“Shewasremoved to Ti Q’won,” High Lord Death announced as he strode up to sire and daughter. Gio accompanied him. “The Emperor has just received a report you might wish to hear.”
Dari’s smile faltered. Dak gently placed her on the ground.
“Where is mynee’ka?” Dak demanded.
Dari gave Gio a sour look for having lied to Kari about High Lord Death. “’Tis sorry I am,” he murmured down to his wife, “yet I was not of a mind to fight with her.”
“’Tis fine. Leastways, until she awakens. Now where is mymani?” she asked her Sacred Mate.
Gio looked to Death, his superior. Death nodded.
“It seems,” Gio told Dak and Dari, “that Queen Geris was of a mind to go find her hatchlings herself.“
“She was caught attempting to flee Tryston with Kyra, Mari, Giselle, and some wenches from the Wani sector of Tron,” King Kil added as he strolled up to where the foursome stood. He winked at Dari afore she wrapped her arms about his waist. He squeezed her back. “Their plot, it seems, has been foiled.”
“Why not bring them here, Uncle?” Dari asked. “You needs must be missing them and I very much would like to see mymani.”
“’Tis not up to me, wee one,” Kil reminded her. “’Tis up to the other one.”
“I am now ‘the other one’ eh?” Zor inquired drolly. “Mayhap I deserve that.” Coming to join the group, he affectionately ruffled the top of Dari’s head. “For a certainty ‘tis happy I am to see you alive and well.”
“As much as I miss mynee’ka,” Dak said, “I’ve already got two hatchlings too many on or near this bedamned unknown planet. I would like as naught go insane to put my wife into this mess.”
“Two hatchlings?” Dari crinkled her nose. “Of what do you speak, papa?”
Dak ran a hand across his jaw. He sighed. “I think Jana is down there on Khan-Gor.”
“Jana?” Dari shook her head. “She is removed to Galis.”
“Wasremoved to Galis,” Kil cut in. “We’ve since learned she has gone missing. Klykka confirmed it.”
Dari gasped. She backed away and clutched Gio’s hand. He gently prodded her to sit on avesha-benchand told her the whole of what he knew whilst the other warlords talked amongst themselves.
“All this discussion is for naught,” Zor announced, “for I’ve already given mine aye for ournee’kasto join us aboard ship.”
“You didwhat?” Dak roared.
“You heard me. Leastways, we need more warriors and moregastrolightso ‘tis not as if I wasn’t going to send for another cruiser anyway.”
Kil rolled his eyes. “He wants some channel.”
“Mayhap,” Zor sniffed. “Yet also do we needgastrolight.”
“We all want channel!” Dak reminded him. He threw his hands up. “Yet I prefer mine to be alive!”
“I would not put ournee’kasin harm’s way,” Zor countered. “You know this so calm thyself.”
“Then what,” Dak gritted out, “is the plan?”
“We will keep two cruisers just outside Khan-Gori airspace as we are now,” Zor explained. “When the third cruiser arrives, we will refuel. Leastways, we will take but one of the three cruisers into Khan-Gori airspace.”
Death inclined his head. “None from Khan-Gor can teleport aboard a ship removed from its airspace. Ournee’kaswill be fine.”
One of Kil’s eyebrows rose. “Our nee’kas?” He grinned. “Did you just count Kari amongst their numbers?”
Death frowned. Kil laughed.
“’Twill be fun to watch.” Dak found his first smile. “Leastways, female Earthlings are mayhap a wee bit crazy.”
