Cassandra's Challenge by M. K. Eidem
Sitting down next to her William starts to fill Kyle in on what’s been happening over the last fifty days. The attack on Earth, the thread, the decision to return to Carina, the transmissions, the translations.
“You learned how to speak Regulian in four days?” Kyle is stunned.
“Languages have always come easy for me.”
“But Regulian….Victoria can speak it too?” He looks to the bedrooms.
“Yes.”
“You broke the Coalitions transmission codes? Do you know the amount of time that went into creating those.” Lucas demands.
“Not enough. They could be better. But the good news is the Regulians will never crack them….” Cassandra’s eyes widen as she looks to William. He sees what she’s thinking. Could that be it? What the traitor is offering?
“If you have the transmission codes you know who the traitor is.” Kyle accuses.
“It doesn’t work that way. I can tell you what personal code sent what transmission, and what code received it, but I can’t tell you whoes code it is, not without hearing the transmission and even then you’d need to recognize the voice.”
“High Command would know.” Lucas looks to his father.
“High Command doesn’t know Cassandra’s broke the codes. No one does.” William gives his sons a hard look telling them he wants to keep it that way.
“You didn’t recognize the voice?” Lucas looks to his father.
“It was run through a Regulian translator.”
“What does all this have to do with Dadrian?” Kyle looks from Cassandra to his father. While they’d been talking William’s put an arm around her pulling her close. Now he stands, walking across the room he looks out the window.
Cassandra’s eyes follow him, saying nothing. This is William’s call. Kyle and Lucas exchange looks both realizing this is something big. But what could be bigger than a traitor trying to kill Cassandra?
Turning back, she sees he’s reached a decision, a hard one. One an Admiral makes.
“There are two traitors.”
“What!” Both boys rise.
“Cassandra found two distinct signatures on the transmissions to the Regulians.”
“Both through translators?”
“No, one only contained numbers.” The Admiral watches Lucas.
“Numbers? Like coordinates? Fleet coordinates?” Cassandra can see Lucas is starting to put it together.
“What are you talking about?” Kyle demands.
“Speed attacks against the fleet. The first one the Regulians were able to locate us because of the thread in Victoria’s arm. But that wasn’t the exact location. There were two more after, they didn’t come out of warp until they were firing.”
“Someone’s giving them the fleet’s location to stop Cassandra?” Kyle doesn’t realize it’s the first time he’s called her by name. William does.
“No. I thought they were. Cassandra found the transmissions giving up the fleet’s location. She was able isolate the signature and tied it back to two other transmissions. Transmissions sent prior to the attacks.” William pauses. “Transmissions sent to the Sentinel.”
“The Sentinel?” Lucas’ mind is racing. The Sentinel was badly damaged in the first attack that the Regulians had the fleets coordinate. It was dead in space after the second. The Regulians have been sitting just inside the Relinquished zone, as if waiting for confirmation.
“Barek.” Lucas says quietly, thinking about his friend, and future King.
“Yes.” William acknowledges.
“Why?” Kyle’s mind is racing, trying to sort it all out.
“You know the answer to that Kyle.” Cassandra tells him.
“No.” He stares hard into Cassandra’s eyes. He doesn’t want to believe it. Doesn’t want to think he’s had any part in it.
“It’s the only logical conclusion. Whether you like it or not, you can’t deny that.” Her eyes while firm are sympathetic.
“You think it is Dadrian.” Lucas finally says it out loud, finding he needs to sit down. William walks over, picking up the bottle of ale refilling his sons’ glasses. “Dad, I know Dadrian is a foabhor, tonight especially proves that, but he’s not smart enough for something like this let alone patient enough, the Glitter Man was on Earth over seven cycles ago.”
“I don’t believe he’s been involved that long. The Regulians only started getting fleet locations about thirty days ago. That’s when Dadrian got involved.”
“Got involved.” Kyle looks at his father. “You’re saying Dadrian somehow discovered there was a traitor, one that is responsible for the murder of everyone on Earth, and instead of reporting it decides to take advantage of it?”
“That pretty much covers it.” William realizes he’s underestimated his youngest son. Cassandra’s right again, just because he isn’t ‘military’ doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand or isn’t able to help. He owes him an apology.
“But that doesn’t make him King unless….” No one says anything. “Dad it’s bad enough that he’d go after his brother, but his father?”
“He wants to be King, thinks it’s his right.” Cassandra’s voice is firm. “He all but admitted it tonight he said he could make sure I had the support of the King of the House of Protection.”
“He can’t promise Jotham’s support.” William tells her.
“It wasn’t Jotham’s support he promised.” She looks at William knowing he realizes what Dadrian wanted in return by the hardening of his eyes. His sons realize it too.
“You made a point of saying he wasn’t on any list.” Kyle looks at Cassandra, things falling into place. “At dinner, when you ‘explained’ military procedure to Dadrian, you said he wasn’t on any list.” Kyle’s eyes turn to his father. “You’ve made sure his name stays off. Barek is alive.” William’s respect for his son grows.
