by Tyler Chase
“Stop it! Make it stop!” Crausin cried, balling his fists to his ears and pounding them against his head.
“I digress,” she said, resuming her efforts with more vigor. “So that’s two million credits, the Greshmore estate, and a Kimari ground car, limited edition.”
“In exchange, you will terminate this pregnancy, walk away, and never see my son again.”
She smiled, doubling her efforts. “Oh, yes. I’ll vanish like a bad dream in the morning’s light.”
“Hmm, you certainly attach great value to yourself.”
“I’m very good at what I do.”
“That might work with my son, but I’ve been through a hell of a lot more of you than I care to count,” His expression fell to disdain. “Therefore, I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty … you’re not that good.” He lifted her resolutely off his lap and arranged his pants. “I’ll give you one hundred and fifty thousand credits to never darken our doorsteps again. Take it or leave it.” He stood looming over her.
“Is that some sort of joke?” She said, twisting her skirt back into place. “I teased more out of that mental case son of yours.”
A smart slap turned her face.
“Mind how you refer to the son of a duke,” Edred warned her.
An angry red patch appeared upon her cheek, but she stood defiant. “I tell you I’m pregnant with your grandchild and that doesn’t faze you, but I call your son a mental case and you hit me?” Her eyes glimmered liked she’d just struck gold. “Oh, the stories I could tell about his sick fixation with his deceased mother or the constant murmured conversations he has with an invisible friend who, by the way, he shares me with. Yes, my dear Duke, your son is quite mad and the whole world will know unless you meet my price.”
He glared down at her, but his lips slowly formed a smile. “If I pay your price, what guarantee do I have that you won’t try to return and attempt to resume your love affair with my son?”
She chuckled tossing her head back. “Oh, I’ve spent my last days with Crausin grunting and fumbling all over me. Believe me, I earned every bit of the reward that’s coming to me. The little perve will have to find another green-eyed, redhead to play out his sick fantasies.”
At that, Edred’s smile stretched in a rictus grin. “A whore calling my son a pervert, now that’s rich. Very well, I’ll have the proper documents drawn up and have them sent to you by the end of the day tomorrow.”
“Splendid,” she said and wrapped her cloak around her. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, my Lord Duke.”
“Any parting words for my son?” he waved his hand, “in case he asks.”
She gave Edred a sidelong glance and nodded. “Sure, if he ever hopes to hold on to a woman, he should learn how to fuck like a man, stop being such a pussy.”
“Ha! No truer words to live by. Good evening, Meglyn Malvoy.”
Edred paused the video unable to hear the audio over Crausin’s damnable lamenting.
Tears streamed down Crausin’s red blotchy face. “Where is she? Where’s that fucking bitch? I’ll blow her god damned brains out.” He bolted out of the study before Edred could stop him.
By the time Edred caught up with him, Crausin had broken into the Duke’s hunting gun rack and was feverishly loading a high-powered blast rifle, all the while muttering vociferously to himself.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Edred asked, snatching the rifle away from him. “I put Meg on the first transport to who the fuck cares! The point is she is no longer on Nethic, and you learned a very valuable lesson. Never trust your heart to a two-bit whore.” Edred said, unloading the rifle. “Now go clean yourself up and try to see if you can go two seconds without bringing further reproach upon our name.”
Young Crausin turned still trembling with unspeakable rage.
“Oh, and for heaven’s sake,” Edred said, smacking Crausin across the back of his head, “keep your sainted mother out of your sick fantasies; you little pervert!”
Crausin hurried out of room and down the corridor out of his father’s watchful eye. “You knew. You tried to warn me about her,” Crausin cried. “Comron, why didn’t I listen to you?”
Crausin entered his own bedroom closed the door behind him and sat in the darkness though he peered intently as if listening to someone. “Why did she do this to me again? Why?” his voice burned with agony. “I gave her everything I had. It’s never enough to make her stay!” He pounded his fist against the wall. “I hate her. I hate you, Cristalla!” He ranted and raged, tearing his room apart screaming why didn’t you love me? Until his throat was ragged and his voice hoarse.
