The Price of Power

by L A Warren

  “What about me? I mean, why not me?”

  “You’re a novice. There’s nothing special about you.”

  Elise bit at her lower lip. Except for the obvious. “What if my sponsor is watching?” Like Gregor, or High Tender Marcus, or any of the High Tenders, or Tenders, or the WOR-guards.

  Jeena listened to Elise’s argument about veiling and slowly nodded. “That is as good a reason as any.”

  “I don’t have any way to purchase one.”

  Jeena laughed. “Kid, that’s why you have Carek. I’ll send him a message.”

  “I feel bad having him pay for everything.”

  “Why? He’s your main snark partner. It’s expected. Besides, you wear his bracelet, right?”

  Elise blinked at that comment. What exactly had accepting Carek’s bracelet meant? There was so much about the Vendel culture she did not understand.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Gambit, Day 237

  Carek procured the required bio-device and presented it to Elise over lunch several days later. His caring eyes looked at her with a fondness that warmed her heart. It felt nice to be wanted by a man who demanded nothing in return.

  “I think this is a good idea.” He leaned toward her and fastened the veil around her head. “You should put this on the moment you leave the…um, your sponsor’s quarters.”

  “I thought to only wear it here in the hangar. Do people normally wear it around the ship?”

  He cocked his head and paused as if considering. “Well, I guess if you put it on once you get here that would be okay.”

  She smiled back at him. “Thank you.”

  His eyes dropped down to rest on the tiny dragonfly dangling off his promise bracelet. She made a conscious effort to always have it on when she was off the Fifth Deck.

  “You don’t have to wear it, El. I can’t promise you anything more than just this.”

  She put a hand over his and frowned. “You look so sad when you say that. Is it wrong that I wear it? Do you want it back?” Please don’t take it from me. It means so much.

  He shook his head. “No. No. That’s not what I meant.” He turned her hand over and traced the creases of her palm with his finger, avoiding the faint silvery scar from the Blood Rite.

  “I like being with you.” His eyes bored into her, flaring with a smoldering heat before being banked behind a slow blink. He took in a deep breath and blew it out. “It’s not usual for a man to be so forward with a woman, and you have issues, and I have…well, it’s complicated. I didn’t mean to overstep and sometimes I feel like…well, I’m not really sure.”

  “You haven’t. And it means a lot to me.” Her brows drew down, not understanding what he was trying to say. She smiled and tried to ease whatever issue he had.

  The corners of his mouth curved into a grin. “I like it when you smile.” He cocked his head to the side, as if listening to something. The silver pads were at his temples again. They seemed to always be in place these days.

  He gave her a look and his smile twisted into a frown. “I’m sorry.” He tapped his temple. “Conclave business calls.”

  “But you just got here. We haven’t even had lunch.”

  Carek seemed more and more distracted during their snarking session, tired and withdrawn. She might have pushed him away with her talk about girlfriends. Something bothered him and she couldn’t get over her paranoia that it had to do with her.

  He glanced around the cafeteria and pointed to the far corner. “Zander’s over there. You should go speak with him.”

  “Zander? Why would I do that? He’s rude as hell.”

  “He also just got kicked out of the competition and is managing the betting pools. You should see if he’s interested in snarking.”

  “Why would you want me to snark with him?”

  Carek gave her a strange look. “It’s not for me to say one way or the other.” He stood and looked down at her. “I know you’re new to snarking, but it’s not really a man’s place—”

  “But the bracelet?”

  He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Means nothing. Not until a matrimonial union does a man have a right to any claim over a woman. Remember that, El. It’s important.”

  As he walked away, she was more confused than ever. Vendel men were a strange lot.

  Elise activated the circlet around her forehead and a thin mist obscured her features. She walked up to where Zander sat and leaned against the table. A large holograph captured his attention, full of numbers she didn’t understand.

  “Unless you’re here to place a bet, go away,” he snapped.

