Part 57

"Highness, we are being hailed."

Zan looked up. He and Serena were standing over the captain's computer on the bridge, and had been examining the lay-out of the royal palace in Valonia's capital, planning the assault that they were both certain would be taking place later that day. Zan had been there as a guest during the summit, of course, but it was a huge compound, and he did not know it well. Serena knew it even less, having spent her entire life on Valonia hidden in the summer palace on the other side of the planet.

"Who is it?" Zan asked, frowning slightly. He could guess though. It had to be Rath. No one else knew where he was, and, thus, no one else would know the frequency at which this ship could be contacted.

Zan's suspicions were confirmed by the captain's response. "It is the general."

Zan scowled. He still was uncertain about how he was going to deal with his wayward best friend. There was no doubt that Rath was loyal, but he had put Zan in an entirely awkward position with his insistence that Zan should marry Ava to secure the support of Knosis. And if he was actually contacting Zan now, it had to mean that Ava was with him, which made Zan's virtually honour-bound to marry her.

All he knew was that he was not going to do it, politics be damned. He would marry no one but Rowena. Rath could marry her if he was so bloody insistent on the alliance.

Of course, the fact that Rath was free to marry at all reminded Zan instantly of the great loss they had both just suffered. It had never occurred to Zan before that Vilandra had always played a major role in bonding him to Rath. Since her death, their ties seemed to be more fragile than Zan could have ever imagined possible. It made him feel more charitable as he nodded at the captain to bring Rath up on the screen of the computer.

He sat down at the console and met his best friend's gaze across the miles that separated them. Rath's expression was implacable. "Zan," he muttered gruffly.

"Rath," Zan replied wryly. "You've been busy, brother."

"Highness, you know I had no choice," Rath snapped, instantly defensive. "I am merely doing my job. You were not in any state to make this decision. Rowena's death makes this marriage an absolute necessity. We can no longer even rely on Valonia's support."

"I do not doubt that you had my best interests at heart," Zan assured him. "However, your methods have not pleased me. Since when do we play games with each other, general?"

Rath sighed heavily. His expression softened. "Zan, I apologize. It was wrong of me to not consult you about this. But you must see that it is unavoidable now."

"Is she with you?"

"She is in her quarters," Rath replied. "She is most eager, Zan. She has always loved you. You know this."

"She barely knows me," Zan said.

"You barely knew Rowena," Rath snapped. "This should not prove to be a barrier to something that is the best for everyone."

Zan held up his hand. He needed to clear up another suspicion, one that Rath's mention of Rowena was making more acute. The topic of Ava could be dismissed for the moment. "It does not matter. I will see you both soon enough and we will discuss what is to be done face to face."

"Zan, you know what is to be done."

"Rath, your cousin is alive. Nothing is yet determined," Zan said firmly.

Rath's startled expression helped Zan to release the last of his anger. It was clear that his friend had not known that Rowena still lived. If he had…Zan knew that he never would have forgiven him. "She's alive?" he said, sounding choked. "You are certain?"

"Yes, she is alive," Zan replied. "Although I am still wondering why you chose not to inform me that everyone else thought she was dead."


Before Rath could reply, Serena leaned forward over Zan's shoulder. Zan suspected that it was a technique to prevent him from arguing further with Rath, and it annoyed him, but he let it go, as he watched his friend's face whiten further. "Ro?" he croaked in amazement. "I do not understand…"

"No," she replied. "Serena. But Rowena is alive. I have spoken with her."

Rath's expression darkened. He again addressed Zan. "You are letting this traitor influence you, Zan? Have you lost your mind?" He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "I never should have left you alone."

"I am not a child," Zan snapped. "I am the king, Rath. And it is time for you to recognize me as such. I make my own decisions."

"Then make good decisions!" Rath practically yelled.

Zan felt his anger rekindle. "You forget yourself, general."

There was a long charged moment when Zan wondered if Rath was truly going to break with him over this. His best friend's face was turning an interesting shade of purple. However, Zan would not concede to Rath's position. He knew that he was right to trust Serena. He sensed it instinctively, and his instincts, to this point, had never led him astray.

"I apologize," Rath finally bit out. He pressed his lips together for a lengthy moment, then added, "We are only several light years from Valonia now. My army awaits your pleasure, your highness."

