by Lauren Dane
It had always been his assumption that he’d do just that. Until his father had clamped down harder and harder on the people. Vincenz had opposed such brutality, had pushed his father to see reason. To open up their society and award his people the freedoms they deserved.
But from the start, his father—and more notably, his father’s new advisors—had put into his mind that Vincenz was out to steal the leadership from Ciro. That Vincenz had been working on an assassination plot.
And then they’d created their own assassination plot to take Vincenz out. His grandmother had heard it and passed it to him and his mother. They’d wanted to hide it from Carina, keep her safe, but Vincenz had tried to find support to stay and deal with his father, but he’d been young and without the base he needed. He could have taken the Skorpios if he’d tried, but he hadn’t been sure if they’d have held in the long run. Most of them were addicted to the drugs his father’s people put in their food bars and were dependent on his father for their very survival. He couldn’t promise them anything until he was in power enough to find a way to end their addiction.
In the end he’d had to get out with a great deal of information in his head and enough credits to get him to the Waystation.
And then of course they hadn’t trusted him. Not for years. And he understood it on one level. His father wouldn’t have been above sending his oldest son to infiltrate the enemy. And now he was a different person than he’d been when he first arrived. Stronger in most ways. Certainly buoyed by his connection to Julian and Hannah. He’d return a different man than he’d left.
That appealed to him in ways he couldn’t quite put into words. He’d come back not having abandoned them, as had been whispered for years. But as the man who wanted to free them from the tyranny of the elder Fardelle.
He wanted to prove to his people that he hadn’t forgotten.
But did that mean he wanted to stay? To run a government that would be in tatters by the time Roman Lyons was done?
He’d told Ellis that he had to think. That he wanted to do what was best for the people of the Imperium and for those in Federated Territories too.
Whatever he did in the end, his father had to be eradicated. He knew that. Knew certainly that Ellis felt the same. There could be no peace with the man who’d so ruthlessly attacked civilians—his own and those of the Federated Universes. For the man who considered using biological weapons agents on his enemy, who’d let his own son die from those same viruses.
He was a Fardelle. It was his job to deal with his father. And so he would.
“I know this is hard.”
Hannah said this as she wrapped her things up, piece by piece, and put them into her pack. She didn’t look up, probably knowing he couldn’t handle her gaze just then.
“It is what it is.”
“That’s what people say when they don’t know how to say the difficult stuff.”
He snorted. Leave it to Hannah to just say it out loud. “Probably.” He paused. “It’s hard, yes.”
“I like it here. I like the way people dress. It’s like a bouquet of flowers.”
He cocked his head and realized she was right. Greens, reds, yellows and blues dominated the clothing so close to the religious holiday season. “At home they’ll also be dressed this way. I like that part. I’ve missed things. People.”
She nodded. “I imagine so.”
She didn’t push. Didn’t need to really. She understood Vincenz so well he often was humbled by it.
“I should very much like to see my mother again.” That had been very hard. Esta Fardelle had been a fierce protector of her children. She’d risked her life over and over for both Carina and Vincenz. He wanted to hug her, hear her soft voice, see her eyes, which were so very like his sister’s.
“I wager she’ll be delighted.” She swallowed, hard, and Vincenz knew she thought of her own mother, now dead, beyond one last hug.
“Whatever you need, you have.” Julian stood, strapping a knife to his upper arm and pulling his sleeve to cover it. His gaze locked with Vincenz’s.
He knew that too. Which is what made this part a little more bearable.
He stood. “Do you feel comfortable with the plans?” he asked Hannah.
She nodded. “I’ve got the map pretty well memorized. Yes, I’m wearing the dreadful vest.” She sent Julian a glance and he laughed as he sent the clip into place in his weapon.
“Good. They will kill you, Hannah. They’re trained to show no mercy.”
“I remember.”
He sighed, bending to kiss her quickly. “I know. It makes me feel better to remind you.”
“I know.”
“Let’s get moving. The sun has set and we’ve got a very short window to get to the portal before moonrise.”
He checked her pack and she let him without complaint. He checked Julian, who in turned checked them both and she held still for all their poking and prodding.
They headed out the back door of the house and into the field just beyond. It was growing season so the crops, a grain of some sort, were higher than their heads, giving the three of them great cover as they moved away from the town and toward the hinterlands where the private portal was.
Hannah liked it out in the middle of that field. Just the three of them; the sky burned overhead, heavy with stars. Vincenz had seemed to soften when they’d arrived. He’d taken in the stalls and Julian had stolen away to grab some of the tea cakes they knew he loved. She knew Julian would give them to Vincenz when he needed them most.
She remained quiet, humming in her head as she went over the plans over and over in her head. The last thing she wanted to do was to have pushed so hard to be allowed to come on this mission and then fail them in any way. So she kept her mouth shut and followed Vincenz. Julian was right behind her; the two of them would die to keep her safe, which terrified and exhilarated her all at once.
They loved her.
