They walked on, moving around the palace toward the seaward side. Sikander noted that the arbor he’d managed to crush under the combat flyer’s tail had been rebuilt. “So what happens next?” he asked her. “Will the caids accept you as sultana? Will the peace hold?”
“It’s not the caids I’m worried about,” Ranya replied. “It’s the beys. They have the most to lose when change comes to Gadira. Yes, the caids are socially conservative, but there is nothing in the Quranist tradition that prohibits a female ruler.”
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
“There is a surprisingly large gap between what people think is in the Tharsisi Quran and what it really says. The Martian scholars who examined the old suras were quite moderate in their outlook. Attitudes on Gadira are founded in our culture, not our faith. And culture can change.” Ranya reached out to take his hand. “The caids and the urban classes want a sultan who looks out for their interests, not the beys’ fortunes. I mean to give them one, and then build a constitution to make sure it stays that way when I am no longer on the throne.”
“The beys will fight you,” Sikander observed.
“Not for a few years.” Ranya smiled a little. “Salem el-Fasi’s defeat should serve as a warning to the others, at least for a time—perhaps even long enough for my reforms to take hold.”
Sikander’s comm unit chimed softly. “Sir, I apologize for the interruption,” said Darvesh over the link. “The captain of CSS Merope wishes you to be informed that departure is drawing near.”
“Thank you, Darvesh,” he answered. “I promise I will not keep him waiting.”
“It seems you must be on your way,” Ranya said.
“I am afraid so,” said Sikander. He looked into her eyes, and raised his hand to brush her lustrous black hair from the side of her face. “Will you be all right?”
“Have no fear for me,” she said. “There are many long days ahead, but I’m the daughter of Sultan Kamal. I am equal to the test. And, as you said about your own challenges a moment ago, it helps that I am right.” She glanced over at Captain Zakur, who stood a few meters off watching over the two of them. The big officer inclined his head, and turned his back to studiously examine a potted plant that suddenly caught his attention. Other guards in sight followed his lead.
Sikander smiled, and bent down—only a little, since Ranya was almost as tall as he was—and kissed her for a long, perfect moment. Then he straightened again. “Good-bye, Ranya Meriem el-Nasir,” he said in a soft voice. “I wish you knew how sorry I am that we did not meet under other circumstances.”
“I wish you knew how glad I am that we met at all,” she replied. “Good-bye, Sikander Singh North. You will always be welcome here; may the stars steer your path back to me someday.”
He embraced her one final time. Then he let her go, and strode away without looking back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RICHARD BAKER is a former United States Navy officer and a well-known game designer. He is also the author of thirteen novels, including the New York Times bestseller Condemnation and the highly acclaimed Last Mythal trilogy. Some of Rich’s notable game design credits include Alternity, a science fiction role-playing game, and Axis & Allies Naval Miniatures—the bestselling naval war game. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Epigraph
1. New Perth, Caledonia System
2. Aberdeen Fleet Gunnery Range, Caledonia System
3. Tanjeer, Gadira II
4. Brigadoon, New Perth
5. CSS Hector, Caledonia System
6. Tanjeer, Gadira II
7. CSS Hector, Warp Transit
8. Tanjeer, Gadira II
9. Tanjeer, Gadira II
10. CSS Hector, Gadira II Orbit
11. Tanjeer, Gadira II
12. Harthawi Basin, Gadira II
13. CSS Hector, Gadira II Orbit
14. SMS Panther, Gadira II Orbit
15. Tanjeer, Gadira II
16. Silver Sea, Gadira II
17. Socotra, Gadira II
18. Meknez, Gadira II
19. Meknez, Gadira II
20. CSS Hector, Gadira II Orbit
21. Royal Yacht Shihab, Silver Sea
22. CSS Hector, Gadira II Orbit
23. CSS Hector, Gadira II Orbit
24. Tanjeer, Gadira II
25. Tanjeer, Gadira II
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
VALIANT DUST
Copyright © 2017 by Richard Baker
All rights reserved.
Cover art by Larry Rostant
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
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Tor® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-9072-1 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-7653-9074-5 (ebook)
eISBN 9780765390745
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First Edition: November 2017