Duke Tiko was a rotund little man who wore polished boots with three-inch heels. His tiny chin was accented by a pointy beard dyed a ridiculous brown. He emerged reluctantly, then tried for pompous disdain until Brodwyn threatened him with imprisonment in the Serenese jail. The prospect of forced transit to Serena clearly terrified him more than prison. He wilted into plump submission. Even so, loss of his empire came with difficulty. Each point was agreed to with the genuine pain of another tooth pulled.
The longer the negotiations continued, the more each passing second ticked loud as cannon fire. Finally Sean could stand it no longer. He stepped up to where Carver, Dillon, and Anyon observed Brodwyn’s determined stance and said, “We need to be going.”
For once, Anyon showed no disapproval. “Are you certain time is so critical?”
“I’m not sure of anything. And that’s the problem.” Sean sighed. “I just have a strong feeling. Nothing more.”
Dillon declared, “My brother doesn’t need anything more.”
“As illogical as it sounds,” Carver said, “history suggests we should heed his warning.”
Logan and Vance stepped away from Brodwyn and demanded a translation. When Carver had explained, Logan asked Sean, “Is this another of your unfinished ideas?”
“Maybe.” Sean worked the air with frantic hands. “I wish I could be more certain . . .”
Dillon said, “Stop worrying about being wrong and just tell us.”
“I think I know what happened to Cylian and the Assembly’s Watchers.”
Brodwyn broke off from Tiko’s latest unfinished protest and demanded, “What is it?” When Carver repeated his explanation, she said, “Surely this can wait until our current demands are met.”
Logan said, “If this one thinks it is urgent, General, I respectfully suggest you heed his warning.”
Anyon said, “Tell us.”
“We need to be there when Cylian wakes up,” Sean told them. “And the General and Logan need to be with us.”
Anyon asked, “Why so many?”
“Because if I’m right, we have to alert the ruling council on Cygneus Prime,” Sean replied. “And there isn’t a moment to lose.”