Zan allowed himself to relax slightly. "We will prepare for battle then." He met Rath's eyes squarely. "Tonight we retake Valonia. After that, we will make the decision regarding my future wife."

"The decision has been made," Rath insisted. He looked at Zan pleadingly. "Zan, we cannot change this now. You must marry Ava." He scowled slightly. "I know the clone is listening, but I do not care. You can not trust her, Zan. Rowena may not be alive. Do not let her sway you. Brother, please listen to me."

"We will speak of it later," Zan replied firmly. He sighed heavily. He did not enjoy being put in the position of having to choose between his most loyal general and Serena. Because, presently, there was no choice. She was the one he most believed in, but Rath was his longest and best friend. He did not want to lose him over this.

But it was Serena he had to trust in. They had a common cause, after all. And, presently, as hard as they were both trying to pretend otherwise, he and Rath did not. At least not when it came to the end game.

"I will speak to you later," Zan said quietly to Rath now. He knew he sounded dismissive, but it was how he felt. He and Rath were not on the same page, and there was not much that could be done about it at the present time.

Rath closed his eyes briefly, slumping back into the chair upon which he was seated in another starcruiser light years away. "Be safe, highness."

Before Zan could reply, his general broke the channel. Zan rubbed the bridge of his nose, a knot in the pit of his stomach. He truly feared that the rift developing between him and Rath might prove to be unbridgeable.

He stood, glancing at Serena, who was watching him sadly. "I am sorry, Zan."

"There is nothing to be sorry about," Zan replied. "Rath's loyalty will see us through this."

And, yet, his anxiety over Rath would not go away, even while he, Serena, and the captain of the ship discussed strategy for the coming battle.

It was not many hours later, when the news reached him, only moments before they were to rendezvous with his general, that Zan understood why. Somehow, deep inside, he must have known that he had just spoken to his best friend for the last time.

"Your highness, something is amiss." The captain was staring at his computer, a scowl on his face. "General Rath's ship is not where it is supposed to…"

But Zan was already staring at the forward view-screen. He had been informed that Valonia would be visible there within moments, but there was no sign of the planet beneath the large armada of star-cruisers hovering above it.

"What in…" He leaned forward, his heart in his throat. But he knew. He knew what had happened. Rath had come upon this fleet of ships, quite by accident, and had been blown out of the sky. Even now, Zan was starting to pick out the debris floating among the ships hovering around them. Because there were already completely encircled. Their entire army had been subdued in an instant, because they had been completely unprepared for this reception.

No one was supposed to know that they were coming. How had the clone known he was coming?

It took him a moment longer to realize that it could not have been the clone though. Because these were not his ships. This was not his army - the army that the clone presently controlled. These ships were entirely foreign to him.

Serena, who was standing next to him, breathed the answer, although Zan had already guessed. "It's Khivar."

Zan clenched his fists at his sides. "Hail him," he ground out through gritted teeth.

Moments later, the king of Sardica was facing him on the screen. "What have you done?" Zan demanded. He had not laid eyes on Khivar since the summit on Valonia months before, and, after his first comment, he momentarily felt taken aback at how the other man had aged. Khivar had not seemed much older than Zan then, although he was, by several years. Now though…it was clear that he had hardened considerably.

The expression of pure hatred on his face did nothing to dispel this impression either.

"What should have been done months ago," Khivar sneered. "He was a fool in his loyalty. He has now paid the price for it." His expression was purely malevolent as he continued, "And you are about to do the same. I don't know how you got off that planet, but I don't care." He gestured behind him, then met Zan's gaze again. "Prepare to be engaged."

"Khivar!" Serena exclaimed, nudging Zan aside. "You have made a dreadful mistake! Stop this!"

Zan watched Khivar do a double-take at the sight of her. "Rowena!"

"No," Serena admitted grimly. "Rowena is on the planet."

"What? What game are you playing?"

"I am not Rowena," she replied. "But I am your wife. And you have just played right into our enemy's hands."

"He is the enemy," Khivar replied, although his uncertainty was clear. Zan felt no pity for him, however. He had murdered Zan's best friend in cold blood. Not to mention Ava, princess of Knosis. The situation in the galaxy had just worsened exponentially. Knosis would be out for blood when word of this got back to that planet.

