Everyone tried on his splendid clothing, then took it all off again and fidgeted through the night The announcement was to take place at midday. They must dress and be out of the house before the streets were busy. The desert robes would be used to good advantage again, covering Sep's grandeur and Hanse's distinctive figure. The formal uniforms were quiet enough to pass by day, though they were a bit fancy for most tastes.
"Kole says to enter the palace grounds with the throng, as soon as the gates open," said Prillie through the keyhole, as they got ready to depart. "And good luck to you all. This has been great fun!"
"Take care, Prillie," Sep replied for all of them, then they scurried down the dark stairway and into the streets of Avalon.
People were already moving about. Not only the early deliverymen in the thoroughfares, but crowds heading for the palace in order to get good places to wait out the morning. There would not be room for everyone who wanted to hear their ruler's announcement, and so people would be queuing up near the Palace walls to get into the grounds.
The five were lost in a throng so varied and colorful that Sep removed her robe. Even her cloth-of-gold wasn't noticeable, so gay were the garments of those about her. Only Hanse continued to conceal his face and figure.
They approached the palace grounds, working their way through the crowd until they reached the wall itself. Once there, Hanse motioned them to follow him along the ferro-crete expanse.
They rounded a corner. At a small door set deeply into the wall, Hanse paused for the retinal scan, then the door sighed open.
They shot through and closed the panel behind them, hidden now in a remote corner of the garden. Across its colorful expanse was the terrace from which Ardan had bitterly surveyed the scene so many months ago. The barracks were off to their left, behind a maze of walls and hedges.
They hurried through the plantings, around corners and through unexpected arbor-gates in the hedges. Once they saw a servant in the distance. He looked at them, startled, but they were gone before he could say a word.
The barracks buildings were abuzz. Sep hid in a hedge to strip off her finery. Beneath it was her old uniform, and she stepped out as herself, not as a painted Court lady. The others lined up behind her as she strode up the wide steps of the second building, where were her permanent quarters.
Sep's retinal scan at the door got them inside without question. She turned toward the office of the officer of the day and snapped to attention as Fram turned crossly from a pile of paperwork to glare at the newcomers.
His mouth opened. He sprang to his feet and rounded the desk, pounding Ardan's shoulder, greeting Ref and Jarlik, catching Sep into a bear hug. "You made it! By golly, you made it! And who's this?"
He was looking sharply at Hanse's hooded shape.
"The order should say Candent Septarian and group..." Sep's tone was a bit severe.
Fram looked at the posted notices. Then he nodded. "Exactly."
"This is part of the group. Now go back to work. And if Denek comes in, send him along to my quarters. We have a lot to talk about."
"And not much time to do it in. The big announcement happens in another two hours," Fram said. "We have to be on duty at the gates and in the grounds at eleven hundred hours.
"I'll see you then. Change the order, Fram, and put Ardan, Jarlik, Ref, and"—she glanced at Hanse—"Hannes behind the dais where the Prince is to speak. Can do?"
He looked curious, but nodded obediently. "Can do. What about you?"
"Check my WarHammerout of storage for me, will you?"
Fram glanced uncertainly at Ardan. "You agree, sir?" he asked.
Ardan was chuckling. When he had left Sep to learn to take command, he had wondered how she would deal with those under her. Now he knew. She had the knack and used it well.
"I don't know what she's planning, but I trust her judgment. Check her out, Fram. And tell Denek that he's relieved of command, if he wants to be. Or if he'd like to remain in place until after today, that will be fine, too."
Fram grunted, turning back to his paperwork. The sight of the feckless fellow chained to a desk amused Ardan mightly.
They followed Sep to her quarters, as Ardan felt it would be unlikely that his own were still available. Those in charge of this new government knew that he was supposed to be imprisoned and awaiting execution, or worse.
It was a relief to take turns in the Cleaner. Sep donned a fresh uniform and looked, once again, like the decisive officer she was. There now remained only a short time to wait before going to their assigned posts.
Jarlik had brought one of his uniforms for "Hannes". For a wonder, it fitted the Prince fairly well, and he now looked to be a veteran officer, as, indeed, he was.
At the appointed time, they moved out in orderly fashion, joining the ranks of Mech Warriors assigned to duty for this important occasion. Only four were mounted on their 'Mechs. This was a formal occasion, not a battle, and the big machines took up space better assigned to officials and nobles from the city.
As Ardan took his place behind the dais, he stepped behind Jarlik. Standing near the podium, the false Hanse Davion never glanced at him. Nor did he bat an eye at the big fellow in the slightly tight uniform beyond him.
Ardan felt a rush of suppressed excitement. There would, indeed, be an unexpected announcement today in the gardens of the Palace on New Avalon.
34
The chronometer ticked forward, its dial nearing the midday hour. Seated beside the podium, the Prince nodded to the Maître of the Household on New Avalon. That worthy signalled, and the gates opened. A brilliandy clad throng surged into the space beside the gardens.
Ekkles, the aide, rose. His electronically enhanced voice quieted the buzz of conversadon below, but Ardan was watching Hanse, who had moved forward to stand just in view of the imposter. As Ekkles was introducing Hanse Davion, the false Prince looked up. He turned pale.
Even as Ekkles gestured toward him, offering at the same time a sheaf of notes, the imposter pitched forward in a dead faint. A concerted gasp rose from the throats of the multitude. Ekkles bent over his fallen ruler, turning pale in his turn.
The court doctor stood. "Clear the courtyard! There will be no announcement at this time!" he shouted. The guard moved forward to obey him, and Ardan found the opportunity to beckon to Efflinger and two of his attendants.
He guided them around the outside of the palace and through a private door he had often used to visit Hanse. Then he heard voices from the Prince's chambers, which lay some distance down the corridor. Tense voices, straining to be quiet.
"You are a fake!" came Hanse's familiar tones. "I am Hanse Davion, and this is an imposter placed here by a conspiracy originating among our enemies."
"Arrest this man!" came another voice, in a near shout. "He is concerned in the plot I was about to expose...a plot against the Federated Suns. He is a danger to us all! Arrest him!"
Ardan drew his sidearm and went through the door in a rush. Ref and Jarlik had drawn their own weapons and were facing the four guards. It took only a moment to disarm them.
In the chamber were Ekkles, the doctor, the members of the Guard, and, to Ardan's surprise, three of the most eminent members of the New Avalon Institute of Science. When he moved, he saw that Efflinger, too, had joined the group, his usual languid manner touched with interest.