The Burning Crown (Stone Blade Book 4)

by James Matt Cox

  The ship hummed louder now and Thompson tended her. Time to Astraboria: five hours plus tariff.

  "It's still at least a three-day trip," said Blue, almost apologetically, "McReelys have a few surprises but there are physical laws at work."

  Then they entered the hangar and Thompson saw one of the most beautiful ships he'd ever seen! She was long, sleek and streamlined to any atmosphere, but more than that. Thompson saw the domed ports and careful crafting of the hull that meant hyperstreamlining and optimization. Ruddy few ships outside the Navy could make active links faster than this one and even fewer pilots could handle them!

  "How long did you say," he asked.

  "Three days and a few hours," replied Blue.

  "Let me drive," he said, "I'll make it in two!"

  Thompson missed that particular mark but not by much! The ship came with two McReely pilots, Grover Jackson and Annabeth Callidora, but neither had Thompson's skill! They both cringed at the link he plotted but, gamely, they committed to it.

  "My turn, Captain Johnnie."

  Thompson smiled but didn't look away from the console. Callidora strapped in beside him and, after a few minutes to acclimate, switched her console to active.

  "You go get some rest, now," she said, "and don't you dare leave without telling me goodbye! Hot pilots flying hot ships make me... interested."

  "My pleasure, my lady!" He powered down his console, stood and stretched stiff muscles. Absolutely he would not leave and the entire Elder Guard would not stop him from seeing her!

  ***

  Kidwell took a sip of lukewarm chog and instantly regretted it. Her stomach quivered and waves of nausea washed through her.

  "Steady, Vera," said Blue, herself not discomforted at all, "L-sickness usually passes quicker than this. Do you want some halcinox?"

  "No," said Kidwell, "but thank you. Standard links are bad enough but I'm used to them. This is normal for me."

  Kidwell spent most of the miserable trip absorbing information from Blue, Karr and the others on the ship. From them she learned the true character of Brightcrown, its allies and also its enemies. It relived her considerably even though it did cause her to revise her opinion of Quinby and Catonatta. From Karr she learned more of intra-house politics and interactions. It confirmed many of her social observations and gave them further depth and context.

  "Outsiders rarely see the best light on us," he'd explained, "Because they look on us with the eyes of outsiders. They see nothing more than quaint and antiquated ceremony and ritual. Or, perhaps, a people mired in ancient tradition best left in the Collapse. Did you perchance study the concentration of affluence and the flow of it through our worlds? Its effect on our citizens' quality of life?"

  "No, Piotr. That wasn't really on my scanner at the time."

  "Then you must do so. One thing even House Varl takes seriously is fealty to its members. It is the duty of each House to care for any who swear allegiance, no matter their blood or station in life. Even the poorest among us have shelter, sufficient food and enough for life's necessities. Even the occasional indulgence or luxury. Can the rest of the League make that claim?"

  "Unfortunately not."

  Karr smiled. "Indeed. Besides life's essentials, House affiliation also gives our citizens something to work toward greater than themselves. Belonging. It guarantees us all that we shall never be alone. In that we are no different from the League itself! If that does not suffice, there is always the Elder Guard and its Orders. Unaffiliated artisans can join Halls of craftsmen like them. No Crown citizen need ever fear the lack of a place to go or to be."

  "But what happens in situations like this?"

  "Power does corrupt, m'lady, and greater power corrupts more. No argument there, but for every greedy Varl noble or Binkor-Sud scion there is a Brightcrown or Gladius to hold them in check. Failing in that, the Hausmoot and the King have final authority. Any citizen of the Crown has the right to appeal to either, though few do. That is what makes... this... so truly distressing. That House Varl would stoop to such depths as to consort with the League's blood-enemy is repugnant. It is obscene! Once King Hartwig hears word of this the sanction against House Varl will be... severe."

  "The League and the Guilds won't be pleased, either. I promise you that."

