He ended his story, leaving out very little, only the existence of his Rider. They didn’t need to know about him.
When the telling was done, Daughter sat back deep in thought. The bare facts of Val’s story had surprised her, but the facts were not atypical of political intrigues she encountered on a regular basis. His telling had been clear and concise. She sensed a sharp mind behind those young eyes. More, she sensed the mind of a survivor. Most poignant to her, though, was Val’s relationship with Sir Jarl. A deep imprint had been made on this young man by her Knight. To know he had reached so deeply into this special child as he lay dying would have pleased Sir Jarl immensely. She would not let that effort be wasted.
“So all is not as it appeared,” she stated after a time. She looked into Val’s eyes. “Is there anything you would add to your story?”
“No, My Lady.”
Otis’ muzzle swung toward Daughter in surprise. She had not asked the right question, a mistake he’d never seen her make before. What was going through her mind? Was there some attachment growing between her and this young man? Was her focus not clear? He could not let the event pass without speaking.
“Val, have you left anything at all, any little detail, out of your tale?”
“I have, sir, but I have not lied. I have given you every single thing I know that is relevant to your investigation.”
“You have not. Sir Jarl’s cloak and pins would not, by themselves, have been adequate to gain entrance to the meeting. You used a very private password, a password that has long been out of use.”
Otis allowed silence to fill the room. He had done his part. The rest was up to Daughter.
Val locked gazes with Otis. The silence prevailed, and Otis waited patiently, as cats are so good at doing. Val’s gaze did not falter, though he started scratching his arm, then his torso.
The doctor intervened. “Excuse me, My Lady. Val, you’re scratching. Why?”
Val broke his gaze from Otis and looked to the doctor. “My skin itches, sir. And I smell terrible.”
The doctor nodded. “We had to give you a good scrubbing. When was the last time you had a bath?”
“I live in an abandoned rail tunnel, Doctor. I don’t have a bathtub.”
“Just as I suspected. You probably wouldn’t recognize yourself right now, young man.”
Daughter sat back during this exchange and considered the accusation made by Otis and the claim made by Val. She chose her own words carefully. “Val, we’ll deal with personal hygiene later. At the moment we’re dealing with Imperial matters. There can be no secrets between us.”
He blinked, uncertain of his position, but he was determined to keep the existence of his Rider private until he had time to consider the ramifications himself. It was none of their business, and during his brief acquaintance with the creature, he’d sensed a growing attachment. He had never had an intimate relationship with anyone, parents or friends, and he did not want to lose what he sensed could become precisely that.
>Hey, thanks! Trust me, I’m not going anywhere unless you kick me out.<
>Can I do that?<
Pause. >You can. The cost to me is quite high.<
>How high?<
>Riders rarely change hosts, Val. We just don’t. Without a host, I die. I cannot survive on my own.<
Val jerked visibly in his bed, and his face paled. The doctor was beside him instantly with a small instrument. He waved the instrument over Val, looked at the results, and shrugged. “He’s okay. I think he’s just overwhelmed, My Lady.”
Daughter rose from her chair and reached out to push stray locks from his forehead. “Val, are you with us?” she asked.
He closed his eyes for a time. When he opened them again, he was his old self. “I’m fine, My Lady. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Is my question so terrible?”
“Yes.”
She remained bent over him, her hand never breaking contact with him. “Val, you’re among friends, and these are Imperial matters. There can be no secrets between us.” Her sparkling gaze held his, emphasizing her demand. “You’re a bright, brave young man, but you are new to all of this. You cannot possibly judge the full impact of what you have experienced. In time you might, but not yet. Please let us judge the importance of whatever you have chosen to withhold. Please.”
“Can you give me a little more time?”
She considered his request, first as Daughter, then as herself. “I can, but time is always of the essence with things of this nature. I ask you as your friend, and I ask you as Daughter, to withhold no secrets from me.”
He broke eye contact with her and looked around the room. He didn’t even know where this room was. In some hospital, he supposed. Then his gaze took in the doctor and Otis and he lost it again in the blink of an eye. He was in the presence of Greatness, so far above his station in life that his mind staggered. A woman of the Royal Family was actually touching him. He couldn’t get his mind around that very complex idea. The woman who had walked down the corridor between thousands of cheering people was here with him now, and she was touching him. More, she was concerned for his well-being.
And Otis. One of the fabled Protectors, and from all appearances, their leader. How was this possible?
Daughter interrupted his thoughts. “Val, what would Sir Jarl have wanted you to do?”
Sir Jarl’s face suddenly came into focus in his mind. The gaze was stern, but it was also caring. Of all the things he sensed of that awesome persona, he sensed a great integrity. Sir Jarl’s entire focus at the end had been Daughter. Would he have kept secrets from her?
No. Nor would the friend he knew so well, Mr. Wyzcha. He opened his eyes, his decision made. Large, brown eyes stared back at him from inches away.
“Sir Jarl would never keep a secret from you. Just . . . please don’t take him away from me,” he breathed.
“Take who away, Val?”
“My Rider.”
