Free Coalition 02.5 - The Kingbird by Justine Davis Page B

would back her on meting out punishment for their daughter. Not because she was the queen but because they, all seven of them counting Dax’s ward Rina , were one family in all ways but blood. More than once it had been Dax or Califa reining them in, despite the fact that Lyon was the king’s son and the heir to the throne of Trios.

    And that neither child ever questioned their right was an accomplishment they all treasured.

    “What if he doesn’t want us here?” Shaina asked. “Sometimes he doesn’t, when he’s deep into something.”

    “That’s for him to decide. He may dismiss you as he sees fit.”

    “For how long?” the ever-practical Lyon asked.

    “That is also up to him.”

    “But what if he for—” Lyon stopped himself, flicked a glance at the old man, then back at her. “Never mind.”

    Shaylah knew he’d been going to say “What if he forgets?” Knew he understood Paraclon well enough to know that when he got involved in his work, when some new invention—that could turn out amazingly or disastrously—filled his mind, all else fled. He could quite literally forget where he was, let alone remember who else was there.

    She also knew Lyon had not said the words for fear of hurting the old man’s feelings. And for that, she loved this boy even more. He wasn’t just her son, wasn’t just the living evidence of the incredible love between her and his father, he was rapidly becoming the kind of person his father was, and that was the finest thing she could ever wish for him.

    * * *

    “THERE’S GOT TO be a way,” Dare said, reaching the far end of the common room and turning back to pace the other way.

    “ Paraclon’s working on it,” said Dax , lounging with every appearance of indolence on the couch.

    Shaylah wasn’t fooled. She knew him well now, knew that he could—and would—erupt into swift, decisive action in a fraction of a second, given the need.

    Sometimes she wished Dare would even pretend to relax like that. Perhaps some bit of it might become real. But he took his duties as king beyond seriously, and she knew that he was half the reason Trios was on her way to recovery. The other half of the reason for Trios’s survival was the indomitable spirit of her people. They may have slept too long, may have taken their freedom and safety for granted, but once awakened they were as fierce and courageous as their ancestors, who had founded this world that gave so much to all other worlds in the system.

    “I’m weary of this balancing act,” Dare said as he turned once more on his seemingly endless crossings of the room.

    “There just isn’t enough power to do all four at full strength,” Dax said reasonably. “We can have long range sensors, shields, winter heat on full, and no fusion canons, or we can have half shields, half the sensor range, no heat, and all fusion canons at the ready, or everything on at one quarter, or any other combination that adds up. The total never changes, you know that, Dare.”

    “The winters are getting better as Trios heals,” Dare said, still pacing. “But we need more power, and we can’t get to enough nitron to refine for fuel. We have to do something, we can’t have people choosing between staying warm or staying safe.”

    His people. He didn’t say it, but Shaylah knew he felt responsible for their welfare. His family had ruled Trios for generations, but always at the will of those people, who had the power to make a change at any time they didn’t feel well served. It had never happened.

    And Trios herself was healing. The destruction the Coalition had wrought on this beautiful planet had changed everything, including the weather, but things were gradually righting. Still, twice in the last decade the winters had been exceptionally harsh. The first time they had still been in the caves, which were closed in and easier to heat. Dare had seen to it that sufficient stores of food had been prepared so no one went hungry,