Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [234]
She smiled up at him. "Maybe you will. But not for a long time yet."
He folded his arms around her and his daughter, gathering them close. A small family, a microcosm of the Ildiran Empire. The Mage-Imperator was father to all his people, yet no leader in memory had ever had a family such as this.
From high above, one more warliner descended through the clear sky. Unlike the other Solar Navy ships patrolling Ildira, this warliner was scarred, its gaudy hull plates blackened and damaged, solar fins and streamers dangling loosely. But it could fly, and it had returned.
"Adar Zan'nh has come home." Jora'h flashed a small grin. "I have news that will make him very happy."
Later, when the Adar faced his father at the entrance to the Prism Palace, his uniform looked impeccable, even after what his ships had been through. Despite his haunted eyes, Zan'nh bowed and pressed his fist against his chest in a salute to the Mage-Imperator. Eschewing formality, Jora'h hugged his oldest son. "You accomplished the impossible! I am proud of you and my entire Solar Navy."
The Adar did not look pleased. "I lost two cohorts of warliners, Liege. The Empire's defenses are greatly weakened."
Jora'h's optimism would not be shaken. "The hydrogues are defeated, and we can endure. That was the threat for which the Solar Navy was constructed ten millennia ago. Who are our enemies now?"
"Even so, Liege, we dare not remain defenseless. We must start immediately to rebuild our Solar Navy."
"Certainly, and for that reason I am forced to modify your duties. When I lost Thor'h, I asked you to serve as my next Prime Designate. Because you are loyal and faithful, you agreed. But that was never your calling."
Zan'nh bowed. "My calling is to serve you, Mage-Imperator, in whatever fashion you command."
It was the answer Jora'h had expected to hear. "I hereby release you from your duties as Prime Designate, Adar Zan'nh. You may now command the Solar Navy without other distractions, if that is your desire."
"Yes, Liege! But who will become Prime Designate?"
Jora'h glanced at Osira'h who stood serenely beside him and her mother. "Daro'h is next in line for such work. He is now my oldest noble-born son. I will bring him back to the Prism Palace to become Prime Designate in your place." The feeling in his heart was bittersweet. "Now the Empire needs him more than Dobro does. I have already sent a summons. The breeding program is ended, and our splinter colony can be made open again."
Though Jora'h suggested that he and his soldiers rest, Zan'nh would not hear of it. The Adar hurried away from the Prism Palace, to set in motion his plans for rebuilding the Solar Navy. Smiling, the Mage-Imperator let him do as he wished.
Next, Jora'h summoned Sullivan Gold and Tabitha Huck. It was time for complete truthfulness. Keeping secrets to protect the Empire seemed intrinsic to his bloodline, but at Nira's urging he was determined to change things.
He looked at the two humans, who still appeared shaken from all the destruction. Jora'h said, "When you agreed to help us, Adar Zan'nh gave his word that once we defeated the hydrogues, you and your comrades would be allowed to go home. The human race may distrust us. Your people and mine will have great obstacles to overcome before we can recover from our past treachery."
"I'm not a diplomat, and I can't speak for anyone but myself," Sullivan said, "but maybe I can put in a good word or two. After we get home."
"Seems to me that without your hundreds of remote-controlled warliners, Earth would be a smoking ruin right now," Tabitha pointed out. "Maybe--just maybe--people will cut you a little slack for that."
Nira smiled at the skyminers. "As a green priest, I would be happy to facilitate sending messages to your loved ones."
Sullivan beamed. "Oh, that would be marvelous. A letter to my Lydia is long overdue. She'll be glad