Part 26 (1/2)
”You won't hurt him.”
He said nothing.
”d.a.m.n it, Kurj. If you kill the man I love, I will never be able to bear your presence again.”
”Love?” He sounded more bewildered than angry. ”You cannot love such a man. You are a Ruby heir.”
”And he is my consort.” Roca was growing desperate. She was so very, very tired. And the baby was nuzzling her s.h.i.+rt, wanting to nurse. She couldn't do it in front of Kurj. She needed privacy, needed to be away from his deadly contradictions, his unbending love and anger. ”Promise me you will never hurt Eldri.”
”Who is Eldri?”
”My husband.”
No answer.
”Kurj!”
His face remained impa.s.sive.
”He is a Ruby psion,” Roca said.
Nothing in his face relented. ”Absurd.”
”It is true.”
”A wild tale, Mother.”
Roca knew she couldn't keep this up. Kurj might think she spoke from desperation, but he would soon learn the truth. The proof in Eldri's DNA would give her more to negotiate with. Until then, she had to make sure Kurj didn't kill him.
”Make me a bargain,” she said raggedly. ”If I swear I will never return to him, swear you will never harm him.”
He clenched the gurney. ”You love him that much?”
”Yes.”
”And you would never see him again?”
”Yes.” She wanted to choke on the word.
He averted his eyes. ”Very well. I agree.”
”Look at me.”
He raised his gaze.
”Now promise,” she said.
He said nothing.
”Kurj.”
It was a long moment before he answered. Finally he forced out the words. ”You have my word.”
”You must not betray my trust.”
”Never again.” He spoke bitterly. ”I did once. This happened.”
”You should keep your promises because it is right. Not because you want no more brothers.”
His voice suddenly cracked. ”G.o.ds, I thought you died. I thought I had killed you.”
His emotion startled her. He so rarely let her see how he felt, and he had walled his mind off from her.
She spoke more gently. ”Can we not find a way to trust each other?”
He started to answer, then shook his head, as if he couldn't bear to reveal any more emotions or even let himself feel them. Instead he touched the baby's head. ”What will you call him?”
”Eldrin,” she murmured. ”Eldrin Jarac Valdoria. For his father and mine.”
He wouldn't meet her gaze.
”Kurj.”
He slowly raised his gaze to hers. ”Would that I could make the universe perfect for you. But I cannot. I can only do my flawed, bitter best.”
She swallowed. ”I fear your vision of perfection.”
No answer.
She spoke softly. ”Are we going to war with the Traders?”
”The invasion plans are under way.”
”So you won.”
”By two votes.” He sounded weary rather than triumphant.
”Two votes.” She wanted to grieve for the deaths those two votes would inflict on humanity. ”I hope you are proud of it.”
”Proud?” This time he didn't try to hide his pain. ”I have no pride in destruction or death. But I will do whatever is necessary to protect my people and those I love.”
”I know.” A tear ran down her face.
She felt too worn-out to say more. These people believed they were taking her to safety, comfort, the life she was destined to live. But regardless of what they wanted to think, they were ripping her away from the home she loved.
Part Three: