Birth of a New Legend: Book 3 of the Death Dealer Saga - Death’s Own Daughter.

by Jessie Wolf

  At his comment I realize that it was time for a quick lesson in Imperial politics. “Captain, you just summed up this whole fracking mess. As we speak the Emperor has dispatched Hunter Teams throughout the Empire with orders to arrest the direct members of all the Houses here on Hades that are in open revolt. The problem is that if these High Family’s succeed here then all those arrests will be worthless. You see gentlemen House Nakatoma is the protector of a lot more than just the Imperial War complex here on Hades. That is not our main reason for holding this planet, and only this planet. Far from it, you see there are two families that have direct line ascension to the Imperial Throne. One you know of is the Emperor’s family; the other is the Nakatoma family. However we will only assume the throne if the current family is wiped out. Our main goal is to protect and teach the Emperors heir. Who is at this very moment acting as one of Lady Dai Etsu’s hand maids. If Houses Light, Moore, and Daniels win they can force the princess to marry one of their Heads of House. So you see this war can be the end of the corruption across the Empire or just the beginning of an all-out pan-galactic war of oppression lead by those House’s. To top it all off they’ll have a legitimate claim to the throne.”

  “Holy Sweet Mother of God! You mean to tell me that all of this is to force the Emperor to give up his crown?” ask Taylor. “What the hell is their problem?! Don’t they understand that he has done nothing, but try to improve the lives of the people? How can they be so selfish?”

  “Peace, my friend, peace. I have lived among you humans for the past seven years. In that time I have traveled a great deal. I have worked and lived alongside you. What I have found during that time is that the human race is capable of great good and compassion.” Raygel was doing his best to calm his friend down. “This is contrary to what I was taught. Yes, some of the High Families believe that those who are entrusted to their care are nothing more than slaves. Not all of them are like that, thank the Goddess, it is only a small handful of the twenty-five Great Houses that feel that way. In fact the seven worst offenders are the very ones we now fight.” Looking up at me. “Lady Maiha, in her search for justice has brought them into the light. Now it’s our turn to stand and deliver. We must my friend become the sword she shall wield in this war. There can be no quarter asked or given.”

  I don’t say a word as these young men fight to come to terms with their new place in the great schema of things. For one it is a return to his rightful place as a member of the Royal Class. The other to become one of humanity’s greatest heroes. Where before I was questioning my actions in this war, I now know that I have but one course. The people that I fight must be stopped at all costs. Even if that cost is my eternal soul.

  Then the both of them do something I was not prepared for. As one they stand up and bow to me. As if they were a pair of Samurai straight out of ancient Japan. As if by some unseen or heard agreement Taylor let Ravenswood do the talking for them. “We are at your service, Lady Nakatoma. Both here and in the Great Beyond. Our blood is your blood, our shields are your shields, and our honor is your honor. This we swear to the Head of House Nakatoma.”

  Oh Shit! He just did not do that. I have to correct this before it goes any further. “Your Highness, you and I both know you cannot give that oath. Taylor, do you understand what’s going on here? Please Prince Raygel; don’t put me in this position.”

  Taylor is the first one to speak. “Lady Nakatoma, I understand that I have just sworn to do all in my power to protect you and your family till the day I die and beyond. I have no problem with this. What about you Raygel?”

  “I know exactly what I am doing, Taylor. The problem is so does our lovely Head of House. Oh yes my Lady, I know what my oath means.” Ravenswood says with a very satisfied look on his face.

  Of all the no good, underhanded, sneaky, and lousy tactics to pull. If I wasn’t already engaged I’d have to ask for his hand in marriage. I can’t believe he just gave his ‘life oath’ to me. The Elves never give that to anyone not an Elf. I can’t believe he did this to me. This is just great now I have to keep him here whether I like it or not. Shit! At least he’s cute looking. About a nine to nine and a half on the C.F.M. scale. Oh hell I don’t believe I just thought that!

