Alien General's Fated: SciFi Alien Romance (Brion Brides) (35 page)

"I would have handled them," Aria said.

Sota looked up at her and shrugged. "Possibly. Probably. I can't take it back. I see now you're stronger than I ever thought. The hive mind recognized that."

He hesitated, a disgusted look on his face. Aria could understand that much at least. She'd absolutely hated when the enemy had played with her mind, but at least she didn't harm Ilotra. Sota had almost helped destroy it.

"It urged that idea along, I believe," he went on. "I can't know for sure. My memories are foggy and blurred. I honestly don't even know all the things I might have done to aid the Clayors. I can't remember, but I never intended to keep you from the council out of malice, I swear."

"How about all that stuff about Ryden?" Aria went on. "You telling me
my
judgment was clouded, warning me not to have anything to do with him. Implying I only agreed with him because I was attracted to him?"

Sota tried to smile for her, maybe attempting to alleviate the tension.

"Well, that turned out to be true, didn't it?" he asked, but stopped when he saw the look on Aria's face.

"Don't get funny with me," Aria snapped. "Not now. Not about that."

Sota pulled back, taking a deep breath.

"Both again," he said. "I thought it was a mistake for you to get involved with him, but it was definitely the hive mind too, trying to keep you away from the warriors."

That was fine. It really didn't matter at that point anymore, but Aria had wanted to know. She glanced at Sota, a man she'd looked up to at some point. The Clayor hive mind hadn't been able to control her when even great warriors fell to its power.

Was there something special about her, some reserve of inner strength she didn't know about? Or was she merely lucky to be strong enough to resist? She couldn't hate Sota, not when she tried to imagine what it felt like to keep living with that kind of a guilt.

"Did the council make any decisions about you?" she asked to make sure.

Sota chuckled mirthlessly. "I won't be handling anything important for a long while now, that's for sure. And they notified Terra, in case they want to recall me, but I don't know if they will. You know what our government is like."

Aria knew. It valued experience and influence over everything. Sota had been an ambassador for a long time. His connections and knowledge were irreplaceable, even in the face of a screw-up like that.

"I know you don't want to hear this, Aria," Sota began.

"When you say it like that, I probably really don't."

Sota gave her a hard look.

"But I think you need to hear it. I'm trying to look after you."

Aria laughed, bitter and humorless. "Yes, you keep saying that. Considering how it worked out the last time, maybe you should stop."

The other ambassador rose from the couch, looking at her seriously.

"The council wants Ryden dead, you know that," he said.

Aria had, but something about those words being uttered out loud knocked the thought home at last. She pressed her lips into a thin line.

"I won't let that happen.
He
won't let that happen."

"Without the
Conqueror
, he's horribly outmatched."

Aria felt herself smiling. "You don't know him."

Sota took a step closer, but Aria held her ground, a warning flashing in her eyes.

"I know you are his
gesha
now and this must be difficult for you, but I'm telling you the truth. I don't see how it could end any other way. The Koliars are going after him."

"He saved Ilotra."

"Yes."

"And all of us. He even spoke in your defense."

"He did. I'm not saying I personally support it. I'm telling you how things are."

Aria turned back to her mirror and resumed her dressing, picking through the gems she'd been given to put up in her hair.

"Please listen to me," Sota said again. "I know it's almost impossible for a
gesha
to disagree with her
gerion
, but you—"

"It's not about that," Aria said coldly. "It was never about that. I never agreed with him because of the bond. He is right, and that is all that matters to me. But you can't see that and I have nothing else to say to you, other than telling you to stop trying to protect me. Goodbye, Sota."

Her mirror showed the other ambassador hesitating, as if there was more he wanted to say, but in the end he gave her one last look and left.

Aria finished the final touch-ups and called for an attendant to help with the gown. Then she was ready for her first council session, one to decide the fate of her
gerion
.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Aria

 

The Galaya Hall had survived.

