Free Lyon's Pride by Anne McCaffrey

the minute shock he read from his grandmother. An indefinable sadness darkened her eyes.
    Then, with a nod of greeting to the ’Dinis, the Rowan unexpectedly hooked her arm in her tall grandson’s and walked him from the cargo bay, Thian’s Dinis following discreetly. As they moved slowly in the direction of the captain’s ready room, she told him what had happened. She managed to time her report so that they were within the ready room by the time she had to relate the sacrifice Gil and Kat had made to protect Rojer from Prtglm. She soothed Thian with what mental easing she could while he held his grieving ’Dinis tightly against him. When they had regained some composure, she explained what action was now proposed. Thian had no reservations about what he obviously considered necessary destruction, only determination and an eagerness to assist her in any way possible. She was well pleased with a mental attitude that did not emanate any vengefulness or malicious delight; feelings which she had sensed in some officers and many crew members. She preferred to think of their coming actions as deterrent rather than vindictive.
    Know that your father is not of a militant disposition
, the Rowan said, honor requiring her to mention the fact.
    Dad won’t find me a hardened militant for all my months on board a ’Dini ship but that would not be why
I find this course of action justifiable, Grandmother. Until we can communicate with the Hive species…
    That
we’ll never be able to do
, the Rowan said flatly.
I know!
    But I understood that the captive queen…
    Is understood at only a very basic level and on the one or two occasions when a Human has been in her presence, the visitor has been totally ignored, as if the Human didn’t exist. I’m beginning to think that they don’t recognize any species but their own
.
    Thian gave a wry grin.
You sure do hate ’em, don’t you, Grandmother
.
    No, Thian, I wouldn’t waste such a powerful emotion on
them.
At the same time, I will
not
tolerate any depredations when I can prevent them. That’s the distinction which I don’t think your father is willing to appreciate. No matter. By the way, did your grandfather mention the identity of the third Prime?
    No
, and Thian grinned down at his diminutive grandmother, looking more like a slender young girl in the lavender shipsuit she was wearing.
He likes his little surprises, doesn’t he?
When
he can pull them on you
.
    The Rowan scowled and then had to break into a laugh because Thian was enough like his father to ignore what Afra had always called her fits and starts.
    â€œRowan, ma’am,” the ship’s com system began, “please return to the cargo bay for an incoming personnel carrier.”
    â€œDamn,” the Rowan said, spinning on her heel to retrace her steps, “he could have warned me.”
    â€œI’d say he wanted to give you time to brief me, Grandmother,” Thian said, not at all put out.
    â€œDo you have to stick up for him?” she asked irritably.
    â€œAs grandfather or Prime?” Thian asked, but he had a sense of eager anticipation. His grandfather was subtlyproviding a diversion from what had been a large dollop of bad news.
    â€œNever mind,” she said and walked all the faster back to the cargo bay.
    They had reached the facility just as the generators lifted briefly and then a shiny new single carrier landed smoothly on the cradle. The ensign on duty shot a glance at the Rowan and Thian, but she nodded for him to lift the hatch.
    Oh, am I late, Callisto Prime?
was the quick concern of a feminine mind, touching them both.
    Thian narrowed his eyes down at his grandmother, who was genuinely surprised.
He’d mentioned her to me several times but certainly not for
this, the Rowan added before stepping forward to greet the girl nimbly leaving the capsule. She smiled graciously at Ensign Tollert who had offered her