Senator Mallowes looked taken aback. Apparently he thought his announcement would be met with deeper gratitude.
Lady Avellar’s smile, though, remained steady. “In recognition of your service you are being made a Knight of the Sphere, but you will remain attached to Kyrkbacken for a time. Should you know of any soldiers or companies within your jurisdiction who deserve special recognition, you will have several resources at your disposal with which to reward them.”
Jonah relaxed a little, letting his head sink into the pile of pillows behind him. Whether she knew it or not, Avellar had said exactly the right thing. Had she tried to appeal to his pride, or convince him the promotion was something he deserved, the conversation would have headed in a very different direction. But by telling him this promotion gave him the means to help people who deserved it, she gave him only one option.
“Thank you. You can be sure I’ll hold you to that promise.”
Avellar bobbed her head. “We’re here because of your dedication to keeping a promise. We hope you’ll recognize that quality in many of your fellow Knights.”
Mallowes, still seeming off-balance, tried to reassert himself in the conversation. “You have a bright future in The Republic, young man. Your actions have already taught us to expect the best of you.”
Jonah bowed his head in acknowledgment of the Senator’s words, but he thought to himself: if you truly knew anything about me, you’d know that such words have very little effect.
Jonah bore many scars from that battle, some of which still ached when the weather changed. But many members of Echo Company suffered far more.
The upper ranks of the Kyrkbacken Militia were filled with veterans of Echo Company. Some had retired from the military, a few to teaching positions in military academies, a few away from the military altogether. Jonah kept careful track of each and every survivor, never letting a single one fall through society’s cracks, helping where he could.
That was why he was willing to become a Knight, and later a Paladin. He hated politics and the trappings of office, but, as he saw it, those things weren’t the core of his job. Across the Sphere, there were millions of lines—in battle and in peace—that needed to be held. And he knew how to hold them.
33
Office of Senator Geoffrey Mallowes, Geneva
Terra, Prefecture X
13 December 3134
Mallowes’ face hadn’t changed much in the past quarter century. The crags were a little deeper, his earlobes hung slightly lower and his hand occasionally shook when he held it out too long. But the hair was still thick and white, the eyes cold steel, the jaw firmly set in place.
“Paladin Levin,” Mallowes said warmly, clasping Jonah’s hand in both of his. “I’m always honored when your path intersects mine.”
And he still had the same formal way of speech, Jonah thought to himself.
“Good to see you too, Senator,” Jonah said. “Though the circumstances could be better.”
Mallowes dropped his smile. “Very true. You sit in the center of an uneasy Republic, and recent events have done nothing to bring it peace. Please, sit.”
Mallowes’ office was clearly distinguishable from the others Jonah had visited recently. It should be—Mallowes had had decades to customize it to his liking. Its décor was a miniature history of politics, with framed replicas of the Declaration of Independence from the ancient United States of America, the Ares Conventions, and the Constitution of The Republic of the Sphere. Surrounding them was a miniature hall of fame of great diplomats featuring nearly twenty portraits, most of them personally inscribed to Mallowes. Jonah noticed with some amusement that Mallowes had pictures of Victor Steiner-Davion and his sister Katherine on the same wall, though placed far from each other.
“Should I be troubled, Paladin, that your investigation has led to me?” The Senator’s tone was light, but it held a clear message—Mallowes knew why he was there, and there was no reason for Jonah to play any games.
“No, Senator. I’m currently gathering information on someone you’ve worked with before, a man named Henrik Morten. You’ve sent him on a number of tasks over the past few years.”
Mallowes nodded. “Yes. A very capable young man. A noble, one of the Mallory’s World Mortens, as I’m sure you know. He crafted more than a few successes for me.” Mallowes paused. “It makes me regret, to a small degree, the fact that I have not been able to utilize him recently.”
“That’s what I noticed. It seems he was working for you regularly until about half a year ago, then, from everything I’ve been able to find out, your connection to him dried up. He’s been freelancing for about half a dozen others recently, but not you.”
“Yes.” Mallowes clasped his hands, index fingers extended, and rested his fingertips on his chin. “I assume you’ve heard of some of Morten’s most valuable qualities? His discretion, his ability to deal with highly sensitive matters with a minimum of detection.”
“People have mentioned that, yes.”
“I discovered some unfortunate information on how he achieved those ends. I never had enough concrete proof to bring formal charges against him, but suffice it to say he sometimes pays people to keep secrets—” here Mallowes delicately cleared his throat “—and sometimes he makes others pay in advance. If you take my meaning.”
“I’m guessing the payment he extracts isn’t always monetary.”
“You have it precisely.”
“Are you pursuing any of this information? Looking to bring charges?”
Mallowes sighed. “I intend to. However, with the election and assorted doings, my mind has been focused elsewhere. Hopefully, when the new Exarch is seated, I will be able to pursue a case with more vigor. I assure you, however, that I have done my best to spread the word about the young man’s activities to my colleagues, hoping to dissuade them from employing his services. Possessing noble blood brings with it a responsibility for noble behavior, and this young man seems to have forgotten—or never learned—this principle.”
“And how have they responded?”
“Most of them trust me, knowing I do not convey information lightly. A few, though, have noticed the lack of substantial evidence against Morten and choose to ignore my counsel and employ him anyway.”
Jonah leaned forward. A list of officials willing to use Morten even after hearing about some of his seamier activities could prove valuable. “Who?”
“Hmmm… actually, there are only two I can think of offhand. Governor Newberry of Dieron seems to believe the young man’s coalition-building capabilities are second only to Devlin Stone, and continues to employ him. And an old friend of mine, your newest colleague—Gareth Sinclair. He actually remains a firm supporter of Morten, from what he has told me.”
That was the fourth time Sinclair’s name had come up in the course of Jonah’s investigations. He’d already scheduled a meeting with him, and it was shaping up to be an unpleasant conversation.
“I’m sorry if I haven’t given you the help you sought,” Mallowes said, noticing Jonah’s silence.
Jonah forced the corners of his mouth into a warm smile. “You’ve been plenty helpful, believe me. I appreciate your time.”
“And I would appreciate yours, if you’re willing to lend me a few more moments of it.”
“I’d be happy to. How can I help you?” Jonah asked, even though he knew full well what the Senator wanted to talk about.
Mallowes stood, pushing his shoulders back slightly, looking for all the world like a man about to deliver an important speech. “As you well know, had Devlin Stone intended the Senate to play an active role in the election of an Exarch, he would have given us a vote.”