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Ospar caught behaving badly.
* * * *
Master Rivek of the Temple of Life smiled serenely at those in the crowded eatery in his path, and they obligingly stepped out of his way. They executed slight bows of respect as they did so. What some accomplished through intimidation, Rivek performed with serenity.
Not that he couldn’t have put most of them, including the Nobeks, on the floor. Rivek had a host of perfected martial arts moves at his command. However, the Imdiko priest’s motivations were ever peaceful. If he’d been forced to defend himself or his loved ones, he’d do so without antipathy.
A dozen fellow priests followed in his wake as they swept to the table reserved for them, their layered robes fluttering. Once a month, they gave the temple’s kitchen a break and took their midday meal in public.
They circled their low table and sank to the billowing seating cushions surrounding it. Knee- and ankle-length hair spread around them in black or graying waterfalls. Sedate smiles greeted the pair of waiters who descended on them to take their drink orders and enthuse about the featured dishes of the day.
The restaurant was one they enjoyed; Rivek particularly so. He tucked the slender braids twisting the strands at his temples behind his ears and glanced toward where the cliff facility opened to the ocean and sky beyond. Brine-tinted breezes wafted to him, and he inhaled their aroma in the same appreciation as the mouthwatering food other diners enjoyed.
After they’d given their orders, Master Copin, a younger priest whom Rivek had known for years, smiled at his mentor. “It feels longer than a month since we gathered like this. How is the family?”
“Well, but you’ve seen Thomas recently, haven’t you?”
“A few days ago.” Copin’s eyes twinkled. “I’m no longer his favorite companion when he visits the temple, however.”
“Katie, daughter of Clan Trebro, has all his attention,” Rivek sighed. “Adolescent hormones have hit my oldest son hard. Fortunately, she isn’t as romantically inclined as he is. And she distracts him from his video games for an hour or so each day.”
“He’s good for her. Her tantrums are less when he’s around.”
Like Thomas, Katie was autistic. Her coping skills when she felt overwhelmed were less well-managed than Rivek’s son’s, but as Copin had pointed out, she made an effort in Thomas’ presence. For his part, Thomas had exhibited astonishing patience for her occasional profanity-laced outbursts…patience he didn’t always afford his own family.
“They help each other,” Rivek chuckled.
“It’s good Thomas requires less supervision than he used to. No doubt Iris has her hands full with the younger children and teaching.”
“Fortunately, Ospar’s usually home to help.” As the words left his mouth, Rivek experienced a pang for his Dramok.
It was clear Ospar was unhappy. He loved his clan and children, and he kept himself busy, but it wasn’t the work he’d been born to do. Rivek feared the hope Councilman Oiteil offered wouldn’t materialize. He feared when it was gone, Ospar would sink into depression or bitterness.
It was difficult to keep from counseling Ospar to ignore Oiteil. His clan leader was treading a narrow rope over a chasm of trouble. Rivek knew Ospar’s heart, however. Reminding him he could end up in a prison camp if he were discovered to be poking his nose in politics wouldn’t stop him from doing so. He’d merely hide his activities from Rivek and their clanmates.
“Any guesses on what teams will make it to the playoffs?” Master Rofol called to the table as their food arrived.
Grateful for the distraction, Rivek dove into kurble statistics, the latest trades, and the Earther leagues that had erupted on Haven and Earth II, though football remained the humans’ contact sport of choice. For the rest of the lunch, he was happily diverted from the few concerns in his life.
They were rising from the table when he spotted a couple of familiar faces in the crowd heading for the exit.
Ospar and Oiteil. In public together. Openly chatting, as if it wouldn’t get Rivek’s Dramok hauled straight to a judge.
* * * *
Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keeping something from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step ahead of the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythe has a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither side is ready when the truth comes out.
Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the political stage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealing with a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor, his relationship with his clan…and his life.
The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against the Darks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealed it’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy Leader Browning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper, setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.
As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, the Galactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans and Kalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can they loosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?
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