“Constano was hungry for power,” Carter VelShaan said grimly. “He wasn’t satisfied with the privileges given Kinsmen by the Concordat and the shaauri. He believed that Kinsmen should rule human space, and he was confident that he and his followers, with antihuman shaauri assistance, had the means to bring it about. If anyone in the universe had reason to want the Archon dead, it would be Constano and his kind.”
“Why Constano?” Damon asked. “Why not the shaauri? You speak as if they are working independently, when they’re close allies.”
“As close, perhaps, as humans and aliens can be,” she said. “But there are many shaauri who will never fully accept any human. We still don’t know why Ronan survived and was raised by Kalevi—his original story of being taken on a raid doesn’t match the facts.”
“This could have been planned from the beginning,” Damon said. “Kinsmen and shaauri could have ambushed my parents’ ship to prevent them from brokering a lasting peace. They kidnapped Ronan knowing exactly who he was.”
“Shaauri might have held him for ransom—such things are done among them—but they didn’t. They kept him alive well into adulthood, and accepted him after a fashion.” She pursed her lips. “It’s also my understanding that they leave any actual espionage to Kinsmen. I think it likely that Constano has never abandoned his plans for ruling human space. The shaauri might have been convinced to give Ronan over to Kinsmen for training as an agent.”
“Shaauri don’t have telepaths of their own,” Miklos said.
“Precisely. Once it was discovered that Ronan had his parents’ gifts, the shaauri would not have been sure what to do with him. If Constano had schemes within schemes, they would be hard pressed to learn of it.”
“Are you suggesting Constano used Ronan to further his personal ambitions?” Damon asked.
“It’s certainly possible. Given what I know of Constano, even probable. And Ronan may have had very little to say about any of it.”
“Why wouldn’t the shaauri want the Archon dead?” Cynara asked.
“Because shaauri would not think in terms of killing one leader and disabling an entire system or alliance. Their society rarely has a single powerful leader over many Lines or Clans, except in time of war—their A’Aho-Kei’hon-vekki, the War-Leader. Even Constano must realize that the Archon’s death would not destroy the Concordat, but it might disrupt its function long enough for a carefully orchestrated assault to have a greater effect.”
“All of which changes nothing about the danger Ronan poses,” Damon said.
“Which you somehow sensed without any overt telepathic skills,” Miklos said. “You have always denied inheriting any ability from your parents.”
Damon laughed with a touch of bitterness. “I was the only son who didn’t carry on the gift. But when Ronan came aboard the Pegasus, I began to catch glimpses of events before they occurred. At first I thought these visions arose from my legitimate concern for the Project. But when we returned to Persephone and I saw him—I saw him kill the Archon…”
“Precognition,” Carter VelShaan said. “It’s not common even among Kinsmen. Your gift may actually have been awakened by your brother’s proximity. You see the future possibilities—what might happen, not necessarily what will.”
Damon clenched his fists. “Could I risk believing I was wrong?”
“No,” Miklos said. “You did what you felt necessary. But now it’s time to decide what to do about Ronan.”
“The only way to learn the truth is to probe him. Even you must concede as much, Uncle.”
“Why do you hate him so much, Lord Damon?” Cynara asked. “He’s your brother, and he’s suffered more than you can imagine. What has he done to you?”
Damon paled. “Mes Carter VelShaan,” he said, ignoring Cynara, “if you refuse to carry out the probe as requested, I’ll find someone who will.” Without another word, he strode from the office.
Miklos let out a long breath. “I must apologize for my nephew,” he said. “You asked a legitimate question, Captain D’Accorso. Damon does appear to hold an irrational grudge against Ronan that goes beyond any danger he may present. I’m afraid it stems from the circumstances of his parents’ deaths—or presumed deaths. They chose to take Ronan—he was Achilles, then—with them into shaauri space, leaving his brothers on Persephone.”