"I understand," Gysell gulped.
"You will immediately have our agents round up the Councillors. I am placing them all under arrest. All official correspondence will be routed through my office from here on out."
"That's…" Gysell's face went ashen.
"Come, Gysell, you were handpicked for the job of Imperial Secretary. I could find another." She arched an eyebrow.
He studied her for a moment, color coming back into his face. "That won't be necessary, Ily. I'll see to crushing any rebellion. What are the charges against the Councillors?"
"Corruption." She cut the monitor and poured another glass of sherry. Facing Tybalt's body, she raised the glass. "To the future Lord Emperor!"
Chapter 34
The chatter of voices blared in an unholy din coupled with the clatter of armor and clunking of weapons. A feeling of relief filled the assault transport's large gymnasium as men and women stripped off armor, laughing and greeting
old companions. Sinklar watched — heart breaking — from the A7 companionway. He steeled himself, stepping into the crowd.
Someone saw him, elbowing a friend. The hush spread, as all eyes turned in his direction. What can I tell them? How can I make them know what I felt down there?
Sinklar heard a sudden comotion and turned as someone forced through the press of bodies. MacRuder's blond hair and familiar features shot a curiously anguished relief through Sink. Mac's face beamed as he walked close, stopping an arm's length from Sinklar before rushing to hug him and pound his back.
Sinklar pushed him back and held him at arm's length. "Mac? I tried. everything. "
In the sudden silence, the Division First's voice carried. "The Lord Commander told us how hard you tried to break us out. We know you had to leave or be blown up." He turned, arm out in a grand gesture. "Look, we all came back!"
A loud cheer boomed to shake the very deck plating under his feet.
Sinklar raised his hands, a quivering smile on his lips until he waved them to silence. "We've all been harrowed and tried. Your comrades and I did all we could, paid with our blood and souls in an attempt to win your freedom. Now, through luck and curious fortune, we're united once more. And, as the Blessed Gods are our witness, we'll never be divided again!"
Another cheer drowned the room, leaving his heart thudding against his chest. Once more he waved them down, climbing to a rec table so he could be seen. The air carried the rich odor of hot bodies. He looked out at their faces, some beaming, others concerned.
"We were desperate, fighting a cunning adversary. We were winning." His voice dropped. "Then the order came. I could not countermand the Emperor's orders. Not with Gyton's guns over our heads. I want each and every one of you to remember that order — remember the guns over our heads. because events are unfolding — and we'll never find ourselves in that wretched state of affairs again!"
Their enthusiasm roared from hundreds of voices, to buffet him with a rhythmic shout of, "SINKLAR! SINKLAR! SINKLAR!"
Skyla passed through the bridge hatch and stepped into the transport tube. She accessed Staffa's quarters and crossed her arms. What would she do? Had that spark in his eyes in Etarus been for her? Now doubt assailed her. "He was probably just glad to be free of the collar — to see a friendly face."
She couldn't forget the way they'd held each other. Skyla sighed and rubbed her tired eyes. The certainty grew that Staffa would expect their relationship to remain the same as it had always been.
She straightened and stepped out of the tube as the doors opened, and almost ran into Nyklos.
"Hello!" Nyklos cried, brightening.
"What are you doing here?"
Nyklos gave her his toothy smile, mustache curling. "Maybe you could help me. I heard they brought Bruen aboard. I thought I might get to see him."
"I'll make sure you do."
He placed a hand on her arm as she started past.
"You're going to see Staffa, aren't you?"
She looked coldly at his hand, then into his eyes. "You don't have to play the game anymore, Nyklos. The Seddi are coming to Itreata. I think the sparring is over."
He nodded and pursed his lips, a sadness in his eyes. "I
wish you the best. I sincerely do." And he hustled away down the hall.
Skyla frowned, shook her head, and made her way to Staffa's double hatch. Two of Ark's people stood at the door and snapped out salutes. Skyla palmed
the hatch, hop ing her bridge command override worked. The double doors slid open and she entered.
The room looked the same, still opulent, the red couch a painful reminder of the psychologically disoriented Staffa who'd left in search of himself. The Etarian sand leopard snarled down at her. The collection of battle trophies on the walls mocked her.
An old man sighed as he settled into a gravchair next to the incongruous fireplace. Even from the rear, Skyla could recognize Kaylla Dawn, the woman helping him. Dawn wore the upper half of stained grimy battle armor over what had once been a tan robe, now spotted with blood and smudged with dirt.
Dawn turned and locked eyes with Skyla. For long moments, they studied each other.
"Wing Commander, it's good to see you. You arrived in the nick of time once again." Kaylla hesitated, somewhat unsure. "I guess we all owe you our lives. I'm starting to believe you're almost bigger than life. Staffa told the truth about you."
"Hope the ride in the box wasn't too much of an inconvenience. The accommodations were a bit spartan."
"After Etaria, anything would have been a relief."
Skyla could sense the strain between them. Rotted Gods, the Seddi woman and Staffa hadn't. Well, why not? Staffa was a healthy normal man, and Kaylla Dawn possessed the poise and the kind of athletic body any man might become enamored with. Instead of stiffening, Skyla forced herself to walk forward, taking Dawn's measure.
The Seddi woman's tan eyes seemed to harden, but she turned, indicating the old man. "This is Magister Bruen. I believe you dealt with him over the comm."
Skyla nodded, "I did. Welcome aboard Chrysla, Magister Bruen. She recognized his withered face. The old blue eyes looked tired now, and a terrible bruise mottled his forehead.
Bruen smied wearily. "I, too, offer the Seddi's special
thanks and gratitude for your timely arrival. I greatly fear that had you been on the scene a few moments later, things would have turned out very differently."
Skyla gave him a predatory grin. "Oh, we'd been monitoring the communications from the time we'd come out of null singularity. Rysta told us exactly when she'd fire, and one thing about her, she's worth her word."
Skyla strolled nervously around the room, wishing she could shed the sudden energy that bunched inside her. "But tell me, I heard you offer yourself to Tybalt and Ily. They'd have probed you. The entire Seddi organiation would have been compromised. Everything. How could you do that?"
Bruen grinned at her, pointing a knobby finger into his mouth. "Upper right rear molar. Unlike Nyklos', mine's full — and would have been used long before Ily got her talons into me."
"By the way, I just ran into Nyklos in the corridor. He'll be wanting to see you. I have no doubt but that he's full of information on the Companions." Skyla couldn't help herself, she kept glancing at Dawn, wondering.
Amusement showed in Kaylla's eyes. "Yes, Skyla, you are all I expected you to be."
"I beg your pardon?"
Kaylla moved to the red couch, seating herself gracefully. "I am not Staffa's lover. Nor will I ever be."
Skyla lifted an inquiring eyebrow, heart skipping a beat.
"I see the look on your face, the uncertainty. Staffa saved me in the desert." The tan eyes hardened. "But after what he did to Maika, there's too much misery between us for anything more."
Skyla poured a glass of fine bourbon and nodded. "I see." So what's your angle? Why are you here?