Bright Star

by E G Manetti

  With a nod, Lilian displays the additional numbers and unmistakable pattern.

  “Jurian?” Solomon voices again, seeking the opinion of the other seigneur.

  “It bears investigation, I grant you,” Jurian replies huffily with a hostile glance at Lilian. “Although the notion they are dead seems farfetched. Just as likely, they found better positions.”

  “In the citrus plantations?” Solomon challenges.

  “Nothing requires they remain in the Southern Continent or even on the planet.” Jurian’s shrug dies half born as the warrior straightens in his chair.

  The Crevasse masters are suddenly unnaturally quiet, motionless. What is it? Lilian cannot fathom the sudden change in mood.

  Narrowing his eyes at Solomon, Jurian demands, “Do you accuse me of poaching Southern workers?”

  What? Wait. What? I am the foundation of my family. Poaching skilled Crevasse workers predates the Anarchy. Once Vistrite was consolidated under the rule of the Fourth Warrior, such practices were forbidden, but never eradicated. There is too much to gain from the marginal increases in Vistrite production provided by skilled labor.

  Isolated in the Sixth System, Desperation does not fall prey to poaching. In her obsession with fraud, traitors, and conspiracy, poaching never occurred to Lilian. She has erred. Lackwit. Lackwit. Lackwit.

  It is well for Lilian that Solomon is diligent and does not hold her in disdain. For a certainty, she has made an enemy of the master of Southern and displeased Seigneur Jurian. While Jurian denies corruption and the Southern master denies negligence, it is likely that Solomon’s investigation will find both men at fault, and both warriors will be rebuked and fined, along with the complicit Metricelli Deuce masters. Even if Jurian was ignorant of the actions of his masters, he is accountable.

  “Lilian!” Katleen’s sharp tone rouses Lilian from unhappy recollection. They have passed the flat area where Katleen practices wind sprints.

  “My thanks, Katleen, I was lost in thought.” Lilian turns back as she speaks. “Six this day, you are ready.”

  Ignoring Katleen’s disbelieving gaze at the addition of another sprint, Lilian sets the pace, encouraging her sister. “That is four, sweetling. Two more and you are done. Do not flag, keep the pace, almost there, only one more, no, do not slow, final burst for the finish. Very well done.”

  Bright red curls springing from a queue in imitation of her sister’s, Katleen is half bent over, pulling wind, while Lilian slowly circles and monitors the passersby, who all are happily indifferent to the sisters. After a few minutes, Lilian speaks again. “Come, sweetling, it is time to walk. You do not wish to stiffen.”

  Reveling in the lovely weather, sweat drying, the sisters stroll along the paths they have recently raced toward the small fare stalls. Lilian relishes the brief rest by the river that has become their habit. She is about to discover that they are not quite as anonymous as she thought.

  After observing the duo for three sevendays, it is time for Trevelyan to satisfy his and Lucius’ curiosity and make the acquaintance of Lilian’s young sister. Positioning himself to reach the fruit and juice stall as the sisters arrive from the other direction, Trevelyan hails Lilian. “Well met, Mistress Lilian.”

  Startled, Lilian’s hand finds her thorn. Master Trevelyan? Lackwit. He resides here and it is a day to be out of doors. Releasing her unfounded fear and her blade, Lilian returns the greeting. “Well met, indeed, Master Trevelyan. May I make you known to my sister, Katleen? Katleen, I would make you known to Master Trevelyan of the Serengeti Group and Blooded Dagger Cartouche.”

  As is proper, Trevelyan, with his higher rank, speaks first. “Well met, Mistress Katleen.”

  “Well met, indeed, Master Trevelyan,” Katleen responds to the intimidating master spy with careful politeness.

  “May I know what you do here in the River Quarter on this lovely day?” Trevelyan smiles at Katleen’s solemn courtesy.

  “Lilian is training me to race. We have been coming for some sevendays now. The Garden Center parkland is closer, but Lilian prefers not be distracted by spitting and insults when training me,” the young girl volunteers.

  Gently stroking her sister’s hair, Lilian corrects her. “Katleen, sweetling, you are chattering. You have answered many more questions than Master Trevelyan has asked.”