  “I’m not interested in placing a bet.”

  He gave her an appraising look and his gaze swept across the obscuring mist, then lowered to check out the rest of her body, lingering a bit too long on her breasts. He leaned back, fingers laced behind his head. “And who might you be?”

  “Chickadee.”

  He leaned forward, his palms pressing on the table, charcoal eyes widening with interest. “And what brings you to my table?”

  She tapped her side thigh pocket and the bulge of her snark pad.

  His eyes dipped with interest.

  “So, what are the odds on me?”

  His guttural laugh made her frown, but he couldn’t see that with her concealing mist in place. “Not so good.”

  “What can I do to make them better?”

  “Not much considering you’re a novice without much of a showing.”

  “I’ve done well enough so far, better than others.” She glanced at the screen, the numbers making sense now that she recognized them for betting odds.

  “I’ve heard about your snarking sims.” His pupils dilated.

  “Really?”

  “Oh yes, is it true?”

  “Will it improve my odds in the betting pools?”

  He laughed. “No.” He flipped his wrist. “Maybe.” One of his brows lifted. “I guess it depends.”

  She pulled out her snark pad and placed it on the table.

  He leaned forward eagerly, stretching out his hand for the pads.

  She slapped his hand. “Eager?”

  He huffed a laugh. “As I said, I’ve heard your sims are unique. I believe that prejuv Larkin was bragging about one with a water massage?”

  “Larkin needs to keep his mouth shut,” she muttered. Hopefully he’d been discreet enough to use her competition name and not her real one. Dove and Jeena had been quite clear about that.

  Zander tapped his finger on the table when she didn’t move. “Did you come over here to tease me, or what? Because it’s very cruel to make an offer and pull it away.”

  “Right now, Zander, my only question is what’s in it for me?” The only true power women had in Vendel society was tied to their snarking lists, garnering favors as it were.

  Zander leaned forward and cautiously picked up one of the pads, watching her the entire time to see if she would slap his hand again. When she didn’t, he breathed out a sigh and gestured for her to have a seat. “Please, sit. I’m sure I can come up with something.”

  Elise sank into the seat and attached the pad to her hand.

  By the time she was done with the simulation, Zander gasped for breath. He wasn’t nearly so irritating afterward.

  “Damn, that was amazing.”

  She leaned forward to collect the pad from him.

  He placed a hand over hers. “Do you have time for more?”

  “Depends? How do my odds look?”

  His blush made her laugh. “Better and better. But I’m going to want to fly against you at some point, before I make any changes.”

  She shook her head and started to peel off the pad.

  He groaned. “Please? One more sim?”

  “You don’t need to fly against me to know I’m good, Zander.”

  “I know.” He sat back and glanced around the room. Several people had taken notice of them. “How full is your snark list?”

  “Getting long
er and longer by the day.”

  “I want a dedicated spot.”

  She pressed the pad back to his hand. “Done. I think you’re going to like this one.”

  His eyes lit up. “Really.”

  She nodded. “Oh, yes.”

  Her betting odds improved dramatically afterwards.

  Snarking fell short of virtual sex, but there was an undeniable degree of intimacy associated with the interaction. She managed to hack the snarking sim and drafted one of her virtual subroutines into service. While it managed the simulations, she practiced folding space and working on vectors and lines of force. It was the only time she could practice her growing understanding of WOR-skill without Gregor’s oversight.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Gambit, Day 239

  Gregor did not show up the next morning to take Elise out of the Fifth Rank training deck. She fretted in her quarters waiting. He failed to show up in the afternoon as well. When she escaped to the flight deck, late that night, she found what could demand the undivided attention of the ruler of worlds.

  Carek sat on the ground under Dove’s ship. The two silver medallions affixed to his temples flashed in the light. She couldn’t remember a day recently when he hadn’t left those discs in place.

