Much to Simon’s disappointment, Taz did not order the cruiser to do an about face and go in pursuit of the Quorlians’ ship, blasting Captain Zyoth’s from our path if he again tried to interfere. Under intergalactic law, contagion was a legitimate reason for a planet to refuse entry to suspected carriers, and Taz could prove neither the existence of the still-cloaked ship nor Challa and Kadi’s presence on it. Leastways, not yet. Not until it became visible. And if the Lurgosians were asked to arrest the adult occupants and take custody of the juvenile ones, it was highly unlikely Taz would be the person to whom they would surrender them. Far better for the children’s location to remain unknown until he could find a way to debunk the contagion story and be in a position to demand reasonable access to Lurgos to rescue endangered Cholarians (legal) or carry out a clandestine rescue of same (not so legal).
All this was hashed over at the Supreme Council meeting Taz called as soon as we got back to Cholar. It was the middle of the night by then and we were told to go to bed.
We didn’t, of course. Counting on Taz being too focussed on these new developments to make sure we weren’t around, we were again able to conceal ourselves behind the balustrade and take in the proceedings via the wildlife observer.
The entire Council was incensed by Lurgos’s refusal to allow anyone from Cholar entrance to look for Challa and Kadi.
“Not Lurgos itself,” Sub-Ruler Halid avowed. “I know it’s full of AUP zealots, but I doubt its leaders would have been so set on barring us entry if the damned AUP Directorate hadn’t put them up to it. Or, more likely, Drazok. I told you we should have thrown him off Zerrix’s Ledge.”
“If it was the Directorate, they are risking much,” said Crown Councilman Tebris. “The Supreme Ruler agreed to a mutual defence treaty with AUP’s member-planets and even allows limited trading with them. Those concessions are in the Association’s interests. Why would the Directorate jeopardize them by having Lurgos and other worlds obstruct our search for the royal children? The Association is already none too popular in this region. It did hold on to a surprising number of its planets here and has been trying to convince others it has changed its ways, but its position is still quite tenuous. If people were to think it was endangering small children for its own gain, even the worlds that stayed in after the last outrage would start to question its morality. It would not be worth it.”
“Would it not?” Verim inquired. “It is even more in the Association’s interests to have Cholar as an AUP-member planet subject to AUP laws and terms. For if its harshest critic were to accede to membership, the Directorate would be justified in thinking many worlds whose respect and admiration we enjoy would do the same.”
“Impossible,” Crown Councilman Tebris rejoined. “Supreme Ruler Taziol issued a decree forbidding Cholar’s entry into the Association. And not just while he is Supreme Ruler. Even his successors are obliged to honour it. The decree stands in perpetuity.”
“But might only apply if the successors are of the House of Beom or some other royal House,” Ezrias told him. “When the succession was in dispute, some — most — people were for High Prince Taziol and some for Prince Mardis, with some even against having a Supreme Ruler at all. In the past few days, both the latter groups have become quite vocal. If former Crown Councilman Drazok has managed to amalgamate them — and I would say the probability of that is high — both now consider him their leader, and the person they think should be the leader of all. A non-royal leader would not have to abide by a royal decree.”
“Just how might he expect to achieve that?” Crown Councilman Tebris inquired. “The majority of Cholar’s people are passionate monarchists. They would not accept a non-royal leader. And they would most definitely not accept Drazok.”
“I doubt the inhabitants of many worlds the Association encompasses are particularly enamoured of their leaders, Councilman. But those leaders have AUP’s backing, and with it the means to overcome opposition. Usually through harsh economic constraints that keep people’s thoughts more on day-to-day existence than on rebellion. But it is now known that less subtle forms of intimidation have sometimes been used as well.”
“AUP is already offering Drazok support,” said Verim. “Not overtly. Leastways, not yet. But it wants the royal family’s right to rule to be set aside, and is doing what it can to help Drazok bring that about, such as starting up the contagion yarn that is hindering our attempts to retrieve the prince and princess.”
