“Indeed.” Miklos had lost his air of good humor, and he spoke as if Ronan wasn’t there. “Nevertheless, there was always a possibility that Ronan was a shaauri agent. You chose to accept him at his word, though you knew the risks. Was it your own telepathy that convinced you of his good faith?”
“My telepathy, Lord Miklos, was never very reliable.”
“You did receive a shield here on Persephone before you took the captaincy.”
“Yes.”
“It seemed evident to Ser Janek that something had happened during your brief stay on Dharma to arouse your suspicions against Ronan and even to doubt his motives. In spite of this, you took him out from under the Dharman Trade Council’s nose.”
“Perhaps you should invite Ser Janek here, Lord Miklos, since you give such credence to his report.”
“Do you deny his suspicions, Captain?”
She could have lied. She knew that some Persephoneans were telepaths, though the gift was far less common than on Dharma. But even through her anger she recognized that this was not a man who deserved, or would tolerate, deception.
“I do not,” she said calmly. “There are details of recent events that Janek does not know. Ronan has been gradually recovering the telepathic abilities taken from him when he was a child. I am aware of the risks involved in such a recovery, and my own possible vulnerability. It is for that reason that I brought him here to be questioned, rather than allowing the Dharman Council to destroy him with the assumption of guilt that has not been proven.”
“Then you concede that he may not be what he claims.”
Ronan half rose from his seat. “It is me you should question, Aino’Kei. You may do with me as you wish, but do not doubt the captain’s loyalty to you and your people.”
“My people,” Miklos repeated. “Where does your loyalty lie, Ronan?”
“With Captain D’Accorso.”
Miklos turned on Cynara. “Were you intimate with this man, Cynara?”
In a blur of movement, Ronan leaped across the room, stopping centimeters from Lord Miklos’s chair. He no longer looked remotely human.
“It is enough,” he said, hissing between bared teeth. “Do not question her further.”
“Ronan.” Cynara got up carefully and held out her hand, fearing far more for him than Miklos. “Please.”
“It’s all right.” Miklos glanced from Ronan’s face to his arched fingers. “I see that his allegiance in at least one area is indisputable.”
“Lord Miklos—”
The door burst open, and Miklos’s guards jumped into the room, vicious little guns fixed on Ronan. He turned to face them without a trace of fear.
“Stand down,” Miklos ordered. “I’m in no danger.” He smiled at Cynara. “My security insisted that I be fitted with a monitor that alerts my guards when it detects an elevated heartbeat.”
“Ronan,” Cynara said firmly, “back away slowly, and sit down.”
He obeyed, watching Miklos’s people with their lowered weapons. Miklos let out a slow breath. “Dismissed,” he told the guards.
“My lord—”
“Out.”
They went. Miklos laughed, but Cynara recognized it as genuine relief. In spite of his assurances to his people, he’d been very well aware of the real threat to his life.
“Well,” he said. “I don’t believe I’ve had that much excitement since I was younger than you are, Captain.” He looked at Ronan. “I was once a boy of considerable recklessness myself, but I was compelled to recognize that some situations require patience. I advise patience now, Ser Ronan VelKalevi.”
“You won’t have him arrested?” Cynara demanded.
“I admire his devotion to you, however overzealous. It will be necessary to question Ronan at length, as you expected, but I reiterate my personal assurance that he will not be harmed mentally or physically, and your report will be given full consideration.”
“I would like to remain during the questioning, Lord… Miklos.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. You do have a personal interest in this, Captain, as well as the complication of telepathic sensitivity. And your ship requires your presence.”
She sat very still. “You won’t advise that I be relieved of my command?”
‘To the contrary. You may have acted with some lack of restraint, particularly where Ser Janek is concerned, but I believe you are a valuable asset to the Alliance.” He smiled. “I’m sure Jesper will agree with me. I will send a communique with your return voyage recommending that any discipline be light, and that you retain command of the Pegasus.”