Knights of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Two)

by Lawrence P White

  Val knew that Mike, Ellie, and Chandrajuski were counting on him to find answers to these questions. He spent a restless night, unaccustomed to dealing with such far ranging issues with no one to fall back on for help. He wished Reba was beside him, knowing she’d have crystal clear insight that would put them on the right track. When he woke up the next morning, Reba was still uppermost in his mind. He talked to her while he worked out, trying to focus his thoughts.

  Her cheerful response was, as always, simple and uncluttered. “You’re going to do this thing the way you’ve always done things,” she said in his mind, flashing her incredible smile. “The right way.”

  Forg was alone when he arrived for breakfast. The diminutive Chessori seemed lost at the table set for eight. Val had to consciously remind himself that he was not dealing with a child.

  “How did you sleep?” he asked as he sat down.

  “Not well. You?”

  “About the same.”

  “We may be juggling similar problems,” Forg said, folding his tiny hands together on the edge of the table, his eyes glistening as they stared at Val without blinking. “The stakes are very high. Neither of us is in a position to trust the other, yet trust is our only currency at the moment.”

  Val bowed his head. “I believe you’re right: it is a dilemma. How do we solve it?”

  “Through negotiation. Tit for tat as your saying goes.”

  “This issue may ultimately go far beyond simple negotiation, Forg.”

  “Perhaps, but isn’t that the highest form of negotiation?” The corners of Forg’s small mouth lifted in a smile as his unblinking eyes stared back at Val.

  “I guess, then, that I’ll start with saying it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever restore you to your ship. Nor is it likely I’ll ever be able to supply you with a different Chessori ship. An Empire ship is possible, but probably not suitable to your needs. Can I just supply you with the money for a new ship?”

  “So you have access to ships and funds. I thought so.” Forg waved his hands in a negating fashion. “I don’t want money. I’ve already received payment for my ship.”

  “You have? I thought someone took it from you,” Val said in surprise. “Did you get a fair price?”

  “Negotiations were conducted between myself and another Chessori. Of course I got a fair price.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “The problem is fundamental to all Chessori negotiations: I could not walk away from the deal without completing it. I am grossly offended.”

  Forg’s words confused Val. “Offended enough to negotiate for information that might be construed as treasonous to your people?”

  “What information I might share with you is not treasonous. It is to the benefit of my people that this horror be stopped.”

  “To what horror do you refer?”

  “I suspect you know very well of what I speak. Do you deny such knowledge?”

  Val hesitated, then plunged in. “I’ve been on the receiving end of the Chessori mind weapon.”

  >Careful!< Artmis said in alarm.

  >I know, buddy, but it has to come out.<

  >Mike and Reba are not here to deal with him. I’m not ready to go through that thing again.<

  Forg let out a long ‘sssssssss,’ and fell silent for a time. “I was not referring to any such thing. You are mistaken. I don’t know what you are talking about,” he finished weakly.

  “No mistake, Forg. It’s excruciatingly painful and disabling. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  Forg took his time responding. “If such a thing existed, and I am not saying that it does, you would not be alive today.”

  “Well, here I sit,” Val replied nonchalantly, one hand reaching across the table to distract Forg while the other crept toward his weapon.

  “If that is a weapon you are reaching for, it is unnecessary. I am unarmed.”

  “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you Chessori, it’s that you are never unarmed,” Val replied, his hand gripping the miniblaster tucked into his pocket, its barrel pointed directly at Forg.

  Forg remained silent for a long time, his eyes searching Val’s. “Have negotiations ended, then?”

  “Depends on what you have to offer,” Val stated calmly. “I would know more about this mind weapon, for one thing.”

  Forg frowned. “Please describe it.”

  “I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know,” Val said, his grip tightening on the blaster. “I’ve seen a small number of Chessori bring an entire warship to its knees, round up crewmembers considered disloyal to the Rebel cause and lock us up, then release everyone else to return to their duties.”

  “Such a thing is not possible.”

  “You know it is,” Val responded with disgust. “This thing was used only long enough to secure the ship for its command staff, long enough to arrest those of us judged unwilling to switch sides. So far as I know, everyone survived, and I’m certain its use was condoned by the Rebel officers who commanded the ship, for it affected them as well.”

  Forg’s eyes wandered. He seemed confused, but he eventually nodded his head as acceptance of Val’s words seeped into his mind. “I’m sorry, Val,” he said, returning his gaze to him, staring at him. “You can’t understand,” he continued after a time. “To have used the scree against an outsider is bad in and of itself. To have allowed anyone to escape that knows of its existence is breaking a most fundamental law of the Chessori, a law that relates to the very survival of my species. I am bound by law to kill you now.”

  “Well, you’d better be good at it because any flinching on my part will cause my weapon to discharge. It’s pointed directly at you.”

  “I have nothing to fear. Should I so choose, you will be instantly incapacitated. Perhaps I have spoken too soon. You have not really experienced the scree, or you would know.”

  “I have, and I believe it was used at full strength. But before you get carried away, think about something. If you were to use this scree right now on me, how would you go about killing everyone else in the room?”

