Delivered by the Defender (Kindred Tales)

“What about the footage from the spaceport?” Jessica demanded, pointing at the viewscreen. “What about that? You can clearly see that the guard is planting the jewelry inside Selena’s violin.”

“Yes, but you can also see that she’s got her breasts covered in public,” Valen said, frowning. “I know Magistrate Harsher—if he’s handed down a sentence, he’ll find a reason to make it stick—especially if it’s a female he’s sentencing.”

“A misogynist, is he?” Tolern asked grimly.

“One of the worst,” Valen said, nodding. “And that’s saying something, here on Ma’shorka Centra.”

“But there must be something we can do for her!” Jessica exclaimed. “Some evidence we can present to prove that Empress the Third sent her pet guards to frame Selena!”

“It would work better if we could distinguish the holo call the guard is making as the Empress herself,” Valen said, frowning. “But since you can’t see a holo call on a holo, I’m not sure how to establish that.”

He shook his head, wracking his brains, trying to think what to do—how to save the woman he loved.

Please, Goddess, he prayed silently. Please, show me the way…

Suddenly the Goddess’s earlier words to him came back to his mind.

“Look to your enemy’s past in order to save your female’s future,” she had said. But what had she meant by that? Valen wasn’t sure, but he began to get an idea.

“In order to win this trial, we have to turn the guilt and blame away from Selena,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “And we have to place it squarely on the one who means her harm—the one who is ‘framing her’ as you humans say,” he added, speaking to Jessica. “We have to make it all about Empress the Third.”

“But how?” She shook her head. “I thought you said we can’t prove the holo call the guard made was to her?”

“We can’t, but maybe we can bring other damning evidence. Pashmeena,” he said, turning to the housemaid, who was still hovering in the doorway. “What else can you tell me about what your first cousin has seen while in the service of Empress the Third?”

“Oh, ever so many dreadful things, Master Valen!” Pashmeena clasped her hands to her chest. “Just terrible!”

“Good—I’ll want you to tell me everything you can,” Valen said. “But first…” He turned back to Moll, who was waiting patiently. “Can you get back into the High Court and get word to Selena?”

She shook her head.

“Afraid not, Master Kindred. Tomorrow’s my day off and they’re right strict about the schedule. You know yourself, if you work there, how they don’t let anyone in unless they’re scheduled to be there that day.”

Unfortunately, Valen knew she was right. Security around the High Court—especially access to the courtrooms and the holding cells—was tightly controlled. Selena would be on her own tonight, with no one to reassure her that everything would be all right—no one to let her know he was going to get her out of there.

Please Goddess—be with her and give her courage!

“All right,” he said grimly. “Then we’ll just have to plan to be ready for court tomorrow and get her out before she can get sent away to Hammerdown.”

And before that bastard, Big Horn, can get his hands on her, whispered a dark little voice in his head.

Valen tried to push it away, but it wouldn’t go. To try and distract himself, he beckoned to Moll.

“Come, you’ve done me and the woman I love a service. Let me pay you and then my car will take you home. And Pashmeena,” he added, looking at his housemaid. “I’ll want to speak to your first cousin. We must start working on Selena’s defense tonight—we won’t have much time, since she’ll be seen at the noon session of the High Court.”

“Yes, Master Valen.” Pashmeena ducked her head respectfully. “I’ll get in contact with her directly.” She looked worried. “Oh, I hope she can help us to bring Lady Selena home!”

“I hope so too,” Valen said.

Because if he lost the little Elite, he didn’t know what he was going to do…

66

Where are they? Did Moll get word to Valen or not? Will he come to defend me even if she did? Surely he won’t let me get sent away to prison—or killed by Big Horn—will he? I mean, even if he hates me now, he’s still a Kindred. They don’t allow women to be mistreated. But what if Moll never went to him? What if she just said she was going and then went home instead? What if…

The thoughts ran around and around the inside of Selena’s head, making her feel half-crazy with anxiety and dread. She hadn’t been able to sleep much at all the night before. All through the night, she’d seen Big Horn staring at her from the other cell. His yellow-green eyes seemed to glow in the dark, like a tiger’s and every time he caught her looking at him, he gave her a frightening grin and mouthed, “Soon…”