P.J. Fox

I,_ he said, a faint note of derision in his voice, __m the least favored scion of our ruling house, House Mara Sant._ He was from Brontes, then. Which might explain the eyes_she thought again of certain differences, and suppressed a shudder. __ am a Prince of the Blood,_ he continued, sounding both embittered and proud, __hird in line for the Dragon Throne, and grand nephew to the Emperor. Owing to a_political dispute, I am now also an exile. Presented with a choice between resigning my commission in the na-vy and leaving to become governor of a mining planet and staying to face my uncle__ as-sassins_._ He shrugged slightly, as if the choice were of no consequence.___political dispute?___ gambled,_ he said bluntly. __ lost.___ou seem_sanguine,_ she remarked, surprise blunting the instinct to guard her tongue.__e shouldn__ have let me live._ That anyone could discuss their own murder with such cold calculation horrified her. He horrified her. She chewed her lip, digesting all that he__ told her: not merely a naval officer, but a prince__nd a maverick one at that. She wondered what he could have done.__o you see,_ he finished, ____ no more free than you._ He laughed, then, but without humor. __e can be prisoners together. I am en route to a wretched planet called Tarsonis to assume governorship and as you have no other, more pressing engagement, you are coming with me.