Suggestions.”
Murmurs and heated voices erupted from the council members.
Nervous energy coursed through Alora. She pushed away from the visus bacin and strode toward the council. “I have a suggestion, if you’ll allow me.”
Tomra placed her hands on the table and rose from her seat. A lock of gray hair tumbled around her shoulders. “I’m willing to hear your idea, but this better be good.”
Several other council members nodded in agreement.
Radnor held out his hand as he lowered himself into his chair. “Alora, go ahead.”
Taking a large breath, Alora lifted her chin and approached the council members. One by one, she met their gazes. “Earth has what we desperately need—water. I believe we can do a mutual exchange with the humans while honoring Mitan’s wishes to keep Earth neutral, free from interplanetary interaction.”
Tomra scoffed. “Impossible.”
Alora crossed her arms. “I disagree. It is possible.”
Radnor leaned back in his chair, assessing her. “Please, continue.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Alora caught Veromé’s gaze. He smiled and gave her an encouraging nod. His love and support spread elation deep inside. She pulled on her determination and paced the small room. “Earth has a global warming problem. Their use of fossil fuels, coal burning, and other pollutants will destroy their planet. If we fire up Mitan’s portal and send hydrogen to Lemuria, the byproduct of removing carbons from the atmosphere would be a great benefit.”
“What do you plan to do with the byproduct, the solid carbons?” Tomra shook her head, her lips pursed in disdain.
Here it was, Alora’s big leap of faith. “I’d like to recommend that some of my characters remain on Earth to monitor the portal and bury the carbon deep in the Earth. There are several tunnels under the Keep and—”
Tomra slammed her palm against the table. “Nonsense! Characters don’t remain on a planet after a war. They return to the character board.”
Alora raised her chin, tightening her lips. “I care for my characters. They are like children to me. Free will is the first rule in the game, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. Free will is the primary law.” Radnor glanced from Alora to Tomra before returning his gaze on her. His mouth thinned. “But Tomra has a good point that characters return to the character board. What makes you think this will work?”
“Recently, several of my characters exercised free will, making choices that went against the norm.” Alora turned toward Veromé. “Would you agree?”
Veromé pushed off the wall and strode toward the council members. “Yes, starting with Alora’s king, Noeh. He chose a Dren female for his mate, breaking centuries of custom in the process.”
“…And Demir, Panthera leader. On his own he broke from tradition and allowed his mate, Aramie, to remain a warrior.” Alora’s pulse increased, her excitement building. “Tanen, the council leader, fell in love with a human, bringing her and her dog into the Keep.”
Veromé placed his hand around Alora’s waist. “Saar, the Commander of Arms, fell in love with his enemy…”
“And let’s not forget the most recent one, Gaetan, the Keep’s haelen.” Alora gripped Veromé’s hand, intertwining their fingers together. “He saved a human from a Gossum and fell in love with her. Each of these characters made a choice that changed their lives forever. I’d like to offer them a chance to continue to live with their chosen mates, and I believe they will jump at the opportunity to stay on Earth. Of course, I’d watch over them and ensure the exchange progressed accordingly.”
“I’d gladly help.” Veromé kissed her on the forehead.
Radnor cleared his throat. “Your points are well made, Alora.”
Alora swallowed, her pulse spiking. Here it was, the final determination.
“Council members, I’d like to put this matter to an immediate vote.” Radnor scanned the group. “All in favor of allowing Alora’s character the right to choose, of their own free will, to stay on Earth and monitor the exchange, say ‘aye.’ ”
“Aye.”
“Aye.”
“Aye.”
Tomra shook her head. “I will only give my assent if the individual characters who don’t wish to stay can return to the character board to await another war on a different planet.”
Alora let out a relieved breath. “Yes, of course. Free will.”
“Then it shall be done.” Radnor rapped his mallet against the table. The sound echoed around the chamber. “Alora, you have officially claimed Earth as the first neutral planet. Congratulations.”
Alora turned toward Veromé and wrapped her arms around his neck. He placed his hands on her waist, and picked her up, twirling her in the air. She laughed, a sense of happiness lightening her spirit. Now, to visit her characters. She hoped they’d make the right choice.