Her hand jerked from his face as if stung, but a moment later it was back. “I see. Sir Jarl left you with a little more than the pins, his cape, and his money key.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She turned to Otis for a time, and Val sensed whole thoughts passing between the two of them. Between two people who knew and understood each other completely, words were not always necessary.
She turned back to him, saying softly, “We will not take him from you Val. Not ever, even if we could. Riders go only to those of their own choosing. Sir Jarl and his Rider sensed something in you today, just as I do. This is definitely an Imperial matter, but we will discuss it later. Are you tired?”
“No, My Lady.”
“Otis and I have things to do. Perhaps you can spend a little time with your Rider, time not burdened with such weighty issues. I hope it will be a time of discovery for both of you. Does it have a name?”
“Uh, no. We haven’t had time to discuss that yet.”
She returned to the side of this skinny, black-haired, one-legged beggar and stared down at him fondly for a time. Just a child who had, in the space of a few hours, been catapulted from the very lowest rung of society to . . . something else. What that something would be, she had no idea, but this boy would never have to beg again.
She leaned over him, staring into his eyes. From inches away she breathed, “Thank you, Val. And thank you, Val’s Rider, for saving my life today. We will talk further tomorrow.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead again, then turned and left.
Chapter Forty-one: Something Special
Val basked in the glow her presence had left behind. He’d been kissed by Daughter. How more amazing could life have become? He felt suddenly adrift, cut off from the world in which he was so comfortable. He turned to the doctor. “What hospital is this?” he asked.
The man coughed into his fist. “You’re in sick bay aboard Resolve, Daughter’s private ship.” Val’s eyes grew large, then they grew larger.
The doctor answered his unspoken q
uestion. “Yes, Val. You’re in space. I believe we’re in orbit about your world.”
“Can I see outside?”
“I’ll activate the screen for you. But first, we should talk.”
“Uh, I don’t have any more secrets. What’s your name?”
“I’m Doctor Storvo. Pleased to meet you, Val. And I’m not one for secrets. We should talk about Riders.”
“Sir?”
“Do you know what a merry chase you led me on? My treatment would have been much different if I’d known you had a Rider. Worse, in some cases medical treatment can be harmful to a Rider.”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about that.”
“Please ask your Rider if he’s okay.”
>No, I’m not okay,< a grumbly voice said in his head. >This stuff hurts.<
>I’m sorry. Do you need help?<
>No. I’m almost done. You can tell him thanks, but I don’t need any more help.<
>Thanks for doing whatever it is you do. Without you, I’d be dying now.<
>No you wouldn’t. Without the password, she’d be dying. You’d never have gotten to her in time. I think it’s called teamwork. Do I get to stay?<
>You get to stay. We need to work on a name.<
>I’ve already chosen one. My father is gone. I’ll take his name if that’s okay with you.<
Val grinned. The name felt right. >Artmis. I like it. Welcome aboard, Artmis.<
>Let me finish up here, then we can talk. You need to eat, Val. You’re running on empty, and that means I am, too.<
Val returned his gaze to Doctor Storvo. “He’s fine, sir, and he thanks you for your help. He says I need to eat, and I agree. I’m starving.”
“When was your last meal?”
“Yesterday.”
“Good gracious, boy! You’ll kill yourself with that kind of behavior. Riders use a lot of energy, whether it’s available or not. It’s one of the few drawbacks to having them. You cannot miss meals.” He grabbed a bag filled with liquid and attached it to the IV in Val’s hand. “Tell him I’m pushing as hard as I can.”
“Uh, I think he hears you just fine. Can I see outside now?”
Storvo brought him a remote and started showing him how to use it, then changed his mind and sat on the bed beside Val.
“I want to thank you.”
“For what?” Val asked in surprise.
“For saving her.”
“Well . . . sure!”
“I mean it, young man. And now, as your doctor I’m going to give you some advice. Consider it an order.”
“Sir?”
“I’m not willing to go to all the trouble of saving you if you’re just going to die of some disease. We need to talk about personal hygiene. You’re under my care, and you will be for as long as you’re on this ship. Young man, I have to insist that you shower at least once a day.”
“Once a day? You want me to stink like this all the time?” he asked, lifting his arm to smell it again. “Is this perfume?”
“Just a touch. We couldn’t get all the smell out of you. It will take a few more days.”
“I won’t be here that long, and I can’t go home smelling like this.”
“As long as you’re on the ship, it’s the way things have to be. You’ll shower every day, no exceptions.”
* * * * *
Val touched buttons on the remote and a screen blinked into existence on the wall at the foot of the bed. He pushed more buttons and found a view of his planet as seen from orbit, but he soon tired of it. He’d seen pictures of his planet before. He went internal. >Do you know how to work this thing, Artmis?<
>I do. What do you want to see?<
>The ship!<
>Okay. It’s like this . . . <
An outside view of Resolve sprang into view, a burnished disc some two hundred meters across. Little detail was evident.
>You don’t have clearance, but I do. We’ll have to work with the ship’s AI, the Artificial Intelligence. Give him a call.<
Val blinked, then called out, “Ship!”
