by K. B. Wagers
“Out!” I snapped, my patience gone. “We’re breaking for lunch early. You stay right there,” I said to Aiz as he started to get out of his seat. “Both of you.”
He and Mia shared a look but complied, and I waited until the doors had closed behind Fasé before slamming both palms into the tabletop.
“Would one of you like to explain to me why you won’t accept one of the other planets in the Farian home system for a settlement.”
“It is just as much our land as it is theirs, Empress,” he replied. “We have every right to be there.”
“They are never going to agree to it and it still doesn’t answer my question.”
“It does,” Mia countered. “You just don’t like the answer, Majesty.”
“Why would you want to put your people there in the first place?” I asked. “They will never get a moment’s rest.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” Aiz said, shaking his head as he got to his feet. “And in all honesty, Your Majesty, it doesn’t matter. Your job is to facilitate these talks, not understand our reasons why.”
“You asked me to do this, and I could make better arguments for you if I knew why.”
A smile peeked through Mia’s solemn expression. “You likely could, Majesty; however, it wouldn’t make any difference. Adora will not yield on this point, so we will take our home back by force.”
“You’re abandoning the negotiations?” Fear tightened my throat and I fought not to show it on my face. If they walked out? I couldn’t stop the worst-case scenarios from spinning through my head—images of Indrana at war were at the forefront, with the other human spaces not far behind.
“No.” Aiz shook his head. “Absolutely not. We agreed to this in good faith and will stay for as long as the Farians do so. But they will walk away first and then we will go to war.”
“All right.” I held in the frustrated exhalation until they left the room.
“He doesn’t give a shit about that land,” Johar said, unfolding herself from her spot in the corner of the room. No one had remarked on her presence. I’m not sure anyone had even seen her. Johar was very good at making herself unobtrusive when she chose to do so. “Well, he does and he doesn’t.”
“What?”
“That land he just spent an hour arguing with the Farians about. He wants it, but he knows he’s not going to get it and it’s strange that that doesn’t upset him at all. It doesn’t upset either of them.”
Johar scratched at her scalp, disrupting her short black hair. She settled into the chair Aiz had just vacated and mimicked his posture. Her legs were stretched out, and one arm looped over the back of the chair. Aiz had been sitting like that from the moment he’d joined us.
“I think you’re right about the Shen being unusually relaxed,” she continued. “This isn’t a man who is invested in the outcome of something. This is a man who’s killing time, who’s waiting.”
“Waiting?” I frowned, angry at myself for being distracted enough that I hadn’t made the connection. “For what?”
“I don’t know. Something. Whatever it is, he could give two shits about these negotiations, Hail.” She shook her head and gestured around the room.
“He wasn’t lying about sticking around,” she said, waving a long-fingered hand at the door. “But only because he’s pretty sure the Farians will back out first. You already know that.”
“I do.” Leaning my head in my hand with a groan, I dropped into my seat. “Shiva forgive me, they’re all liars. I could ask them how the weather is and get eight different answers, all of them wrong. What I don’t know is why the fuck they’re bothering with this show.”
“I wish I knew,” she replied. “It makes me uneasy, Hail. That rolling gut-level feeling where the job is a little too easy and the payoff a little too good, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah.” I mentally revised my tally of the members of my crew who were now feeling uneasy, and I did not like the results. “This is bullshit. A smokescreen. And he doesn’t even care enough not to telegraph it. The question then becomes how in the fires of Naraka do I get out of it without getting everyone killed and starting up a war that will engulf the entire galaxy?”
Emmory muttered a curse that I echoed.
Johar got to her feet and stretched. “I’m going to do some looking around. I’ll let you know what I find?”
“Do,” I said.
Johar nodded and loped out of the room. I shared a look with Emmory. “What have we gotten ourselves into?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Should we call this? Get out of here and let them fight it out? We could increase patrols for our freighters, pull things back to the empire as much as possible. Just wait it out?”
“If I thought it would work I’d be tempted to agree with you.” I bumped my shoulder into his on my way to the window, leaning both hands on the sill and staring out into the street below us. “But I can’t. The other human governments are expecting me to make peace here. Tomorrow I’m going to throw down in a roomful of aliens and tell them if they don’t come to an agreement, then all of humanity is prepared to defend ourselves with force if necessary.
“They dragged me into this mess in the first place, Emmy. We don’t know why, but we both know they’re not going to let me out of it without a fight.”
“That’s what worries me,” he replied. “I can’t protect you here. There’re too many variables, too many people. All one of them has to do is put their hands on you and it’s over.”
“If they wanted me dead—”
“Please don’t say it.” Emmory’s laugh was pained as he joined me at the window. “I know they could, Hail. And I don’t know why they haven’t. What I do know is you have a knack for making people want to kill you. In this case it’s all too obvious just how easy that would be for them.”
“The good news?” I waited for Emmory to look at me before I continued. “I’m very good at not only avoiding being killed, but killing people back. Now I have an entire military at my beck and call. If the Farians wanted a war with Indrana, they would have done it when I refused them the first time.