  (GIGGLE) You sure did sweetie. (GIGGLE) (Dee De)

  “Oh! Shut up you! I’m already engaged.”

  Oh poor you! Don’t know if you’re left handed, right handed, or both. (Dee De)

  “That’s not it. Damn it Dee De I’m trying to be faithful to Alice here.”

  Honey child, what did you used to say ‘I can look at the menu, I just can’t order.’ (Dee De)

  “You know your mother is going to be pissed about this right?” I ask of Ravenswood.

  “I do not doubt that, my Lady.”

  “And just what am I supposed to tell her when she asks me why we have not married? Did you think about that? Did you think I might not want to marry a man? Or the fact that I already have a fiancée?”

  The smile that crosses his face is one I did not want to see. This man was plotting something. “There will be no need for any of that I assure you, my Lady Maiha.”

  “Oh really! And how is that? Did you or did you not just give me your life oath?”

  “Neither, I gave my oath to the Head of House Nakatoma. You may be the current Head of House, but in who will be the Head of House in fifty to two hundred years from now? Remember Lady Maiha, my race is extremely long lived. Why my own mother was just a babe at two hundred when she ascended to the throne ninety years ago.”

  To say I was shocked at this revelation is an understatement. “How long do your people live to be?”

  “That is hard to say. Some of our elders are over five hundred and still going. If we live past our first hundred or so years most of us live to be quite old.” The more Ravenswood tells me the more I want to know, but right now I just don’t have the time.

  “Captain Ravenswood, I would love to sit down with you sometime and learn more about your people. However right now I just don’t have time. I still have to deal with Rockwood and the rest of the rats in his little plot to help bring down House Nakatoma.” I tell him.

  Taylor looks down at me with a smile on his face. “Lady Maiha, if you’ll allow both myself and the Captain here to handle the ones we know were forced to participate I believe we can speed things up.”

  “Which ones are you talking about?”

  “There are a total of nine others that were being blackmail or coerced. Between Me and the Captain we know who they are and why they were forced to help.”

  “I only have one condition on you two handling this.”

  Before I can finish Taylor lays out the conditions for me. “Trust me ma’am there are no rapists, murderers, or such among them. The worst offence is smuggling alcohol to dry planets. That belongs to Karl Müller. He has a twenty year sentence waiting for him in the Casper System. You know those Methody flocks. All prim and proper on the outside, but just as loose behind closed doors.” As he says this last bit he puts on this pose of an elderly statesman and mimes straightening out his neck tie.

  I can’t help it I start to giggle then laugh out loud. The sight of this giant of a man putting on airs is just too ridiculous to not be funny. Once I have myself under control again I give his proposal some thought. “Very well, gentlemen, I accept your offer. If anyone gives you any grief let me know. As for those who you will be dealing with offer them the following choices. First they can leave House Nakatoma and never return to Hades, second they can sign a new contract with us to serve in our House military, or third they can leave our House military and join the Temple as monks or nuns. That’s their choices, do you understand, gentlemen? There will be no deviation from this.”

  They both bow to me saying “It shall be done as you say, my Lady.”

  “Right now though, gentlemen. I need your assistance in dealing with one David Rockwood. As much as I am loath to admit this, I doubt he’ll talk to me or anyone for that
matter.” The looks the two of them give me tells I might be wrong. “Ok, you two. What is it?”

  Ravenswood answers for them. “Ma’am, I believe he’ll spill his guts without one hand ever being laid on him.”

  “It’s simple, ma’am. Just tell him that he is being sent to Freedoms Landing to be one of their High Preists. The son-of-bitch used that threat against Combs on regular bases. Trust me he knows what that is.” Ravenswood tells me. “At the time I didn’t understand, but Combs would turn white and all must lose his lunch every time he said that.”

  “I wasn’t going to tell him that till I was through with him. I figure if he hears his sentence as we leave it’ll have a much more effect.”

