by Alix Nichols
Sebi lifted his eyes at the judge. “Eia is in ruins, Lord Mahabmet. Prosperity should be our goal. It will lead to peace. The history of every planet in Xereill shows that.”
Lord Boggond snorted. “We must’ve read different history books.”
“I don’t know what you’ve been reading, Lord Boggond,” Sebi said, “But your plan would impoverish proficients and reduce menials to penury. They would starve.”
“Nonsense.”
“Nollan had numbers to show how close we were to the brink.” Sebi paused before adding, “And that’s why you had him killed.”
Lord Boggond scowled. “You may not believe me, but I didn’t. There was no need. His boring numbers—his whole uninspired candidacy—would’ve been nothing without your support.”
He could see in Sebi’s eyes that the man didn’t believe he’d had nothing to do with Dreggo’s disappearance. Well, too bad. For once, Lord Boggond was telling the truth.
“Anyway,” he said. “I didn’t come here to debate ideas with you. We need you to confess in public tomorrow.”
“Not happening.”
“Nyssa is alive,” he blurted.
Incredulity and joy filled Sebi’s eyes. “What?”
“You heard what His Grace said,” Ultek hunkered down in front of Sebi. “We have your sister.”
Horror replaced the joy in Sebi’s eyes. “You have her? In your b-b-basement?”
“Oh, I see you’ve heard about it.” Ultek stroked his mustache. “Unfortunately, she isn’t in my basement at the moment. She’s in lord governor’s.”
Sebi shifted his eyes to Lord Boggond.
“She isn’t in my basement,” he corrected Ultek’s inane statement. “Your sister is in my palace, in a lovely little room… with no windows. But she’s safe. I’ve had a staff of three looking after her for over a year now.”
Sebi remained silent but his face betrayed the turmoil the revelation had caused.
Good.
“My parents,” he finally choked out. “Are they in your palace, too?”
Lord Boggond shook his head. “No. My dear friend, Ambassador Sebi, and his beautiful wife are most definitely dead.” He pulled an appropriately solemn face. “Such a tragic accident. I’m still devastated.”
“What do you want?” Sebi gritted through his teeth.
Lord Boggond hesitated, looking for words.
Ultek had briefed Mahabmet and Heidd on the scheme, and explained it was the only way to get Sebi to confess. They seemed to understand. The problem was both men had been close to the Sebi clan in the past.
Judge Mahabmet had been a friend of the ambassador. Commander Heidd and Areg Sebi had been peers before the war, they fought against Teteum together, with Heidd becoming Sebi’s boss. Both Mahabmet and Heidd had chosen Lord Boggond’s camp, but… old friendships died hard.
He had to tread carefully.
“Let me tell you what I want, Sebi,” Chief Ultek, who was still crouching beside his prisoner, said. “I’d love to welcome your exquisite sister to my legendary basement. With His Grace’s permission, of course.”
Sebi’s bound hands balled into fists and his face reddened.
“I lost two girls last week, you see,” Ultek plowed on. “I’d had the lot of them do an extravaganza for me and a couple of trusted friends. Mmm.” He licked his lips. “Nasty stuff.”
A cord in Sebi’s neck began to throb.
Ultek lowered his lids, and his expression grew dreamy.
Then he opened his eyes again. “So yes, as I was saying, two of the women didn’t make it.”
In the dead silence that followed, Sebi’s face contorted with a wild mixture of hate, rage, and helplessness.
Judge Mahabmet’s blanched.
“Sounds like homicide to me.” Heidd narrowed his eyes at Ultek. “You’re the police chief. Shouldn’t you investigate and arrest yourself?”
Ultek blinked, furrowed his brow, then threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“You’re funny, Commander, you know that?” He stood up. “You should come over for dinner sometime. My wife and Cook can whip up a royal feast.”
The commander’s mouth twitched in a semblance of a polite smile.
“Prove it,” Sebi said, his eyes drilling into Lord Boggond’s. “I need proof that she’s alive. I need to see her.”
Lord Boggond smiled. “I expected you’d say that.” He turned to his head bodyguard. “Was the package delivered?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” The man held his commlet up. “I just got word.”
“Have her brought in.”
Five minutes later, the door opened, and Nyssa Sebi walked in, flanked by two of her minders.
Lord Boggond watched her halt and look around, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room. Well-groomed and dressed in trousers—which went to show how kind he was by allowing her to pick her clothes—the woman was easy on the eyes.
No wonder Ultek almost drooled, ogling her.
A pang of regret pierced Lord Boggond’s heart, as it did sometimes when he was reminded that no woman—or man—could stir his desire. He brushed that pang aside, telling himself it was better this way. With nothing to distract him, he could focus his full attention on what mattered most. On what he craved most.
“Areg!” Nyssa shrieked, spotting her brother.
She charged toward him and dropped to her knees, grabbing his face between her hands. “Sweet Aheya, what have they done to you?”
A long, tearful hug followed, punctuated by Nyssa’s whimpering and spitting out epithets like “those filthy beasts” and “monsters,” while her brother kept repeating like an imbecile, “So it’s true—you’re alive.”
“Mother and Father,” she said, stroking his hair. “I saw their bodies. They’re… They’re—”
“I know.”
“And you’re accused of—” She choked back a sob.
“Nyssa, grumpy pants.” He peered into her eyes. “You’re alive. That’s what matters. Are you well? Did they harm you in any way?”
She shook her head. “I’ve forgotten what privacy means, but I’m healthy and unharmed. No one has touched me.”
Chief Ultek rubbed his hands together. “Yet.”
Nyssa gave him a spiteful look before noticing—and recognizing—the high judge. “Judge Mahabmet! Please, you can’t be a part of this! You must help us!”
With a pained expression, Mahabmet turned away.
Nyssa’s eyes fell on the commander. “You! You’re with them? Against your best soldier? How could you? Traitor!”
Color drained from Heidd’s face.
“Lady Sebi,” Lord Boggond said, stepping forward. “The only traitor in this room is your brother.”
She glared at him. “You lying, scheming, murderous—”
“I’ll do it,” Areg interrupted his sister’s string of name calling. “You’ll have my public confession.”
Lord Boggond felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Grinning, he took a few steps toward his defeated opponent. “And you have my word that no harm will come to your sister.”
Areg Sebi curled his lip. “I want Commander Heidd’s word.”
“Areg, please, don’t!” Nyssa cradled her brother’s cheek. “It’s not worth it. These monsters don’t have any dignity left. You can’t trust their word.”
He turned toward Heidd. “Commander?”
Lord Boggond stared at Heidd hoping his top soldier wouldn’t let him down by withholding his word due to some weird military code of ethics.
Heidd opened his mouth. “You have my word, Lord Sebi.”
“You’ve made the right decision,” Judge Mahabmet rushed to Areg’s side. “Not only are you saving your sister, you’re also sparing yourself a second flogging and an atrocious death by impalement.”
“It’s settled, then. Time to say your goodbyes.” Lord Boggond motioned to Nyssa’s minders to peel her away from her brother.
“How will
I be executed?” Areg Sebi asked once his sister had been dragged out of the room.
“Either hanging or beheading,” Judge Mahabmet said. “I’ll convene the conclave of judges tonight for a verdict. But whichever is chosen, both methods are swift and relatively painless.”
Sebi acknowledged his reply with a small nod.
“If I were you, I’d pray for a hanging.” Ultek chuckled. “With any luck, you’ll get a hard-on and come from asphyxiation. That way, you’ll join your parents with a happy smile on your face.”
End of Excerpt
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