  "Aye. As to that, my lady, my hope is that you can help direct their anger where it should truly go. Do not fear objection from the Houses or the Moot, either. Even House Gladius is blood-loyal to the League. Its members may speak words of more self-reliance, but did any catastrophe befall the League worlds outside the Crown, they would be the first present, ready to aid or protect at need."

  "Polar. May that not happen soon!"

  Karr smiled. Then, in a softer voice, "Tell me of Prince Gunter, m'lady. He was beloved of House Edders and many others besides. We received occasional word of him ere he left the Navy. What can you tell me of his life afterward?"

  Now Kidwell smiled. "First of all, Sir Karr, Charlie is well and truly a credit to the League. Life around him is never dull and he works harder at being lazy than most people work at work."

  Kidwell then recounted, and edited, some of her more interesting adventures and misadventures with Ferrel. Then she threw in a few more with Micah. He hung attentively on each word.

  "But in all that time," said Kidwell, "He never mentioned the name Elmer."

  "Likely because it was painful to him, m'lady. By precedence he was fourteenth in line to the Crown. Given the stable nature of the Crown and League today it is most unlikely he would have been called to wear it. Still, it is traditional and not unwise. Before the King or Queen takes the Crown he or she is blood of one of the Noble Houses or noble blood from another House. Afterward, though, he or she must be of all Houses, Greater or lesser, Noble or not. Therefore, members of the Royal line adopt a greater name upon taking their Oaths.

  "The tradition itself began not long after the Tragic Schism. Many of House Brightcrown and House Varl still found contention with one of the other House raised to the Royal line. King Gunter I, originally Sven Velten Lord Yorgens of House Sjoerd, was the first to forswear his House name and take one greater. That did little to settle the dissent between House Brightcrown and House Varl but it did give them fewer levers to grasp."

  Kidwell nodded. "What about Precedence and Peerage? I've read some of the decrees and John told me some of what he found but there's more I don't understand."

  "That is a wide topic, m'lady," chuckled Karr, "Well more than we can cover before we ground. If you have specific questions I shall try to answer them. If not, perhaps I can convey the gist of it.

  "The wisdom of Precedence grew out of the Collapse and blossomed during the Interim. Peerage came much later but its roots lie in Precedence. The three men counted as the true founders of the Crown worlds are Hermann Rene du'Varl, Ulfric von Halm and Appius Livius Quadratus. Quadratus was an Imperial high commander with three strong legions more loyal to him than to the Imperium. That was understandable since he was alone in a relatively barren edge of the Imperium. The stars in this region of space made hyperdrive chancy and the Imperium did not try to expand beyond them.

  "It is not clear how du'Varl and von Halm befriended Quadratus but befriend him they did. The common belief is that they were dissidents, activists with the abhorrent idea that ordinary people were capable of making their own decisions and tending their own lives. We do not know why Caesar didn't simply execute them, but instead chose to exile them.

  "What is well-known and recorded is that Quadratus offered them sanctuary. He had his manor and his legions' base on Stercoreum, which is now Barinhall, and he gave them a home there as well. Since they were at the edge of the Imperium and the journey inward was treacherous - remember, m'lady, we are talking hyperdrive as linkspace had not yet been discovered - the worlds about Stercoreum were used as dumping grounds for people the Imperium did not want. Because of that and their isolation the Collapse did not affect them as greatly.

>   "With the aid of Quadratus and his legions, du'Varl and von Halm kept the people alive and united on as many worlds as they could. Since the worlds did maintain more of their civilization than most others, pirates and technology raiders were rife. That left the question of keeping their worlds afloat and united.

  "All three men were intelligent, educated and well familiar with political dynamics. They organized the groups that would become our Houses and worked to structure a government that would endure and that would not fall prey to what brought down the Imperium. Loyalty and fealty they had aplenty, but only toward themselves. Hence, the Stercoreum Provisional Senate soon fell to squabbling and wasting resources away from the necessities of survival and defense. After a handful of assassinations and near misses, Quadratus summoned his First Legion against the Senate itself!