  “No ma’am. That man is from Freedoms Landing originally. He knows all about their civil works system and the High Priests. Trust me; he’ll sell out his own mother to avoid what you just showed us. The man is a gutless pig and deserves far worse.” Taylor tells me. “Believe me, my Lady, when I say that he has no honor and is nothing more than a bully that needs to be put down for good.”

  The smile that I show these two young men, is one that could light the Great White Way. Their solution to getting Rockwood to talk was perfect and I would not lose another piece of my soul by torturing that scum. Oh I have no problems with what I have already done, far from it really. It just doesn’t sit right with me at times. I’m supposed to be fighting for the freedom of the people by removing a corrupt and useless government. Not replacing it with one that might be just as ruthless in their eyes. “Thank you, gentlemen, oh thank you.” In my excitement I jump up and give them both a hug. At their startled looks I just have to laugh.

  “No offence, ma’am, but has your cheese fallen off its cracker?” leave it to the country gentleman that is Taylor to put thing into perspective. Even Ravenswood is laughing now.

  “No, Corporal Taylor, I haven’t lost my cheese. I’m just very happy right now, and I have you two fine gentlemen to thank for it. Your idea of using the very threat they had used to bully or coerce so many others against them is priceless. I wish I had known this earlier. Oh well it’s water under the bridge.”

  “Is ya’ sure, ma’am? I knows I ain’ts one of the most educated of men, but why did ya’ hugs me likes dat?” I could see that my hug had really upset Taylor. For most of the time I have been around him he has controlled his accent remarkably well. The big man was really worried about my state of mind.

  “Trust me, my big friend, I am quite alright. I have not lost my mind. As a matter of fact you have helped me to put things into perspective.” I give the big man another hug to show him I’m not upset. “Come on, let’s go tell our ‘dear friend’ David Rockwood he gets to be a High Priest on his home planet.”

  “Ok, ma’am. I’s realies’ gona’s ta’ enjoys dis. That no good piece of slag mire, needs ta’ be puts in his place. He’s been terrorizing the people in our unit for the better part of three years now. I really want to see his face when he finds out about his new job.” The more he talked the more he calmed down. Towards the end he was able to get control over his accent again.

  “Taylor, can I ask you a question, and you not get too mad at me?”

  “Yes ma’am”

  “Well, I notice that when you’re upset or mad, anything like that, you have a very unusual accent. What I would like to know is who taught you how to hide it?”

  “Oh, well…um…I don’t know if I should be telling on him, but since you are the Head of House you deserve to know. It was Morehouse who taught me how to speak correctly. He may be the youngest and smallest of all of us, but he is the smartest. He even has a full college education.”

  “He’s right, my Lady. Morehouse is the most educated of us. From what I could get out of him, he had graduated from primary school when he was only twelve. He’s some kind of genetically enhanced super genius.” Ravenswood was telling me. “I won’t let his size fool you though, that kid knows more kinds of martial arts than you can shake a stick at. Hell he could give anyone of these Death Dealers a run for their money, except for maybe you and your family. You are a bunch of scary ass mothers.”

  “Ok. I think I’ll talk with him once we’re done with Rockwood. Shall we be going, gentlemen?” I head off for Rockwood’s holding cell. This is going to be my last interrogation for the day. I don’t think I can deal with another one after this. Much more and I doubt I’ll be able to keep control of my temper.

  By the time we got there I was once again border line in control of my temper. If I went in there right now in this frame of mind I just might kill this man before I can get any useful information out of him. Thankfully both Taylor and Ravenswood could see how upset I was.

  “Lady Maiha, let us handle this, you just stand over by the wall.” Ravenswood whispered to me. I just nod my head and open the door. I move to the wall farthest away from Rockwood. Here is the man who has been the cause of so much grief within the walls of my family’s home. Right there, no more than five feet away from me. Just sitting there with this smug look on his face. As if he didn’t have a care in the world and there was nothing I could do to him.

