Bianca sighed and continued, “He’s waiting and watching to see how far along Rockhurst really is. He knows we have a superior force if they don’t have fast FTL drives in the majority of their ships. It’s risky, but the reward is too enticing for him to pass up.”
“Consortium politics are fucked up,” Loch said.
“Yes, pretty much,” Bianca said. She turned to me. “Speaking of, are you going to tonight’s party?”
“No,” I said. One of the benefits of debriefing was I got a free pass to ignore all social obligations.
“Lady Rockhurst is hosting.”
I groaned. “Why did you have to tell me that?”
“Why does it matter?” Loch asked. “I thought you all had parties all the time.”
“We do,” I said. “But High Houses don’t actually host evening events all that often. There are four major events per year, once per quarter. The three High Houses each host once and the lower houses all contribute for the fourth event. Otherwise, the lower houses host smaller parties, and those events overlap, which means it’s rare for all three High Councillors to be in the same place at once. But when a High House hosts, everyone shows up.”
“So if Ada wants to speak to Lady Rockhurst and Lord Yamado, tonight is her best chance of catching them both in the same place until House von Hasenberg’s gala in four months,” Bianca said.
“I don’t suppose it’s a masquerade?” I asked hopefully.
“No, it’s not.”
“Nothing’s ever easy,” I sighed.
“Taking Loch would be a mistake,” Bianca warned. “He will be recognized. Diplomatic immunity can only do so much, especially in a foreign House.”
She was right, of course. But I doubted very much that Loch was going to be happy to be left behind.
Most of the dresses in my closet were two years out of style. I flipped through them and tried not to worry about Loch. He’d stormed off in a temper when it became clear he wouldn’t be able to talk me out of going. I reminded myself that the Devil of Fornax Zero could take care of himself.
I pulled out a long silk dress in soft gray. A simple sheath dress with a timeless silhouette, it would be as fashionable today as it was two years ago. I tried it on and, miracle of miracles, it still fit beautifully. A slit up to the middle of my right thigh offered a tasteful glimpse of skin and also allowed me to move unhindered. Strappy black heels completed the picture.
Using the bathroom mirror for reference, I twisted my dark hair into an updo. It took a few tries to get it right—I was rusty. I used to be able to put my hair up without needing a mirror at all. For makeup, I decided on deep red lips and subtle eyeshadow that enhanced the blue in my blue-gray eyes. I double-checked the settings, then hit the application button and closed my eyes.
At the beep, I checked my appearance in the mirror. The stunning, elegant woman staring back at me looked like a stranger.
I put on my bracelet and necklace, then found a clutch big enough to hold a small blaster. Members of High Houses weren’t searched, which meant nearly everyone carried some type of weapon. The unwritten rule was that it had to be discreet. I’d never been to an event where weapons were needed, but even so, House members liked the additional security.
I paced in the living room while I waited for Bianca, trying to get used to wearing heels again. Nervous energy fluttered through my system. I wished Loch was here to kiss me goodbye and wish me luck. And a small, vain part of me wanted him to see me when I was all dressed up.
When the doorbell rang, I opened the door to reveal a subtly furious Bianca in a gorgeous blue-black dress. Before I could say anything, she jerked a thumb over her shoulder with an irritated huff. Ian Bishop stood a few feet behind her, dressed in a black tuxedo.
“Father believes we need a security detail because of the war. And Director Bishop is apparently the only agent available in the entirety of House von Hasenberg, which seems like a massive security risk,” Bianca said with a pointed glare at the man in question.
Ian didn’t react. He merely watched Bianca with a predatory stillness that reminded me of Loch.
“If you’re worried about Vincent,” I said, using Loch’s cover identity, “then you shouldn’t be. He’s indisposed and won’t be joining us this evening.”
“I know,” Ian said.
I blinked at him in surprise. He must’ve seen Loch storm out because while the private suites weren’t under surveillance, the rest of the House definitely was.
