After the Crown

by K. B. Wagers

  “My apologies, Majesty,” he replied, dipping his head.

  “Shut up.”

  Garhi choked down a laugh while Salham just kept looking from Taz to me to Emmory and back again.

  “So, Christoph is responsible for this, yes?” I asked, leaning back and tapping my heel against the chair. “He had to have known you were meeting with us.”

  “It wasn’t exactly a secret,” Taz said. “He must have hoped you’d take it badly and have us arrested.”

  “He’s right about the first part,” I muttered. “What do you think his plan would be if I actually did that?”

  The silence stretched. Taz thought over my question for a while before answering. “He’d keep killing, Majesty. Try to make it look like it was the Upjas demanding our release. Abraham has left the capital. There’s no one but me right now to speak for us.”

  I swore under my breath, but Taz continued.

  “He’ll likely keep at this even if you let us go. The man is insane. He wants you and every matriarch dead, and he wants the empire in ashes. He’s not someone you can reason with or negotiate with. He won’t stop until he’s won this fight or he’s dead.”

  “And even if we kill him, his followers will carry on. I know how these people work.” I swung my foot to the floor with a thud. “So you’re telling me there’s nothing I can do.”

  “There is. You probably won’t like it.”

  I arched an eyebrow and stared at Taz for a moment. “Everyone out.”

  The younger Upjas got to their feet, and my BodyGuards headed for the door. Taz didn’t move. Emmory didn’t move.

  Life was back to normal apparently. I waited for the door to close before I gestured at Taz to continue.

  “Let us go. Let us handle this.”

  It was my turn to stare at him with wide eyes. “You want me to authorize you for some kind of gang war in the streets?”

  “I would hope it doesn’t come to that. We’ll do what we can to avoid bloodshed. There are more of us, Majesty, and we know Christoph better than your people.”

  Rubbing my hand over my face with a sigh, I looked up at the ceiling. The gray stones varied in color, making them easy to count from one tip of the arch to the next. I reached 103 on the halfway point before I shook my head.

  “I can’t, Taz. I can’t ask you to take care of my problems for me.”

  “If you’ll pardon my bluntness: You already have a war to fight, Hail.” Taz glanced at Emmory, but my Ekam didn’t comment on the familiarity. “It’s going to take everything you have to get up to speed on the Saxons and keep the empire safe. I know Christoph. I know how he thinks.” Taz got out of his chair. “Ekam, may I approach?”

  Emmory raised an eyebrow at him but nodded, and Taz knelt, putting a hand over mine.

  “Let me do this for you, for Indrana. We were a good team once.”

  “We were, weren’t we?” I murmured. My thoughts were spinning in circles, but my hand turned itself over without command to link my fingers with his. “Please keep our people safe.” I met his brown eyes, hoping my “Please keep yourself safe” was clear enough on my face.

  “I will do whatever is needed, Majesty.”

  I cleared my throat, untangling my fingers from his and feeling suddenly awkward about the whole thing. “I want someone with you. Emmory, could we steal Captain Gill and her squad?”

  “I’ll check when she gets here, Majesty. I already called to see if Sergeant Terass was nearby.”

  I shook my head as Taz got to his feet. “That was kind of you, but she won’t be able to help him. Taz doesn’t respond to Farians. I’m surprised you didn’t know that.”

  Humanity had started to believe we were truly alone in the universe when the Farians made contact. According to them there were more races out there in the vastness of space, but they didn’t venture this far to the Milky Way’s outer edges.

  The Farians though were driven to explore. Their unique ability to heal or kill with a touch was the touchstone of their beliefs as well as a biological drive.

  Humans, as it turned out, were perfect for a race that needed to heal. Our fragile bodies provided the outlet for energy that would otherwise burn a Farian up should they try to hoard it. However, one in every million humans didn’t respond to the Farian touch, and Taz was one of them.

  “It’s all right,” Taz said with a smile and a shrug that had him putting his hand on his side again. “I don’t think they broke anything.”