All eyes turned to her when Aria stepped in. She tried to take notice which were friendly and which hostile, but mostly they were simply curious. For more than a year, she'd worked alongside these people, discussing important matters with them and trying to implement her work as best as she was able. All at once Aria got the sense it was like they were seeing her for the first time.

It occurred to her that she might have been wrong about Sota. Maybe the man
did
know what he was talking about, having been part of the council for so long. All those eyes on her, trying to strip her down, figure her out.

It made Aria feel like they'd barely noticed her before.

There were no assigned seats in the Galaya Hall, but usually the delegations sat together. Today, Aria had no wish to be anywhere near the other Terrans. Not only Sota, but all of them had left her in the dark and if she'd understood correctly, most of them agreed with the rest of the council.

That figured. Terra wasn't a great military power; naturally they didn't want to make enemies of the council.

Meaning they're risking making enemies of the Brions
, Aria thought.
In their stead, I'd take my chances with the Union.

From the few bits and pieces of conversations she'd had with Ryden about the Brion ambassadors, she got the sense he didn't like them much. They were bound to be on his side, but the animosity between them was clear enough.

Aria went and sat with the Palian delegation.

She'd always liked the Palians, peaceful and reasonable, always looking for ways to end conflicts without bloodshed. She liked them even more because of the fact that when there was a problem that couldn't be avoided, they threw themselves into the fight without remorse.

And of all the ambassadors in the Galaya Hall, they seemed the only ones who didn't think it was odd she chose to sit with them. Everyone else was staring, some looks outright shocked, but the leader of the Palian delegation merely gave her a nod and they made room for her. Not one of them raised the question of whether her presence implicated them in Ryden's trial. After all, they'd had no problem sending the Palian fleet away on his commands.

With them, Aria felt better, like there was at least one safe haven of reason in the hall.

Before the council seats stood a platform with a chair meant for Ryden. A bit farther away, almost side-by-side with the council, sat Stavor and the Fremma commander. By the way they were seated, it was almost as if they had voices in the council too.

The Palian head ambassador, Wellack, turned to her with a hint of a smile when he saw her looking in the commanders' direction.

"The council feels better behind their backs," he said in his smooth, sing-song voice.

Now that he mentioned it... Aria noticed how many more guards there were in the hall than usual. Looking around, she saw quite a few openly frightened faces. It brought a smile to her lips, but in the next moment she remembered the danger Ryden was in.

Hesitantly, she turned to Wellack.

"Ambassador," Aria began, "can we count on your support in this—"

"Yes," the Palian said, lifting a weight off her shoulders. "The Palians agree with the general."

That was good, very good, to know at least the Palians were with her, but there were so many more in the council who didn't. Wellack saw the look in her eyes and with the usual perception of his species, smiled kindly.

"Don't worry, Miss Aria," he said. "This is not a trial. You don't put Brion generals on trial."

The same idea had occurred to her, but all the evidence pointed to the contrary.

"It sure looks like one."

"Of course," Wellack agreed. "But I assure you, your
gerion
is letting this happen because of a specific reason. He has something up his sleeve, and all that's happening now is merely a show."

"How can you be sure of that?" Aria asked.

Wellack chuckled. "He's a Brion. They always have a plan."

"But the
Conqueror
is practically defenseless."

"So it is," Wellack said, when the doors opened at the other end of the hall. "Brions against two fleets. I think this is the most even stand-off we've ever had with them."

Aria was about to ask if he was joking or not, but Ryden caught her attention. Although they'd only been apart for a few hours, she'd already missed him. The bond, still fresh, was pulling them toward each other.

Seeing him walk to the podium that had been readied for him made Aria's heart beat fast. He looked so regal and strong in his full armor, powerful and unbeatable. With difficulty, she tore her gaze away from him just for a second to check what Stavor was doing. The look on the warlord's face was anything but thrilled. Slowly but surely Aria was beginning to feel as if the whole thing might work out after all.