Ian continued, “I am responsible for both of you. Normally you each would have an agent, but as I explained to Lady Bianca, we are short-staffed this evening. It will make my job easier if you stick together.”
Something was going on. House von Hasenberg had never been short-staffed in its history. Bianca caught my eye and nodded very slightly. She sensed it, too. But who was pulling which strings and why?
“Did Albrecht assign you to us?” I asked bluntly. That would at least narrow the players in this little drama.
Ian smiled, a barely there twitch of his lips, as if laughing at an inside joke. “No, Lord von Hasenberg does not concern himself with security details.” His expression turned serious. “I mean you no harm, Lady Ada. If you trust nothing else, trust that.”
“It is not myself that I am worried about right now,” I said. “I’ve been swimming in the shark-infested waters of the Consortium ballrooms since I was a girl.”
Ian inclined his head. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “He can take care of himself,” he said.
I knew it was true, but with Loch missing, the tension that had been riding me for the past week ratcheted higher. We were approaching a breaking point and I couldn’t see the cliff coming.
“I hope you are right,” I said. I held out an elbow to Bianca. “Shall we, my dear? We don’t want to keep Lady Rockhurst waiting.”
She linked her arm with mine and we headed toward the nearest transport pickup. “Do you have a plan?” she asked quietly.
“Yes,” I said. I didn’t elaborate with Ian stalking along behind us.
“Are you armed?” she asked.
“Of course. You?”
She nodded. She also wore her bracelet tonight. It seemed we both expected trouble.
The transport dropped us off in front of House Rockhurst’s public entrance. The gleaming building shared the metal and glass architecture of all of House Rockhurst’s buildings. A constant stream of people flowed through the entryway, but we bypassed the line and used the entrance reserved for High House guests. A guard scanned our identity chips then waved us through.
The gigantic ballroom’s soaring ceiling dripped with crystal chandeliers, and a wall of glass showcased the beautifully lit balcony and garden. Several panels had been moved aside to allow guests access to the cooler outside air.
Inside, the crush of human bodies threatened to overwhelm the air-conditioning system. Bianca clicked on a personal cooling field and the temperature around us dropped by a few crucial degrees. Ian trailed along behind us, a silent shadow.
“Lady Rockhurst first?” Bianca asked. Even standing beside me she had to raise her voice to be heard over the din.
I nodded and we joined the flow of people moving deeper into the ballroom. Finding Lady Rockhurst wasn’t hard—she was in the middle of an adoring group of people. Speaking to her was another matter.
I left Bianca and Ian on the edge of the crowd. “Move,” I said to the person in front of me in my most aristocratic tone. The man turned around to glare, then recognized who I was. He nearly tripped over himself to get out of my way. Smart man.
I used the same tactic over and over until I stood in front of Lady Rockhurst herself. She was coldly beautiful, with the signature blond hair and blue eyes the House was known for. She had to be over sixty but she could still easily pass for a woman in her forties. She wore a vibrant green dress that hugged her figure. Lord Rockhurst stood beside her, chatting with a business associate.
I di
pped into a shallow curtsey. “Lady Rockhurst,” I said. “Thank you for hosting tonight’s party. I hope your family is well.”
If looks could kill, I would be a dead woman. “You have some nerve, girl,” she hissed at me.
I smiled serenely at her. “Indeed. In fact, I would like to set up a private meeting with you.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” she said.
“That is too bad,” I said. “I had hoped to keep this a private matter between Houses, but I suppose I could release it publicly instead.”
She stepped closer. “You dare to threaten me?”
I was treading a dangerous path. Push her too far, and she’d eliminate the threat—namely, me. But if I didn’t push her far enough, she wouldn’t meet with me, which meant Loch’s clemency hearing would go nowhere.
“Of course not, my lady,” I said. “I am merely offering an opportunity to find a mutually acceptable solution.”
“To what problem?”