  “Majesty, if you’ll head back to your rooms with Cas I’ll finish up here?” Emmory suggested as he opened the door.

  I nodded and followed him through the doorway. Alba was standing in the hall with that look on her face. The one that I recognized meant she had something important to talk to me about. So rather than argue with Emmory—again—I gave the Upjas a final smile and headed off down the corridor.

  “Majesty, I have a message from Ambassador Toropov requesting dinner this evening if it’s convenient.”

  “Has he been under a rock all day? Tell him to pick a time when my people aren’t being killed in the streets.”

  Alba blinked at my sharp tone but nodded. “Verbatim, Majesty, or should I soften it?”

  “Verbatim, we’ll see what he does with it.” Jaden Toropov wasn’t the sort of man to commit such an unbelievable faux pas, and I wondered just what he was up to. “Alba, let the networks know we’ll be addressing our people this evening around 20:00. I think we’ll do it from my office.”

  “Do you want me to start writing something, or would you prefer to do it yourself?”

  “You can start it; I’ll probably edit before I go on though.” I stopped in the hallway and waited with Indula by my side while Cas and the others cleared my rooms. When it was safe we headed inside. “Cas, I want those guards who can’t listen in here now.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Alba moved to the couches, already composing a speech with her smati. Contrary to what I’d said, I probably wouldn’t have to fiddle with it all that much. I flipped the news onto the far wall and stood with a hand over my mouth as the reports filtered in.

  “How do I respond to this?” I whispered when Emmory joined me. “How can I possibly respond to this without sounding—” Words failed me and I waved a hand helplessly at the wall. “I’ve been here a month, Emmory. How can I lead them through this horror?”

  “You can, Majesty,” he said without looking away from the newscast. “Captain Gill is going to shadow Tazerion and report back about his plans. He agreed to wait to take any action until you were informed.”

  “I’m surprised you got him to agree to that.”

  Emmory shrugged. “I may not agree with him, and I certainly don’t trust him, but he was right about knowing Christoph better than any of us.”

  “And he’s got more people on the ground. How many places did they hit us?”

  “They detonated explosives in four spots around the capital, including the one at the palace gates: two restaurants and one park.”

  “I want someone on Matriarch Zellin.”

  “It’s already done, Majesty.”

  I paced, trying to keep the walls of my rooms from closing in on me as my brain spun for a way to cope with all the horror. The capital was still reeling from the explosion at Garuda Square, and now there was more death.

  Had I brought this on my people? I shook my head before I’d even finished asking the question. Christoph and the others had been gunning for the throne before I got here. Don’t wallow in a bunch of useless self-pity, Hail, it won’t accomplish anything.

  “Majesty.” Cas came into the room with a man and woman in tow. “Matriarchs Desai and Hassan were very helpful. After a review of the footage it was determined these two were the ones who misheard your orders about proper treatment of our guests.”

  “Yes, my orders. Which were what, exactly, Cas?”

  “Detain the Upjas, but don’t harm them, Majesty.”

  “Don’t. Harm.
Them.” I watched the pair flinch with each clipped word. “And yet my guests were harmed. Who has an explanation for me?”

  “None, Majesty,” the woman said, keeping her eyes on the floor. “We reacted rashly and we apologize.”

  “Apologies don’t mend broken bones,” I said. “I’ll be drafting a letter of reprimand to put in your files. Be thankful you are not my Guards or you’d be out on your asses.” I looked at Cas and jerked my head toward the door.

  He led them out.

  I crossed to where Alba was sitting and leaned against the table. “Okay, what have you got for me?”

  “Take a look at this.”

  My smati pinged as Alba sent the draft over.

  “I thought if we started with something soft and then raise the volume it would have more impact.”

  I nodded. “I like it. Move the second line here and add in ‘the tears of the empire’ to the bit before that.”

  “Yes,” Alba said. “Are we still using terrorist?”

  “Without hesitation,” I replied.

  9

  We kept my address to the empire short and sweet. I managed not to snarl too much, even though my seething gut wanted to swear vengeance for those who’d died.

