Industry & Intrigue

by Ryan McCall

  Alrich Kerr, the aging, managing director of Green River Engines, was telling him about the cutthroat business dealings he and Cormac had engaged in during their younger days

  Luthais tried to drone the old man’s voice out and stared into his goblet of wine. They were nothing but parasites. Trying to leach off the death of his father and win their way into his sister’s good graces by praising the bitter, old man.

  They had twisted the memory of his father into something other than what it was. His father was no saint and unlike the rest of these fools, death wasn’t going to make him say anything good about the man.

  The same man who had beaten him as a teenager whenever he made an accounting error, dressed him down and humiliated him in front of his older sisters, and had once swooped in and stolen a Yarali duchess he had been trying to seduce. His father had taken her to bed himself to teach his him a lesson in humility. Luthais said no words of praise at his father’s funeral and he was finding it hard to stomach them from anyone else.

  But his sister did know how to throw a party. She had the caterers and decorators transform the entire western wing of the fourth floor. Black and white roses covered the top of every door, the main room was packed with tables of food and a dance space was cleared out in the center with a band playing somber music.

  And the guests she had invited were prestigious. Not surprising considering their father’s prominence and the influence of the Mordain name. Councilors, corporate leaders-allies and rivals alike, mages, generals, and dukes of the noble houses.

  Luthais had even spotted the Queen of Estara herself, with vigilant bodyguards of course, but he had no interest in speaking to her. He could care less about politics. No doubt his sister would expect him to introduce himself to the queen, she cared so much about formalities.

  Luthais refilled his wine and looked around. Despite the impressive scale of the wake, he wasn’t enjoying himself. His idea of a party was far different than this. He would prefer to be with his friends from the other upper-class families, at one of their country houses with barrels of liquor and girls willing to do whatever he wanted.

  He took a deep drink, hoping that getting drunk would overcome the boredom that was starting to set in.

  “You have a healthy thirst,” said someone behind him.

  He turned around to see an older woman, older than his sister Tessa, but it was hard to tell by how much. Her raven black hair had a few streaks of grey and there were lines around her blue eyes, but she had a beautiful face, with well-applied make-up. She was tall and lithe, her body hugged by a shimmering blue dress, an elegant ruby necklace graced her neck and she wore expensive looking leather ankle boots.

  “Either that or you’re as bored as I am,” she said.

  “Luthais Mordain,” he said and held out his hand.

  “Alyssa Huntington,” she replied and put her hand in his.

  He turned it face down and kissed the top. “It’s an honor to meet the famous CEO of Huntington Mechanics. Welcome to my father’s wake Mrs. Huntington,” said Luthais.

  “Thank you,” she replied. “And it’s my honor to meet a young man with such good manners. Harder to find in this day and age. And it’s Ms. Huntington, not Mrs.”

  “But you’re married aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “But my name is worth far more than my husband’s. Hells, my name and influence is the reason he married me. So I did not take his name or change my title. He didn’t care so long as he could use my inventions and company to get in bed with the ministers and transport corporations of Enz.”

  Luthais nodded. “Like my sister, Tegan. Father would only let her marry on the condition that she was able to keep the Mordain name. Never mind that he was getting a son-in-law in the banking sector.” Alyssa laughed, it was deep and full throated.

  “So, why is a handsome and rich man like you standing alone at a party like this?” she asked. “I know it’s your father’s wake and all, but as I see it death is all the more reason to celebrate life don’t you?” She winked at him.

  Luthais smiled at her. Was she flirting with him? He had to admit that in spite of her age over him, he found her attractive. He took another sip of wine. “Did you know my father?” he asked.

  “Only as a professional rival,” replied Alyssa. “He didn’t think too kindly of me. At my first imperial banquet, he called me an upstart little girl who had merely been lucky. He said he would do his best to ensure I never was again.”

