"Pressured into it, yes, he does." Tormano stopped as a frown flashed over Deirdre's face. She does not like Kai, but she refuses to believe the worst of him. I must be careful here. "He knows that I cannot continue many of my funding efforts ever since Victor Davion slashed his financial support of free Capella. Appointing Duke Peter as my liaison officer should help fund-raising as will, I hope, the presentation I wish to make to you."
Servants brought Deirdre and David fruit cups, and after a moment Tormano casually raised a hand. "I had not planned to eat right now, but that looks very inviting. If you don't mind, Doctor, I will join you."
Deirdre looked appropriately apologetic. "By all means, of course."
David plucked a grape from his bowl and put it in his mouth, then his eyes grew wide as he pointed across the table toward the window. "Birdies and deers."
The Mandrinn smiled as a male peacock spread its tail while a herd of small spotted deer meandered into view. "We have many exotic animals here. One of the programs I fund recovers and helps reestablish endangered species on war-ravaged worlds. I allow myself the luxury of having some of them here."
Deirdre reached over and dabbed the corner of David's mouth with her napkin. "You mentioned a presentation?"
"Ah, yes, I did. The presentation of a check in the amount needed for the MRI unit at your medical center. The ceremony will be somewhat formal and it will be recorded so that I can show it and some of the new pieces done on you to philanthropically minded individuals within the expatriot Capellan community. It is all private and small-scale—I know you are a person who prefers to avoid the spotlight. I would gather that is especially so here, on Solaris."
Deirdre's eyes hooded cautiously, though she kept her voice light. "Why should Solaris be special?"
The Mandrinn planted his elbows on the table, pressed his hands together fingertip to fingertip, then leaned forward and watched her from around his hands. "It is no secret, Doctor, that you knew my nephew on Alyina. At no time during your trip here or since your arrival have you asked after him. I conclude from this that you are indifferent or perhaps hostile to him, and that any publicity that might draw his attention to your presence on Solaris would be distasteful to you. Am I incorrect?"
"No, no you're not." She looked down and used her spoon to surgically dissect a piece of melon.
"Good, then we are allies in working for the benefit of people less fortunate then ourselves." Tormano pulled back as a servant brought him a fruit cup. "You will get what you want, and I will get what I want, and no one will suffer in the process."
David filled the silence with a whined question. "Mommy, can I play with the deers?"
"David, the deer are not toys."
"If I may, Doctor, the deer are quite tame and used to visitors." Tormano looked at the boy, then smiled at Deirdre. "He is such a bright, inquisitive child."
"Thank you, my lord." Deirdre ran her fingers through David's dark hair. "He is the true joy of my life."
"Yes, of that I have no doubt." Tormano chuckled as he popped a cherry into his mouth. "Intelligent, curious, and adventuresome. An interesting child." Placing his hands on the table, Tormano straightened up as though struck by an unexpected thought. "A most interesting child. In fact, my dear, David very much reminds me of my nephew Kai when he was about the same age."
Solaris City, Solaris VII
Tamarind March, Federated Commonwealth
Katrina's presence in the lobby of the Sun and Sword Hotel surprised Galen. He saw the security men around her and, standing in one corner of the lobby's marble checkerboard floor, a knot of giggling girls in Land Scout uniforms. He was definitely running late. "Forgive my tardiness, Highness."
Katrina greeted him with a smile, resplendent in her smart blue skirt and jacket. "Don't worry, Kommandant. I wasn't waiting impatiently for you." She threw him a covert wink, then added, "Mr. Chelsey's niece is a member of that scout troop over there and he's asked permission for them to make a presentation to me. I agreed and decided to do it here."
So the hotel manager can have the publicity, and the girls can be center stage in their home town. Galen smiled. "I understand." He looked down at his casual clothes. "It won't take me long to change. I stayed a bit longer than I should have. Kai was out of town again, but made arrangements for me to practice in the Penetrator Kallon has loaned him. I lost track of time."
