The Reluctant Empress

by Teresa Howard

“She’s here.”

  “Do you have the evidence?”

  Beliani said, “Is this the League?

  “I am League General Evans.”

  “Well, you will get your evidence when I get the hell out of the Empire and not before.” She winked at Houston who covered his mouth to keep from screaming with frustration.

  “I’m afraid I need more information. Transporting someone across the Imperial border is against League policy unless there is direct evidence their life may be in danger.”

  “That’s what I’ve been telling Houston. My husband was hired to kill the emperor and empress. He did the job. Hanoree killed him to cover his tracks. Now his men are watching me. I am in danger.”

  “You are asking me to violate Imperial Law on your word alone. You have proof your husband was the assassin who killed the emperor?”

  “I do.” Beliani glowered at Houston who was holding the communicator.

  “What is the nature of your proof?” General Evans pressed.

  She sighed as she sat cross-legged on the bed, debating how much she should divulge at this point. “Ricol and I were more than lovers. He trusted me, and I knew what he did. I didn’t know he was going to kill the empress or I would have tried to stop him. She was a real lady. Anyway, Ricol was careful. He always kept something for security in case a client didn’t want to pay or tried to blackmail him. He said this hit was something big, and if anything happened to him I was to go to the League. He said the League was the safest place for me. He also wanted you to have the proof, because he wanted to get back at Hanoree. I know Hanoree killed him.”

  “Okay, I am willing to make an exception. Colonel Houston will escort you safely from the Empire, but you must turn over the evidence as soon as you are in League custody.”

  “You’re going to take me off this planet?”

  “No, you will be in a safe location until this matter is completed.”

  Beliani smiled. “Thank you, General. You won’t be disappointed.”

  Houston signed off and did a quick scan of the room. He called the office and checked out. He and Beliani climbed into the car and lifted out of the parking area. It was going to be a long day of travel.

  Fifteen miles from the Imperial City, he pulled into a deserted construction area. There was an empty vehicle waiting. The keys were in the ignition. Someone would take the rental back or dispose of it.

  The new vehicle was a sporty air car, with wheels for ground passage. He appreciated the smooth handling. They cruised along in relative silence, and Beliani was soon asleep.

  Twenty-Five

  In the Imperial Palace, Hanoree was awakened by frantic knocking. He cursed and drew on a robe. He recognized the messenger and summoned Varick.

  “Speak now,” Hanoree said.

  “The woman has bolted. She may know something after all.”

  “Where did she go? Why didn’t you stop her?” Hanoree was livid.

  Varick had warned Hanoree the woman should be killed, but Hanoree had scoffed that no assassin would confide in his wife.

  “She left the bar at the normal time. Instead of walking home, she got into a transport with a man.”

  “Did you interrogate her staff?”

  “Yes, my lord, and they said she was going for a vacation with a new man, somewhere with sun and casinos.”

  “And you didn’t follow her?” Hanoree’s voice was low.

  “It was sudden. She never mentioned a trip or a new man. When she didn’t turn down the road, one of our men walked down the alley in time to see her getting in a vehicle with someone and taking off. He got the identification number from the transport but was unable to pick them up on the street. We have teams driving around trying to spot the vehicle now.”

  “It could be innocent. The woman could be going away with a man for a few days,” Varick volunteered.

  “I want her dead. It no longer matters what she knows. We can’t take the risk of her coming back for blackmail,” Hanoree raged.

  “Yes, Lord Hanoree, it will be done.” The man left the room, and Varick filled a glass with extra wine and drugs. He handed the drink to Hanoree.

  “I hate to say you were right, but you were.” Hanoree sipped the drink. His mood flickered from rage to cold determination to mellow reflection. “I shouldn’t have been cautious. It was you who advised me the empress was thinking of hiring a dumas and gave me the courage to take action.”

  “I am always at your service, my Emperor,” Varick said. “You have no major appointments today. Why don’t we cancel what is there and you can spend the morning planning our next steps? I will let you know if the woman is spotted.”

  Trying to clear his mind, Hanoree shook his head. His demeanor was going from mellow to sluggish and would approach stupor soon. He frowned at the glass of wine, wondering what Lord Varick added this time. Hanoree was soon asleep in his quarters.

  Twenty-Six

  Houston flew the personal transport above the highway weaving in and out of traffic. Before long they were cruising along in the countryside with little traffic. He noticed a tail. “Wake up. I think we have trouble.”

  Beliani sat up and blinked at the wide farmlands, bare in the winter cold. She looked over her shoulder. “Are you sure?”

  The large blue air cruiser switched lanes and sped up. There was a sharp sound as their vehicle took a glancing hit from a blaster. Someone in the other air car was trying to shoot them down.

  “Hold on, we’re going to lose them.” He sped up the air car and jumped up to the next level. In an illegal turn, he whirled the vehicle and headed in the opposite direction. “Can you fire one of these?”

  Beliani took the proffered weapon and fired a few rounds at the back of the other car as it tried to turn and follow them. One was a pretty good hit. The air cruiser spun and landed.

  He activated the communicator. A communications officer answered and said the general had left orders to patch Houston through. He pointed toward the navigation screen. “See what large city is on this route. We’re going to have to change plans.”

