A Matter of Honor

und herself in what, except for the straps holding her in place, was a fairly comfortable, if too large, armchair. A Terran in Marine black se

anctioner had taken her blade, but at least he had been an Irschchan and understood its significance

alm. They had no Talent, no way to sense the owner's mind-pattern

decided quickly against that idea. The man holding the blaster did not look like the type to toler

uation before he spoke. "Okay, you're awake.

to kill me,"

h," the Terran said.

now who

"Why not? I'm Major Patrick Dawson, Security Division of the I

until today a student of High Adept Thark. Entos was trying to kill me before I could report trea

on of astonishment and disbelief. "Rebellion? The Whi

ossible. Or Thark believes it is, w

t isn't something we can risk not checking out." He holstered the blaster. "The other one

't see the screen, but it sounded like a huma

ought in. The one I'm interviewing claims the reason he was

he time you're done, Ranger Medart should be here, and he can make that decision-she was the one being attacked, so the odds

let you know w

e that connection, immediate

mspec First Carlson,

an you get me Ranger Med

s, sir. I'll have to patch thr

ne-just do

erving him as a vacation cabin. Convalescent leave had its good points, he thought drowsily. He hadn't been this relaxed since before the w

s over, thanks to Steve Tarlac, and the Traiti were Imperial citizens, while he was supposed to be

he lander's open hatch. "Right, sir. I j

Sandeman warrior who was one of his bodyguard. Then he turned, taking a run

He had no intention of going that far, or of seeing anyone except his bodyguards; a week in a tank of rapid-he

he heard Nevan calling him. The warrior wouldn't interrupt his swim without goo

r thought as he waded out of the lake,

ace, sir, security priority. M

towel Nevan was holding out, began drying himself as he went to the lander and climbed in. Then he dropped the towel, gra

nt Orloff said she was definitely the one being attacked,

t probe someone trying to help us unless there's no other choice." He grinned, wolflike. "If somebody thinks she's worth killing to kee

coming in? If you're right, we'd have gotten the information sooner, and you'd have been safer; I

ere was no place I could call from. In the second, if the Order

White Order is that they rule this planet with some sort of strange powe

nitiates," Corina said. "At least it has not been until now; I must

ve the authority to deal with a major rebellion; you might

al barrier, and her reasons were compelling, so she probed deeper. Human mind patterns were too murky to make this sort of thing a pleasure, but she scanned anyway, for information about this R

ot very familiar with the Command Crew or Ranger. All she could get was his feeling of resp

agreeing. Thark was not likely to risk compromising the Crusade by a frontal attack now. There would

ercom chimed. Dawson answered, and Co

. He also knows about the existence of a Crusade, which is what they call this rebellion. I couldn't get any details, though. And when he woke up, he somehow managed to k

He probably doesn't have enough rank to

very Order member on Irschcha is either out to kill her themselves or

Corina. "That exonerates you, Ms. Losinj. There's no more need to confine you." He t

ve my blade back?" Corina couldn't ke

It means that much to you? Well

sheath, and resumed her seat. She sensed the Marine's puzzlement, and decided she should try to explai

nderstand. I know it means you're

-" She broke off at Dawson's blank look. "It is an Irschchan th

a lopsided smile. "Ranger Medart will; whether or not I do isn

was less fear for her life now, as it had been when the Sanctioners captured her; it was more nervous apprehension

tuation, suddenly caught in the midst of a rebellion. Things were happening too fast, overwhelming her. Sh

ld do now but wait, as patiently

hausted when the door behind her slid open. Dawson stood, coming to attention; Corina turned, to see

arms, and the two studied each other. Medart was good-looking for a human, Corina thought, though not really outstanding in any wa

thics despite graying hair at the temples and an age-about 75, if she remembered correctly-when an Irschchan would be preparing for death. The plain forest-green unifo

e an aura of quiet competence like nothing she'd felt before. It surprised her momentarily, then she twitched an ear, amused at herself. He was a Ranger, after all, not an ordinary human.

Tawny fur, thick and soft, covered everything except her palms and the soles of her feet, though it was marred now by slight scorching on her right arm and a bloodstained area just below her throat. Her alert, pointed ears only increase

d of his Scots heritage, appeared in one at the official welcoming ceremony. Too bad; it not only detracted from their graceful appearance, in his opinion, but it

her as he could; she'd had a rough time. "How about some more i

Dawson what I am certain

onfirmed all of it. But can yo

ns have been doing. They have, after all, ruled Irschcha for over five millennia, and according to Thark, b

travel for more than-what, two of those millennia?-but when MacLeod fo

physical proof, however, of anything I have said. I learned what I

ld her. "Your report, backed up by the prob

t, of course, but those who are not active in

Why

rder forbids such opposition to its leaders, though of course it cannot comp

ally a member of

er, for now I am bound by no oaths. I

d chosen sides, and it was up to him to make use of that choice. Then he went on. "I still need your help. As secret

o further. Dawson answered, and Medar

head of the district Sanctioners is here. He has extradition papers for Ms. Losinj,

ness he'd assumed for Corina's benefit

The viewscre

na. "Did you assault

re when they stopped me. They were taking me to Headquarters for execu

esk, and the Marine took position slightly behind and to the Ranger's right, standing at parade rest. All three wai

ly planetary matters," he said. "I must

en I see a threat to the Empire, it is my duty. Rebellion against the Empire is such a threat, not a `planetary matter'; Losinj was act

ul orders from their Baron, on his world, so punishing them would be unjust. Entos, however, is guilty of attempted murder on

chief objected. "For that, if nothing else, s

stands. And I advise you not to get more deeply inv

ut

ou interfere further, I will have to assume you are part of th

ars twitched.

You may

nd it might have been frightening-except that he had defended her, even as he condemned Entos to death. Knowing what he was and seeing him in action were v

eave the Palace... urrr. You know what will ha

Order," Dawson objected. "If you're no

t is-or was-inconceivable that anyone with any useful degree of Talent would refuse to join the Order. It is natural that they would se

t now. Ms. Losinj, there's no asylum involved; I've said I need

you certainly need to know about Tal

at tearing her away from her home world, even though it meant saving her life; home meant a lot to most people, and losing it usually