The Quantum Rose by Catherine Asaro

Author:Catherine Asaro
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

16

Moongloss

Predissociation

Moonlight silvered the bedroom, flowing through the window above the desk. Kamoj had discovered she couldn’t lie down in a bed when they returned to the palace; just the thought made her ill. Although she let Dazza examine her, she wanted no one else to touch her, not even Vyrl. But she couldn’t bear the idea of being alone, either. Even knowing General Ashman had moved in a “regiment” of the Pharaoh’s Army to protect Argali, she still felt painfully vulnerable.

So Dazza settled into her armchair by the nightstand, this time to keep a vigil over Kamoj. Vyrl also stayed, but he and Kamoj sat against the headboard of the bed, she curled on her side with her legs drawn up, the two of them separated by several handspans, both fully dressed, he still wearing his slacks and turtleneck, she in a farm tunic and leggings. The room’s warmth and the potions Dazza had given her lulled her into a doze …

Voices woke her. “—won’t let you leave the palace,” the colonel was saying.

“Why?” Vyrl asked. “Where do they think I’ll go?”

“Nowhere,” Dazza said. “It’s a house arrest. Ashman let you come down here because it’s better for Kamoj. But if you leave the palace, he’ll order your return to the Ascendant.”

“What, so he can ‘throw me in the brig himself?’”

Dazza spoke quietly. “He acts in the best interest of the people. Your people.”

It was a moment before Vyrl answered. “I know. But that doesn’t make it any easier.”

“If we could settle this mess with Ironbridge, Ashman would be a lot happier.”

“Ironbridge doesn’t want to settle. He wants to punish me.” His voice grated. “He’s a real piece of work. You would think after five thousand years the owner genes would have disappeared here.”

“Why? Genes aren’t altruistic.”

Kamoj opened her eyes just enough to see Dazza. “But you know,” the colonel was saying, “about forty-five percent of his DNA traces to slave stock. In some ways he’s the ultimate product of the breeding program, even more so than Kamoj. That’s why his physical makeup is different from hers. Can you imagine the metabolism he must have? He also has a triple stomach. How does it fit in his body? I would love to examine him. His DNA is like nothing I’ve seen.”

“How do you know his DNA so well?” Vyrl asked.

After an awkward pause, Dazza said, “From Kamoj.”

Vyrl swore. “I can’t believe she’s letting him get away with it. How can she insist we don’t use the evidence against him?”

Dazza’s answer chilled Kamoj. “She and Governor Ironbridge love each other.”

Vyrl stiffened. “Love, hell.”

“They have a fifteen-year history. You can’t expect her to undergo a complete change of attitude in a few days.” Dazza regarded him steadily. “I’m not saying she doesn’t also hate him. That’s what makes this so difficult for her.”

Kamoj didn’t know how to fit Dazza’s words into the confused pain inside her heart. She wanted to forget what had happened with Jax.

“Why isn’t she angry?” Vyrl clenched his fist on his leg.

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