Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [120]
His lips trembled, but he drew a deep breath before she could respond. "Where is Tasia? We've got to bring her here."
Tears welled in Cesca's eyes, making them look larger and darker. "Our time will come, Jess. We've got our own Guiding Star. You know it. We'll get through this. I'll help you with my support and my love, but we can't bring a shadow on your clan, or on the memory of Ross. We can't let any of the Roamers think ill of us or bring scandal upon the Tamblyn family."
Jess looked quickly at her. "Or upon you, Cesca. You'll be the next Speaker for all the clans. Neither you nor Jhy Okiah can suffer any political harm. It would weaken your ability to lead us. We don't dare think of ourselves right now. We can't be selfish."
Cesca closed her eyes, as if she didn't want to admit it. "You and I can wait. We know that we are destined to be with each other, Jess—if not now, then sometime soon."
Cesca Peroni was her father's only child, though he had two brothers and one sister, all of whom had several children each, so the Peroni clan line was strong. Cesca herself was simply a solitary twig on the uppermost branch of the family tree.
Cesca had studied history and knew about the different clans and how they interrelated, which feuds had simmered for decades, which bloodlines were strongest. Jhy Okiah had made her learn all of these details. More than any other kind of politics or bureaucracy, understanding Roamer family connections was a Speaker's greatest political necessity.
Now Jess fell silent, and a long pause hung on their bittersweet conversation as they gazed at the frail form on the bed. Both he and Cesca would endure their separation for however long they felt was necessary. Jess would have enough grief to occupy him for a long time.
For the near future, Jess knew that he and Cesca would be wise to avoid each other. He couldn't bear to think that because of the death of Ross he was now free to love her. And now, with the loss of Bram, Jess would be the Tamblyn clan leader, a perfectly acceptable husband for the future Speaker.
Yes, perfect...as if they had planned it all.
But winning Cesca in such a way was not acceptable to either of them. The cultural rules of Roamer society were complex, and if he and Cesca pursued their love too openly, too soon, in the face of such tragedy, they might find themselves ostracized.
An hour later, Bram Tamblyn started up in bed and opened his eyes. He coughed twice, shuddered, then fell back onto his pillow—and died, so quickly and quietly that Jess could not believe what had just happened. Jess grabbed his father's arm, trying to feel a twitch of life, but he felt no sign of blood flow, no pulse on the skeletal wrist.
Cesca hugged him, both of them leaning over the bedside. Jess shouted, and finally someone entered from outside, wearing a thick parka. He couldn't see who the man was through his own burning eyes. "Tasia! Where's my sister? Our father is dead."
His uncle Caleb shrugged back his hood, looking unusually flustered. Jess raised his voice. "Did you find her? I need you to bring her here." Jess shook his head. "How many places can there be to hide on Plumas?"
"I've just come from the surface, Jess. One of the Tamblyn ships is gone, a small scout vessel. Tasia's quarters are empty. It looks like she took some items with her...and also her compy EA."
Cesca looked over at Jess as the realization grew in his heart. "She must have run off to join the Eddies after all! Dammit, why couldn't she control her temper?" He sagged, dropping his head in his hands. His sister was just like his father in many ways.
Heartbroken and surrendering to grief, knowing what Bram must have felt like in his last hours, Jess remained by the deathbed. He held the brittle hand of his difficult and demanding father, and felt the weight of the universe on his shoulders.