“Pinche pendejos!” Raul Ruiz.

They stood in the office behind the throne. The old team was back together with smiles. It felt a little strange in a happy sort of way. Albert stood beside his uncle as Sam took Raul in a mighty embrace. Raul stepped away from his father to wipe tears of joy from his eyes. He turned to Beasley with a laugh and fell on his neck. The hug was sincere and mutual.

Sam crowed, “My son the pirate!”

Albert said, “Free but not sanctioned.”

Raul turned to the King, suddenly humbled, and said, “Thank you.”

Heaven stood between Raul and Crispin with a happy smile. “It’s good to see you two together again.”

Raul and Crispin shared a smile. Beasley said, “I am happy to see you again, Detective.”

Raul surprised Heaven with an impromptu hug. She pulled away, embarrassed, and cleared her throat. “We should get down to business,” she said.

“Right,” called Albert. “Come. All of you. Sit.”

Pulling office tables together, the old team sat close. At one end sat Albert with Besh to his left and Crispin to his right. At the opposing end sat Sam, Raul to his right and Heaven to his left. The two Kings looked across at one another.

Besh asked, “How shall we start?”

“If I may,” began Sam. “My best intelligence places the King and Queen on the planet Uswaan. Surveillance suggests they are kept in a compound in the Kingdom State of Rathmor’ Seis.”

“So, you know where they are,” said King Albert, his manner tense. “We just need to send someone in to get them.”

Sam replied, “I cannot send Orlainese; our racial bond would be detected by the Ruash de Mar.”

“Tell us about the Ruash de Mar,” prompted Albert.

Sam said, “The Ruash de Mar are the Priors of War, the brotherhood of empaths. They have deep roots in Rathmor’ Seis.”

Besh spoke up. “So, you need to send in a team that is not of Orlain.”

Sam turned from Besh to Albert with a penetrating glance. “I require the King’s favor.”

“You have it,” said Albert, sitting back. He placed his palms on the table and said in a fully committed voice, “Lay your plan on the table.”

Sam smiled around the table. Everyone present waited for the plan. He saw an eagerness in their eyes that pleased him. At once, they desired to serve not only the King of Orlain, not only the King of Pendragon but the captive King and Queen as well. Their hearts were true and brave. He admired them as a King and as a man.

Sam sat back and folded his arms across his chest. He said, “I have the means to get a small team on the planet. Those who go will need to disguise themselves as the Ruash de Mar. I can get them within sixteen meters of the compound. Since it is the Ruash de Mar who run the compound, you should be able to reach the King and Queen.”

Heaven shifted in her seat and looked into Sam’s eyes. “We don’t speak the language.”

Sam cut her off to answer her concern. “You do not need to. The Ruash de Mar do not speak.”

Beasley asked, “Like a vow of silence. Right?”

“No,” said Sam. “They remove their tongues as fealty to the brotherhood.”

“Ouch!” said Raul.

Sam said, “The team will be fine until they get close to the brotherhood.”

“What then?” asked Beasley.

Sam answered, “They will have weapons under their robes, but, hear me. Nothing about this mission will be easy. The trek in will be over cruel terrain. The exact location of the King and Queen is unknown. The number of Ruash de Mar within the compound is unknown, and all of that is but half of the mission.”

“What’s the other half?” Raul asked.

Sam sat forward, hands on the table. His face showed concern. “The compound,” he said evenly, “is actually a research facility where my enemies are presently constructing a weapon that could destroy all of Orlain.”

“The planet-killer,” said Heaven.

“Yes,” said Sam. “That is why I turn to King Albert,” he looked to the young King. “This weapon relies for its power on a special mineral found only on Uswaan. The Consortium must not learn of it.”

“So, we blow it up,” said Raul. “Explosives are kind of my thing.”

“You cannot go,” said Sam, turning to his son. “The empaths would be aware.”

“Ah, man!” griped Raul. “And I was getting all worked up.”

King Albert stood, and all eyes turned to him. He announced with authority, “You will have all that you need. My Elite are at your disposal.”

Sam stood also and replied, “I thank the King. I will see that whoever you choose is informed thoroughly and supplied with all their needs.”

Heaven stood, faced Albert, and raised a hand above her head. “Choose me,” she said brightly. “I’m in.”

Albert concluded, “The matter is settled. Let us go to the cafeteria. I have a meal prepared.” 

Throughout the meeting, Besh had a bad feeling. He could not shake the sense of finality the mission imposed. Who would go? Who would return? He followed his friends from the throne room trailing behind the group. He considered the grave import of the plan. Eager, Heaven would go, at her young age, an old hand at death and destruction. Besh would go; he knew in his heart no one could hold him back.

Besh was the last to sit. He looked around the empty cafeteria. The chatter of his friends mingled with the subdued conversations of cooks and servers. Pots banged in the kitchen, Glasses clinked on trays. As the Kings continued speaking, Besh looked to the bearded young man beside him. Raul was quiet, his manner downcast. Raul looked up and spoke into a sudden silence, his voice clear to all.

“I guess the kitchen is not the same without Tio,” said Raul.

A sumptuous meal was served. Plates were filled with savory meat under steaming sauce. Green vegetables, piping hot, were slathered with butter. Crisp garden salads came next, and breads. Sam waited for nothing else, his interest was in the meal. Heaven worked diligently over the perfect salad. Beasley sampled judiciously while Albert surveyed his guests.

She stood in the kitchen doorway directing servers. She was dressed in a clean white uniform with her hair in a net. Besh immediately recognized Hazel with admiration for the streak of gray hair beneath her net. He had often remembered her in his small cave, and now his spirit was refreshed to see none of her ample traits had been lost to time.

Heaven said to Crispin, surprising the table at large, “I like the goatee, it makes you look intelligent.”

Crispin cleared his throat and answered, “Celia says the same thing.”

“Celia, huh?” Heaven laughed. Their conversation spiraled away from the group.

Albert turned to his uncle. “You’re not hungry?” asked Albert.

“Oh,” replied Besh, looking at his food. He took his fork in hand and smiled at his nephew. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

Sam said quietly to Raul, “We can visit his grave in the morning.”

Raul looked into his father’s eyes and smiled a melancholy smile. “Thanks,” he said. “I’d like that.”

Albert took an unused knife and tapped his glass for attention. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood from his seat. “I apologize,” he said to all. “I have a meeting with my Generals. Let us return tomorrow afternoon to the throne room.” He looked at the King of Orlain.

Sam stood up and bowed slightly. “My ship,” he said, “will be back by then.”

As Albert slid his chair under the table, Besh, Beasley, Raul, and Heaven also stood. Albert said with a smile, “Please enjoy the rest of your meal. Crispin will show you to your rooms.”

With that said, King Albert left the cafeteria. The bright room seemed somewhat dimmer at his departure. Heaven sat and refilled her wine glass. Sam and Raul sat and reached for seconds. Beasley sat and turned his chair from the table. He pulled a small notebook from an inner pocket and thumbed through its pages. Besh excused himself and walked to the kitchen.

Hazel turned with a professional smile. “May I help you?” she asked.

“Hazel,” said Besh. “Sorry I took so long.”

Hazel tilted her head slightly and studied the old man. Momentarily, the smile was set aside as she considered the man before her. Besh waited and was rewarded with a returning smile and widening eyes.