Read Online Apocalypse by Troy Denning - Free Book Online

Queen Mother’s other advisers would have dared to question her judgment, but Trista and Taryn Zel—and Jedi Knight Zekk, too, now that he and Taryn were a couple—were members of something called the Lorellian Court. Allana suspected that the Lorellian Court was an ultrasecret unit of Hapan Security. But she knew only three things about the organization for sure: First, she was forbidden to mention its existence, even to her grandparents. Second, she could trust anyone who flashed the secret face-code. And third, she would be introduced to that court on her eighteenth birthday.
    When the Queen Mother did not immediately reply, Trista said, “Majesty, four wings is half the task force’s fighter complement—and those twelve-jays are older than we are.”
    “Those twelve-jays are being flown by Sith pilots,” Tenel Ka said. “Until we understand their capabilities, I want to err on the side of caution.”
    The tone of command in the Queen Mother’s voice was unmistakable.
    “Four wings it is.” Trista inclined her head, but made no move to leave. “I also have a message from Lady Maluri.”
    Tenel Ka gave a weary sigh. “Must I?”
    “I’m afraid so,” Trista said. “She asked me to relay her concern that risking Hapan lives to protect Jedi younglings is a flagrant misuse of royal authority.”
    Tenel Ka rolled her eyes. “Please remind Lady Maluri that the Sith attempted to assassinate her queen,” she said. “Inform her that if
she
isnot willing to punish such an affront to Hapan sovereignty, then I will replace her with someone who is.”
    “With pleasure, cousin.”
    Trista bowed and started to withdraw, but Tenel Ka raised a finger to stop her.
    “And see that this is the
last
time Lady Maluri needs to be warned about the astonishing lack of affection she displays for her queen,” Tenel Ka added. “Tell her I threw something.”
    Trista smiled. “I’ll make the situation clear, Majesty.”
    Tenel Ka nodded, and Trista departed.
    After she was out of earshot, Allana caught her mother’s eye. “You’re risking a lot to help Grandma and Grandpa evacuate the Jedi academy,” she said. “Lady Maluri can’t be the only noble who doesn’t like helping the Jedi.”
    Her mother thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, that’s correct. I
am
risking a lot—my life, and probably even yours.” She looked out the observation bubble again. “And what reason would I have for taking a risk like that? What is the
only
reason I would risk your life?”
    Allana did not need to ponder the answer—it had been drilled into her since she was old enough to remember the phrase. “To protect the realm.”
    “That’s right,” her mother said. “Had the Sith succeeded in their assassination attempt on me, there would have been a war of succession—a war that you’re not ready to fight.”
    “I know,” Allana said. Sometimes it seemed like her life was just one long lesson. But she always did her best to pay attention, because she knew that someday trillions of lives would depend on her decisions. “And while our people were fighting one another, the realm would have been an easy target for outsiders.”
    “For the
Sith
,” her mother corrected. “Whether Lady Maluri and her friends care to admit it or not, the Lost Tribe is
already
making war on us. All I’m doing now is lining up allies.”
    “And
nobody
is a better ally than the Jedi,” Allana agreed. She turned back toward the cloud-swaddled planet hanging beyond the transparisteel. “Which is really good, because the Jedi are our friends.And Grandpa always says that you have to stick by your friends—no matter what.”
    “Your grandfather is very wise,” her mother agreed. “And he’s right. Even if the Sith
hadn’t
attacked me, we would have found …”
    But Allana was no longer listening, for a small hole had just opened in the Ossan clouds. It started to expand rapidly, growing from the size of her fist to larger than Anji’s