Part 32 (1/2)
”No. I was only there to help piece things back together after everything fell apart. But I was never there when he really needed me. Anymore than I was there for you or Talyn.”
She placed her finger over his lips. ”Let it go, Fain. Life is hard. For everyone. We are all warriors fighting our way through it. As I've always said to Talyn, tough times never last. But tough Andarions do. I learned that from watching you as a boy. Your parents, grandparents, and Keris treated you like s.h.i.+t and yet you never once spoke against them. You'd just lift your chin and carry on. 'Barking dogs don't bother me,' you used to say. 'Sooner or later, they reach the end of their yard and hit a fence. I'll keep going past it, and won't hear them anymore.'”
”I was young and stupid.”
”Young, yes. Stupid? Never.”
He placed her hand on his cheek and savored the warmth of her touch on his skin. ”I weep for every nanosecond of my life that I lived away from you.”
Overwhelmed by his sincerity, Galene kissed him. Like Fain, she grieved for all the time they'd lost. All the years that had been stolen from them.
”Commander?”
Irritated by the intrusion, she pulled back from Fain to see the highest-ranking Andarion officer after Talyn and Gavarian, who'd been left on duty. ”Yes, Gheris?”
”Sorry to intrude, ma'am, but you really need to see this.” He moved to the monitor on her office wall while Fain rose to his feet. He turned it to the Andarion newsfeed.
Galene gasped as she saw Cairistiona's mother, Eriadne, on the screen. Ever regal and harsh, and with a frigid beauty, she was dressed in full royal Andarion battlegear as she addressed the media.
”It is with great sorrow in my heart that I stand before my fellow Androkyns once again. As you all know, my daughter forced me into exile against my will. Over the years, I've tried desperately to reconcile. And she would have none of it. When she began this war against the very League that was founded by our own proud War Hauks to protect us from invasion, I begged her to rethink her foolishness. Ever rebellious like her father before her, Cairistiona refused.”
The queen mother gestured to the photos of the leveled Andarion palace. ”I have just received word that there are no survivors of the palace attack. Rescuers are working diligently to extract bodies for state burial, but as you can see, there is very little that remains, and we will be lucky if we find any remains at all.”
Eriadne sniffed back tears. ”I, like all of you, am devastated by such a tragic loss of lives taken far too soon. But as the War Hauk motto says, indurari. Through blood pain, we conquer and endure. Andaria will continue on as she always has. And to ensure that no other Andarion family has to stand over the graves of their children for such a needless cause, I have again reclaimed the throne that was so violently taken from me, and entered talks with the prime commander of The League. Commander Zemin is more than willing to forgive our transgressions so long as we deliver the traitor Nykyrian Quiakides over to him for execution. With a heavy heart, I have agreed to his terms to sacrifice my grandson for the good of our empire. For the good of the families I don't want to see lose another loved one in a futile war that can only end in our inevitable deaths, and the end of our beloved empire and proud families.”
Lifting her chin, she drew a ragged breath. ”I am recalling all Andarion soldiers from their off-world posts and severing our ties with the Alliance, effective immediately. Failure to return home, and any who stand with this so-called Alliance against The League, will result in their being declared traitors to the empire. This includes Prime Commander Batur, who is currently overseeing Alliance forces on an enemy base. If she contacts me immediately, and returns, she and her staff will be forgiven for their actions against our race and their treason against The League. But they must go before The League and do contrition, purification, and reeducation for their actions. Once repatriated, we will welcome them home.”
Galene ground her teeth at those words. Contrition, her left foot. She'd a.s.sa.s.sinate that b.i.t.c.h first.
”From this broadcast forward, Andaria is again part of The United Systems and falls under the protection of The League and agrees to abide by the laws of The Overseer.” She inclined her head to her soldiers, who began burning the tattered Alliance flag they'd taken from the attack, and hoisting a United Systems flag over the remains of the palace.
Eriadne saluted the media. ”All hail Andaria. We are forever united in purpose and we will strike with a precise hand.” The queen b.i.t.c.h finished with the national Andarion motto. ”Forever forward. Never back.” And with that, she left the podium.
