Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [196]
When the hydrogue emissary finally came to the Prism Palace, Jora'h stood to meet him. He placed his hand on Osira'h's shoulder as the small pressurized chamber came to a stop in front of the dais. Tal Lorie'nh looked alarmed and anxious. He had never seen a hydrogue so close before, had never even faced them in direct battle.
Jora'h watched the humanoid shape appear behind the transparent wall. The clock was ticking, the Mage-Imperator knew. With a firm voice, he let his displeasure flow. "Why do you come here? I already dispatched my Solar Navy ships to Earth, as you demanded. Can you not see that I have cooperated?"
The emissary's voice was flat. "We are here to guarantee that you do as you promised, or to punish you if you fail."
Jora'h did not allow his expression to change, but he felt a cold shaft of ice pierce his chest. "That is not necessary."
"Nevertheless, we intend to stay here until the battle at Earth is satisfactorily completed. We will know immediately if you betray us."
Jora'h showed no fear. Ildirans believed they were born as part of a grand cosmic story, and they considered the Saga of Seven Suns to be a true map that delineated the reality of past and present. But his father had shown him that much of the information was distorted, even false. What mattered most was what he actually did. Jora'h would not be described as a coward and a betrayer in the Saga . . . if anyone survived to write new stanzas.
Though he felt powerless, Jora'h did not back down. He clenched his hands, reaching a difficult decision. "You do not trust us? Very well. To further demonstrate my cooperation, I will send even more Solar Navy ships to Earth. Tal Lorie'nh! As soon as the hydrogue emissary leaves, take your entire cohort to Earth as well. Adar Zan'nh may require assistance."
The thin military officer blinked, looked confused, then finally found the right words. "As you say, Liege. As soon as the emissary departs."
Jora'h turned back to the pressurized sphere. "I have now provided more than a thousand Solar Navy warliners--I expect that will be sufficient to defeat whatever remains of the Earth Defense Forces. Now are you satisfied?"
"We are still watching. Closely." The thunderstorm tension dissipated in the air, yet Jora'h did not relax. He wasn't sure if his bluster had convinced the emissary, but the hydrogue had nothing further to say. Levitating from the tiled floor, the small sphere drifted back down the Palace corridors, escorted by soldier kithmen who could not have fought against it even if they'd wanted to.
When the chamber was empty again, both Osira'h and Tal Lorie'nh stared at him as if he had gone as mad as Rusa'h. Lorie'nh blurted, "Liege, if I take my cohort away, Ildira will be dramatically weakened! The hydrogues are looming over our heads."
"I do not trust what the hydrogues will do at Earth," Jora'h said, "and we do not dare lose there. We must be absolutely certain to crush the enemy. Travel with all the speed you can possibly manage, or you will arrive too late." The Mage-Imperator drew another deep breath, aware of the death sentence he was about to pronounce. "There is no time for Sullivan Gold and his engineers to work on your ships, Lorie'nh. I am sorry."
The tal remained stiff and formal. "My crew and I understand what we may have to do."
Jora'h nodded. "We will not lack for defenses here, Lorie'nh. I will keep two cohorts to defend the Prism Palace, and many loaded warliners are returning from Hyrillka every day filled with evacuees." He lowered his voice and looked at his daughter. "The question is, can we wound the hydrogues enough to make them leave us alone?"
Osira'h gave her father an oddly distant but reassuring smile. "Just wait. Do not give up."
"What is it you know? What are you thinking?"
She smiled enigmatically. "I have the powers that centuries of breeding experiments sought to create, and I've already