  Beliani climbed over the seat and began to key commands into the console. “This is Route Nino7. It goes back toward the Imperial City before it curves toward the east. Nothing good is ahead.”

  General Evans came on the line. Houston explained where they were, and the general consulted a navigation officer.

  “You need to stay on Route Nino7 for three miles or so. You’ll come to a much smaller crossroad—it’s ground travel. Turn right and follow the road twenty miles until it crosses another major passway. Go north on the passway and follow the signs for the port city of Gilliam. It has several ships and a small airbus transport to the neighboring kingdoms. Get a room outside the city, and we’ll take care of your vehicle.”

  Houston followed the directions, stopping once along the way to refuel, get food, and take a bathroom break. Beliani was stuffing a large bite of sweet cake into her mouth as he came out. He purchased a hot beverage and a meat and cheese sandwich. Stale tasting, but filling. When they came out, their vehicle was gone. In its place was a smaller air car in deep blue. Where the other had been a sporty vehicle, this one was more of a family vehicle.

  “How did they find us?” she asked.

  “It’s a League thing. They always put a tracking device on the other car.” He opened the door and climbed in. Checking the glove box, he found a small package containing new IDs and airbus tickets.

  Beliani buckled herself in and promptly fell asleep again. Houston blinked. He tried to avoid using one of the stimulants he carried in his bag. He was leery of its effect on his artificial heart-lung capacitor.

  By the time they reached the outskirts of the port city, he was exhausted. Thirty-two hours without sleep, and he was going to drop. He turned in at a hostel with a vacancy sign. A traveler’s inn, it was the kind of place business men and families frequented.

  After getting everything from the aircar, they entered the room which loo
ked clean and comfortable. She flipped on the entertainment console.

  He showered and looked around the room. The sun was setting, and the street lights had come on, but the moon wasn’t up. He was hungry enough to eat the pillow instead of sleeping on it. There were two choices: they could go to a restaurant or see what delivery options were available.

  “Are we going to eat?”

  “Yes, I’m starved,” he answered. He looked from the window at the nearby buildings. “There’s a place to eat at the end of the parking lot that looks open. We can walk there.”

  She ran a brush through her wig to adjust it then added color to her lips and smiled. “Let’s go.”

  They walked across the parking lot. Houston noted a mixture of vehicles: some simple ground transport, some air cars, and even a fancy air cruiser. The cruiser looked out of place at the inn. He made a note of it before he followed Beliani into the small restaurant. The smell of the spicy food sent waves of hunger twirling in his stomach.

  Smoke from an open-flame roaster mixed with the smell of ale and spices. A man in bright robes and sashes was carving slices off three or four sides of meat. “Welcome. Do you prefer inside or outside seating?”

  “Inside please,” said Beliani. Her tongue teased her top lip. Her eyes were sparkling with anticipation.

  The server explained the restaurant served four meats plus a choice of roast fowl or a nice fish stew.

  “I’ll have the roast jerney, inside meat please,” she said. “What comes with it?”

  “All meals come with the family vegetable sides, dark bread, and spice cake.” The server looked at Houston.

  “I’ll take the Emperor’s feast.” He ordered the plate that featured some of all four meats and as much as he could drink of the house blue ale. One thing he could say about this planet—they knew their wines and ales. Some of the best in the seeded worlds came from Bengar.

  They ate in companionable silence. The worst of their hunger sated, Beliani reached over and touched his arm. “Do you have a woman somewhere?”

  A picture of Tegani’s face and her smile flashed in his mind. He tensed. He had no right to let his thoughts go there. “Umn, no not really.”

  “Ha, your mouth says no; your face says yes. She is a lucky woman, I think.” Beliani nibbled on her spice cake.

  His cheeks heated. Maybe almost dying and spending so much time in rehab made him soft and vulnerable. Maybe he should take Beliani up on her not too subtle offer. Why couldn’t he stop remembering Tegani and their kiss?

  The heavy meal accentuated his fatigue so they returned to the room in silence. The vehicle and the outside looked the same. He did a quick check, unlocked the door, then entered the room with blaster drawn, just in case. After double locking the door, he fixed a chair under the handle—nothing was getting in without a warning. The window was secure, but it wasn’t blaster proof. He sighed and crawled under the covers of his bed with his blaster loaded and handy.

  A deep sleep engulfed him. A familiar dream gripped him with pain and fear. He saw the ambush and felt the impact of heavy blaster fire. There was a sound in the room, and he bolted awake with his blaster drawn. Morning light was filtering between the window curtains.

  Beliani was awake and watching a news broadcast. Her face was pale. “My picture is on the news. Supposedly I robbed the bar and shot someone. This is a joke. I own the bar.”

  “We’ll be out of the Empire today. Hanoree must be getting desperate.”

  “I don’t understand how he knew I ran.”

  “You said you were being watched. You were right.” He began gathering his things.

  They packed their few supplies and took out the airbus tickets. Their flight left in three hours. He checked the distance to the terminal. They could leave now and get breakfast there. Beliani was surprised that the car was gone.