The media shouted questions as Gheris turned the monitor off. His gaze went from her to Fain and back again. ”I will stand with whatever decision you make, Commander. But know that my sister was taken and raped under the former tadara's regime, by one of her nephews. She did nothing to punish those responsible, even though we knew who they were and could prove it. Instead, my sister was imprisoned and executed for treason for daring to impugn royal reputations. Tadara Cairistiona and Tahrs Nykyrian restored honor and law to our empire. Regardless of what you decide, I will not be part of handing Tahrs Nykyrian over to The League for his execution.”
”Put your heart at ease, Colonel. My loyalties are with the tahrs. He is the true heir to the throne, not the former tadara. I have my own issues and grudges with that b.i.t.c.h. But I will not force any of you to follow my path. Tell the others that they can stay or go with no fear of retaliation from me. In this, I won't be their conscience. I understand that all of you have families at home. Go in peace or stay and fight.” She offered him a gentle smile. ”If they wish to go, escort them out immediately, and notify our home troops to expect them.”
He saluted her. ”I shall tell them, but I know their hearts are loyal to you. It's why Commander Batur selected us for this a.s.signment. We all have issues with the former tadara and The League.” He turned on his heel and left them.
Galene rose to her feet to face Fain. ”That wh.o.r.e killed them.”
Fain let out a heavy sigh. ”As much as I'd like to say that no mother could do such a thing, I agree. She slaughtered most of her family to take the throne the first time. It only stands to reason that she'd kill the rest to regain it.”
Galene reviewed the footage of Eriadne's speech without the sound. ”Where's Tiziran Jullien?”
Fain moved to stand by her side. ”She didn't mention him, did she?”
”No.” She paused to show an old enemy in the background. ”Nyran is there.” She pointed him out. ”But there's no sign of Jullien, anywhere.”
”You think he was in the palace when it went up?”
She shook her head. ”He was exiled when his grandmother was thrown out. To my knowledge, he hasn't been near Eris since. But why wouldn't she have mentioned him as stepping forward with her? It's weird. With the others gone, would he not be her sole heir?”
Her link rang with Talyn's tone.
She clicked it on. ”Yes, baby?”
”Hey, have you seen the Andarion news?”
”That Eriadne has proclaimed herself tadara again. Yes.”
”I know this is rhetorical, but are we staying or leaving?”
”I don't trust that b.i.t.c.h as far as I can spit... and I don't spit. The ninth sun will freeze solid before I return to an Andaria ruled by her. What about you?”
”You know exactly how I feel about her. And I know from experience how much faith you can put in her lies. But regardless of my personal revulsion, I will stand with my mother in all wars. That being said, Felicia's brother called to let us know that her father has been seized and is in custody, awaiting trial for treason. They're planning to execute him, and all of Cairie's loyal advisors. WAR is attempting to reestablish itself, but it's been awhile since we've had any contact with each other. After Cairie took the throne, we disbanded harmoniously, a.s.suming Andarions no longer had to fear Anatole tyranny.”
”Is Lorens safe?”
”Yeah. He's on the run with his family and Felicia's mother. He wanted us to make sure Vari and Brach don't return home until this is settled. I promised him that I'd sit on both of them like a mother hen.”
”How's Felicia doing?”
He cleared his throat and waited a few seconds as if putting distance between him and her before he spoke in a whispered tone. ”She's acting brave. But you know how much she loved Kiara and the kids. She was taking it hard before Lorens called. Now... if she could fly, she'd be on her way home to slaughter Eriadne herself. Thank the G.o.ds I was never able to teach her how to pilot a fighter.”
Galene snorted. ”We still have a traitor here. I'm a.s.suming the new tadara wants us all dead. So stay with Felicia and keep her safe.”
”What about you?”
”I have your mother,” Fain said before she could answer. ”I won't let anything happen to her. I swear it on my life.”
Galene angled the link so that Talyn could see Fain. ”My two fierce protectors.”
Talyn saluted Fain. ”Let me know if either of you need anything.”
She hung up an instant before Fain's link went off.
Galene stepped closer to him to see who it was. She recognized the amba.s.sador's seal. ”Ryn?”
”Yeah.” He answered it.
”Is your brother with you, Fain?” Ryn asked without preamble.