They walked back to the bridge, where they found the captain arguing with Juden.

“This is all taking much too long,” was saying the dark-skinned man. “I should be on Nimnir by now.”

Fendar gestured at the screen without looking at it. “In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a big fat destroyer in our way.”

“Then just give me—”

“Enough!” shouted the archmaster.

The bridge went silent as everyone turned to face him.

Peter looked around the room. “Where is my sister?”

“I had to have her removed—” started the captain.

“Did I say anything about having her removed?” hissed Nell.

“No, Your Lordship, but she was overhearing confidential conversations. I could not—”

“Bring her back. Now.”

The captain nodded to some of his men and they hurried out. He then looked back at the archmaster.

“Pardon my boldness, Your Lordship, but we have a much more serious problem on our hands. An Imperial destroyer wants to send men to get the prisoners.”

“What prisoners?”

Fendar pointed at Peter. “The rebels.”

Mrill sensed the annoyance in the young human who stood next to her, though he remained quiet.

“They are not prisoners. They are our guests.”

“Guests? But, sir, what about the destroyer? It’ll crush us if we defy the Imperium!”

The archmaster squinted at the smaller man. “You talked to them?”

“Their commodore hailed us. I reminded him we were a diplomatic vessel and said he’d need to speak with you for authorization to board.”

“And you told them they were prisoners?”

“Well... Yes. What else was I to say? They would have sent troops otherwise.”

Nell grunted as he turned toward the screen. “Open a line to the destroyer.”

Peter coughed. “Excuse me, archmaster, but it might be best if they did not see me.”

The man looked over at him. “Ah. Yes. Fair point.” He motioned with his head toward the side of the room, toward the hall they had just come from. “You and your friend—and your sister, when she returns—can stand there. You will be outside the range of the camera.”

He turned back to the screen and waited.

Peter and Mrill walked to the side as the guards came back with Val. She hugged her brother.

“So what’s the plan?” she asked in a low voice.

“Archmaster seems to be on our side. So, for now, we wait.”

The face of the commodore appeared on the screen. He did not seem happy.

“Vened Dhor speaking,” he said. “Are you the archmaster?”

“I am,” said Nell.

“You should keep a leash on your captain, archmaster. He is irreverent and rude.”

Mrill saw Fendar tense, but everyone else ignored him.

“What is this about?” asked Nell impatiently. “A destroyer? Is this how you greet the representative of one of the Imperium’s more powerful worlds?”

The commodore grunted. “The ship is not for you, Your Lordship, as you well know. Rebel forces attacked Nimnir. Some of them have taken refuge aboard your ship.”

“Hardly.”

“Your captain told me you held them captive. Is this not the case?”

“It was, but is no longer.”

The other frowned. “Meaning?”

“Dead. All of them.”

“Is that so?”

“They violated a diplomatic vessel, destroyed our landing bay, and killed many of our men. We captured them and executed them for their crimes—as was our right per Imperial Law.”

There was a moment of silence as the two men stared at each other, neither looking away.

“Very well,” said Dhor. “My men will come to take the bodies and the ship.”

“Impossible.”

“Excuse me?”

“We incinerated the bodies, as per our custom. The bay is too damaged to allow further landings. As for the rebel ship, it is itself damaged beyond repair.”

Peter leaned to whisper into Mrill’s ear.

“Can you read the commodore’s mind from here? I’d be curious to know what’s going through his head.”

“Too far,” she said. “I need to be within a few feet of a person to read them.”

Meanwhile, the commodore and the archmaster had resumed their staring match.

Finally, Dhor grunted. “Why am I wasting time on one damned ship? Bloody hell. I got better things to do. Go, then.”

The call was abruptly cut.

“Good thing they didn’t know I was on board that damned ship,” muttered Peter.

As he spoke, they saw the destroyer turn and move away.

Nell looked at Peter.

“You may go now.”

He nodded to the older man. “Thank you, archmaster. I won’t forget this.”

Nell had a little smile. “I would hope so.”

A group of guards walked them back to the hold, where the other rebels waited for them. They cheered when they saw Peter.

“They let you go?” asked Kesh.

“Not only that, but we now have new allies.”

“Really? That’s amazing.”

Peter then introduced his sister to the group.

“And this,” he finally told Val, “is Mrill. She can read minds.”

Val blinked. “Really?”

The other woman nodded.

Kesh snickered. “Never play cards with her. She’d win every single damn time!”

She stared at him blankly.

He laughed. “There! See what I mean?”

“Well,” cut in Peter, “I think it’s time we got out of here. Need a ride, Val?”

Their pilot coughed. “Actually, we can’t. Ship’s dead. Afraid we’re stuck here. Hope your new ally will be willing to drop us off somewhere.”

“He’s headed for Nimnir,” said Peter with a grimace. “I don’t think that would be a good place for us right now.”

Val laughed. She brought up her wristpad as everyone turned puzzled looks at her.

“You hear me, Nim?”

“Yes, Val.”

“Come on over. Want you to meet some of Peter’s friends.”