  The mood on the flight deck seemed subdued. Machine noise filled the deck, and the thick scent of fuel and oil assaulted her nostrils, but the people hunched as they walked, whispered as they talked, and scurried as if hunted. A few had haunted expressions and eyes stretched tight with strain.

  Dove glanced up at the sound of her approach.

  Her smile turned to a frown as he shook his head. His shoulders sagged. He patted the ground beside him in invitation and she came to sit next to him. Carek’s eyes were drawn and his complexion pasty as if he hadn’t seen sleep in too many days. She felt the way he looked and hoped she didn’t look as worn out. It might give Gregor reason to ask uncomfortable questions. Carek’s green eyes, normally brilliant and full of life, were wan and subdued.

  “What’s wrong? Has something happened?” she asked.

  Carek took in a deep breath and his gaze flicked to her wrist, the one wearing his bracelet and Gregor’s scar. Elise swore Carek looked more at the scar than anything else.

  “We’ve lost Dunlaap,” Carek said.

  She glanced at Dove only because she had no idea what Dunlaap was and didn’t want her ignorance to show in her expression.

  Carek explained, “Dunlaap went silent last night, El.” He gazed into her eyes and she swore he tried to tell her something not meant for Dove to hear. She had no idea what Carek hinted at.

  “Larkin’s family is from Dunlaap,” Dove added.

  Elise kept silent. If she didn’t speak, one of them might fill in the blanks. What did it mean that Dunlaap went silent?

  Dove swore. “Damn it. Here we have nearly a thousand of those women on board and not one of them is of any use.”

  Carek’s eyes narrowed and he glanced to Elise. “The empire sent a large portion of our high ranking WOR to Dunlaap. Half of them went silent. There’s reason to hope. We believe they may have escaped into WOR-space, but not before the S’Lorek annihilated Dunlaap. We can’t raise anyone to know for sure.”

  The “we” Carek referred to was the Neural-Mind Conclave. Each time the First Rank WOR crept down the length of their WOR-drive construct, the Neural Mind on the Gambit was able to interface with the rest of the empire. Elise had learned that they took two such steps each day. Therefore, every twelve hours the Vendel of the fleet could keep their family, social, and business ties connected.

  “Do you think Emperor vlor’Malita and the Tender Conclave will be able to train the Earth WOR in time?” Dove stared at Carek and wrung his hands.

  Carek shrugged and turned the question to Elise. “What do you think?”

  Elise’s heart beat wildly at the directness of his question. The girls in her head squirmed. She shrugged and spread her hands out, palm up. “How can any of us know? But, he is vlor’ and gave his word to save us.” The last bit was a Vendel saying she had picked up around the flight deck.

  Carek coughed and stared at his feet. “Of course. Trust in the vlor’ and the emperor. He will see us through.”

  “Yes,” she said, “I’m sure he will.”

  “Absolutely,” Dove added. “They must be close to the Blood Rite, if not done already.”

  Elise fingered her scar. It itched like crazy.

  “Shouldn’t be long before they begin with the Binding Ritual. After they get control of those women’s minds and their abilities, we should be set.”

  Elise frowned at this. What does that mean?

  Carek dusted off the tops of his pants. “El, there’s no one flying today.”

  “Right,” she said, distracted.

  He stared at his feet and made several false starts before finally asking his question. “It would be a good time to see the am-net. Do you feel up to it?”

  Dove grunted. “Might as well.” He jerked his head toward his cousin. “Take a field trip, Chickadee. Few have the opportunity to visit the tank.”

  “I’d love to, but I’d like to check in with Lark first.”

  Dove raised a hand and shook his head. “Don’t bother. He might want to spend some time alone with you, but right now he’s in the pilot’s lounge and several bottles past oblivion. Jeena’s with him. I don’t think he would recognize you right now.”

  “Oh,” she said, feeling his loss. She knew what it meant to have lost your family.