  Training, indeed, Trevelyan thinks, and not only in racing. He did not fail to note Lilian’s instinctive reach for her thorn. What he says is “As you are here on this lovely day, please join me in some fruit juice. There is a table over in the shade. I will bring the drinks.”

  “Our thanks, Master Trevelyan, that would be welcome,” Lilian replies as she represses her discomfort at exposing the gregarious Katleen to the spymaster’s scrutiny.

  As Trevelyan moves away, Lilian murmurs, “Master Trevelyan is as diligent as Mr. George in his duty to Monsignor.”

  With a long-suffering air, Katleen drops into the near seat. “Lilian, I am not so foolish.”

  Reassured that Katleen will be careful in her speech, Lilian relaxes into the next seat. Truly, Katleen knows little that might bring harm. Master Trevelyan has proven a gracious ally. Lilian will not be discourteous.

  “So, Mistress Katleen, is racing your only physical training?” Trevelyan asks as he sets the drinks on the small table.

  “No, Master Trevelyan.” With a quick glance at Lilian for nodded permission, Katleen expands on her answer. “Maman and Sinead’s Shrine are training me in Sinead’s Discipline, and twice a sevenday Lilian tutors me in the avoidance form of Adelaide’s Discipline. I am also training in Universal Balance, the physical discipline of the Universalists.”

  “I have spent enough time sparring with Mistress Lilian to know you to be in good hands for Sinead’s and Adelaide’s Disciplines, but how come you by the Universalist teachings?” Trevelyan is intrigued. It is unusual for warrior disciples to seek such training or for the Universal Way to offer it.

  At Lilian’s nod, Katleen is happy to expound. “I attend the Universal Way School in the Garden Center District. The master scholar did not require that I study either the Balance or meditation, but I enjoy them and Lilian said there would be no harm in it and likely some benefit.”

  “And do you find benefit in these teachings?” The spymaster pursues, charmed by the precocious young girl and fascinated by further evidence of Lilian’s unconventional tendencies.

  “Oh yes, the Balance techniques work very well with the warrior disciplines. I have no friends to compare with for my warrior skills, but I definitely excel at the Balance.” Katleen is openly pleased with her developing abilities and eager to establish her level with Sinead’s Discipline. Her acolyte group is drawn from all levels of society with wide variations in skill and training. It will be another season before relative achievement can be measured.

  “I have found it true that the Balance complements Adelaide’s Discipline, particularly the avoidance movement,” Lilian agrees. “A classic Adelaide Master would find my style somewhat unconventional.”

  “That adaptability makes for an able combatant, Mistress Lilian,” Trevelyan approves. He has been intrigued by Lilian’s combat style. This latest disclosure is a revelation. Where did Lilian acquire such experience? “The more you are able to integrate disciplines, the more difficult you will be to defeat. How is the Universalists’ discipline known to you?”

  Swallowing juice, Lilian is carefully casual in her response. “I had some acquaintance among the Universalists while I attended Mulan’s Temple.”

  Trevelyan is well aware that Lilian entered the great university on Artesia at fifteen and was educated there for nine years before she entered the Cartel. He is also aware that during that time, she mastered her area of excellence, analytics and problematics—customarily a thirteen-year course of study. The Universalists are well integrated into the university. Given almost a decade of study, it was inevitable that Lilian would have interacted with the Universalists and their belief sys
tem, which often runs counter to warrior discipline.

  Turning back to Katleen, Trevelyan asks, “And what think you of the meditation exercise?”

  Smiling happily, Katleen is quick to respond, “I enjoy the meditation as well, but for the music. It is praying without words.”

  With a gentle tug to a red-gold curl, Lilian gently teases, “That is because you hate the memorization that goes with the litanies. Although some scholars propose that the canons were originally set to music. You might have preferred them, then.”

  Teases? Lilian can tease? Trevelyan is as stunned as he is charmed.

  “I am the sum of my ancestors. I am the foundation of my family,” Katleen singsongs.

  “Katleen, that is quite enough. It is irreverent and I am certain Master Trevelyan is familiar with the Warriors’ Litany.” Lilian’s indulgence of the young girl does not extend to Shade irreverence.

  “I beg pardon, Lilian. I should not have mocked,” Katleen offers contritely. Then, irrepressibly, she adds, “It is Lilian’s favorite prayer.”