They’d both told her back in that cave on Asphodel. She’d held the knowledge close to her heart as they’d planned and moved ever closer to Caelinus. When this was over, they’d have to regroup to figure out their future when there was no more war. But she knew they would and that was what counted so much.
After what seemed like an eternity, the moon had begun to rise, so large in the sky above. It sent silvery gold light everywhere. Vincenz had told her they didn’t have night the same way she’d be used to, that the moon was so large and reflective it kept Monteh bathed in some kind of light most every part of the day. People had black-out curtains on their homes, he’d explained, so they could sleep. Businesses also used the same sort of curtains, she’d noted when she and Julian had gone to get a meal while Vincenz had met with his contacts the evening before.
They climbed into a small cleft in some rocks and up a rise only to climb down again and head toward a clearing off in the distance. Or so she thought; she couldn’t see much with all the trees around. But she believed Vincenz and so she continued to walk, grateful to Julian who’d taken on her physical training when they’d retuned from Parron. Her legs would have fallen off with all the hiking, jogging and full-out running they’d done since they left Asphodel.
She felt the swell of energy and knew the portal was near. How something like a portal could remain undetected she didn’t quite understand. The air and atmosphere as they approached the promised clearing was blatant, undisguised.
Vincenz held a fist up, indicating they hold in place and she stopped, Julian moving close enough to touch her back, reassuring.
“He’ll go ahead. Wait.” He whispered it into her ear and despite the seriousness of the moment, she shivered.
Vincenz came back into view some minutes later and she let out a breath she’d forgotten she’d been holding.
“Let’s go. There’s troop movement.”
Her heart pounded and she forced herself not to be alarmed. They’d take care of it. She’d follow directions and everything would be fine. That was her mantra
as they quickly got to the clearing and into the small transport that had been pushed from the trees just beyond.
It was very small.
She’d do it.
“It’s a short trip,” Julian said quietly as he took her pack and indicated she sit in a nearby jump seat. “Strap in.”
She did, ignoring her shaking hands as Julian stowed their gear and went back up front with Vincenz. They’d handle it and she would hold on.
Closing her eyes as Julian keyed the engines over, she went over the plan again. Over the way she’d find the virus and get rid of it. They’d toyed with the idea of her bringing a sample back. But it wasn’t totally safe. They didn’t know enough to expose those in the Federated Territories to such a danger. The scientist in her wanted to bring it back so she could create a vaccine. Wanted to see what they’d done so she could figure out a way to combat it. But that same scientist knew risks weren’t always worth it. The dangers here were manifold, the possible outcomes ghoulish.
So unless she could figure out how to do it and be as safe as possible, she’d destroy all the stocks of the virus and all the data she could find. After making copies for herself of course, to study when she got back.
Her stomach bottomed out as they entered the portal and began to travel. There wasn’t a whole lot of insulation on these small transports they’d taken through the private portals. As a result it was colder and far louder than the other transports they’d have taken were they using the public portals. There was nothing luxurious about the ship she was in just then, but at least she was there with them.
Minutes later they both came back with her. “We’ll arrive in less than two hours.” Julian pulled his shirt off and handed it her way. “Put this on. It’s lined and you’ll hold heat in better.”
“What about you?”
He rustled in his pack and pulled out another. “I have more than one.” He frowned a moment. “I don’t like it that you haven’t worn any of my shirts since our argument.”
“I’ve got one of your undershirts on. I wear it all the time.” She blushed. “I thought you’d notice.”
He laughed, the frown long gone. “By the time I get that close to your naked tits I’m not noticing if you’re wearing my undershirt or not.”
She unbuckled and stood to put the shirt on beneath her jacket.
Vincenz handed her a protein bar. “We’ve got some quiet down time right now. Eat when you can. Always think about your strength and make sure you can keep it up.”
She unwrapped and took a bite. “Thank you.” She tried not to curl her lip at the taste. Not horrible, but nothing she would seek out on her own if she wasn’t on some dangerous, top secret mission to the very center of the Imperium.
“When this is over, I’ll make you a dinner. All my childhood favorites.” Vincenz sat across from her and took her feet up in his lap as he ate one of the bars himself. “Ellis offered me my father’s job.”
She’d been about to accept his offer of that dinner with gusto when he lobbed out the bit about Ellis. Not that she was surprised. It made sense. Both that Ellis would ask and that Vincenz would want to chew it over before he said anything.
Julian raised a brow. “He did? And what do you think about that?” He realized he hadn’t ever really taken that into consideration and how silly it had been not to have seen it from the start. Who better to lead the new Imperium after they removed Ciro Fardelle than his son?
“I don’t know what I think. I’ve been working through it for a few days. I still don’t know. There are bound to be people who are highly qualified to take over. I haven’t been here for many years.”
Vincenz was the kind of man more comfortable with praising others than shoving his own praiseworthy events to the fore. He’d be an impressive leader, he was born to it. But then he’d be elsewhere. They’d work it out, no matter what.
Hannah’s gaze met his briefly before she turned back to Vin. “But you know your people. You were trained to lead. They’re bound to feel better about you than someone your father was close to.”