  Luthais laughed. “That sounds like my father. What a bastard.” He paused, watching her reaction to his words. “I know that sounds out of place seeing as we’re at his wake. But it’s what he was and always will be. His death doesn’t change that.”

  “One reason I never had children, they would only have resented me,” said Alyssa in an understanding tone. “I dedicated my life to my inventions and my company. My husband dedicated his to making as many friends in high places as he could. We never would have been able to raise them the way children should be raised.”

  “Where is your good husband anyway?” asked Luthais.

  “Trying to charm your eldest sister,” replied Alyssa. “She holds the purse strings of the empire after all.”

  Luthais decided to change the subject away from his family. “So have you been cooking up anything new in that brilliant mind of yours? An ingenious device that will awe everyone and pour more crowns into your accounts?” he asked.

  “Oh goodness no,” replied Alyssa. “I’m retired from all of that. I have plenty of capable people to do that for me now. I want to live out the rest of my days in comfort and pass my knowledge onto the next generation. I teach mechanics at the university.”

  He was skeptical that she had given up inventing entirely. “Oh? I find that hard to believe. The famous Alyssa Huntington has no more ideas left in her. Inventor of the world’s first steam engine and the repeater rifle. The gun that’s winning us all that wonderful flare-rock in Naikos province and of course the much more recent hand held electro-weapons the imperial army has put into service,” he said teasingly.

  Alyssa smiled back and this time she was definitely flirting. It was a smile that held the promise of all sorts of nasty thoughts running through her head. “Well, one or two,” she replied. “Since you aren’t too amused with this party why don’t we go somewhere more private and I could let you in on the details of the more…interesting projects that I have on my mind.” She stepped closer to him, her eyes giving him a look of invitation.

  Luthais grinned. “What an excellent idea. I know just the place.” They slipped away from the main hall of the party and out past the servers at the door. Luthais took her hand and led her upstairs.

  She marveled at the intricate marble work and statues that lined the wide stairs. “I knew your family was one of the richest in the empire, but I had no idea that the Mordain mansion was so…” she said, searching for the right word.

  “Extravagant?” suggested Luthais. “Decadent would be the better word. My ancestors were not known for their humbleness.” He led her down a lighted hallway on the fifth floor. At the end he opened the door to a lounge room with deep red carpeting and paintings covering most of the walls.

  “This looks perfect,” said Alyssa, as Luthais closed the door and switched on the lights.

  “The paintings in this room are worth more than the value of one of your company’s military contracts,” boasted Luthais. Personally he had no interest in art, it was nothing but an ugly waste of money.

  Alyssa smiled at him then grabbed him and pulled him close. “If I were to guess, would I be correct in saying that this room is right above the wake?” she asked.

  “You would,” replied Luthais. “Where the empire’s elite are having a prim and proper ceremony for my father.” He pulled her to him and kissed her long and deep.

  She sighed as he pulled off. “So the rumors I’ve heard about you are true Luthais. You are a devious and naughty young ma
n.”

  “Is that what they say?” he said as his hand crept down her dress. He pulled it up to her waist and then slid one hand underneath slipping past her underwear. She uttered a small moan as he moved his fingers into her.

  “I believe you said something about giving me details on something you had on your mind” he said, continuing to tease her with his fingers. “Why don’t you show me exactly what dirty thoughts you meant?” She moaned much louder this time and grabbed his head and kissed him passionately.

  Luthais was still sprawled comfortably couch as Alyssa slipped her clothes back on. He leisurely watched until she was finished. “You never did get round to telling me about your ideas,” he said.

  “Didn’t I just demonstrate what I had on my mind?” she replied, grinning.

  “Yes, but I thought you might give your lowly competitor a hint as to what I have to live up to. I do run Typhon’s armaments division you know.”

  She pulled the top of her dress over her shoulders. “Oh yes I know. Quite a responsibility, are you up to it?”

  “We’ll see. So how about it?” he asked, trying to get her to say something.

