Jax raised his gaze to Ashman. "Why don't you all go back to your starships and leave us alone?"

The general spoke quietly. "You will have to let my doctor examine Governor Argali."

"No," Jax said.

Kamoj swallowed. "Jax . . . I don't feel well."

He stroked her hair. "Elixson can take care of you." Glancing at his healer, he said, "Why is she sick?"

"She needs food and rest," Elixson said.

"I fed her," Jax said. "Just as you said. Right after we spoke."

Elixson stared at him. "Sir, the Current has gifted you with an endurance well beyond normal folk, that you can go a day and more without food, walk through sleet and never notice, or ride for days without rest. Your wife is a hearty young woman, but compared to you anyone is fragile. You must learn to account for that. She has to eat four times a day, at least two of them full meals. She must sleep at night and wear warm clothes when she is exposed to the weather."

Dazza spoke in a cold voice. "Governor Ironbridge, exposure and starvation are considered methods of coercion."

"You don't call what you people are doing coercion?" Jax looked around at them. "Sending Argali a corporation I could never match even if I worked at it my entire life? Playing with the future and well-being of the Northern Lands as if it were nothing? Attacking my camp during a 'truce.' Threatening us with your soldiers and your weapons and your 'a.s.similation?' How many times does Kamoj have to tell you she wants you to go away?"

Dazza spoke softly. "Why, Kamoj? If you're sick or in pain, I can help."

"We don't want your help," Jax said.

Kamoj thought of the knife in Jax's boot and said nothing. She heard the rustle of camp outside, the snort of a greengla.s.s, the shuffle of boots. Her mind was beginning to dissociate from her body.

Dazza pulled off her belt. Or not the entire belt, but part of it. When she ran her hand along the strip, it changed itself, turning into a flexible tube.

The colonel spoke to Jax. "This fires a needle that contains a drug. It won't harm you, but it will put you to sleep almost immediately."

Several Ironbridge stagman started toward her. As soon as they moved, Ashman motioned to Vyrl's bodyguards and they stepped forward.

Jax shook his head at his stagmen, a sign for them to back off. Relief flickered on their faces. Kamoj knew they would have defended Jax if he hadn't stopped them, but against the Jagernauts it was obvious they had no chance.

Jax spoke bitterly to Dazza. "So you lied about carrying no weapons. Why is it that I have no surprise at this deception?"

Kamoj could see how vulnerable he felt. He hid it well, but he more than anyone understood the capabilities of the Ascendant's minions. No one seemed to realize the danger in making him feel trapped. They had left him no outs, and she was the one who would pay for it.

As Dazza raised her sleep tube, Kamoj felt Jax reach into his boot. Kamoj tried to roll away, but he held her in place. Then he slapped the knife against her throat.

"The only way you will have her," he told Vyrl, "is as a corpse."

Everyone in the tent froze. After a moment, Dazza spoke carefully. "Governor Ironbridge, don't hurt her."

"Kamoj, sit up," Jax said.

She dragged herself up to her knees, and Jax pulled her between his legs, so they were both kneeling, she with her back against his front. The flat of his blade chilled her neck. When he shifted position, the knife's razor edge nicked her skin. Vyrl stood at the foot of the bed, watching them, one fist clenched at his side. His bodyguards had their hands on their weapons, and Kamoj had no doubt they would protect Vyrl even if it meant her death.

Major Tulain spoke. "What do you want us to do, Governor Ironbridge?"

Kamoj wondered if even Jax knew the answer. What could he do except kill her? Then Vyrl would kill him. Then what?

Jax said, "Where is Baldarin?"

"Who is Baldarin?" Tulain asked.

"The archer who shot Prince Havyrl," Jax said. "Your people were holding him in Argali pending the decision on whether or not to 'press charges.'

Where is he now?"

"He's still in Argali," Tulain said.

"What about the fires?" Jax asked. "Didn't you evacuate him with everyone else?"