“Mayport,” I said quietly, naming the ship Richard attacked in his attempt to retrieve me. “I have the security footage.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “That is not worth my time.”
“Lord Richard has been something of a disappointment lately, but I never expected you to abandon one of your own, Lady Rockhurst.” I shook my head sadly. “I had hoped to resolve this quietly, but now I suppose I must go to the full Consortium.”
“Listen here, you little bitch—”
“Lady Rockhurst, I could not care less about what happened on board Mayport.” It was a lie, but she didn’t need to know that. “But not everyone will feel that way. All I want is a private moment of your time to discuss matters.”
Her expression turned crafty. “Perhaps we can also discuss how you aided and abetted the universe’s most wanted criminal, hmm?”
“I look forward to it,” I said honestly.
That threw her. She blinked before the mask slipped back in place. “Very well. You get fifteen minutes to persuade me not to just kill you and be done with it. My assistant will set it up.”
“Thank you, my lady,” I said. I curtsied again then melted back into the crowd.
One down, one to go.
Bianca met me at the edge of the crowd. She looked drawn even through her public persona. Ian hovered at her shoulder. “Well?” she demanded.
“She agreed to meet, but she’s not happy about it. Now let’s see if I can piss off another High House tonight.”
We made our way through the crowd to Lord Yamado’s group. I pressed through the crowd until I stood in front of the man himself. Lord Hitoshi stood next to him. Lady Yamado tired easily and generally avoided evening events unless they were official government events.
Lord Yamado was older than Father, his hair snow white, and his face was lined with age. I curtsied to him and his eyebrows crept up his forehead. Lord Hitoshi did not look pleased to see me.
“Lady Ada,” Yamado said, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”
I’d always liked Lord Yamado, but his son Hitoshi was another matter. “My lord, I am afraid I am here on business,” I said.
He became guarded. “I cannot help you,” he said.
I understood his concern. If he was seen talking business with me, it could look like he meant to throw in with House von Hasenberg in the war. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to play nice, but I took one more stab at it before pulling out the big guns.
“It is not about the war,” I said. “It is of a more personal nature.”
He shook his head. “I should not even be talking to you now, Lady Ada, as much as I regret it.”
I’d spent the ride over here trying to decide the wisest course of action. Rockhurst knew I left TSD Nine with a woman. Hitoshi would review the surveillance video as soon as he found Veronica was missing, so he would know that I’d helped her. Still, she was my friend and it felt wrong to use her.
“I recently visited Tau Sagittarii Dwarf Nine,” I said in a seeming non sequitur. “I would like a short private meeting with you to discuss what I found, nothing more.”
Lord Yamado’s expression turned faintly puzzled. Was it possible he didn’t know what Hitoshi had done? In any other House I would bet against it, but House Yamado always had been a bit of an oddity. Lord Hitoshi, however, knew exactly what I meant. His glare promised painful, deadly retribution.
“What did you find?” Lord Yamado asked.
“Perhaps you should ask Lord Hitoshi,” I said with a wave.
“Father, we should not discuss this here. And definitely not with her.”
“What have you done this time, Hitoshi?” Lord Yamado asked quietly.
“Why would you believe this little wh—”
“Watch your mouth, boy,” Yamado said sharply, cutting him off. The kindly grandfather look fell away as his temper woke. “Lady Ada is a respected member of House von Hasenberg and will be treated as such.”
Lord Yamado turned back to me with a suppressed sigh. “It seems I will be meeting with you after all, Lady Ada. Please call my assistant to set it up, but I would appreciate your discretion.”
I curtsied again. “Of course, my lord. I look forward to our meeting.” I fled before Hitoshi could make a grab for me. Ian might be up to something, but at least he was paid to protect me from people like Hitoshi.
Ian’s eyes narrowed at me. “Should I be concerned?” he asked.
I glanced over my shoulder. I could no longer see Hitoshi, which wasn’t as comforting as I hoped. “I might have made Hitoshi angry,” I said.
