“A man is free to do what is right. License is not guaranteed.” Sam.

Besh sat at a large round table. Warrior sat by his chair. Sam took the gentleman’s route and held the chair for Heaven. The room was closed, quiet; the table set with meats, vegetables, savory sauces, and desserts. Sam seated himself with a smile.

“Eat up,” he said as he placed his napkin in the neckline of his shirt.

Heaven prompted happily, “I heard you have whiskey.”

“Indeed,” replied the King.

Sam rang a small bell that brought a white-clad server to his side. Sam said to the server, “Whiskey for the lady.”

“And the old man,” said Besh.

Sam said, enlarged, “Take the wine. Bring the whiskey.”

As the server took the wine bottles from the table, Heaven said, “This is really nice.”

“Thank you,” added Besh. “You know, I can’t remember your Orlainese name.”

Sam filled his plate with a steaming medium-rare steak and passed the platter to Heaven. Turning to Besh, he responded, “It would make me happy if you called me Sam.”

Heaven took the smallest steak and passed the platter to Besh via Sam. She reached for salad while Sam took mashed potatoes and covered them with a rich brown gravy. Besh chose broccoli with his steak and buttered bread. The server returned with whiskey to Heaven’s delight.

Besh asked, “Have you been back to see Raul?”

“I had intended to use my visit with King Albert to find him,” Sam said around a half-chewed bite of steak.

Besh said, “It will be nice to get the old crew together.”

Heaven swallowed and took a sip of her whiskey. She announced broadcast, “Raul is in prison.”

Sam slammed his fist against the table, startling both Heaven and Besh. Heaven placed her fork on her plate and met the King’s intense glare.

“Why?” asked Besh.

Heaven answered, “Piracy.”

Suddenly, Sam laughed and further perplexed his guests. He took a breath and wiped a merry tear from his eye, saying to no one in particular, “Like father like son.”

“Wait,” said Heaven, gaping. “You mean?” She left the question unfinished. Besh nodded in answer.

The King’s hardened gaze pressed Heaven back in her chair. He asked, “Slag Island?” She nodded.

Heaven fled the pressure of the King’s scrutiny by turning to Besh. “Crispin visits him every visitor’s day.”

Besh turned to the King, meeting his eyes. “Time for a prison break,” he said lightly.

Sam took up his fork and knife, measuring his next bite of steak. After a moment’s mastication, he said, “I’ll speak with Albert.”

Heaven stammered, “I’m sorry about your son.”

Realizing the hesitation in Heaven’s voice, Sam replied, “I’m not angry. Shocked, yes, but not angry. If I have startled you, I apologize. Eat up.”

They ate in silence for a moment. Besh took the last bite of steak in his fingers and held it for Warrior. Sam said, nodding toward the platter, “Give him the steak.”

Besh set the platter on the floor and watched Warrior inhale the steak only to look up for more. Besh poured water into the platter, waiting for him to lap it up. “Lay down,” he said quietly. Warrior obeyed.

“You’ve got him well-trained,” said Heaven.

Sam answered, “It’s the bond.”

“Sorry?” prompted Heaven.

Sam turned to Heaven and explained, “Both are host to the Pirini.”

Besh added with a smile, “That would be my parasite. Normally, he’d be yacking it up.”

Sam said, “The Pirini consume energy, but it can only take so much from its host. Beyond that, it would harm itself. It sleeps.”

Besh said, “I got zapped pretty good back on the Thornburg. It’s like he woke up from a nap.”

Heaven replied, “You said, ‘I’m back,’ as I recall.”

“That was him,” corrected Besh.

Sam nodded to himself as he reflected. Besh asked, changing the subject of conversation defensively, “If you have ambassadors on Pendragon, why are you going there?”

Sam sat back with a sigh. “I’m glad you asked,” he said. “You should be aware of the news I convey to the King.” He stood and said, “Follow me.”