Crown Councilman Tebris said he still couldn’t understand how, even with AUP’s help, Drazok could possibly put an end to monarchial rule. I must confess, I couldn’t either, but Ezrias went on to explain.
“Of all worlds, Cholar is the most devoted to its children. With few exceptions — Drazok being a prime example — the care and nurture of them is built into a Cholarian’s very being. Drazok knows this and will use it to his advantage if he ever gets possession of the little prince and princess. As soon as he does, the demand for the Supreme Ruler’s abdication will be repeated, this time accompanied by the intimation that failure to comply with it could place the children in grave danger.”
Ezrias looked around the room. “If, in response to this, the Supreme Ruler chose to give up his throne rather than risk his children’s lives, his abdication would not, of itself, do much to help Drazok’s cause. The crown would then just pass to someone else. But all the potential heirs are already on record as saying they won’t accept the rulership in Taziol IV’s stead, and Drazok will try to hold them to that. Making it clear the children’s lives will depend on them all declining the rulership, and possibly adding a threat of future danger to their own children if they do not.
“With no royal personage willing to take the throne, the monarchy would cease to be, leaving the door open for Drazok to take over, justifying it to the populace by saying Cholar’s royals had put their own children ahead of those of all other Cholarians and were therefore unfit to rule. Whether the people accepted this or not, he would by then have the Association’s help in dealing with dissension.
“That is one scenario. Here is another. The Supreme Ruler’s dedication to duty is strong and Drazok cannot count on being able to force him to abdicate. Nor can he be sure the other members of the royal family really would waive their rights. But even that is something he could make use of. If the unthinkable were to occur, and the royal children disposed of in some way in which no blame for it could be attributed to him, Drazok could stir up the people by saying, conversely, the Supreme Ruler was an unnatural parent for putting his throne ahead of his children, and the other rulership contenders equally worthy of blame for allowing it. If enough people could be stirred in this manner, the overthrow of the monarchy could come about through insurrection, and Drazok would, within this scenario, too, be able to take charge.”
I studied Taz. His grim look showed Ezrias had already run both these scenarios past him. And probably Verim as well, for he also remained stone-faced, knowing what a terrible position Taz could be placed in if Drazok managed to get hold of Challa and Kadi. If he refused to abdicate they might well be killed. And if he did abdicate the people he was sworn to serve and protect would be at the mercy of outside forces with no interest in the well-being of anyone but themselves.
For a few moments, everyone else in Beom’s Chamber appeared too stunned by Ezrias’s words to say anything. But then they began to talk. Angrily, belligerently, excitedly, hesitantly, despairingly. But no amount of talking seemed to help much. The best plan of action they could come up with was for Taz to send some armed ships as close to Lurgos, Shavo, and Orec as possible and monitor all comings and goings. They thought that would keep Drazok guessing as to which planet Challa and Kadi were on and have people on hand to stop him or one of his henchmen transporting down onto Lurgos if he were to find out.
“What about capturing him before he gets that far?” said Chief Rupin. “I don’t imagine he’s been on Cholar since he escaped custody, but he has to be hiding out somewhere directing affairs. An AUP-member world would be my guess. If we could just determine which one, we could put our own line of ships between it and Lurgos.”
The Council also toyed with the idea of broadcasting news of the search for Cholar’s royal children far and wide and denouncing both Drazok and AUP’s involvement. But AUP was likely to stick with its fear-of-contagion story and even if the bulk of the Zaidus system’s independent planets and former AUP-member planets believed AUP to be lying, what could they do about it? Other than to come to Cholar’s aid in a war against Lurgos, and no one on wanted to start a war with Challa and Kadi in the firing line.
“I canna take any more of this,” Kirsty whispered. “They’ll be talking here all the night and by morning be no further ahead than they are now, what with having to worry aboot laws, and proof, and protocol, and such. Come on. Let’s away to the palace. We can come up with some plans of oor own there.”
