“It’s my fault.” The queen had sought her out to apologize. “I’m the one who insisted on showing him the holovid before fully vetting it.”
The investigation had proven the holovid had been faked. The original footage shot at the café proved Karma had told the truth. Threatened with revocation of their operating license, Kaldor Celebrity News had apologized, aired a retraction, andfired Bynti, but remediation came too little, too late. Irreparable damage had been done.
“It’s Falkor’s fault.” She reassured the queen she didn’t blame her. “He should have believed in me—or given me a fair hearing.” She could prove her innocence now, but she shouldn’t have to. Trust, fidelity, and respect formed the foundation of a solid, enduring, loving marriage. Without any one of them, the marriage would collapse. Love would wither and die.
The computer spoke again. “Prepare for launch in ten, nine, eight…”
A rumble of engines filled the cabin, and the floor vibrated under her feet. Then, with a powerful surge, the ship lifted off. As it gained altitude and speed, the G-forces kicked in, plastering her to the seat.
Passengers broke out in nervous titters, but she couldn’t turn her head to look at them. She couldn’t get out of her seat—couldn’t so much as raise her arm off the rest. Just when she feared the gravity would crush her or she’d pass out, the enormous pressure lifted.
Breaking free of Kaldor’s gravity and atmosphere, the ship entered outer space. Suddenly, she was light as a feather, her hair floating straight up. Her skirt tried to follow. She grabbed it to avoid exposing her underwear to strangers. People were laughing and pointing at each other.
On the view screen, the planet shrank, becoming smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the vastness of space.Gone. Just like Falkor.She bit back a sob.
A harnessclicked, and a young boy floated out of his seat. “Wheee! I can fly!” He somersaulted.
On any other day, she might have flouted the rules and joined him in the joyful, forbidden fun, but not today.
“Passenger five—return to your seat immediately,” the computer scolded.
The boy’s father grabbed his foot and yanked him into his seat. “Behave—or we’re going home.”
She’d believed Kaldor was her home. But it wasn’t. Nor was Earth. Without Falkor, she didn’t have a home. Like a body in zero gravity, she was untethered with only the weight of grief to prevent her from drifting away.
The father had no sooner buckled in his son when gravity returned. Her hair collapsed onto her shoulders.
“See!” the boy’s mother chided. “You would have fallen and cracked your head open.”
A monstrous asteroid belt appeared on the screen, and the ship seemed to dive into the middle of the rocky field.If safety is a priority, maybe we shouldn’t be careening through an asteroid belt.A few people emitted small screams of surprise as the ship lurched sideways to avoid a space rock the size of a hovercar.
If not for her harness, she would have been tossed out of her seat. And then they lurched the other way like they rode some crazy carnival ride. The little boy laughed—his unrestrained merriment tugging a reluctant smile to her face.
They cleared the asteroid belt and once again cruised through the vast, dark emptiness. Another metaphor for her marriage. She’d hoped to forget for a while, but everything reminded her of what she’d lost.
People maintained nonstop chatter until Earth appeared, a tiny blue orb growing larger and larger as they approached. For a moment, there was only awed silence. “Your planet is beautiful!” a passenger said, and heads turned to look at her.
“Yes, it is,” she replied, and hurriedly dashed away a tear of sadness, regret, and failure. Hopefully the passengers would attribute her emotional display to joy at seeing her own world. She prayed to the Goddess she could hold it together and wouldn’t break down.
Home existed in the heart. Earth would never be home without Falkor, and she wasn’t wanted on Kaldor.
“We have arrived at Earth. Prepare for landing,” the computer said.
Chapter Nineteen
Falkor burst into his apartment. “Karma! Karma!”
The parlor was vacant. He ran to the bedroom. She wasn’t there either. Nor in his workroom. He dashed onto the balcony and peered over the rail into the grotto. A groundskeeper was sweeping up detritus on the flagstones.
Inside, Tontu approached him. “Welcome home, Your Highness. May I get you something?”
“Where’s my wife?”
“I don’t know, Your Highness.”
“Do you know when she left?”
“No, I didn’t see her leave.”