“And the Shen? They want me involved, so we can be reasonably sure they’re not willing to kill me? If anything, because of the epic shitstorm they know it would bring down on their heads.”
“I hope you’re right, Majesty. I really do.”
“Same, Emmory.” I rested my head on his shoulder for a heartbeat. “I never thought I’d say this, but I want to go home.”
After lunch on the fourth day, I stood with both hands braced on the tabletop as the others filed into the room and took their seats. I’d been building up to this all morning, pushing and prodding and even teasing the assembled aliens into agreement on the issues they’d presented. My biggest triumph was getting Adora to agree to speak with the Pedalion that evening about a place for the Shen on Faria, even though it had come with a heavy warning from her that they were unlikely to budge on the subject.
“I appreciate you all making an effort to come to agreements on these issues,” I said, gesturing at the screen behind me. The three glaring demands from each group were still marked as unfinished and I privately suspected they would remain so well after we’d concluded the negotiations. “Before we move on to them, however, I’d like to take a moment to let you know about humanity’s requirements from these peace talks.”
The Farians and Shen shared confused looks across the table before Adora spoke up. “Your Majesty, I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t,” I replied. “Because throughout this entire mess none of you have thought about the death and destruction you’ve brought to us. For whatever reason, you chose to bring your fight into our sectors of the galaxy instead of keeping it away from us as you have done for thousands if not millions of years. Don’t interrupt me.” I held up a hand before Adora could speak. “President Hudson has been in touch with the other leaders and we are all in agreement on this—get your war out of ou
r space. Maybe we took your ships by surprise at the white dwarf binary star, but we defeated them and while we have no wish to go to war with you, we are not going to stand by and let our people become collateral damage in your war. The fight will go worse with all of humanity allied against you.”
“Majesty, are you saying you’ll go to war with us?” Adora asked.
“Humanity is not great at agreeing on things, but we have agreed that the next time your conflict costs human lives we will take up arms to defend ourselves.” I looked at Aiz. “Whatever your agreement is with the mercenaries, tell them to take the fight elsewhere.”
Aiz frowned at me. “We are no—”
“I don’t need an argument from you right now. I need understanding of the gravity of this situation.”
“We understand, Your Majesty,” Mia said, putting a gloved hand on her brother’s arm. “Fasé?”
“That works for me,” Fasé said, and looked at the others. “Honestly, the pair of you should never have taken this squabble out of our system in the first place.”
“How dare you,” Adora snapped. “You are nothing more than a child. Stop acting like you understand.”
“She understands what needs understanding, Adora.” This was the first time Sybil had spoken during the negotiations, and the weight of her voice carried through the room. “She may be young, but she sees more clearly than those whose eyes have been clouded by too many years of hatred and anger.” She folded her gloved hands in front of her and looked from Adora to Aiz and back again. “You both know what’s coming. You both know what must be done. But you have let your egos and your obstinacy throw you into this death spiral.”
Mia seemed shocked by Sybil’s words, looking to her brother for guidance. Aiz lifted a shoulder, a sad smile peeking through his beard. “You are not wrong, Máti, but I chose this path and I will stay on it to the end.”
“Even if it means the end of everything you hold dear?” Sybil laid her hands on the table, palms toward the ceiling. “Fires lay waste not just to the things we want to burn down, Brother, especially when they get out of control.”
“There are some things that deserve to burn,” Aiz said, his gaze flicking to Adora.
“You don’t have the firepower to challenge us,” Adora spat, coming up out of her chair and slamming both hands on the tabletop. “If you did, you’d already have done so. Stop your pretending, Aiz. You are a murderer and a heretic, and the best thing you could do for your people is show them how to be properly penitent in the face of the horrors you’ve committed!”
“Horrors?” Aiz laughed, the sound sharp and painful as he got to his feet. “You are a fine one to speak of horrors, Adora. You and the Pedalion traded your souls to those butchers you call gods so long ago you’ve forgotten anything remotely resembling mercy. How many have you murdered? Can’t you hear their screams? Can’t you see their faces when you close your eyes?”
The others surged to their feet, chaos descending on the room as the two groups shouted at each other in Farian and in Shen. Fasé sighed, shooting me an apologetic look as Sybil put her head in her hands. I got to my feet, waving a hand at Fasé to back away from the table, and she touched Sybil on the shoulder as she and the twins got to their feet.
Snagging my tablet, I passed it along to Zin. Alba had followed my lead without question and I pushed her behind Zin for good measure.
“Enough,” I said. No one looked my way—they were all too lost in the argument, whatever it was. I wondered how long I had before they started pulling gloves off and trying to kill each other. The thought of my BodyGuards in that kind of deadly trap pushed me into motion.
I shared a look with Emmory, whispered an apology to Ambassador Zellin, and pulled my SColts free, aiming them at the massive chandelier. The reports themselves were loud enough but nothing compared to the crashing of several hundred kilograms of glass and metal into the middle of the table. It buckled under the impact, sending both Farians and Shen scrambling for cover. I stayed where I was, turning my head and lifting an arm to protect me from the spray of debris.