Not that Zan was not out for blood now. He felt a wave of grief wash over him at the thought of Rath. His best friend - gone. Completely gone. And all because of his complete loyalty to Zan. A loyalty that Zan had held far too lightly of late.

The grief was quickly overwhelmed by rage. "You are going to pay for this!"

Serena grabbed his arm. "Zan, control yourself. It was a mistake. We cannot allow this to divide our purpose."

"He killed my best friend!" Zan yelled. "Rath is dead, Serena! The best of us is dead because of him!"

He turned back to the screen. Khivar was gaping at him, his dismay now obvious. "You will pay for this, Khivar," he repeated. "I am still high king of this system, and you are a traitor. I will see you lose your throne over this."

"You stole my wife!" Khivar yelled back. He paused, then added, "If that even is my wife." He leaned forward, as though examining Serena through the com system. "She said she was not. What is she, then? A shapeshifter? What game are you playing? You killed my betrothed and now you're having someone impersonate her? I knew you were a sick bastard, Zan, but this is beyond even what I would have expected of you!"

Zan desperately wanted to wrap his hands around Khivar's throat in that instant. He cursed the miles of space that presently separated them. "You know-nothing half-wit," he muttered instead. It was not at all satisfying. But he would have his revenge. If it was the last thing he did, he would see Khivar off the throne of Sardica and executed for assassinating Rath. "You just killed the princess of Knosis as well. The entire system will side with me over this."

"The entire galaxy is out to stop you, you madman!" Khivar bellowed back.

"Stop it! Both of you!" Serena practically screamed. "Don't you see? This is exactly what they want! You are doing all the dirty work for them! You must work together!" She grabbed Zan by the front of his robe, forcing him to look at her. "Zan, think of Rowena. You need Khivar. This is fate. He is here to help you. With his army at your disposal, you will take Valonia for certain."

Zan managed to take a deep, shuddering breath. It was taking all his energy not to brush her aside. But he managed it. Intellectually he knew that she was right, but he was still so angry, he could barely see straight. If he let his anger go, he knew that his grief - this never-ending loss - would overwhelm him.

"Zan, you must meet with him. Together you can end this once and for all." Serena shook him slightly. She was small in comparison to him, so it did not do much. In fact, it stunned him, then momentarily amused him, which managed to break down the last of his rage.

This was not what Rath would have wanted. Rath wanted this war to end. His death, and that of Ava, had been a tragic mistake. But it could not result in an even bigger one.

Serena was right. He should not mistake his enemy. Sardica was not his adversary - at the moment anyway - although it was highly clear that it was going to take a lot to convince its king of that.

They needed to meet. Now. He only hoped he would be able to control his temper. Because while Sardica was not his enemy, Khivar most certainly was. For many reasons, not the least of which was that he had, without remorse, killed Zan's best friend.

Zan turned back to the view-screen, addressing Khivar, who was now watching him suspiciously. "I am bringing your wife back to you," he said firmly. Without waiting for an answer, Zan reached out and switched off the com.

He looked over his shoulder at the captain. "Prepare a shuttle."

The captain was frowning. "Highness, is this wise?" He had been hovering nervously, obviously completely unprepared for what they had encountered when they arrived at Valonia. Zan could not blame him for his concern. His entire fleet was presently encircled.

They were outnumbered, and had been outmaneuvered. Zan would never allow himself to be so unprepared again. And there was only one way to resolve any of this. They needed Khivar on their side. For now. The rest of it could be dealt with once they had taken care of the clone.

"Do it," Zan snapped.

Within the hour, he and Serena were disembarking from a small shuttle on the deck of Khivar's flag-ship, with a small contingent of soldiers backing them up. They were told that the Sardican king was waiting for them in his quarters near the bridge.

Serena clutched at Zan's arm as they followed one of Khivar's generals through the maze of passages that led to the bridge. "Zan, you must control yourself," she whispered. "If this goes awry…"

He looked down at her, nodding. "I know that I will not have another chance."

She stared up at him, her dark eyes completely guileless. And, so, it was not until they actually stepped through the door in front of them and had come face to face with Khivar that Zan knew that he had been more than outmaneuvered. He had been completely duped.

Because, Khivar was not alone. Standing next to him was the last person Zan had ever expected to see there.

It was Rowena.