Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [190]
Estarra's suspicions screamed silently inside her head. Is this it? She said bitterly, "I never thought it would be you, Sarein."
She responded with a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
"I half expected the royal guards to come in and gun us down, like the last Russian tsar and his family. But not my own sister." On the other hand, Estarra had grown to trust Captain McCammon, to a certain extent.
"Don't be melodramatic--I'm not going to hurt you, but I do need to show you something. Basil calls it your punishment." Her dark eyes flashed quickly. "And how can I blame him?"
Estarra regarded her coolly. "So, did you verify any of the things I told you about? The attempts on our lives?"
Sarein's voice grew very small. "Yes, I did. Now come with me, so we can get this over with."
The Queen's feet felt leaden, and the air was heavy with the smell of danger. The royal guards let them out of the normally blocked door, and Sarein led her down the bright corridor to the private gardens in the glassed-in royal conservatory.
When the two of them stepped inside, the smell hit her like a slap. She detected the odors of dirt and chemicals with a sour undertone of soot. This place had been a sanctuary for her, a beautiful room of peace that held reminders of her Theron home. Now the stench made her gag.
What has he done?
The once-lovely greenhouse was barren and brown. Plants had been poisoned and burned. Some were completely uprooted, others scraped away, leaving only empty soil. All the carefully cultivated specimens from Theroc were gone . . . especially the fauldur berries.
Sarein took three steps through the doorway and turned toward Estarra, her face stricken as she stared at her sister with wide and glistening eyes. "He did this just to hurt you. I could see it in his face. He knows you and Peter were involved in the poisoning plot. He can't prove it, but that doesn't matter."
Estarra's breath hitched. She couldn't tear her gaze from the mangled plants, the brown and dying leaves. Just like the dolphins. He finds something I love, and destroys it. "This is just the start of it."
Sarein stepped closer to wrap her arms around Estarra. Estarra could feel her sister trembling. Sarein whispered in her ear, making sure no one could overhear her. "I was skeptical of your story before, but now I know you were telling the truth. Basil isn't the man I thought he was--not anymore--and I'm very, very afraid of what he might do next."
Estarra said, "I told you, the Chairman means to get rid of Peter and me."
After a long pause, Sarein said, "I'm afraid you're right." Still hugging Estarra and shielding them from the always hovering royal guards outside the ruined conservatory, Sarein whispered, "As far as I can see, your only alternative is to get away from here, somehow."
Estarra was careful not to answer. Could they slip out of the Whisper Palace? Yes, it was possible--Prince Daniel had done it. Once they got away, she and Peter could wear nondescript clothes and just vanish into the city.
Peter had told her about his younger years as a street kid. She was sure the two of them could survive out there, find little jobs, obtain food. Peter had provided for his mother and brothers enough times in the past. They might be safe. They could never expect to live like a King and Queen, of course, but Estarra was not a pampered child and could endure whatever she had to. A twinge in her abdomen reminded her that she also had the baby to worry about. Would the Queen of the Hansa have to give birth in a dark alley?
Quickly and guardedly, Sarein said, "If you make any plans, don't tell me. I can't betray what I don't know."
Estarra looked at her sister. "If we do try to disappear, you know the Chairman will use every resource available to track us down. He hates loose ends. Where on Earth will we be safe?"
"You can't be safe on Earth. But maybe on Theroc."
"Then, Sarein--come with us. We can all go back home together."
"I can't do that!"
"How can you stay with him? You know what sort of man he is!"
"And I also know what