Saga of the Skolian Empire 08 - The Moon's Shadow by Asaro Catherine

Author:Asaro, Catherine [Asaro, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Speculative Fiction, Science, Space Opera, Fiction, Romance, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780765343246
Google: BbCKM0NpuRwC
Goodreads: 424936
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2003-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Robert performed the ceremony.

Jai asked him to officiate because Robert had so savored the preparations. It only seemed right that at least one person should enjoy the wedding. Jai was too agitated. He and Tarquine stood side by side, surrounded by guards, many armed with laser carbines now in addition to the miniature arsenals they carried on their hips, boots, and belts. Waroids in full armor patrolled the perimeter of the area.

Robert read the vows, and Jai and Tarquine gave their agreement. Tarquine’s personal aide had brought the Iquar documents and Robert had the Qox documents. So Jai and Tarquine signed the contracts, and gave their retinal scans and voice imprints, fulfilling the legal requirements.

Then it was done. Eube once again had an empress. It remained only to name a moon after her.

Jai turned to Tarquine, running through phrases in his mind, searching for the right words to greet his new wife. She regarded him with her dark gaze, her lips parted. Before Jai could decide what to say to her, Robert motioned to him. The aide and Captain Redson were talking urgently, in low voices.

Jai held back his sigh. Perhaps, in another century, he might actually hold a conversation with Tarquine.

“Is there a problem?” he asked Robert.

“We have news of the Skolians,” Robert said. “The Ruby Pharaoh.”

Sweat beaded Jai’s temples. The Pharaoh was his aunt. “What news?”

Captain Redson spoke, agitation marking his usually implacable demeanor. “ESComm intercepted a broadcast from Earth. Ships are carrying it throughout Allied, Skolian, and Eubian space.”

“It’s that important?” Jai asked. Without the Kyle web, it was hard to spread news in a timely fashion to the star-flung settlements of humanity. It would travel fast only if its importance justified the immense effort of so many ships carrying it quickly among the various worlds and habitats.

Jai caught a thought from Redson’s mind: the captain would have rather been anywhere but here right now, giving this news to the emperor. But he spoke with laudable composure. “The Skolians sent a commando team to Earth. It rescued the members of the Ruby Dynasty imprisoned there.”

Jai blinked. “The Ruby Pharaoh was on Earth?”That fit none of the rumors he had heard.

“No, Your Highness.” Redson was almost stuttering. “She has taken command of the military.”

“She can’t,” Jai said. “Her title is titular.”

Robert was reading from his palmtop. “It isn’t clear—reports are conflicting—but it looks like she instigated a coup over the Skolian government, backed by the most powerful branch of ISC, the Imperial Fleet.”

Jai stared at him. What the blazes were the Skolians doing? ISC meant Imperial Space Command, the combined military forces of the Skolian Imperialate. The name “Imperialate” was historical, given that an Assembly of elected councilors governed the Skolians. The reign of the Ruby Dynasty had ended long ago. But if the military had supported his aunt in a coup, it meant the Ruby Pharaoh once again ruled. Such a political upheaval could shatter the fragile balance among Skolia, Eube, and the Allieds.

Another thought hit Jai: his uncle Kelric had been on Earth.

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