“I’m reading you,” Hallen said. “Go ahead. I take it you wish to formally surrender?”
Linton nodded stiffly.
“Yes, sir. But my surrender depends on three conditions.” Hallen exchanged a long look with Wilm Bardry, who was grinning as he smoked.
“All right. Let’s hear ’em,” Hallen said curtly.
“Condition one,” Raul said. “The government to dismiss charges—all charges, of whatever nature—against the entirety of the Kahani’s troops and followers. And that goes for her and for myself, as well. I want a clear board for every man and woman down there. Full pardon for everybody, exile, outlaw, criminal, the works. After all, they didn’t do anything more than think about waging war against the Cluster government. And the only thing they are guilty of actually doing, is making a decisive and final end to the Arthon of Pelaire and his attempt to invade Hercules.”
“I’ll buy that. Granted—full amnesty for everybody,” Hallen nodded. “And remind me later, Wilm, we’re got to carry those Pelairi prisoners back to their planet and make sure what’s left of that fleet doesn’t trouble us again.”
“Right, Brice.”
“All right, Linton. Next condition?”
Raul ticked it off on his fingers.
“The Kahani to be reinstalled as monarch of Valadon, with full hereditary rights and powers for life, and for her heirs forever.”
“Yes, I guess she’s earned that,” Hallen grumbled, “but what in space am I supposed to do with the present incumbent—what’s his name, Lord Hastril—line him up against the wall and coagulate him?”
Wilm interjected an idea lazily.
“Brice, whyn’t you pop him into this fancy palace-type prison you’ve got fixed up on Omphale to hold bothersome and unwanted royalty and pretenders and such-like—you know, the ones you want to keep out of trouble and under your eye?”
Hallen chewed his thumb thoughtfully.
“Kerrisam Palace? Not a bad idea, Wilm. Poetic justice, too—that’s where I was going to put the Kahani whenever I caught her. All right, Linton: agreed.”
“Then the third and last condition: Valadon to be removed from the jurisdiction of your government and created an independent planetary kingdom. That way, nobody can say a word if we—if she—wants to make improvements. Understand? A clear board for the works: roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, industries, whatever. She has plans to make Valadon one of the most advanced kingdoms on the Border, and wants no interference from the Provincial Government.”
Hallen speared him with an eagle glance.
“We’—eh? Hmm. She’s a good-looking girl, isn’t she?” he asked. And noted Raul’s crimsoning face.
He heaved a small sigh.
“Ah, to be young again! Well, Linton, I grant you the whole program. All three conditions will be scrupulously observed. And what’s more, I’ll even give the bride away!” Raul flushed, if possible, even more crimson.
“The—‘bride’—sir?”
“Certainly, you damn fool!” Hallen chuckled. “Any idiot could see at a glance you’re hopelessly in love. What’s the matter—haven’t you even asked her, yet?”
“I—don’t quite—you misunderstand, sir—I—”
They let him fumble and stumble on for a bit, and then Wilm said: “Bet I know what’s wrong, Brice. That old idealistic conscience cropping up again. Here he is, a homeless, landless, penniless space-bum. And there she is, the fabulously wealthy absolute monarch of an entire planetary kingdom. How could he hope to get up nerve enough to propose to the girl, having nothing to bring to the marriage but what he stands up in?”
Wilm started laughing good-naturedly, and Brice Hallen joined in. Raul endured it for a while, and then started to get angry.
“I don’t see anything so comical about that! As a matter of fact, that’s precisely what has kept me from offering her marriage! Do you think I want her to class me with the fortune hunting, title-hunting bunch of suitors she has hanging around her right now? I want her to respect me!”
“She’ll respect you a damn lot more if you’d speak up like a man and demand her hand because you happen to love her—instead of being so kaking stiff and noble and courageous about suffering. I tell you what, better yet, don’t speak at all! Just walk in and grab her and give her a kiss that curls her hair for her! Action’s better than talk, anytime!” Hallen advised.
Raul made no reply, because he could think of nothing adequate to say. He made ready to leave, but Hallen stopped him with a lifted hand.
“All right now, hang on, boy. I’d been wondering when I’d find the right stop to give you my news, and this looks like it. I’ve been on the beam all morning with this business of the Arthon and the Kahani and you—talking to the First Lord on Meridian. The Emperor’s very interested in the whole mess, and very relieved it’s settled. Yes, I spoke to His Magnificence personally. He’s quite grateful for your services—I told him the whole story, just as Wilm radioed it to me as we arrived. And, here”—he fumbled in his belt-pouch— “this is for you.”
He removed a long loop of rich scarlet ribbon from the pouch and hung it gently around Linton’s throat.
Raul fingered it blankly, healing the blood roar in his ears. Dimly, as if from a great distance, he heard the Provincial Administrator say:
“The real thing, complete with the bronze medallion inscribed with your planetary sigil, will be arriving by special courier boat in a day or two—brought by a herald, in fact, by hand. But I scrounged up this, which will do for the moment. And I’d sincerely like the honor of being the very first to congratulate you—Lord Barnassa!”
Raul shook hands with Hallen, and then with a joyful and enthusiastic Wilm Bardry.
“And don’t forget what I said, my lord I Don’t do any talking—just grab her and give her a kiss to remember. Then tell her you love her. Remember, now!”
And when he released her, and she had recovered her breath, Innald said, faintly:
“But why did my lord never tell me before how he felt about me? Surely you knew I loved you from the first, when I saw you standing there all flustered, and angry, and flaming abound the ears with embarrassment!”
Raul kissed her again and then held her close. She was very, very small, and her cheek fitted into the curve of his shoulder as if it had been cunningly designed to fit. And perhaps it had ….
“But I have never before met the man whom I could love, no, truly! Not my late husband (may the Seven bring him bliss!), not the Lord Zarkandu (who desired me, although I desired him not at all)—no one, until you!” Then, in a very small, low-voice: “Will my lord tell me once again of gentility, how much he loves me?”
“Hush, ylarna,” he said softly, “hush, my sweet one! I love thee more than honor, more than life itself!”
“Then I am very, very happy!”
As is only fitting, with all the experience and know-how of a veteran government official, Brice Hallen’s advice worked like a charm.
A VERY BRIEF EPILOGUE
Three weeks later, in the midst of the biggest celebration Valadon had known for centuries, they were married and elevated to the Dais in their capital city of Ashmir.
Nine months after that, they founded a Dynasty.