“He’s not on any list, and won’t be until he’s on planet.”
“He knows?”
“Only that there had been assassination attempts made on Cassandra by the Regulians, that because of them all Royals needed to be removed from combat situations to curb more attempts.”
“You said you can’t prove it yet.” Kyle looks to Cassandra.
“The transmissions have Royal coding, until they are played we can’t prove anything.”
“So Dadrian sent a transmission to Barek. Barek wouldn’t give up the fleet’s location, especially to Dadrian.” Lucas argues.
“There were two transmissions sent to the Sentinel, each with twenty lines of coding.”
“No one has twenty lines, not even Royals.” Kyle interrupts.
“The twentieth line is what on Earth we called a Trojan, a program that activates when the transmission is answered. It finds the location of the receiver and transmits it back to the sender. It took two minutes. Each transmission was two minutes ten seconds. Ten minutes later there is a transmission sent to the Regulians containing only numbers.”
“Barek never knew.” Kyle whispers.
“No.”
“Dadrian isn’t smart enough to write a ‘trojan’.” Kyle informs her.
“No.” She waits. “I believe he got the program from the original traitor.”
“But you have to have knowledge of the codes to do that and the only ones who do are the Coalition, High Command and…..” Kyle trails off.
“Those who write them, the House of Knowledge.”
“It’s back to stopping you from returning.”
“Yes.” Cassandra rubs her temple William sees her fatigue.
“Now you know what’s going on, what’s at stake.”
“Why was Dadrian so intent on getting me involved?” Kyle asks.
“It distracts your father.” Cassandra answers for him. “He wants him concerned about you, not him, just in case.”
“Fuck he used me.”
“Yes, yes he did.” Cassandra goes to stand she needs to let these men have some time alone. William is there helping her, a
Three pairs of eyes follow her exit, each with their own concerns.
“Dad, is she okay?” Lucas draws his father’s attention.
“She just needs more rest. She’s had a lot to adjust to in a very short time.” He hopes that’s all it is.
“That’s what she said earlier.” Kyle tells him.
“When?” William demands.
“When we were in the garden, I’m sorry dad.” Kyle rushes on. “I shouldn’t have left her, even without knowing what’s going on, you taught us better than that.” William stares at his youngest son, seeing the honest remorse.
“Why did you go into the garden?”
“We were dancing, one minute she’s fine, the next she’s pale and asking if I’d take her to get some air.”
“Knowing that you left her?” Lucas demands.
“After a few minutes she was fine, than Dadrian showed up. The rest you know.” Kyle continues to look at his father. “I’m sorry.”
William walks up to his youngest, looks at him then pulls him into his arms for a hug. “Cassandra’s right, this isn’t your fault, even though you know better.” William steps back. “There’s something you need to understand Kyle, Cassandra’s my life mate. You may not like it, but it’s not going to change.”
“Life mate?” Kyle looks at Lucas who nods. “And she understands what that means?”
“She understands Regulian, you think she doesn’t understand life mates. On Earth they called it soul mates.”
“And you didn’t kill Dadrian?”
“She needed me to get her out of there more. Her needs take priority.”
“Even over your career?” He’s still having a hard time with that.
“Everything I’ve ever done, right or wrong, has been leading me to her. I won’t give her up, especially not for a career. I did that with your mother.” The commitment in his father’s voice amazes Kyle.
“And after the Challenge?” Kyle can’t help but ask.
“After she’s Queen we’ll work it out.”
“Dad….”
“Kyle, she is the Queen, never doubt it.”
“Then why the Challenge?” Kyle has to believe his father. William rubs a hand through his hair.
“Cassandra wants justice. For the people of Earth, for her family, I can’t blame her.”
“The Houses deal with their own ‘Royal’ problems, unless it affects all, then it up to the Assembly. You have to have a full Assembly, like one for a Challenge.” Kyle sees what she’s doing.
“Yes.”
“It puts her in greater danger.”
“She knows that, so do I.” Kyle can tell his father has already thought of all this.
“Okay. Is it alright with you if I stay?” William closes his eyes for a moment.
“Yes, of course it’s okay. Kyle, I owe you and apology. I should have contacted you as soon as we arrived.”
“You’ve had a lot going on and it’s not like I’m going to be a lot of help.”
“I think you are, you knew about the Succession Protection Law, and what it takes to accuse a Royal. I’m sure there will be more things you know that will help.” William looks to Lucas. “You’ll get him set up next door?”
“Not a problem.”
“Good, then I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go over our next steps concerning Dadrian.”
Victoria is sound asleep when Cassandra checks on her. Smiling she tucks her feet in and pulls the covers up. Leaning over she gives her a kiss. “Love you kiddo.” Back in their room she opens a bureau drawer pulling out the test. Looking at it she walks over to the window seat and waits.
Chapter 18
Walking into the private area William first checks Victoria then heads to Cassandra. Entering their suite he finds the lights dimmed the bed empty. Scanning the room he finds her in the window seat.
