Infiltration: Chapter Six Scene Three - Releases Friday

 

Tara in tears: a lovers' quarrel has major implications for the empire.

* * * *

Kalquor

Tarawatched Yuder from across the courtyard. He knelt in vajrasana, hispreferred meditation pose. He would have appeared to be deep in contemplationbut for the severe crease between his steel-colored brows.

Shedrew a breath. Calm, she counseled herself. Neutrality. Both hadbecome challenges in the days since he’d returned home.

Shepadded barefoot along the tiled ground. Her silk robes whispered, telling herbeloved of her approach long before she arrived. The divots of his disquietvanished as a slight smile appeared on his lips. His eyes opened as she sankonto the mat in front of his. For a golden moment, she allowed herself to baskin the warmth of his regard.

“You’rehaving trouble going deep.” She let her concern show.

“Mystomach is growling. You’d think I’d learn to have my meals prior tomeditation.” He grinned.

Tarahad a strict policy of not allowing her students to skirt their integrity.While Yuder wasn’t a student, he was too important for her to let him get awaywith a half-truth.

“You’restruggling. There isn’t enough meaningful activity for you to direct yourattention toward.”

Ashadow of guilt appeared on his sharp features. “I’m trying, my Matara. Isearch for duty of significance, a task of value. I hate to admit it, but Iwasn’t made for this era of peace. As grateful as I am for the contentment ofthe empire, I’ve never known the harmony it’s enjoying. It makes no sense tome.”

“It’smore a matter of the restrictions placed upon you, isn’t it? There’s alwayssome struggle to overcome for a society, even in peacetime. Your inability tobe involved on any level is what chafes.”

Hegrimaced. “As always, you see to the heart of my dilemma. I feel useless, Tara.This is death for me.”

“Isthat why you keep sneaking off to meet Councilman Oiteil?”

Hestilled. Another flash of guilt, accompanied by anger. “You’d never spy on me.”

“Youhave friends who have spotted you together, and they’re worried. They commed meyesterday. They thought it best I speak to you before Clajak or the High Courtfinds out.” She held up a hand to forestall the explosion his darkening facewarned was coming. “They wouldn’t report you, Yuder. But who else mightdiscover what you’ve been doing? The war is long over, but the Imperial Familyhas its opponents.”

“Oiteilseeks me. He speaks, but I offer nothing that could be construed as meddling ingovernmental affairs. I assure you, my Royal Guard escort would testify to it.”

Sheached for him. His need to be essential to his empire was blinding him to thetrouble he courted…or it was too much for him to care.

“Yuder.Please, for the sakes of those who love you, consider very carefully what couldhappen. If Oiteil is instigating these encounters, it’s on you to decline them.Mere social interaction with a sitting councilman, even in full view ofwitnesses who’d corroborate you’ve said nothing out of turn…it could still landyou in trouble. The Galactic Council’s High Court was specific.”

“Ohyes, they spelled it out quite clearly,” he growled. “I’m essentially to turntail and run if the lowliest Royal Council aide heads in my direction.Ancestors forbid I say hello to anyone who’s ever set a toe in the GovernmentHouse.”

“Irealize it’s difficult—”

“Doyou? Do you honestly understand what it is to have to stand by when the empireI once ruled is facing new challenges?” There was furious frustration in hisexpression and voice, but he took her hands gently to show it wasn’t directedat her. “There’s backlash against Earther males being made legal clanmates.Against the laws changed to accommodate up to ten legal bondings in a singlehousehold. The new Earth is already dealing with protestors determined to cutit off from Galactic Council planets, particularly ours. A spyship orbitingBi’is has disappeared. If the Bi’isils have developed a weapon—”

“Yuder!”She stared at him, stunned at how deep Oiteil had pulled him in. She couldn’thelp but glance around the courtyard, worried someone might have overheard him.Fortunately, his pair of Royal Guards stood well beyond hearing range. A dozenor so of her disciples were meditating in the area, at a distance where it wasunlikely they’d picked up on the whispered conversation.

“Youcan’t do this,” she implored. “Oiteil has to understand the trouble he couldget you in. You must know! My love, please. I don’t want you taken fromme again. Am I of so little importance?”

“Ofcourse not. My Matara, you can’t think it. But if the empire needs me—”

“Youare banned.” She emphasized each word, desperate for him to recognize theimpossibility of his situation. “No matter what happens, no matter how unhappyit makes you, no matter the challenges Kalquor encounters, this is your realitynow.”

“Oiteilthinks the Royal Council might vote to reverse the High Court’s sentence.”

Shestared at him. “He can’t be serious.”

“Ithought so also, at first. He and a few others are quietly speaking to theircolleagues, and he says he think he can gain the support needed to bring backnot only me to public service, but Rajhir and Ospar as well. He says theremight be enough votes to overturn the Imperial Clan should they attempt to vetosuch a motion.”

Tara’smind whirled at the implications. “If Clajak opposed overturning the HighCourt’s sentence, which he probably will because he prefers to uphold theirauthority, he’d never consult you about issues of state. He loves you, but ifhe were to ignore your sentence, it would be seen as a rebuttal of the justicebranch’s authority.”

“He’dbe correct, and I don’t expect him to approve. It wouldn’t make a difference. Icould belong to a watchdog group that reports to the Royal Council. I wouldn’tbe a decision-maker, just a concerned citizen helping them perform their dutyto the empire.”

Itwas hard to speak her conscience and fears in the face of his excitement, butTara was certain Yuder and Oiteil weren’t considering the ramifications of whatthey proposed. “Yuder, you must tread lightly. In the end, what a few RoyalCouncilmen wish doesn’t have any bearing. It was your first conviction and thepardon that followed most feel tipped Kalquor into civil war. I doubt thepeople want a reminder of it, and if they’re asked to reflect on it, they won’tagree. If the High Court believes you’re conspiring to a return to publicservice—”

“Conspiring!”Yuder stared at her. “This wasn’t my idea. I’ve done nothing but listen to whatOiteil has to say on the behalf of a number of others. If my people call forme, I can’t stand by and not answer. I’m sorry if you don’t understand what hingeson this, for me and my empire.”

Hestood. Before Tara could think of anything to say, he sped out of thecourtyard, leaving her sitting alone and on the verge of tears.

* * * *

The alien force dubbed the Darks has grabbed control of keypositions on Kalquor and the Galactic Council of Planets. Other leaders arestill unaware of the threat among them. The galaxy is wide open for destruction by an unfathomable enemy.

Former emperor Nobek Yuder has suspicions, but due torestrictions placed on him after his prison sentence, he can only stand by andwatch helplessly. A renegade Royal Councilman has designs to bring him back tothe political arena, but doing so could destabilize the Kalquorian Empire,leaving it vulnerable to invasion.

Meanwhile, one man on the brink of death, the only man whocan detect the nearly invisible Darks, is pulled from a lifeless shuttle byCaptains Kila and Nako. His incredible story tells them they’re in a raceagainst time to save not only the empire but the whole galaxy…but are theyalready too late?

On Earth II, Governor Stacy Nichol’s relationship with ClanRihep continues to grow. So does the danger, as opponents make deadly movesagainst her and the orbiting Kalquorian station where the clan lives. NobekKuran is determined to keep his clanmates and would-be lifemate safe, but howcan he stop a faceless enemy?

Relationships, old and new, are strained to the breakingpoint at a time when Earthers and Kalquorians need each other more than ever.The Darks are closing in, and no one is ready to oppose them.

Releasing Friday, November 3!

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