He slumped to the floor, exhausted and lost. But slowly his eyes lifted and he stared intently once more, listening to the voice only he could hear.
He nodded solemnly. “Yes, Comron, she promised me.” With green eyes wet and aglow, a tremulous smile formed on his lips. “I will bring you the dagger. And you will bring me Meglyn’s heart.”
***
“Holy shite!” Comron breathed out as he rested his brow on his hand, his elbows on his knees.
Vaush stared at him and rubbed his back. “What became of Meg? I find it hard to believe Edred let her go after she threatened to expose Crausin.”
“I suppose only the Chronicle could tell us, but I’d always assumed Crausin eventually found her and exacted his revenge.” He turned at Vaush’s gasp. “You find that surprising after what you witnessed. I can’t say she didn’t deserve it,” he muttered.
“Why do you think he killed her?”
“Because every so often he’d go into these spells where he’d grumble about not being able to wash Meg’s blood off his hands. He claimed that we killed her,” he looked at Vaush. “But it’s not true. Whatever happened to Meglyn Malvoy happened while I was still in diapers.”
Vaush exhaled in relief. “Well, I’m done. I don’t want to know what became of her. She was such an awful creature. The past usually manages to catch up with a person like that.”
Comron looked at her from the corner of his eyes. Did Vaush just justify murder? Were her sympathies with his family really running so deep so soon? Perhaps she could forgive his transgressions as well. Still it was a conversation he dreaded having.
He draped his arm across her shoulder. “It’s been a long day. Are you ready for bed?”
She sighed, and looked as emotionally drained as he felt. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 18
“My apologies, darling, but I’ve only fifteen minutes to spare,” Empress Vaush said as she and Comron hurried down the gold corridor of the Lion Palace. The privy council meeting had run over schedule and now she’d have to squeeze in Comron’s Vladostok briefing on the Hinter Worlds before rushing off to meet the Temple Enclave. “Now you were saying you’ve acquired another hedge fund venture, you don’t think that will rouse suspicion? Didn’t you say that subtlety was the key?”
“I hadn’t anticipated the Hegemony being this dense and slow to move,” Comron said, his long strides carried him to the door first. He opened it for Vaush, and they entered her private conference room. “They’re so focused on watching certain entities within Vladostok and Shingzhan that they’ve completely taken their eyes off more circumspect players. By the time they catch on, the damage will be done.”
Comron pulled out a chair for Vaush and then lowered himself into a soft leather one adjacent to hers.
“And Androv Cherkin, will he be your representative to the board for the venture as well?”
“He’s their man,” he answered. “Besides, he’s sharp and an expert in Vladostokian commercial law.”
“And you’ve thoroughly vetted him through the Chronicle Archives?”
He looked askance at her. “I wouldn’t be talking to him if I hadn’t. Vaush, do you know something about him that I don’t?”
She bit her lip as she pondered the matter. “I don’t know. I guess ever since the purge where we exposed all the Hege
mony moles in the Vladostokian leadership positions, I’ve been a little skittish about discussing such sensitive information with them. How do we know we’re dealing with authentic Vladostokians?”
“Relax, love,” Comron said, with only a hint of irritation, “I was very thorough. All the Hegemony agents have been flushed out. Cherkin is clean and, furthermore, he’s asking for a meeting between you and the Vladoskian Czar.”
Vaush drew back. “Surely, he understands the clandestine nature of my role in these negotiations. Any connection between us must be avoided at all cost.”
“Perhaps, but before they throw their full financial and military backing into the endeavor, they want a demonstration of the crown’s commitment to the venture. They need to hear it from your lips.”
“Ah,” she lifted her chin, “They seek assurance that you’re not some rogue agent writing cheques the throne won’t honor. You would’ve thought that exposing all the Hegemony spies within their administration would have been enough to earn their trust.”
