''I don't think even a miracle could keep Izzic from launching this crazy war of his.'' LaCross shook his head.
''And, rumors to the contrary,'' Kris said, standing, ''Longknifes are only human.'' And if she was to find any miracles up her sleeve, she needed some privacy. ''My father, as Prime Minister, does his best to leave his loyal opposition as few openings to oppose him as possible. Still, they always do. Certainly you have some options open to you.''
''I don't think Prime Minister Longknife ever declared martial law and war and dissolved his Parliament on the same evening,'' Senator Krief said, standing herself.
''I'll agree with you on that. I take it that none of you would have supported his vote for war,'' Kris said, wordlessly getting her guests to their feet.
''I have been in the House and the Senate over thirty years,'' LaCross said. ''There was no sentiment for war in those chambers this afternoon as we adjourned.'' He stared at the ceiling, lips moving slightly. ''Tory, Liberal, Farmers' Party, Izzic didn't have five votes out of a hundred.''
Krief was shaking her head. ''I know those people he's rounded up. They couldn't be in anyone's off-planet conspiracy. My God, the people he's arrested never voted together on anything except maybe a resolution to adjourn. Speaking of which, I suggest we adjourn to the home of a supporter of mine. He has, if not a fortress, at least a place where we will know before the goons arrive to arrest us.''
''That sounds wise. You need to stay free if you're going to speak for your people,'' Kris said as Jack opened the door and she ushered her guests out. ''As a representative of Wardhaven, I can't be too careful about staying out of your internal affairs. I think that last warning may have been personally addressed to me and my father's government on Wardhaven.'' The last was witnessed by at least four guards and a couple in dinner dress walking toward the elevator. Good audience.
Kris kept a hand on Klaggath's elbow until they were alone except for his external guards. ''I am concerned about that last dig the President got in. I fear a bomb or assassination attempt. Could you reinforce my guard and report back to me by, say, ten-fifteen?''
''That quickly?'' the Inspector said, raising an eyebrow.
''You know, it's my planet, too. There are a lot of people who won't take well to what our beloved President is doing.''
''And might even take to the streets. Yes, I understand that, Inspector, but I think my little group here is very high on someone's list of people to keep under their thumb, forefinger, and elbow. It's best people stay clear of us.''
He nodded like a man being denied a hand into a lifeboat and left. Kris closed the door behind him. Nelly, what got in?
Just two. I will have them in a moment.
Kris took her chair silently. No one said a word until Nelly announced, ''All clear.''
''You can't just sit this one out,'' Penny blurted through lips still bruised. ''You can't let the shits who beat me up win.''
Kris said nothing. There was a kind of pleasure in watching someone else racing in where only fools hung out. She raised an eyebrow to Tom, then let her gaze slide over to Jack. They'd never had a good word to say for the messes she got herself—and occasionally them—into.
Jack just stood there, arms folded, lips pursed in thought.
Tom looked up at Penny. ''You know, Kris, you said at the Paris system we had to stop a war between Earth and Wardhaven. You said if we let those two get into a fight, the rest of human space might be in deep salad dressing for generations. You said a whole lot of things, but you didn't say a thing about any one. Didn't name a single person. It seems to me you're real good about fighting for an ideal. What do you have to say to Penny here, or me?'' Tom turned to face Kris. ''Did you charge out here because someone had the temerity to steal what one of you Longknifes thought belonged to you? Was that all I was? Well, I may not know much about Turantic, but I know we owe folks like Klaggath and the kids we saw up on the Top of Turantic and even that cabdriver who gave us a ride out when I was supposed to get knocked over the head and left for dead. As I see it, we owe them something better. At least, that's the debt I figure I owe for putting on this uniform.''
Not bad sentiment from a guy who wasn't sure he could use his weapon against swamp bandits on Olympia. The guy had come a long way since he'd put on the uniform to get his college debt forgiven. Maybe Kris was a good influence. That left Jack. She fixed him in her sights. ''You got something to say?''
He rubbed one finger on his still-pursed lips, eying her right back. ''That wasn't a bad speech you gave to those Senators. Did I notice someone going by in the hall?'' Kris nodded. ''So you have other witnesses besides the cops. That damn Longknife luck of yours.'' Jack came to attention. ''I await your orders, Your Highness.''
''You're not going to say where you stand?''
''Why should I? You've made up your mind, and unlike poor Penny and Tom here, I know what's going through your head.''
''Tommy's known me longer than you have.''
''Tom doesn't know you the way I know you. I repeat, ma'am. Where do we attack and when?''
Kris failed to suppress a chuckle. What was it with Jack? Just when she thought she had him figured out, he'd do something totally out of bounds and leave her wondering if she'd ever understand what made him tick, purr, and spin.
''Excuse me, but do I get any vote in this?'' Abby said.
''You're from Earth,'' Jack pointed out. ''You don't have a vote in Wardhaven's affairs.''
Abby elbowed Jack. ''But I do have a say in what pertains to my own delicate skin. May I point out that there is nothing in any of my trunks for fighting a war. I packed to rescue Tom. Nothing more. This is going far beyond what I signed on for.''
''And where did those extra trunks come from?'' Kris asked.
''What extra trunks?'' Abby sniffed.
''The ones that joined us somewhere between my room and airport security,'' Kris said.
''We had twelve trunks all along.''
''Harvey brought up six,'' Jack pointed out. He ducked into Kris's room. ''I think I can even spot the six extra trunks. They are not quite the same color as the others.''
''They are, too, '' Abby insisted. Jack rolled two out. The shading was close, but close was not the same.
Kris crossed the few feet that separated them. She studied her maid: eyes, lips, body tension. ''Whose side are you on?''
The woman looked back at Kris, no change in respiration or stance, eyes steady, not so much as a flared nostril. Then she gave her head a slight cock to the right. ''There are a lot of sides in play here. Have I ever done anything that made you question I am working for your best interest?''
''That's not an answer, '' Jack pointed out.
Kris kept her eyes on the putative maid. There was a slight smile that never got past the woman's lower lip. With a final flip of a mental coin, Kris returned to her seat.
Damn, this is getting interesting. The Typhoon's skipper's treachery left Kris isolated and alone as she decided for mutiny. Now there was time to think. To reflect. Maybe that wasn't a good idea. If a royal Princess takes up arms against a planet's government, does that mean a state of war exists between her planet and that one? Interesting question. Bet the historians laugh themselves silly trying to find a precedent.
Penny and Tom were all for it. Jack was willing. Abby was the one voice of reason, but mainly because she couldn't see anything in her bag of tricks to use for this mess. She and three Senators. Good company. No one knew what was happening outside the tiny bubble that was Turantic. No one knew if a Hamilton battle fleet was marshaling at some isolated jump point, ready to smash this planet under a booted heel.
Any really smart person would throw up their hands and await the outcome.