  “Katleen, if you have finished your juice, we should be returning home, the bells are passing.” Lilian has revealed as much as she wishes this day. Turning to Trevelyan, Lilian continues, “My thanks, Master Trevelyan.”

  “My thanks as well, Master Trevelyan,” Katleen echoes.

  “Please, permit me to escort you to the transport stop. It is on my way.” Trevelyan’s curiosity is not yet satisfied.

  As Katleen slips between Trevelyan and Lilian, the spymaster represses irritation at the need for such rigid protocol. He will not be able to fully exercise his curiosity. As much as Lucius, Trevelyan would like to know how a woman raised in a sheltered environment owns the resiliency to survive a trial designed to drive her to self-slaughter and the fierceness to fend off violent assault. Resigned to his frustration, Trevelyan asks, “How is it that you were able to enroll Katleen in a Universalist school? It is not a common practice.”

  As common a practice as a herd of sheep raising a wolf. Do not voice that.

  “I was surprised myself, for I know it is not,” Lilian responds carefully. Although Lilian’s brief relationship with the Universalist, Andreas Chiang, ended in discord, Lilian is certain he would have aided her if asked. She could not ask. By then, she knew she would be apprenticed to Lucius Mercio. Contacting a former lover could void the contract before it was formed. Nonetheless, Andreas is well connected within the Universal Way. It is possible he had a hand in the arrangement. At the time, Lilian was too relieved to question Katleen’s admission to the Universalist academy to prod at it. She has no wish to discuss Andreas and even less desire to set the spymaster on him if milord has not. She will not lie, but she need not voice suspicion. “They have been very kind. I believe it may be that our situation is so at odds with their tenets that they are attempting to balance the universe with their kindness. Truly, I question it little. We would be in difficulty indeed had they not taken Katleen.”

  With that, they arrive at the transport stop and part ways.

  Sevenday 40, Day 1

  “She is a charming young girl and Mistress Lilian is very protective of her.” Trevelyan collects a towel, his bout with Lucius complete. “She may well share Lilian’s athleticism. If Mistress Katleen is truly excelling at the Balance Way, having only recently come to it, it is quite an achievement.”

  Following Trevelyan into the showers, Lucius remarks, “You remind me, Trevelyan, I would know about a Universalist by the name of Andreas Chiang. He would have attended Mulan’s Temple during the time Lilian was resident. Discover all you can.”

  Given the intrigue surrounding Lilian’s history with Damien St. Gervais, Lucius considers it prudent to know a little more about the other man in her past.

  “No need, Monsignor. I know Andreas Chiang well, or I did. He is the master scholar of Ancients Studies at Mulan’s Temple. What would you know of him?” Trevelyan is curious at the turn of the conversation.

  Master scholar? The mental image of another callow youth is banished as Lucius assesses this latest revelation. Not a fellow student, but a master scholar of an esoteric area.

  Few in the modern age are interested in the time before the Anarchy. What little the Five Warriors salvaged from the ruins became the foundation of modern society and its achievements. Lost artifacts of an extinct civilization are at best a curiosity. The pursuit of them is of limited commerce value. Nonetheless, master scholar of any academic department is a position of importance and requires decades of diligence.

  A slender, pensive academic replaces Lucius’ mental image of another Damien. Lilian continues to prove exceedingly unconventional. It also appears her judgment improved with age. Unlike St. Gervais, the master scholar had been willing and able to provide aid.

  “That would account for Katleen’s placement in their school,” Lucius notes. At Trevelyan’s puzzlement, Lucius adds, “Chiang and Lilian were known to each other at one point. Apparently he continues to stand friend to her.”

  “That being the case, Andreas’ mother would certainly have been of assistance,” Trevelyan responds obliquely.

  In response to Lucius’ frown, Trevelyan concludes, “She is the Holy Mother of the Universal Conclave.”

  »◊«

  At least on this occasion I have retained my nape ties. Lilian hastens after milord as he crosses the distance from his office to his conference chamber to the sound of the first-bell chimes. Nape ties notwithstanding, there is no question that the group that rises at Lucius’ entrance knows exactly what was occurring behind the scarlet door but a few minutes gone. Ignoring Nickolas’ predictably cold gaze, Lilian’s eyes meet Chrys’ while Seigneurs Marco and Rachelle greet milord.

