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Korum’s face darkened. “I already told them no. She’s been through enough.”
Saret sighed. “There was a formal request from the United Nations –”
“Fuck the Unites Nations. They don’t get to request anything after this fiasco. They’re damn lucky we didn’t retaliate –”
“Be that as it may, the majority of the Council believes it’s important to extend this gesture of goodwill to them.”
Mia listened to them arguing with a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach. The United Nations? The Council? What did any of this have to do with her?
“The Council can go fuck itself too,” Korum said in an uncompromising tone. “There’s absolutely no need for this, and they know it. She’s my charl, and they don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“She’s not just your charl, Korum, and you know it. She’s one of the witnesses in what will be the biggest trial of the last ten thousand years, not to mention the human proceedings –”
Mia wanted to throw up as she began to understand where the conversation was leading. “Excuse me,” she said quietly, “what exactly is needed from me?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Korum said flatly. “The
y can’t make you do anything without my permission.”
Saret sighed again. “Look, the Council wants her testimony as well. It really would be for the best if you just let her do it –”
Staring at them, Mia began to feel angry. They were talking about her like she was a child or a pet of some sort. Whatever it was they wanted from her, it should be her decision, not Korum’s.
“She doesn’t need this right now,” Korum said firmly. “They have plenty of evidence, and I’m not putting her through any additional stress –”
“Excuse me,” Mia said coldly. “I want to know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
Clearly startled, Saret laughed, and Korum gave her a disapproving look.
“I think your charl is gutsier than you give her credit for,” Saret said to Korum, still chuckling. Turning toward Mia, he explained, “You see, Mia, the traitors that you helped us catch – the Keiths, as your Resistance friends called them – will be tried according to our laws. While our judicial process is fairly different from what you’re used to, we do require all available evidence to be presented – and testimony from all the witnesses. Since you were involved throughout, your testimony could play a role in whether they get convicted and how serious their punishment will be.”
“You want me to testify in a Krinar trial?” Mia asked incredulously.
“Yes, exactly, and we’ve also received a formal request for your presence from the United Nations Ambassador –”
“She’s not doing it, Saret. Forget it. You can go back to Arus and tell him it’s not happening.”
“Look, Korum, are you sure you want to do this? We’re so close to getting the approval . . . You know this is not going to be viewed favorably –”
“I know,” Korum said. “I’m willing to take that chance. It won’t be the first time they were pissed at me.”
Saret looked frustrated. “Okay, but I think you’re making a big mistake. All she has to do is get up there and talk –”
“You know as well as I do that if she gets up there, the Protector will try to take her apart. I will not put her through that. And I don’t want her anywhere near the United Nations right now – that’s far too dangerous. Besides, human media might sniff out the story, and Mia doesn’t need the whole world watching her testimony at the UN. Her family doesn’t even know anything yet.”
Her anger forgotten, Mia squeezed Korum’s hand in gratitude. She couldn’t help but be touched by his protectiveness. It was hard to say what appealed to her less – the idea of appearing in front of the Krinar Council or at the United Nations with the whole world watching.
“Arus said they can make other arrangements for her. The UN hearing can take place behind closed doors, with nothing leaked to the media. And the Council has agreed to accept her recorded testimony for the trial.”
“Tell Arus that he can talk to me himself if he’s so determined to make this happen,” Korum said quietly, his eyes narrowed with anger. “She’s my charl. If he wants her to do something, he needs to ask me very, very nicely. And then, if Mia says she’s okay with it, I will maybe consider it.”
Saret smiled ruefully. “Sure. You know I hate to be in the middle like this. You and Arus can talk it out. I was asked to deliver a message, and that’s where my responsibility ends.”
Korum nodded. “Understood.”
The expression on his face was still harsh, and Mia shifted in her seat, feeling uncomfortable about the role she had inadvertently played in this disagreement. She needed to learn more about this trial and what it all meant, but she didn’t want to ask more questions in front of Saret. Instead, wanting to lighten the tension in the room, she asked cautiously, “So how do you two know each other?”
Saret smiled at her, understanding what she was doing. “Oh, we go way back. We’ve known each other since we were children.”
