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Consequences
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ALLEI (AUGUST) 18, 1538
Eighteen days after Prince Terosh’s Kireshana journey
Meetcher Estate, City of Meritab
Lord Kezem had sent Kolknir to sort the mess in Meritab. Dutifully, he ran lengthy interrogations until he had a clearer picture of events. The Lady wanted Lord Kezem’s plans for the Alliance to succeed, but ever the cautious planner, she had also instructed Kolknir to help where possible. He was to punish the failures and reward the deserving.
A review of the security vids showed several promising Alliance soldiers. Kolknir would make them offers later, but the Meetcher family presented a more pressing issue. Donovan’s clumsy attempts to play both sides deserved death, and his wife’s betrayal of Alliance ideals and contempt for Lord Kezem also deserved death. The fact that her actions aligned with the Lady’s wishes was irrelevant. Free thinking on the part of ambitious Alliance individuals had led to this debacle, Kolknir needed to make an example out of the Meetchers lest others decide to question Lord Kezem or the Lady.
The appropriate fate for the Meetcher child remained unclear. In times past, she might have been killed for her parents’ failings, but the Rangers had taught Kolknir to never waste resources. Kia had fought Lord Kezem’s agents. She had fighting potential.
Kolknir brought his attention back to the makeshift prison holding the Meetchers. The prisoners stared into empty space. Meetcher ignored Kolknir’s questions, but Lady Meetcher answered without protest, showing little emotion until he mentioned her daughter.
“What will happen to Kia?” Meralla asked hoarsely.
Kolknir walked to the small table in the corner and poured a glass of water. He returned to Lady Meetcher, brought the glass to her lips, and let her drink.
“She will live,” he said.
Peace came over Lady Meetcher.
“What will happen to us?” Meetcher wondered.
“We’ll die,” answered Meralla. She winced, but Kolknir guessed it was more from the burns on her shoulders than the thought of their fate.
“You can’t—” Meetcher began.
“I can and will, but if you have a last request, I’ll consider it,” Kolknir said, feeling generous.
Meetcher slipped into a catatonic state, but Lady Meetcher looked directly at Kolknir.
“I want to see my daughter but not like this. Let me see her some place without the cuffs.”
Since the lady clearly wasn’t a fighter and she had recently been shot twice, Kolknir removed the stuncuffs and led her down the hall to the room with the child.
Two Alliance soldiers, Herik and Alden, stood guard. They looked worn from the previous night’s excitement, despite sitting out much of the battle after a brief, brutal encounter with a Ranger.
“Let her stay with the child until I return,” Kolknir ordered. “She should awaken soon.” He would return in an hour or so, after taking care of Meetcher. That should give Lady Meetcher time to make peace with her child.
***
MERALLA’S HEART ACHED so badly she thought it might fail before she got to see Kia. Rallying her energy, she slipped into the room. Kia slept on the overstuffed couch dominating the center. Pain radiated from Meralla’s left arm, but she ignored it, rushed to Kia’s side, and knelt. The broken arm hung uselessly, but Meralla used her good arm to lift Kia and pull her close.
It was only a stun beam.
The thought of her daughter being shot almost undid Meralla’s emotional control.
A little over a half-hour went by while Meralla sat with Kia. At times, she wept, but mostly, she showered her sleeping daughter with words of love, comfort, and advice she would never live to give. When Kia began stirring, Meralla held her tighter with her good arm. She suddenly wanted to say so much that no more words would come.
What should I tell her? Will she be better off missing or hating me?
“Momma?”
The single word restored Meralla’s ability to speak.
“Kia, I love you. Never forget that ... no matter what happens.” Meralla tried with only partial success to keep her voice calm.
“Momma? What happened?” Kia’s voice was heavy with sleep, but she hugged fiercely.
The hug brought more tears to Meralla, but she savored every painful heartbeat.
“I have to leave soon, darling. Be brave. Please,” she said.
“Where are you going?” Kia asked, pulling away. Tears rushed into her eyes. “Don’t leave me. I’m sorry! I—”
Seeing her daughter blame herself stabbed Meralla deeply. She reached out and brushed at Kia’s tears, cupping her sweet face and patting at the sweat-dampened hair.
“This isn’t your fault, love. Bad things happen. Don’t blame yourself or let it make you bitter.”
“Where are you going?” Kia asked again. Her hazel eyes were desperate.
Can she handle the truth?
“Kia, I made a decision some people don’t agree with.” Meralla couldn’t bring herself to say that she would soon die. It would be cruel. “I have to go away, but always remember I love you.”