It might have had something to do with the arrogant, self-assured smile on Ryden's lips.

Weeks ago it had bothered Aria, but now it made her match the grin when she saw the general's eyes scan the crowd, looking for her. First he looked at the Terrans. Aria saw his frown when he didn't find her there. From there he moved to the Brions and eventually found her next to Wellack. The smile that been smug when the general was observing the council instantly turned soft when he noticed her. Aria saw him give the slightest nod to Wellack.

She wondered if she was missing a vital piece of information there, but Ryden had reached his podium. The guards escorting him were keeping a
very
long distance, considering their... what? Aria couldn't call Ryden a prisoner even in her head. The thought was simply too ridiculous. Wellack was right, as the general had said he had the habit of being. There could be no trial there that Ryden didn't allow to happen.

"Council members," Ryden said. "Ambassador Aria."

He took a seat, looking as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on. With a hint of worry, Aria noticed he'd come alone. There was no honor guard, no aides, no anyone. Ryden was there alone.

Then she remembered the man who'd killed the hive mind. Was he truly in danger? It was the
Conqueror
and everyone aboard who were actually at risk of dying without a chance to defend themselves. Aria's heart tightened when she thought that it was her who was responsible for all that.

She noticed the change in the mood. The council had been puzzled before; now they were outright confused. They hadn't expected Ryden to come before them, and apparently the fact he seemed to submit to their questions was a surprise too.

Finally, Ambassador Klaen rose.

"General Ryden," he said, his voice shaking a bit.

Lounging carelessly in his seat, Ryden raised his eyes to him. The look in his green eyes was fierce, challenging. It seemed to Aria that his gaze alone almost forced Klaen back into his seat, but the old man pulled himself together.

"You are here today so this council can discuss your actions during the Clayor War," he said.

Ryden didn't respond.

"Are you willing to accept the decision of this council?" Klaen went on.

The general's lips twitched into an amused smirk, but he kept his silence. Aria heard Stavor growling.

"If he doesn't want to accept it, I'll make him," the warlord announced.

Aria was taken aback by the ferocity of the commander. The Koliars were known for their temper, but the man had seemed sensible before, during the conflict. His outburst worried her a little, but no one else reacted, including Ryden.

"Very well," Klaen said. "The council accepts Commander Stavor's promise. We will now read the charges."

When a clerk got up and started reciting all the things the council found to be wrong with Ryden's conduct, Aria saw Wellack grin.

"I am honestly amazed they actually made a list," he said.

Meaning they didn't expect any of this to happen. Meaning they've already found him guilty.

Aria stayed silent despite her blood boiling, listening to the endless accusations of brutality and exceeding authority, not to mention
letting Ilotra be damaged
.

Politics. How could she ever have thought she'd have a knack for that? It was starting to become very clear to her that she and the other council members didn't live in the same world.

The clerk finished at last. Aria saw Ryden nod approvingly, as if it was exactly what he'd predicted. Klaen addressed the council again.

"Does anyone have something to add?" he asked.

The Koliar delegation jumped on the opportunity to bash Brions, quickly going from the matter at hand to ancient feuds. The Brions interfered at last, but Ryden stayed as silent as he had been from the beginning.

Others spoke too, of their experiences during the siege and their impressions of Ryden. Of his decision to put Ilotra under martial law and lock them all away.

Not all of the arguments were against Ryden. Wellack, the Brions, and a few more pointed out that in the end, they'd won. Not to mention that the general had come to Ilotra in the first place because the council had invited him.

It was all pointless, Aria thought to herself. They repeated the words that had already been spoken, discussed theories that had passed through everyone's minds, picked up old problems and probably created a few new ones. Her older naïve self was watching it all unfold with terrible sorrow. Even as she stood up to speak for the first time before a full council, Aria knew her words had no weight. And if they didn't, what was the point of being an ambassador?