"No matter, the presentation is waiting for the district scout leader." Katrina laughed lightly, but the sound died prematurely as a short, stocky man threaded his way through the security gauntlet to her. The man looked nervous, but when the security crew passed him through, Galen assumed he must be no threat to Katrina. Even so, he moved to his left to bring the newcomer into intercept range in case the IS men were mistaken.
The man bowed to Katrina. "Highness, forgive me, but I bring you a message from your cousin." He drew an envelope of ivory paper from the outer pocket of his mackintosh and held it out to her. "With his compliments, Highness."
Galen frowned. Cousin? There are only two families that Katrina acknowledges as cousins: the Kells and Ryan Steiner's line. Could that be a message from Khan Phelan? The instant the idea occurred to him, Galen rejected it. Catching the faint scent of flowers as Katrina opened the note, he wondered for another wild instant if this man had bluffed his way past the bodyguard phalanx to give her a love note. But Katrina's eyes were already flashing anger as she read the note and then immediately tore it in half. Galen saw not only that he'd been wrong but got a big clue to the identity of the sender.
Katrina focused her gaze on the messenger. "You are?"
"David Hanau, Highness, the duke's assistant."
"Then, Mr. Hanau, you can carry my reply to your master." Katrina tossed the torn message and envelope into a nearby trash receptacle. "Tell the good duke that I would sooner dine with dogs than accept his invitation to dinner. Do you have that?"
Hanau looked as if he would melt beneath her stare. "H-Highness?"
Galen took Hanau by the shoulders and spun him around to face the door. "Allow me to translate: Her Highness declines the invitation because she has no tolerance for treasonous agitators who have the blood of innocents on their hands." A light shove sent Hanau beyond the perimeter the security men had established, and one of them escorted him to the door.
When Galen turned back to Katrina, he saw that she'd been rattled by the encounter. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. And thank you for the help." She reached out and caressed his cheek. "Hurry, Galen. I am so impatient to have you by my side."
"As you command, Highness." Galen winked at her, then headed toward the elevators. One more day on this world, then it's back to Tharkad. He smiled as the elevator doors opened before him. And then we will never have to be apart again.
* * *
Kai Allard-Liao had arrived at the Sesame Inn intentionally early so he could be on hand to greet his guests. Walking through the restaurant he recognized a number of individuals from 'Mech battles on Solaris and, curiously enough, from his mother's court. Beyond the table where a Solaris fighter named Dick Thunder sat with a bevy of Asian groupies, he saw three men in the uniforms of the mercenary unit known as Khorsakov's Cossacks. Two looked enough alike to be father and son, while the third man's scarred profile was as unmistakable as it was unforgettable.
What would they be doing here? The Cossacks were famous for their almost fanatical hatred of Romano Liao, a hatred so intense that even Romano's death could not end it. The mercenaries had merely transferred their enmity to Sun-Tzu, Romano's son and heir. The Cossacks were from Tikonov, a world heavily populated with people tracing their ancestry to Russia on old Terra. Kai did not know the source of Nikolai Khorsakov's hate for his Aunt Romano, but he did recall having seen the man at court on St. Ives. He also remembered well how adamantly Khorsakov had vowed to oppose any Capellan aggression against the St. Ives Compact when Kai's mother hired the Cossacks for garrison duty.
> What struck Kai as odd about seeing the elder Khorsakov in uniform was that he'd recently read a news piece about the old man's retirement. Only an operation against Sun-Tzu could have brought Nikolai out of retirement, and his presence on Solaris meant Tormano Liao was playing with fire. Kai had thought his warning to Tormano was loud and clear, but perhaps his uncle's viewing the fight in the company of Duke Ryan Steiner had inspired him to make mischief.
I will deal with my uncle tomorrow. Tonight is a celebration.
Kai caught up with George Yang as the handsome Asian left a table filled with others in uniform—members of the Legion of the Rising Sun, if Kai remembered the insignia correctly—and bowed in greeting. "You seem to have a full house this evening, George."