  “So you finally decided to come to your senses, you little whore, and want to negotiate a peace treaty?” was Rockwood’s opening remarks. What he says next is priceless. “I see that my dogs have finally got around to bringing you to heel. Taylor get these cuffs off of me before I send your sorry ass back to Doreen where you belong.” When Taylor doesn’t move to carry out his command he starts to get loud. “I told you to get these cuffs off of me, you neutered freak!”

  Instead of following Rockwood’s order he just sits down on the other side of the table from him. “I don’t think so, you sick piece of shit. In fact I’m here on behalf of Lady Maiha. So is Captain Ravenswood. Yes she knows all about us, and no, none of it matters. Oh, and by the way we know all about your involvement in the rebellion, Mr. David Daniels.” I watch as his face turns white from blood loss and fright. He’s about to become even more frightened. “So all we really need from you is nothing. Captain Ravenswood, would you like the honor of telling him his fate?”

  Ravenswood just smiles “Corporal, you have no idea how much I’d love that honor.” Looking over at Rockwood with a smile that would make a Yar’taingen fire lizard run. “I hope you enjoy your time as the next High Priest of the Temple of Eternal Bless, Daniels. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your trip home. Lady Maiha, Corporal Taylor, shall we go? I believe our work here is done.”

  As they standup to leave Daniels/Rockwood breaks down and starts begging. “You can’t do that to me! I’m a member of the Daniels High Family. I have rights; I’m protected by birth from that. Look I can negotiate a peace treaty that allows you to keep your freedom. Wait, damn it, wait!” We all turn to look at him. “I’ll tell you everything, so long as you don’t do that to me. I know what their final goals are, what planets they plan to hit next, how many troops under their control, where their getting their supplies, I know absolutely everything.”

  I only ask one question. “How do you know?”

  “I want a deal first.”

  “Not until you tell me how you know so much.”

  “I was one of the people to come up with our contingency plan of open rebellion if the political method fell through.”

  When I hear that I have one of the engineers of this war in front of me I almost lose control and kill him then and there. If it had not been for Ravenswood grabbing the man by the neck and squeezing “You have two seconds to start talking or you’re a dead man.”

  “I want a deal first.” Rockwood squeaks out.

  “Talk! If I like what I hear you’ll get a deal.” Rockwood nods his head. “Captain, let him go.” Ravenswood lets go and back away. I wait for Rockwood to get his breath back. “Now start talking.”

  And boy does he. Rockwood/Daniels tells me everything.

  Chapter 6

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The fool laid it all out for me. How starti
ng thirty years ago certain High Families felt a need to change what Family should rule. First they had to discredit the loyal Families. They did this mostly through simple acts like taking over the industry on the different Home planets of the lesser Houses, and then they would seize control of the local government through turning their economy to shit. Once they had control of that planet they would then return economic balance to the region. It had worked in just about every system they had tried it in, only on Hades did they run into a problem. Here most of the economic base was in the military complex that was owned solely by House Nakatoma. If not for Dai Etsu’s ability to keep the manufacture of military goods and supplies off the open market they would have succeeded here as well.

  My unexpected arrival had forced them to change their plans. From those of political gain through commerce to open warfare. The reason for this is, as the Head of House, I could legally challenge the High Families reps to a one on one battle to settle the matter. So to avoid this and the possible consequences they decided on war. All to be headed by Lincoln Light. They figured that once they have conquered House Nakatoma then with the manufacturing abilities they could just march across the Galaxy destroying which ever House that dared to stand in their way. Rockwood even went so far as to give me their next target planet now that open rebellion had begun.

  The planet of High Winds. When I asked if he had lost his mind he merely stated ‘It’ll be like squashing a bug or some other vermin. After all that is what they are; vermin.’ It took both me and Taylor to hold Ravenswood back from killing him for that comment. About the time he was done he dropped one more little bomb shell. “I know that I have told you a great deal, but it was worth it to see the look of disbelief on your face. It won’t matter anyway because this time tomorrow night you and your family will either be dead or in chains waiting to be sold off to the highest bidder.”