  "Things might have turned to disaster had not von Halm spoken. He stood between Quadratus and the Senate and he swore that any man worth his weight in... Ahem. Any man worth his weight in sewage could swear fealty to one stronger, but that only a true leader worthy of command would swear so to one weaker.

  "From thence we have Halm's Oath, or the Fuer Halm Oath. One who swears it pledges fealty not only to the Crown but to all the citizens within it: his life for theirs and their burdens his. In essence he swears against enemies of the Crown but also injustice within it. He then by his own words swore his oath to his comrades and all the citizens the Senate was supposed to serve.

  "Quadratus then slit his palm and swore Halm's Oath over the drippings of his own blood. He further swore that any Senator not willing to take the Oath could leave without dishonor, but any who remained would swear it or die. No few of them did leave, but all those who remain did swear Halm's Oath and did spend their lives upholding it. That is when all decreed that any who served would swear the Oath and live by it or die betraying it.

  "Quadratus, von Halm and du'Varl knew that titles could come and go and that people could change, so they must needs find a way to keep their leaders worthy. The three of them then began laying the foundations for the King and the Houses.

  "von Halm was killed defending against rogue Imperial raiders. Even though he died, he bought the others time to mount a proper defense and, for the first time, the Senate spoke with one voice and moved with one hand. When they elected their first prime minister, which position would eventually become King, du'Varl and Quadratus married their wives and began their families.

  "House Brightcrown and House Varl are the descendants of du'Varl and House Gladius is the blood of Quadratus. Of all the original houses, only Brightcrown and Gladius routinely swear Halm's Oath." Karr shook his head. "I am loyal to the Crown, my lady, but I do not know if I could swear that Great Oath."

  "Did Charlie?"

  "Yes, lady. That is what brought him back. One thing you must understand: House Brightcrown does not merely speak Halm's Oath, they live it. That above anything is what it means to be a part of House Brightcrown."

  "I think I understand that now."

  "Excellent, Lady Vera. I hope you will speak favorably of us to the League."

  "I will. That is where my loyalty lies and I'll do everything I can to inform them."

  Chapter 18. No Escape!

  Micah walked unnoticed behind Outremin as Outremin walked beside Laird Fadding. That worthy expressed great pleasure at meeting Micah, commended what he'd heard and hinted at some possible assignment or reward that very day. Micah bowed properly and spoke the right phrases, earning himself and Outremin a brief smile.

  With formality done, Fadding began speaking to Outremin in hissed whispers too faint for Micah to hear. Their volume increased as they began speaking of the Houses with representatives present for the day's procedure. Micah watched their ceremonial cloaks swooshing around their sabres as he concentrated hard on listening.

  Micah felt torn about the pending execution. By what he knew of House Varl and what he suspected of House Brightcrown, this 'lost prince' faced a sentence far in excess of whatever crime he allegedly committed. Micah had no desire whatsoever to witness the execution of an innocent man but he also had very limited options and, also from what he gathered, the man knew his fate should he return to Crown space. Despite all Micah's instincts to the contrary, this was a local matter and subject only to local laws, despicable though they might be.

  "Excellent, Outremin," said Fadding, "Most excellent! Our two allies, such as they are, are the strongest blood here besides me. Are you certain there are no Brightcrowns in attendance?"

  "None of any standing, m'Laird," said Outremin hesitantly, "There is a trio of low scions along with their toadies. They were the only ones with pizzle enough to demand a place here. House Gladius sent a full contingent, though. They are of low blood but of sufficient number and presence."

  "They are no concern. What of the others?"

  "One Edders and two McReelys, but they only sit in witness for their Houses."

  "What of our special guest?"

  "He was most recalcitrant, m'Laird," said Outremin, "He didn't deem his presence here necessary. He also thought to bring a detail of his own guards. M'lord Garver convinced him otherwise on both counts."

  Fadding smiled. "Most excellent. I must remember to reward Lord Garver. He has done well by his House and his Laird. As to our guest, we shall settle him presently. He might have one small use left in him. The Fyrelm is crafty, after all."