  “Luthais, you must know I can’t spill my ideas, especially to someone in your position,” she said, her tone becoming more serious. “But I tell you what, in two weeks I’ll be giving a demonstration of a prototype to the emperor and several ministers. Something that may well revolutionize warfare. I’ll get you an invitation for the official demonstration. Give you an idea of what you’re up against.”

  Luthais nodded. “All right, fair enough.”

  She looked at him still lying naked on the couch, she admired his naked body for a few moments and said, “Shouldn’t you be getting dressed? If we’re gone too long someone could notice our absence.”

  Luthais shrugged, “You perhaps. Not me though, most of those people downstairs view me as a brat who likes to play with guns. Especially my older sisters,” bitterness dripped off his voice.

  Alyssa gave him a look of sympathy and said, “Let me give you some advice Luthais. Don’t give a fuck what they think of you, what matters is what you do. Even after I made my first fortune from the steam engine, there were people who didn’t believe I had invented it. It took me many years of success to gain the reputation I have now. You have to do the same, forget about perception and do as well as you can. Respect will come when you earn it.”

  “That’s all well and good,” he said, “but my sisters treat me the same no matter what I do.”

  “Then you have to prove your worth to them. Show them how much they need you, no one can do everything alone. Not even a Mordain,” she replied.

  He heard sounds of a commotion from outside. Alyssa strolled over to the window and pulled back the heavy curtain a fraction. She smirked, “In fact your family may need you sooner than you think.”

  He sat up. “What is it?”

  “Labor activists by the looks of it. I heard your sister has been having difficulties with them. I wonder how they could have found out that your father’s wake was tonight.”

  Luthais stood up and pulled on his pants. “Because I let word get to them,” he replied.

  Alyssa turned to him, “Why on Somal would you do that?” she asked in surprise.

  He slipped on his shirt and replied, “Why not? At the least it’s a chance to embarrass Tegan.”

  “I see,” said Alyssa. She couldn’t understand, she didn’t have older siblings on her back all the time.

  “It’s not like they’ll do any real damage and even if she traces it to me she can’t do much,” said Luthais. “Shall we return?” he asked, now fully dressed.

  “Best if we take turns,” said Alyssa.

  “Then please by all means, ladies first,” he said and held the door open for her.

  Chapter 20

  Tegan laughed heartily at the joke her guest had made. He was short for an Estaran, but in a room full of Alkons, his height matched them. His hair was a darker color than most Estarans, though he still had the trademark thin cheeks and blue eyes. He had a number of scars on his face and bare forearms, evidence of his profession as a soldier.

  In spite of the dress code she had requested for the wake, he had still come wearing his armor. Not his full body-armor of course, only a black coated chainmail covering his chest. She hadn’t been surprised though. Hector Cicero was a lifetime soldier and commander of the Red Knights. She suspected there were few places he would go without his armor, a man like him survived by being careful.

  Of course for Tegan, he represented a business opportunity. Hector was looking to upgrade his forces and she wanted to ensure that he purchased his new weapons from Typhon Trading’s armaments division.

  He finally finished his tale of military actions in the Chasan Peninsula. It was time for her to bring up the topic of weapons. “So Hector, I heard that you’re looking to outfit your men with new firearms, for the next season of contracts?” she asked.

  “Did a little bird tell you that?” He roared with laughter and downed half his glass of beer.

  She couldn’t tell if his boisterous attitude was genuine or not, he had been playing the happy soldier for most of the night, but he had to be smarter than he appeared. She refused to believe he had reached his position without good business sense.

  “I shouldn’t be surprised,” he said. “Cormac Mordain’s wake and his daughter is already trying to sell me weapons. You are your father’s daughter no doubt.”

  Before Tegan could reply, she saw Tessa pushing through the guests towards her. “Wonderful,” she muttered.

