They took a suborbital shuttle to Gosport, then public surface transportation to Crystal City, a sprawling metropolis serving the palace complex. Crystal City was home to most who worked up on the plateau. Civil servants, businessmen, lawyers, and skilled craftsmen crowded its sprawling streets. Though the Royal Family had been killed, life still went on, as did business. Mike suspected most of these people didn’t really care who was in power provided their livelihoods were protected.
Mike and Val checked into the Royal Garden Hotel managed by Ragito Horlac, the first name on their hit list. The hotel lobby was crowded, including several groups of Chessori, causing them to question their decision to hide right under the noses of those in power. The hotel was exceedingly luxurious, more so than their covers required, but they didn’t plan to stay long.
Val cornered the manager that evening at a daily reception hosted by the hotel. Drink in hand, he opened the conversation.
“Quite a nice hotel you run here,” he began.
“I’m glad you think so, sir,” Ragito Horlac replied graciously. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay. I understand you’re here to prepare for the upcoming senate convocation?”
Val lifted his eyes in surprise. “You know?”
“I do my best to keep informed about my guests,” the man replied. He was quite effeminate in manner, his hands encrusted with rings.
“I see you even have a number of Chessori guests,” Val noted.
“We serve all who come for whatever reason,” Horlac answered. “Discretely,” he added. “We are proud of this distinction, and I insist on it.”
“I haven’t been here since the Queen fell,” Val opined. “Have there been many changes since then?”
“I can’t say. Until then I worked for the Royal Family itself, and I never discuss life within the Palace.” He smiled a thin smile. “Except to say that I find this position much less stressful.”
Val grinned. “I would imagine so. I am personally uncomfortable with those presently in power. My employer is, as well. He will be attending the convocation and is concerned for his safety.”
“Security will be extraordinary,” Horlac replied. “You can certainly count on your principal’s safety here at the hotel, and I can place you in contact with individuals responsible for security at the meeting if you would like.”
“Thank you. I have several names, but I might call on you if I feel the need. My discomfort is more on a personal level. How do you feel about these usurpers?”
“It is not something discussed in public. I offer that as advice to one newly arrived, Mr. Val. I advise discretion should your feelings not be completely supportive of those currently in power. I will tell you, though, that I lost a great many friends that night.”
“Yet you serve.”
“I serve all regardless of who they are, and I do not ask a great many questions. We all have our places. Mine is to serve, and I have been fortunate to land on my feet. I truly love this job.”
“You have no particular loyalties, then?” Val asked candidly.
“I do not. I have many wonderful memories, but it is a new world. Struthers has things well in hand. We’ve remained profitable under his leadership, and that is all that my principals demand of me.”
“I can’t support the new regime myself, but you’re right: it’s a new world. I would personally prefer a return to the old.”
“You would be well-served to put it behind you,” Horlac cautioned. “I have, and the future looks bright.”
“I wish I could,” Val responded sadly. “Maybe in time, though I doubt it. I’ll do my duty wherever that takes me and whomever I must deal with, but I cannot trust these people. Perhaps that is the root of my value to my employer?” he added with a smile.
Ragito smiled in return. “Perhaps. I should move on.”
“Of course,” Val responded. “If you have time for one more question, I’m curious about the Chessori. I’ve never seen so many in one place before. How are they to serve?”
“Gracious beyond belief,” Horlac answered, his expression brightening. “They’re very quiet, almost timid, and they always travel in groups. That’s about all I can say. Good evening, Mr. Val.”
He turned away, and Val strolled through the crowd looking for anyone who might be paying him extra attention, then returned to Mike’s suite.
“I don’t feel good about him,” Val responded to their questioning looks. “Our Riders judge his loyalty as beyond reproach, but I don’t. I think we should move on.”
“Well, one conversation is pretty minimal to judge him by,” Mike said thoughtfully. “That said, we’ll be relying on our instincts the whole time we’re here. We can check out tomorrow morning and go hunting elsewhere.”