  You are no longer a gunrunner, Hail, and hasty words start wars.

  Wars were something I’d had too many of already. Taz had been right about that, and I was now grateful for his offer of assistance. We were only two days out from the bombings and already the Upjas had subdued two different bands of Christoph’s terrorists. The fact that they’d turned them over to Captain Gill without any complaint had even impressed my Ekam—at least a little.

  The next day I was sitting in my office with Caspel and Admiral Hassan, finally hearing some decent news about the 2nd Fleet problem. My office was shielded from listening devices, but we still had Emmory’s jamming system on to be safe.

  “There are twenty-eight ships under Admiral Shul’s command.” Admiral Hassan threw the descriptions up on the wall.

  There were seven Nadi-class carriers, each capable of holding sixteen smaller Jal fighters. Two Asvin medical frigates. Ten Jarita-class battlecruisers with enough firepower to level a comparable force. And nine Sarama destroyers.

  Caspel stood and tapped on the various names of the ships as he spoke. “According to my operative, eight of the battlecruisers, including Admiral Shul’s flagship, one of the medical frigates, three of the craft carriers, and six of the destroyers, are crewed by officers who seem sympathetic to Christoph and his position. There’s a chance of a mutiny on at least one of the other craft carriers, but my operative is attempting to contact the captain of that ship and let her know her XO is suspect.”

  Admiral Hassan nodded her dark head. “I know several of those captains and commanders personally, Majesty. They are loyal to you.”

  “I’m so tired of dancing around this issue with him.” I tapped my fingers on my knee. “Let’s get Shul on the line, Admiral. See what he has to say to me.”

  “Ma’am?”

  “Call him, Inana. I want to see him lie to my face.”

  Caspel cleared his throat. “With apologies, Majesty, but I can’t let you jeopardize my operation. If you tip him off too soon, before we have things in place, it could result in the loss of your supporters.”

  “Damn it, Caspel—”

  “Excuse me, Your Majesty.” Alba broke in, not quailing from the sharp look I sent her. “President Hudson of the Solarian Conglomerate is on the line for you.”

  “Took him long enough to get around to calling,” I muttered, and Hassan choked on a laugh. Confronting Shul was going to have to wait. I looked at Hassan. “Notify who you can, as carefully as you can. Tell them to keep an eye on Shul and be prepared for the worst. I want you two to cook up a viable reason to recall 2nd Fleet home without tipping our hand.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Hassan snapped a sharp salute. I nodded at her, and she turned on her heel. Caspel followed her out, closing the door behind him.

  “Throw the call up on the wall, Alba.” I smoothed the wrinkles out of my shirt but stayed in my office chair. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed that Emmory would be visible, standing in parade rest just behind my right shoulder. I rolled my neck, nodded at Alba, and pasted a smile on my face as she opened the connection.

  “President Hudson.”

  The president of the SC Council was an older, distinguished-looking man with pale skin and silver hair. I caught the flicker of his eyes toward Emmory before he composed himself and smiled at me with the slightest tilt of his head. “Empress. It is a pleasure to speak with you even though the circumstances are so somber. On behalf of the Solarian Conglomerate, allow me to offer my condolences for the loss of your mother and the recent difficulties.”

  I wanted to laugh at the ridiculously careful phrasing, but instead I settled on a cool look. “Our thanks, President Hudson. It’s been a troubling time for Indrana. The recent attacks both here at home and on other worlds of the empire is heartbreaking. It is a disappointment to us that the Saxon Alliance would violate the peace treaty that has stood for so long.”

  President Hudson didn’t bat an eyelash, but I heard the gasps in the background. My people were silent and for that I was grateful.

  “That is terrible news, Empress, though the accusations against the Saxons are unfounded. We haven’t heard anything from the Solarian consulate on Major, and one would think had anything happened in violation of the treaty they would be the first to say something. I would caution you to think of your people in this time of grief. Hasty measures for revenge don’t make for good business.”