Comron arched an eyebrow. “That convinced them of the seriousness of my intentions, but it did nothing to prove my actions are sanctioned by the crown.”
She crossed her arms. “Shinzhao didn’t require such assurances.”
“Because one of their own is the head liaison, the trust was inherent.”
Vaush nodded and gestured at him. “I defer to your judgment, arrange the meeting with Vladoskov. The sooner we convert the key players, the sooner we reinvent the game.” The corners of her mouth turned down in a melancholy fashion.
Comron turned toward her in his chair and asked, “That is what you commissioned me to do, is it not?”
“Of course it is. I just didn’t expect you to be quite so proficient at it. It’s almost scary the way you’re single handedly outwitting the Hegemony collective and undermining their monolithic hold on the system.” She slipped her hand into his and inclined her head. “You are my single greatest asset, Lord Comron Van Laven. It’s simply masterful the way you’ve maneuvered all the pieces into place, bringing to fruition my vision for the Empire.”
He looked away, lowering his gaze as if he took no pride in the accomplishment. “We’ve still quite a ways to go. So don’t go breaking out the champagne glasses just yet.”
Her eyes lingered upon him discerningly. It wasn’t like him to shy away from her praise, especially when it was so well deserved. “What is it, love?”
He heaved a heavy sigh. “Nethic. Earlier today, I had another call from Rhence. They blame me for Crausin’s increasingly erratic behavior. They’re begging me to come home to deal with it.”
“Oh.” Vaush’s stomach coiled into knots. She couldn’t bear the idea of him leaving for Nethic, but how could she turn a blind eye to his suffering?
“I can’t carry that burden any longer,” his voice was tight with resentment. “My life is here with you now. Why can’t they understand that?”
She closed her eyes and exhaled. “Darling, if you need to go for a brief visit, I understand. But I do worry for your safety. If you go, I’ll send Yaeger and his men with you for protection.”
“I’ll never be at Crausin’s mercy again. I’m impervious to his attacks, physically and telepathically,” he said tersely, as if the very notion were absurd. “My concern is that I couldn’t bear to be parted from you for any length of time. A day or two is hardly enough time to accomplish all that needs to be done there.”
The despair in his voice made her stomach roil. So connected were they now, his happiness was essential to hers and his grief could consume her. “I couldn’t bear our separation either, but you can’t ignore what’s happening on Nethic.” She clutched her hands in her lap and considered the only other solution. “We wouldn’t be parted … if I accompanied you to Nethic.”
Comron’s eyes rounded in surprise as he stared intently at her. He sprang from his chair and fell to his knees before her. “Vaush, would you? It would mean so very much if you accompanied me.”
His joy flowed through her, making her tingle all over with excitement. “Then yes, of course I will accompany you. I suppose this time I’ll have to be the one donning a disguise, lest the world hear that the Empress is visiting Nethic. My council meetings can be conducted via tele-com, as well as the others, those that cannot can be rescheduled. Will a week be sufficient time?”
He grasped her and planted a big kiss on her lips. “Yes, we’ll make it work. Thank you, sweet angel.” He rose to his feet and took her by the hands. “We must make the necessary arrangements immediately. The Winter Festival starts in three days. That would be the perfect time for our visit.” He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her once more.
“All right, all right,” she laughed, pushing him away. “I suppose it is about time you took me home to meet your family.”
Chapter 19
Yaeger was set to knock on the door just as Comron and Vaush reached it.
“General Yaeger, you look anxious to say something,” Comron said in a jovial tone. “Do be quick about it, the empress and I have plans to make.”
Yaeger cast him a look that seemed to question Comron’s sobriety.
“He’s just very happy,” Vaush laughed. “I know, it’s such a rare and strange sight to behold.”
“Right …,” Yaeger said, “I have an urgent matter. May I come in?”