Sam led them to the room in which he had spoken privately with Besh. Heaven gaped at the size of the bridge on the way. Once inside, with the door sealed, Sam bade them sit. He pulled a seat over and placed an odd-shaped box between them on the floor.

“My kingdom is caught between a rock and a hard place,” said Sam as he adjusted controls on the box. “On the one hand are my enemies, on the other hand, is humanity, with whom I seek to establish ties.” Sam sat back and smiled at his guests. “On the other other hand, there is your enemy, the Consortium.”

Heaven seemed confused. Besh nodded. Sam reached down and switched on the device between them. Immediately, a three-dimensional view of a sun and planets spun before them. The sun was large, orange, and blazed fiercely. Some distance from the angry orb, there were three planets. Two of them spun about a single moon, the third planet sat apart with three moons of irregular shape and size.

Sam pointed to the third planet. “This is Orlain,” he said, pausing while Besh and Heaven considered the Earth-like planet. He pointed to the smaller planets that seemed to orbit a single moon. “These are Uswaan and Aiyash.”

Besh asked, “And they are at war with you?”

“Since the Apostasy of the Son’Rhe,” said the King. “Now, listen closely. David and Elizabeth are not dead. They were captured by Uswaanian agents, and are being held here,” Sam stabbed Uswaan with a finger, “as leverage against the alliance I seek with Pendragon.”

Besh and Heaven gaped, looking between the King and the image of Uswaan. Besh broke the strained silence. “Well, we have to get them out. Do you have a plan?”

“I’m in,” said Heaven.

Sam sighed and sat back. He said, “This is the tricky part. Militarily, Orlain has the upper hand. I could mount an attack, but such a rescue is not practical. I have sought a truce with Aiyash, and I’m afraid a rescue, especially a failed rescue, would negate all the ground I have gained so far.”

Besh asked in disbelief, “Not practical?”

“Listen,” said Sam. “I know. I know.” He reached across to place his hand on the old man’s knee, to settle his mounting concern. “Here is the thing. If we can get them out, it will not be through military superiority. That is why I visit King Albert. Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to rescue the King and Queen. My enemy’s tactic, for now, is to stall, to keep me at a distance while they build what my spies call a planet killer.”

Heaven said, “Get us in there. I’m sure Besh has something in his bag to win the day.”

Besh looked at Heaven with stern disapproval. How dare she give away his secret so casually? He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He looked between Heaven and the King like a fish out of water. What could he possibly say now?

Sam smiled and said, “I know about your bag.”

“How?” asked Besh.

“I threatened Beasley,” Sam said with a shrug. “After you saved me from the leeches, I knew something was up. I just had to apply a little pressure at the right time and place.”

Besh slumped in his seat. His eyes raked across the empty space before him as he sought to temper his surprise. He felt guilty. His secret was a trust held in the strictest reverence. Surely, he thought, he had let down his benefactors. On top of being trapped behind a destroyed portal for seven years, now everyone and his red-headed cousin knew about the watchers. Sam gave his knee a pat, and Besh looked up.

Sam said, “Ready yourselves.” He turned his eyes on Heaven to include her. “Let us first meet with Albert. I have my smartest people assessing our options. We will save the King and Queen.”

Besh and Heaven gripped the rails of the catwalk. A small carry bag sat by Heaven’s feet, Warrior sat by Besh. They watched the large view screen as Sam called orders to his crew. Besh had seen it too many times to count, but he was still impressed by the sight of a planet spinning below his feet. He was apprehensive, yet, happy. He would soon meet Al, and that made him happy. He could not fathom, however, the emotions Al was set to face.

Heaven nudged his arm and smiled brightly. He returned her smile. “You must be happy to return home,” he said.

“So many Kings,” she said. 

To Besh, Heaven sounded like a child counting treats. Knowing her darker side, Besh was more than glad to see her innocence. Her joy was like sprinkles on a toothsome cake.