“How angry?” Bianca asked.
“Murderous,” I said flatly. “Perhaps we should mingle over there,” I said, and pointed to the other side of the vast ballroom. Hitoshi would have to be crazy to attack me in a public space policed by RCDF soldiers, but it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.
We worked our way around the edge of the room, stopping to chat with friends and enemies alike. A few brave gentlemen asked Bianca and me to dance, but we turned them down. Getting separated at this point seemed like a bad idea.
We were nearly to the far wall when Bianca stumbled and only Ian’s quick reflexes kept her upright. She went chalk white under her makeup and her pupils dilated until the black nearly swallowed her unusual golden hazel irises. “What is wrong?” I asked. I visually searched her for injuries but I couldn’t see anything amiss.
“They have Loch,” she said with a glance at her com. Ian swore viciously.
“What? Who? How do you know?” I fired off the questions too quickly for her to answer, but I couldn’t stop myself. I resisted the urge to shake her only because Ian looked like he might punch me if I tried it.
“Bianca,” I said as calmly as I could manage, “who has Loch?”
“Father,” she said. She looked up with a devastated expression. “He knows who Loch is. And he’s calling a meeting of the High Councillors to hand down the execution order.”
Chapter 29
Bianca’s information proved to be correct. A ripple went through the crowd as Lady Rockhurst and Lord Yamado made for the exit. The buzz of conversation climbed higher as everyone speculated about what was going on.
I turned to Ian. “You have thirty seconds to explain to me why I shouldn’t kill you where you stand,” I said. My voice sounded eerily calm.
“I didn’t know,” he said. “I didn’t tell Albrecht a damn thing about Loch. And I know it’s going to seem a little convenient now, but Loch is the one who asked me to keep an eye on you tonight.”
Ian was difficult to read, but I didn’t get the sense that he was lying. I nodded, accepting his answer for now. We would definitely be revisiting this conversation at a later point, once I’d hauled Loch out of danger. “I need to return home immediately,” I said. “Bianca, can you walk?”
She straightened and Ian reluctantly let her go. “Yes,” she said. She turned and headed for the door. “We’ll plan on the way. You won’t have much time.”
I
an sliced us a path through the crowd with sheer menace. A House von Hasenberg transport sat waiting for us at the entry. Once we were inside, it lifted off toward our House.
“They are holding Loch in the High Chamber,” Bianca said, looking at her com. “Father is waiting for Rockhurst and Yamado to arrive. Rockhurst is on her way but Yamado is returning home first, presumably to pick up his seal. What is your plan?”
“I’m going to get Loch back,” I said, “even if I have to break into the High Chamber to do it.” I rubbed my temples. “Have you learned anything else useful about that thing we talked about?” I asked. I couldn’t very well name the Genesis Project with Ian sitting across from us, but Bianca knew what I meant.
She shook her head. “Nothing definitive.”
Fuck. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. I wasn’t usually the praying type, but tonight I could use all the help I could get.
“If I don’t come back,” I said quietly, “I want you to release everything you have to the public. I’ll forward you surveillance footage from the Mayport, release that, too. And talk to Rhys and Veronica. They’ll have more info for you. You have the backup key to my files—it’s the same as our personal encryption key. I have a death folder full of relevant information.”
Bianca interrupted me. “You’re coming back.”
“I aim to,” I told her.
“You’re coming back,” she said again, more forcefully.
“Just in case I don’t, this is information you need to know. You are my backup plan, Bianca. If you don’t hear from me in an hour, release everything. You know information is my only hope.”
She looked sick to her stomach but she agreed.
“Are you planning to storm the place single-handedly?” Ian asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Do you think that’s going to work?” he asked.
No. “Maybe.”
He sighed and shook his head. “I can get you to the High Chamber, but I can’t be seen,” he said. “Once I get you in, you’re on your own.”
Polaris Rising Page 32