"Your weapon," he said, handing Kozorr's pike back to him. And a strange weapon it was, too. It was a shorter version of the traditional denn'bok, adapted so that it could be wielded with only one hand. Sech Durhan's work, no doubt. A better weaponsmith Sonovar had never known.
"You said you were going to kill me," came the angry reply.
"I have said many things, at many times, to many people."
"Minbari do not lie," he said. "You said you would kill me, and let her go. I am still alive. Did you break your promise concerning Kats as well?"
Sonovar smiled. "Why do you care? She is a worker, an inferior class. By all rights she should not even be permitted to set foot on a warship like this. There was a time when her caste would lower their eyes as we walked past, would grovel at our feet. A time when the warrior caste ruled all, and the workers and the priestlings served our will."
"We never ruled anything. We spent all the time butchering each other."
"It was a golden age. A time of glory, and legends…. and heroes. Would you like to help me bring it back?"
"Kill me, Sonovar, or let me go. I have no interest in your delusions."
Sonovar took a quick step back and extended his pike. "Fight me. Kill me, Kozorr, and I will let you go. I will let her go as well."
"Minbari do not kill Minbari. You may have forgotten that, but I have not."
"You were willing to kill Kalain to save your worker whore. Are you not ready to do the same now, to save her again?"
"Where is she?"
"Maybe she is on this ship, maybe she is with Sinoval, and maybe she is dead. Fight me, and I will tell you."
"I have no interest in your lies!"
"Minbari do not lie. You said as much yourself."
"You have lied to me, Sonovar. If you cannot keep that law, then how can I believe you will respect any of the others? You are no warrior. You are a killer."
"Maybe I am. Maybe I am not. Fight me, Kozorr. Earn for yourself…. or for me…. a true warrior's death. Beyond the wild, impartial skies…. a true and glorious end. To die in battle, can there be any greater glory? Fight me."
He lowered his pike, and stood silent.
"Dare you take the risk of letting me live? What if you kill me, Kozorr? Your…. Primarch Sinoval will be happy with you, will he not? And regardless, you will have ended a threat to his people. Or are you a coward? Has that worker bitch of yours sapped all your will? You were willing to die before! Why not now?"
Anger filling his eyes, Kozorr lifted his pike and sprang forward.
Sonovar smiled as he raised his own blade to block it.
* * *
A rope around the neck. A death for peasants, for farmers, for the lowest dregs of Centauri society. Certainly not a death Lord Jarno had ever expected for himself. He was after all a noble of the mighty Centauri Republic and as such he was entitled to certain…. privileges.
He stood at the window, looking out at the gallows in the square beneath his cell. His status brought him one advantage anyway; his last days would be spent in a luxurious palace room, rather than a dark and cold prison.
"You do not have to go through with this, Jarno," said a voice from behind him. Normally, anyone who heard that voice would be expected to be honoured, to snap to attention, to answer and reply with all the respect due to the Emperor of the entire Republic, but if there was one advantage impending death conferred, it was the right to defy certain…. conventions.
"No, I know," he said softly, not turning round. "But it is…. the right thing to do. No noble of this Court has attacked the household of another in centuries…. until me. I saw what was happening in the Court and I did nothing, letting weakness swing me forward and back, never able to take any decisive action.
"No…. I am ready to die."
"Yes," replied the Emperor, "I understand that. I do not agree with it, perhaps. Our new Government could benefit much from you, Jarno. A great deal."
"I have nothing to offer, and my presence at your side would only alienate Kiro's followers. With my death you at least stand a chance of bringing them over to your side. Consider this…. my last service to the Republic."
There was an exasperated tutting from behind him. Jarno still did not turn around. Partly this was because he did not want to see the face of someone who had been…. never a true friend, but always a respected peer. But also he could not take his eyes from the means of his execution. It was a truly sobering sight.
"Yes. I understand that, and I commend you for it, Jarno. But…. why like this? I could…. arrange for something to be placed in your food, or your drink. It would be quick and painless. You will drift away in your sleep, and you will be buried with all the status your rank deserves."
Jarno was silent for a moment, speculating on the manner of Lord Valo's death. He had heard the story being disseminated, but he did not believe it for a moment. He knew the truth, and he wondered if Valo had been more…. accommodating than he was.
"No. I do not deserve such a quick death, or such a…. noble funeral. A rope around the neck at dawn, a pauper's pyre. Nothing more."
"That is…. not fair…. You were misled and manipulated. We both know who is to blame."
"I…. have no idea of whom you are speaking," Jarno lied. He knew very well.
"Mariel. My dear, loving wife. The attack on Kiro was her idea, was it not? Come, Jarno. We both know the truth. Why do you defend her?"
"Defend her?" He laughed. A bitter laugh, with no genuine mirth. "I am not defending her. She has…. she will pay for her actions in her own way, and I assure you, Majesty, I will escape far more easily than she will."