“Why aren’t you in bed?” Sitting across from her he gently rubs her leg.
“I was waiting for you.”
“I’m here, come on, you’re tired.” He moves to rises but Cassandra’s hand stops him.
“We need to talk.” She squeezes his arm, her eyes serious.
“Whatever it is it can wait until tomorrow. You’ve been through enough today.”
“So have you, but it’s waited all day, that’s long enough.” She hands him the test.
“What?” William’s confused as he looks down, not sure what she’s handed him. Staring at it for several moments he suddenly freezes, he’s eyes shoot to hers. “You’ve conceived.”
“Yes.” She watches him closely, not sure what she’s seeing.
Standing he walks across the room. She’s conceived. She is carrying his child. Dadrian attacked her while she is carrying his child.
“How long have you known?”
“I took the test this morning.” She doesn’t move from the window seat.
“That’s not what I asked.”
“William, I wasn’t sure until this morning.”
“But you suspected.”
“Yes, for about ten days.” While they’d still been on the Retribution, he realizes.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He starts to pace.
“Because I didn’t know.” Cassandra stresses to him.
“You knew or you won’t have gotten the test!” William looks at her. “Where did you get the test?”
”Javiera got it for me.”
“That’s why you needed to talk to Leander, he knew.”
“He found it, thought it was Javiera’s. It caused….problems.”
“He knew you’d conceived.”
“NO! You are the first person I’ve told.” She isn’t sure what’s happening, this isn’t how she’d thought he’d react.
“You’ve been tiring easily suddenly paling you promised me you were okay!”
“I am.”
“Fuck that! You got dizzy on the dance floor, that’s way Kyle took you into the garden. That’s why Dadrian was able to attack you! Damn it Cassandra! You should have told me as soon as you suspected!”
“And if I was wrong?” Cassandra finds she can’t sit any longer. “If it really was just all the changes, space travel, food, stress. If that’s all it was, and I’d told you, what would your first thought have been?” She demands.
“What are you talking about!” He glares at her
“You would have thought of Salish, and how she deceived you.” Cassandra’s eyes meet his hard look. “I’m not Salish. I wasn’t going to make a mistake.” Feeling her eyes start to fill, she turns away.
William’s stunned. She thought he wouldn’t believe her, not without proof. That he’d compare her to Salish. She’s nothing like Salish.
“Cassandra….” As he approaches her, she suddenly bolts for the bathroom.
Thinking she’s shutting him out, he races after her, only to find her on her knees vomiting. Kneeling down he puts a tentative hand on her back.
“Cassandra…”
“Go away.” She demands in a weak voice.
“No.” Standing he wets a cloth bringing it back to wipe her pale sweaty face. It hurt his heart to see her like this. “Breath Cassandra.”
Concentrating on her breathing, she tries to get her body back under control. There’s nothing left in her stomach. With closed eyes she slowly eases back, seeing how her stomach reacts. When it stays steady she opens them and starts to stand.
“Easy.” He mummers to her, gripping her waist he helps her up.
“I’m fine.” She tries to move out of his grip.
“I’m not letting go Cassandra.” William’s eyes bore into hers. “Never.”
Closing her eyes she sighs not realizing how much she’d needed to hear that.
“Drink this.” He
“No.”
“Drink.” William raises the glass to her lips.
“Stop William.” She pushes his hand away. “I’m not a child.”
“No you’re having one. You need to drink.”
“It’ll just come back up. Just let me rinse out my mouth. It will be enough for now.” Taking the glass from him she does just that. With a slightly shaky hand she puts the glass down. Looking in the mirror she sees the concern in his eyes.
“I’m fine.” Saying nothing he guides her to the bed. Untying her robe he tosses it to the end of the bed.
“Get in.”
“William…”
“Do it Cassandra or I’ll put you there.” Knowing he’s serious and not sure how her stomach will take it, she slides into the bed.
Pulling the sheets up, much like she’d done to Victoria, he leans down to give her a hard kiss. “I love you.” Rising, he heads to the closet to change.
She’s conceived. It’s like a drum in his head. His life mate is going to have his child. Ripping off his shirt he’s about to throw it down when he sees her dress, her ripped dress, ripped by Dadrian. She’d gotten light headed because she’d conceived. She hadn’t eaten her third meal, because she couldn’t keep it down. She hadn’t told him until she had proof, because of his past. Closing his eyes he takes a deep breath. Pulling on his sleeping pants he heads back to her.
Cassandra watches him as he crosses the room, her eyes concerned. She knows he loves her, has no doubt, but something isn’t right.
William sees the concern as he darkens the room. Sliding in next to her he props himself up on an elbow, the other hand resting over their child. Looking into her eyes he gives her a gentle kiss. Putting a hand behind his head she holds him there changing the angle, increasing the pressure. Slipping her tongue between his lips she teases his mouth open to twine around his.
Breaking off the kiss, his eyes burn into hers, his breathing ragged. She can see his desire, watches him pull it back.