Max faced the man who had caused so much pain in his planet. This man, standing before him tied to the metal post, looking him in the eye, had caused the downfall of the monarchy once. He had caused their deaths, and the eventual transportation of the Royal Four to earth so they could live again. He had never been anything more than a figure head himself. For Kivar's relentless actions Max could envy him. He was the fighting cry of the revolution, as well as the attacker. While Max himself used to depend on Michael to advance and pounce on the enemy, to figure out the strategy, Kivar did it all by himself.
And so he had to give him another chance. Kivar was too talented a military man to lose. He was as brave and passionate as Michael. The only thing he lacked was loyalty. Maybe now that all was lost, he would give it.
Instead Kivar spat at his offer. "I don't regret anything other than the fact that I allowed you to come back."
"For the last time, Kivar," Max told him as he stayed the executioner, "repent and I will let you live. We can have you transported to U571."
Kivar's eyes strayed from Max to Michael. "Think about everything I said. You can get more done. You've known me from the military academy. Enough to realize that I would not act without principle, without thinking things through. I believe in this cause, Rathcar." Michael stiffened when he used his real name. And then for the first time since he landed here, he had flashes of a life as the man he once was. When he was an aspiring cadet together with Kivar. And he knew what Kivar said was true. Kivar was a principled man. And he believed passionately.
Michael shook his head. "I admired you once, Kivar. Even until now I admire your passion. But your cause is unjust. There is only one king."
Kivar closed his eyes, and then opened them to look at Isabel. "Vilandra?" Isabel did not move. She stared at him, frozen, not speaking. "I did it all for you—to be better for you, because you deserved more than second or third best. And we all knew that Zandre's hold on the crown was frail at best."
Isabel turned away, unprepared to meet her treacherous past head on. She looked at Max, who nodded to the executioner. The man bowed in acquiescence and pressed the button that sent bolts of power through the metal pole and electrocuted Kivar.
When she could no longer take it, she whirled away and exited the room, breathing deeply of the air outside. Someone had followed her out. She looked up and saw the man who had been following her around since they arrived, dimly nothing that it was one of her brother's advisers. She had never spoken to him, but when he looked at her he seemed to know so much.
"It's not truly a sight for a woman's eyes," he said softly, and she didn't answer. "Come. I'll lead you back in. I think that the king has something to say."
Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be led into the room. Kivar's body had been carted out, and she faced Max without flinching. She expected to see some sort of accusation in his eyes, but there was none.
"The people clamor for you." It was not Max who spoke, but her companion. Surprised, she looked at him. He was not even looking at the king. He was speaking to Michael. "General, the people are gathered outside wishing to congratulate you for putting an end to this."
Michael shook his head. "Send their king to them. It's his responsibility." He looked around him. "Did you send someone to fetch the queen as I instructed?"
The man beside Isabel nodded. "The queen is resting in her room. She has decided to move to the family resthouse in the planet Alaris. The loss of her child has destroyed her."
"And the loss of Kivar too, I suppose," Isabel added.
The man looked at her askance. "And you're not affected in any way, are you? You never are."
Isabel's jaw dropped. But then Max cleared his throat. "You are who the people want, Michael. Not me. They need to see you, because they know what you did."
"Look, I just want to go back to Maria. The vehicles we used are out of power. But the one that Tess used, it must be recharged now. I'll take it."
"You can't go back, Michael. These people need you." From their places inside the palace, they could hear the people outside calling for Rathcar. Against his will, Michael felt his heart warm. Finally, a place where people needed him, wanted him. They actually seemed to love him. Granted, they were grateful. But still, Michael knew that this place fulfilled him more than anywhere else he'd ever been. The only, and largest void, was Maria's absence. Max spoke again. "I want to take the last capsule," he said. "I need to go to Liz. Apologize. Michael, I deserve the chance."
Michael felt the growing fury inside him. "And I don't?" he demanded. "I've almost gotten myself killed for you, Maxwell! I've worked myself to death to get you back your throne!" Isabel's hand on his shoulder calmed him. "Look, I've done all this out of loyalty to you," he whispered. "I figured if I can do all this, everything I promised you in that last life, you'll let me go. That's all I ever thought about while I was getting blasted out there, Maxwell. I've thought about her! And how after all this crap you'll let me off the promise and I can come back!"
Isabel stepped between them, but her action was not needed. Michael did not move, merely glared at Max. Max set his jaw firmly. When he finally responded his voice was hard, quiet, brooking no disagreement. "Antar needs you as its king. You will marry my sister, the way it's destined to be. By marrying her no one can contest your right to the throne. I will take the capsule. I will go back to earth." Michael's eyes narrowed at him. "I will tell her you miss her, okay?"
"Bullshit." Max walked away. "You're forgetting something, your majesty," Michael called at his back sarcastically. "I'm already married."
Max turned on his heel. "You don't need to love her."
Michael's mumbled curses were too incoherent to affect Max in any way. "Are you coming back at all?"
"I don't know. Probably. If I've hurt Liz that bad, I'll come home."
"Twenty Antarian moons, Max. I won't take your place if you can come back within that time. I won't marry your sister so when you're back, I can leave. All right?" Max nodded. "Come back."