  “And fomenting dissent in my empire doesn’t make for keeping peace treaties, President.” I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him the look that used to scare the pants off hardened gunrunners. It worked just as well on politicians, because bright spots of color appeared on President Hudson’s cheeks and the conversation behind him grew in volume.

  “Empress—”

  “Let us be very clear here.” I switched abruptly to the more formal royal we. “When we find the proof linking the Saxon Alliance to this plot, we will pass it along to you. But the Indranan Empire is no longer a member of the conglomerate and has not been for fifteen centuries. We do not need your approval when making decisions on matters that affect our people. We wish to continue our good relations with the Solarian Conglomerate, but we will not sacrifice lives or territory to maintain those relations.

  “We appreciate your call, sir,” I said with a sweet smile. “However, we have things that must be attended to and we’re sure you do also. Have a nice day.” I waved a hand at Alba, who cut the connection before President Hudson could come up with a reply.

  Alba exhaled.

  I glanced at her. “Too much?”

  “No,” she said, surprising me. “Though hopefully you didn’t give him a heart attack.”

  “There are plenty more old men on that council to take his place.” I rubbed at my neck and turned in my chair. “Emmory, thoughts?”

  My Ekam raised an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes at the ceiling. It was apparently enough to prompt him as he moved back toward the door of my office. “It was harsh, Majesty, but well controlled. You’d do well to establish with them that you’re not some blushing young thing who will be bullied.”

  I snorted. “I’m not sure anyone would mistake me for a ‘blushing young thing,’ Emmory.”

  “If they haven’t read your file there’s always a chance.”

  “Alba, I think my Ekam is teasing me.”

  “He may be delirious from lack of sleep, ma’am.”

  The banter helped relax the shards of tension lodged in my back, and I actually laughed. “It’s his own damn fault for getting me into this mess. Alba, did we get a response from Ambassador Toropov?”

  “Not as yet, ma’am.”

  “Interesting.” I started to push out of my chair. “I’ve got a meeting with Alice in about an hour, d
on’t I?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Then an appearance at the arts center,” Alba said.

  “You’re letting me keep that one?” I looked at Emmory in surprise.

  “I figured you would fight to keep it, Majesty. Security will be tight, it’s not too much extra trouble.”

  I couldn’t speak past the lump in my throat. There was a memorial concert scheduled for the children and other victims of the Garuda Square bombing this evening. I had lobbied for it, had somehow talked Emmory into letting me go, and had been convinced that the newest wave of violence meant I was stuck in the palace.

  Busying myself at my desk, I struggled for the words but was saved by the ping of an incoming message. “It’s Alice.” I answered the call.

  “Majesty.”

  I nodded. “Judging by the look on your face, we’re going to need to reschedule our meeting?”

  She nodded. “Something has come up, Majesty, I’m terribly sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” I waved a hand. “Usually I have to pass out at an important meeting to get some free time. Get with Alba and she’ll reschedule you.”

  “Yes, Majesty.”

  I closed out the call and bounced out of my seat, drumming my hands on the desktop, unable to contain my delight. “A whole three hours to myself, it’s unprecedented.”

  Alba cleared her throat. “I almost hate to say it, Majesty, but I just received a message from Ambassador Toropov. He says he is at your disposal whenever it is convenient.”

  “Bugger me,” I muttered, falling back into my seat. “Don’t you dare laugh, Emmory.”

  “I would never, Majesty.”

  “Liar. Alba, tell him to meet us in the library in twenty and order some food from the kitchen.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I waited until she was out the door before I got up. “Emmory, I’m going to ask Trace for a meeting.” If I’d learned anything over the last month it was that my Ekam hated surprises and if I wanted him to agree to things it worked in my favor to fill him in ahead of time.

  Trace Gerison was the king of the Saxon Alliance. He’d inherited the position from his father, who’d been killed in a naval battle shortly after my father had been assassinated. For a while it looked like Indrana would take the upper hand in the war. But Trace, even at seventeen years old, was a far better strategist than my grieving mother.