  Carek leaned forward and touched her hand. His fingers brushed the silver chain and he smiled. Dove watched but pretended not to notice. Carek said she didn’t have to wear it, unless she was flying, but it seemed to make him happy when she did.

  It meant more to her than it should. She didn’t know what her feelings were for Carek, except she cared deeply for him. They had no future, but there was always hope.

  Or is there?

  The corners of his mouth quirked up in a smile and then drew down as he caressed the back of her hand. “Come, it’ll be interesting. I think you would find it a useful learning opportunity.”

  Elise tilted her head, but decided to go along. She really wanted to see the am-net. More importantly, if her little subroutines were infesting the Vendel mainframe, she wanted to check in with them directly and see how many had achieved their objectives.

  “Well, I’m yours for the day. Lead and I will follow.” Her words put a smile back on Carek’s face.

  Dove laughed. “Be careful, Chickadee. Most men would take that for promise of something more. Good thing it’s Carek. Right cuz?” He grunted and unfolded his legs. Dove stood and offered her a hand up.

  “And where would a man like me lead a woman like you?” Carek sighed.

  She grasped Dove’s meaty hand as he lifted her to her feet.

  “Go have fun, little chickadee. They’ve suspended all non-essential flights for the Two Days Mourning. I’ll see you later.”

  Carek stared at the ground.

  Elise watched as he shook his head, shrugged and sighed.

  He stood and held her in a penetrating stare.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, just thinking.” He extended a hand, which she took. “See ya’ later, cuz.”

  “Later, be good with my chickadee.”

  “Always.” Carek turned to her. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman. Let me show you my world, El.”

  “What’s with all the comments?”

  He sighed. “Just tired. We’ve been working extra shifts in the am-net. The Tender Conclave has commissioned a project and it’s taking a toll. They’re not the kind of people you disappoint, if you know what I mean?”

  She knew that well enough, but all she said was, “Oh.”

  He led her out of the hangar and through the network of Gambit’s lift tubes and pod circuits. He held her hand the entire way and walked like a man headed to his execution.

  “W
hat’s wrong?” She tried to draw out the normally exuberant man. “Is it Dunlaap?”

  He shook his head. “El, how do you intend for the jump-jet circuit to help with your sponsor difficulties?”

  “If I win, or even finish in the top ten, Jeena’s going to help me find a way to leave with the prize money.”

  “Sure, but how far do you think you’ll be able to get? Won’t he track you down?”

  “Maybe, but it’s a big empire. I’m sure I’ll be able to hide.”

  “Hm.” He fell silent for a time and they walked. He squeezed her hand. “You know, I could speak to him. Sort of let him know…well, I could stand up for you. I have some ability to put pressure on the average citizen. We could,” he paused, hesitant, “we could marry?”

  She stopped and stared at him, stunned by such a brazen remark. Vendel men never proposed. “I’m not looking to trade sponsors and I don’t want a knight in shining armor to rescue me. I’ll take care of it myself.”

  He stopped, bowed his head, then shook it. “By the gods, I’m a crazy man.”

  “God has nothing to do with it.”

  They walked in silence. Carek brooded and Elise fumed, confused over their odd conversation.

  Is this our first fight?

  He didn’t release her as he guided her toward a large set of white doors. Above, printed in bold letters, she read Am-net Neural Mind Conclave Headquarters. Conclave Members only beyond this point.

  She drew back.

  He pulled her forward. “It’s ok,” he said. “I’m your escort.”

  The large doors swished open. The entry was an exact replica of the outer foyer of the Confinement Deck, and had her pulling up short. Four men sat behind a white, waist high counter. Carek walked up and pressed his palm to a gel pad.

  “Hey, Telas. I’m bringing a guest in for a tour.”

  Telas eyed Elise in her red jumpsuit. He wore a green suit similar to Carek’s and smiled at her briefly. “The Master’s been looking for you. That High Tender just left and was looking for a status update. Master Varlen covered for you. I guess I now understand what kept you.” He gave Elise another long look.