She had a look I knew, just knew, meant she was formulating one of her famous schemes. And, sure enough, when we got back to the palace, she went into more detail.
“We canna stand by and do nothing,” she said when we were gathered in a small alcove in the eerily quiet palace. “Too much depends on getting Challa and Kadi back so they canna be used as leverage for an abdication. But Taz’s hands are tied. The only way Cholarians can fetch the bairns from Lurgos is to go in as an invading force and chance killing them in the process. The Lurgosians will be watching for possible operatives from other independent planets too, so Mr. Skoko wouldn’t be for getting far either. That leaves us. We come from AUP’s founding planet. We can visit an AUP-member world any time we want.”
I usually make some attempt to deflate Kirsty’s wild proposals but wasn’t inclined to on this occasion. Someone had to rescue Challa and Kadi and we were the only ones who stood any kind of chance.
“You can count me in,” I said.
“Me too,” said Simon. “And don’t you dare say I can’t go, Meda, because you know I will, whether you take me with you or not.”
This was so patently true, I didn’t bother to answer.
“I, too, will go,” said Jip. “For centuries now, Vorla has remained neutral in the face of interplanetary conflict in this region, so although Vorla renounced its conditional membership in AUP, it is unlikely to be on the list of planets whose citizens are currently unwelcome on Lurgos. If, by chance, it is, I will simply board a Lurgos-bound ship through another dimension.”
I stared at her. In the past, she had always been adamant about not using her dimension travel abilities for nefarious purposes.
“Wouldn’t that go against your Vorlan Code of Honour?”
“Not under these circumstances. Since our last adventure, I have been studying the Code more attentively. There are a surprising number of conditions under which the principles it upholds may be…adjusted. Though this only applies when dealing with dangerous, unscrupulous people,” she hastened to add.
“Aye, well, the nasties who made off with Challa and Kadi and the villains aiming to use them as pawns certainly qualify,” said Kirsty. She looked around. “So, it’s settled then? We go after the bairns? And without a word to Taz or any of oor guardians, because there’s no chance at all they’d let us put oorselves at risk, even for Challa and Kadi.”
Jip, Simon, and I all nodded
So did Arlyne.
“You’re not going to try to talk us out of it?” I said, surprised.
“No.”
“Oh. Well, that’s great. No one’s likely to give us much thought tomorrow, so you should be able to cover up our absence for quite a while.”
“Perhaps,” said Arlyne. “But I won’t.”
I gave a snort of exasperation.
“You just said — well, implied — it was okay for us to go.”
“It is. Taz and Vostia are terribly upset. We have to help them. And it’s the only possible chance Challa and Kadi have. So, I’m going too.”
“You can’t,” I declared. “We were told to keep out of it and people are going to be plenty mad at us for disobeying. We’re all kind of used to that, but you aren’t.”
“Jip isn’t. Not as much.”
“Yes, well, we seem to have broken her into our ways. But this isn’t anything you want to get mixed up in. Danger aside, you don’t like flouting authority.”
“How do you know? Just because I never have doesn’t mean I’m incapable of it. And you’re not leaving me behind to explain to everyone where you’ve gone and why. Not this time.”
I briefly wondered if that meant our parents had taken her to task after Simon and I ducked out on the edu-tour.
“Just plead ignorance as usual,” I told her.
“I doubt I’d get away with that here. And I’m not going to try. I’m going with you.”
There was a determination in her voice I’d never heard before, but I still found it hard to take her seriously.
“The more of us there are, the more conspicuous we’ll be.”
“We won’t be moving around in a herd. When you were trying to get the ring back to Taz, you divided your forces more than once. It seems only sensible to do the same on Lurgos. If only to cover more ground.”
“I know, but —”
“Och, let her come,” said Kirsty. “We dinna have time to argue.”
I looked at Jip and Simon, who both nodded. Her understandingly, him impatiently.
“Well, okay. But you’d better not start whining if things go wrong.”
“I don’t intend to. Even though they probably will.”