"Argali didn't burn," Tulain said. "Only one outlying village was lost. We put out the other fires."

Jax made an incredulous sound. "It is truly amazing, what you people do.

Stop fire in its tracks, fly above the sky, heal mortal wounds in a day. We are nothing to you, just a bunch of barbaric ex-slaves." His voice hardened. "I want to know what this means, 'pressing charges.'"

"It is part of our laws," Tulain said. "If Prince Havyrl chooses to press charges against the archer, the man will go on trial for attempted murder."

Kamoj felt Jax turn toward Vyrl. "Are you going to 'press charges'?" he asked.

"No," Vyrl said. "He can go free. Whatever you want."

"Good." Jax turned back to the Arbiter. "I, however, would like to press charges."

"Against who?" Tulain asked. "And for what?"

"Against Prince Havyrl Torcellei Valdoria," Jax said. "For the attempted murder of my stagmen last night, when he attacked this camp during a truce.

I also want to file suit with your civil authorities to protest the way Prince Havyrl and your ISC have treated my people." He pointed at the Inquiry table with his free hand. "I want the evidence from this Inquiry made part of the record."

"Your testimony is being recorded," Tulain said. "So your charges are in the official record."

"That's not good enough." Jax motioned at Vyrl. "Your army would do anything to protect him. Without some guarantee, my comments will never make it past this tent."

General Ashman had his full concentration focused on Jax now. No clue of his thoughts showed on his face, but Kamoj suspected that even if no one else had yet realized it, the general was beginning to understand how much they had underestimated Jax.

"You have our guarantee of due process," Tulain said.

Jax snorted. "As I had your guarantee of a truce last night?"

"We're making full recordings of this Inquiry," she said. "We will provide you with copies of those recordings and a web system to verify them, as well as equipment to contact whomever you wish to represent your case."

"Not good enough," Jax said. "I have no way to stop you from setting your machines to break after you have what you want."

"What is it you would have us do?" Tulain asked.

"When your people returned my stagman to Ironbridge," Jax said, "a delegation came with him. Including a man called Drake Brockson. He told me he was part of an organization that represented worlds like ours in the Imperial a.s.sembly, to ensure we weren't mistreated. I want you to contact him. I want his representation."

"Professor Brockson is an anthropologist, not a legal counsel," Tulain answered. "He can't represent you."

"Then he will find me someone who can," Jax said.

Ashman spoke. "No."

Vyrl swung around to him. "What?"

"I will not submit to threats," the general said.

"d.a.m.n it, Ashman," Vyrl said. "He's not bluffing. He'll kill Kamoj."

"The answer is no."

Jax moved the knife on Kamoj's neck, "You have fifteen seconds to contact Brockson."

Tulain stared at him. "You would kill your own wife? The woman you've fought this entire conflict for? Doesn't that defeat your purpose?"

"Nine seconds," Jax said.

"If she dies," Tulain said, "you have nothing."

"Seven seconds."

"Are you willing to give up everything," Tulain asked. "Your realms, t.i.tle, freedom, possibly your life?"

Jax turned the blade so its edge lay against a large vein in Kamoj's neck. "One second."

"Ashman, do what he wants!" Vyrl's voice snapped out. "Now."

Jax paused, his knife against Kamoj's skin. Ashman turned to Vyrl, the two of them locked in a silent battle Kamoj knew had nothing to do with her or her world.

Still watching Vyrl, Ashman spoke in a harsh voice. "Major Tulain, contact Brockson. Have the transcript of this Inquiry transmitted to him."

Kamoj almost sagged with relief. Jax turned the knife, setting the flat of the blade against her neck.

Tulain contacted the Ascendant using her aide's book-box. Watching her "upload files," Kamoj felt a dazed detachment, as if she were an observer in a distant place. The knife made a bar of ice against her throat. No one spoke. No one moved.

