The Ashes of Worlds

The beefy woman answered almost immediately. “Ah, wonderful to hear from you, Sarein. Sorry we haven’t had time for a social visit. Things are more messed up than ever around here.” Then she smiled as a thought occurred to her. “So, you finally decided to take me up on my offer, right?”

Captain Roberts was beside her on the screen. “I don’t like just waiting here to be smashed by a rock falling from the sky. It’s a lot better now with the Roamers helping, but still. We were planning to head out again this afternoon. Somebody’s bound to notice us here sooner or later.”

Sarein drew a breath, forced certitude into her voice. “I need you to take me to King Peter’s flagship — to discuss business. After all, you’re the Confederation’s Trade Minister, and I’m the ambassador from Theroc.”

Rlinda chuckled. “There’s a bit of backbone — good to see it!”

Sarein leaned closer to the screen, her face drawn. “And we have to do thissoon. No time to lose. Where shall I meet you?”

“When will you be ready to leave?”

“Now.”

“That’s soon enough, all right.” Rlinda provided the grid number where theBlind Faith had landed in the Palace District spaceport.

Although she had made her decision, Sarein hesitated before leaving her quarters forever. Yes, she and Cain had plotted to overthrow the Chairman, but considering the alternatives, this was perhaps the only way to save his life. She had spent so many years with Basil. He had carried her with him through the rough waters of interplanetary politics. Now, though, she wanted to go home.

Feeling a tug at her heart — more for the Basil she remembered than for the one she was leaving — she went back to the comm screen and set it to record a message. Her last message. Even though she was afraid of him, her conscience demanded this of her.

Sarein spoke from the heart. “Basil, you won’t find me here when you come back to Earth. For years I’ve turned a blind eye to your bad decisions, but I can’t support your policies any longer. Your Hansa is corrupt. It tramples the rights of the citizens it was meant to serve, and I won’t be part of it anymore.”

She gave a bittersweet smile. “I appreciate what you did for me at one time. Though I’m sure you’ll never accept it, I did love you. Maybe I still do in a way, but I can’t tolerate what you’ve become.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Whatever happens from now on is the result of your own actions. Goodbye, Basil.”

She switched off the recording and set the message transmission on a proximity timer. As soon as Basil returned to the Palace District, the automated system would upload the recording to his personal communication device.

By then, Sarein would be long gone, safely away.

130

King Peter

On theJupiter ’s command viewscreen, all eyes were on the Chairman’s diplomatic shuttle as it departed for the cluster of EDF ships. Admiral Willis paced the bridge with her hands linked behind her. She sniffed with undisguised distaste at the receding craft. “I can’t say I minded seeing him leave in a huff. But not so much as a goodbye? I thought he might leave me a gold watch for all my years of faithful service.” She turned to the King. “So, what did the blowhard really want?”

Peter pressed his lips together. So far he had told no one else the truth about Rory. Exposing those details would have forced him to reveal his own humble roots, that he too was fundamentally an imposter. “He was just throwing his weight around — unsuccessfully.”

As soon as Basil left the mess hall, Peter had felt the rush of adrenaline drain from his system. He had taken a few moments to compose himself before going to the bridge. Beside him, Estarra had expressed her concerns. “You can’t let the Chairman execute that poor boy out of spite, even if he isn’t your real brother.”

Peter wore a grim smile. “Oh, Basil won’t kill him now. It wouldn’t gain him anything. As an ace up his sleeve, Rory is worthless. The most he can do is continue to serve as a figurehead.”

“Are you really willing to take that risk, knowing the Chairman? He could murder him out of spite.”

Peter felt a lump in his throat, knowing she might be right. “Rory — or whatever his real name is — may be no more than a patsy, but he’s just like I was, probably nabbed from the streets and forced to play a role. Basil turns the thumbscrews, and it’s all a matter of how well the kid can act. I understand what he’s going through — don’t worry, I won’t let him get killed for my sake.”

“Actually, I’m more worried about Sarein,” she said.

“Me too.”

Now that they had arrived on the Juggernaut’s bridge, he watched Admiral Willis fume quietly at the retreating diplomatic shuttle. After a long moment of tense silence, she mused, “You know, a single jazer blast would solve a lot of our problems.”

“I can’t say that the thought hasn’t occurred to me, Admiral.” Peter knew that Basil himself would take the shot — andhad done it, both with Maureen Fitzpatrick and with the outspoken Archfather. “But if I regain my rule through assassination, then how am I different from Basil? I can’t simply kill someone because I don’t like them, or because they’re bad, or because they’re in my way.”

But, oh, it would be an easy, temporary solution.

The price he’d pay later for taking that road, though, could bring about his downfall as surely as it had corrupted Basil Wenceslas, transforming him from effective leader into monster. He let out a slow sigh. “As King, I’ve got to lead by example. I can’t just barge in and tell the people of Earth what’s good for them. They need to get rid of him themselves.”

Estarra said, “You know there’s a groundswell of protests. Patrick Fitzpatrick has stirred up a hornet’s nest of rebellion down there. What’s wrong with taking advantage of that?”

Peter had watched the demonstrations grow more intense in the newsnet coverage, even in the short time since he had come to the Earth system. He realized the people might be ready after all. “You may be right.”

Basil’s diplomatic shuttle continued to fly away. Admiral Willis made no comment about the King’s decision, except to say, “He’s out of range anyway.”

131

Patrick Fitzpatrick III

Once Deputy Cain released them from Hansa detention, the rational, logical, and safe thing would have been for Patrick and Zhett to steal a small spacecraft and fly to the Confederation battle group.

But Patrick was not in a rational, logical, or safe frame of mind.

Cain had told them how they could help bring down the Chairman once and for all, and that possibility was just too worthwhile to pass up. He still had the contacts his grandmother had left for him and a large portion of the funds. Now was the time to throw everything into the effort.