The Way Back (Champions of the Crystal Book 4)

Chapter 17.1

The anticipation was the worst. Sabrina imagined every possible thing that could go wrong with Scotty and every hideous argument she might have with Tirqwin. Ford must have been having similar visions, because he grew as short-tempered and irrational as she did. When permission to proceed to Kaafur Research Station finally came, they were hardly speaking to each other. It was not, Sabrina realized, the best way to approach a situation in which they were going to need each other's support.

They were being escorted by five military ships as they entered the solar system. The research station was on the very edge of Homeworld's system; no alien ship had ever been allowed there. Sabrina suspected that the only reason they had made it this far was that Homeworld wanted to be very sure there would be no Realm interference if they decided to confiscate or destroy The Adventure. Or herself and Ford, she tried not to think. Mara's protection didn't exist here; Realm security would not permit her to breach the heart of Homeworld's space for any reason. Sabrina knew Mara's sense of duty well enough to know that she and Ford would be sacrificed, however reluctantly, if that's what it took to avoid another war.

But this was Tirqwin's home, and evidently his estrangement from it had lessened almost to the vanishing point in the years Sabrina had been gone. His influence would be considerable with the support of his House, and no matter how angry he was, he would marshal all his resources to protect his son and Sabrina. She could see, though, that it was vital she reconcile Tirqwin to their presence as soon as possible. She hoped Khediva, always more objective, would be her ally.

"Ford?" she asked tentatively, moving to stand beside him at the control console as they watched the research station grow larger on the forward screen.

"Yes?" he replied. His tone was curt; he didn't want to talk, she could tell. Doubtless he was bracing himself for all the arguing and blame-placing that was to come.

"How did Khediva feel about my coming? Did she agree with you?"

"I don't know. I didn't speak to her about it. And if she disagreed with Father, he'd never have told me so." He was silent for a moment, and then, reluctantly, asked, "Why?"

"She's helped me before, when Tirqwin's being unreasonable. But if she's mad too, it'll be much harder to smooth things over. And we can't be fighting with each other. We need to focus on Scotty."

"I don't know how she'll react," Ford said. "I don't know her very well; I only have a child's memory of her. She seemed omniscient and bad-tempered."

Sabrina smiled a little. "Fair enough." She looked at the screen again; the image of the station had resolved enough that she thought she could make out a Wayship docked there. "Well, we'll find out soon. She'll know I'm aboard before we dock. If Tirqwin knows I'm there before he sees me, we'll know she agrees with him."

"How do you figure that?"

"If she agrees with you, she'll leave him to me to handle. Then she'll step in and support me. Tirqwin trusts her; she can make him question his actions better than anyone. If she digs her heels in alongside me, he'll stop and think about things. That's our best hope to get this settled quickly." She glanced at Ford. "Ford...I owe you so much for doing this. More than I can hope to repay. No, listen. I have no right to ever ask you for anything after this. But I must ask this one thing of you, because it's important and in your best interest too."

"What is it?" He looked down at her, his bright blue eyes dark and sober.

"When Tirqwin starts yelling at you, don't argue with him. Don't defend yourself. Just take it. I know it'll be hard, but just stay quiet. Don't say a word, unless it's an apology."

"But Sabrina, I'm right!"

"I know that. But he won't admit it, not right away. He's not capable of it, Ford. If you start arguing with him, everything will get blown out of proportion and pretty soon everybody will be so angry that nothing will get settled. Nothing will get done. You can argue with him later, if he doesn't come around. After he's calmed down. But not at first. Promise me. Please."

"Sabrina—" he protested.

"Ford, don't get him started on the outraged father routine. I can't get him off that easily, if at all. This is about me and Scotty. Help me keep him focused on that. Once he's worked through all that, he'll be ready to forgive you, or at least understand what you did. Don't argue with him."

"He'll want to argue with me," Ford pointed out.

"Don't let him. It takes two to argue, and Khediva and I will be there—or at least I will—making my case. He won't be able to keep at you. I won't let him."

"You're asking me to stand there and take it like some guilty little boy—and not only that, but to actually let you take flack meant for me!"

"I'm asking you to let me handle this as I choose. I know it's a lot to ask, Ford. I know. And—and I hope that you're never in a place in your life where you need my help as much as I need yours right now, but if you are, I'll be there. I promise you that, on the Trees."

His hand moved involuntarily toward her lips, as if to silence her, as his eyes widened at the oath. "You shouldn't make promises like that, Sabrina," he said after a moment. "This isn't a question of who owes whom what. The family owes you more than we can repay already. I'll do this for you—I'll do my best. But not because I want or need anything from you. Not even—not even because I owe my existence to you, though I know I do."

"Ford—"

"Let me finish. I'll do this because your courage demands courage in return, from everybody around you. Because I'd be ashamed of myself if I couldn't match it. I never realized it before, but I think—I think that explains why people always seemed to act so extraordinarily around you in the histories. You expect more of them, and, if they have any pride, any honor, they live up to that, or die trying."

Sabrina shook her head, blinking back tears as she took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "Ford," she said, her voice thick and unsteady, "you don't need me to give you courage, or honor. If you did, we wouldn't be here."

"Well," he said, looking down at their clasped hands, "perhaps I just needed you to remind me that I had them."

"You are so much better than anyone knows, even you," she whispered. "Maybe that's what you need to be reminded of."

They stood in silence for a long moment, looking at each other, as if that one intense gaze could convey arguments forgiven and forgotten, determination renewed, and promises exchanged. Then the comm system chimed for attention.

"Here we go," Sabrina whispered, her throat closed with sudden fear.

"I won't let you down," Ford whispered back.

I know you won't, she thought, nodding to him as she stepped away to let him work. Somehow, I think you never will.