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Then, his sponsor spoke up. ‘We will give you one last chance, Massimo Makori, to prove yourself. We will also give you the aid you require and leave the three capital cruisers in orbit, but failure is not an option this time. But, should you prevail, send word, and we will return.’
Massimo felt a wave of weak-kneed relief.
Bowing and scraping, he thanked his accomplices effusively.
Hours later, he crawled off a Technocracy rattler and dragged himself to one of New Malindi’s smaller wall gates. The rattler took off again back to the cruiser in orbit.
Massimo banged on the gate’s thermoplastic surface, yelling hoarsely for someone to let him in. The startled Guardian of the Gate heard the outraged cries and came running. Hiding his disdain at the newcomer’s identity, he let the churlish self-appointed New Prime into the walls of New Malindi.
While Massimo stewed further, the Guardian of the Gate summoned a flyer to transport the interim Prime back to his palace and seat of power.
At long last, a flyer from the House of Makori arrived, engines screeching to a stop before the two men.
‘Is the capital still mine?’ Massimo demanded of his pilot as the Guardian helped him into the small aircraft.
‘It is, sire. The loyalists’ plans to take back the city have not yet succeeded.’
Massimo sunk back into the panelled cushions with a smile of relief.
‘Onward,’ he commanded, missing the look of barely disguised disgust the Guardian shot at him as the doors hissed shut and the flyer rose into the citadel’s secure air space.
5
On the cusp of a thousand worlds
Selene
Hours later, having barely closed an eyelid all night, Selene abandoned any pretence of trying to rest.
Instead, she took a long bath, fuelled herself with two cups of thick, dark kahawa and managed a quick breakfast in the apartment suite so she could be mentally, physically and spiritually ready before Kainan knocked on her door.
It had taken half the night to piece herself back together and level with her heart. After endless debating, she told herself that there was no way on Dunia anything would happen between her and Kainan.
The timing was off, plus her father had taught her that being a good diplomat meant keeping a professional distance between you and your allies. Anything beyond that was improper and unbecoming.
So she spent precious moments building up the walls in her heart, brick by brick until she felt she was armed enough against the tide of flames that was the man himself.
Which was why she answered the soft chime at the door with a bright smile, her belongings clutched to her body like armour.
It slid open to reveal an enigmatic, quiet and brooding version of Kainan, his thick forearms crossed over his broad chest as he stared down at Selene.
‘Good morning,’ she said with a smile, eager to forget the intensity of the night before and set the mood for the long day ahead.
He nodded abruptly at her cheery greeting.
‘Ready?’
‘Always,’ she replied.
He strode off without warning, and she hurried after him, almost catching her bag in the door auto-closing behind her.
When she caught up with his long strides, he spoke briskly. ‘We’re taking a detour before our session today. I’m taking you to meet the Kugwe, J’Kuu Kabi. The leader of Eden II’s Chamber of Elders.’
‘Why’s that?’ Selene asked.
‘As a courtesy but also because I’ll ask a lot from the people of Eden II over the next few weeks and months. I need the support of all key players if we’re to be successful. It’s also an Edenite tradition to get the blessing of the Elders. Before proceeding with any alliance of this magnitude.’
They’d reached a new entrance to the expansive concourse, and Kainan ushered Selene into a sleek, closed flyer hovering outside the doors.