“And we’ll stand shifts tonight,” Josh stated without hesitation. “I don’t have a good feel for this place. Let’s leave Val and Reba’s room vacant. They can bunk in here with us. We’ll leave the connecting door ajar in case someone just happens to come in by mistake.”
Grimaces met his words. He was right. They could never forget they were operating within the lion’s den.
Later that evening, a soft knock sounded at Val’s door. Weapons appeared in Mike and Josh’s hands, and Val and Reba were not far behind. When Val opened the door, it was Horlac. The man looked quickly up and down the hall, then entered, pushing a small floater before him. Val gave the finger twitch indicating all was well, and Mike, Reba, and Josh withdrew into Mike’s room, leaving the door to Val’s room slightly ajar. Mike stayed near the connecting door while Josh took up a position near their own door just in case someone decided to use it.
“Good evening, again, Mr. Val,” Horlac said in greeting. “I found our earlier conversation stimulating. May I join you for a nightcap? On the house?” he added with a sincere smile.
“You may, with my thanks,” Val responded. “Uh, may I?” he asked as he lifted the skirt of the floater for inspection. He discovered only emptiness. When he stood up, the corner of Horlac’s mouth lifted in a grimace.
“Always conscious of security, I see. I think your employer chose well.”
“My employer does not so much choose as command,” Val responded, risking a little information.
“Do I know him?” Horlac asked as he poured each of them a drink from the supplies on the floater.
“Possibly. I can’t say.”
Horlac looked at him sharply. “Can’t . . . or won’t?”
“Both, I would say,” Val said after some consideration.
“Ahh, always the intrigue. Always,” Horlac said, mumbling to himself. He looked sharply at Val. “I miss it. I would ask more, if it pleases you.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty, Mr. Horlac,” Val responded guardedly. “After all, I do not have the Touch. I cannot determine loyalties here.”
“Ahh, the Touch.” Horlac paused, doing his best to speak guardedly, as well. “Struthers does not have the Touch either. Not everyone is as loyal to him as he might think.”
“And where does your loyalty lie?” Val asked.
Horlac ran a finger around the top of his glass as he considered. “To myself,” he answered finally. His gaze rose sharply to Val. “First, to myself. But in serving the Royal Family, I took an oath. Were there a Royal Family to serve now I would remain true to that oath, as would some acquaintances who survived that terrible time. We meet from time to time, but mostly to reminisce. We are leaderless.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I understand. You did, indeed, lose a lot.”
“But hope remains. A small hope.” Horlac paused, choosing his words carefully. “The coup wiped out every member of the Royal Family that was here, but I’m keenly aware that not all of the Chosen were here that night.”
Val took his time responding. He had no reason to trust this man other than the fact that Jake and his offspring considered him above reproach. He argued silently with his Rider, Artmis, and lost. His reply could doom them all, or it co
uld doom Horlac depending on his response.
“Struthers took that into consideration, but in one case his plan failed.”
“Ah!” Horlac exclaimed, his eyebrows drawn together as he considered. “I would very much like to hear a name.”
“But as I said, I do not have the Touch.”
“Too true,” he said, nodding thoughtfully. He straightened almost to attention. “Mr. Val, had I so chosen, you would have opened that door to a squad of blasters. I would hear just one name from you.”
Val considered Horlac over the rim of his glass. If this man was in league with Struthers, their small group might have already been exposed. And Ellie’s existence was no secret to Struthers, though her current interest in Triton was. Struthers might also not be aware of Alexis, nor would he learn of her from Val. He discussed the dilemma with Artmis, whose response was that this man had spent the better part of his life in service to the Royal Family in a position of intimacy. Looking Horlac in the eye, Val uttered one word.
“Daughter.”
Horlac closed his eyes, a shaking hand blindly seeking the chair beside him. He found it and lowered himself to the armrest, sitting primly at attention with his eyes on the ceiling, reveling in the taste of that one name. When he focused again on Val, those eyes were near to overflowing with tears.
