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“Then, how?” he wonders.

Jiron just shrugs and turns back to watch the dinghy as it returns to the ship. It suddenly alters course and begins returning to the wreckage. Two crewmen of the sunken ship are found hanging onto one of the spars. After they haul them aboard, they return to the ship.

Meliana rushes to the side where they’ll be coming abreast and watches as they draw near. Her eyes and James’ lock for a minute and she’s pleased to see a smile break across his face when he recognizes her. He gives her a wave.

Next to her, Paul waves to the approaching dinghy and shouts, “Gwynne! Daria!”

The girls see him and begin shouting, “Paul! Paul!”

When the dinghy comes to rest against the side of the ship, a rope ladder is let down to them and they begin climbing up. The girls are the first to come up, Paul gives Gwynne and Daria each a hug. The other girls know him as well and in turn give him a hug, several break down and cry.

As James takes his turn in climbing the ladder, Meliana positions her self to greet him. The others know what’s between them and allow her to be the first to greet him. When he finally reaches the top, Dave comes over and nudges her out of the way as he extends a hand down to him.

“Man, I didn’t think to see you again,” he says.

Meliana gets a hurt look on her face and her father’s demeanor turns dark.

“Thanks,” James says to him as he takes his hand and makes it over the rail.

Dave tries to say something else but Meliana rushes past him and gives James a hug. Burying her face in his shoulder, she lets out the pent up fear and frustration she’s felt ever since learning of his fate.

He pats her on the back and says, “Here now, I’m okay, there’s no reason to fret.”

“I was just so scared for you,” she cries.

James looks at the others slightly embarrassed at this display of emotion in front of everyone, though he does rather enjoy it. Dave is giving him an odd look and it doesn’t look like a pleased one.

“What happened?” asks Jiron.

“That’s a long story,” he replies. “Best if we talk about it later.”

The two rescued crewmen climb aboard and begin talking to the captain. Meliana’s father goes and joins in the conversation. After a few words are exchanged, her father says, “Captain?”

“Yes sir,” the captain of the ship replies.

He glances at his daughter and as if the words are painful to say, points to James and says, “Place this man under arrest.”

“Father!” she cries.

“What?” Illan asks as he rounds on her father in disbelief.

Nodding to the rescued crewmen, he says, “He killed the Ambassador and everyone on board except these two sailors. We must take him to the nearest port in the Empire and hand him over to the authorities.”

“But they’ll kill him!” Meliana exclaims. “We can’t!”

“We must!” he shouts at her. He sees the pain in her eyes, the look of betrayal but he has no choice. “We are loyal citizens of the Empire.”

James looks at him and then at his friends. He sighs and says, “I understand.” To his friends he says, “I don’t want any trouble from you while we’re on this ship.” Locking eyes briefly with each of them, he says, “Alright?”

Each in turn gives him a nod. Miko looks outraged and about ready to protest when Illan lays a hand on his shoulder. Giving in to his wishes, he gives James a nod.

“This way,” Mr. Bessin says.

Disengaging from the crying and on the point of hysteria Meliana, he follows Mr. Bessin to one of the cabins and goes inside. The door shuts and he hears a key turn in the lock. At least this is better than where he had just been.

When James is locked away, they gather around her father. “You can’t just hand him over to the Empire’s men,” Dave says. “They’ll kill him.”

“Young man,” her father says, “shut up and get out of my face before I have you thrown overboard.”

“But…” he begins when Fifer comes and escorts him away.

Illan starts to say something, when her father cuts him off and says, “I can’t ruin my house over this. When we arrive at a port in the Empire, I must hand him over. I’m sorry.” He then turns and walks away.