Vincenz shrugged. “He erased me from the public record. Disappeared me. All pictures and paintings with my likeness were destroyed. They may not remember.”
Julian realized that was part of the problem. “And you think they’ll have forgotten you existed.”
Hannah shook her head, her mouth set. “From what I understand of being disappeared, people still keep secret shrines to those they’ve lost. How do you assume they’d remember their cousin or a neighbor, but not the son of their leader who suffered the same fate their own have?”
Julian leaned back and let Hannah do the digging around Vin’s inner fortress. She had a way about her; it was impossible not to admire. Hells, he was wowed by it.
“But I didn’t. Their loved ones were shot in the head and dumped into a ditch. Or they went into a dungeon and were never heard from again. I’m alive.”
“Yes, you are. So why do you feel guilty about that? You’re alive so you can liberate them at long last, Vincenz. People have long memories. People in repressive regimes especially. I’m not saying you should do it, especially if you don’t want it or don’t think you can do a good job with it. But I’d never forget you. You’re real. Smart. Strong. Utterly capable and you’ve not only received training here, but in the Federation too. You are qualified to do your father’s job, without any doubt.”
Vincenz shifted uncomfortably but said nothing else for some time.
Chapter 25
Vincenz stood at the hatch of the transport for a while before he got the courage to open it. Out there was the place of his birth. Was the land he’d learned how to ride, fight, lead on. The people out there were his people in a way he’d tried to forget over the last years. But he never had. They were in his blood.
Hannah leaned forward and kissed his shoulder. No words; she knew they weren’t needed. Just that touch.
“Remember your training,” he said quietly and opened the door to the dark beyond and stepped out, sweeping the area quickly before he gave the all clear. Hannah hopped down and Julian followed, setting the cloaking devices around the transport. They’d developed the device just a short time before. They masked the energy signature of the portal and the ship. Hopefully it was far enough away from the palace that there’d be no need, but being careful was better than getting caught.
They had a three-hour hike. He’d briefed Hannah; she knew they’d need to keep moving and stood at his side, ready.
On the way, as he kept them hugging the long, low ridge ringing the plains where the palace lay, he went over the plans again and again. Trying not to think about the discussion he’d had with Ellis.
Discussion wasn’t really the word. Ellis had brought it up, let him know he believed Vincenz would do a good job, but had left the issue with him to decide.
The air there smelled like it did nowhere else in all the ’Verses. Clean, hot, dry earth. Sand, a little plains grass. Above the sky was brilliant with stars. The moon would rise soon enough and then a short while later the first of the two suns would rise and the day would become hotter and drier. Brighter. Until the zenith of the day when everyone but the heartiest of workers would head inside to break bread and have some ale and wait out the heat.
He wondered what they thought of the place. Wondered if he’d even want to know. Of course he did. They were two of the three most important people in his life. He knew his sister loved Caelinus as much as he did. Missed her terribly, made a promise to himself to speak with her when all this was over to get her opinion on whether or not he should take Roman Lyons up on his offer.
Nothing was simple. If he chose to stay, what would happen to Julian and Hannah? Certainly, Hannah could find plenty of people to help here. But Julian had a life back in the Federated Territories. A career with Phantom Corps. It wouldn’t be fair to ask him to leave that to come here.
And did he want to really?
He knew he didn’t want one of his fath
er’s cronies doing it. He knew he wanted this to be an opportunity for growth and good in the Imperium.
He shoved it from his head. He needed to be sharp for what was to come and dwelling on what ifs just then was stupid and dangerous.
And still he’d ruminated on it, at least in the back of his mind until they came to the spot they needed to stop.
He crouched and they followed. “This is where we head east. Up that hillside there. It’s dusty so be careful not to kick up too much or we could be discovered.”
Both of them nodded. Vincenz caught Julian eying her pack and wanted to laugh. She wasn’t going to let him take it. He caught the same thought flash over Julian’s features as they stood and headed upward.
He hoped the system of caves was still there and breathed a sigh of relief when it was. He led them deeper into the mouth of the cave before he allowed any light. The last thing they needed was to be discovered so close to their goal.
Counting his steps, he found the right depression in the wall and pressed in the appropriate places. Inside, he caught the click of the lock and the whoosh as the door opened inward. “Here we go.”
Hannah took an audible breath. Julian took her hand in his and kissed it.
“I’m all right,” she said, not sounding it.
Vincenz wanted to comfort her, enough that he was able to let go of his own anxiety to realize she needed to do this on her own. So he pushed his needs aside and settled for a quick kiss against her temple once he got them inside.
Once he’d got the door reset, they stood in the cool dark. Alone in the quiet. Each one with their own battle to fight. For some reason that made him feel better.
He clicked the torch on, taking a good look all around. Spider-webs told him no one had been in this passage in years. Perhaps since he took that last trip out of the palace and into freedom.
“Everyone ready?”
She nodded, eyes wide. Julian gave a short tip of his chin and they began, following Vincenz down the long, long passage back to the palace where all this began.