  Dismissing the formalities, milord takes his seat as Seigneur Solomon enters with the final chime. As soon as milord settles, Masters Trevelyan and Simon and Protégé Irina quickly take their places to Rachelle’s left. Across the table, Nickolas sits down next to Seigneur Marco while Solomon slides into place between milord and Marco.

  Blooded Dagger tradition holds that the Vistrite seigneur is second only to His Preeminence. Although he denied it to Jurian, Solomon is well aware that with the advent of Bright Star, Vistrite is momentarily eclipsed. It is a situation that does not appear to trouble Solomon, whose elevation to milord’s vessel for all matters Vistrite is also due to Bright Star. Solomon acknowledges milord and then flashes a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgment at Lilian standing behind milord’s left shoulder.

  At milord’s gesture, Simon produces a handful of small objects and places them before Marco, Solomon, and Nickolas. The half-dozen Vistrite crystals vary in size; two are flat disks common to transport controls, one is a nearly transparent wedge typical of slates, and three are slender rods used in lighting and premises controls.

  Nickolas, Solomon, and Marco gaze at each other in confusion. The precious objects are commonplace within the Cartel and do not warrant a review with His Preeminence. Shock replaces bemusement as Rachelle announces, “Two of these Vistrite crystals are counterfeit. Synthetics created in a Blooded Dagger lab. Are you able to discern which ones?”

  Lilian can tell from the slight stiffening in his shoulders when Solomon unerringly identifies the two counterfeits. Nickolas is still examining the objects when Marco rolls one of the three small rods to Rachelle. “Nicely done, but they lack the feel of true Vistrite. They will never hold.”

  “They are not intended to replace true Vistrite,” Rachelle assures Marco. “They are a supplement, an opportunity for market expansion.”

  A half period later, Nickolas hears not a word of Lilian’s precise explanation of the plans for the Western Continent fabrication facility and the small market trial. A riot of emotion is masked by an impassive expression as Nickolas lightly rubs a slender rod between his fingers. Synthetic Vistrite, the impossible made real.

  “Master Simon, will you confirm the Iron Hammer design for controllers?” The slender, black-clad ap
prentice politely defers to the technologistics senior associate.

  Months, this has been in play for months. Nickolas swallows against the unwelcome knowledge that Monsignor did not include him in a venture of such magnitude.

  Seconded to Marco for the early, secret stages of Bright Star, Nickolas’ pride in his accomplishment and his mentor’s favor was unparalleled. He yielded conservatorship of Desperation and the fisheries without regret, never having enjoyed those duties. When his mentor’s cowardly, tainted doxy was given a role in Bright Star, it roiled Nickolas’ innards, damaging his pride and threatening his most deeply held ambitions.

  Nickolas secretly delighted in Lilian’s abuse at Martin’s hands, a judgment Nickolas wished to render but was forbidden. Although astounded by Lilian’s demonstration of courage, Nickolas continued to adhere to the common conviction that her corrupt genetics would translate into an equally corrupt nature. She had no place in Serengeti or Bright Star. At best, she was no more than a powerful man’s indulgence.

  “Seigneur Rachelle, if the seigneur pleases, provide Seigneurs Solomon and Marco with the explanation of the tinting possible.” Poised, well spoken, correctly deferential, Lilian is a model of obedience and decorum.

  Neither a doxy nor a plaything. Nickolas is compelled to accept a truth he finds bitter.

  Nickolas knows he embraced Damien’s weak ploy to discredit Lilian because it suited his prejudice and ambition. For three years, Nickolas has met a senior kinsman at that warrior club at that time. It is well known. Even as he sent the recording to Lucius, Nickolas suspected the ease by which he had acquired the means to rid Serengeti of Lilian’s distasteful presence.

  Nickolas’ inept apology reflected his unhappy acceptance that his actions were driven by spite and not duty to Lucius. Although it galled him, Nickolas’ honor compelled him to offer contrition. Expecting Lilian to enjoy his shame, Nickolas was stunned by her graceful refusal to assign blame. Gallantry was not a trait he anticipated in a woman he considered corrupt.