"The truth—?"
"About freedom, and the Federation as a partnership of plunder. About my father, and that renegade chitza Wassreck." Her voice broke. Her eyes came back; met Jarl's. "Raider, how can I tell you? Wassreck has betrayed you!"
"Betrayed me—?" Jarl went rigid. In two quick steps he was beside her—gripping her chin; staring down into her eyes. "Not Wassreck—!"
"Yes, Wassreck!" Her words came tumbling forth in a rush, raw and defiant. "He was not captured, Jarl Corvett! He surrendered!"
"You lie!"
"No! Of his own free will, he sent a secret message to my father! He had a new weapon, he said—a projector that would break your raiders' power forever. He offered to give it to the Federation, if in exchange they'd lift the brand of outlaw from him and award him a post of proper honor."
New fury gripped Jarl Corvett. "You lie!" he lashed again. "You lie in your teeth, you she-quirst! This is some sneaking scheme, a filthy trick to match the one you played back there in the banquet hall—"
"No, no...." The girl's voice choked with pain. Tears spilled down her cheeks. "My jaw—you'll break it—"
Jarl let go her chin.