“At your service, Val.”
“Can I see more details of the ship?”
“Sorry, but you don’t have authorization.”
>Give it the code, Val. It’s just a computer. It will accept it.<
Val spoke the code, then made his request for a tour of the ship.
“Nice try, Val. The access code is old but acceptable. However, it was not intended for use by you. I cannot let you in.”
“Who can?”
“Captain Jzazbe, Otis, or Daughter.”
“Oh.” Val hated to interrupt any of those important people. Then he had an idea. “What do you suggest?” he asked the AI.
“I believe you have a little leverage at the moment. I suggest you use it by making a request to Otis.”
“Please do so.”
It didn’t take long. The simple view of the exterior of Resolve slowly turned transparent, and the decks appeared, nine of them. Val studied them for a time, then decided to try his luck. He said, “Bridge,” and the view telescoped toward the upper center of the ship to show a detailed schematic of the bridge. “Can I see a live view?” he asked.
“Only if you go into the net,” the AI responded.
“What’s the net?”
“A network that ties all the computers on the ship together. Crewmembers don special helmets which connect to me, and through me to the rest of the net. It’s how we fly the ship, Val.”
“Okay, I’m ready.”
“Sorry. That will take additional approval from Captain Jzazbe. I don’t recommend trying at the moment. Perhaps later.”
“Sure, if there is a later,” Val grumbled to himself. “Okay, Engine Room.”
“It’s called Engineering, Val.” The view shifted out, then telescoped in on the very center of the ship. Engineering occupied a large area, but as the AI led him around, he learned that the actual power plant was quite small.
“Would you like instruction on how it works?” the AI asked.
“No. I’ve done some studying on my own. I understand the principles. What else can you show me?”
“How about a complete tour?”
“Okay!”
Val got his tour, and in detail, all through schematics, and a crewman delivered a sumptuous meal as the presentation continued. By the time the AI was done, he felt he could find his way to the important areas of the ship without assistance. He wanted more, but he suddenly felt tired. Before he knew it, he was sound asleep. Artmis might have helped him a little.
* * * * *
Daughter and Otis left sick bay and headed toward her quarters. Silence pervaded for a time as both considered Val’s story.
“Will you deal with the governor for me?” she asked. “He must be brought into the picture, but security is your area of expertise.”
“I will, My Lady, but it’s too soon.”
“I know. I’ll have to Test Val. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”
“If he lives that long.”
She missed a step but caught herself. “I’d forgotten,” she said after a time. “He does not strike me as being sick.”
“With a Rider, he probably is not. The presence of a Rider explains the doctor’s confusion. It has corralled the toxin and will deal with it.”
“I’ll leave word that I’m to be notified if he takes a turn for the worse. In the meantime, those arrested down below can be inconvenienced for one night.”
“Some of them, yes. For others, it will be for a long time.”
“The players at today’s meeting are not our concern. Others will deal with them. The issue of ownership of the planetoid has not been resolved.”
“Nor will you resolve it on this visit, My Lady. The district governor might be able to deal with the issue now.”
“If Val’s story is true, not all Corvolds are to blame. I strongly suspect the highest levels of their leadership, however. They may need t
o be replaced, but that’s an internal matter. We’ll deal with whomever they choose to represent them at the next meeting.”
“If another meeting is needed.”
“True. My presence might not be needed again.”
“An attempt was made on your life, and a Knight is dead, My Lady.”
“I know. Those are Imperial matters. If Val’s story is true, the Corvolds will be held accountable. I’ll speak to the governor and let him handle it, but after what’s happened, the Queen might decide to intervene. The Corvolds might be in for some difficult years.”
“The issue of Val is not so easily dispatched.”
“No, it is not.”
“May I speak freely, My Lady?”
She stopped to face him. “Otis, you’re my Chief Protector. In addition to that, you’ve become my closest confidant. The day you choose to not speak freely is the day I find your replacement. I value your counsel, my friend.”
“But I’m a Protector, My Lady, not a politician. You know that.”
“I do, and I welcome it. You’re a survivor, Otis, and I find your focus in that regard most helpful. We hold this Empire together with strands that are constantly fraying. We need survivors to guide us as we reweave the loose ends into stronger threads. Speak your mind.”
“I sense an emotional connection between you and that young man in there. Is that appropriate?”
She sighed. “Probably not. It will not sway me.” Her lips firmed into a thin line. “That’s not what guides me at the moment.” Softly, she said, “He chose to die for me, Otis. Even if he doesn’t die, he acted with the belief that he would. I cannot even put a value on such an act.”
“Nor can I. He performed in the highest standards to which I hold myself.”
“So you sense something special about him, too?”
“I did from the moment I saw him in the hearing room, but my perception of him probably varies from your own. You barely saw him. My first impression of him was that he was naked. He had no weapon, he wore a tattered shirt and short pants that were covered in blood, and he was deformed. Despite that, he managed to get around all our security, then he used the only weapons at his disposal to fight. He used his wits, and he used his body. The best warriors usually fail when stripped to that most basic level.”
Last of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book One) Page 39