“I said that was enough.” I holstered my guns. “You will all shut up right now. That is your second warning, and I promise you, you don’t want to see what happens if I must issue a third.” I let my gaze linger on each of them in turn before I exhaled and smiled. “Though, warnings aside, I believe that’s enough for today. Go cool off and we’ll start again tomorrow.”
They all stared at me in shock as I brushed the dust off my jacket and turned to go.
“Furthermore, I expect you all to behave yourselves at the function the Galactic Relations Department is holding for you this evening. Some of you are several thousand years old; try to act like it.” I turned and left the room, Emmory and Zin following behind me.
41
You shot the chandelier out of the ceiling.” Hao grinned at me, Dailun beside him already trying to hold his laughter in and failing. Gita was staring at me with a shocked expression I hadn’t ever seen on her face, and Ambassador Zellin had her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking with what I hoped was laughter and not tears.
“They wouldn’t stop yelling,” I replied. “And the gloves were going to come off after that. I wasn’t about to leave my people trapped in the room with a bunch of raving aliens bent on killing each other.” I flung a pillow at Dailun when he finally burst into laughter and then dropped onto the couch.
I covered my face with my hands. “I really am sorry, Ambassador, and I’ll pay for the repairs.”
“It’s fine, Your Majesty. Honestly, if we had the room I’d be tempted to just leave it as it is. It would serve as an excellent warning.”
Lifting a hand I shot her a look, entirely sure she was making fun of me, which was both a relief and more than a little strange. “If only the Shen and the Farians would pay attention.”
The couch shifted as Hao sat next to me. “You’ve made some incredible strides in the last few days, sha zhu. Don’t discount those. And remember, you’re not going to fix this problem overnight. This is just the first step.”
“When did you start being logical and shit?”
He chuckled. “I’ve always been the more reasonable of the two of us.” He patted my wrists until I dropped my hands. “I followed the money trail as far as I could go. I think she’s finally happy with the proof.”
“Gita?”
My Dve nodded. “It checks out. There isn’t anything more we can do until we figure out how the Shen are getting the money. Every trail dead-ends before we can get to the source.”
“There’s a man I think can help who’ll be at the party tonight. I’d like to come with you if it’s all right,” Hao said.
I nodded, but glanced at Emmory. “Will it be too dangerous?”
My Ekam shrugged. “I doubt it, Majesty. We’ll be on Solarian territory with their guards. The mercenaries won’t make a move, at least not without some serious blowback.”
“It’s easier to meet my contact there,” Hao said. “It’ll draw less attention in the long run.”
“All right, you can come. Do you have clothes?”
Hao snorted. “Please, do I look like an amateur?”
“Go away.” I waved a hand at the door, surprised when he obeyed. Gita followed him and I allowed myself to pretend that her shoulders were a little less stiff as they left the room.
“Keep your desire to meddle in that to yourself, Majesty,” Emmory said.
I gave him my most innocent look, the one that had fooled hundreds of guards and thieves over the years. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
My Ekam gave me the Look in return. “They’re sorting it out on their own; let it be.”
“Maybe.” I got up from the couch and smiled at Stasia when she entered the room. “Or maybe they won’t and I’ll have to help. Either way, it’s time to dress me up in my empress costume.”
Emmory rolled his eyes at me. “We’ll see you downstairs, Majesty.�
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“Majesty.”
I took Zin’s offered hand, holding my embroidered sari with the other as I stepped from the aircar. The heavy silk was embroidered with gold thread, the Indranan star shining brightly against the black. Stasia had woven my green curls into a bun at the back of my neck, and the delicate gold crown peeked out among the strands on top.
Hao offered his arm to Alba and threw me a wink as they fell into step behind me. We made our way to the tree-lined entrance beyond the gates of the Galactic Relations Department. The majestic building was part facility, part mansion, and tonight it was decorated to its fullest splendor. Lights streamed out into the soft summer night from a thousand hanging lanterns. The trees were still shedding their blossoms, so that with every slight gust of a breeze the air filled with what seemed like millions of pink petals.
Emmory was a solid presence at my side as we climbed the steps to where President Hudson waited with the Farians and the Shen. Adora’s contingent, anyway; Fasé and her people had decided to stay at the embassy for the evening.
The Solarian Conglomerate head looked distinctly uncomfortable at being trapped between the two aliens, and I may have paused halfway up the stairs to brush an imaginary something from my sari simply because I could.
“Majesty,” Emmory said over our com link as he bent to help me.
I smiled at him, straightened, and finished my climb.
“Your Imperial Majesty.” Chad’s bow was elegant, almost too extravagant when compared to the stiff nods I received from Adora and Aiz. “The press asked for a photo op, and both Itegas Notaras and Ms. Cevalla agreed.”
“Well, I’d hate to be the only person saying no,” I replied.
Gita slipped into the space Emmory vacated as President Hudson took my hand, and I glanced in my Ekam’s direction. He was speaking quietly to a slender blond man my smati identified as Arkos Juno, head of the Solarian Guard Service.
I ended up on Chad’s right side, with Adora next to me, and the smile on my face was perfect for the camera. The tension hummed through the air and if it wasn’t captured in the photo, those around us knew all too well what hung in the balance.