The blow came from behind. Kamoj glimpsed a Jagernaut, not one of Vyrl's bodyguards but someone else. Jax must have caught sight of his approach, because he was already jerking away his arm when the Jagernaut grabbed for it. The Jagernaut caught cloth instead, ripping Jax's sleeve. He had also fired a sleep weapon, but either it missed Jax or had no effect; he kept moving, yanking Kamoj back on the bed until they faced the Jagernaut as well as everyone else.

"Liar," Jax spat at Ashman, stabbing his knife down at Kamoj's heart "NO!" Vyrl shouted. In the same instant, Tulain said, "Wait! Brockson is transmitting his reply."

Jax froze, the tip of his knife touching Kamoj's bodice. "And?"

A man's voice came into the air. "Governor Ironbridge, this is Drake Brockson. I will take your case and find you legal representation."

Watching General Ashman, Kamoj saw his sour look. Apparently Brockson's word was good.

Jax must have seen it as well. Softly he said, "Good." Then he let go of the knife.

The blade fell down Kamoj's front and onto the bed. Holding her around the waist, Jax sagged forward, letting his head rest against hers. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "If it makes a difference, I couldn't have done it. I meant what I said, but I misjudged. I could never have killed you."

"Saints almighty," someone muttered.

Jax held onto her, rocking back and forth, a ritualistic soothing motion Kamoj knew well, having often lapsed into it herself. With the same inbred instincts, she stroked his arms where he held her around the waist, offering comfort.

Dazza watched them with a strange expression, as if what she saw was breaking her heart. She raised her sleep tube and the expected hiss came from it. Although Jax stiffened, he made no further protest. When Kamoj felt his weight slump against her, she knew he had pa.s.sed out.

Ashman turned to Vyrl. "You said he wasn't bluffing."

"I wasn't sure," Vyrl said. "I couldn't take chances."

"d.a.m.n you, Valdoria," Ashman said. "With Brockson on the case we can't keep it quiet. Do you have any idea of the diplomatic and political repercussions this mess will create?"

"What would you have me do?" Vyrl asked. "You said it yourself. I've been in a telepathic catatonia. I couldn't be sure if he would kill her."

Kamoj extracted herself from Jax's embrace and shifted her position so she was behind him. Sitting cross-legged, she laid his head on her knees, just as he had earlier done with hers. When she began to ma.s.sage his temples, everyone stopped talking and stared at them.

Vyrl looked as if his heart were being torn in two. Walking forward, he spoke softly. "Kamoj, you don't have to do that."

She cradled Jax's head, too dazed to answer.

As Vyrl knelt on the bed, Dazza warned, "Leave her be."

Vyrl shook his head. "She needs"

"Valdoria, don't be an idiot," Ashman said. "Touch that girl again without her consent and I'll throw you in the brig myself."

Vyrl looked up at Ashman as if he wanted to punch him. But he stood up, moving away from Kamoj. Ashman's words echoed in her mind. Consent.

Consent. Consent.

"Governor Argali needs to eat," Elixson said.

"Can you get her something?" Dazza asked. "Plain broth, if possible."

Elixson spoke to a stagman and the soldier left, the entrance flaps swinging back and forth after he was gone, back and forth, back and forth . . .

Kamoj swayed. Her arm was growing numb from supporting Jax's head. She shifted his weight, easing him to a new place.

"G.o.ds," Dazza whispered.

Puzzled by the shock in the colonel's voice, Kamoj tried to focus on her. Dazza was staring at her arm. Looking down, Kamoj saw that when she had moved Jax's head, it had dragged the sleeve of her dress up past her elbow. There, in humiliating detail for everyone to see, was her shame, the bruises and welts that covered her skin.

Vyrl spoke to Ashman. "Now do you believe me?"

Dazza sat on the bed and spoke gently to Kamoj. "Governor Argali, I won't touch either you or Governor Ironbridge without your permission. But if you will allow it, I can treat those wounds." She swallowed. "And any others you have."