"Word of mouth has been very good to our establishment. Many of your fellow stable masters have recommended us to their friends." George shook Kai's hand. "The mention in the newsfax today that you were hosting a party here had the visiphone busy from the moment we opened this morning. Many people are here to be seen, I believe."
"Your cuisine will bring them back." Kai followed Yang into the Dragon's Realm, where he saw that everything was perfect. The table was set with places for the dozen guests he had invited. Above each plate, between the wine glass and water glass, was a blue velvet box. Kai pulled a similar one from his pocket and handed it to George.
"I had fourteen of these coins struck in platinum. Twelve are on the table, one has been sent to my mother, and the last is yours in gratitude for all you've done to make this celebration possible." Kai watched as the man opened the box, then smiled. Similar coins minted in gold, silver, and bronze had also been released to the collector's market. Because the coins were limited runs, collectors were buying them up for much more than the metal itself was worth, and the profits were being funneled into Cenotaph Charities.
"You are most kind, my lord." George lifted the coin from the box, holding it carefully by the rim of the protective plastic case as he turned it over. One side showed Kai's profile and was inscribed with the date of the fight against Wu Deng Tang. The other side showed Wu's Cataphract. Kai would have preferred having the image of Yen-lo-wang to his profile on the coin, but because it was legal tender within the St. Ives Compact, Grand Duchess Candace Liao had ordered that her son's portrait be engraved upon it.
George bowed and withdrew as the first two of Kai's guests arrived. Wu Deng Tang bowed to Kai, then led a pretty, petite, and very obviously pregnant woman forward. "My lord, may I present my fiancee, Caren Fung. Dearest, this is Kai Allard-Liao."
Kai bowed to the woman, then took her right hand and kissed it gently. "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Caren. When Tang told me you would be joining us, I was very pleased to hear it. Cenotaph has a helicopter waiting on the roof in case your condition requires a quick trip to the hospital."
"That is very kind of you, but I regret that you should have gone to such expense."
Kai shook his head. "No expense: that's how I got here tonight."
Caren looked up at Wu, then smiled at Kai. "My lord, I came to thank you for what you did for Tang in the fight. I was not allowed to watch it, of course, but he has told me of the great honor and respect you showed him. You could have hurt him, but you did not. Thank you."
Kai shook his head. "An honorable and skillful rival always deserved to be treated with the respect. Besides, how could I harm him with your child so soon on its way?"
He turned and opened his arms to the table and vista beyond it. "Please, you are my honored guests." Smiling, he pointed toward Solaris City by night. "I promise you a tranquil evening with no surprises and no undue excitement."
Much later, the sheer irony of those words would echo again and again through Kai's mind. The next instant, as Kai looked from Caren toward the dark view of the city, took the top floor off The Sun and The Sword Hotel in a fiery explosion.
29
Solaris City, Solaris VII
Tamarind March, Federated Commonwealth
23 April 3056
Mandrinn Tormano Liao smiled as Nancy Lee guided Peter Steiner-Davion into the room. Still in a state of shock, Peter seemed not to notice Nancy's smile, and his eyes barely flicked up when Tormano offered him his hand. Excellent, he can barely think. So much the better for what I need.
"Please, Duke Peter, forgive me for insisting that our first meeting take place so soon after the tragic death of Kommandant Cox. I wish it could have been otherwise."
Peter's lifeless handshake satisfied social convention and gave Tormano a quick indication of the depth of Peter's apparent depression. "There is no problem, Mandrinn Liao. I should keep busy."
"Please sit. Nancy, I would like some tea. Highness?"
Peter frowned in thought, then nodded. "Tea would be fine."
Tormano watched calmly until Nancy had left the room, then he turned to Peter. "Forgive me, my lord, but I sense much discomfort in you. If I may be so bold, might it be that you wonder why your brother has left you here, on Solaris, in a dangerous situation, while your sister has been whisked away back to Tharkad?"
The younger man's gray eyes showed their first spark of life. "Are you a mind reader, Mandrinn?"