"What are you talking about?"
"A prophecy…. A dying prophecy. One third of it has already come true. At dawn tomorrow, another third will have come to pass. Destiny will not allow Mariel to escape her part." He paused and flicked his gaze to the ground, away from the gallows. He then turned to look briefly at his new Emperor. Londo looked…. tired. He could barely have been sleeping even before his inauguration.
"Where…. where is Mariel now?" Jarno asked tentatively.
"Under close guard…. for her personal safety of course," Londo replied bitterly. "I regret I can take no real action against her…. not so soon in my reign and not without constructive proof. As it is, I will send her to one of my outlying estates. Perhaps among the rebuilding projects at Camulodo. She will of course be under heavy armed guard all the time. For her own personal safety.
"It is preferable to the fate Timov would have in mind for her."
Jarno smiled, and nodded. "I…. thank you for coming to visit me, Majesty. I hope I can serve the Republic better in death than I did in life."
Londo nodded, and then turned and left. His strange Minbari companion at the door waited for the Emperor to depart, and then stepped outside. There was the sound of a bolt sliding shut.
Jarno did not care. He had returned to gaze at his gallows, and his death.
* * *
I am not afraid. I've faced down ancient ships that screamed in my mind. I've stood against Minbari warships that wanted to destroy me. I've looked at aliens that made me want to run and hide in terror. I've looked into the eyes of my best friend, both of us knowing he'll never move again.
I've done all that…. and I've never been so scared in my entire life.
I will ask her. I will ask her.
Commander David Corwin sighed and leaned back against the wall. He had been planning this for a long time, but he had never been able to find the nerve before. It had been so easy just to put it off. But then, fighting a desperate, doomed struggle to defend Epsilon 3, he had realised just how close he had come to death, and had made a silent promise to ask her.
But now it was all in ashes. He had survived, yes, but why him? Michael was dead, the Captain would never move below his neck again. Bester had betrayed them all. Susan was…. here….
What right have I got to think of a future, when there are so many people who don't have one any longer?
But that was it, surely? There were so many who had lost their futures, and he hadn't. He had to recognise his good fortune, had to live for the moment of life he had gained by surviving the battle. He had to….
"Yes?" came the voice through the comm. "Who is it?" She did not sound well. He supposed he couldn't blame her.
"It's me, Mary," he replied. "It's David."
"Oh," she said softly. "Come in."
The door opened and he entered, patting at his pocket to be sure the small box was still there. It was. It seemed so heavy.
Mary was seated on the couch, a book lying open at her feet. She rose as he entered, and he could see just how dreadful she looked. Her eyes were heavy, her face gaunt and haggard. She was still in her nightdress, which was rumpled and dirty.
"Haven't seen you in…. a while," she said, coughing. "Do you want a drink? I've some Narn wine here somewhere…."
"No, thank you," he replied. "Ah…. you…. are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she replied, flatly. "I haven't been…. sleeping very well recently. Not for the last few days in fact. The beds here are a little…. hard. Not very comfortable."
"Drazi design probably," he said, apologising lamely.
"Yes. That's it. Anyway, I thought I'd do a little reading. I…. What time is it anyway?"
"Coming up to midday, Kazomi Seven time. I…. couldn't say what time it is EST."
She nodded. "I haven't quite adapted to…. the time here. It's…. Why did you send me away?"
He stopped as if poleaxed. "Wh…. what?"
"From Babylon Four. You sent me away."
"We…. we sent all civilians away, Mary. The place was…. at risk. We had to get you all out of there."
"A civilian. Is that what I am? David, you didn't come to see me. You didn't come to check if I was all right. You didn't…."
"I was busy!" he replied. "I was…. I was afraid. I…. heard things about what had happened on the planet. I was worried about you! I wanted to get you to safety as quickly as possible!"
"I can look after myself, and I don't need you protecting me." She paused. "I'm the one who had to talk to Lianna after all…. explaining why her husband won't be coming home."
"Lianna." He sighed, and swore silently. "I'd completely forgotten…. oh…. How…. how did she take it?"
"How do you think she would have taken it? We didn't get to speak long. Something's…. up at Sanctuary. But…. I knew what she was thinking. He ran away from her. She loved him too much to see that, but I could see it. And so could you, and you did nothing!"
"I…. what? Mary, what are you saying?"
"They were having problems. Difficulties with Frank, disagreements over Bester. Lianna wanted to get out of there, start somewhere new. Michael…. he wanted to stay with Bester. Felt he owed him. But rather than talk it out, he…. he ran away. He came here, he stayed here for months on end, and he…. he got himself killed because it was easier for him than staying around!"
"I had no idea," David whispered softly. "Mary, I…. I swear to you…. I had no idea." He moved forward, but she pulled away from him.
