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Clan Elak blinked at her. The female lawyer of the team Rusp’s parents had hired, a stunning Kalquorian woman named Nivere, settled a hand on Irene’s shoulder. “They’ll present their case soon enough.” She sounded amused, but there was a warning in her tone. Irene subsided.
“Let’s get underway, so this young lady can go home and rest as soon as possible. We can’t tire our little mother,” Judge Adnam said.
Perhaps Nivere felt Irene tense. She squeezed her shoulder again.
“I’ll hear from the petitioning clan first,” Adnam continued, smiling as he nodded to the rivals.
Clan Elak’s lawyers spoke. They listed the accolades of Irene’s would-be suitors. Dramok Elak was not only a royal councilman, but also a sought-after financial consultant for various businesses. He had a staff of over twenty working for him. Imdiko Verir owned a prestigious heath homecare company. Nobek Mestra had once served with the empire’s ground troops, earning the accolades Ezrob was so hot and heavy over. These days, he was head of the planet’s largest military training facility, which had been attended by the Nobek crown prince of Kalquor.
They were as impressive as Irene had been warned, at least from the standpoint of well-heeled providers of outstanding reputation. Clan Elak gazed at her throughout their lawyers’ presentation, smiling with warmth and irritating confidence.
She wouldn’t join them, but her guts trembled as the argument for their ability to give her and her unborn child stacked higher and higher. She was glad for the anti-nausea medication she’d taken, because the stress and morning sickness would have overwhelmed her. Jemi, on the other side of Sherv who sat beside her, looked as if he could have used a dose of her prescription. Rusp sat stone-faced and tense.
Sherv displayed some concern but nowhere near what Irene thought he should have. He kept glancing at the chronometer on the wall and the door, as if he had an important appointment he was eager to leave for. She wondered if it had something to do with the com he’d received and refused to tell them about. “News for later,” had been his cryptic explanation.
Judge Adnam made no pretense of his approval of Clan Elak, or his overly paternal opinion of Irene. After the lawyers finished their overwhelming presentation, he asked Dramok Elak, “We know Earth treats their women terribly, sometimes violently. Are you prepared to properly guide someone with such a traumatic background in her best interests?”
Irene spluttered. Nivere’s grip on her shoulder tightened again, but Irene couldn’t keep from voicing her dismay, though she kept it as polite as possible. “I’m a grown woman. I don’t need guidance from anyone. I decided to join Clan Sherv, so Kalquor has its Matara. There’s no point to this.”
“My dear, you want the best possible future for your child and yourself. Earth hardly prepared you for making such decisions.” Judge Adnam turned again to Dramok Elak. “Share your plans for your Matara and child.”
Before Irene could lose her temper as she had with Ezrob, maybe worse, Nivere whispered in her ear, “Save it for when it’s needed. We aren’t there yet.”
Irene clenched her fists under the table. Who knew if these Kalquorian lawyers supposedly on her side actually agreed with the judge? Maybe the majority of Kalquorians believed Earther women incapable of thinking for themselves.
Sherv should at least be speaking up for them. Hadn’t he heard Adnam damned well name her and his unborn baby as Elak’s mate and child? The asshole had already decided her fate! Why wasn’t her clan leader protesting? Did he not want her after all?
“Thank you, Clan Elak.” The judge’s smile faded as he eyed Clan Sherv and their representatives. “I’ll now hear from the defendant clan.”
Nivere’s tone contained optimism Irene wondered if she truly felt. “Thank you, Honorable Adnam. Before you sits a clan in love with their Matara, a clan who will do anything and everything to bring her the stability and support she and their child deserve. Beyond this, they’ve formed a connection most clans only dream of.”
After a couple of minutes, Irene was glad she’d quieted as Nivere had asked. The woman gave an impassioned speech on Clan Sherv’s behalf, highlighting what they’d done when they’d believed Irene to be in danger from Captain Nil and his Nobek. She presented her deposition of the pair, no doubt grudgingly given since they’d had to admit they’d been overcome by a couple of musicians. Irene didn’t miss how Ezrob watched Rusp. The elder Nobek’s expression gave nothing away, but Irene believed he had to be impressed with Weapons Commander Amig’s admission he’d been knocked off his feet and both Irene and his blaster had been stripped from him by a mere spenruk.
“I realize Honorable Adnam doesn’t need to be reminded Clan Sherv had clanned Irene prior to the rescue order, and therefore should be exempt from these proceedings in the first place. However, the question why they failed to immediately bring her to Kalquor has been asked.”
“A question I expect answered.” Adnam appeared grumpy, as if Nivere presented evidence he’d rather not hear.
“Given the situation, they were biding their time to take her safely from the Earthers guarding her. They never faltered in placing her safety above all other considerations.” The lawyer spoke with pride, as if she numbered among Clan Sherv’s parents.
“They failed to inform the destroyer captain and his weapons commander of their clanning status during the confrontation,” Adnam pointed out.
“The situation was sudden and dire. Clan Sherv, unaware of the details of what was happening, had to act quickly for fear of the opera’s Earther security staff getting involved. They had no idea of the empire’s agenda to rescue Earther women. They reacted appropriately to what they saw as an abduction of Matara Irene. I remind you, Captain Nil failed to offer proof he’d been ordered to do so by his superiors.”
“Attacking fleet officers—” one of Clan Elak’s attorneys began, but Nivere spoke over him.
“Nobek Rusp and Dramok Sherv acted appropriately and with extreme discretion. Particularly Rusp. How many Nobeks wouldn’t have offered lethal responses to men, including fleet officers, assaulting their Mataras? In addition, Rusp’s warning shots at the fighters Captain Nils sent against his craft were strictly that…warningshots. He didn’t shoot to kill, as we’d expect from an incensed member of his breed.”
Nivere’s gaze was burning, her smile as fierce as a Nobek’s as she leaned toward the judge. “Rusp was more than the perfect protector in rescuing his lifemate. He demonstrated incredible self-control by acknowledging perhaps a grave misunderstanding had been committed by Captain Nil, rather than outright offense. Most Nobeks twice his age and experience wouldn’t have been so circumspect, especially under such circumstances.”
She aimed her stare at Clan Elak’s Nobek Mestra, adding a slight smirk to include him among those less prudent Nobeks. He frowned, his brows pinching together.
Nivere dismissed him with the air of someone who’d made her point. “The only real case Clan Elak has concerning Matara Irene is their supposed ability to offer better financial responsibility for her and Clan Sherv’s unborn child. We’ll address that momentarily. First, I’ll present a more compelling argument for Matara Irene’s emotional welfare, which should claim precedence.”
She touched Sherv’s shoulder. “Dramok Sherv, tell me why you clanned Matara Irene. Why you risked your life…let’s not pretend otherwise; he and Nobek Rusp did risk their very lives when they confronted an armed fleet captain and weapons commander…why did you do so for this woman?”
“We love her.” Sherv said it as if it should have been the most obvious answer in the universe. “She’s our Matara, the center of our lives.”
“What makes her worthy of the danger you exposed yourself to, first from the Earther security that would have assuredly killed you had they discovered your relationship, then the fleet officers you fought?”