“Is Daughter well?”
“The Queen is well, Mr. Horlac. She is in the process of reclaiming her Realm.”
“The Queen,” he breathed softly. “Yes, she is Queen.” He got up to pace, then turned to Val. “And I remain her loyal subject.”
“I do not have the Touch, Mr. Horlac.”
“It doesn’t matter. There’s not much I can do for you in any case, and there’s nothing further you need reveal to me, though I would ask your permission to discuss this with a few carefully chosen friends.”
“I can’t stop you. Struthers is very aware of her existence.”
“But he is not aware of yours. You may count on my utmost discretion in the matter, and of the discretion of my associates. She may count on that. By the way,” he added with some shyness, “you may invite Mr. Carver in if you wish.”
Val kept his surprise to himself. “Mr. Carver?” he asked.
“Come, sir. You checked in together. Have I presumed incorrectly? The door to his room is ajar. He probably has a weapon pointed at my heart this very moment.” His lips formed a thin smile. “I have spent a lifetime dealing with intrigue, Mr. Val. After all, I grew up in the Palace.”
So Horlac didn’t know about Reba and Josh, Val decided. They had come in separately without registering. Mike must have reached the same conclusion, because he chose that moment to come into the room, leaving the connecting door completely open behind him.
Horlac rose, his hand outstretched. “Mr. Carver, it is my sincere pleasure to meet you.”
Mike shook his hand, a grim expression on his face. “You come with high recommendation, Mr. Horlac. I believe it fair to say that you have placed yourself in a dangerous position.”
“Too true,” Horlac replied. “By choice. Out of hope I took a chance coming here tonight, and I do not regret it . Mr. Val’s conversation earlier this evening intrigued me, though I was prepared for this meeting to go very different than it did. Nothing was risked until your connection to the Queen was revealed. Now . . . yes, we are all at risk. You bear the brunt of that risk. I am well insulated and will remain so, for your benefit as well as my own. How may I assist you?”
“You mentioned some associates. Will you name them?” Mike asked directly.
“I will not. I will give you one name, however. It is all you need to verify my loyalty. Bruston,” he announced without hesitation.
Artmis did not know the name, but Jake did. “Governor Veswicki’s executive assistant?” Mike asked.
“The very same,” Horlac answered. “He’s in hiding, subject to execution on sight. I can take you to him.”
* * * * *
Mike, Val, and Horlac took a private taxi to Bruston’s place of business the next morning, a warehouse near the port. He was not happy to see them.
“Are you crazy coming here?” he demanded of Horlac.
“No. They’re special. We’ve been waiting for them for three years,” Horlac answered.
Bruston sat back in his seat behind the desk in his tiny office, his gaze alternating between Mike and Val. “Show me your credentials,” he demanded.
“Mr. Bruston, like you, we keep a low profile. We do not carry credentials,” Val answered.
“You have personally seen their credentials?” he asked Horlac.
Embarrassed, Horlac shook his head. “I have not.”
Anger filled Bruston’s face. “This meeting is over. I will contact you with a suitable location for our next meeting.” Looking hard at Val and Mike, he added, “At which you will present your credentials.”
He called Horlac later that afternoon, furious. The conversation was brief. Because of Horlac’s carelessness, he had shut down his network of contacts, left his job, and moved on. He would meet tonight with Val and Mike at a location he specified.
Horlac picked up Mike and Val that evening and took them to a different warehouse. The place bustled with activity.
Mike looked at Val. “I wonder how many of these workers are packing iron?” he mused. “I don’t think our Mr. Bruston likes us.”
Val shrugged. “He doesn’t have to like us. That’s not what this is all about. I admit to a little nervousness. I thought Serge’s place was tough, but I think Mr. Bruston is one up on him.” Then he smiled. “And that’s to our advantage. Maybe we’ve found the right connection.”