  He was less concerned about the air car because he knew the best way to keep from being located was to change vehicles and locations often. It was standard League procedure in situations like this.

  An air cab drove up and there was a knock at the door. “You ordered a transport taxi?”

  “Yes, thank you, we’re ready to leave.” Houston said nothing to indicate their final destination.

  When they arrived at the terminal, he tipped the driver and shouldered their bags. The cab flew off. Beliani headed in the direction of food. Hot java, meat, and bread rolls were drawing a crowd to a small shop in the terminal. They bought meat rolls and settled in the waiting area.

  Houston’s gaze scanned every corner of the building and every person. Everything seemed fine. When the boarding call was given, they walked onto the airbus and took their seats. As they were departing, several security officers came into the loading area.

  “Get down,” Houston ordered.

  One officer was looking up at the windows. His partner, holding what appeared to be a picture, talked to the ticket clerk. The clerk shook his head and pointed to a camera mounted on one wall.

  Houston had made sure Beliani avoided a direct angle. The airbus engines began to whir. An officer motioned frantically; his superior waved him away. They were too low level to know their real purpose or the importance of their quarry. The airbus lifted off, and Houston sighed in relief. Soon they would leave the Empire behind.

  The flight was uneventful. Beliani grew more excited the closer to their destination they traveled. It was a good feeling, and even Houston was able to relax and smile.

  They were met at the terminal and whisked to a League safe house where the general was waiting for them. Houston smiled and shook hands with his friend and commander—former commander.

  “Good job, Colonel.” Evans nodded at Beliani. “It’s good to meet you.”

  “Thank you, General, I am glad to be here.”

  “The League has done our part. I trust you have the proof with you.”

  She smiled and removed her necklace. There was a small key attached to the chain. It was the kind of key used to open a safe deposit box at a bank.

  “What does the key open?” General Evans frowned.

  “My man kept proof Hanoree hired him. He put it into the bank and gave me this key.”

  Houston felt a rush of anger and disbelief. His hands clenched into fists. “Why didn’t you bring the evidence? Now someone will have to go back to the Imperial City.”

  “I couldn’t get it. The bank wouldn’t let me into the vault. He was going to have me added before they killed him.”

  “How do you know there is proof?”

  Beliani shifted and looked at Houston. “I’ve seen it. He has pictures of his contact and the exchange of credits. He recorded a statement naming Hanoree, and he took one of the empress’s earrings to prove he was in the palace.” She withdrew a small box from her pocket. She opened it to reveal a diamond and sapphire earing. “This is the other one. They were gifts from the emperor.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this?” he demanded.

  “Because you would have tried to get them, and I would be dead.”

  “But we don’t have the evidence,” he continued.

  “The general has the key, and the bank will have to open it for the League,” Beliani said with confidence.

  General Evans grimaced. “That isn’t true. We would have to petition the Council of Nobles. Only they have official authority to open the box.”

  “You can ask the Nobles to have it opened.” Beliani pouted.

  “In order to approach the Council of Nobles we need to have evidence, something to warrant breaking bank laws. We will have to wait until the birth of the baby. If the paternity test is in our favor, we can produce the key, and that should put an end to Hanoree.”

  Houston shook his head. He had risked his life to get this woman out of the Empire, and the League wouldn’t even take the key to the Council of Nobles. This was why he was a soldier not a diplomat. Interplanetary politics be damned; murder was murder.

  General Evans shrugged. “
I know this isn’t what we wanted. If we had proof in hand, the League could act directly.”

  Beliani panicked. “You are going to keep me safe, aren’t you? Get me off Bengar until this is over.”

  “For the time being you will stay here. Your testimony may be necessary to convict Lord Hanoree,” General Evans replied.

  “I’m not going back to the Empire. You can’t make me testify before the Nobles. They’ll have me executed.”

  “We’re not going to let them hurt you. I said you may be needed to testify, not that you would. Now if you don’t have any more revelations, we’re done.”

  General Evans turned to Houston. He handed him an envelope with his ID and a travel pass to the space hub. “Good job. You can go home to Earth and finish your rehabilitation there.”

  Houston frowned. “Sister Tegani and the girl are in danger. I’ll go back and finish this mission.”

  “I thought you would say that.” The general pulled another envelope from his pocket. “This will get you back to Sayeri’s. Please don’t destroy your communicator this time.”

  Twenty-Seven

  With no communications, Tegani began to fear Houston was off planet working on another mission for the League or worse, captured or dead. She was sitting by an open window enjoying a cool breeze when he returned to Sayeri’s estate.

  Houston got off the delivery transport and walked up to the house. He was wearing a heavy robe, one he would never need in this climate.

  “It’s Houston!” Ninallia squealed and ran to meet him.

  Sayeri came hurrying from her office.

  Tegani’s heartrate quickened. She straightened her robes and glanced in a mirror. Her hair was growing out and was braided it in the traditional Sister style. It was surprising how such a small thing could be so important to her self-esteem. She couldn’t help the way her breath caught when she saw Houston standing in the long corridor. She willed herself not to rush into his arms.

  Ninallia’s rush was something of a fast waddle. The young emperor was growing well.