  “They would all be incapacitated.”

  “So you’d have to kill them all?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then everyone else on the ship? I don’t believe that’s possible,” Val added uncertainly.

  “It is possible, but not practical. It is certainly wrong.” Forg was again silent for a long time. When he spoke, his voice was very low. “If what you say is true, the actions of this very senior guild have transcended all guild law, all Chessori law. I cannot believe that what you say is true.”

  “Believe me or not, Forg – that’s up to you. I can tell you with absolute certainty that many, many sailors have lived through its use and survived to fight alongside their Chessori comrades. As awful as it is, these sailors have accepted its use, knowing that in the long run it protects them from their opponents. Your secret is definitely out.”

  He leaned toward Forg, his blaster still pointed at him. “Our knowledge goes far beyond that, Forg. We’re certain that the Chessori have partnered with the Rebels to bring new leadership to the Empire.”

  Forg stared at him, then mumbled, “Impossible.” He looked away, but after a long period of contemplation, he returned his gaze to Val. “I cannot envision an agreement with the Rebels that would betray this fundamental tool of the Chessori. It defies reason. I must have proof.“

  “Stick around with me long enough, and you’ll probably get it,” Val replied sadly. “It seems to follow me around. I’d offer to show you the scars, but it doesn’t leave any.”

  “No, it does not. You may remove your hand from your weapon now.”

  “All right. As a show of good faith, I do so.” Val placed both hands on top of the table, knowing it would not matter in the long run. He sensed Artmis’ nervousness but pushed the thought aside. He was nervous enough all by himself.

  “My appetite has disappeared,” Forg said, st
anding up. ”I am returning to my quarters.”

  “Okay,” Val said, shaken as well. “Just know one thing. You can probably take me out one way or another, but doing so will not put this particular genie back into its bottle. Your secret is known by many. We even have a pretty good idea of how the weapon came into being. It’s obvious your physical bodies are not strong. From way back in your species’ beginnings, you needed a special tool to survive. Looks to me like you got it. It’s worked on everyone I’ve seen it used against.”

  “Its use does, indeed, cross all species boundaries,” Forg agreed, much troubled. “No one is immune except the Chessori. We can meet again tonight in the lounge. I give you my personal assurances that you will not be harmed by me or my brothers, at least not as long as we are still negotiating.”

  Val looked into Forg’s eyes. “I guess that will have to be the next item of negotiation, then.”

  Forg shook his head. “It is not that simple. You have given me an impossible dilemma. Good day, Val.”

  They met again that evening. This time Forg and his companions all attended. With them in attendance, Val knew that Forg had shared the morning’s conversation with them.

  Forg opened the conversation without delay. “We must return to our people. Can you help?”

  Val snorted. “Do you know what happened to the last ships we sent to visit the Chessori? Our trade delegation?”

  “I know nothing of any such delegation. What was the outcome?”

  “They were massacred to the last man. All five thousand of them. It was the first display of this scree that we know about. So much for the honesty and integrity of the Chessori.”

  Forg and his group looked stunned. Forg recovered long enough to ask, “If all were killed, how do you know about it?”

  “I said all men were massacred,” Val replied evenly. “Several women survived. My friends have all the gory details. I would imagine Struthers and his ilk have, as well. In fact, I know they do.”

  “Can you prove this?” Forg asked.

  “Yes, but not here, and perhaps not to your liking. I could let you interview our survivors, but I won’t. I don’t think they’re much in love with the Chessori anyway. I think your best source of proof is the Chessori that were there.”

  “These things are not representative of the Chessori,” Forg hissed. “We seek to trade honorably with you, nothing more.”

  “Well, some of you seek more, lots more,” Val replied. “Enough to join the Rebels as they try to overthrow my Empire. Your people have accepted a big part in this coup, them and their scree.” A nasty grin lit Val’s face. “They’re going to lose, too. Wait and see. They’re going to lose. Have you chosen sides?”

  “We choose the side of the Chessori, of course,” Forg replied absently. Then his gaze locked on Val. “And I don’t mean the Chessori you have already met.”

  Forg’s gaze wandered among his fellows for a time, though no words were spoken. Val suddenly had an insight. “You’re talking mind to mind!” he exclaimed.

  Forg’s gaze shifted instantly back to him. “Are we back to negotiations, then?”

  “Call it what you want. It’s your turn. I’m one up on you.”

  “You may infer what you wish. I will not become a traitor to my people, but I am troubled by the wrongness you have described. I would like to right these wrongs.”

  “At what price?” Val asked. “Are we still talking about getting your ship back for you?”

  “We are,” Forg responded, “but the stakes have been raised. Your vision of the Chessori is wrong. It is up to all Chessori to correct the error. It begins with us. We are prepared to offer guidance that might be helpful to you and your Empire, but I would ask a question first. Does your Empire stand a chance against these Rebels? Are we assisting the winning side, or will our efforts serve only to delay the inevitable? I would ask for a true evaluation, not just your personal hope.”