Vaush glanced at her wrist chronometer and stepped back, allowing his entry. “You have five minutes, General, the Temple Enclave awaits.”
Comron closed the door behind them. “Let’s have it.”
“We confirmed the location of the bunker Grusonious spoke of. All indications say they’re hiding someone there, someone very important.”
Comron sobered instantly. “That’s exactly what we were hoping to hear,” he said. “How soon can you assemble an extraction team?”
“May I ask about the nature of the mission,” Yaeger glanced at Vaush. “Like who are we extracting?”
“In due time,” Vaush teased. “You didn’t answer the question, General Yaeger.”
Yaeger smoothed his hand over his brush-cut hair. “Eight to twelve hours. They’re Grusonious’ men, so they’re armed to the teeth. We’ll need to bring some heavy heat.”
“The size of the team?” Comron inquired.
“Based upon reconnaissance, I’d say five will do the job.”
“Make that six,” Comron said.
“Comron,” Vaush said in a no-nonsense tone, “don’t even think about it.”
“What and miss all the fun?” Comron chuckled.
“This isn’t a game. You could be killed,” she said sternly. “I won’t risk it.”
“Vaush, you know what this could do to advance your agenda. You gave me the reins now let me do my job.”
Her mouth set firmly and she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Think about it,” Comron pressed. “Personally pulling off this extraction will give me incredible leverage when dealing with House Ohmaz. I want them to remember my face and know that it was the throne that saved their royal asses when the Hegemony left them to die.”
Vaush groaned as she raised her eyes to the ceiling and Comron knew the argument had been won for she could not deny that saving the royal family of the energy empire would be huge. Especially when they learned that the Hegemony was the one who’d placed them in such a precarious, life threatening situation all in an effort to force them to do their bidding. They were a people of honor who repaid their debts and Vaush’s terms would be simple—stop settling trades in richya.
Comron frowned at the mischievous look in Vaush’s eyes.
“As usual, your logic is flawless,” she said to Comron. “But why should you boys get to have all the fun? Has all my daily combat training been for nothing?” She glanced at Yaeger. “Make it seven.”
“Absolutely not!” Comron protested. But Vaush simply turned and headed out of the room claiming she was late for the Temple Enclave meeting.
Chapter 20
The air was hot and thick even after nightfall. The smell of the placed filled Comron’s nostrils—dust, exotic spices, and shelon, the energy source and the very thing Ahmed had built their empire upon. Up ahead at the old military bunker, half a dozen guards dressed in the native garb kept watch over the entrance. Down and inside the facility, Ahmed’s family, his wife, their three sons and two daughters were held hostage by, according to the Hegemony controlled media outlets, a wild band of religious zealots bent on ushering in their vengeful Great Prophet.
But the Chronicle Archives told them otherwise. This was none other than General Grusonious’ operation. Yes, the Hegemony had sent in their attack dog years ago to train the local disenfranchised as freedom fighters to destabilize Ahmed’s world so that the Hegemony could rush in like saviors bringing peace and a new hand-picked regime. Once the Hegemony got wind that Ahmed was contemplating abandoning the richya and opening trade of shelon to multiple currencies decreasing the other world’s dependence on richya, they ordered Grusonious to step up the turbulence. Even that wasn’t enough. The kidnapping of Ahmed’s family was the final straw meant to bring Ahmed back into the fold.
To maximize the psychological terror, the abductors began throwing hoods over the servants who’d been taken along with the royal family and then publically executing them, letting Ahmed initially believe they were his family members.
Yaeger’s extraction team arrived on the scene just shortly after the last round of servants had been executed. Only Ahmed’s family remained now.
As they hunched down in the alley, Comron glanced down at the monitor showing the transport they’d arrived in hidden away safely. He’d argued with Vaush till he was blue in the face, but she insisted upon being present and being the one Ahmed owed his allegiance to. He thought he’d be forced to tie her down for her own good, but she finally agreed to remain behind on the transport and allow the extraction team to conduct the actual rescue.