Bruston met them in a large office, and with him were four men with drawn blasters. “Your credentials?” he demanded. Mike did not move, but Val carefully reached into a pocket and withdrew his Knight’s Pin. They went through the usual procedure to verify its authenticity and Bruston visibly relaxed. He ordered his men to leave the room.
“And you, sir?” he demanded a little more deferentially, holding his hand out.
“I carry no credentials. Sir Val vouches for me.”
Bruston stared at him hard, then said, “Very well.” Dismissing Mike, he turned to Val. “Welcome Sire. Please be seated. I want to know every single thing you have done since your arrival on Triton. I will determine if there have been any breaches of security.”
Val carefully detailed their movements and activities. He, too, wanted to know if they had left a trail. When he was done, Bruston considered, then nodded his head. “We’re all amateurs at this, you know. But I see nothing significantly wrong with what you’ve done. Good job, Sire.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Except for the inconvenience to me.” He raised doleful eyes to Val. “I may have overreacted, but we have a policy here. We take chances from time to time but never out of convenience or laziness. Now, Sire,” he said, continuing to ignore Mike completely, “how may I help you?”
Val looked away as he considered, then settled his gaze back on Bruston. “That depends. You vetted me. Do you have any proof that you’re not just a deep plant for Struthers?”
“Only the fact that there is a warrant out for my arrest, dead or alive,” Bruston stated. “I know,” he added, “it’s not enough. Nor is my past record in government. We have learned that the hard way.” He thought for a moment. “What I can do is brief you on our organization. That might help dispel your doubts.”
He described a small organization of fewer than 100 people led by him. He maintained connections with individuals on other planets around the sector, personal acquaintances with whom he traded information, but he operated mostly on Triton. He answered only to his old boss, Governor Veswicki, who was, himself, persona non grata on Triton, having barely escaped with his life. His group had two goals: provide information on a regular basis to Veswicki, and kill Struthers if the opportunity arose. To date, they had not had a clear opportunity and had made no attempts on Struthers. Clear
ly, such an action, particularly if it failed, would reveal their existence, though with Struthers and a few close associates out of the picture, the driving force behind the Rebels would evaporate, causing great disarray. Bruston’s group had access to some of Struthers plans, plans which had been forwarded to Veswicki, so they were, at present, essentially a spy network providing information. That might change in the future, but they would need to recruit skilled experts to do much more.
“Unless that is your purpose in coming to Triton?” he asked with a mischievous smile.
“It is not,” Val answered, “though we would certainly act if the opportunity arose. I might add that I have been in discussion with Veswicki and he is well. I have not spoken to him of this mission. I wish I had. He would have given us your name.”
“What is your purpose here?” Bruston asked candidly.
“I’m not at liberty to reveal that yet,” Val replied. “Perhaps later.”
“Very well,” Bruston responded, “though it is not particularly difficult to surmise. Knights of the Realm serve the Queen. Your business here has to do with her.” He leaned forward, a dark expression on his face. “A convocation of the Imperial Senate has been announced. Please tell me she does not plan to attend.”
“I am not prepared to discuss our plans at this time,” Val told him point blank. “Only our needs.”
“Sire, the Chosen have a reputation for direct intervention. I hope that is not her intent now. It would be insane for her to appear here.”
“We value your counsel,” Val replied. “Any and all information you provide will be evaluated. In the meantime, we seek access to the palace complex, access that is as unfettered as possible. Are you in a position to assist us in this endeavor?”
“Not directly. You want to see Harylda for that, Professor Harylda as he is known here. The Queen probably knows him. His family has managed the palace complex for generations. There is nothing he doesn’t know about the place. He passed Struthers’ loyalty test, convincing the Rebels that his only purpose in life is to continue his family’s tradition of keeping the palace complex humming along at peak efficiency. And there is a lot of truth to that claim. What the Rebels did not garner during a series of interviews was that the Professor deeply loved the Royal Family. He is, as well, deeply offended by what they did to the place. The blast not only killed everyone, it took out every single computer on the plateau. He’s been frantically trying to restore them.”
Voice of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Three) Page 13