  Val hesitated. “The outcome is in doubt, primarily because of the scree. The Rebels can and are being dealt with. The scree makes the process more difficult, but we have a plan. I believe the Empire will be restored to its full stature in time. It may even be stronger and better as a result of this coup. Any information you choose to provide might serve to speed up the process, but, quite frankly, I doubt if you have any information I don’t already have or will soon have through my own resources.”

  “How will you defeat the scree?”

  “All I can say is that we have a plan, and it’s a good plan. If it works, and if you speak true, it may be to your benefit as well.”

  “No one has ever defeated the scree.”

  “No one has ever tried to take over the Empire either. We’re very serious about taking it back, and to do so we will have to defeat the scree. We have a plan.”

  “You believe the Empire will be fully restored. The cohesion required by your Empire comes from a certain line of women who lead, a line which we have been informed no longer exists.”

  “Forg, I say again, the Empire will be fully restored.”

  “Your conclusions are based on what? Fact, hope, what?”

  “All the above. We have a Queen, she is from the line of Chosen, and she fulfills all our requirements.”

  Val knew he might have said more than he should, but the Rebels and their Chessori friends were well aware that Ellie had survived. What he had just divulged would not be a surprise to Forg if he was in league with the Rebels. If Forg was not in league with the Rebels, if he was, in fact, opposed to the Chessori who were working with the Rebels, it might give him hope. However, Val had clearly set himself up as one who could lead the Chessori to Ellie. He would have to be careful.

  “I see,” Forg replied. “She is completely restored?”

  “No. She rebuilds her Empire from a hidden location.” Val leaned toward Forg. “Don’t even think about asking where it is.”

  “It is not necessary that I know,” Forg replied. “I have one further question. If I can prove to you that not all Chessori support these Rebels, will your Empire reconsider its perception of my people? Will your Empire give us the opportunity to negotiate a new relationship between our peoples?”

  Val paused. He had to speak carefully. His words were the Queen’s words on all worlds of her Empire. He could not force her hand, yet to open doors and to provide opportunity was exactly what her Knights were all about. He would keep those doors open.

  “Your task will not be easy,” he said to Forg. “If you can convince me, you will then have to convince others. But know this: if you speak true, the door is not closed to the Chessori. If you speak true, you will have the opportunity to be heard. A promise from me in this matter is a promise from the Queen.”

  Forg stared at him. “You speak for your Queen?”

  “I do.”

  Forg looked to his friends for a time, and Val sensed confusion among them, though no outward sign showed. When Forg turned his gaze back to him, he said, “I knew you were more than you appeared to be, but you are young. How can you speak for the Queen?”

  “You ask too much, Forg.”

  “I do not ask too much. I ask a lot, but a lot is at stake here. I am a simple trader, but who you are is not clear to me. Fundamental to every negotiation is that representatives of each party be decision-makers. Are you in a position to decide? These are weighty issues. What you and I decide today might impact the future of our two empires, a future that is at great risk at this moment.”

  “What do you have to offer?”

  “If your knowledge of the Chessori is as limited as you say, I offer a window to the rest of my people that is, apparently, closed to you at the moment. Your impression of the Chessori is very wrong. I ask again, who are you that you speak in the name of your Queen?”

  Val considered Forg’s words, then he considered Forg himself. Forg was Chessori, and Mike had declared all Chessori to be the enemy, but what if Mike was wrong? What if some Chessori were not the enemy?

&nbs
p; If Val chose wrong, it would be a terrible mistake, but at this point the only risk was to himself. Was he willing to risk his and Artmis’ life? Almost worse, was he willing to risk the horror of the scree?

  >What do you think, Artmis?<

  >I think you’re on to something. As Knights, our duty is clear. It is time to risk.<

  He shuddered, and Forg noticed.

  “You are frightened. Is my question so threatening?”

  “No, but the consequences of my choice are. I deeply fear a recurrence of your scree.”

  All six Chessori hung their heads, seemingly in shame. When Forg looked back to Val, he said, “I now believe you have truly experienced the scree. For that, I am sorry. I cannot make amends, but regardless of how our negotiations progress, I offer my word as a trader that you will not feel its effects from me or my crew. That is a personal promise made outside the terms of our negotiations.”

  “Words are easy,” Val responded. “Can you offer proof?”

  “You know I cannot. Are we at an impasse? Have negotiations ended?”

  “Can you afford to end negotiations?”

  “I can. I’m not so sure that my people can. I would like to keep the door open between our peoples, but I do not have the means to do so on my own.”

  Val sat back in his chair and considered. At the moment, the threat was only to him and Artmis. Regardless of what he revealed to this Chessori, only the two of them were at risk. Then he wondered. He opened his eyes to Forg.

  “Can you read my mind?”

  “I cannot. If I could, it would be a two-way communication, and you would know that my words are true.”

  “Then everything is based on faith in our words.”

  “It is, and the stakes are very high. If you choose to risk, I will reciprocate.”

  “In that case, do you understand the position of the Queen’s Knights within the Empire hierarchy?”