"No, no, not at all. Were I such, you and I would have no need for this meeting." Tormano leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees, with his hands clasped together. His voice quieted to a confessional tone. "It is just that I used to wonder the same thing when my father abandoned me on a world in the path of your father's juggernaut almost thirty years ago. The question ate away at me, sapping my strength and weakening my spirit. It left me wondering why my own sire, my flesh and blood, wished to consign me to death. It is a dreadful thought."
"It is, Mandrinn, it is that." Peter stared down at his hands.
"What gnaws at a man is the question of motive," Tormano went on, a grim smile of satisfaction twisting up the corners of his lips. "And once I had the key, everything fell into place and I felt, for the first time, that my eyes were truly open."
Peter looked up, his gaze searching Tormano's face for the answer. "What did you decide? Why did he do it?"
"Jealousy."
"You are a mind reader, and you must have read my brother's." Peter leaned back in his chair and forced a laugh. "What makes you think this?"
"Is it not obvious?" Tormano arched an eyebrow at Peter. Clever boy, you want me to praise you. Are you that vain and also that vulnerable because of it? "You are doubtless too modest to mark all the reasons your brother would envy you. On the most basic level, of course, you look more Hanse Davion's heir than Victor ever did. He has the classic Steiner coloration—pale and washed out. On Katrina it is quite fetching, but it only makes Victor look weak. You, on the other hand, have your father's ruddy coloring and his red hair. Your imposing stature and deep voice also give you an air of command that few men, noble or otherwise, possess. You remind me of the days when your father was a young man and no one even dared to contemplate waging war against the Federated Suns."
Tormano fell silent as Nancy arrived with the tea and poured for each of them. He noted with satisfaction that Peter watched her every move and gave her a smile when she noticed his attention. Wounded pride always makes molding inexperience so much easier. Distractions help as well. Nancy let her hand brush across Peter's shoulder as she withdrew, as if she had read Tormano's mind and conspired with him.
Tormano opened his arms wide. "Of course, physical appearance is mostly beyond our control, which the wisest among us realize and accept. I would have thought your brother wise enough not to worry about those things he cannot change."
"Victor is not half as wise as he needs to be, nor a quarter as wise as he thinks he is."
"You know him far better than I, Highness. But anyone can see that it is not merely your appearance that makes you a leader. Your successful efforts at conservation and the incident in the tavern on Lyons ... Yes, yes, I heard all about that and, quite frankly, it was one of t
he things that gave me heart when I learned your brother was sending you here. You dared take a stand in a situation that was hostile to you, and you won your enemies over. That is a rare ability.
"Victor, on the other hand, seems to react to situations rather than act to head them off." Tormano frowned and shrugged his shoulders. "You are different, a leader, one who inspires. Your presence on Lyons kept its people from declaring openly for Ryan Steiner. Your surviving the assassination attempt mocked the Free Skye Militia's efforts to destroy you. It made you very strong and people began to look up to you. And then your brother reacted to that situation."
"Hence my exile to Solaris, where assassins can get close enough to place a bomb in my sister's suite." Peter's eyes reflected a trace of fear. "If he wanted me dead, he should have just shot me."
"It might have occurred to him, but he has uses for you. He cannot afford to have you as a rival and so he sends you here to keep you from achieving the same kind of military success that catapulted him into the spotlight. Everyone know that if Victor had not fought so well against the Clans, your parents would have passed him over as heir."
Peter smiled graciously. "It must gall you that my brother's victories were won through the unsung efforts of your nephew."
"Victor's neglect of the Sarna March troubles me even more than that, Highness." Tormano shook his head. "He mocks us both, to his detriment and possible danger."
Peter sipped his tea, then watched Tormano through narrowed eyes. "What danger?"
"It is good we come to this, because it is what I wished to speak with you about. I have received word that a Capellan Confederation unit is staging on Shiloh for an attack on the Federated Commonwealth. The unit is the newly formed Harloc Raiders commanded by Wu Kang Kuo. I can show you the report." Tormano raised his hand and beckoned Nancy into the room. "Nancy, will you please get a copy of the Harloc Raiders report for the duke here?"
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