  "Truth, m'Laird. Are you certain you desire no more guards?"

  "I am certain, Sir Beau." Fadding spoke those words with some affection. "As ever, you shall be my sword and shield. Besides which, my friend, we have half a score of Elder Guards along with House Varl's newest member."

  "Aye, m'Laird, and thank you."

  The three of them approached a large building already swirling with crowds. Two double lines of Elder Guards held them back but only just. Another six led by a Knight-Captain escorted Fadding, Outremin and Micah inside.

  ***

  As they entered the building Outremin pulled Micah back.

  "Propriety, Stone. M'Laird Fadding must enter properly, especially now. We must not usurp his position; he deserves it by his work and by the insults he has bourne. He alone must bask in this glory."

  That suited Micah. Ahead of them, across a splendidly decorated chamber, lay a massive and ornate door. Two guards flanked it, each garbed in the fashion of their earliest peers. They each held a gleaming halberd supplemented with a holstered blaster. These guards were definitely not for show, thought Micah. He also thought he saw very modern armor beneath their ancient tunics. As Fadding approached, a herald blocked him with a heavy staff.

  "Who approaches this chamber," he asked loudly.

  "Josef Marcel Carter Fadding, Blood and Laird of the Great House of Varl."

  The herald pounded the floor three times with the staff. "Come and be welcome, Laird Varl."

  The door split down the middle and opened slowly inward. The herald stepped aside and Fadding walked regally forward. Only well after he entered did Outremin motion Micah forward. By the time they reached the doorway, Fadding had crossed halfway through the massive chamber. Most of the folk there applauded but precious few did not. Outremin pulled Micah aside and the two of them walked unobtrusively around the edge of the chamber. Micah had no problem discerning high blood from low; or, for that matter, Varl's allies from the rest.

  Fadding strode forward, careless of any praise or taunt voiced him. Outremin made careful note of the latter, though, and Micah suspected ample hidden holocasters did as well. He debated wearing his but elected not to. Fadding ended his walk by ascending a low dais at the far side of the room. It held a large, throne-like chair flanked by a pair of smaller.

  A squire assisted Fadding to the middle chair and as soon as he sat, McConney and Simmons took seat beside him. Fadding sat king-like and spoke a short greeting to the other two, much as a master throwing a treat to a favored pet. Neither they nor the crowd missed that and Micah worked
to keep the amusement off his face. Then again, by the smug set of Outremin's shoulders, he need not have bothered. They eventually settled at a small table away from but closest to the dais.

  "Greetings and good day to you all," said Fadding, "Are there matters of the blood to discuss?"

  By the expressions of many present in the room, Fadding adhered but minimally to the required formalities. The herald stepped forward with an expression of disapproval on his face. He hardened it into resolve as he pounded the floor three times.

  "In light of current concerns, m'Laird, all other business has been tabled. The only remaining matter is that of the former Prince Fyrelm."

  Micah didn't miss the small flash of anger across Fadding's face. Apparently he wasn't the only one guilty of shorting the ceremony, now. Micah had no trouble reading the amusement from some of the other nobles in the chamber. They knew it too!

  "Very well," said Fadding, "Is the criminal present?"

  "Bring forth the accused," said the herald.

  Murmurs and soft whispers echoed softly throughout the room. A door off to the side opened and four Elder Guards approached with the prisoner between them.

  Micah's heart skipped a beat as a hand of ice and shock closed around it.

  Gunter Rene du'Charle Ferrel, his best friend Charlie, stood flanked by the guards.

  ***

  Micah couldn't help the reaction now coursing through him. His vision reddened as anger and adrenaline washed through him, almost past his ability to contain it! His muscles quivered with energy and he struggled to keep himself from launching into attack and laying waste to all around him.

  Ferrel, with mischief in his eye but absent his usual grin, stumbled wide-eyed when he spotted Micah. He recovered quickly, clenched his jaw and turned his attention to Fadding and his cronies.