Part 27 (1/2)
And more than their presence here drew comment. Two of the aliens were armed, in the Imperial Presence! Normally only Rangers and Life n.o.bles had that privilege, and seeing enemies so honored brought angry murmurs, even after the tapes all present had seen of Tarlac's account of the Ordeal, of Kranath's Vision.
Tarlac heard the murmurs and smiled. If they thought this was bad, just wait! His plans were going smoothly; if the emotional currents he sensed continued, it was likely that soon these courtiers would be glad for the Traiti's arms.
Hovan was beginning to feel uneasy as he followed Steve down the red carpet toward the Throne, and he wasn't quite able to place the reason.
It wasn't the humans' anger; Steve had warned them to expect that at first. And it wasn't the strangeness of being on Terra, or even in the Palace's Throne Room. This, despite its size and splendor, bore a strong similarity to a gathering hall, even though its dais supported the Throne instead of an altar. This place felt out-clan, nothing more sinister. His unease was due to something else, something his combat-honed senses insisted was like walking into an ambush. He sighed inwardly. If there was going to be trouble, why hadn't Steve said anything?
But Steve was a Lord now, he reminded himself, and it was axiomatic that Lords did things their own ways for their own reasons. All he could do was remain alert, prepared to take any action that might seem necessary.
As they neared the Throne, Hovan found himself more impressed than he'd thought he would be. Twin columns of swirling silver flanked Emperor Charles Davis where he sat in the rather plain, high-backed wooden chair that was the Throne, on its meter-high marble dais. He wore green-and-silver robes and a silvery crown ornamented with winged stars; the scepter he held matched it. The regalia could not disguise the strain lines engraved in his face, but he was smiling slightly, and so was Crown Prince Forrest, from his place behind the Emperor's left side.
Davis gave the group a sober examination before he spoke. ”Ranger Tarlac. We are pleased at your return, and at your successful completion of the Traiti Ordeal of Honor. According to Captain Willis, that means you are bringing Us the peace We wish.”
”I bring a good chance for peace, Your Majesty, in the persons of the Traiti rulers and Team-Leader Hovan, who gave me the support and training I needed to survive the Ordeal.” Tarlac repressed a smile at that misleading technicality. He'd survived, yes--for less than a minute.
”We welcome them to the Empire. You have learned their Language; will you act as translator for Us?”
”Of course, sir.”
”Good. As you asked Us to, We have released the tapes you showed Us yesterday, so their contents are common knowledge; you need not go into those facts again.”
”Thank you, sir.” Tarlac turned to the Supreme and First Speaker, and translated the exchange.
”Now,” Davis said, his tone even more serious, ”We understand that it is a cultural problem which has brought about this civil war between the Empire and some of Our separated citizens.”
”Yes, Your Majesty. Their culture and its imperatives are quite different from ours--but I'm proud to have been adopted by Clan Ch'kara and to call Hovan my brother.”
Davis nodded, and focused his attention on the two rulers. ”We hope to end this fratricidal conflict, which has recently, for the first time, cost you women and children We understand you can ill afford to lose.
Have you any suggestions as to how We can do that?”
Imperial usage, Hovan thought as he watched, had sounded foolish when Steve described it aboard s.h.i.+p, but coming from the Emperor now, it sounded both solemn and appropriate.
It was the Supreme, since this was primarily a secular matter, who answered through Tarlac. ”The Ranger has told us that our Terran origin ent.i.tles us to Imperial citizens.h.i.+p, and that any citizen has the right to pet.i.tion the Throne.”
Davis nodded. ”It is a citizen's basic right, one which has prevented much injustice. We invite you to present yours.”
The Supreme indicated the First Speaker. ”Then, Your Majesty, we pet.i.tion life for our people. Ranger Tarlac has told you that we cannot surrender; as your troops advance, we will all die as surely as those of Clan L'sor died. It is death with honor to die in defense of the clan, but it is death for all of our race, and I do not think Your Majesty wants that any more than we want it.”
”We do not,” Davis said firmly, ”and there is a way to prevent it.
Ranger Tarlac has told you of the Imperial policy regarding governments which already exist on inhabited planets, has he not?”
”Yes, Your Majesty. The Irschchan system is still ruled by their White Order, and the cloudcats of Ondrian have kept their own ways. Those, however, are local governments. Our civilization, like yours, is interstellar in scope.”
”We consider that the principle is the same for a Sector as for a planet or a system. Do you disagree?”
”We do not, Your Majesty. We agree fully.”
”Then hear Our Edict.” Davis stood, raising the scepter. ”We rule that the war came about because of a mutual misunderstanding between two groups of Imperial citizens, one of which was unaware of that status, and that no blame may be attached to either group.
”Further, we invite the Supreme and First Speaker to swear fealty to the Empire, that the Traiti may take their rightful place in Our Realm.
In exchange, We offer confirmation of their status as rulers of the new Traiti Sector, subject only to the restrictions that apply to all Sector Dukes.”