“And war is exactly what we’re trying to prevent.”
“We’ve got to prevent it,” Spencer rumbled, “if we want to keep the Commonwealth intact.”
Now Leoh was starting to feel as gloomy as Sir Harold. “And Hector? What about himPWecan’t abandon him .. . Kanus could kill him.”
“I know. I’ll call Romis, the Foreign Minister. Of that whole lot around Kanus, he’s the only one who seems capable of telling the truth.”
“What can you do if they refuse to return Hector?”
“They’ll probably offer to trade him for Odal.”
“But Odal doesn’t want to go,” Leoh said. “And the Acquatainians might not surrender him. If they hold Odal and Kanus keeps Hector, then the Commonwealth will be forced into….”
“Into threatening Kerak with armed force if they don’t release Hector. Good Lord, this lieutenant could trigger off the war we’re trying to avert!”
Spencer looked as appalled as Leoh felt.
Minister Romis left his country villa punctually at dawn for his usual morning ride. He proceeded along the bridle path, however, only until he was out of sight of thella and any possible spies of Kor’s. Then he turned his mount off the path and into the thick woods. After a hard climb upslope, he came to a little clearing atop a knoll.
Standing in the clearing was a small shuttle craft, its hatch flanked by a pair of armed guards. Wordlessly, Romis dismounted and went into the craft. A man dressed identically, and about the same height and build as the Foreign Minister, came out and mounted the animal and continued the ride.