  “Tegan, this is neither the time or place. Commander Cicero has honored us with his presence tonight and you’re bothering him about contracts,” scolded Tessa.

  Tegan loved her father and grieved for him, but she had inherited his ruthless pragmatic streak. Her father wouldn’t have hesitated at doing business at anyone’s wake, not even his own children. If the opportunity was there for the taking she wouldn’t let sentimentality hold her back.

  “I’m not bothering him, sister, I was merely asking a question,” said Tegan. “Why don’t you go and have a drink and entertain you government friends. I believe Councilor Sonrach wanted to discuss the taxation situation in Shiel with you.” Tessa was trying to punish her for what the suspicions she had in regards to the Silverton CEO. Another problem to thank her idiot brother for.

  Tessa glared at her, but she turned away and went to look for the councilor. Tegan smiled, Shiel had seceded from Estara during the civil war and petitioned to join Alkos. It had taken a long time but they were about to officially become part of the empire, once the tax issue was resolved. Her sister had wanted to deal with the issues of the province since she had taken office and mentioning it would get rid of her.

  “She’s right you know,” said Hector. “You shouldn’t be trying to do business at a time like this. You should be more mindful of your older sister’s advice. You never know when you will miss it.”

  Tegan scoffed.

  Hector grunted in amusement, the scar nearest to his jaw stretching to pale white as he moved his face muscles. “You may not be too fond of her right now. Death hits everyone in different ways, but nothing is harder than family. Take the advice from someone who has buried far too many of his own.”

  Tegan’s face went red in shame, “I’m sorry Hector, I didn’t mean to-”

  He waved his hand. “Ah forget it girl, I had worse arguments with my own siblings. It’s what we’re built for. Tell you what, how about we schedule a meeting for next Haleday, how does ten o’clock sound?”

  “That would be excellent,” replied Tegan.

  “Good,” said Hector. “Now forget about business and enjoy yourself while you pay your respects to your father.”

  The musicians played a new song, one of her father’s favorites and she closed her eyes. She could picture her father playing it in his company office the first time she ever visited, when she was only eleven years old.<
br />
  She had been in awe at the office building and factory and she was delighted to hear her father tell her it would one day all be hers, Tessa having already turned against her heritage even then.

  “Excuse madam Mordain?” One of her servants pulled her from the memory. She opened her eyes, irritated at being disturbed. She shook it off, the servant wouldn’t have bothered her unless it was important.

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “May I present Count Varko Kulthon the Fifth, noble of the nation of Enz and head of Streighas Enterprises.” The black-dressed servant stepped back and waved his arm out to present the man.

  The count stepped forward. His dark brown hair was shaved right to his scalp leaving a thin layer of hair. He wore a light grey business suit with a black tie.

  Tegan extended her hand. A smirk appeared on his face and he took it as it was offered, giving her a strong handshake.

  “A lady who conducts herself as a business professional, even at her own father’s wake. You are everything I heard you to be Ms. Mordain. It is a pleasure,” said Varko.

  Hector placed one of his strong hands on Tegan’s shoulder and said, “Thank you for listening to my war stories. I think I’ll take in the rest of the party.”

  “Of course,” replied Tegan “I will see you next Haleday.”

  “Of course. I look forward to hearing about Typhon’s latest firearm products,” replied Hector. He walked off towards a grouping of councilors near the cake table.

  “Count Kulthon, it truly is wonderful to finally meet you,” she said, turning her full attention to the new guest.

  Varko dismissed her use of his title. “Please, call me Mr. Kulthon, I detest anyone using my formal title outside of my estate.”

  “It is a shame my father never met you, he often talked about you,” she said. It never hurt to butter up a new acquaintance with flattery.

  “He did?”

  “Of course, you are an inspiration. Your father started with nothing more than an idea and an office in your home and now thirty years later you have turned his company into the largest corporate entity in your nation. Streighas controls sixty percent of all the metal mines in Enz.” said Tegan.